Sat - 13 Dec/14

We celebrated Christmas with the family previously and now are doing the final preparations for going south.

On Friday we moved the RV from Nick's RV Storage to the driveway at their home. The RV is too long for our driveway - it crosses over the sidewalk. With no overnight parking on the streets during the winter season we decided to save time by having everything ready to go for Saturday morning by backing the car into Liz (daughter), Nick (her hubby)  and Marty's (our grandson) driveway. We then backed in the motorhome and hooked the car up to the tow bar.

Our other daughter (Kat) lent us her Honda CR-V which we packed with the last minute items for the motorhome. The items that could not be harmed by freezing were already packed. We borrowed Liz's VW and headed home for our last sleep at home before departure.

We were up at 6 am. We packed the remainder of our items which consisted mostly of items that could freeze, the computers and the printer and our medicine. Liz's VW was packed. After a short 10 minute drive from our home to Liz's we packed the remainder of the items in the motorhome, put her car keys on her front desk (without even waking Buddy, the Dog) and began our adventure.

First stop was 20 minutes up the road (Hwy 2) in Morrisburg, ON at the McD's. I double checked all the connections and the Brake Buddy (which brakes the car when the motorhome brakes) while Charlotte went in to pick up McMuffin breakfasts. We then turned onto HWY 401 and headed west at 8 am - right on schedule.

Good to leave the snow behind! At least the roads were bare.

I did not expect such a crowd  (at least 60 autos in line) at the American Customs (Alexandria Bay, NY Port of Entry)  when we crossed over at Ivy Lea. Then, I remembered they were probably going Christmas Shopping in Watertown or Syracuse, NY.

We would be on I-81 for the rest of the day. As usual there were a few light sprinkles of snow between Watertown and Syracuse. There can be "Lake-effect snow" even on perfectly sunny days. This is produced during cooler atmospheric conditions when cold winds move across long expanses of warmer lake (Ontario) water, providing energy and picking up water vapor, which freezes and is deposited on the leeward (downwind) shores.

We took I-481 to bypass Syracuse. It is a few miles longer; but a much easier ride. I do not think it is any longer as the the extra distance is compensated for by the higher average speed limit. (I-81 slows to 55 mph through Syracuse).

The first scheduled fill-up is our usual stop at the New Milford Flying J. Truck stops are often located just inside state borders in the states with the lower gas taxes. Pennsylvania gas prices are usually $0.15 a gallon cheaper than New York state.

We usually fill at Flying J (now owned by Petro) because they have RV lanes which makes it quicker and easier to pull in a fill up ($2.709 per U.S. Gallon). It is not always possible to get 60 feet of motorhome and toad (term for car in tow) into corner gas stations.

This fill will get us to our next Flying J just inside the border of Virginia. This, again, is a usual stop.

The only construction slow downs were at "Bingo" (Binghampton, NY) and the Scranton Wilkes-Barre corridor. They are always in a state of highway construction through these areas, especially through the latter.

Soon we were clear of the mountains of Pennsylvania. Clear driving all the way with the only extra traffic being from Harrisburg on through Carlisle, PA. Carlisle is a major transportation hub with several thousands transports loading and unloading at terminals connecting East-West and North-South interstates with the major cities of the Northeastern USA.

Our next landmark is crossing the Mason-Dixon line. The Mason–Dixon line (or Mason's and Dixon's line) was surveyed between 1763 and 1767 by Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon in the resolution of a border dispute between British Colonies in Colonial America.  It is still a demarcation line among four U.S. states, forming part of the borders of PA  (Pennsylvania), MD (Maryland) , DE (Deleware) and VA (Virginia). WV (West Virginia was originally part of  VA). It also played an important part in the Civil War (Emancipation Proclamation / 13th Amendment).

This means we are getting closer to our night stop. We soon pass through narrow sections of MD and WV and cross into VA. Again, The Clear Brook Flying J is just inside the VA border.

We usually go another 10 miles down the road to Winchester, VA and stop at Walmart for the evening. We really did not need anything at Walmart and since there was a parking spot available in the RV parking area we decided to stay at the Flying J for the night instead. This would save us time in the morning compared to driving to Walmart.

Even though there were several RV spots available when we pulled in I decided to park first and fill in the morning. This is a lesson I learnt the hard way. On a previous trip when we first started RVing I pulled in to fill first. By the time I had filled the tank all the RV parking spots were taken.

Bonus: we had a nice supper at Denny's (most Flying J's have one) with Charlotte having a thanksgiving turkey plate with all the fixin's and I a "Super Bird" - a toasted Turkey and cheese melt with homefries.

Although the RV actually has 2 propane heaters (most have only 1) we enjoy bundling up. It 'Twas the Night Before Christmas...I in my toque (to keep the bald head warm). Extra blankets (real wool) keep us warm even when it is below zero and the cool air gives a more refreshing night's sleep. We actually look forward to doing this as we go south.

Early to bed and early to rise is what we like to do when travelling.