Day 3 – George Washington National Forest, VA -> Uwharrie National Forest, VA

Had a fantastic Peruvian chicken in a strip mall in Harrisonburg, VA, a town that otherwise shines thanks to James Madison University, not to mention Eastern Mennonite University. After getting a bit lost in strip mall parking lots, we arrived in the more friendly and accommodating habitats of George Washington National Forest.

Our target campground by Todd Lake was closed, but next one over was a winner. Five bucks, nobody else there, exactly what the doctor ordered. The kids paid attention to George Carlin and played with sticks and stones in the mud.

Gourmet dinner made by Ksenia and a professional campfire keep us reasonably warm. By and by, three pick-up trucks with massive campers in tow and a couple with a tent and mountain bikes get set up as well. The campers come with three other kids, one of them in sort of hunting camouflage, and the kid tells us they go hunting all the time – deer, bears, anything really. I don’t like the sound of “anything” too much, but he’s saying they aren’t hunting today. Good, let’s keep it that way.

Off to bed at 8. Red wine helps. Full moon makes it very bright and beautiful. I wake up freezing at 2am – ah well, but everyone else seems to sleep like babies all the way until 6:30.

Heroically minimal complaints from Timofei when he gets pulled out of his warm and cosy sleeping bag into the cold and dressed up for a breakfast in the cold sun. And Yelisei is just hungry. Food and a newly stoked campfire to the rescue!

9:30 and off we are – destination: Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina.

Day 2 – Harrisburg, PA -> George Washington National Forest, VA

So far so good. Mama! Horse! Mama! Cow! Mama! Helicopter! Mama! Tank! The Four Wonders of Pennsylvania. Slept in Motel 6 for $54 – can’t complain. Had rice and fish for breakfast that I had packed for dinner yesterday. Kinda not my favorite breakfast, but the kids did not complain and were fed. Then Starbucks for coffee, and off we go for another three hour drive. The boys are napping and I am searching for attractions at our next destination: George Washington National Forest, VA, Todd Lake campground.