Category: Fun

We have visited this lovely area twice before.  During those visits, the campground was known as Fort Fisher Recreation Area, but the military recently changed the names of several installations, Fort Fisher among them.  Fortunately, only the name changed; everything else remained as we remembered.

Our most recent visit was in 2017, and we were on our first RV trip in an 18-foot Coleman trailer we named Bertha. During check-in, we were assigned a campsite next to the fire hall with water and electricity but no sewer connection.  I was disappointed at first with the assignment, but the large campground was packed, and this was the only site remaining.  It turned out to be a stroke of good luck. The site had a nice view of the Cape Fear River, a stone’s throw from the swimming pool and the recreation center with large showers. When I made a reservation for this trip, I asked again for the fire hall site—we got it.

I mentioned in our last post that the weather for our trip had started with sweltering temperatures.  Those hot temps followed us to Kure Beach.  I’m not going to dwell on the weather except to say that we were forced to stay out of the heat (or in the pool) during the middle of the day. Helen and I rose early to take beach walks and avoid the worst.

Near the beach access is a prominent feature along the shore known as the Coquina Outcrop.  At first glance, it appears as nothing more than an algae-covered rock. Still, it is a complete ecosystem with many microorganisms between the cracks and crevices, offering a buffet for gulls and other shorebirds. I always took my camera with me to capture the activity.

On a few mornings, I got up extra early to capture the sunrise over the surf. It was worth the effort, and the sunrise was spectacular on those days.

We would also use the early time to let Mortimer get his first taste of beach life.  He seemed little impressed.

During the day, we spent time in Dora with both air conditioners running.  Helen worked on her puzzle, and I read books.  We used the swimming pool every day that it was open.  Helen found some fresh watermelon that was so good even Mortimer liked it. He got more than his share.

One of Helen’s co-workers from Maryville College visited while we were there. Katherine lives in Wilmington now, and living on the coast appears to agree with her.  It was good to see her, and she looks great.

Late in the afternoon, when things cooled off a bit, I ventured out long enough to capture images of the sun setting over the Cape Fear River–Mother Nature cooperated.

Before we left Blakeslee, we took the time to thank the staff at the facility. They were accommodating and friendly.  The facility is well-maintained, the pool area is immaculate, and the showers are spotless.  We will be back.

Next up, Onslow Beach, NC…we’re Easin’ Along.

Whew! Where did August go? In this post, I will summarize a small sampling of where we’ve been and will do a complete post on each stop later. Right off the top, let’s say that August has been a “beach.”

In the most recent post of Easin’ Along, Helen and I left you in Charleston, where we had a delightful week with our two sons and their families. Once we said our goodbyes and exchanged hugs, Helen and I drove back to Knoxville to pick up Dora, our fifth wheel with two new axles and four new tires. Two days and four loads of laundry later, we drove to Columbia, SC, to spend one night at the military campground at Fort Jackson. We rose early the following day and went to Kure Beach, NC, for a seven-night stay at one of my favorite military campgrounds–Blakeslee Air Force Recreation Area.

Once again, the heat was unbearable, so we used the early morning hours to do our beach walking. The sunrise was stunning. The photo at the top is an image of the area of Kure Beach known as the Cochina Outcrop. I’ll explain the significance in a future post. The campground sits adjacent to the Cape Fear River.

After seven days, we moved to Onslow Beach, a private recreation area on the Camp LeJeune Marine Base. We had never visited Onslow Beach before, but this campground deserves a return trip. We walked early every day to avoid the scorching temps. On one of those walks, I picked the largest shark’s tooth I’ve ever found. My tooth chart indicates this one as a tooth from a Great White.

The Marine Aviation at Cherry Point, NC, was next on the itinerary, and we looked forward to it because the reviews were good, and others had recommended it highly. During this visit, we drove to Emerald Isle, NC, to get our “beach fix” and tour the area. We also went to the charming waterfront city of New Bern, NC. Again, more later. Hurricane Idalia was a tropical storm when she passed over Cherry Point and dumped heavy rain on us. We survived.

We’re now on the Outer Banks and camped in a nice campground in Kill Devil Hills. I’ll save that postcard for September.

Despite the heat, we’re having a wonderful time, and Mortimer has adjusted nicely to trailer life. Stay with us–we’re Easin’ Along.

We try very hard to have a family get-together every summer. It’s not easy because our family is bi-coastal.  Our oldest son, Justin, lives on the California coast, while our other son, Collin, lives in Charleston, SC. The timing and logistics can sometimes be challenging, but everything usually comes together. We typically gather somewhere in the Knoxville area, but because Justin had yet to visit Collin’s home in Charleston, we asked Collin and Austin if we could get together there. They both agreed and rolled out the welcome mat for us.

