Dear Family and Friends,
Gee, it sure has been awhile since I last wrote you from the road! The business of RV Weather has kept us very busy; in front of the computer and working at rallies. It was after one of those rallies — when we took shelter from treacherous roads in the first campground we could find after the January ’25 blizzard — that we got the idea to do a trial run as SnowBirds.
We liked the rescue campground in Brunswick, Georgia so much, that we decided it would be the perfect spot to do a mini test and hang out for a couple of months come winter of 2026.
For our RVer friends: Coastal Georgia RV Resort is a new-ish campground, all spots are not only concrete, but level with full hook-ups. There are tall hedges between sites in the original section (and growing fast in the recently added section) so despite being a few feet from your neighbor, you feel far more private than you physically are. Nice small pool, bath houses, laundry, and rec room, are all well maintained. There is a retention pond with a little marsh at one end that encourages winged wildlife to frequent the area — which happens to be a stones throw off of I-95.
This may have been the most challenging starts to a trip — ever. We had a few snow storms blow through the week before our trip — so we were starting tired from shoveling the double-wide corner lot and 2 driveways. In addition, we had to shovel out the Airstream and truck, something we usually let Mother Nature handle.
Dave had the hard part of preps — packing the booth and our camping gear in the back of the truck in single digit cold weather. We left the trailer winterized because we didn’t want water to freeze while we went down the road — which meant that even food had to wait until the last minute.
Thank goodness there is a software program out there than can help figure out the best time to leave and what route to take! We needed to delay our start 3 days because of an ice storm hitting the Carolinas just as we would be passing through. But we couldn’t wait too long, because a new snow storm was heading for Pennsylvania! We always seem to be threading the weather needle on our trips. RV Weather sure did help with that! Snow hit in the Carolinas the day after we passed through, and the rain hit Georgia just after we made camp.
We had the brilliant idea of bringing a car along on this trip — something to take into town and avoid trying to find parking for the behemoth truck. Naturally, the convertible was our first choice. It has been sitting covered during the rough weather, so the night before departure we decided to take it out on a run to make the battery happy. We jumped it, took it on a 45 minute run and then did a few errand stops on the way home.
The morning of departure we were on schedule. Liquids and the last clothes were stowed aboard. We decided to double check the convertible before Dave got the trailer underway. It wouldn’t start. Sheesh! Now what?!
We call the Honda dealer. Yes, they have a battery for our car, and yes I can just stop by. So we change the departure ops and bundle up to jump the car. Naturally, it wouldn’t jump. Not even a click. And we really need to go, because we want to beat rush hour traffic and need to miss the bad weather. So, we throw a cover over the two-seater and put off figuring out the problem until Spring. I hop in our other car, shifting cargo from one vehicle to the other, cracking my head on the lift gate that didn’t raise all the way in the frigid temperatures. Now I am mad, and seriously consider that the universe might just be saying, “Don’t take a car!”
Only an hour behind, we chip and scrape the thick, opaque ice off the windshields. Trailer tire, light, and brake check complete — all good. Exiting the driveway is extra exciting because the plowed snow banks further constrain the already narrow neighborhood streets. We are finally underway!
Ah, but not so fast! In just a few miles I realize a few things. The hood did not correctly latch after trying to jump the Honda. And I gassed up the other car, the one sitting in the driveway — this one has less than a quarter of a tank. So I pull off to take care of that. I haven’t even left town! Luckily, I knew Dave’s fueling plan and I caught up to him 80 miles later at the pumps. 🙂
Our first night camping was in Virginia. The campground, rest stops, and the gas station all showed that plowing was not a strategy for dealing with snow and ice. We camped on a slab of 3” thick ice. It was so cold, our weight didn’t even leave tire marks!
I’d done my best to clean the 8+ inches of snow off the roof of the Airstream before we left. Being in the chase vehicle, I had a prime view of the walnut sized snow nuggets popping off the roof. In fact, it continued to be so cold on the trip that the very last chunk of snow finally flew off outside Charleston, South Carolina. Nearly the Georgia border!
