A Not-So-Fall Fall Road Trip

Wine & Whiskey
12 minutes ago
3 min read

Our road trip started with a small pre-departure challenge — fussing with the Blue Ox brake controller before leaving home. Once that was sorted, we hit the road toward Wright’s Farm in Gardiner, New York, a favorite Harvest Host.

We parked in a quiet field alongside other travelers, cooked up a simple dinner, and settled in for the first “fall” evening of the trip — though the only thing that really felt like fall was how early it got dark. Cooler nights haven’t arrived yet, but the shorter days make for cozy evenings in the rig. The next morning, Whiskey noticed the tailpipe bouncing while I walked around in the rig. He discovered a broken tailpipe hanger and was able to do a quick fix; better to fix in the grassy field than the side of the road. Once “fixed” we were rolling toward Virginia.

Our next stop was Pohick Bay Campground in northern Virginia, a convenient base for visiting Mount Vernon. We explored the pet-friendly grounds and enjoyed the same riverside views George Washington once did. Later, lunch along the Occoquan River made for a quiet, easy rest after a lot of walking.

While in the area, we also visited George Mason’s Gunston Hall, just a short drive from the campground. It’s not as stately as Mount Vernon, but still impressive, especially with views of the Potomac River. After that, we wandered through the historic town of Occoquan, with its gas-lit streets and charming old buildings — a perfect little side trip before heading south.

Overall, Pohick Bay was peaceful and comfortable, a reminder that even without crisp air or colorful trees, this time of year still has its own relaxed charm.

From there, we headed south to Virginia Beach for a conference in Norfolk. We stayed at the KOA, which isn’t usually our kind of campground — narrow sites and not much outdoor space — but it worked fine for a few days. We checked out Norfolk’s busy waterways, watched ships move through the channel, and took short walks at Little Island Park and Red Wing Park.

After a busy city stretch, we drove up to Painter, Virginia, returning to one of our favorite Boondockers Welcome spots. The change of pace was instant — quiet, open space, and a good place to unwind after several days at within the city limits of Virgina Beach and Norfolk.

Next up, we’ll take the Lewes Ferry over to New Jersey for a quick visit with family before heading home.

Back at the homestead, fall jobs took over fast. The garden’s done for the year, getting trimmed and put to bed, and garlic planted for next season. We finished the exterior painting and moved on to stacking firewood after the driest summer we can remember — nice dry wood this year. It’s been unseasonably warm, so it doesn’t feel much like fall yet, but we’re getting things wrapped up before winter sets in.

After a few weeks on the road, it always feels good to settle back in. We’re grateful for safe travels, for the places we get to see, and for our home in a little town we love — the place that keeps us grounded between adventures