Travel from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Chocowinity, North Carolina

We drove our coach 201 miles, about four hours of driving, from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to Chocowinity, North Carolina. Another new state.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading north:

Route map

An interactive map:

Leaving the campsite:

Our coach

A little narrow:

Our coach

A tight turn:

Our coach

Toading up:

Toading up

Goodbye beach:

Goodbye beach

Exiting the state park:

Exiting the state park

Myrtle Beach Welcomes You:

Myrtle Beach Welcomes You

A plane flying low over the highway; the airport is right next to it:

Plane flying low over highway

Plane landing at airport

Blue water at mini golf:

Blue water at mini golf

Wax museum:

Wax museum

Another mini golf:

Another mini golf

Yet another mini golf:

Another mini golf

Crossing the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW):

Intracoastal Waterway (ICW)

Welcome to North Carolina:

Welcome to North Carolina

We stopped at a Hardee’s for lunch, as they had RV-sized parking spaces:

Hardee's

Back at our coach, Paladin in his nest:

Paladin

Exit:

Exit

Hey, there’s Jenn’s brother, Leland:

Leland

Northeast Cape Fear River:

Northeast Cape Fear River

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

New River:

New River

We stopped at a defunct car dealer parking lot; very few stopping opportunities (“stopportunties”) on this route:

Parking lot

Paladin took my seat when I used the bathroom:

Paladin

An abandoned house:

Abandoned house

Neuse River:

Neuse River

A fire lookout watchtower:

Watchtower

Arriving at our destination for a couple of weeks:

Our destination

Myrtle Beach State Park beach

While staying at the Myrtle Beach State Park campground, we walked to the adjacent beach on several days. Nice to be able to walk to a beach:

Path to beach

Beach

A cannonball jelly; apparently harmless:

Cannonball jelly

Waves:

Waves

Pier:

Pier

Gift shop:

Pier

Gift store

Gift shop

Gift store

We walked out on the pier, while enjoying some very melty ice cream:

Pier and ice cream

Pier

View from pier

A sign with info about jellies:

Sign

Boardwalk:

Boardwalk

Sign

Boardwalk

Sign

Picnic shelters:

Picnic shelters

Gaillardia flowers growing wild (we used to buy them at a garden center):

Flowers

Beach:

Beach

Pelicans:

Pelicans

Beach

We loaded our beach chairs, mini table, and cooler into our cart, to enjoy a picnic dinner on the beach:

Jenn, beach chairs, cart

Plane:

Plane

Beach

Travel from Columbia to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

We drove our coach 150 miles, about three hours of driving, from Columbia, South Carolina to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Reaching the East coast! (Other than Florida.)

Here’s a map showing our route, heading east:

Route map

An interactive map:

Leaving the state park:

Leaving state park

A line for the dump station; we didn’t need to dump, but had to wait for a bit to get past:

Line for dump station

The dump station:

Dump station

I-20 East:

I-20 East

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

Iron Skillet Restaurant at a Petro truck stop:

Iron Skillet Restaurant

We like Petro, as not only do we get fuel discounts there, but they are often very large, with lots of parking spaces and uncrowded fuel lanes:

Petro fuel stop

Our fuel fill; as usual, we paid less than the pump price thanks to our fuel discount card; we paid $204.71, a saving of $27.47:

Fuel fill

Easy parking:

Parked

Petro has laundry and showers facilities, and even a hair salon:

Laundry and showers

And the aforementioned Iron Skillet Restaurant, where we had breakfast for lunch:

Iron Skillet Restaurant

Breakfast for lunch

Back at our coach, Paladin asleep on the dash:

Paladin

I-95 North:

I-95 North

Route 76 East:

Route 76 East

Crossing over a portion of the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW), an inland water route near the coast that runs almost all the way down the East coast from Massachusetts to Florida and across the Gulf to Texas:

Intracoastal Waterway

Arriving at Myrtle Beach State Park:

Myrtle Beach State Park

Camper check-in:

Myrtle Beach State Park

Following the coach to our site:

Myrtle Beach State Park

Travel from Rutledge, Georgia to Columbia, South Carolina

We drove our coach 187 miles, about three hours of driving, from Rutledge, Georgia to Columbia, South Carolina. The first of a series of new states for us.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading east:

