"Sea Trials"

It took us two days to get from Virginia to buy the RV, so it was going to take us a few days to get back to our home base.  When we left the Patterson Farm in Durham, the sum of our RV experience was 1-hour of over-the-road towing, and 3-days of living (at the Patterson’s) in an RV.  Labeling us as novices would be the kindest of descriptors.  Understanding that we’d need to prepare for at least one overnight, we decided to use the trip back as our version of “Sea Trials”—trials that would give us an initial idea as to how much we needed to learn. 

“…there are unknown unknowns—the one’s we don’t know we don’t know.”  - Donald Rumsfeld

Determined NOT to drag our newest purchase through NYC, we headed West on I-85.  I was learning the “feel” of the additional 34’ attached to the lengthy truck; and Kristy was earning her chops as navigator.  Unlike to trip northward, all decisions now had increased risks.  Taking an arbitrary exit ramp could put you on a road that is has low overhangs; or worse yet…no place to turn around and get back on the interstate.  Our lack of experience in foreseeing these types of pitfalls consumed the forefront of our thoughts.

While holding a steady course westward amongst the experienced “semi drivers,” Kristy was actively looking for a place for us to bed-down for the night.  She called out a name that was very familiar to me; but not one I ever expected to hear again: Scranton. 

Tucked away in the hills between the townships of Scranton & Wilks-Barre is a small get-away called Francis Slocum State Park.  With our internet connection coming in and out of consciousness, we managed to secure one of the few remaining RV sites in this park…a pull-through.

[Important side note]  While in Durham, Bill Patterson “highly recommended” that I seek out “pull through” RV sites, as they do not require any backing skills.  At this point in my RV towing portfolio, I had successfully backed an RV…once.  With a decades of experienced direction…which I no longer had access to.

A funny thing happened on the way to Francis Slocum State Park…we took a wrong turn.  I have always been a firm believer that “every road leads somewhere.”  I now must add an errata, which changes that belief to “every road leads somewhere, but you may not be able to drag an RV down it.”  After taking a wrong turn, I calmly (which is a complete lie) turned to my navigator and said in my best Captain Kirk voice, “I need you to get me out of here.”  Being the cool & calm navigator that she is, she pulled up Google Maps on the iPad and proceeded to find a corrective route…while I continued to give my best Wrongway Feldman impersonation (minus the 64 bottles of scotch). 

It’s amazing what you don’t notice until you’re in a tight spot.  One seldom glances at the gas gauge until it is resting far left.  One may never check the gauge of a fire extinguisher until holding said extinguisher in front of a fire that threatens to consume important stuff.  So it is with Google Maps.  One never realized that—although the “road” looks like it is an acceptable route to a desired destination—the adjacent obstacles (i.e. cars parked on the street, light poles affixed where the corner curb meets the asphalt, overhead banners announcing the coming kielbasa festival) are easily overlooked from the hybrid-aerial view.  In the end, no light-poles, side-view mirrors, or pedestrians were injured in the expansion of my towing portfolio.

We arrived at Francis Slocum State Park, wound our way to our reserved pull-through slot and set chocks.  Being anxious to try out our new rig, we opted to stay for a few nights to immerse ourselves in this new lifestyle.  

Although we were certified rookies, we quickly learned a few lessons:

• Most State/Federal parks prohibit alcoholic beverages; however, pouring them into red Solo cups nullifies any alcohol and makes consumption completely legal.
• If the RV pad site is listed as being able to accommodate 38-feet, it could mean that you and 18 friends can stand barefoot within the borders.
• No matter how far North you travel, you will find a trailer with a Confederate flag flying from the front.
• People will always try to help you position/set-up your rig…even if they’ve never done it themselves.
• No mater what campground you visit, the unattended kids will always congregate in front of your site.
• Never—EVER—take a hangover to a dump station (details in future post).

After a few days, we continued our journey back to Virginia, but needed to find another interim lily pad en route.   Taking the advice of our only RV mentors (Bill & Jane), we landed at a KOA campground outside of Staunton, Virginia.  After setting-up, we realized why the price was higher than the government parks.  Electric, water, sewer, CABLE, trash pick-up, swimming pool, and a game room with an original Ms Pac-Man machine.   It was nice to have a more spacious lay-out, and even nicer to actually relax for the first time in over a week.  We put our “Sea Trials” on hold for a few days and just enjoyed the Shenandoah climate.  We knew we still had work to do before we hit the road for good, but this lake-side spot provided a timely breather.

After a few days we pulled chocks and headed down I-64, arriving at our base camp in Gloucester, Virginia.   The big pieces of the puzzle were in place.  Now just a small amount of polishing and it would be time to get underway.

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