A Different Point of view......

Hey there everyone, its Jackson blogging today.  Dad said I could do a blog post since we are camping, and I haven't done one since this summer from the Outer Banks. 

He even let me take some pictures of things I saw that I liked for my post today.  I sure hope everyone is having a great weekend.  We went on a long walk around the campground after breakfast and dad let me use his camera.  I only almost dropped it in the creek just once. 

We even went for a ride to the Park Headquarters where I got to take some more pictures, and then to another campground.  We didn't take any pictures there. 

I hope you enjoy my pictures......




This is one of those great big picnic tables from
my point of view.

A fence row.

The water fountain next to our camper.
 

A twisted vine.
 

How can I grow wild on a leash?  It's not fair!

A neat bench!

The Ranger's Truck.

A big rock.

A fire pit. Lots of good smells here!

Another fence.

Our camper.  I asked dad why my name
wasn't on the sign, he said to ask
cousin Sharon the next time I
saw her!

 

Thanks for checking in today. Until next time, stay safe out there.....-J,R&T.


Camping at Raccoon Branch.....

Happy Labor Day weekend!  We are camping (something we said we would never do) this weekend.  We are at Raccoon Branch NFS Campground in the Jefferson National Forest in the western end of Virgina.  We are one of five sites with campers and that's counting the campground host and campground volunteer. 

This is a odd little campground.  No showers, but has flush toilets.  It has 30 amp electric and water hook-ups at 8 sites total.  (Two of which are reserved for the host and volunteer.)  It has awesome WIFI too. 

This morning is cloudy and cool.  We are most likely going to have some afternoon showers over the weekend due to the left overs from hurricane Issac. 

This morning was sleep late (7:30ish), fix breakfast (cheese omlets, sausage, and toasted bagels), clean-up, and we will be off to explore soon.  We are close to the little town of Sugar Grove, VA so we will be checking it out. 

Here's a couple of pictures for you to enjoy......

Our Campsite #15

 

View of the campground.

Cooking breakfast outdoors.

We are also going to post a picture of the picnic tables here.  They are ginormonous.  Rob says would take four men and a front-end loader to move them.  But they are nice. 

Until next time, stay safe out there......-R,T,&J

Back to School........

Today is the absolute last day of summer vacation for students here in our neck of the woods.  Tomorrow morning bright and early thousands of students will begin the long trek back to school for the new school year.  We have been working hard for the last week and a half (officially) and  working un-officially for the last month getting everything ready for tomorrow.  

Trisha teaches Kindergarten and for the next few days, she will have to deal with both kids and their parents and all the tears.  Rob teaches in High School, so not as many tears, but lots of nervous young people for sure.

So in  honor of the First Day of School, here are a few images Rob pulled off of the web for you to enjoy.  Also, just five short days of school until our next camping trip. YIPEE!

 Thanks for checking in today, until next time, stay safe out there....-R,T&J.

The Train Depot's New Home...

We hope everyone is having a great weekend.  Rob cleaned house this morning (well Trisha helped some until it was time to go get a pedicure).  Then after a late lunch/early supper, we went to Concord to Pet Smart, Target, and then treated ourselves to Starbucks.  Not a bad way to spend a Saturday.  

Rob wanted to post a few more pictures from the Landis Train Depot move.  Of course, it was actually moved on his first day back from summer break, so while he missed the actual move, he did get some before and after pictures.

Here are just a few......

If you look close, you can see one of the
workmen digging out from underneath the
foundation of the depot.

Here's the truck hooked up to the depot, it is
nearly ready to move.  The chimneys
have to be removed first.

Here you can see workmen starting to deconstruct the
chimneys.  If you look closely, you can see a brick
flying through the air.

Here's the Depot, sited at it's new home.  It will have
a stone foundation, which will be built to look
as if the Depot had always been there.  Note:
Landis was still a passenger train
stop in the early 1960's.  Mail was
still delivered by train for a
few years later.

Click here to view a video from the Salisbury Post's website with some pictures of the actual move.  

Also, be sure to check our Upcoming Trips page.  We are planning to go camping on Labor Day weekend.  Until next time, stay safe out there....-R,T,&J

Scooter Brown is Back in Town.....

Well o.k., technically he lives about five houses down the street, but that's all right.  Scooter has been hanging out here since Wednesday when his people when to the beach.  He gets to go back home this coming Wednesday.  He's been lots of fun to have around.  

Here's some pictures we have taken of Scooter and Jackson playing and having fun....

Have a great rest of the weekend!  The Train Depot is scheduled to begin being moved on Tuesday.  It's supposed to take three days to move it lest than three blocks!  Rob hopes to get some pictures and if so, he'll be posting them for sure.

Until next time, stay safe out there...-R,T,&J.

Big Things Happening in Our Small Town......

Welcome to Landis!  This is our hometown.  It is one of those small, southern, former textile mill-towns that you can only pretty much read about these days.  But that's not to say nothing much is going on in Landis these days.

Landis is also one of those small towns where the railroad tracks run right through the center of town, along side main street.  We live on main street, so yup, we live across the street from the train tracks.  These aren't just any old railroad tracks either.  They happen to be the main-line rail for Norfolk-Southern between Atlanta and Richmond, so they are busy night and day with freight and passenger service.  Oh joy!

So the big happening is about our train depot.  It as stood in the same spot where it was built for over 100 years.  But it won't be much longer.  See, the Town of Landis, with assistance from Norfolk-Southern is moving the Depot across the tracks to form a new park.  Also, Norfolk-Southern is planning to add a second track to this part of their line. The old Post Office and Jail were moved last week.  The plan is to move the Depot this week. Rob scooted up-town this afternoon to snap a few photos of the prep-work, and while there ran into his first boss from his first real job at the mill.  He was there to take pictures also, so we stood and talked for awhile.   

Rob will be taking more pictures of the move if he catches it in progress, and also of the final location of the depot.  

Rob says it will sure seem strange for the depot not to be where it's been his entire life!  Check back again soon for a few more pictures.  Until then, stay safe out there...-R,T,&J.

Twenty-eight and Counting........

That's how many nights we've spent camping so far this year.  To some that's a lot, to others, not so much.  But for us, it's been just right.

Happy Sunday afternoon everyone.  We know we haven't posted anything in a week or so, but we've been busy.  We've put Trisha's classroom back together.  She's spent two full days at school doing pre-screening for her incoming class.  We've both been busy with doctor's appointments/procedures for both of our parents.  Plus we've both been working on back to school shopping.  You know, school supplies, new shoes, clothes, etc.  Add to that all the pretty normal day-to-day activities, and there just hasn't been much time for camping related fun.  Don't worry though, we are working on a few more trips before the end of the year.


We've sorta talked about painting our bedroom next week, but I don't know.  We'll have to see.  Plus, Scooter Brown will be back to visit for a few days the middle of next week.  That should be a hoot.


Here are three photo collages Rob made today to remember the trips so far this year, and to hold us over until our next trip coming up  soon.....

Enjoy!  Until next time, stay safe out there...-R,T,&J.