Fri - Dec 27/13

The adventure starts again.

We are heading for the Olde Mill Stream RV Resort in Umatilla, FL. We were up at 5:30 am packing the items that would freeze into the RV. All loaded and departed at 7:30 am.

Our first stop was to pick up Egg McMuffin Breakfasts at McDonald's (at MacEwen's Gas Bar) in Morrisburg, ON. This is our traditional trip start.

 

 

We are leaving just after an ice storm. We had to use a hair dryer to thaw the locks to load the RV. We were lucky - most of the storm passed us by. I tried to have the snow and ice removed from the RV roof at the Truck Wash. We got some off; but most remained as it was frozen solid! Hopefully, it will not do any damage to the car as it thaws.

 

 

As my wife says, "At least Ice-Storms are pretty. No moments of shear terror and destruction like tornados or hurricanes."

 

The travelling on Hwy 401 was fine until we pulled off to cross into the USA at the Ivy Lea Bridge. There was a back-up of traffic from the bridge toll booth to the Hwy 401 Exit! It took us 2 hours to clear customs and start heading south on I-81.

 

 

 

As usual it was snowing from Watertown to Syracuse. It snows here in clear weather due to the "Lake Effect". The road had a very light coating and thankfully, no "Black Ice".

 

We turned south on I-481 to bypass Syracuse and reconnected with I-81 after about 13 miles. The bypass adds 3 miles; but it is an easier drive with less traffic. The snow stopped a short time later as we headed south.

 

 

The travelling was good to our first stop - the Flying J at New Milford, PA. Gas prices in each state vary. We always fill-up before leaving the USA. Making it to PA saves about $0.15 over NY and $1.00 per gallon over Ontario.

 

Charlotte help by cleaning the mirrors while I filled with fuel. She picked up a coffee and sandwiches in the Flying J and was back before I finished. Travelling wasn't too bad. There were off and on spots of snow/rain that froze to the windshield. Only the very ends of the wipers froze up; but the vision was good for the most part.

 

We lost another hour approaching Harrisburg, PA. The first time in this section we had thought there was an accident or construction; however, it is just congestion as I-83 comes in from the East to join I-81.

 

Speed improved from the stop and go North of Harrisburg to moderate South of Harrisburg, then normal once we got past Carlisle, PA. In Less than 45 minutes we passed into Maryland, 10 minutes later - into West Virginia and less than a half hour later into Virginia.

 

In less than half an hour we were fueling up at the Flying J at Clear Brook, VA. We fill at Flying J because they have RV lanes that make it easier to fill. Often the convenience store gas bars have the gas pumps too close to the building meaning 60 feet of RV w/Car-in-tow can't turn after filling.

 

 

Our last stop for the day was 15 minutes later at the Walmart in Winchester, VA (@ Exit 313 (2350 S Pleasant Valley Rd) - the other Walmart doesn't allow overnighting.) This, again, is our traditional stop for the night. This Walmart doesn't have a McD's or Subway, so we pick up a box of Cinnamon Buns and a box of Apple Fritters for the next day's breakfast.

 

 

Supper tonight was Five Guys Burgers and Fries (located near Walmart - over by the Home Depot).

 

There were dozen other RV's at Walmart tonight. That is about usual. No snow like last year and much warmer. Despite being slowed by 3 hours (customs = 2 / congestion = 1) we were in bed by 9 pm.

 

Even though we could have put the slide out and turned on the generator and the fireplace heater or one or both of the propane heaters - we like sleeping in the cold under a pile of blankets. It's just part of the adventure!

 

All in all - not a bad day!