When Helen and I visit our family in Charleston, we take Dora, our fifth wheel, to make things easier for everyone.  Collin installed a 50 amp receptacle for the trailer so that we have power and a hose connection for water near where we park.  We call the arrangement a “Mother-in-Law Suite on Wheels.” However, this year, our trailer awaits replacement axles for the two we bent in an unfortunate meeting with a pothole in Texas last winter. The replacements had not arrived when we needed to leave, so we rented a smaller trailer, which served us well during the visit.

Our trip began with a mission. Collin and Austin asked us to pick up our granddaughters on the way to Charleston.  Both girls were completing a two-week stay at a summer camp in the North Carolina mountains, and we needed to be at the pickup point before 10 a.m. on the day of their departure. We could make it in time from Knoxville, but why rush?  We spent the night at Harrah’s Hotel in Cherokee and made it with a few minutes to spare. The challenge began when the girls brought out their gear, which we crammed (barely) into an already-loaded truck and took off after much prodding from camp counselors, already irritated at how much time we needed to load. At the same time, other parents sat patiently in their vehicles.

Once loaded, we had a delightful time chatting with the girls during the five-hour drive to Charleston.  They are growing up too quickly, and we savored the time.  Once home, they wasted no time catching up with neighborhood friends.

Our California kids arrived later that evening and were met by stifling heat and humidity—something not found in Southern California. From that point on, the guiding principle for the family get-together was to stay out of the heat (116-degree heat index) as much as possible.  Collin’s swimming pool saved us. We gathered there soon and often.

We had several outings planned to help combat the heat, and one of the first was to see an afternoon showing of “Barbie” at a local theater. We had the entire theater to ourselves.  The kids enjoyed the movie immensely. Next time, Big Daddy (me) will hope for a “Bond flick”.

On another day, we walked through the Charleston Market—the air-conditioned side, on our way to the Ferry to Fort Sumter.  I enjoy the Market but seldom buy anything. Nevertheless, browsing through the merchandise and chatting with the merchants is always a lot of fun.

Helen and I went with our Charleston family to the Fort Sumter National Monument once before. Still, we thought the California kids would find it interesting and enjoy the Ferry ride through Charleston Harbor. We thought the hot weather would reduce the crowd size, but we were wrong; the ferry was loaded with tourists eager to learn about the first shots fired in America’s Civil War. Volunteers on the island do a fabulous job answering questions and presenting a narrative of the battles there. The consensus was that all had a good time.

Despite the heat, we enjoyed some activities besides swimming in the pool. We took everyone to nearby Folly Beach so the California kids could swim in the Atlantic.  Abby, our oldest granddaughter, showed everyone her skills on the Boogy Board—letting us know that waves in the Pacific are stronger and providing good training for boarding in the east. She handled the board very well.

Collin lives on a marsh opposite the Charleston Harbor. His dock sits over a creek, making for good fishing. Our grandson, Carter, spent time throwing a net for minnows to use as bait. Justin and Collin caught Redfish quickly, but all were rooting for Carter to hook one. On the last day, he caught a nice Redfish and displayed it proudly.

For meals, we cooked most of the time, highlighted by a Pizza night where Collin prepared a variety of pizzas and cooked them on a stone in the Big Green Egg. The array included his specialty pizza of caramelized onions and Feta. They disappeared quickly. Collin honed his pizza skills working in a restaurant while attending Indiana University, proving that college does prepare one for later life.

Our dining experience at a Japanese Steakhouse was entertaining as Chef Matt skillfully wielded his spatulas and created an onion volcano. The meal ended with him tossing chicken and shrimp nuggets into the air for us to catch. Carter and Collin caught them successfully.

That’s our week in a nutshell. This summary excludes the giggles, the games, and the good times shared by our bi-coastal grandchildren. Helen and I are determined to keep the connections alive for them and for the two doting grandparents who love them dearly.  Our time together as a family always ends with big hugs, memories of shared experiences, and everyone smiling broadly. Helen and I are Easin’ Along to the next stop on our road trip, but we could have extended this stop indefinitely.

P.S. Easin’ Along postings have been infrequent this summer while we acclimate a very lively English Bulldog into the household and hover over repairs to Dora, our trailer. Readers haven’t missed much, but I’ve missed hearing from you and my blogger friends. We’re on the road for six weeks, and I look forward to sharing the trip with each of you, so please come back. Next up—Kure Beach, NC.