The 101 "McNugit" Nights

First Glimpse

Happy new owners

WalMart Camping

Cracker Barrel

Inaugural/Shenandoah Valley KOA

Lost our GPS while crossing that stream

soggy love birds

JMU graduation

#4 and James Madison

Shenandoah Valley KOA, again

what the sign says

Big Meadow campsite

Bearfence Mountain Rock Scramble

off to Philpott Lake

Philpott Lake

trail to Philpott Dam

Philpott Lake

heading for home

our little rock thrower

Crabtree Falls

Tye River Suspension Bridge

boys will be boys

at the pumpkin patch

Crabtree Falls Campground

Chickahominy Riverfront Park

Jamestown/Scotland Neck ferry, by bike

on the Virginia Capital Trail/Charles City Courthouse phase

Northwest River Park

damage resulting from bike being dragged for a mile, after it flopped off of the carrier, which was on the rear of teardrop. we hadn't secured it properly. now the bikes go in the pick-up bed!

Bocce Easter eggs @ North Bend Park

our "new" canoe, fast and light

Easter camping @ North Bend Park - C Loop

hike to Kerr Dam

Chickahominy sunrise

Chickahominy Riverfront Park

North Bend Park B Loop

Our teardrop trio eats well!

Beached canoes

dare devil

floating

smooth as glass

our favorite site @North Bend

loaded up

apple picker

#2 Tarzan

fancy cookin' @ Crabtree Falls

North Bend sharing

happy puppies

lotsa boats

Holliday Lake SP

autumn trail

we & our shadow

Belle Isle SP

Horsehead Cliffs

Westmoreland SP

North Bend Park - B Loop

the new toy

what's cooking?

five varieties of pizza!

dogs at rest

Old Dominion Tearjerker's Spring Fling @ First Landing SP

Tearjerker Rookies

my aunt's barn

Pennsylvania farm

We picked up our 2009 550 Ultra #349 at the Camp-Inn factory in Necedah on March 9, 2010, and promptly bestowed her with the name "McNugit"! In the early days, we towed with our '03 Toyota Sequoia, but since then, we seem to have acquired a lot more "toys". Nowadays, our '05 Toyota Tundra is most likely our tow vehicle. Here is the story of our first 102 nights.
To see pictures, click on this link: http://the101mcnugitnights.shutterfly.com

Outing #1 The trip home: Necedah to Norfolk
March 9-11, 2010
miles: 1200 / nights: 2
Spent night #1 in a WalMart parking lot in Bloomington, IL. Not ideal, but it was the best we could do on our trip home, through unfamiliar territory!
We tried to find a campsite in Kanawha State Forest, in Charleston, WV, only to find that they were not open for the season. Night #2, we had to settle for a Cracker Barrel in Beckley, WV. Oh well, at least there were pancakes in the morning!

Outing #2 Shenandoah Valley KOA: Broadway, VA
March 20-22, 2010
miles: 473 / nights: 2
We assumed that the Big Meadows campground in Shenandoah National Park would be open. Wrong again! Fortunately found a KOA in the valley. Got some hiking in, up in SNP, and visited our #4 son, @ nearby JMU. Northern Breeze was tested in the rain, and held up great!
Running Totals: 1673 miles / 4 nights

Outing #3 Shenandoah Valley KOA: Broadway, VA
March 27-29, 2010
miles: 480 / nights: 2
Taking advantage of son #3's offer to "grandpa-sit" once again, we decided to head out for another camping/hiking adventure. SNP was shrouded in fog and snow, so we opted for some lower elevation hiking. Lost our GPS in a rushing stream we crossed. Good thing we weren't lost! Once again the Northern Breeze was put to the test- wind and rain, but kept us safe and dry.
Running Totals: 2153 miles / 6 nights

Outing #4 May 7-11, 2010
miles: 497 / nights: 4
Nights #1&2 spent at Shenandoah Valley KOA, as we were attending #4 son's graduation from JMU.
Big Meadows campground was finally open, so we headed up there after the graduation and party. We were able to do some hiking, and rock scrambling. Fun!! Two more nights under our belts!!
Running Totals: 2650 miles / 10 nights

