May 29, 2010 Prince William Forest Park

Well, I think I have found one of the Park Service’s hidden treasures.  If you search for National Parks in VA, it does show up, but National is not part of its name.   The next is a quote from their website http://www.nps.gov/prwi/index.htm

Experience a place where history and nature unite!

Prince William Forest Park is an oasis of natural beauty and human history located only 35 miles south of Washington, DC. 37 miles of hiking trails and 21 miles of bicycle-accessible roads and trails traverse this 15,000 acre piedmont forest. Beneath its canopy lies evidence of human history reaching back to 8,000 B.C.

Oak Ridge Campground has 100 sites in 3 loops.  2 loops can handle RV’s or tents, and one is tents only.  There is also a RV park called Trailer Village that we did not visit.  It has hook-ups and a pool and such.  We found a great site for our 2nd and 3rd nights.  The first night we arrived about dark and found a nice level site but it turned out to be in a very low damp spot and I moved to a higher ground site early Sat morning.  When we arrived at the check-in and campground host site, there were a lot of blue flashing lights in the A loop. The host said there was an ‘incident’ involving fire trucks, rangers, sheriff’s deputies and others but it was about wrapped up.  Didn’t ask questions and the host assured us it was a temporary situation and was nearly resolved.  We had to bypass that campsite by going the wrong way on the one-way but found a site in B loop for the night without difficulty.

When we set up on our new site Sat morning we were beside a large family in a pop up and tent with kids.  Figured that would be nice when Adam and family arrived later.  The bathroom and water source were just across the road.  I’m never sure I have enough water since the gauges in the Roadtrek are always telling me the tanks are full.  I use fresh water for drinking and cooking mostly.  Use the water tanks for flushing and dishes. Leveled the RT with 2 of the Lynx Levelers and set up the awning and Buddipole antenna and gathered some firewood for later, and we were set for the day.  Our site also was right up against a sloping grassy  playing field for the kids as seen in the top picture.  Lots of preteens and younger kids gathered there Sat afternoon and evening for a long soccer game and tree climbing.  I think the girls might have won….. 

This is a very wooded and hilly campground.  The bicycling is interesting. It was a steady climb back to the check-in but coasted all the way back.  Lots of kids on bikes, and adults, too.  The group of veterans on motorcycles across from us spent most of the time at Rolling Thunder in DC. They were up from Florida for the bike parade. 

We had a good campfire for dinner and cooked veggie-burgers and hotdogs and had cole slaw and potato salad.

As the night came on, we made S’More’s.  Only had one kid accept the invite and she was really appreciative of the treat.  Abe had already crashed, Sam enjoyed roasting the marshmallows.  I boiled some potatoes on the LP range for breakfast and washed dishes before settling in for a quiet night.  Whippoorwill’s sang us to sleep.  Along with some Green Tree Frogs. 

Up early.  Adam already had a fire going.  Water for coffee heating.  I got Lila to ramrod the hash-browns cooking while I used the Roadtrek gas range for the pancakes.  Honey, syrup and home-canned pears for pancake toppings.  Everyone got full and seemed happy.  Adam, Sam and Abe left for home mid-day and we hung out around the campground relaxing.  There were a lot of sites used.  Our neighbors use this area a lot, being local, and said it was an unusually large crowd.  Maybe the economy has kept folks closer to home and at cheaper areas.  The sites here are $15 a night without hookups.  Hot showers and good water and lots of shade make this a spot we’ll visit again.  And with our Golden Age Passport we get free entrance and half rate on the campsite, so it’s a great bargain.

May 25, 2010 MCRD Parris Island RV Park

There’s nothing like the sound of small arms fire in the morning to warm the heart of an old Marine…….

We spent 3 nights at this newly opened military campground.  We had planned to spend only 2 but were having a good time and the weather was cooperating and …..  I want to show all the amenities and such that we found there.  It was easy to find and all the sites are level with loose asphalt parking pads.  There is a concrete pad and aluminum picnic table at each site.  There is not much shade but we found one of the few trees and claimed Site 17.  There are 18 sites numbered from 18 at the entrance down to 1 at the far end.

 

                          

The head (bathroom) is located in the middle between Sites 9 and 10.   

The head is a nice new building with handicapped access to the toilets and showers.  There is a laundry room, a water jug filling machine and vending machine there.  The key issued when you register is needed for the doors to the bathroom/showers and the laundry room.  It also unlocks the padlocks for the water and electric hookups.  There is 20/30/50 amp service and plenty of water pressure.  The sewer connection at each site is not locked.  The keys are issued at the ITT office at the Main Exchange Bldg 409 at PI. But reservations are handled through Outdoor Recreation which is at MCAS Beaufort.  The staff at ITT were very friendly and helpful when we arrived without reservations. 

  When we arrived there was only one other rig there.  We sat up on the other end of the campground near a tree.  The road at the far end continues on to Elliot’s Beach Day Use Area.  There is a playground and picnic tables there under the old live oak trees hanging with Spanish Moss.  It’s a nice area to chill out and watch the fishermen and boaters.  Lots of oysters on the mudflats, too.  This is not a swimming area.  There is a rip-rap wall of broken concrete and such to protect the shore here. 

