Christmas, Reflections on 2016, and a New State

This was our first Christmas without a (bricks and mortar) home to decorate. Andy knew I would be missing my usual Christmas decorating so he came up with the idea of Christmas lights for the motorhome. Here are a couple of pictures.

Lights on top of the slides

Icicle Lights in the front window

No Christmas tree, but we do have a small poinsettia. We were able to enjoy the trees and decorations at family members' homes. 

In 2016 we traveled over 9000 miles. We've been in MN, IA, MO, AR, MS, TN, AL, LA, TX, OK, KS, WI, IL, IN, OH, WV, PA, MD, NY, VT, MA, CT, VA, NC, SD, WY, MT, and ND. That's 28 states! Some were repeats, and some were new. We love exploring new places but enjoy all of the states we visit. There is always something new and interesting to see and learn about. From Mount Airy, NC (home of the fictional Mayberry from the Andy Griffith Show) to more famous places like Mount Rushmore, we had a grand adventure in 2016. 

Yesterday we traveled to Sioux Falls, SD so we could establish residency. We've discussed this a lot since we became full time RV'ers and finally decided this was the time to change things. Things went smoothly as we changed driver's licenses, vehicle registrations, voter registrations, and health insurance. 

From here we head south to Red Bay (again) for more work on the RV. Then to Bushnell, FL for 2 months. We are very much looking forward to warmer temperatures and not worrying about snow or ice on top of our slides. (A footnote to our MN adventure- one Sunday was minus 23 degrees and the next one was 37 degrees with freezing rain, then rain and thunderstorms!) MN sure knows how to serve up a winter experience.

So here's to 2017 and more great adventures! 

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Picnic, anyone?

Usually I don't start a post with a picture but this one pretty much sums it up for right now. It seems Minnesota is committed to us experiencing a true winter! Over the weekend we received about 9" of light fluffy snow. Yesterday I went next door and the nice folks there offered to lend us a shovel. Thanks to Kevin and Dee! I shoveled out around us and did a path from the door to the car so we don't have to walk in the snow banks.

Last week when we dumped our waste water, we noticed ice chunks in the grey water. This was despite having extra heaters in water bay and the basement. We felt we had no choice but to winterize the motorhome. This means no water inside. Luckily we are close to the building with the showers and bathrooms. But it is getting old to put on boots and coats to use the facilities! We're getting by with paper plates and plastic silverware (clean-up is a breeze!) and doing microwave meals.

And, below zero temperatures are on the way for tomorrow and the following week. Not to be outdone by the temps, there is a chance for more significant snow this weekend. While we are warm and toasty inside (thanks to our AquaHot), we do have to break down today to get more diesel fuel to power the Aqua Hot.

I can say with certainty that this will be our one experience with winter camping! We will be glad to head towards warmer temperatures once the holidays are over.

Winter Camping

This is our first experience with winter camping. The first week we were in MN was still warm with temps in the 60's. The second week temperatures started to drop (more November like) and we were headed towards our first significant snowfall.

After starting as rain, it turned to heavy wet snow. The worst thing was having to get up on the ladder to brush off our slide covers. Andy had the honors of doing that, although his comments indicated that he really didn't consider it to be an honor. :) If we hadn't removed the snow, it would likely have frozen, thus potentially damaging the slide covers.

Picture of the snow in the campground, a good amount had melted by the time I took this

Then yesterday we had thunder, lightning, a downpour of rain and hail! On November 28! This was all in a span of 2 hours or so. By the time we left to run errands, we had bright sunshine. 

Pea size hail on the sidewalk outside the laundry room 

We've been pleased with how our aqua hot is keeping us warm both inside and out. The key is not to have anything in the water compartment freeze and so far we've had no problems. 

The biggest hassle (as mentioned before) is no water hook-up at our site. This week we will move to a closer site to the office building which will allow us to be able to fill water without having to move the motorhome (a combination of our hoses and the campground hose). That will make things a lot easier. 

It's still unusual weather for the end of November/early December. But we will take all of the nice stuff we can! 

Goodbye Alabama, hello Minnesota?