Outing #5 Salthouse Branch Park/Philpott Lake: Henry, VA
June 13-16, 2010
miles: 502 / nights: 3
Our first outing with our newly formed "teardrop camping friends" group. Three couples, friends and co-workers for several years. We all have similar interests and values, and our kids were classmates and friends. These are the people responsible for our interest and love of "paddling".
We took turns preparing shared meals, spent a lot of time on and in the water, did some hiking, and played games. Our dream come true, that we have dear friends to share these good times with!
Running Totals: 3152 miles / 13 nights

Outing #6 Crabtree Falls Campground: Tyro, VA
October 1-4, 2010
miles: 442 / nights: 3
Our #2 son's annual camping trip with his friends. Since there are small children involved, we are now included as two sets of extra eyes and ears! McNugit also made a nice place for their afternoon naps. We visited and hiked the falls, went to the pumpkin patch, and watched our grandson throw about 300,000 rocks into the river!
Running Totals: 3594 miles / 16 nights

Outing #7 Chickahominy Riverfront Park: Williamsburg, VA
October 9-13, 2010
miles: 112 / nights: 4
Our first solo outing in a while. Biked two sections of the Capital Trail, went for a ride on the Scotland Neck Ferry @ Jamestown, and did some paddling.
Running Totals: 3706 miles / 20 nights

Outing #8 Northwest River Park: Chesapeake, VA
October 23-25, 2010
miles: 64 / nights: 2
Just taking advantage of the Indian summer weather. Paddled on the Northwest River, hiked in the park, rode bikes on the Dismal Swamp Canal Trail. This was when we decided not to carry our bikes on the back of the trailer, after one came loose, and was dragged on the road for a mile or two! One week after this outing, Jim landed in the ER with a MRSA infection in his elbow- septic bursitis. He had surgery, and spent a week in the hospital. We believe he picked it up from the nursing home that we had placed my father in for a respite stay. God certainly brought us through it all.
Running Totals: 3770 miles / 22 nights

Outing #9 #1 son's cabin near Charlottesville, VA
October 30-31, 2010
miles: 325 / nights: 1
Had to add this after the fact, and now it has messed up where our 100th night landed! Spent the night camped in #1 son's yard after we attended his graduation from "night school". Couldn't disregard though, since he was "valedictorian" of his class!
Running Totals: 4095 miles / 23 nights

Outing #10 North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
April 22-26, 2011
miles: 410 / nights: 4
Easter camping with our teardrop trio. Our first visit to this USACE campground, and we LOVE it! We just picked up our "new" Wenonah Jensen kevlar canoe from Ohio, and we are now the envy of our paddling friends! It is so light and fast, that none of them can keep pace with us now!! Sure beats that tank of a plastic kayak we were using! After the lake, drove down to visit Jim's sister near Raleigh, NC, and spent 4th night camped in her driveway.
Running Totals: 4505 miles / 27 nights

Outing #11 Chickahominy Riverfront Park: Williamsburg, VA
April 30-May 2, 2011
miles: 112 / nights: 2
Just because the weather is nice, and we can! Biking the Capital Trail, and paddling the river.
Running Totals: 4617 miles / 29 nights

Outing #12 North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
July 6-10, 2011
miles: 276 / nights: 4
Our teardrop trio, plus one set of their kids. First time we have been here in warm weather. It is so much fun to paddle, and pull up on a deserted beach for a swim. Had a vicious thunder storm with ferocious winds which snapped a connector on our REI alcove shelter. REI totally gave us a new replacement shelter. They'll have more of our business! We also had lightning strike a tree, very close to our campsites. What a wild night!!
Running Totals: 4893 miles / 33 nights

Outing #13 North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
September 11-14, 2011
miles: 276 / nights: 3
Another solo outing, beautiful weather, and we tried out a new campsite. No hookups, and a hike to the bathhouse, but oh so private! It is on a nice cove with a great sandy beach and steep drop-off for swimming. Went for a nice long paddle to check out two campgrounds on the NC side of the lake. Heaven!
Running Totals: 5169 miles / 36 nights

