We are leaving our RV in the Campground for a lower fee and driving our car to TX. Heading to Dallas to celebrate Ruth Stern's 87th birthday.
On our arrival, we have dinner with The Birthday Club, a group of 5 women of various ages who have been dining together for years on their birthdays. We meet at Lawrie's, a very upscale restaurant run by the people who own Lawrie's Seasoned Salt.
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Monday, June 29, 2009
Day 10 - Monday 6/29/09 - ON THE ROAD
We are on our way to OK. There are Black-Eyed Susans growing wild along with huge Queen-Anne's Lace on the roadsides.
On I- 40. 30 miles from our destination of Chicotah, OK we see a sight that gives us pause. Lest we take for granted what it takes to make a highway, we see every step of total reconstruction of one lane for 40 miles.
There are hundreds of bundles of rebar, hundreds of piles of dirt, a huge roll of tar paper, hundreds of symmetrical piles of gravel. They are all laid out at controlled distances apart along the road, very efficiently so that the workers don't have to go far to get their supplies. Can you imagine how many dump truck trips it took in the middle of the night to get all that established?
The road on which we are traveling is like corrugated cardboard. It is terribly rough and when we stop we find that the Cotter Pin has popped out of the tongue of the tow dolly on which our car is riding.
We are surprised to find that the Cherokee Nation has its own license plate. Never knew before that the Reservations had their own system, but it makes sense.
A sight you wouldn't see in every state - two kids riding in a boat, towed by a pickup truck.
We have both been badly bitten by mosquitoes. Bob seems to react much more strongly than I do. His bites are blazing red and the itching is driving him crazy. We soon run out of our tiny emergency Benadryl spray. I run to the pharmacy for that and some more goodies.
Next thing I know, Bob is spraying the bites on his leg and saying how much it stings. "But at least it smells good!", he remarks. I tell him that the reason is that he is spraying his legs with Glade Air Freshener.
I think he was focused on the ice cream we had heard would be available at 7 pm in the clubhouse at the Campground.
We are camped on Lake Eufala, which is 30 miles long. Bob goes out in the evening and catches a bass. He has one more day left on his temporary fishing license.
STATES BOB HAS NEVER VISITED BEFORE: OK, UT, NM and AZ
On I- 40. 30 miles from our destination of Chicotah, OK we see a sight that gives us pause. Lest we take for granted what it takes to make a highway, we see every step of total reconstruction of one lane for 40 miles.
There are hundreds of bundles of rebar, hundreds of piles of dirt, a huge roll of tar paper, hundreds of symmetrical piles of gravel. They are all laid out at controlled distances apart along the road, very efficiently so that the workers don't have to go far to get their supplies. Can you imagine how many dump truck trips it took in the middle of the night to get all that established?
The road on which we are traveling is like corrugated cardboard. It is terribly rough and when we stop we find that the Cotter Pin has popped out of the tongue of the tow dolly on which our car is riding.
We are surprised to find that the Cherokee Nation has its own license plate. Never knew before that the Reservations had their own system, but it makes sense.
A sight you wouldn't see in every state - two kids riding in a boat, towed by a pickup truck.
We have both been badly bitten by mosquitoes. Bob seems to react much more strongly than I do. His bites are blazing red and the itching is driving him crazy. We soon run out of our tiny emergency Benadryl spray. I run to the pharmacy for that and some more goodies.
Next thing I know, Bob is spraying the bites on his leg and saying how much it stings. "But at least it smells good!", he remarks. I tell him that the reason is that he is spraying his legs with Glade Air Freshener.
I think he was focused on the ice cream we had heard would be available at 7 pm in the clubhouse at the Campground.
We are camped on Lake Eufala, which is 30 miles long. Bob goes out in the evening and catches a bass. He has one more day left on his temporary fishing license.
STATES BOB HAS NEVER VISITED BEFORE: OK, UT, NM and AZ
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Day 9 - Sunday, 6/28/09 - SETTLED
Temperature only 88 degrees and breezy here in Mt. View, AR. What a relief!