Route map

An interactive map:

I was a bit concerned about leaving our site, as it was kinda steep:

Leaving site

But we managed without too much difficulty:

Leaving site

We left the park via Knox Chapel Road, to avoid a bad railroad crossing in downtown Rutledge:

Knox Chapel Road

We still had to go over an unlevel railroad crossing, but this was the best of the three options:

Railroad crossing

Nice new road surface:

Nice new road surface

Joining I-20 East, with an Eisenhower Interstate System sign:

Eisenhower Interstate System

Roadworks:

Roadworks

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

A Southern swooper; we’ve noticed that Southern drivers tend to swoop in front of us, way too close for safety. Give some space before moving over, people!

Southern swooper

We parked at a Love’s truck stop and went to the adjacent Waffle House for lunch:

Waffle House

Truck parking

Coach parked with trucks

Waffle House

Paladin waiting on the dash for us to return:

Paladin on the dash

Entering South Carolina:

Entering South Carolina

Paladin asleep:

Paladin asleep

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

Exit to route 1:

Exit to route 1

Sesquicentennial State Park:

Sesquicentennial State Park

Entrance station:

Entrance station

Splash pad:

Splash pad

Campground entrance:

Campground entrance

Our site:

Our site

Paladin on the dash while getting leveled in the site:

Paladin

World of Coca‑Cola museum

We previously visited the Dr Pepper museum in Waco, Texas, so it seemed only fair to visit the World of Coca‑Cola museum in Atlanta, Georgia. The Coke museum was fancier, but we preferred the Dr Pepper one, if only because the Coke museum was way too crowded. Probably our fault for visiting on a Saturday.

Atlanta:

Atlanta

The World of Coca‑Cola museum:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

We had lunch at the nearby Bottle Cap Café:

Bottle Cap Café

Coke and coffee floats and a basic sandwich:

Bottle Cap Café

Selfie:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

Crowded waiting area before the theater:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

After that was a 7-minute film, basically an emotionally-manipulative ad, showing people in major life events, and happening to drink Coke at the end. Then on into the main part of the museum:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

The Vault, with exhibits of the history:

The Vault

The vault with the secret recipe, allegedly:

The Vault

More exhibits:

The Vault

Exhibits

The Lab:

The Lab

Tasting:

The Lab

International beverage tasting:

Beverage tasting

Thailand’s Apple Kiwi Fanta was our favorite flavor (many others were not to our taste):

Beverage tasting

Gift store:

Gift store

Back outside:

World of Coca‑Cola museum

An interesting museum, if too crowded.

Baseball: Atlanta Braves vs Cleveland Guardians

We have a stretch goal to visit all major league baseball ballparks, as we travel around the country, when we happen to be near one.

While staying an hour out of Atlanta, we had such an opportunity. We attended an evening game of the Cleveland Guardians playing at the Atlanta Braves’ stadium, Truist Park.

Atlanta Braves sign

Chop House Gate:

Chop House Gate

Their iconic tomahawk and ball:

Axe and ball

Braves clubhouse store:

Braves clubhouse store

Nachos in a helmet; bigger than we were expecting (we didn’t keep the helmet):

Nachos in a helmet

Batting practice:

Batting practice

History garden:

History garden

Gameday booklet with a former Mariner, Jarred Kelenic (who unfortunately wasn’t playing in this game):

Gameday with a former Mariner, Kelenic

View from our seats on the 300 level:

View from our seats on the 300 level

Selfie

Welcome to Truist Park

Ceremonial first pitch:

First pitch

Actual first pitch:

Pitch

Another pitch:

Another pitch

Gandalf (I’m glad they didn’t pick me):

Gandalf

Food market line:

Food market line

Curly fries and Cracker Jack:

Curly fries and Cracker Jack

Sunset reflected off a building:

Sunset

Home Depot race:

Home Depot race

Baseball

The chop:

The chop

Out:

Out

Cheerleaders:

Cheerleaders

Their mascot, Blooper:

Mascot

Beer bat:

Bat beer

Home run:

Home run

Home run fireworks

Braves win:

Game win fireworks

Game stats:

Game stats

Mascot

Atlanta Braves sign

It’s fun going to other ballparks, and seeing the regional differences.

