Our favorite places to camp are the campgrounds with a view. There’s nothing like waking up with a view outside the RV or sitting outside in the evening enjoying the scenery around us. We’ve enjoyed campgrounds with views of spectacular mountains, glaciers, forests, and all kinds of water.
For us, the best camping is beside a river, mountain stream, lake, or any body of water for that matter.
We enjoy watching the different water craft go by.
Moon rising at Ortona COE in Labelle, FL
We watched boats going through the lock at Ortona
We sat in our campsite and watched barges on the Mississippi River at Tom Sawyer RV Park in West Memphis, Arkansas
Coal barge going down the Mississippi River from our campsite at Tom Sawyer RV Park
Sometimes we see wildlife.
White Pelicans behind Sunset Isle RV Park in Cedar Key, FL
Egret on the deck behind our campsite at Sunset Isle RV Park in Cedar Key, FL
Pair of Bald Eagles across the canal at Ortona
Blondie loves it when she gets a chance to go swimming.
Blondie swimming behind our campsite at Petersburg COE
Blondie swimming in Lake Ontario at Golden Hill State Park, NY
We love watching the sun rise and set over the water.
Sunrise over the Mississippi River at Tom Sawyer RV Park
Sunrise over Lake Barkley, Kentucky from Canal COE
Sunset at Petersburg COE on J. Strom Thurmond Lake, Appling, GA
Sunset over J. Percy Priest Lake from Seven Points Campground
Has it really been eight years since we bought our RV and took off on our first adventure across our beautiful country?
We purchased our Titanium fifth wheel on June 29, 2006 and spent a couple of nights in the dealer’s lot to get familiar with our new home on wheels. After returning home to Georgia it took about two weeks to pack and get ready for our maiden voyage. With no reservations and no set itinerary we set out on our two month adventure across America and into the Canadian Rockies.
Here are a few highlights of that first amazing journey:
Grand Canyon North Rim – Vista Encantada (Arizona)
Bryce Canyon Hoodoos (Utah)
Capitol Reef National Park (Utah)
Canyonlands National Park (Utah)
Arches National Park – Delicate Arch (Utah)
Elk in Yellowstone National Park (Woming)
Old Faithful (Wyoming)
Lower Yellowstone Falls in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
Bison in Yellowstone National Park (Wyoming)
Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming)
Glacier National Park, Montana
Columbia Icefields, Jasper National Park, Alberta, CanadaDevil’s Tower National Monument (Wyoming)
Mount Rushmore National Monument in the Black Hills of South Dakota
We were hooked! We knew this was the first of many amazing trips to come.
Exactly one year ago today we arrived in Skagway, Alaska on the 31st day of our journey from Georgia! We had a wonderful time as we traveled across the U.S. and through Alberta, British Columbia and Yukon but after 31 days we were ready to see Alaska. Here is my original post from Skagway after we finally arrived.
Day 31: Saturday, June 15, 2013. Watson Lake, Yukon to Skagway, Alaska. Pullen Creek RV Park Site 45 overlooking the Skagway Harbor and surrounded by mountains. 320 miles traveled.
I was talking to a fellow traveler at the RV park in Watson Lake before we left there this morning and I commented that this was our 31st day on the road and we still weren’t in Alaska! Our plan for the day was to continue on the Alaska Highway to Whitehorse, Yukon and enter Alaska northwest of there in several days.
It was another beautiful drive on the Alaska Highway with some nice places to stop along the way.
We crossed the Continental Divide
These purple wildflowers were growing all along the highway
Yukon wildflowers
We crossed the Nitsutlin Bay Bridge to the town of Teslin on the other side
These carvings at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre represent the Wolf, Eagle, Frog, Beaver and Raven clans
We stopped for lunch at a rest stop. While I was fixing lunch Henry walked over to read an interpretive sign. On the sign was a large map of the area. As we were eating he commented that we weren’t very far from Skagway. We talked about it for a few minutes and he was just as anxious to get to Alaska as I was. We had to make a decision as the turnoff to go to Skagway was in about six miles. I entered Skagway into the GPS and it was 59 miles to Whitehorse and about 102 miles to Skagway. It was a no brainer. We were going to Skagway.
We left the Alaska Highway and off we went. We were about halfway to Skagway when I realized it was Saturday of Father’s Day weekend. What if all the rv parks were full? There was no cell service and no way to find out until we got there. I read ahead in the Milepost and saw in red letters warning of an 11 mile descent with 11% grade going into Skagway. I told Henry “There’s something coming up you’re not going to like.” There was no turning back.
The drive on the Klondike Highway was spectacular. Snow covered mountains, deep blue ice covered lakes. There were even two bears along the highway. We couldn’t stop to look at anything.
I kept checking my phone for cell service. We had to get AT&T when we got to Skagway, didn’t we?
Finally, we stopped for pictures at the Welcome to Alaska sign! We were really here!
We finally made it!
We cleared customs with no problem and headed straight for the Pullen Creek RV Park hoping for one of the waterfront sites on the harbor. We asked for 2 nights, maybe 3. He said no problem, go pick one and come back and tell me where you are. After setting up, we were happy to just sit outside and enjoy the view.
An old mine on the way to Skagway
On the South Klondike Highway on the way to Skagway
There is still ice on the lake
Over 70 degrees and there is still snow
Back in the U.S.A.!!!!!
Our campsite is in the parking lot at the Skagway Harbor
View from our campsite
Henry says I looked like I was going to cry when I saw AT&T with full bars and 3G come up on my phone. We called our kids and enjoyed the rest of the night.
While on our RV journeys across the U. S. and Canada in our fifth wheel we have come to many twists in the road.
Moose on the Alaska HighwayBridal Veil Falls Overlook on Icefields Parkway, Alberta, CanadaBig Thompson Canyon Hwy 34 Colorado. This road flooded in September, 2013, about 2 weeks after this photo was takenTwist in the Blue Ridge Parkway
We’re not wandering at the moment. These are just a few of our favorite twists in the road.
On our way back to Georgia we ventured down 10 miles of country roads to Lake Wateree State Park near Winnsboro, South Carolina. Despite being rained on most of the time we enjoyed our stay. The campground was almost full with many families and boaters. All of the campsites had large paved pads and many of the campsites were large enough for an RV, vehicle, and boat. A nice place to kick back and relax before returning home.
Lake Wateree
Dock next to the boat ramp at Lake Wateree
Lake Wateree
Looking at the picnic area from the dock
Along the edges of Lake Wateree behind our campsite
Wandering Dawgs 