Bob twice caught two bluegills with red bellies. He's very excited. Doesn't take much to make him happy.
Laundry day. Catching up on wi-fi while the laundry spins.
We are camped on a feeder stream to the White (pron. "watt" here in AR) River. Wading and swimming in it is blissful. It's full of little minnows which follow us around in schools. Later we regret not having gone skinny dipping - there was not a soul down there but us. Like we were living on our own private island. What a joy.
PARADISE #1!
Bob manages to scoop up a bullfrog tadpole. It's already warty and kind of gross, but fascinating all the same.
One side of the stream is lined with a solid rock wall with little indentations in it. Perfect for birds' nests.
We have borrowed a canoe to take farther downstream. After making it about halfway down to our destination, the canoe springs a leak. When we return it, the woman says it's no problem and that the leak was probably caused by kids dragging the canoe in shallow water. Whew! I thought we'd get in trouble.
I had actually accidentally dumped Bob in the water in my hurry to get ashore. He won't forget that for a while.
Supper is a perfect catch - catfish, clams and shrimp at Jo-Jo's Catfish Wharf. They have green tomato relish which has the texture of pickled watermelon rinds with a little kick. Yum. It's served with all the hush-puppies you can eat. They make wonderful breakfasts.
In March and April of last year (2008), the White River flooded. There are pictures of it everywhere in Mt. View. The residents were undaunted. Photos show people continuing to play poker in the muddy waters.
In the evening we go to The Jimmy Driftwood Barn. Jimmy Driftwood was a local musician who built a big performing venue in the 50's which still continues to pack audiences in today. It is not unlike the old variety shows of the past.
One particularly memorable act is an Arkansan dulcimer player with a Michigan-born and bred husband. She jokes that "It took him forever to say "own" instead of "ahn".
A striking thing about this area is that in our three days here we have seen one Asian, one African-American, and two Latinos.
Bob twice caught two bluegills with red bellies. He's very excited. Doesn't take much to make him happy.
Laundry day. Catching up on wi-fi while the laundry spins.
We are camped on a feeder stream to the White (pron. "watt" here in AR) River. Wading and swimming in it is blissful. It's full of little minnows which follow us around in schools. Later we regret not having gone skinny dipping - there was not a soul down there but us. Like we were living on our own private island. What a joy.
PARADISE #1!
Bob manages to scoop up a bullfrog tadpole. It's already warty and kind of gross, but fascinating all the same.
One side of the stream is lined with a solid rock wall with little indentations in it. Perfect for birds' nests.
We have borrowed a canoe to take farther downstream. After making it about halfway down to our destination, the canoe springs a leak. When we return it, the woman says it's no problem and that the leak was probably caused by kids dragging the canoe in shallow water. Whew! I thought we'd get in trouble.
I had actually accidentally dumped Bob in the water in my hurry to get ashore. He won't forget that for a while.
Supper is a perfect catch - catfish, clams and shrimp at Jo-Jo's Catfish Wharf. They have green tomato relish which has the texture of pickled watermelon rinds with a little kick. Yum. It's served with all the hush-puppies you can eat. They make wonderful breakfasts.
In March and April of last year (2008), the White River flooded. There are pictures of it everywhere in Mt. View. The residents were undaunted. Photos show people continuing to play poker in the muddy waters.
In the evening we go to The Jimmy Driftwood Barn. Jimmy Driftwood was a local musician who built a big performing venue in the 50's which still continues to pack audiences in today. It is not unlike the old variety shows of the past.
One particularly memorable act is an Arkansan dulcimer player with a Michigan-born and bred husband. She jokes that "It took him forever to say "own" instead of "ahn".
A striking thing about this area is that in our three days here we have seen one Asian, one African-American, and two Latinos.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Day 8 - Saturday 6/27/09 ON THE ROAD
Breakfast at the Shelby Forest General Store. Another guest sits at our table to chat us up. He's a local.
