Chasing That Horizon!

The Voyages and Journeys of Keith and D'Anne as they traverse the highways and waterways of America, the Pacific and Atlantic Coasts, the deserts, mountains, and the heartland, via boat, RV, plane, train, or cycle.

Vessel Name: Horizon
Vessel Make/Model: Itasca Horizon 36LD
Hailing Port: Chesapeake Bay
Crew: Keith and D'Anne Weitzman
About:
We have been boating for a little over 40 years. Our boats progressed from a 10 ft sailing dinghy to a Venture 17, American 25, Newport 30 MKIII, to a CT-41 Ketch - all sailboats. Searching for a little more speed and adrenaline,, we bought our first power boat, a 17ft runabout. [...]
Extra:
Our Backyard, a Carver 3607 trawler in Virginia, has been sold to a new adventurer. Dragon's Breath, our CHB-41 in Northern California, has also been sold to someone with wonderful dreams. Our Backyard carried us down the eastern rivers of America, on a voyage of incredible discovery. Alas, she [...]
17 February 2023 | Robert F Henry Lock and Dam
06 January 2023 | Jones Lake State Park
05 January 2023 | Kerr Lake
02 January 2023 | Satterwhite Point, Kerr Lake, Henderson, NC
23 January 2020 | Cumberland Island National Seashore
15 December 2019 | Chesapeake Boat Works, Deltaville, VA
06 December 2019 | Deltaville, VA
01 December 2019 | Deltaville, VA
01 December 2019
11 May 2019 | California
07 February 2019 | Menifee, CA
20 December 2018 | Hartfield, Virginia
14 October 2018 | St. Michaels, MD
24 August 2018 | Wilton Creek
03 March 2018 | Tucson, AZ
06 February 2018 | Lake Perris, CA
04 October 2017 | Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, CA
01 September 2017 | Sierra Nevada
27 August 2017 | Sugar Pine Point, Tahoma, CA Lake Tahoe
03 August 2017 | Bear Valley Campground, Sierraville, CA
Recent Blog Posts
17 February 2023 | Robert F Henry Lock and Dam

Technology

Technology. It is the Force by which we base our lives. Our clocks are set by a radio signal coming from a master clock somewhere in Colorado, as it measures the half-life degradation of a tiny speck of uranium. Our cell phones receive a time signal from the internet, as well as the current and predicted [...]

06 January 2023 | Jones Lake State Park

Flat Earth

I received an awful lot of flak from fellow RV group members, when I posted a photo of our rig with the rear leveling jacks fully extended, our rear wheels two inches off the ground, as we sought to compensate for a very uneven slope that served as our last parking spot. You see, the parking brakes are [...]

05 January 2023 | Kerr Lake

My Kind of Morning

I barely know the difference between a crow and a chickadee, yet am enthralled by the morning calls of these creatures. It's early, and the sun is just peeking through the trees and fog, about to stake its claim on our little part of the world. After some periods of hard rain yesterday, it looks like [...]

02 January 2023 | Satterwhite Point, Kerr Lake, Henderson, NC

Another Winter's Journey Has Begun

The sweet salty flavor of ranch dip, clinging precariously upon the end of a celery stick reminded one of adolescence. It was a reminder of days gone bye, a staple of parties and get-togethers, the ever-present accompaniment to chips, crackers, cubes of cheese, wine, and the noise of celebration. It [...]

23 January 2020 | Cumberland Island National Seashore

Cumberland Island

Cumberland Island

15 December 2019 | Chesapeake Boat Works, Deltaville, VA

A Break in the Weather

A mighty "Yeowww" followed by a flowing stream of epithets has shaken me out of my dreamy tedium as I am scraping hardened barnacles from the propeller. Looking up, I see my boatyard neighbor walking in circles rubbing his forehead, his dust mask and earmuffs hanging at an odd angle, and his ball cap [...]

Summer Digs

30 May 2017 | Sugar Pine Point State Park, Tahoma, CA
Sunny 70
The snow is just about gone now. There are still some remaining drifts in the shady areas, and there is still plenty on the surrounding mountain peaks. But at 6200 feet, in the mixed shade of Sugar and Jeffrey pines, firs, and Sequoias, the melting snow has given way to pine needles, cones, and broken branches. These will soon be gone as campers ignore the regulations prohibiting picking up fallen wood, feeding their altogether too-large campfires. It is the last Sunday of May, Memorial Day weekend. Tents abound, as reunions, church groups, families, couples, and friends brave the chilly nights and barely warm afternoons. The smell of grilled meat wafts through the trees as dinner time arrives. Kids are riding bikes and Razor scooters, playing frisbee football, and the ubiquitous corn-hole games abound. Campers with high-tech tents, lanterns, and stoves from REI, and Thule roof racks on their BMWs contrast with the Wal-Mart tents and bags that are stuffed into the backs of Toyota Priuses. Bicycles, kayaks, scooters, and dogs are everywhere.