Outing #14 Crabtree Falls Campground: Tyro, VA
October 7-10, 2011
miles: 442 / nights: 3
Annual outing with #2 son and his family. Attended a Garlic/Wine Festival, where we had a scare when one of our dads, who had his three sons, solo, for the weekend, temporarily lost one of them. You can imagine that he didn't let those boys out of his sight for the rest of the weekend! We also went apple picking. Great weather! Visited #1 son, on the return trip home.
Running Totals: 5611 miles / 39 nights

Outing #15 North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
October 14-17, 2011
miles: 276 / nights: 3
Our #1 son and his fiancé joined our trio, for this trip, as did another couple's kids. Camped on our new favorite sites, and everyone loved them. Especially the dogs, all 5 of them were tearing up that beach!
Running Totals: 5887 miles / 42 nights

Outing #16 Holliday Lake State Park: Appomattox, VA
November 6-9, 2011
miles: 364 / nights: 3
Solo outing, trying to get in one more before the campgrounds close for the season. Last time we camped here was 20 years ago, in tents. Campground is much improved now, and we discovered the Virginia State Park TrailQuest incentive program while here. We hiked just about all of their trails, and enjoyed the fall colors.
Running Totals: 6251 miles / 45 nights

Outing #17 Three different Virginia State Parks
March 31-April 2, 2012
miles: 319 / nights: 2
Now that we know about the TrailQuest program, it is our goal to visit every Virginia State Park. Spent night #1 at Belle Isle SP, in Lancaster, VA. Night #2 was spent at Westmoreland SP, in Montross, VA. On the way home, we visited Caledon Natural Area in King George, VA. Hiked all three places, but Caledon was, by far, the best for hiking. What a gorgeous place! We will be back there soon!
Running Totals: 6570 miles / 47 nights

Outing #18 North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
April 6-9, 2012
miles: 398 / nights: 3
Easter camping with our trio, plus 1 set of kids. One of the guys brought his new toy, a Standup Paddleboard, or SUP. We all tried it, and it adds a new perspective to paddling. Not as hard as it looks, and very relaxing! We did drive-thru's of three more State Parks on the way home, to get our ticket punched for TrailQuest. Occoneechee SP in Clarksville, VA; Staunton River SP in Scottsburg, VA; and we rode our bikes thru Staunton River Battlefield in Randolph, VA.
Running Totals: 6968 miles / 50 nights

Outing #19 First Landing SP: Virginia Beach, VA
April 20-22, 2012
miles: 26 / nights: 2
Our first Tearjerker's gathering, put on by the Old Dominion Chapter. 13 total trailers, met lots of nice people, toured trailers, and showed off ours! Nice potluck on Saturday night, but then the deluge hit. By the time we woke up on Sunday morning, everyone had cleared out. We packed up our soggy stuff and headed for home. Just glad we were only 15 minutes from home!
Running Totals: 6994 miles / 52 nights

Outing #20 Wedding trip to NY
June 6-20, 2012
miles: 1295 / nights: 6 (plus 5 for our 2 sons, not included in total)
Our #1 son is getting married in upstate NY. We have rented a lake house for the week for our family to stay in, and to hold the rehearsal dinner there. Night #1 just a stop over, en route, at Spruce Run SP in Hampton, NJ. A little distressed to see a sign, after we took our evening showers, that said the water might contain fecal coliform!! Great, just what we needed to hear with a wedding in 3 days!! Hit the road early for a Costco run to pick up all of the necessities for the rehearsal dinner that we were hosting and catering. Destination, Broadalbin, NY. The rehearsal dinner was better than I ever could have expected, and the outdoor wedding was absolutely wonderful. I've never had so much fun! We were able to relax for the rest of the week, and all 4 of our sons were with us. One even flew in from Korea! A happy reunion, but so sad to put him back on that plane.
When the week was over, we headed home, via my aunt's Pennsylvania farm. We hadn't been there in 30 years. We had a wonderful visit with her, and spent 3 nights sleeping in her driveway!! On the way out of PA, we made a stop at Cabela's in Hamburg, PA. Then it was on to Shenandoah River SP in Bentonville, VA for a 2 night stay. We hiked some of their trails, and floated in the river. Beautiful place! On the way home, we stopped at Sky Meadows SP in Delaplane, VA. We took a long, hot hike on their trails, and then headed for home, at last!!!
Running Totals: 8289 miles / 58 nights

