December - South Carolina

Leave our friends in Carolina Beach and continue our Trek south.

Spend my birthday at Huntington Beach State Park home of Atalaya Castle, the former beachside home of philanthropist and author Archer Huntington and his wife, renowned 20th-century sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington

The name "Atalaya" is a Spanish word. It mean "watchtower." The Castle took three years to build. It was built by a local contractor using local labor. Archer Huntington wanted to be sure that the local community benefited from the project - something that was much appreciated during the Depression. Archer Huntington seems to have completed the construction project without paper plans of any kind.

Atalaya was a 30-room building modeled after a Moorish castle and dominated by a 40-foot tall tower that was used to store water. The Castle was square, with walls that were 200 feet long on the Catle's exterior. Rooms were built along the inside of the Castle's walls and the center of the residence was a palm-lined courtyard. The home included a studio for Anna Huntington which opened into its own small enclosed courtyard.

In 1960, Anna directed that 2,500 acres of the Brookgreen property – which included Atalaya - be designated as a state park, the area now known as Huntington Beach State Park.

Next is Buck Hall Regional Park, Beaufort, SC and New Years Eve at Hunting Island State park and a Blue Moon.

Huntington Beach State Park

Atalaya Castle Courtyard

Atalaya Castle

Atalaya Studio

Master Bath

Buck Hall Regional Park, SC

Beaufort, SC

View of Campground from Hunting Island Lighthouse

Biking on Beach

Hunting Island Lighthouse

Blue Moon

December - North Carolina

Arrive in Beaufort, NC. Weather is Sunny but cold. A pretty little town. Visit Nearby Fort Macon and the NC Aquarium (Just in time to see Santa!)  Spend Christmas with our friends Ed &Leslie!

Sometimes I get a little Crabby!

December - Outer Banks

Snow is predicted for the DC area so we continue our Trek south. Take the Bridge over to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

Continue on the Ferry to Ocracoke Island and spend the night at a small campground "Teeters".

The next day we take the Cedar Island Ferry to Beaufort, NC.

Outer Banks Bridge

Hatteras Light

Ocracoke Ponies

Ocracoke Lighthouse

Cedar Island Ferry

Beaufort, NC

December - Washington DC

Start our Trek down the coast with a stop to visit Gary's nephew & family - Jake, Barb, Quinn & Reilly then on to Washington D.C. with a visit to Gary's cousin, Brian. Visit the Air/Space Museum and Museum of Natural History.

Cherry Hill Campground

Smithsonian Air Space Museum

All systems go

Smithsonian - Museum of Natural History

Hope Diamond

Washington Monument

Lincoln Memorial

National Christmas Tree

White House

Pohick Bay Campground, DC

1st Stop - 1st Breakdown - Connecticut

After a great time with Robin & Bill, we get ready to leave but snow is forcasted so we stay one more night and leave the next day. While traveling down the Westchester Cross Expressway we are enveloped in a cloud of smoke?? No turns out to be steam. Heater Hose broke!

Gary gets it fixed good enough to get off the expressway and we look for a parking lot to pull into. Turn into what looks like a business park parking lot - but is a roadway into a underground parking garage to an enclosed apartment complex. Must unload the car from the tow dolly, disconnect the tow dolly from the RV and back it up and out.

DECEMBER 4 - ON THE ROAD

We say goodbye to Atlantic Oaks Campground and begin our "Trek" across the USA! First Stop to visit friends, Robin & Bill in Stamford, CT

ATLANTIC OAKS - EASTHAM, CAPE COD - 1st Workamping Job

After deciding to start a life of full time rving - we join Workamper.com and the first job I see is for a full time/year round position managing a campground in Cape Cod, MA.  We are making a trip there to visit my sister so we decide to set up an interview for "practice".  Be careful what you ask for!  We got the job, sold 2 houses and 2 businesses and headed to the Cape April 2007!  All our worldly belongings fit  in a Pod.

Our 1st home - 1996 Americoach:

We are offered a small 400 sq foot cottage to live in

It is quite cozy for 2 a dog and a cat.  Once we finish training and replace the Managers in November we move on up to the 2300 square foot apartment above the store. 

Master Bedroom

Master Bath

Bedroom 2

Bedroom 3

Bath 2

View from upper deck

The Camprgound was located in Eastham, MA in the heart of the National Seashore.  We were sandwiched between Nauset Light and Coast Guard Beaches

Coast Guard Beach

Nauset Lighthouse

But, we preferred the Bay Side and Kingsbury Beach

Or First Encounter Beach where the Pilgrims first met the local Indians.

A great place for clamming and kayaking

Our favorite things to do:

Go to Chatham Fishing Pier to watch the Fisherman unload their catch and watch the Seals hoping for some to fall overboard

Whale Watching up in P-Town (Provincetown)

Beach Combing  : [)

Sunsets with the Steel Band playing at Rock Harbor

or First Encounter at low tide

Get some fresh Cranberries

Watch the Herring Run at the Brewster Gristmill

Tour an old Sea Captains House

Captain Penniman House

Visiting the National Seashore Visitors Center and looking at my all-time favorite view

Finding Old Shipwrecks on the Beach

Riding on the Cape Cod Rail Trail

Though we wouldn't miss managing the Campground we will miss the beauty and serenity of the Cape.

We officially hit the road full-timing

December 4, 2009 in our new to us 2002 Safari Trek