Hi Ho Hi Ho It's Down 95 we Go

[FtW Mike]

So, 2 weeks from now we'll be in Williamsburg Va at the ANVIL CG . This will be our 1st stop. Normally I would stop at the KINGS DOMINION KOA but Lucille wanted to do something different this year. So we will check out Colonial Williamsburg for the holidays and go see the holiday village in BUSH GARDENS over the weekend.
I had considered traveling down route 1 and crossing the Bay Bridge and Tunnel but the restrictions and narrow tunnels are something I would prefer to avoid. Hence, we'll run the 95 to 64 route. Mileage both ways are about the same so no real difference other than the added tolls.
Our next travel day is dependent on the weather. We will either stop at Carolina Crossroads or push on to South of The Border. As we do like to take our time in
BUC-EES, we are planning on doing 2 nights at SOB. No sense in leaving at the crack of dawn just to be able to find a parking space.
Once again depending on if we stopped at Carolina Crossroads we will step somewhere near Savanah Ga. so that the next day we can stop at the MIGHTY 8th ( 8th AirForce ) Museum. This is a place I've wanted to visit for several years now. Not only because I am an AF Veteran, but I was privileged to meet General Jimmy Doolittle once.
Next stop will be the KOA in St Mary's Ga. We plan to see the local Santa Clause Boat Parade followed by the Christmas tree contest and lighting in the town park

 

[team bradfield]

So, 2 weeks from now we'll be in Williamsburg Va at the ANVIL CG . This will be our 1st stop. Normally I would stop at the KINGS DOMINION KOA but Lucille wanted to do something different this year. So we will check out Colonial Williamsburg for the holidays and go see the holiday village in BUSH GARDENS over the weekend.
I had considered traveling down route 1 and crossing the Bay Bridge and Tunnel but the restrictions and narrow tunnels are something I would prefer to avoid. Hence, we'll run the 95 to 64 route. Mileage both ways are about the same so no real difference other than the added tolls.
Our next travel day is dependent on the weather. We will either stop at Carolina Crossroads or push on to South of The Border. As we do like to take our time in
BUC-EES, we are planning on doing 2 nights at SOB. No sense in leaving at the crack of dawn just to be able to find a parking space.
Once again depending on if we stopped at Carolina Crossroads we will step somewhere near Savanah Ga. so that the next day we can stop at the MIGHTY 8th

Safe travels Mike, hopefully can meet up at CM or FW, we are at CM 1-5 to 2-5 and FW 2-5 to 3-5

 

[FtW Mike]

Safe travels Mike, hopefully can meet up at CM or FW, we are at CM 1-5 to 2-5 and FW 2-5 to 3-5

We are slated to be at CM 1/6 to 1/16 provided the fecal matter doesn't forcibly encounter the rotating, oscillating., atmospheric circulating device again this year

 

[team bradfield]

So that's why we missed you last year, fingers crossed for no fecal matter this year

 

[bama_ed]

Mike, you have a nicely spaced, well planned drive down coming up. Also with things to see and do (we loved Williamsburg btw).

Those two weeks until departure will go quickly!

ED

 

[FtW Mike]

Mike, you have a nicely spaced, well planned drive down coming up. Also with things to see and do (we loved Williamsburg btw).

Those two weeks until departure will go quickly!

ED

ED, I find the older I get the shorter I want my travel days. When we got our 1st unit I thought nothing of a 400 to450 mile, 10-hour travel day. That didn't last long. Problems encountered, with corresponding delays, then setting up in the dark, put an end to that real quick. Today I try to keep it to 300 to 350 miles or 6 to 7 hours. I am looking at reducing that to 250.
As we have done this trip enough times, we have found some places that work very well for us. Some make my driving day easier; some have places to visit or events worth revisiting

 

[FtW Mike]

One great of the St. Mary's KOA, other than the Pilot Station across the way has 2 RV Lanes is there is a site with a private dog park. For me the added cost is a very worth it.
Next stop will be Camp Margaritaville, for 5 nights. Happily our 2023 APs are still valid as we got an EPCOT park reservation for the 16th to attend the CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL. Once we saw that Gary Lt. DAN Sinese will narrate that night I did what I needed to make that happen.
During our stay we'll also take a run up to Disney Springs four our 2024 APs along with the PUBLIX and WallyWorld stops we make to restock, and I can check in at the good Mommy and Daddy Club a time or three.

 

[jbrostek]

Have a great trip Mike. Anvil is a nice park, with pretty big level sites with just over 20 feet between each coach. There are active freight tracks adjacent to the campground, be prepared to hear the traffic as it comes through.