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Back to the campground.  Traffic to and from Elliot’s Beach all day but the campground has its own little frontage road beside the main road.  Traffic almost nil at night.  Quiet.  So quiet you can hear the recruits at the Weapons Battalion chanting when they march.  We heard Tattoo and Taps one night when we were sitting outside. 

Morning sounds start early if you’re sensitive.  The recruits are up and moving to the rifle range and commence firing on the ranges around 0600.  I imagine it’s first light or daybreak when they start so could be later in winter.  Anyways, it’s about a mile away and is not a bother just a presence.  I could hear lots of rifle fire and less pistol fire.  Must have been requalifying permanent personnel on pistol.  This is the range where I was disappointed during boot camp with a broken gas cylinder plug on my M1 on qual day and barely qualified.  Then came back the next year and broke a range record and won a Leatherneck Marksmanship Award with the M14.  Got my LCPL stripe for that, too.  Those were the days.  I had the opportunity to play the bugle at Weapons Battalion while stationed with the PI Drum and Bugle Corps.  I played Reveille, Chow Call, Assembly, Morning Colors, and then Tattoo and Taps along with taking weather readings to determine safe working conditions due to heat and humidity. 

My critique of the campground:  Needs more shade trees.  The one way signs on the campground road are unnecessary': with only 9 sites using the road at each end and it’s wide open visually, I don’t think traffic is going to be a problem.  I have a suspicion the key and padlock system will fail.  I had the number fall off of my keytag and the bead chain parted when I was near the sewer connector.  It’s just lucky I hadn’t opened it yet or the key would have been bye-bye.  I was just thinking if I had been locked in to the electric and had lost the key, what would I have done?  The showers are large and accessible.  The toilet (there is 1 toilet and 1 urinal on the men’s side) is accessible.  2 sinks, good lighting.  The open breezeway could come in handy in rough weather but is open on both ends.  The laundry looked spacious.  I didn’t spend enough time here to count the machines or see what they cost.  The fee is $15 for full hook-ups, not a bad deal.  It’s not far from Mainside, but far enough.  The Main Exchange is about a mile and a half.  There is a service station there.  The main food court is another half mile or so.  The Visitor Center is on the main street and staff there are helpful.  Lots of souvenirs at several stores and the Main Exchange.  Lots of Marines marching and chanting and doing PT and running.  DI’s with their Smokey Bear hats.  Ceremonial swords.  Spit and polish.  Shiny brass.  It’s a good place to go if you want a dose of military. 

May 27,2010 Parris Island Chapel, Museum and Lyceum

Thursday was Family Day for the graduating Marine recruits.  There are activities planned for the families that come for the graduation.  One of them was a buffet in the Lyceum.  Now when I was a recruit here in ‘61, the Lyceum was where we learned jujitsu and pugil stick hand to hand combat skills.  It was a very industrial warehouse like building with a large open wooden floor.  Now it is a modern looking banquet hall with large chandeliers, a recreation of Tun Tavern and looks like a great place for a Marine Corps Ball or There were tables for several hundred and only a couple dozen were there. 

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We were on our bikes for this day of base sightseeing and found it very easy to bike here.  There are wide areas for joggers along most of the roads on base.  And there were always Marines using them.  Fitness is a major goal of Marine life.  We biked by my old unit, Headquarters Co, H&S Bn, where I was stationed with the Parris Island Drum and Bugle Corps after finishing Field Music School.  The school is no longer at PI. They train musicians at Yorktown, VA now. The Drum Corps is gone, too.  They have a good band and we heard them Friday morning.  Also missing is the club where I hoisted a few with my drum corps buddies.  The club now is in the old brig and is named the Brig and Brew.  It has an austere look like it was just used as a brig recently.  There’s even a barbed wire lookout tower against one wall.  Met some nice senior NCO’s there later when we went back in for dinner, drink and computer time and karaoke.

Stopped at the chapel right across from the Parade Field near 1st Recruit Bn.  It was built in the mid-80’s.  I asked about the chapel I would have attended when I was there but no one seemed to know anything about it.  It was about a block away and named Depot Chapel and is still there and has a big sign in front….   Anyway, the stained glass windows were donated by various Marine organizations and were good at showing Marine historical events and biblical depictions.  We missed a 2PM talk by the chaplain discussing them.

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Just a couple blocks away is the Marine Corps Museum and it was chock full of Marine Corps and Parris Island history.  There had been a Marine Corps presence at PI since the Civil War.  And it has been training Marines since before WW1.  It was interesting to look at the timelines of when the corps started taking women (WW1) and when it integrated (late 40’s) and other milestones.  I was particularly interested in the Field Music School pictures.  They took 16 year olds in a Field Musics; regular recruits had to be 18. 

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It was good to return and see that the Marines are still GungHo and keeping up traditions.  They still have a bulldog mascot and have ceremonial Colors and parades and teach the Marine Corps Hymn and drill and fitness.  They have added the Crucible, which is a field training exercise that uses the classroom training and incorporates team building scenarios.   And there are still honor graduates that get a stripe and a set of dress blues upon graduation.  And the haircuts are still high and tight!

