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!

Middletown,MD and surrounding area

While we haven't been traveling, we have been exploring the area. Here are some pictures, in no particular order. 

Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. This sign is outside of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ACT), which is approximately the half way point of the Appalachian Trail.

War Correspondent's Memorial, Burkittsville, MD

Time for Football! We've been enjoying grandsons Vince and Jacob's games.

We've seen some amazing sunsets and sky views while here.

Here's another pretty sky view.

Martina McBride concert, thanks Allison and Vince! 

Hagerstown, MD Roundhouse (RR) Museum.

Old railroad cars outside of the museum.

Part of the model railroad tracks inside the museum.

Orange sky at night with the steeple of Zion Lutheran Church.

Grandson Jacob eating ice cream at More's, our new favorite ice cream place.