Outing #21 Pocahontas SP: Chesterfield, Va & North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
July 14-19, 2012
miles: 477 / nights: 5
We decided to attend the opening ceremonies at Caledon SP in King George, VA. It was formerly just a Natural Area. Spent night #1 at Pocahontas SP (more ticket punching!) and then drove to North Bend for 4 more nights with our teardrop trio. Another great outing of good friends, food, and activities!
Running Totals: 8766 miles / 63 nights

Outing #22 Bear Creek Lake SP: Cumberland, Va & Twin Lakes SP: Green Bay, VA
September 8-12, 2012
miles: 352 / nights: 4
More TrailQuest ticket punching! Our first visit to Bear Creek Lake in 20 years. We lucked out and got the primo campsite, right on the lake! Hiked, and paddled canoe and SUP. Even saw a beaver swim past our campsite!! Spent 2 nights.
Visited Sailor's Creek Battlefield SP, on our way to Twin Lakes SP. 2 more nights, paddling, and hiking. We also rode bikes on the newly opened High Bridge Trail SP, near Farmville, VA. Impressive rails to trails route.
Running totals: 9118 miles / 67 nights

Outing #23 North Bend Park: Boydton, VA
September 14-17, 2012
miles: 276 / nights: 3
Met up with some old friends, from our boys' Pony baseball league days. Enjoyed sharing meals, playing games, biking, paddling on the lake, and catching up!
Running Totals: 9394 miles / 70 nights

Outing #24 Bear Creek Lake SP: Cumberland, VA & James River SP: Gladstone, VA
September 22-26, 2012
miles: 446 / nights: 4
Met up with some new teardrop friends we met at the Tearjerker's gathering for one night at Bear Creek. They rode with us on the High Bridge Trail the next day. We then headed solo to James River SP- very nice campsites, river and trails. Another place we plan to return to!
Running Totals: 9840 miles / 74 nights

Outing #25 Chickahominy Riverfront Park: Williamsburg, VA
September 27-October 1, 2012
miles: 145 / nights: 4
Teardrop trio time, plus some kids. Good time as always, paddling, biking on the Capital Trail. We even stayed an extra day after our friends all left.
Running Totals: 9985 miles / 78 nights

Outing #26 Crabtree Falls Campground: Tyro, VA
October 5-8, 2012
miles: 469 / nights: 3
Another fun camping trip with our son, and his family and their friends. The cold rain on the last night made for a difficult and soggy departures for some. Our whole family stayed an extra night, thankful for the Northern Breeze, and electric space heaters!! Visited #1 son and his bride on our way home.
Running Totals: 10,454 miles / 81 nights

Outing #27 Merchants Millpond SP: Gatesville, NC
October 20-22, 2012
miles: 133 / nights: 2
Another great find! This park comes complete with alligator's, in their Northernmost range. We hope to see one, someday! Nice sites, hiking trails, and great paddling on the millpond that looks like another world! We'll be back!! Dismal Swamp Canal Trail is on the route there, so we took a bike ride too.
Running Totals: 10,587 miles / 83 nights

Outing #28 Merchants Millpond SP: Gatesville, NC
November 3-4, 2012
miles: 125 / nights: 1
Just an overnighter, and a paddle with part of our teardrop trio.
Running Totals: 10,712 miles / 84 nights