Due to Southern Hospitality, when we go to pay our bill, we find it's all taken care of. The person at the counter tells us "You'll find Southern Hospitality abounds everywhere". Even our unrefrigerated cheddar cheese (yes, we got brave and decided to try it), chips, and Bob's porcupine quill bobber ("It's a Southern Thing") were included in our unknown benefactor's generosity.
We try to enter our next destination, Mountain View, Arkansas, into our GPS. The GPS won't set the time of arrival. It turns out we entered the abbreviation for Alaska instead of Arkansas. It's a good thing we realized it before we headed North instead of West.
What a surprise to see rice paddies on US 64. The farmers formed berms to create ditches for irrigation. It's pretty dry out here.
Bob says: "Instead of being pissed off because I'm behind a poky RV, I am the poky RV."
HAIKU: Sharp turn in the road
Flip flops flying across the room
Bald Knob the next town.
FUNNY PLACE NAMES: Jimmy Driftwood Road
Tinkle Creek Road
PeeDee, AR
Bee Branch, AR
Poteete, AR
Mountain View, AR, pop 2876 is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
Hospital the size of our Convenient Care Center in Ithaca has it's own heliport.
In the evening, music in the square. People from NB come to pick and sing bluegrass and gospel. It's a giant jam session.
We eat The Big Pig Salad which includes broccoli, BBQ pork, lettuce, tomato, BBQ sauce and Ranch Dressing, accompanied by fried green tomatoes. Even Bob likes them.
HOW WE ENTERTAIN OURSELVES ON THE ROAD: Road Kill Cups - try to aim the car at the cup and run over it.
Seventeen motorcycles ride into town to hear the music. What a scene!
A six-foot tall Mormon woman sits behind us and starts telling Bob how she is estranged from her father. Her daughter sings beautifully. We wonder if they have left the Church due to discomfort with bigamy in their circle.
The nickname for Mountain View is Stone Country. There are giant boulders in people's yards. All the public buildings seem to be made from the same stone. It looks like Jerusalem Stone.
Later that evening we go down the road to the Gospel Opry. A group of people do this twice a week. They play guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle and sing gospel songs. White people!
FUNNY SIGNS: Barns, Farms and Dirt Work
Best Folk Music in the Arkansas
Hillbilly Plumbers: Y'all Just Give Us a Call
Bob's Good Junk
Peg's Little Shop with Lots of Stuff
Crooked and Steep Next 1 1/2 Mile
Due to Southern Hospitality, when we go to pay our bill, we find it's all taken care of. The person at the counter tells us "You'll find Southern Hospitality abounds everywhere". Even our unrefrigerated cheddar cheese (yes, we got brave and decided to try it), chips, and Bob's porcupine quill bobber ("It's a Southern Thing") were included in our unknown benefactor's generosity.
We try to enter our next destination, Mountain View, Arkansas, into our GPS. The GPS won't set the time of arrival. It turns out we entered the abbreviation for Alaska instead of Arkansas. It's a good thing we realized it before we headed North instead of West.
What a surprise to see rice paddies on US 64. The farmers formed berms to create ditches for irrigation. It's pretty dry out here.
Bob says: "Instead of being pissed off because I'm behind a poky RV, I am the poky RV."
HAIKU: Sharp turn in the road
Flip flops flying across the room
Bald Knob the next town.
FUNNY PLACE NAMES: Jimmy Driftwood Road
Tinkle Creek Road
PeeDee, AR
Bee Branch, AR
Poteete, AR
Mountain View, AR, pop 2876 is in the foothills of the Ozark Mountains.
Hospital the size of our Convenient Care Center in Ithaca has it's own heliport.
In the evening, music in the square. People from NB come to pick and sing bluegrass and gospel. It's a giant jam session.
We eat The Big Pig Salad which includes broccoli, BBQ pork, lettuce, tomato, BBQ sauce and Ranch Dressing, accompanied by fried green tomatoes. Even Bob likes them.
HOW WE ENTERTAIN OURSELVES ON THE ROAD: Road Kill Cups - try to aim the car at the cup and run over it.
