# 35 NC State Fairgrounds, Raleigh, NC

We decided to Eas-On Down The Road for about 3 hours, all the way to Raleigh.....

We arrived at the NC State Fairgrounds Campground a few days before the Labor Day weekend.  We had received an invitation from Rick and Gail, of the Gypsy Turtles blog, to join them for a pot luck dinner that she was planning. We decided to come on earlier since we had lots of reasons to get out on the road...a visit with them, a visit with our family, local errands we needed to run in the area, the motor home needed to be exercised and I've been wanting to meet Howard and Linda Payne of  RV-Dreams.  We read they were to be guest presenters for the  RVing seminars at the Raleigh RV and Camping Show.  When Ron and I started our research on full-time RVing, we soon discovered the website, RV-Dreams.  We found it informative and very helpful as we prepared for our transition to this lifestyle.  Their inspirational site offers a forum, the blog of their travels and many other excellent features, that can answer questions one might have if interested in full-timing.  It's also great for other general RV info as well.  I've been following their blog for 3 years now and after meeting them can say they are as friendly and genuine in person as they seem in their blog. 

We had a great time visiting with Rick and Gail throughout the week.  We also got to enjoy few Happy Hours....  What a blast! We got to met Peggy and Gary of mooreRVfun when they stopped by for a visit too.

Gail did an awesome job organizing a Happy Hour/Pot Luck for Saturday.  For us, it was a special opportunity to be a part of a gathering of friends that have become acquainted through the RV-Dreams Rallies.  It was an evening of laughs, catching up and listening to fond memories. Howard and Linda of RV-Dreams were the initiators of many of these friendships, bringing together people through their popular rallies, with the same RVing dream in common.

We also enjoyed visiting with Gin and Syl of Wandering Sylville.  We met Laura & Bruce, Hank & Selene and John & Terri.  All of these couples met through the RV-Dreams Rallies.  It was a lot of fun getting to know these people.




 

The funny stories about RVing kept us entertained for a while.  We all laughed and laughed about our hilarious experiences and uh-oh moments.  What a great group!









I had to "pinch myself" to realize that all of this was happening in my "front yard".  It took 3 years of planning and work to achieve our full-timing goal. 





                                                      
We all enjoyed the delicious food and  I think everyone there had a great time.  No doubt, RVers are a special community of people.  It will be a weekend Ron and I will always remember.     

Ron says:  Retirement is great!