Contrary to most RV'ers who are headed south, we traveled north to MN to spend time with our kids and grandkids for the holidays. Before leaving AL, we headed to Tupelo one more time. This time we traveled a new section of  the Natchez Trace (a part that we hadn't been on before). This time we stopped at a few places along the way and took a couple of short hikes.

This is an Indian Burial Grounds Area

One of the Mounds

An area of Dogwood Trees

Part of the original Natchez Trace

Burial Grounds for 13 Unknown Confederate Soldiers

We were glad to finish up at the Tiffin Service Center after being there for 5 weeks (the other week we were in southern AL at Lake Osprey). MN welcomed us with sunny skies and mild temps, unusually warm for November. This weekend will bring about a winter storm with rain turning to snow. This will be the first time we will camp in the snow. 

We're at Dakotah Meadows Campground, near Mystic Lake Casino. It's one of the few that stay open year round. The only bad thing is we have to move every 3-4 days so we can dump our tanks and get more water. Doable, but we'd much prefer to have water at our site. Guess we'll have to wait until January when we head south to get that again. 

Meantime, here's a picture from Alexander's birthday party last Saturday. he is 3 now. 

Alexander and his truck birthday cake

Tupelo, Cars & Elvis

After getting back to Red Bay, we had to wait to get back into the service center. Thus, we had a few days were we didn't have to break camp. :) When the weekend came we decided it was time for a field trip to Tupelo, MS. Tupelo is about a 45 minute drive from Red Bay. We wanted to see the movie "The Accountant" and also wanted to tour the car museum there.

The Tupelo Car Museum is the dream of a man named Frank Spain. He acquired his first antique car in 1974. He and his friend Max Berryhill desired to have a place to permanently house his collection of cars. There are over 100 classic, collectible cars displayed in the museum.

1915 Studebaker $985

1916 Auburn Chummy $1,550

1938 MG

1941 Ford Woodie Wagon $1,015

1955 Pontiac Chieftain

It wouldn't be in Tupelo if they didn't have one of Elvis' cars

As you can see, this is quite a collection! All have been restored beautifully. They also had a lot of Corvette's and some of Richard Petty's race cars. 

We still had time to kill before the movie and happened upon Elvis's birthplace and museum. The birthplace is to Tupelo as what Graceland is to Memphis. The museum helps you to understand what is was like for Elvis to grow up in Tupelo (rural MS) in the 1930's and 1940's. For his 111th birthday Elvis wanted a gun. But his mother Gladys didn't want him to have one and got him to accept a guitar instead of the gun. How different his life would have been had he not received that guitar! Elvis's love of music stemmed from listening to people perform at his church. That church has been restored and now stands on the birthplace grounds. 

This is a two room house that Elvis was born in

Replica of what an outhouse would have looked like during that time 

It was a great day ending with dinner at the Longhorn Steakhouse before heading back to Red Bay. 

Respite

Well, after hanging out at the service center for 3 and 1/2 weeks, and after getting word that we had to wait for parts, we decided to take advantage of a $99/week coupon from Lake Osprey RV Resort http://robertsresorts.com/resorts/lake-osprey/ in Elberta, AL. Thanks to our friends Barb and Roger for the coupon! This is an area that is about 15 miles from the Gulf Coast. While we were there, we made a couple of trips to the beach and also to nearby Pensacola, FL. Being tired after a full days drive to get there, we asked for recommendations for a restaurant. We headed over to Lamberts, (in Foley, AL)  http://www.throwedrolls.com/, the home of the "throwed rolls". If you've got an appetite, this is the place to come! After ordering your entree, employees then come around with sides for you. One person comes with the fresh out of the oven rolls that he then throws at you as he comes by.

This is the size of your drink at Lambert's

Andy's plate of pork jowls 

Pensacola has a Naval Air Station.  We decided to tour the National Naval Aviation Museum http://www.navalaviationmuseum.org/ which is on the grounds of the base.  They offer free tours and we were lucky to catch the last one of the day. There were many fighter planes from WWII and beyond. This Naval Air Station is also the home of the Blue Angels.

Statues of Fighter Pilots representing 5 wars - WWII, Korean War,Vietnam War, Gulf War, and Afghanistan 

We liked the area. For a winter place to park the RV, it's about 10 degrees cooler on the average than Florida. We're still not sure where we will end up this winter.