From Anvil to Carolina Crossroads is just about 2.5 hours (125 miles and I always plan on a 50mph average.) You are just shy of 300 mile to Camp Pedro, so 6ish hours. Though depending on weather and how you are feeling I can see why you would stop so early.

Enjoy the food at Bucees, about the only thing I find worth the stop. as you said the parking, people and traffic are all reasons I prefer to keep trucking on.

 

[FtW Mike]

Jim thanks for the heads up regarding the trains. Kings Dominion KOA has same circumstances. Same at Carolina Crossroads. While I sleep the sleep of the dead, my wife is a different story. As long as we are not directly adjacent to the tracks, we should be okay.
Going straight to Camp Pedro or stopping at Carolina Crossroads is depending on the weather. Weather is bad I stop. Fair or projected to go bad I push on. Like I said I really want to see the Mighty 8th Museum.
A few years back in Pigeon Forge I watched a B 26 Mitchell with a P 51 Mustang escort circle prior to their fly over at an nearby Airshow. Almost as good as watching some F 4's drop ordinance for an airstrike we got to call in on a practice range.
As to BUC-EES we have yet to get out of one in less than 2 hours. Lucille has to check everything out and I have a list from friends of what they want me to bring back so extra night at SOB required. The Brisket sandwiches

 

[FtW Mike]

Our stay at Camp Margaritaville may just result in my License to Chill might end up being revoked or at least suspended. When I look over our plans, we will a very busy week ahead of us.
On Sunday the 15th we will arrive. While we only have @ 270 miles to travel, I doubt we'll arrive much before 3pm. While we only have about 30 miles to travel on I-4 that distance can take over an hour to travel.
Monday we will be in EPCOT for the CANDLELIGHT PROCESSIONAL.
Tuesday, we have an early morning appointment to take care of something we put into the works several months ago. Once that is done we will likely take the Girls to the CM DOGGIE SPA so they will look good at Disney.
Wednesday, we have INCREDIABLE DETAILING coming to wash and wax the coach. While they do their thing we will likely run over to Disney Springs for our new APs.
Thursday will likely be when we hit PUBLIX and WAL-MART for any last minute needs that may have risen.
Friday is move day to the Fort.

 

[Crazymomof3boysss]

So, 2 weeks from now we'll be in Williamsburg Va at the ANVIL CG . This will be our 1st stop. Normally I would stop at the KINGS DOMINION KOA but Lucille wanted to do something different this year. So we will check out Colonial Williamsburg for the holidays and go see the holiday village in BUSH GARDENS over the weekend.
I had considered traveling down route 1 and crossing the Bay Bridge and Tunnel but the restrictions and narrow tunnels are something I would prefer to avoid. Hence, we'll run the 95 to 64 route. Mileage both ways are about the same so no real difference other than the added tolls.
Our next travel day is dependent on the weather. We will either stop at Carolina Crossroads or push on to South of The Border. As we do like to take our time in
BUC-EES, we are planning on doing 2 nights at SOB. No sense in leaving at the crack of dawn just to be able to find a parking space.
Once again depending on if we stopped at Carolina Crossroads we will step somewhere near Savanah Ga. so that the next day we can stop at the MIGHTY 8th ( 8th AirForce ) Museum. This is a place I've wanted to visit for several years now. Not only because I am an AF Veteran, but I was privileged to meet General Jimmy Doolittle once.
Next stop will be the KOA in St Mary's Ga. We plan to see the local Santa Clause Boat Parade followed by the Christmas tree contest and lighting in the town park

I haven't done in an RV but I despise the dc, va traffic. we went to Williamsburg from Delaware a few months ago and I would have been taking the tunnel bridge. This was traveling at 10pm and we still got an hour of construction and dc traffic. Safe travels

 

[FtW Mike]

I haven't done in an RV but I despise the dc, va traffic. we went to Williamsburg from Delaware a few months ago and I would have been taking the tunnel bridge. This was traveling at 10pm and we still got an hour of construction and dc traffic. Safe travels

CMO3B , I have done Bay Bridge and Tunnel several times. While I don't find it to be a bad route to 13 and then the BBT I am not a fan of the tunnel. Went thru it several times while working for Private ambulance company in a larger Box style unit, and found I just wasn't comfortable.
My DW did it as well in same type of a rig. She put her foot down. When I suggested it. I plan to approach DC just after 9 AM so should miss worst of it and have found that once we pass QUANTICO , VA isn't too bad.

