ON THE ROAD: Leg Six - Leaving Rich’s Retreat and Heading South

ON THE ROAD: Leg Six - Leaving Rich’s Retreat and Heading South

After several days of slow mornings, family time, and Shiba chipmunk patrols, it was finally time to point the truck south and begin the journey home. Packing up felt a little bittersweet—the trailer hitch clicked into place, the yard fell quiet, and Rich waved us off with one last cheerful send-off (and probably a few chipmunks relieved to see Monty and Gadget go).

We eased back onto the road and merged onto I-95, settling in for the familiar hum of highway miles. The day’s goal was simple: make it to the Fredericksburg KOA for an overnight stop before finishing the trip tomorrow. Traffic cooperated for the most part, though the occasional slow-down reminded us we were back in I-95 territory.

Monty and Gadget alternated between naps and window-watching, occasionally checking in to make sure no snacks were being eaten without them. Coffee stops kept us going, and we enjoyed that mix of road-trip chatter and comfortable silence that comes after weeks of shared adventures.

By late afternoon, we rolled into the Fredericksburg KOA. Check-in was quick, setup even quicker—practice makes perfect. The Shibas stretched their legs, sniffed out their new temporary domain, and gave their approval. We enjoyed a couple of local craft cocktails in a can from Three Notch’d Brewing Company while chatting with the friendly KOA staff. A stroll over to tour the dog park let Monty and Gadget explore a bit more before we settled in.

Dinner was a simple camp meal, eaten under a sky shifting toward dusk. We ended the night with one last campfire for this adventure, swapping stories and soaking up the glow before turning in.

Tomorrow we’ll finish the trip back to South Carolina, closing out this chapter of the adventure.

More soon from the road—
Tim, Kristen, Monty & Gadget 🐾🐾

P.S. Big changes are coming for the camper—stay tuned to see what’s next!