Outing #29 Lake Anna SP: Spotsylvania, VA
November 10-12, 2012
miles: 326 / nights: 2
The weather is good, so why not?!! Hiked and paddled. Also visited Leesylvania SP in Woodbridge, VA, and Mason Neck SP in Lorton, VA. Interesting places for day hikes. Lots of DC folks visit these two.
Running Totals: 11,038 miles / 86 nights

Outing #30 Occoneechee SP: Clarksville, VA & JC Cooper campground @ Satterwhite Point/Kerr Lake State Recreation Area: Henderson, NC
December 1-4, 2012
miles: 351 / nights: 3
Last open weekend for Virginia State Park Campgrounds. We had the entire campground to ourselves at Occoneechee, and it was a gorgeous weekend. We hiked their trails, combed the beach (found a whole bunch of fishing lures and sinkers), and enjoyed spectacular sunrise and sunset. Weather was too nice to go home, so we drove to NC side of the lake and found an open campground. Did some paddling there, and scoped out future campsites. Visited 3 more of their other campgrounds to check out their campsites as well. Looks like another part of Kerr Lake to explore!
Running Totals: 11,389 miles / 89 nights

Outing #31 Medoc Mountain SP: Hollister, NC
December 8-10, 2012
miles: 275 / nights: 2
Last outing of the year. Sweet little campground with a nice bathhouse, and sites, good hiking trails, and a little creek to paddle. Another place to revisit!
Running Totals: 11,664 miles / 91 nights

Outing #32 Merchants Millpond SP: Gatesville, NC
January 12-13, 2013
miles: 125 / nights: 1
Since it's open year round, we got together with fellow Camp-Inn owners, Chris & Mindy, on their inaugural trip. Thanks to Cary, we had the honor of showing them our Camp-Inn, before they ordered theirs. One couple from our teardrop trio also joined us in their new T@B clamshell. Great time playing games, hiking, and paddling on the pond.
Running Totals: 11,789 miles / 92 nights

Outing #33 County Line Park/Kerr Lake State Rec Area: Manson, NC
March 29-April 2, 2013
miles: 456 / nights: 4
Our Easter teardrop trio trip. Even got #1 son, and #2 son and family to come this time(my birthday treat!). Chris & Mindy (from the forum) also joined us. Took walks, explored other campsites, (for future reference), paddled, flew kites with the grandkids, and hid easter eggs for them. They were the only kids in our group, and I suspect some of the others were dreading that, but they really were on their best behavior, which made Gramma & Pops very proud!!
We drove down to Clayton, NC, to visit Jim's paraplegic sister, spent the 4th night in her driveway, before heading for home.
Running Totals: 12,245 miles / 96 nights

Outing #34 Chickahominy Riverfront Park: Williamsburg, VA
April 7-10, 2013
miles: 114 / nights: 3
Can't resist the nice weather, and we are so close to 100 nights! Biked two sections on the Capital Trail, paddled the canoe to new places, and paddled the SUPs. Had a great view of an osprey nest in the middle of the creek.
Running Totals: 12,359 miles / 99 nights

Outing #35 First Landing SP: Virginia Beach, VA
April 18-21, 2013
miles: 22 / nights: 3
Almost there!! Old Dominion Tearjerker's Spring Fling. We arrived early, quickly set up camp, and then picked up the grandkids from preschool. Our 3 year old granddaughter spent night #100 with us, as a reward for not having to wear pull-ups to bed!! It was a bit crowded, but she was very good! We picked up our grandson from preschool again, and spent another afternoon entertaining them with a trip to the beach, and a short hike up the trail with the "big hill". Night #101 was very rainy and windy, but we were quite warm, dry, and comfortable thanks to our 550! After the potluck, a beautiful sunset over the Chesapeake Bay, and a campfire with the group, we were back in our mcnugit for #102. We are now looking forward to the next 98 nights, and beyond!!!
Running Totals: 12,381 miles / 102 nights

And that's all she wrote!!! (For now!)

 

Wow...what a terrific chronicle of your adventure so far! I feel like I was on the trips with you! Thanks!

 

What Dan and Vanessa said! Love that your sons and grandchildren got to join in.

PS - your TD is so shiny; is this at the start or still at the end?