Travel from Red Bay, Alabama to Rutledge, Georgia

We drove our coach 332 miles, about six hours of driving, from Red Bay, Alabama to Rutledge, Georgia.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading east:

Route map

An interactive map:

Water streaming off our slide topper as we brought in the slide, from recent rain:

Water streaming off slide topper

Toading up:

Toading up

We left Red Bay via downtown:

Red Bay

SR-19:

SR-19

On to I-22 East:

I-22 East

A bathroom break at a truck stop:

Bathroom break

Our coach in travel mode:

Coach in travel mode

Paladin in his nest on the stacked dining chairs:

Paladin in his nest

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

I-65 South:

I-65 South

Birmingham:

Birmingham

I-20 East:

I-20 East

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

I-20 East:

I-20 East

A large load:

Large load

Fuel and lunch stop:

Fuel and lunch stop

91.717 gallons:

91.717 gallons

Heading to the parking area, with Paladin on the passenger chair:

Heading to parking area

Parked:

Parked

We had Popeyes for lunch:

Popeyes for lunch

A branch on the roof; we found it on the truck when we arrived:

Branch on roof

Talladega Superspeedway; apparently there was a NASCAR race on:

Talladega Superspeedway

Eisenhower Interstate System sign:

Eisenhower Interstate System

Fun with zoom:

Fun with zoom

Welcome to Georgia:

Welcome to Georgia

Eisenhower Interstate System

Entering Eastern Time Zone, where we’ll be until July:

Entering Eastern Time Zone

Another bathroom break at the Georgia Welcome Center truck parking:

Rest stop

Atlanta:

Atlanta

Fun with zoom

SR-11:

SR-11

I chose this route to go over this railroad crossing, as the one in downtown Rutledge has a very high crown:

Railroad crossing

Horse properties:

Horse properties

Hard Labor Creek State Park:

Hard Labor Creek State Park

RV check-in area:

RV check-in area

Trading Post:

Trading Post

The camp host happened to be in the trading post when we checked in, so she offered to guide us to our site; that’s the driveway on the right:

Guided to our site

Paladin surveying our steep driveway:

Paladin surveying our driveway

Yeah, doesn’t look very level:

Our site

Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens

An out-of-sequence post: I noticed that I had missed posting about an attraction we visited while staying in Fort Lauderdale, Florida: the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach, Florida.

We’re fans of Japanese gardens, and this was one of the better ones.

Entrance sign

Map:

Map

A slow line for lunch:

Long line for lunch

Cafe menu:

Cafe menu

Jenn’s bento box:

Bento box

My teriyaki and spring rolls:

Teriyaki and spring rolls

An art:

An art

Yep, it’s Florida — caution, alligators:

Caution, alligators

Bridge:

Bridge

Turtles:

Turtles

Bridges:

Bridge

Another bridge

Gate:

Gate

Pond:

Pond

Tree:

Tree

Rock garden:

Rock garden

Lanterns:

Lanterns

Bridge:

Bridge

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Gate:

Gate

Lizard:

Lizard

Bonsai garden:

Bonsai garden

Turtle:

Turtle

Lantern:

Lantern

Courtyard:

Courtyard

Exhibit:

Exhibit

Tea room:

Tea room

Water feature:

Water feature

Lizard:

Lizard

Pond and bridge:

Pond and bridge

Waterfall:

Waterfall

Turtle and lizard:

Turtle and lizard

Pond and bridge:

Pond and bridge

A nice garden, worth a visit.

Red Bay Acres RV Resort

We stayed at Red Bay Acres RV Resort in Red Bay, Alabama. (Campground Reviews listing.)

A nice full-hookup RV park in the hometown of Tiffin Motorhomes. Our third stay here.

