KOA - Greensboro, NC

Well, it wasn't in the plans to stop at another KOA on this trip, but I'm sure glad we've stumbled upon how easy it is to grab a site along with way with the KOA App.  These spots are so conveniently located and easy to park-and-go; I'm so thankful for these "kampgrounds!" 

We stayed at the Greensboro, NC KOA Sunday night - I was able to book a site via the app and when we arrived about 8pm there was an envelope taped to the front door with our map in it.  (Loved the hand written font and the fun camping sticker - someone in the office enjoys their job!)  I really love that they draw lines and arrows to tell us where we're heading to on the map - such a great help in the dark!

Site #22 had a low hanging electric line across it - I had to get out and watch to ensure that it didn't get hung up on our front AC (oh, the joys of having a 13'6" rig!). We also needed to level side-to-side, but we didn't unhook - we're planning to be up and out to finish off our journey over to Raleigh asap tomorrow.

We also really appreciate that these KOAs have a fenced in "Kamp K9" dog park - well, Diesel really appreciates it.  I swear, he refused to do #2 until we took him off leash in the park, and then immediate came back over and touched his leash - his signal for "ok, I'm ready to go now."  Dober Dork.  

We're trying out the fresh tank and water pump tonight - as we may not have water access at the NC State parks we're planning to stay in this week (longer story there, it'll be in another post in a bit).  And our furnace stopped working again soon after we started it up, but we were able to reset it and it's working now (oh, blessed heat!).  Starting to feel like we're becoming seasoned campers from this trip. Clark's face above is how I'm feeling this evening!

KOA - Cartersville/Cass-ville White, GA

 

Well, we had originally planned to make it to Anderson, SC for tonight, but with a ridiculous amount of traffic around Look Out Mountain, we only made it to Cartersville, GA. What should have taken us 2.5 hours took 4.5 instead.  Oy.  

At least the scenery along the way was pretty.

So, we used the KOA app and found our nearest kampground, and luckily they had plenty of spots available. 

We stayed the night at the Cartersville/Cass-ville White, GA KOA.  We didn't have a reservation for this one, so it was a bit different checking in.  We looked at the map, to identify what 50amp/Full hook-ups were open (any site with an orange cone in it was reserved), then drove the campground to find one that would work for us.  Once we were settled in, I walked back over to the office and filled out a form with our contact and payment info and put it into the mail slot in the office door. Done!

We packed up and hit the road Sunday morning rested, refreshed - and SHOWERED!  Omg, I forget sometimes how amazing it feels to get a good night's sleep and take a hot shower!  Full hook-ups, water heater working, and furnace on - it was splendid!

On we go!!

KOA - East Nashville/Lebanon, TN

A bit of detour along the way - we're taking a Northern route so that we can stop in Nashville for one of our favorite vices - specialty bourbon.  We're staying close to the city so that Saturday I can run over to the bottle shop at Belle Meade Bourbon and pick up a bottle of their recent Craftman Cask Collection: Black Belle.  We did a weekend road trip a few years ago when they released their first Honey Cask - and WOW - it's worth the drive.  I was so excited that they did a digital/reservation release for this one and that it lined up with our cross country travel.

Tonight we're staying at the East Nashville/Lebanon, TN KOA.  Barb, from the front office, called us yesterday to let us know that the office would be closed for Christmas, and we'd find our reservation in the late check in box on the side of the office.  What's interesting about staying at a KOA is that you don't know your site number until you check in.  

We were in site #25 at this kampground.  Crushed gravel for the pad - and not terrible level, we ended up just keeping the truck and camper hooked together (we were seriously only going to be here for less than 24 hours, a side from the quick trip over to the distillery).   In our welcome package we also found this note:

And no kidding - it was going to be one of the coldest nights we've ever camped, and we thought we were prepared - we had bought a heated water line, a few extra blankets for the couch and bed; even Diesel got a heating pad for his fluffy bed.

THIS was EPIC cold.  And we had eeeeepppiiiiiccccc issues... I'll give you more on that in another post. 

We called up to the office in the morning - we were going to need a few extra hours in the site, and were willing to buy another night, but Barb told us they were booked full.  Crap.  I asked if there was any way to get a late checkout, and she said she could coordinate for us to stay till check-in from the next guest (from 11 to 12, so one extra hour).  We ran our errands, and as we were on our way back, she called to say that the guest who was coming in to our site was arriving later, and we didn't "need to drive at break-neck speed" to get back and get out.  Such a small thing, but after the long hard cold night we'd had, oh it so warmed our hearts to have that little bit of extra hospitality and warmth from her.  Barb, if you're reading this: THANKS AGAIN!

It was a cold, cold, COLD night and day. But on we went, heading towards our next stop in Anderson, NC.  Or so we thought..... 

Meow-ry Cat-Mas.

 

She doesn't get to travel with us 

(and she's probably glad for that!) but

Tali wishes you all a very Merry Christmas.

She also says: The tree may be small, 

but she can still destroy it.   

KOA - North Little Rock/Junction I-40, AR

We're on our way for our first #CrossCountryChristmas!! Leaving out from Houston, TX today with Raleigh, NC as our destination.  Three nights in KOAs along the way, then a full week in the Raleigh area visiting family (and enjoying the COLD!) before taking a slower pace back home to Houston on the return trip.  So excited!!

These next three posts will just be short reviews of the KOAs that we're staying at along with way, along with a little humor from one of the best Christmas movies out there: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. 

Tonight we're staying at the North Little Rock/Junction I-40, AR KOA.  The check in process after dark was super easy - on the side of the office was a box with all the night's reservations, a map with arrows marked to our spot, and details for the wifi and cable (not that we would use it.)

We were in site #G6 - a concrete pad, just about the easiest pull thru ever, and 50amp.  We got there with a bit of energy to spare, so I hooked up the Christmas lights (it was Christmas Eve after all!) and we settled in for a long winters nap.

The next morning we took Diesel over to try out the dog park - Kamp K9!  It was so great to have a place where he could be off leash for a little bit and sniff and run around.

We packed up and were on our way to Nashville, TN for our next stop.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like CAMP-mas!

 

Decorations hung by the, um, campsite with care - in hopes that St Nicholas would roast marshmallows with us there!  Really, though, everything is secured with Command Hooks or this crazy awesome tape.  

Happy Holidays and a very merry CAMPmas!

Camping Cache: Mother Neff State Park

 Found:

CCC Company 817 Flag Pole Site

Bubba's Bird Blind

Neff-R-T-T

TXGCC13 Mother Neff I

This trip included our 50th find! So I wanted to commemorate it with a few items.  First, a Milestone set - one with a trackable keychain that we released into the cache and a beautiful matching coin that I've hung on the wall of the camper:

We also sent off a Signal the Frog holiday post card coin and a holly berry key chain - both trackables.  Though sometimes we don't take anything, it's always fun to trade for items in the caches and we enjoy leaving high-value things like the coins and trackables.  It funny though, what things you'd consider high value - one of the last caches we found had a young kids drawing:

And, I was super excited to trade off the post card coin for a Smokey the Bear sticker! (I guess I'm a bit of a kid at heart!)