< more recent | 1-15 October 2023 | older >
9 October 2023: Broke camp and headed back up north, stopping for a break at the Army National Heritage Center to stretch the legs before continuing the journey east and over the last bridge to home on Long Island…
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8 October 2023: Made the journey over to Arrington VA to spend the day at Overland Expo East before returning to camp at Braley Pond for one more night…
7 October 2023: Set up camp at a great dispersed site near Braley Pond in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest, then went to check out the Reddish Knob trail with the Jeep. Great day out as the leaves are beginning to change color…
6 October 2023: Left Long Island and made my way to the “mainland” as NYC lay covered in a thick layer of fog. It was wet and grey and good to be heading south…
5 October 2023: Preparations for the final segment of this roadtrip today, and enjoyed a relaxed evening out by the fire…
3 October 2023: Had a number of little visitors in the backyard today including this cute little chipmunk who posed long enough for a photo…
2 October 2023: Was another mild day and perfect for a nice campfire in the firepit this evening…
1 October 2023: Back to Long Island for a few days before heading south and weather is calm enough to get outside and enjoy the visits from local wildlife …
THIS MONTH:
Heading southwest on a different route this time. Will be exploring some new places before reaching some old favorites. Moab it the ultimate “destination” where we will spend some time before turning back towards the northeast creating a “loop”…
Attending Overland Expo East in Arrington, VA this year. Expo East will be held at the Oak Ridge Estates October 6-8, 2023, with more than 300 session-hours of incredible programs–that’s 150+ different classes, slideshows, demonstrations, and activities–brought to you by 100+ instructors and presenters from around the world. This is the premier overlanding event series with the largest scope of classes taught by the world’s leading experts alongside a professional-level trade show that brings together so many camping and vehicle and motorcycle equipment and services…
COMING UP SOON:
December is Holiday Roadtrip time. Getting ready to celebrate the Christmas holiday somewhere warmer and out in nature — will be setting up Christmas camp and enjoying exploring in the southeast this year…
USnomads.org is very proud to be presenting the third edition of the Nomad Overland Virtual Adventure Rally in 2024. This is a unique kind of rally experience — a ten week event that participants can do from anywhere within the continental U.S.A. Competitors design their own routes as part of the rally, then drive it in a points-based online competition that includes optional activity tasks, quests and weekly challenges. The 2024 rally will run from 3 June – 11 August and is open to any driver within the United States who has an off-road capable vehicle — stock or modified. Registration for 2024 opens in November. For more information see the Rally website …
THE GWJNF
The George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is an administrative entity combining two U.S. National Forests into one of the largest areas of public land in the Eastern United States. The forests cover 1.8 million acres of land in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky. George Washington National Forest was established on May 16, 1918, as the Shenandoah National Forest. The forest was renamed after the first President on June 28, 1932. Natural Bridge National Forest was added on July 22, 1933. Jefferson National Forest was formed on April 21, 1936, by combining portions of the Unaka and George Washington National Forests with other land. In 1995, the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests were administratively combined. The border between the two forests roughly follows the James River. The forest is within a two-hour drive for over ten million people and thus receives large numbers of visitors, especially in the region closest to Shenandoah National Park. The GWJNF contains a number of fun Jeep trails including Peters Mill Run which is a Jeep “Badge of Honor” trail and also has a lot of dispersed camping options…
BRALEY POND
Braley Pond in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest is a 4.5-acre impoundment constructed in 1965 by the U.S. Forest Service as a recreation pond. It was drained in 1989 to dredge the upper end and the fill was used to build a “fishing point.” Keeper-sized rainbow trout are stocked and largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish are thriving. There is a Day Use Area with facilities, grills and picnic tables, and a nice hiking trail around the pond. The area is also a very popular access to other trailheads including Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness. Around the edge of the Day Use Area, and along the access road to it, are a series of excellent dispersed campsites. The pond also has an interesting side note — some people consider it one of the most haunted places in Virginia. The tranquil surroundings seem at odds with local lore, but the area was the site of a grisly murder in May 2003 when two gang members lured 19-year-old Christopher S. Kennedy to the site, stabbed him 13 times in the chest and back, and then dumped his body into the water. Kennedy’s body was discovered by police partially submerged in the pond. The Augusta County sheriff at the time stated, “there was a lot of violence at the crime scene”…
REDDISH KNOB
Reddish Knob of Shenandoah Mountain is one of the highest points in Virginia, rising 4,397 feet. There is a narrow paved road to the top, with a few different ways of reaching it. A paved route connects to the summit road from Harrisonburg, but there are also a few different dirt routes via Forest Roads within the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest. Reddish Knob is located on the border between Augusta County, Virginia and Pendleton County, West Virginia, in the George Washington National Forest. The northwest side of Reddish Knob drains into Stony Run, thence into the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River. To the south, Reddish Knob drains into the North Fork of the Little River, thence into the North River, the South Fork of the Shenandoah River, and into the Potomac River. To the east, Reddish Knob drains into the Briery Branch of the North River. From Reddish Knob, a scenic gravel road continues south along the ridge crest that forms the boundary between Virginia and West Virginia, passing Shenandoah Mountain Picnic Area in a couple of miles. Further south lies the Ramsey’s Draft Wilderness, which contains several stands of virgin hemlock. To the north, a rough road provides access to a number of ridge top balds that have great primitive campsites. Several developed recreation sites are nearby. Hone Quarry has a picnic area, campground with widely spaced sites, and a small lake…
MORE NOTES FROM THE ROAD:
23-30 September – Roadtrip East
16-22 September – Colorado
8-15 September – Moab LONCON
1-7 September – Roadtrip West
August – Long Island
July – Roadtrip North
June – Nomad Rally Start
23-31 May – Nomad Prep
16-22 May – Nomad Prep
8-15 May – Long Island
1-7 May – Long Island
16-30 April – East Coast
8-15 April – Long Island
1-7 April – Roadtrip Home
1-7 April – Roadtrip Home
22-31 March – DVE
15-21 March – Arizona
8-14 March – Joshua Tree
1-7 March – Glamis
20-28 February – Southwest Roadtrip
1-19 February – Woman and Machine
January – Woman and Machine
22-31 December – Holiday Roadtrip
16-21 December – Holiday Roadtrip
1-15 December – Long Island
November – Long Island
22-31 October – Roadtrip East
15-21 October – Moab LONCON
8-14 October – Moab LONCON
1-7 October – Roadtrip West
Archive
SPECIAL REPORT
All about exploring ghost towns and abandoned places in the USA and beyond, with tips, and information on the many different types of sites to be found across the globe, including detailed guides for eight specific sites… [read]
REFLECTIONS
EGYPT: CAIRO REFLECTIONS
A quick overview of impressions from a stop in Cairo during our recent scouting mission in Egypt and Sudan … [read]
SPECIAL REPORT
A look into south-eastern Algeria on the border with Libya and Niger: overlanding with the Tuareg in one of the most remote corners of the Sahara … [read]
