HOME SWEET HOME

April 14th at 8P.M. we crossed into Canada via Sarnia. Claiming all the items we had purchased in the US since November 05 we were about $500 over our limit. We got a sympathetic male custom officer who said, "You are okay". We spent that night in the Sarnia Wal-Mart.

Our new GPS informed us of every Tim Horton's Coffee Shop within 50 Km. So in the morning we got our coffee and were on our way. Thanks to the GPS we took the most direct route to Durham. At Clinton, on a small secondary paved road, we encountered a very old stone one-lane low railroad bridge. With a lot of help etc. we made it through with less than 2 inches to spare. This was much like the overhanging trees of Savannah.


We arrived in Durham at Ruth's sister Isabel's and brother-in-law Darrell's home before noon. What a change Ontario has made since we left. The roads proceed in organized straight rectangles, all under brush on the sides of the highway and around the houses is trimmed and everything looks tidy, tidy, tidy! It is great to experience new places, but it is good to be back home in Southern Ontario. However our home is always with us and home is known to be where the heart is. We do miss old Miss!

A Turnpike Veteran

Pulling a 39 foot 5th wheel along the West Virginia Turnpike was an interesting experience. Aggressive truck drivers, cut in front car owners, along with a wavy, bumpy Interstate, hairpin turns with a rapid descent require a calm, steady approach.

Ruth expressed her fear to Jannich as : "I'm okay with dying but I do not want to linger in a hospital."

In spite of calling/left message with the travel insurance company we discovered when we returned on April 15 that we had been without American travel insurance since April 2nd. Sometimes it is better not to know. By this photo you can see that I-77 (West Virginia Turn pike) and the Expressways through Detroit have left their effect on both Jannich's attitude and attire! Ruth hopes that it does not last!

COAL KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON!

The area where we travelled in West Virginia displays the model COAL KEEPS THE LIGHTS ON on prominent bill board signs. After settling into our very peaceful relaxing 4 day stop at Rippling Waters camp site in Romance WV we decided to explore the area. The 1 1/2 lane road past our camp lead directly from I-77 four miles away.

As we followed this road into the woods it wound around the edges of cliffs with shear drop-off we wondered why anyone would live here. We met a surprising number of cars and trucks rapidly swerving around us but still clinging to the road. The road continued, paved with patches on the curve-wear deeper into the hills. Finally, after about 10 miles, as the road narrowed into one lane with no more road signs or guard rails we decided to turn around while we could still find an open space.

Back at the Rippling Waters camp office Jannich asked about this road. The worker said that we would be okay if we took the road to the left as the right gravel fork was dangerous. Thanks, we had taken the more dangerous road and turned around.

The next day we travelled south of Charleston to what appeared to be a coal mining town. We drove around several small settlements east of I-77 and a large winding river. We were happily taking photos of the small unique houses, the beautiful hills and a tug boat pushing barges filled with coal along the river when we were suddenly approached. A 30 year old man on a motor bike had followed us and aggressively demanded why we were photographing the town! Jannich with a calm, slow approach to any situation engaged him in conversation about the beauty of the area, hunting and his occupation. He told us that the local people were concerned about strangers photographing the area and they always "run them off" as they are worried about a large company that wants to tear down the houses and strip mine the town. He was receptive to this approach.


In the part of the conversation about hunting Jannich asked what animals were here - deer - moose- the man interjected - "no moose here"! Lots of deer etc. Ruth found this funny as mountain goats would be more at home here than moose. Jannich has spent too long in northern Ontario. Anyway, we got out of there safely as we followed his directions to a scenic lookout called the Eagles Nest. Personally we think that it was a ruse as we drove several miles south and could not find the look out. We turned around and quickly drove past the town back to our camp.

It surely is a small world!

