These are the trip notes of Molly and Rick, and our adventures with Roxy, our Kodiak Express 172E travel trailer. Our most recent trip is listed first.
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"Up you face!"
Yup, I deserved it this time. When they sat check-in is 3pm, they mean it. Molly said we were leaving too early for our Parkers Creek (Jordan Lake) ... <more>
A 3-day President's Day weekend was the perfect way to start the camping season. And we returned to our old-standby: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. We didn't arrive ... <more>
This was a small, municipal campground on the Cashie River, in Windosor NC. It reminded me a bit of the Neuseway trip. The campground was nice enough (with full ... <more>
There's no better way to recharge, then with a lake-front, mid-week trip to a new campground. Although we've been to Jordan Lake before, this was our first time at <more>
A lot of firsts for us on this trip, our second to First Landing State Park...
- Our first trip without April
- Our first trip without pre-planning meals
- Our ... <more>
Now I remember why we try to avoid holiday weekends — it was PACKED. Luckily, we had the last two spots on the end with Darci & Kyle (and Miles), so we had some ... <more>
A wonderful weekend at Fairy Stone State Park (in Virginia)... with the Stones (Lesley, Mac, and Audrey). The weather was perfect (maybe even a bit too cool at night, ... <more>
It was a windy, stormy drive in, but we made it!
The Cedar Point campground at Croatan Forest is just on the the sound side of the beach. We arrived a bit later ... <more>
Ahhhh.... a relaxing weekened at Cliffs of the Neuse to start our 2022 camping season. The weather was perfect: upper 60°Fs in the day cold enough at night to need a ... <more>
We're excited for warmer weather. We've already started planning & booking trips for this year (got 7 reservations so far):
- Cliffs of the Neuse
- Cedar Point
- ... <more>
Boy was it COLD. Now I know why we rarely camp past November! The Lake Reidsville campground was nice (and only a two hours away), but the sites were a bit tighter ... <more>
So, we've recently started camping Sat-Mon instead of Fri-Sun. And it's nice because campgrounds generally clear out on Sunday mornings, so we frequently get lots of ... <more>
Another nearly-new campground at Raven Rock State Park — only an hour from home!
The spots were large and deep (heh, heh). And even with the partial shade, ... <more>
July's trip (planned for Fair Stone State Park (VA) was cancelled, and we had a very busy summer. Nothing on the books for August, either.
We hope to do more ... <more>
Ah...returning to the site of the most romantic camping trip ever. 
We even hiked and returned to the (nearly) exact location where it all started for us.
Memorial Day weekend at the Lake. With the VanderSliks. For three nights. What could be better?
The trip started out slowly, because we had to double-back to the ... <more>
This month's trip took us to Flanner's Beach in the Croatan National Forest. We had a really deep, wooded spot that was perfectly angled, allowing for another flawless ... <more>
Roxy got new tires today! I roved the old ones myself, and let the tire store put the new ones on the rims. And thanks to my new torque wrench, I was able to put them on ... <more>
Despite all the Covid stuff, 2021 is shaping up to be a good camping year for us! This weekend we visited Jones Lake State Park with Angela and Lily. After a truly ... <more>
A four-night trip to Carolina Beach State Park.... in Feb? It was the perfect way to start the season & to fully test our black and gray water capacities! We arrived ... <more>
Today we took Roxy for her annual inspection at Bill Plemmon's RV. Not much really, just to adjust the breaks, repack the wheel bearings, and warranty renewal. Molly ... <more>
A perfect way to spend Halloween.... on the Aubry farm with friends and family!
We drove up on Saturday for our first dry camping experience. Luckily the house was ... <more>
Ah, mountain driving... not our favorite. But the park is lovely and our spot (#76) at Stone Mountain State Park was huge and backed up to a small creek. Too bad there ... <more>
As we pulled into our spot at the brand new RV sites at Goose Creek State Park, Molly noted that we may be the first people to use the fire pit — the campground is ... <more>
For our "shake down" trip, we returned to where it all started: Cliffs of the Neuse State Park. After a nearly flawless backing-in, we were treated to a gorgeous ... <more>
Back from her yearly checkup with patch roof, new bearings, and a replaced roof vent.... And all tucked in until Spring.