We are at Lake Tahoe, on the California side, at Ed Z'berg Sugar Pine Point State Park. We've elected to be volunteer campground hosts for the season. We have a beautiful site with all utilities, lots of trees and plenty of space. Now, why would one do this, considering all the traveling we have done for the past three years? We just want to sit still for a while, and at the same time, be able to experience our surroundings, instead of packing up every three or four days. Lake Tahoe has a lot to offer, with the scenic beauty, hiking trails, nature, water activities, Jeep trails (The Rubicon Trail begins just a mile from here), local history, and casinos. Reno is only about 40 miles away, so visiting our son is also very in-reach. We will be here until the end of September, when we will pull up the jacks and work our way toward Southern California, where we have another camp hosting position awaiting us at Lake Perris.

So far, so good, as Opening Day has come and gone with no mishaps. It is strange to be working again, and waking to an alarm clock. But being a volunteer does carry a high esteem with the paid crew, and helps us to feel like we are giving back to the community. The duties are simple... be the eyes and ears of the Park staff by conducting campground checks, verify fee payment, sell firewood, and act as Park ambassadors to the guests. The staff uses the term "customer", but having spent eleven years at Six Flags, Keith still refers to them as guests. We drive around in a little John Deere Gator, with our vests, hats, and clipboards, looking quite "officious". In addition to receiving the free space and utilities, we also have free admission to any California State Park. Not a bad gig, considering that guests book months in advance, and pay well to camp here. And it is always great to be where everyone is here to relax and have fun. We expect the summer season will be much cooler than it is down the hill in either Reno or Sacramento.

The evening rounds are complete. Things will probably be a lot quieter, since everyone was out having fun today, and are probably exhausted. There will be a mass exodus tomorrow as our guests contribute to the holiday traffic mess. But we are "off" tomorrow. I think we will just enjoy the relative quiet.

PS - As things turned out, it was not at all quiet last night. There were screaming children, adults encouraging screaming children, spirited campfire discussions, birthday celebrations, and any way possible to close out the weekend with a bang. We're sure the guests felt that they earned it. Now it is Monday, and they are packing up to leave. We will miss them, but on to the next set of guests. The garbage collection trucks are here. The maintenance team is cleaning restrooms. The cycle begins...

Comments
Horizon 's Photos - Main
RV winter escape
22 Photos
Created 5 January 2023
Our new Freedom Sloop
3 Photos
Created 6 December 2019
10 Photos
Created 15 October 2018
Our new home in Virginia, as well as some of our travel destinations.
18 Photos
Created 24 August 2018
Our travels across the Southern USA as we make our way to Virginia to continue our Great Loop Voyage. 33 days of driving, touring, and camping in deserts, towns, and beaches.
9 Photos
Created 3 March 2018
Alabama Hills. Hundreds of movie and tv westerns were filmed here
7 Photos
Created 22 January 2018
13 Photos
Created 3 August 2017
Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California
8 Photos
Created 8 March 2017
9 Photos
Created 17 January 2017
11 Photos
Created 17 January 2017
RV travels from Alabama to Virginia, and up to Maine
21 Photos
Created 9 October 2016
12 Photos
Created 8 July 2016
Crossing Florida on the Caloosahatchee River
6 Photos
Created 29 May 2016
Our northbound voyage as we follow the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW)
10 Photos
Created 29 May 2016
Our travels through Florida, from west to east.
16 Photos
Created 7 March 2016
2 Photos
Created 7 March 2016
28 Photos
Created 10 December 2015
Our newly purchased 1982 Carver 3607 Motoryacht.
11 Photos
Created 25 November 2015
12 Photos
Created 8 November 2015
Traveling South through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi
8 Photos
Created 10 October 2015
5 Photos
Created 5 September 2015
Various travels and points of call around San Francisco Bay and the California Delta
11 Photos
Created 16 August 2015
Goings on around SF Bay
9 Photos
Created 1 May 2015
10 Photos
Created 3 February 2015
2 Photos
Created 28 January 2015
11 Photos
Created 28 January 2015
The southbound leg of our land trip to Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and finally California
8 Photos
Created 20 October 2014
18 Photos
Created 4 September 2014
Photos from our land-based Pacific Northwest Journey
33 Photos
Created 4 August 2014
17 Photos
Created 2 July 2014
Pics taken from various days
14 Photos
Created 28 April 2014
11 Photos
Created 4 January 2014
5 Photos
Created 26 December 2013
9 Photos
Created 11 November 2013
8 Photos
Created 5 November 2013
New installations and experiments
16 Photos
Created 3 November 2013
9 Photos
Created 31 October 2013
Sacramento River Cruise July 2013
12 Photos
Created 25 October 2013