BIRDS! BIRDS! BIRDS!

January 16-18, 2013
After several people suggested a camping trip to Fairfield, NC, to observe the many birds at Lake Mattamuskeet National Wildlife Refuge, Ron decided to un-winterize the camper and we ventured to the area.  We have lived in NC approximately 35 years and have never heard of this refuge.  After seeing the birds this place will be included in our Top 10 places of “must sees”.  

In the winter months, thousands of Tundra Swans, Canada and Snow Geese, pintails, black ducks, and mallards are seen on the lake, as well as less numerous species of waterfowl. Osprey nests can be seen in low Cypress trees near the water’s edge, and it is not unusual to see a Bald Eagle circling overhead or resting in a tree a safe distance from human traffic. Also there are more than 200 species of birds around Lake Mattamuskeet for part or all of each year.  It is thrilling to see thousands of tundra swans land and take-off at one time.

(Looking from our camper window)

  

Tundra swans are white with a wingspan of approximately 7 feet and weigh about 16 pounds. The swans come from Canada and return to Canada after staying in NC for about 2 months (Dec.-Jan.). Lake Mattamuskeet is approximately 18 miles long, 7 miles wide, and 3-4 feet deep. In addition to the lake, local farmers flood their cotton fields so the birds have additional areas to feed. We stay at Osprey Nest Campground at site 2.  Excellent trip! 

WINTER SURF

November 7-9, 2012

We wanted to make one more trip before winterizing the camper and Christmas. So we made a short trip to Surf City/Topsail, NC. We stayed at Lanier’s Campground in a campsite near the water with driving trips to the local beaches and docks. It is always good to walk on the docks and beaches near ocean and hear all the beach sounds. This trip reminded me of the many trips that I made with my teacher friend to her family's beach house to celebrate the end-of-school and relax. On my first visit with her the house was one row of houses and a road from the beach and now it is on the beach.

"UNPLANNED" BOONDOCKING

October 27-28, 2012—Boone, NC.  

We went with three other couples to Frank’s and Barbara’s cabin for the weekend. When we began the trip we thought that we would have electric and water hookups. After arriving at the bottom of the mountain, we still found that the incline of the "hill" was more mountain than we anticipated. Thus, we dry camped at a neighbor’s house at the bottom of the mountain with little water, no electric, and no sewer or dump site. It was our first time dry-camping and we learned some “do’s-and-don’t’s” from this experience, such as, always have some fresh water in the holding tank and plenty of quilts as it became cold in the mountains!

FIRST FIBERGLASS RALLY

We were itching for a FG (Fiberglass) Rally when we returned to NC with the “Miss Casita”. While we were searching for a Casita we came across many rallies throughout the US and became interested in attending a rally near our home. We found a FG rally at Happy Holiday Campground in Cherokee, NC. There were approximately 40 FG campers of different brands and sizes. We were eager to meet new friends among the campers.  We met a couple from Oak Ridge, NC, who were looking for a camper and we found that we had much in common and now have visited each other at our homes. We were probably the newest owners among the group and became known as the “paper tag” couple!  Some people buy campers to use for camping and some people buy campers as they enjoy making modifications. We really enjoyed the Open House of campers and seeing the many unique modifications that have been made to the FG campers.

AWAY WE GO!

Life is a journey…After retiring from teaching elementary school (mostly second grade) in 2010 and Ron retiring from 48 years of ministry in 2011 we had to buy a house. However after several months in the house, our travel itch became too strong to resist. Ron always had a bucket list and for many years on that list was a desire to own a Casita Travel Trailer. Since my idea of camping is Holiday Inn I wanted a camper with a bathroom. So we decided to purchase the 16-foot Spirit Deluxe Casita Travel Trailer. In October 2013 Ron and I drove to Casita “birthing” center in Rice, Texas, to pick up our camper. 

Ron calls his trips Pauper Travels which is another reason to own a camper. Ron has relatives from NC to MS to LA to TX so we did not have any lodging and meal expenses on our trip to get the camper.