Helen Keller Birthplace

We've been to Florence many times while we've been in Red Bay. Last week we had to troubleshoot a problem with our induction cooktop, which meant a trip to the nearest local dealer in Florence. On our way back we were driving around and stumbled upon the birthplace of Helen Keller in Tuscumbia. We decided to stop and tour the grounds.

Plaque outside of the house

This is the actual fountain where Helen first made the connection between water and the word that Anne Sullivan was signing into her hand

Helen lived a full life, overcoming her blindness and being deaf. She was the first deaf-blind person to earn a bachelor of arts degree. She campaigned for women's suffrage, labor rights, socialism, antimilitarism, and other causes. 

Nashville, TN

Red Bay, AL is not exactly a bustling town when it comes to entertainment. So, we decided to spend a weekend in Nashville. Our purpose was twofold, to see the area and also test drive the RV to make sure the repairs we've had keep on working in road test conditions. 

It's about a 3 1/2 drive to Nashville. We decided that we would drive part of the 444 mile long Natchez Trace Parkway to get there. The scenery is great and the drive covers 10,000 years of American History. It's been used by American Indians, settlers, and future presidents. There are many opportunities to stop along the way and enjoy hiking paths, biking, horseback riding and camping. 

We left Friday afternoon so after getting to our KOA campground, we went to get dinner. On Saturday we ventured downtown to see the Honkey Tonk Row, a grouping of bars/restaurants, museums, and the original location of the Grand Ole Opry at the Ryman Auditorium. After lunch we toured the Johnny Cash Museum and walked around to see the Music City Walk of Fame park. 

Cool building downtown

Nashville has a cowboy boots store on every block!

Couldn't resist a picture with Elvis

View of Hony Tonk Row

Since we had waited until the last minute to get tickets to the Grand Ole Opry, we had to settle for the last show at 9:30. The 91st birthday of the Opry was on October 5, so that weekend they were celebrating their birthday at each of their shows. Our show featured Brad Paisley, and other performers like the Nitty Grtitty Dirt Band, Secret Sisters, Mo Pitney, and others. It is a 2 hour radio show that is divided into four half hour segments. We thoroughly enjoyed all of the performers. 

 

View of the Stage 

Part of the sound equipment

We were in the nosebleed section but due to the large screens in the auditorium we were able to see the action of the stage without any trouble. 

The richness and history of the area and country music is very apparent in Nashville. We would go back again. 

Rattlesnake Saloon

We had seen a billboard for this restaurant but never did make it here when we were here in January. After talking to some other folks (who are also here for service), we decided that we would head out to eat there last Friday. All they said was that depending on the time, it was either real quiet or real nosy.

This was nothing like we expected! Driving into the lot we see a sign pointing to Saloon parking and a sign for the shuttle to take you to the restaurant. We were a bit confused but waited for the shuttle, which was actually a pick up truck with benches in the back. We took off and the truck took us by the gift shop and then through a sign over the road that says Rattlesnake Saloon - at which point we head immediately down a steep slope towards the restaurant. This is why there is the shuttle, there is no parking at the bottom. The restaurant is built into the side of a hill. Pictures will give you a better idea.

The sign at the top of the hill.

You can see the tables under the rocks. 

The restaurant with tables in front. Most people eat outside.

A blurry view of our shuttle. 

This is the right side of the area.

There was entertainment the night we were there; 2 guys playing acoustic guitars and singing. Other times they have karaoke. While the food was nothing to write home about, we enjoyed meeting some folks from Nashville and the entertainment. Definitely an experience!

Not 5, not 10, but.....

Guess they want to make sure you go SLOW. Do you know how hard it is to go 7 miles an hour around a curve?

OK, Our age is showing!

If you remember watching the Andy Griffith TV show, you know what I mean. (Our kids say Who?) After leaving Maryland, we headed towards Mount Airy, NC for a couple of days. Mount Airy is the home of Andy Griffith and the inspiration for Mayberry, the town featured in the Andy Griffith show. We stayed at the Mayberry campground www.mayberrycampground.com. Downtown it's a blast from the past as they have preserved the downtown as it was in the 60's.

We ate here for lunch. Snappy Lunch is mentioned by Andy in the TV show.

Every kind of candy is available here.

60's police cars in town.

