Stay-Camping

Why not... right?

When we were camping at the Gulf Islands National Seashore last month, I torn a ligament in my left knee (ouch). It didn't really feel that bad at first, so I kept on with business as usual; not a good move. After we returned home, it started hurting really bad, so I went to an Ortho Doc (that's when I found out it was a torn ligament). He put me in a brace (that was too small so I returned it) and told me to ice and stay off it for awhile.

I was a compliant patient, iced several times a day, and chilled in the crib, but progress was slow. Fast forward 2 weeks, it was still really bothering me, and the problem was we were scheduled to go up to the Blue Ridge for a long 4 day weekend at New River State Park to ogle the fall colors. Gail said, "No way, you can't go with your knee like that."

On an occasion when we feel the need to get uncooped, we'll make a pot of coffee, fix a nibble to nosh, and go over to the Jay Feather at our storage yard to pretend we're in the mountains. We ended up stay-camping instead of ogling the mountain leaves. Better than nothing... right?

Our Stay-Camping Campground

Sunset 09/29/2016

Sunset on 09/29/2016 at the R. Shaefer Heard Campground. This Corp of Engineers waterfront facility on the southern shore of West Point Lake, which spans parts of Alabama and Georgia. 

We stayed here for 1 night on our way home for a Pensacola Beach trip.

Sunrise 09/27/2016

Sunrise on 09272016 on Santa Rosa Island in the Gulf Islands National Seashore. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is home to sparkling blue waters, white beaches and coastal marshes. However, more than 80% of the national park is underwater, as it's a vital protective habitat to marine life.
We stayed here for 10 days at the Fort Pickens CG.

Pensacola Lighthouse at the Pensacola Naval Air Station

We had and Adventure Day climbing the Pensacola Lighthouse at the Pensacola Naval Air Station while camping at Fort Pickens CG on the Gulf Islands National Seashore. It was a beautiful day and we had great views of Pensacola Bay and Santa Rosa Island. We have also climbed several other lighthouses on our travels: Bodie Island and Cape Hatteras on the OBX, and the Hunting Island Lighthouse in SC.

Lighthouse History:
In 1825 a 40-foot (12 m) tower was built on a 40-foot (12 m) bluff at the south entrance to Pensacola Bay. This light was also partially obscured by trees close to the tower and on Santa Rosa Island. In 1858 a new tower was built on the north side of the bay entrance, and was lit on January 1, 1859. The new, and current, tower is 150 feet (46 m) tall, and also sits on a 40-foot (12 m) bluff located on the Pensacola Naval Air Station, placing the light 190 feet (58 m) above sea level.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

We just returned from a 12 day camping trip to the Gulf Islands National Seashore (GINS) in our Jay Feather 24T, and it was absolutely spectacular. This was our first time there and definitely will not be or last. 

We camped at the Fort Pickens Campground which has large sites and beautiful, clean bathhouses. Because it is part of the National park Service we were able to take advantage of our Senior Pass for 1/2 price camping (if you don't have your Senior Pass, you need one).

The GINS is located on a barrier Island, and the waters surrounding it, just south of Pensacola FL and extends west to barrier islands off Mississippi. The Gulf Islands National Seashore is home to sparkling blue waters, white beaches and coastal marshes. However, more than 80% of the national park is underwater, as it's a vital protective habitat to marine life.

A notable feature of the beaches here is the sand: this area has some of the purest whitest sand anywhere in the state. Its dazzling crystals are nearly pure quartz resulting in soft fluffy sand that is a pleasure to walk on.

Custom RV Cherry Table

As traveling empty nesters, the OEM dinette design in our Jay Feather 24T just wasn't working for us:

1. It was very uncomfortable
2. Took up too much room
3. It didn't work well with our computers
4. We would NEVER use it for sleeping
5. And, well... it was butt ugly

we decided to tear it out and start from scratch with a totally new design.

We needed comfortable seating, so we bought 2 upholstered chairs from Ikea and I fabricated a custom cherry top stained to match the cherry veneer in the trailer. The difference is striking and so much more workable, being able to use our computers, and eat our meals as well.

BEFORE

AFTER

Here is a fabrication and installation video: