Travels with Stargazer

Jekyll Island has layered history beginning with Indigenous peoples who lived along Georgia’s coast for thousands of years. It later became a plantation worked by enslaved Africans during the colonial and antebellum eras. In the late 1800s it became the exclusive Jekyll Island Club retreat for America’s wealthiest industrialists (we are missing the Walkout Wednesday gang). In 1910, it hosted a secret meeting tied to the creation of the Federal Reserve System. Georgia purchased it in 1947, opening as a state…

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Prior to heading up Florida’s east coast, we visited Biscayne National Park and then camped in Key Largo at John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. Biscayne is 95% underwater, offering a unique and beautiful ecosystem, while Pennekamp gave us some welcome beach time—though both locations challenged us with high winds. From there, we traveled to Merritt Island to spend time with best pal Kathy Brady and her good friend—yes, really—Harry Potter. Harry shared the story of how he was invited…

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We are officially wrapping up six incredible days at Everglades National Park. It is unlike any other National Park we’ve explored—vast, wild, wet, and absolutely worth the trek. We’ve become amateur naturalists this week! We can now distinguish between red, black, and white mangroves (not mangoes!), explain exactly why a crocodile isn’t an alligator, and understand the somber reason behind the lack of small mammals here: the invasive python. Our days were packed with action: Stargazer is holding up well, though we’re…

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Last night we arrived in Saint Augustine, Florida and so far our travels have been a success. We are getting used to being back in Stargazer and overall Stargazer has behaved like a RV Rock Star. This trip we have a new mascot crafted by Kathy Seymour. Our first stop was near Binghamton, NY at a backwoods Harvest Host location. We were able to plug in and everyone was very friendly. That night we had our only rain. Next we…

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Today Melinda, Otto and I head south in Stargazer to visit the Everglades National Park and then travel up the east coast visiting family and friends, including stops at Jekyll Island off of Georgia and Shenandoah National Park. We are all looking forward to getting away and Stargazer is raring to hit the road. Our trip this fall to Cape Breton was a big success with many highlights and we are hoping for the same this trip. With Melinda’s knee…

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Stargazer’s final stop was in Hubley, NS, just outside Halifax, where we visited Jackson friends Jason Roth and Cheryl Steadman. We spent three wonderful days together touring, sharing meals, and enjoying time getting to know each other better. Due to concerns about crossing the border, Jason and Cheryl—Canadian citizens who also have a home in Jackson—have decided not to travel to the U.S. for their usual January–June stay. They will be missed by all their friends! On our first day,…

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On our way down Cape Breton toward Louisbourg, we stopped at several local craft shops. One highlight was meeting Bob Smith of North Shore Woodsmiths, whose craftsmanship and friendliness made the visit memorable. We also came across a glassblowing studio decorated with whimsical Halloween sculptures—Ralph would have loved them! We settled in at Mira River Provincial Park and the next day visited the Fortress of Louisbourg — a one-quarter reconstruction of the 18th-century French stronghold at Louisbourg. The fortress played…

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Our first stop on the Cabot Trail was Cabotto Chocolates, where we picked up a gift for a certain friend—you know who you are! Next, we registered at Cape Breton Highlands National Park and settled into our campground at Broad Cove. Stargazer handled the hills beautifully, and Broad Cove Campground sits right on the Atlantic Ocean. After settling in, Greg headed out to hike Broad Cove Mountain. The trail wound past Warren Lake, where he passed a good-looking guy who…

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From Five Islands Provincial Park we headed to Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park, situated on the Atlantic Ocean with views toward Prince Edward Island. Overall, Stargazer has been a trooper—though an oil can light occasionally flickers on when we pass 50 mph. The oil level is fine, and a local mechanic confirmed we should be okay to keep going. While at Caribou-Munroes Island Provincial Park, we walked the beach—covered in seaweed—and gave Stargazer a good cleaning. We drove the Sunrise Trail…

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We successfully crossed the Canadian border and headed to the Fundy National Park in Alma, NB where we visited two of our favorite spots – the Holy Whale Brewery and the Octopus’s Garden Cafe. We were lucky to reconnect with our friend, Brewmaster Charlie, as well as the Octopus’s Garden’s world class chef. Greg hiked five miles in and five miles out on the Upper Salmon River Trail — a great hike with sections reminiscent of trekking along Loch Lomond…

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