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May 26, 2010 Hunting Island State Park, SC

While camping at Parris Island RV Park, we did a little sight seeing and swimming.  Hunting Island State Park wasn’t too far away and Lila had been here before, so we spent most of the day at the beach.  The waves were about 2 foot high and I caught a couple for some short body surfing rides.  I was glad I had my water shoes on since there were a few oyster shells scattered around.  Lila had cut her foot on an oyster shell at Elliot’s Beach the day before and I was being a little cautious.  It’s nice to see healthy oyster beds in these waters.  Had seen the same at Jekyll Island a couple years ago.  This beach shows a lot of historic erosion.  The tree roots make interesting driftwood but it’s sad to see the loss of sand.

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It is a wide beach and the sand is soft and easy to walk on.  We walked a long way south and saw lots of nice shells.  Kept a conch and an angel wing.  There was a protected loggerhead turtle nest on the beach and it appeared to have just hatched a few young.

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After a pickup lunch  in the Roadtrek, we headed for the lighthouse that is at the north end of the park.  It is well interpreted and maintained.  Learned about the various families that lived and worked the lighthouse.  There were 3 lighthouse keepers at a time.  The lighthouse keeper and 2 assistant lighthouse keepers worked 4 hours shifts round the clock.  The night shifts dealt with keeping the light lit and the day shifts with maintaining the lighthouse and grounds.  They had a cistern for drinking water.  They kept a garden and small livestock and had to transport the oil for the light from mainland by boat then a short rail line powered by a hand car.  Then had to hand carry the oil up to the light.

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There was a lagoon behind the dune line at the south end of the park that was popular with kayakers and fishermen. 

We left the park and headed back towards the campground but stopped for a great seafood dinner at Frogmore near St Helena Island.  There are some good Gulla restaurants but didn’t seem to be open at dinner time.  How strange.  Maybe after Memorial Day?  They were open for lunch, though. 

It was a fun day and we returned to the campground full and tired. There was a nice sunset and a cool breeze. 

May 24-25, 2010 Roadtrek Road Trip to Parris Island

We left home around 3PM Monday, May 24th after waiting for the UPS delivery of generator parts.  Drove through VA and NC and got into SC before we got off the road for the night.  Had planned to stop at a Cracker Barrel or WalMart but couldn’t find one when we were ready to quit for the night.  Did find a Piggly Wiggly store lot that was empty and seemed to be an alright place to hole up for the night.  They had a $2.99 breakfast the next morning that was a great bargain.  Scrambled eggs, 3 sausage links, grits, and a biscuit and gravy.  Coffee was extra and we both had breakfast for under $7.50. Actually had biscuits left over for the next morning. The weather was great, sunny and mild. 

Arrived at Parris Island and checked in at the MCX ITT office.  The staff were nice and helpful.  The reservations are made at MCAS Beaufort Outdoor Rec and ITT on Mainside at PI hand out the keys.  It was easy to find the RV park.  We actually found the park then went to register, so we knew which site we preferred.  There was one other motorhome at the other end of the park.  So now there were 2 sites occupied out of 18. 

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We were the first camper to use Site 17 since the RV Park opened on May 14th.  The key issued by the ITT office opens the padlocks on the electric box which has 20/30/50 amp service; the water spigot, and the locks on the bathroom and laundry room.  The bathroom is brand new and still shiny clean.  A handicapped toilet stall, urinal and 2 handicapped accessible showers and 2 sinks comprise the men’s room.  I expect the ladies room is similar.  Briefly stuck my head in the laundry room but did not note how many washers and driers or their cost.  There were at least 2 of each machine, maybe 3.

The RV Park is on the road to Elliot’s Beach.  Anyone who has been through boot camp at PI will remember the forced march to Elliot’s Beach as one of the highlights of their training.  But the picnic grounds are out past the RV Park and there is a constant stream of traffic going to and from the playground and picnic area.  It might be that the RV Park is a new entity to the base and is being checked out by the locals, but it seemed the traffic was more than necessary.  It did stop at dark and it was very quiet overnight.  Was able to hear Tattoo and Taps from the Range Battalion off in the distance.

There’s nothing like the sound of small arms fire in the morning!!  Since the RV Park is near the rifle and pistol training ranges and they start very early.  But, they are far enough away that it’s not bothersome. 

After checking out the MCX, Base Museum, Chapel with its beautiful stained glass windows, The Brig and Brew, we drove around base and I got to remember my time there in 1961 through ‘63.  The Field Music School is gone; so it the Drum Corps.  We heard the band at Morning Colors on graduation day Friday morning.  And a nice talk by the Training Regiment Commander about how the Corps is honored to be entrusted with the recruits.  We didn’t stay for the graduation ceremony but did hear the band sound adjutant’s call and watch the recruits march onto the parade ground to become Marines. 

It was a great visit. When we left on Friday morning, there were about 6 sites in use.   Next year, Camp Lejeune.  (We visited Quantico Marine Base on Memorial Day before coming home.)