Andy & Opie statue outside the museum.

Floyd's Barber Shop

There is an Andy Griffith museum in town that has memorabilia from the show there. While probably best known for the TV show, Andy Griffith also had a recording career and a movie career. There is also an exhibit for Eng and Chang Bunker, famous Siamese twins from Thailand who lived in Mount Airy. 

We headed to the Freightliner Service Center at Gaffney, SC next. A few minor problems were checked out. Next up: Tiffin Service center in Red Bay, AL for warranty work. It will be our home for the next 3, 4? weeks. 

Flight 93, Lincoln, Gettysburg, & more

We've tried to see as much as we can while here in MD. However, you could spend every day seeing historical sites around here. The east coast is rich in history, especially with the Civil War.

I had wanted to see the Flight 93 Memorial in PA for some time. We decided to go on 9/12, one day after the large tributes of 9/11. The memorial is designed to commemorate the flight path the plane took before crashing, while also paying homage to the passengers and crew of that flight who gave their lives to save others. It is a fitting memorial while reminding us of the horror of that day and how it changed lives forever. 

Son Sam & I outside the Visitor's Center

After that we went on to Gettysburg for the first of two stops there. In downtown Gettysburg we found the David Wills House. This is the house that President Lincoln is believed to have stayed in the night before giving his Gettysburg Address. 

History abounds here, with plaques everywhere. This sign indicates that this church was used as a hospital during the Civil War.

Putting history aside for a while, we traveled to the Hershey Park RV Show, the largest RV show in the US. After all, we were only a couple of hours away, so why not go? 

Just a few people and RV's at the show 

On the way back from Hershey, we stopped at Gettysburg again. This time we went to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center. We viewed the show the History Channel did on the Gettysburg Battle, then went up to the Cyclorama, where there is a 377 foot painting (by a french artist) of Pickett's Charge, which was completed in 1844 and has been restored. There is a story narrated while lights highlight certain aspects of the painting and the battle. I wish that every student of US History could visit this museum-it brings "alive" the battle of Gettysburg and the lives it cost. This is much better than just reading a textbook. The museum also has numerous artifacts from the war. 

You can take a self guided auto tour. After doing part of it, we decided that if we came back we would spend the time and money to take the 2 hour bus tour with a guide. The whole park is nearly 30,000 acres and includes the Soldiers National Cemetery. 

Tomorrow we leave to head towards the Freightliner Factory in Gaffney, SC and then back to the Tiffin Factory in Red Bay, AL for maintenance. We will miss everyone, but especially these two guys-

Jacob sleeping with Vince behind him 

Bicycles and Air Conditioners

It doesn't matter whether you're sitting in one place, or traveling. The RV life continues to have challenges.

It started with a trip to a bike shop to repair a cable on my bike. While there, we started talking with the employees about alternatives for bike racks, since the one we had was not optimal. It turns out that the bike rack we had is fine for the car, but was not rated at all to be on the back of the motorhome. (The company would not pay for any damages caused by it coming loose.) The vibrations caused by the motorhome as we drive on the road are too much for a "regular" bike rack. So we began the search for a new, heavier duty one. After having one shipped to us we had to test drive it.

Why, you ask? Well, the bike rack sits behind the motorhome and in front of the car. We had to make sure that the bike rack did not rub against the car when we make either a hard right or a hard left turn. (Although we try not to do those, sometimes we don't have any choice.) This meant we had to unhook everything and pull the slides in. We headed towards a large vacant parking lot so we could do the testing. With a bit of adjustments, we got the rack to work.

New Bike Rack (folded up) 

After returning, we had to level again , get hooked up, and let the slides out. We had postponed dinner until all this was done. I was waiting for the AC to kick in (a very hot day) when it came on for a second and then quit. This is on Sunday, with Monday being Labor Day. We can't even call customer service until Tuesday morning.

Luckily it cooled down that night so we were able to sleep without any problem. We called early on Tuesday. Following the instructions of the tech, we did various tests to determine the source of the problem. It turns out we blew out the Precision Circuits Control Module. After disabling that, the AC works perfectly (a new module is on its way here). That is a BIG relief as temps this week are over 90 every day with the heat index being close to 100 some days. There's never a dull moment in an RV'ers life!