Author Archives: Sparky
Manheim PA and Pinch Pond Family Campground
We stayed at the Pinch Pond Family Campground in Manheim PA for 5 nights. The original plan was to use the campground as a base for exploring the area – Hershey, Harrisburg, Lebanon, Lancaster and the Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. However, the time was mostly spent recuperating from our nasty colds. Only on the last day … Continue reading
STS Hop 3: North Scituate RI to Manheim PA
341 miles via I-395 (CT), I-95, I-287 (NY and NJ), I-80 and several PA routes, with a refueling stop in northern NJ. This hop was much longer than originally planned and way beyond our usual daily limit of 240 miles (which is our towing range on a single tank of gas). But we were forced … Continue reading
STS Hop 2: Berkley MA to North Scituate RI
51 miles via MA 24, I-495, I-95, I-295 and US 44. This was a very short hop, but a crucial one. It was our first test of hauling with our repaired truck using the adjusted hitch setting (raised for a more level ride). Fortunately, all went well. We picked up the RV at 4pm on … Continue reading
Three days of misery
The STS has gotten off to a rocky start, to say the least. We canceled one NY reservation because I didn’t like the reviews – with the loss of a $50 deposit – and had to cancel the second NY reservation when the truck failed on us and delayed the trip – at a loss … Continue reading
STS Hop 1: Littleton MA to Berkley MA
72 miles, primarily via I-495 The STS has, belatedly, begun. But not exactly as planned. The first hop – to deliver the RV to Camping World for a second round of repairs – was accomplished by a paid hauler because the truck is still in the shop for repairs. So we are now in a … Continue reading
The best laid plans…
The plan for the Second Trip South (STS) was to leave for Rhode Island tomorrow (Sunday) morning. But it ain’t gonna happen. Over the past week, I had noticed hesitation when I pressed the accelerator on the truck. It had happened just a few times. But yesterday, on the way back from Worcester, the “check … Continue reading
Second Trip South (STS) plan
In 5 days we will embark on our second trip south, to Florida. This will be the first long-distance journey we have taken since getting off the road to sell our house in the fall of 2014. And our first trip in our new Big Horn. I am looking forward to it. Jett, as always, … Continue reading
A farewell to Cambridge
If you are familiar with the Boston area, you know that Boston and Cambridge, though physically adjacent (separated only by the Charles River), are miles apart in atmosphere and attitude. Often called the “People’s Republic”, Cambridge is a left-wing paradise while Boston is more blue-collar. Hence I will bid a separate farewell to each. Though … Continue reading
A farewell to Boston
We will soon be leaving the Boston area, which I have called home for 48 years, and don’t know when we will be back again. Boston’s farewell present to us has been spectacularly beautiful September weather, so when I went into Boston for a dental appointment yesterday I took the opportunity to wander around and … Continue reading
Flooding
We haven’t yet departed on the STS – the truck is still in the shop, with no promises yet on when we will get it back. So I will have to hire an RV hauling service to deliver it to Camping World, to get the repairs underway. Then we will have both the truck and … Continue reading »