 

[jbrostek]

Defintely timing your way through Baltimore and DC is most important for that route. And you are right, at that time of the day south of Quantico moves well. That is one reason I take US15/US17 to I95 to avoid all of the DC area and even Quanico.

Think Anvil is a bit worse then Carolina Crossroads, the rails are right there next to the sites.

 

[FtW Mike]

So, last Sunday night, Lucille was checking the weather for the upcoming week. She was alarmed when she saw that Thursday was showing the potential for winds in excess of 35mph. She knows that I consider that a red flag. More than that it can mean that the Bay Bridge can institute restrictions for oversized vehicles. We agreed to keep an eye on the forecast.
Monday the projected winds still had a high end of 35 forecast but the lower end went up, and, they now were calling for higher gusts. We discussed leaving a day early. Deciding to make final decision on Tuesday. Tuesday morning when she told me they were saying gusts of 50mph were called for the decision was made.
Anvil CG. had a space but I would need to move after 1 night. Kings Dominion had plenty of sites, so they won. Tuesday was spent running around doing everything I had on tap already plus Wednesday's chores.
We had no problems with traffic until we got about 5 miles from Quantico as there was a serious accident at exit 148. We passed it. just as they were finishing up and starting to reopen all 3 lanes. I was happy to see Kings Dominion had filled in the spaces next to the parking pads. The just about level this year beat the 3 inch drop from last year.
Thursday we did the short hop down I-64 TO Williamsburg . The winds buffeting the passenger side of the coach made me happy we decided to take off a day earlier.

 

[jbrostek]

Those winds where pretty crazy. I could hear the house creak during some of the gusts. Good call hitting the road early and avoiding trying to navigate in that.

Share some photos of the KOA. Never seen it since we usually go for further south.

 

[FtW Mike]

Those winds where pretty crazy. I could hear the house creak during some of the gusts. Good call hitting the road early and avoiding trying to navigate in that.

Share some photos of the KOA. Never seen it since we usually go for further south.

Jim, sorry no pics of the KOA. We us it as a set up for rest of our on the way down. Stopping there gives me my 300 mile daily travel each day to each of my next stops. Will make sure to get some on our way home. We hit them again on the way home. We then have a final travel day of only 3 to 4 hours. I get home while sun is still shining and can re winterize immediately if required.

ANVIL Is smaller than I anticipated. Jbrostek told me it only 4 Acres and he wasn't kidding. Outside of the back to back sites you are basically in an open lot.

 

[jbrostek]

It is the closest to Colonial Williamsburg, so it wins on location.

Much prefer Williamsburg Campground (used to be Williamsburg/Busch Gardens KOA) or American Heritage. RV park.

 

[FtW Mike]

As previously cited ANVIL is a very small campground. The North side sites are adjacent to the road and the south side sites are immediately next to Railroad tracks. Happily during our stay the majority of the trains coming thru were early in the evening and AMTRAK passenger ones. Only one night was there one extra-long cargo carrier.
Pics that give an idea of the depth of our site. The gray wall shown at the back is a sound/visual barrier for the road.
Here is the larger of the 2 dog parks

The RR tracks are just beyond the tree line.

 

[FtW Mike]

During our stay we took advantage of the 3 day Holiday BOUNCE Pass. This allows access to both Colonial Williamsburg and Bush Gardens.
Bush Gardens in my opinion was a waste.

 

[FtW Mike]

I feel the need to clarify my opinion of BG. The park is akin to Dollywood with one section leading to another. There is no central hub allowing you to bypass areas you have little interest in.
To reach our primary interest, The Train that circles the park we had to navigate 3 other sections. BG does NOT provide maps. If you want a map you need to use an App. . I can read a map, an app not so much. The few large maps they have do not allow you to expand for the particular area you are in and determining exactly where you in relation to what is around you is very lacking.
I very much preferred CW.

Next stop was South of the Border. We did encounter some rain, prior to entering NC. Happily, it was light, and I only had to slow down a bit. Camp Pedro is a no-frills CG. For us, it works perfectly in terms of how far I like to travel each day. The large open space opposite the pull thru sites are good to walk the girls. In order to devote sufficient time to the BUC-EES, 30 miles away in Florence SC we decided to spend an extra night at Camp Pedro. They did give us a coupon good for 20% off a visit to The Sombrero Restaurant . Food was fair but next time we'll pass on the $15 salad bar. For a better dinner, I would recommend The PEDDLER Steakhouse across the way. I will caution that while they do Steaks and Chops very well, FISH is another story. Both the Salmon and Mahi Mahi. I've tried were both over cooked and overly seasoned. The salad bar here is included with your entree.