Spring Woods, Rain, and Critters at a Lakeside Campsite!

Monday, April 29, 2013

Yesterday we decided that we needed to check out the nature trail at the Neuseway Nature Center. It was short, but, oh so green! I love the shades of Spring foliage before the Summer sets in and the leaves become darker green, dusty and tattered. The dirt path wound through the woods behind our site and then out to the public area. It was a beautiful Sunday so the area was crowded. Families and kids everywhere! We went back into the Nature Center to check out the animals, including the Cave, a basement they constructed to look like, what else, a cave. The prairie dog was hiding, and Oliver, the tropical bird was shrieking. It was very crowded. We left and walked over to the train that was carrying families around the enclosure. We were surprised to see a miniature version of the Mother Earth Brewing company on the side of the tracks. Indoctrinate those kids early!

When we returned to the rig we spent quite a bit of time determining where to go the next day. Rain was coming in last night and looked to be on and off all week along the coast. We decided to head northwest to have a better chance to get out of the worst of it. We're waiting a few more days to return to Maryland, because there are important papers arriving at Kaylin's.

This morning Greg unhooked the rig in a downpour. I don't normally help and today wasn’t the day to decide to start! Off we went in the rain determined to drive out of it. We took off northwest toward the Virginia border and wound up at the John H. Kerr Dam and Reservoir. We're staying at the North Bend Park campground just over the line in Virginia. We got out from under the rain, but there's still a chance of more tonight and tomorrow. We signed up for two nights. In Alabama, when we stayed at the Tombigbee River site run by the Army Corps of Engineers, we paid half price. We just thought the hosts were being nice. Here again we showed them our America the Beautiful Pass, which we bought mostly to save entry fees to the National Parks. It got us half price again, $12 a night! It states on it that there's no discount for camping, but the Corps has decided otherwise.

Dam spillway structure

Campsite view

This is a beautiful, large campground. There are only a few other campers here. I guess that it's crazy in the summer. This is a large lake and there are lots of campgrounds all around it in both states. I've never heard of it, but it seems to be a big deal in this part of the country. The host couple gave us what they called, the best site in the whole campground. It's a pull-through paved handicapped site that's not reserved, so we could have it. It's right on the lake with a great view, and just enough trees. The first thing I discovered while Greg was hooking up, (I don't do that either!), was a big black snake just below my feet where I was standing on the landscape timbers looking out at the lake! It went into a hole in the timbers. In my younger days I had a horrific snake phobia, but after having black racers living in our yard at home the last few years, I've learned to co-exist with non-venomous snakes. Ask me again how I feel if we run into something worse when we are out West!

There's also an inquisitive female squirrel who waited to see if I was going to feed her, (no!), and several slithery, lizardy, skinky things running around on the timbers. One was very plain and thought he was camouflaged enough for me not to see him, and several others had either a blue tail or a red head. We left the critters and took a walk to the end of the peninsula we are camped on and watched a diving duck splash around nearby.

Bio-major quiz: is this a skink, a gecko, or something else with a name that is fun to say? (added by Greg)

We'll stay two, maybe three nights. Wish we'd discovered this campground sooner. There are some hiking trails and we can ride our bikes around on the paved trails and camp roads. Hopefully my patience will pay off and I'll get a photo of the snake!

Notice anything different about Greg, besides the fact that he's forgotten how to wear a hat properly?