 

PS - your TD is so shiny; is this at the start or still at the end? [/quote]

The picture is at the factory, the very first time we saw it, in person. Not so shiny anymore, but well loved!!!

 

Jim & Jamie that is a great story our chronicle is no way as detatiled as yours.

 

lots of nice travels and pics! thanks for sharing...

 

Hmmm... I'm not seeing the images... I just see the top line:
First_Glimpse.jpg
The 101 "McNugit" Nights
First Glimpse

and link brings up a blank page... weird great report, simple, nice..

 

Yeah, I think I broke it by trying to add too many pictures! I got about half way through and it quit on me. Now my pictures won't appear, nor will anyone else's with 100 Night threads. I just hope someone can fix it!

 

Yep, some forums are limited, but you might consider what I do.
There are plenty of "free photo sites" around, I happen to use the "Google" picasa but you can upload billions of photos and then just post the one or 3 on there with a link to the rest.. makes life a little easier... just make sure that the Free Photo sites gallery are set to public, so when they click on the link they can get in...
Just a thought... I love view other's pics, I get a feel for the trip that way...

Picasa (no longer supported and being phased out by Google)

and there are others...

Kewl...

 

Just added a link to Shutterfly for our copious amount of photos, documenting our first 101 nights.
Hopefully one of our techies will figure out the glitch I seem to have created on this thread!

 

Shutterfly worked so well - thanks for posting. Loved seeing the pictures of your family and glad that TRex wears a flotation device on the water (or was that a backpack?)

 

Jim and Jamie, loved the story and pics. Got my camping fix for another day as I wait for our next trip.

 

Thanks Pat, Kathy & Bob, it was a lot of work, but I am glad I finally got it done! That is a backpack on TRex. He is a good swimmer, but a PFD is next on his gear list!

 

You're pictures are great! Love all the cypress swamp pics. Also really love the wheel fender shelf y'all use. Did you just build that to fit? It looks very convenient.

Congrats on our 100 nights and to many, many hundred more!

 

We can tell that you all know what you're doing!! Kevlar Canoe? Alan'll be looking that one up soon. Years ago he paddled a kevlar kayak thru the San Juan Islands and up around British Columbia. Great photos and thank you for sharing them with us.

 

Susan told me about your canoe and I have to say you are going first class. That is a sweet paddling boat I am sure; canoes and kayaks are, and have been, a passion of mine for many many years. Keep paddling, camping, and enjoy life to the fullest... Alan

Live every day to fullest, today could be your last... and one day it will be...

 

The McNugit photos were not visible until now. Do take a look - they are great!

 

1. Evan- Thanks for fixing our photos! You are the best!!!

2. Susan & Alan- Yes, our "Nonah" is sweet to paddle, and has provided us with many hours of enjoyment! If you make the 10+ hour trip to attend our 1st MAUCICCO gathering, August 9-11, @ North Bend Park in Boydton, VA we will let you take her for a paddle!!!

http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=2003&Number=18283#Post18283

3.Sarah Nell & Robert- the swamp/millpond is a unique and beautiful location, always a treat to paddle and camp there. Jim made the fender shelves, and they are VERY useful. They even fold flat for travel.

http://www.campinnforum.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Main=311&Number=1734#Post1734

4. Jenn- thanks for your sweet post! We look forward to meeting you someday, hopefully at the 10th CICO!

5. Frank- thanks for your advice on using a photo sharing site. Worked great!!

Link to more photos can be found at the top of our 101 McNugit Nights thread.

 

I think we'll put our money into a "nice" canoe to go with our Tarpon 120's instead of heading that way in August!! You all have bigger bugs and more heat at that time of the year than we do here in Florida!!!
Happy Paddling!

 

Jim & Jamie,
Congratulation on reaching the 100 night milestone. We have enjoyed our five nights camping with you and look forward to more. We added nights 14 & 15 in "Spirit" last weekend at Prince William National Forest Park. How was "Paddle for the Boarder"? Love your Dutch oven lasagna.

Chris & Mindy