Dates:

Check in: 2024-04-15
Check out: 2024-04-21
6 nights

Weather:

Mostly cloudy, some rain
High temps ranging between 69-83°F, lows around 49-64°F
Some wind, gusts to 30 MPH

Noise:

No road noise
No train noise
Hourly clock tower noise
A little neighbor and tech services noise

Site:

#32, back in, concrete
Needed to disconnect toad, parked in front of coach
Somewhat level; used air and hydraulic leveling at different times
Concrete driveway about 60 feet long by about 12 feet wide
Grass between sites, 15-25 feet wide on passenger side, 15 feet wide on driver side
Picnic table on 10 by 12 feet concrete patio
Clean site

Utilities:

50 amp power, conveniently located
60 PSI water, conveniently located
Good sewer connection, fairly conveniently located (1 10-foot pipe needed)

Internet (in usage priority order):

T-Mobile: 50 Mbps down, 13-40 Mbps up, 42 ms ping
AT&T: 190 Mbps down, 20-29 Mbps up, 80 ms ping
Verizon: 25 Mbps down, 5 Mbps up, 80 ms ping
Starlink: not used
Campground Wi-Fi: not used

Amenities:

Garbage pickup from site
Package delivery to site
Onsite restaurant
Pond
Hometown of Tiffin; local RV repairs

Our review on Campground Reviews (from our first visit):

Nice place to return to after service

This is the place to stay when in Red Bay for service. It is a beautifully maintained park, with all the sites facing the fishing pond. All the other parks in town were basic gravel lots. The one drawback is having to back in to the site when coming back from service each day, but that’s not a big deal. The concrete pad was nicely level and all the utilities were good. It’s also nice to have the Yacht Club on-site for a bite to eat at the end of the day. If you’re looking to get service done on-site, make sure to check the list of approved vendors. We camped at Red Bay Acres RV Resort in a Motorhome.

Tip for Other Campers: Lost Pines Coffee had decent coffee and baked goods for a midday pick-me-up. The Natchez Trace Parkway is fairly close and a very nice scenic drive.

Campground map:

Map

An interactive map:

We opted for a standard site this time, but requested a site range towards the back. We got a site next to the first site we had, perhaps the best of the standard sites — and next to a sibling coach, a 2018 Tiffin Allegro Bus 40AP (ours is a 2017 40SP):

Our site

They deliver packages to the site (most of the time; sometimes they call for us to pick up). But when packages are delivered before we arrive, we pick them up on arrival. Paladin thought they were a good place to sit:

Paladin with packages

The central pond:

Pond

Bridge over the pond

Pond

Red Bay Yacht Club, where people can relax while their coaches are being worked on, or grab a bite to eat:

Red Bay Yacht Club

On our first night, we had chicken wings, pizza, and “cheese sticks”, that they had to clarify were not what most people would expect, mozzarella sticks, but basically cheese pizza cut in strips (but tasty dipped in ranch dressing):

Chicken wings, pizza, cheesesticks

Peach cobbler for dessert:

Peach cobbler

We ate half the pizzas, and took the remainder home, along with some Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for another day:

Pizza leftovers and ice cream

We only had one drive-to service this time. We went to Sparks Drive Inn for lunch during that:

Sparks Drive Inn

Another day, we went to The Fish Place for dinner, with a super-slow drive through (we waited out front for over half an hour):

The Fish Place

Tasty enough, though:

The Fish Place

Another day, back to the Yacht Club, where we had the two Friday Specials:

Specials

Other sites:

Other sites

Still a nice RV park. We’ll no doubt stay here again in the future. We might be back in December (though it might be too cold then?). But currently have no plans to be anywhere near Alabama in 2025. So we’ll see.

Travel from Paris, Texas to Scott, Arkansas

We drove our coach 243 miles, about four hours of driving, from Paris, Texas to Scott, Arkansas.

Here’s a map showing our route, heading east:

Map

An interactive map:

Depressions in the grass from our neighbor’s jacks and tires, due to rain making the ground a little soft:

Depressions from our neighbor's jacks and tires

Our coach:

Our coach

I put a couple of tiles below the AquaHot exhaust, but the surrounding grass still got a little singed:

Singed grass from AquaHot exhaust

Our jack pads got embedded in the soft ground; not too difficult to pull out. The larger pads help spread the load, though, and better than having the jacks get stuck in the ground:

Jack pads embedded in ground