Seventeen motorcycles ride into town to hear the music. What a scene!
A six-foot tall Mormon woman sits behind us and starts telling Bob how she is estranged from her father. Her daughter sings beautifully. We wonder if they have left the Church due to discomfort with bigamy in their circle.
The nickname for Mountain View is Stone Country. There are giant boulders in people's yards. All the public buildings seem to be made from the same stone. It looks like Jerusalem Stone.
Later that evening we go down the road to the Gospel Opry. A group of people do this twice a week. They play guitar, mandolin, banjo and fiddle and sing gospel songs. White people!
FUNNY SIGNS: Barns, Farms and Dirt Work
Best Folk Music in the Arkansas
Hillbilly Plumbers: Y'all Just Give Us a Call
Bob's Good Junk
Peg's Little Shop with Lots of Stuff
Crooked and Steep Next 1 1/2 Mile
Friday, June 26, 2009
Day 7- Friday, 6/26/09 SETTLED
Bob: "I am back in Mombasha. Small country roads. A car goes by every once in a while and they wave. Small general store with seven pickups parked in front. There's a group of old guys on the porch talking. Two cups of coffee and a banana: $1.71."
We eat our leftover grits for breakfast.
We do some birdwatching: scarlet tanager and maybe a red-headed woodpecker. There is a funny bug with its butt up in the air that lands on the RV hood. Corinne takes a picture of it but I haven't figured out yet how to upload the pix.
Outside the Meeman-Shelby State Park Visitor's Center there is a fascinating plant called "Scrubbing Rush". It looks like bamboo. I wonder if it would survive in Upstate New York.
We try to ride our bikes to Piersol Lake but we can't get there. A private party is using the lodge there.
Corinne goes to Memphis to try to sell her little hats at a Judaica Shop. No luck.
Nothing better than a hammock in the woods. It's 101 degrees.
In the evening we have steak at the Shelby General Store. The store's pet rooster greets us.
There was supposed to be a bango player there for Steak Night but he didn't show up. A couple with a two year old are just as disappointed as we are because they have been trying for three years to get here and the day they can finally come: no bango player.
At the bathroom that evening Bob sees a four inch millipede. Fortunately it's dead. There is also a waterbug that is at least two inches long, belly up, thank God.
We eat our leftover grits for breakfast.
We do some birdwatching: scarlet tanager and maybe a red-headed woodpecker. There is a funny bug with its butt up in the air that lands on the RV hood. Corinne takes a picture of it but I haven't figured out yet how to upload the pix.
Outside the Meeman-Shelby State Park Visitor's Center there is a fascinating plant called "Scrubbing Rush". It looks like bamboo. I wonder if it would survive in Upstate New York.
We try to ride our bikes to Piersol Lake but we can't get there. A private party is using the lodge there.
Corinne goes to Memphis to try to sell her little hats at a Judaica Shop. No luck.
Nothing better than a hammock in the woods. It's 101 degrees.
In the evening we have steak at the Shelby General Store. The store's pet rooster greets us.
There was supposed to be a bango player there for Steak Night but he didn't show up. A couple with a two year old are just as disappointed as we are because they have been trying for three years to get here and the day they can finally come: no bango player.
At the bathroom that evening Bob sees a four inch millipede. Fortunately it's dead. There is also a waterbug that is at least two inches long, belly up, thank God.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Day 6- Thursday, 6/25/09 - ON THE ROAD
Breakfast at Cracker Barrel courtesy of another thoughtful wedding guest. Corinne has Montmorency Cherry pancakes. Yum! We take our grits to go.
Before we leave, we stop at the Western Store and Bob buys a gorgeous pair of ostrich quill boots at a very steep discount. They'll be good for dancing. Corinne buys a shirt, a sweater and some silver cactus earrings. We love stores that are closing.
We see an RV dealer with a small trailer called the Arpod. That happens to be Bob's brother-in-law's middle name, so we have to photograph it. Nearby is Stumpy Lane, which happens to be the name that Bob's friends in the Air Force used to call him because he was so short.