After we arrived at a KOA near Wytheville VA campground on I-77 yesterday, a man came across and asked where our home base was? After a short chat we found that he was from our area, Mount Forest. This is a small town close to from where we are. It so happened that their daughter Karen is a friend of someone in our family. That Ruth's nephew Chris knows Gerald from living and working in the same community. It is a small world!

We are continuing north on I-77 via Columbus OH. We are enjoying the spectacular views of this area.
Here is a picture of the mountains. It is not safe to stop at the side of the Interstate (especially with a big RV). It was taken through the windshield and the colours are washed out.

EASTER DRIVE THRU DRAMA

EASTER DRIVE THRU DRAMA - posted in neon letters caught our eye as we drove into Columbia SC on a busy 4 lane highway. The sign invited one to travel into the past and to witness the sites of the week that changed the world.

The experience started at dusk with people dressed in authentic garb waving cars into their parking lot with flashlights. The winding road through the sites was defined by cement blocks covered in burlap sacks with metal open-flame kerosene lamps on top. -Very effective-

After being welcomed and given literature which explained each site we drove slowly around the two small adjoining parking lots. The first stop was the Last Supper. As we stared at the characters, background, table and food we wondered where this church could find so many lifelike yet mannequin men in different still poses, one person moved his eyes and then we realized that they were real. Details, makeup and spot-lighting made this so realistic! We stopped at each site to look and to hear the dialog as some displays were still while others were acted out. The sites were:
1. The Last Supper
2. In the Garden
3. The Betrayal
4. The Trial
5. Stations of the Cross
6. The Crucifixion
7. The Tomb
8. The Resurrection

We were so fascinated by this authentic community outreach that we did not think of taking pictures until we were near the end. Amazingly the sky above the black and burlap backdrops had a pink hue as the sun was setting. After the last site several people continued the theme.
They were dressed in Old Testament attire as they spoke with the passengers of every car personally. We were given a square-head nail to keep and the salvation message orally (brief and direct) by an upbeat happy woman. She invited us to their Easter service and told us about their LAST SUPPER re-enactment that would occur in their sanctuary this coming Thursday evening.
After we left we had time to examine the literature we had received. One booklet clearly explained each site with scriptural references and listed all their regular church activities.

The second piece of literature was in the form of a card explaining the steps to salvation plus a prayer that could be said with repentance:
Gods love is revealed
Man is sinful by nature
Sin has a penalty
Christ paid the penalty in full
Salvation is a free gift
(Charitable works and leading a good life are not enough)
We must repent of our sins
We must ask Jesus to be the Lord of our life

Part of the card could be mailed back to the church if you wished and without doubt they would follow up.
We marveled at this impressive outreach so simply told for anybody who wanted to "Drive Through". What an excellent way of planting a seed in a drive through nation.

Edisto Beach SC

It was worth the 60 Mile drive east from I-95 to the tiny coastal island town of Edisto. As we passed endless low-lying grassy areas, scrubby undergrowth and seemed to become more and more isolated we began to wonder if we should turn around and continue north to Charleston.
Our site for the period of March 25 to April 7th is less than an one minute walk to a beach that stretches out of sight in both directions. The walk would be shorter except we have to skirt around the Loggerhead turtle nesting area.
Jannich sitting under the umbrella at high tide.
The picture was taken from the back of our RV The turtle nesting area is between the fence and the beach.
We have a 180 degree view of the Atlantic Ocean from the windows of our RV. We like to experience places that are off the beaten path. In the island of Edisto we have found a gem. This area is isolated enough that only fishermen, environmentalists and people that do not like tourist areas are here. It is connected enough to have 2 internet cafes.

Pink and George own a fruit and vegetable store with a dirt floor down one country road while Leo sells firewood beside another side-road. Yes, we are enjoying nightly camp fires. The only creature in the RV that do not enjoy the beach and fires is Winston. BORING----with bugs and burrs! He would rather sit on the sofa.
We did buy a beach umbrella to provide shade for Winston but it still did not help his attitude.