Dave found a great little KOA in South Carolina for the night. I mean, the camp store building had one tiny row of I-forgot type necessities, and the rest of the space was a wine and coffee bar, and a pizza concession. They clearly understand camper’s priorities! So you know where we had dinner. 🙂 I’d planned the travel menu to be hot dogs so that we wouldn’t need water to wash dishes. This made it even easier. And I have to say, the pizza was exceptionally delicious, and the libations well received!
We pulled into Coastal Georgia RV Resort at midday of day three and were delighted to set up camp with the windows and door wide open. 40 degrees never felt so balmy!
As it turns out, the challenges continued. Just proving that RVing is fixing things in beautiful places: I forgot my meds despite having them on my last-minute packing list, the unexpected car shuffle means we didn’t bring all the right car keys (and did bring ones we don’t need after all), Dave’s traveling weather station quit, the gasket on the shower door tore, the toilet won’t hold water, Dave’s bike lost its brakes, my Navy flagpole clips broke, and the Subaru windshield has developed a crack that started working across the driver’s view.
BUT!
Our Airstream backs up to the pond. We wake to the sound of birds, and maybe the sight of some water fowl dive-grazing on the submerged salad bar. All systems (knock wood!) are functional in the trailer so staying warm, eating well, and hot showers are all easy. The campground laundry is one site over from us. And there is plenty to explore in the area!
It’s funny, but we always seem to run into someone with a connection to Dave. They used to work together, served on the same ship, a son-daughter-brother-uncle-aunt worked with Dave, a NOAA employee, weather dude or dudette, worked in Grand Teton, daily forecast subscriber, or today, someone with an RV Weather story to tell. Within hours of being in camp, Dave got an email from a person IN the campground (!) that wanted to chat to RV Weather-Dave.
Dave had routed him a few years ago, stressing they needed an early start one particular morning to avoid dangerous cross winds. They got up at 4am to get underway, as suggested. Within an hour of arrival at their destination, the winds were so strong they “couldn’t even get the door open!” Crazy small world out there!
Today we dropped off Dave’s bike at a really cool shop called Monkeywrench Bicycles. Several of the bike techs muscling mountain bikes onto the repair rigs were young women. If I heard better, and they weren’t on the clock, I’d love to hear their stories. Do they race? Are they engineers and like fixing things? I found my self oggling one of the bikes, called a Townie. I tried lifting one of the bikes, and it was shockingly heavy! Meant for cruising in town (with an actual fanny-sized seat and not an emaciated tree branch), it was not of the scale — size or weight — let’s say, for fitting into precious space in the always full truck. Fun to dream though!
Afterwards, we went to the downtown area of St Simon’s Island for the first time. A lot of locals were out enjoying the waterside parks and shops. Kids were climbing trees. Couples were on benches with tall coffee thermoses and thick books. Girlfriends were sharing animated stories while strolling the walking path. Boat-tailed Grackle and various gulls were bellowing their delight in soaring and scoring human treats.
Spotting a restaurant with outdoor seating under cheerful yellow umbrellas, we put our name on the waiting list, and did some people and dog watching while listening for our name to be called. The service was cheerful and timely. The food was very good — I enjoyed a Mahi sandwich that was almost too thick to bite! The sun felt divine on our shoulders as we munched and chatted, sharing all the places that St Simons reminded us of from our travels. A little Carmel, CA. A little Key West, FL. A little Bay St. Louis, MS.
So, we are here for another week before we take a side trip to a Navy rally. I’m itching to get my camera out and start playing with taking pictures. Dave will probably start plotting bike trails to explore, and we’ll happily share the gems we find with you.
Oh, on day four, Dave is already searching for other possible SnowBird roosts for next year. 😀
Be well. Stay warm!
Below are a few photos of the birds I’ve seen in camp so far. Missing are: Osprey, Bald Eagles, Banded Kingfisher, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ring Neck Ducks, Cardinals, Coots, Pied-billed Grebe, Blue Jays, Boat-tailed Grackle, and a few others yet to be identified. Enjoy!
