The first big trip - the second leg, getting to our destination

On Sunday we make a quick English muffin and try to hook up the Flagstaff before the airshow crowd arrives.  Willow Pond is a small campground and it seemed easier to pull out of my site and back to the dump station. To manage the stress we also grab coffees from the on base Dunkin Donuts.  The trip, while at a slower pace than usual, went smoothly.  It was race day in at Dover International Speedway (why is it “international”?) but with a slight rain it kept the traffic moving.  However, there was a much more serious crowd at Medding Seafood. Both Lori and I had creamy crab soup, as is our ‘tradition’.  From there the trip is a joy – flat, fast and 50ish!  Since we were moving at a slower pace than usual the entrance gate was unmanned.  I always look forward to the landmark in the picture – I know I’m really close to http://www.nps.gov/asis.  They charge a day use fee or a $25/week fee and that had to be collected at the office on check-in.  Don’t forget, the office staff is not used to collecting the fee and the ranger who checked us in forgot to ask.  Fortunately, I remembered and asked to pay the fee.  If not you just get held up at the gate the next time you enter the park.

The first big trip - the first leg

Well I haven’t been as faithful to this as I thought I would be. I’m still working 40+ per week so that’s my excuse. We are on our first big adventure with the new trailer.  We spent two days living in our driveway while we cleaned out the mobile home so the daughter could move into it.  Once that was complete we headed to the Mohegan Sun RV lot for a week.  This was a really good test of tank capacity!  The Flagstaff manages to hold a full-week’s worth of black and grey, thanks to dual 45 gal grey water tanks.  After the week was over we were at 1/3 capacity in the fresh water tank and 2/3 full in all three holding tanks.  It was then off to our stop at Joint Base Dix/McQuire/Lakehurst.  This turned in to quite an adventure.  My new Rand McNally GPS set up for RV use routed me through downtown NYC – literally Broadway to West 179^th Street.  Lesson learned – check the routes turn-by-turn before departing.  Lori did an excellent job navigating! My 2500 Ram with crew cab and 8-foot bed, towing a 30 foot RV made it through gridlock traffic without incident!  When we stopped to stretch at the Thomas Edison service area on the New Jersey Turnpike I noticed one of my Andersen weight distribution chains had failed and the remainder of the chain had been dragging on the roadway. So now I’m towing with no weight distribution and no sway control!!  When we get to Trenton, NJ the roads leading to Fort Dix were blocked off for an air show!  We had to stop and request access through one of the road blocks.  Finally on base, we go to Outdoor Recreation to find the office closed for the weekend due to the airshow!  Thankfully we have been here before and know our way around fairly well. So we head to Willow Pond campsites hoping we can identify ours!  It was easy Willow Pond is a small camp area right next to the flighline.  On airshow day there was only one spot open – must be ours!  After backing into the site we attempt to unhook and the electric tongue jack won’t work. It has power but will not lower.  Break out the manual tool and it is still jammed.  Apparently there is a little mark in the shaft that says “Do not raise farther that this”.  Ooops, who knew?  We had to use the truck jack to raise the trailer tongue to separate from the Ram.  Next we open the door to get slides out and notice the contents of the pantry (for us the closet on the left as you enter the rig) are deposited across the floor.  We get that cleaned up, get the slides out and water and electricity hooked up and it is now time to eat – but who wants to cook!  We decide we’ll head to Burger King on base only to find it closed so it was off to the Base Exchange – they have an Arby’s!!!  We get there and Arby’s is also closed – guys, we’re holding an airshow!  Everyone is on base!!! Fortunately there was a Charleys Philly Cheesesteak.  Lori had a Philly and I went with the Ultimate Fries!  Well that is the first leg.  Stay tuned for the details on the rest of the trip.