Today, for the first time, I attempted to winterize Roxy on my own. Normally, we let the dealer do it (for a fee) as part of our annual inspection. However, we've got a ... <more>
A three-night, extended weekend at the James Island County Park just outside of Charleston... what could be better? Spending it with Darci and Kyle (and Miles), of ... <more>
Wow... 93°F at the end of September. Who would have thought? We spent the (hot) weekend at Kerr Lake (County Line Park) in a huge, double spot, with our own beach ... <more>
We found the perfect place to say "good-bye" to the summer: First Landing State Park in Virginia Beach. We didn't have a site-specific reservation, but we were able to ... <more>
An extremely uneven site (thanks leveling blocks!). A hotter than normal summer weekend (thanks air conditioner!). An arrest by park rangers and the county sheriff. Our <more>
Another rainy weekend. That makes three trips in a row for us. But heck, a rainy camping weekend is still better than a no camping weekend. Especially when you throw ... <more>
What a start: pouring rain when we arrived... our first "wet setup." It stopped raining shortly after we made camp and cleared for the rest of the trip. Great hike on ... <more>
For our first trip of the season, we wanted a do over at Medoc Mountain State Park. Once again, it rained the entire weekend. Even though it was chilly, Roxy came ... <more>
We celebrated our 3 Year anniversary with Darci & Kyle at Hibernia Campground (at Kerr Lake). Luckily the flooding from Hurricane Florence had subsided and our ... <more>
I wasn't sure if this should go in the journal... We participated in Max's Boy Scout Camping trip at Camp Snyder in Haymarket, Virginia... in a tent!
Ah... Labor Day weekend. The perfect time for long 3-day camping trip. Too bad we didn't make any plans. But... in a last-minute move, reminiscent of a last-second ... <more>
What a find! A nice county park only an hour from home... with a huge lake, nice walking trail, and a dump station on the wrong side of the road!
Two weekends in a row! There’s nothing like a short turn-around-time to test your packing skills!
We hadn’t seen our friends Darci and Kyle (and April’s boyfriend ... <more>
Memorial Day weekend in the woods… what could be better? Originally we were supposed to camp with Lisa & Steve, but their plans changed and Molly and I were forced to go ... <more>
An entire weekend with 15 Stones, Aubreys, Schulmans, Glovers, and Sapirs…. What could be more relaxing? Cinco De Mayo weekend with the entire family at Pocahontas State ... <more>
It seems odd to be be in Myrtle Beach for anything but a Sapir Family Vacation…. But here we go!
Those of you who've been paying (an undue amount of?) attention, may recall that Cliffs of the Neuse State Park is the place where Rick "popped the question in 2014. If you remember that, you might (reasonably) assume that our next camping trip there (which would provide not only an opportunity to re-create the most romantic moment of my life, but also to check out the new "full hookup" RV sites), would have been one we chose to do on our own.
CBSP is a special destination for us. It is the site of our first outing with Roxy… and also the location of one of our most unsuccessful trips ever (in which we broke our tent, nearly got locked out of the park, and slept in the back of our car). We couldn’t wait to see what the long, three-day-weekend held in store for us.
Well, today is the saddest day of the year for Molly... the day we pack up Roxy until Spring. Last week we winterized Roxy. Today, we unpacked everything, did the ... <more>
Molly thought it would be fun to take her niece and nephew (Lola and Max) camping, as a birthday present. They're both great kids and we were looking forward to hiking and fishing and s'mores!
I'm sitting by the fire, listening to the crickets at Hagan-Stone Park. Molly and April are inside, snoozing. It has been a loooooong day.
Only an hour away, Medoc Mountain seemed like the perfect weekend getaway.
This is how it went...
I booked this trip way back in January. In doing so, I was able to score a waterfront site. YES!
But...
Thirty-five years ago, the Holiday Trave-L-Park in Emerald Isle was the Sapir family's "go to" location for summer camping at the beach. Molly thought it would be a great location for Roxy... and a chance for me to relive my childhood.
Our first trip with Lisa an Steve (Rick's sister and brother-in-law) since Roxy and Rust joined team Rhymes With Paper.
Now that we've had Roxy for several months and have been on a few trips, I (Rick) thought I'd start writing in this journal and recording what I've learned (and all the mistakes I've made).
After all, I can't let Molly have all the fun!
Sycamore Lodge is a "members only" RV resort. We sat through a tour and in return (although we did not purchase the $10,000 membership) we received 21 days of "free" camping.
Up at 6:00am.... Why?!?
Bag omelets for breakfast. Earnest plans to hike on some trails... abandoned. Audrey was having a great time, but she could only walk about 5 or 6 sites up "the loop" before she tapped out.
Maiden voyage... 1-night stay at Carolina Beach State Park, with both dogs! Got on the road about noon... so far, so good. (It's now 12:07pm.)
Nervous but very excited. Lots of people passing us, but we're pretending not to notice.