Over the weekend our 9 year-old granddaughter took an unconventional route out of their treehouse.  Found out today her arm is broken.  It doesn't require a cast but she will be in a splint brace for 6 weeks.  She's a little monkey so it will be a hard 6 weeks for her.  According to her, the worst part is she can't participate in P.E. class.  Fortunately it's her left arm and she's right-handed.

 At the end of this month we will finally go to Topeka, IN and they will install our theater seating.  My back can't wait!  At the same time, our RV seems much more spacious without anything in that spot, particularly when we are traveling and have the slide opposite of it retracted.  The new seating will actually stick out 2-4" more into the hallway than the original couch, which will make walking through the coach with the slide in tighter.  With the foot rest out all of the way it will be tight walking through the hallway even when the slide is out. We feel comfortable recliners will make it worth it!

The sign at the visitor center before we went on our walk.  I'm thinking it should have been at 6!

Thursday we arrived at the Santee Koa in Santee, SC.  We are staying here for 2 nights, specifically to go to Congaree National Park.  To be honest, I wasn't very excited about visiting this national park.  First, the only camping is walk-in so we are staying about an hour away.  It's a relatively new national park, getting that distinction in 2003.  It protects the largest tract of old growth bottomland hardwood forest left in the United States.  I wasn't sure if it would be very interesting actually.  I had read that almost 80% of the park lies within the flood plain for the Congaree River.  Would there be anything to see?

Drifting on up...

 

Driftwood Beach

Wednesday we moved on up to Georgia, another state I can add to my map.  Jekyll Island campground is our home for the night, and within walking distance to Driftwood Beach.  The driftwood has formed over years of erosion.  On the island you will also find Georgia's only sea turtle educational and rehabilitation facility, and lots of shops and restaurants (due to Covid and time we skipped these).  The island is mostly tourist resorts and attractions.

Good grief, we went from "Mount Rushmore" to an "orange" on our license plate!

We were able to stay at Harvest Hosts through Alabama.  Thanks to Corbin Farms Winery, in Calera, AL, for letting us spend Saturday night.  We appreciated their hospitality and wine!  They were also right off the interstate, making it easy to get there.

S'mores anyone?

We enjoyed having Zia, Cyrus and Samira spend time with us in CT.

 

Thank you to our Harvest Host, Goodwater Vineyards, Mosheim, TN for allowing us to spend Fri. night.  They have tasting rooms in Mosheim and Gatlinburg.  The hosts were super nice.  Coming in on I81 was very narrow.  We would recommend coming in on 321 (Parrotsville), the way we left.  It was secluded at the vineyard and a quiet night.  We woke to a beautiful view.

🎶Blue ridge mountains, Shenandoah River...🎶

Looking down from where we parked for the night is the lavender garden with the mountains in the background.  The store is on the left

Only we're in Virginia tonight, not West Virginia!  Anyone know who sang this song???