On to Gettysburg

I set out first thing this morning for my second RV journey, this time to Gettysburgh where I will be the guest of Travel Resorts of America. The 21 day trial came with the purchase of my RV at Campers Inn, so I scheduled it with them as a 3 day / 2 night trip to further my distance from home in the truck and travel trailer mode, but still comfortably within the confines of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

I got to my storage lot, and it took about a half-hour to negotiate getting the truck hitch aligned with the trailer, attaching and winding-up the sway bars, putting on the new extended rear view mirrors (to help further the visibility of what lurks behind you on either side down the endless side of truck and trailer) and making sure everything that could stick out and be bashed to bits on the unforgiving highway was not sticking out.

It was my first time driving on a busy road mid-week where I was worried about actually getting in to the left lane to make an upcoming turn (is 2 miles too early to start the move?). I breathed a sigh of relief and rubbed my sweaty palms on my jeans as I maneuvered on to the PA turnpike. Something about gliding along at 65 to 70 mph in a massive, churning GMC truck doing it’s job towing my trailer was amazingly exhilarating.

And thanks to finally reading the owner’s manual, I had kept it in 4 by 2 wheel mode and also engaged a towing switch on the shift stem to let the transmission know that there was a 5,000 pound object attached to the rear of the truck so adapt the gears accordingly. I wondered as the huge 70 foot trucks whisked by if I was not in their club, after all a couple months ago I was in a crossover Kia hybrid!

I know that getting in and out of gas stations / service stops can be a challenge, but the ones on the turnpike are built for it. A separated truck RV lane and parked out back with the big rigs. Even surprised to see a dump station for $5 bucks out back – all new terrain for me in the RV journey.

Arrived at the Gettysburg RV park at noon, signed in, got my info packet, confirmed an 11am tour with lunch for tomorrow, got a ‘smores pack, firewood and a guide in a golf cart to lead me to my designated slot in the park. The backing up on a curve in to the spot took about 5 attempts: first I turned too soon, then too late, then too close to a neighbor. But with the assistance of the park worker I did finally slide the Z Gads (the newly assigned name of my rig) in to position.

As I was leveling, stabilizing, coercing the hitch away from the rig, I met a couple of my RV neighbors. Unlike my first outing where there were mostly workers staying at the park, everyone immediately around me is on the road most of the year. Very friendly, helpful and open to offering any assistance needed. As I walk around most people seem quite willing to wave and say hello. Will survey the fires as night falls and I finish uploading this entry.

All in all a great day, getting the rig here and settling in to a very nice camp

#rv