FUNNY PLACE NAMES: Tater Peeler Road, Pringles Road, Pillow State Park
Corinne drives in the afternoon. We hit 1000 miles!
At the General Store in Millington, TN near Meeman-Shelby State Park there is a horsefly the size of a quarter. They have warm cheddar cheese triangles wrapped in plastic wrap sitting on the counter. The owner says "These are for people to eat on crackers with their Vie-enna sausage". Ohkay.......
Mosquitoes buzz in our ears despite repellant. We go down to the Mighty Muddy Mississippi - down a narrow winding road. There are tiny waves lapping.
Before we leave, we stop at the Western Store and Bob buys a gorgeous pair of ostrich quill boots at a very steep discount. They'll be good for dancing. Corinne buys a shirt, a sweater and some silver cactus earrings. We love stores that are closing.
We see an RV dealer with a small trailer called the Arpod. That happens to be Bob's brother-in-law's middle name, so we have to photograph it. Nearby is Stumpy Lane, which happens to be the name that Bob's friends in the Air Force used to call him because he was so short.
FUNNY PLACE NAMES: Tater Peeler Road, Pringles Road, Pillow State Park
Corinne drives in the afternoon. We hit 1000 miles!
At the General Store in Millington, TN near Meeman-Shelby State Park there is a horsefly the size of a quarter. They have warm cheddar cheese triangles wrapped in plastic wrap sitting on the counter. The owner says "These are for people to eat on crackers with their Vie-enna sausage". Ohkay.......
Mosquitoes buzz in our ears despite repellant. We go down to the Mighty Muddy Mississippi - down a narrow winding road. There are tiny waves lapping.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Day 5 - Wednesday, 6/24/09 ON THE ROAD
Bob drives. We're on the way to Lebanon, TN. We eat hardboiled eggs for breakfast and peanut-butter pretzels for lunch.
At a rest stop we are treated to two show horses grazing and resting. One has sunshades on. It's black and white. Is that a pinto?
Timberline Campground in Lebanon is a depressing place. There are campers there who look like they live there. The conditions are not clean. I could use an expletive to describe it, but I won't.
We walk to the movie theater up the road, stopping at a Western Store that is going out of business. There is a terrible accident at the intersection of the highway and the side road. It takes at least 10 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.
"Pelham 1-2-3" is a thriller. There is an arcade game at the theater called "Exotica". The avatar painted on the side looks just like my cousin Cassie.
At a rest stop we are treated to two show horses grazing and resting. One has sunshades on. It's black and white. Is that a pinto?
Timberline Campground in Lebanon is a depressing place. There are campers there who look like they live there. The conditions are not clean. I could use an expletive to describe it, but I won't.
We walk to the movie theater up the road, stopping at a Western Store that is going out of business. There is a terrible accident at the intersection of the highway and the side road. It takes at least 10 minutes for the ambulance to arrive.
"Pelham 1-2-3" is a thriller. There is an arcade game at the theater called "Exotica". The avatar painted on the side looks just like my cousin Cassie.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Day 4 -Tuesday , 6/23/09 SETTLED
Bob makes eggs and leftover potato skins with cheddar bay biscuits for breakfast. A good use of leftovers from last night's meal at Red Lobster.
We are part of the ant village. There are ants everywhere in our RV.
Bob tries to fish, but they were not biting at what he had to offer.
Corinne naps by the pool and swims a little.
We have supper at Pardner's BBQ. Afterwards, we drive along Riverside Drive to find the dam. No luck.
Later we try to see Bluff City. It's a bluff. Founded 1767 but nothing to show for it.
Bob sees a dead turtle in the road. Awww. Some green irridescent little birds follow us.
A typical sight in TN - kids riding in the back of pickup trucks.
RATE THE PARK: 7 out of 10. Says Bob "If I would have caught a fish it would have been nicer".
We are part of the ant village. There are ants everywhere in our RV.
Bob tries to fish, but they were not biting at what he had to offer.
Corinne naps by the pool and swims a little.
We have supper at Pardner's BBQ. Afterwards, we drive along Riverside Drive to find the dam. No luck.
Later we try to see Bluff City. It's a bluff. Founded 1767 but nothing to show for it.
Bob sees a dead turtle in the road. Awww. Some green irridescent little birds follow us.
A typical sight in TN - kids riding in the back of pickup trucks.
RATE THE PARK: 7 out of 10. Says Bob "If I would have caught a fish it would have been nicer".
Monday, June 22, 2009
Day 3 - Monday, 6/22/09 ON THE ROAD
Heading to Bristol, TN through the Blue Ridge Mts. Very hard for our little RV to accelerate.
We listen to Zydeco music and the CD from our friend Dee Specker who played at our wedding. It's called "Tres Swing".
VA rest stops are very small, no vending machines, no separate pulloffs for trucks or RV's. We barely squeak into a spot.
The true vacation lunch: ice cream.
We use our Red Lobster gift card in Johnson City for dinner (thanks to one of our generous wedding guests) and buy supplies at Walgreen's.
We're staying at Lakeview RV Park on Boone Lake. It has a pool, snack bar, and pull-throughs.
For those of you not used to camping lingo, a pull-through means that our site has enough room for us to pull our RV in, while towing the car, leave the car on or take it off (our discretion), and still have room to pull FORWARD to get out when we leave. And if we leave our tow-dolly attached to our RV, we will not be blocking the driveway.
FLASHES FROM THE PAST: We made the mistake just once, long ago, of trying to back our RV out of a tight spot, and we will never do that again. The tow dolly jack-knifed and there was injury to both the back of the RV and the front of the car.
If you want a good laugh (or maybe just a good cringe), you may also imagine us trying to get through an arched cemetery gate with our RV and, halfway in, realizing that the space was both too narrow and too low.
Our water heater has been temperamental. Surprise! Now it works. No explanation.
We listen to Zydeco music and the CD from our friend Dee Specker who played at our wedding. It's called "Tres Swing".
VA rest stops are very small, no vending machines, no separate pulloffs for trucks or RV's. We barely squeak into a spot.
The true vacation lunch: ice cream.
We use our Red Lobster gift card in Johnson City for dinner (thanks to one of our generous wedding guests) and buy supplies at Walgreen's.
We're staying at Lakeview RV Park on Boone Lake. It has a pool, snack bar, and pull-throughs.
For those of you not used to camping lingo, a pull-through means that our site has enough room for us to pull our RV in, while towing the car, leave the car on or take it off (our discretion), and still have room to pull FORWARD to get out when we leave. And if we leave our tow-dolly attached to our RV, we will not be blocking the driveway.
FLASHES FROM THE PAST: We made the mistake just once, long ago, of trying to back our RV out of a tight spot, and we will never do that again. The tow dolly jack-knifed and there was injury to both the back of the RV and the front of the car.
If you want a good laugh (or maybe just a good cringe), you may also imagine us trying to get through an arched cemetery gate with our RV and, halfway in, realizing that the space was both too narrow and too low.
Our water heater has been temperamental. Surprise! Now it works. No explanation.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Day 2- Sunday, 6/21/09 - SETTLED
Father's Day! I sleep in. We're in the Shenandoah Valley, beautiful with greenery and the biggest catalpa leaves I've ever seen.
For breakfast we use our leftover BBQ pork, ham and corn muffins from last night's Cracker Barrel dinner. Bob makes eggs to go with it. The Cookerman scores again!
We visit the Meens Bottom Covered Bridge in Mt. Jackson, VA on the VA Byway. Take some beautiful scenic photos.
Next we come to the Shenandoah Hotel, home of the Shenandoah Caverns and American Parade Celebrations. The caverns are amazing. Our guide is only 20 but very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area. I take photos of the stalagtite and stalagmite formations. My favorite is the one called "Bacon".
Near the caverns is a display of antique floats from Rose Bowl and Presidential parades. I try to photograph the most colorful and unusual. There are antique cars in the Yellow Barn.
We pass fields and fields of oats and soybeans. The straw-colored oats look beautiful next to the muted green of the soybeans. When we return to our camp, we discover our hot water heater doesn't work.
The duck family comes to visit. We feed them grapenuts again.
As dark approaches, Jasper comes to see us. We have seen him riding around the camp on his bike. He is a "Special Needs Kid" (his words) who has Asperger's . He's probably about 20. He is very interested in the hats I make and wants to see them all.
Once he sees them, he is full of marketing ideas. We exchange business cards. He is sure he can help me share in his millions. The session ends when his Mom calls him home on his cell phone. Whew!
For breakfast we use our leftover BBQ pork, ham and corn muffins from last night's Cracker Barrel dinner. Bob makes eggs to go with it. The Cookerman scores again!
We visit the Meens Bottom Covered Bridge in Mt. Jackson, VA on the VA Byway. Take some beautiful scenic photos.
Next we come to the Shenandoah Hotel, home of the Shenandoah Caverns and American Parade Celebrations. The caverns are amazing. Our guide is only 20 but very knowledgeable about the history and geology of the area. I take photos of the stalagtite and stalagmite formations. My favorite is the one called "Bacon".
Near the caverns is a display of antique floats from Rose Bowl and Presidential parades. I try to photograph the most colorful and unusual. There are antique cars in the Yellow Barn.
We pass fields and fields of oats and soybeans. The straw-colored oats look beautiful next to the muted green of the soybeans. When we return to our camp, we discover our hot water heater doesn't work.
The duck family comes to visit. We feed them grapenuts again.
As dark approaches, Jasper comes to see us. We have seen him riding around the camp on his bike. He is a "Special Needs Kid" (his words) who has Asperger's . He's probably about 20. He is very interested in the hats I make and wants to see them all.
Once he sees them, he is full of marketing ideas. We exchange business cards. He is sure he can help me share in his millions. The session ends when his Mom calls him home on his cell phone. Whew!
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Day 1 - Saturday. 6/20/09- ON THE ROAD
11:00 Finally we get on the road. Bob is uptight and anxious bc we're not on time. Perhaps this is partly due to his putting flower petals, coffee grounds (plus filter!) and an ivory fish fork down the disposal. We called our faithful household rescue resource Marty McElwee for a drain-pipe cleanout. Yucky mess!
Plus it's raining, and we're soaked already. I wanted to write "Just Married" on the back window of the RV, but the soap would have washed right off. So that will have to wait until the first sunny day of our trip.
I am very proud of Bob's patience. He kept his cool even though I was still printing the "Rovin' Art RV" signs after our 10 am EDT.
Heading to Edinburg, VA. Witness the aftermath of a terrible accident. Big guy lying in the road. Traffic backed up for miles. Hope he is OK.
Arrive in Edinburg. Lakeview Campground. Lots of German architecture - large stone homes with round turrets and towers. Used our first wedding gift cards - Sunoco and Cracker Barrel. Thanks to our friends and rellies for supplying our needs. Camper is getting 8.65 mpg.
Bob fixed the right tow dolly light. His little tool kit comes in very handy.
Campground has full hook-up. For those of you new to camper lingo, this means electricity, water, and sewer at each individual camp site.
It's a family-owned and run private campground on a little winding road under the trees. Very hot. The family elder has made homemade banana, peach and grapenuts ice cream. We try all three. Very refreshing.
Overnight it rains a little. Meens Creek behind our RV is very soothing. There is a resident family of ducks. We feed them grapenuts. There are flies everywhere. The soil is very red.
Bob and I decide that the steps of the ladder leading up to our "overcabin bed" are really rough on our delicate prince and princess feet when we climb down in the middle of the night to pee.
An "overcabin bed" is typical for a Class C vehicle where a double bed hangs over the driver's and passenger seats. The bed pushes back and forth and collapses upon itself so that it is not in the way when driving.
Bob goes into the town of Edinburg to Walmart and buys some fleece, batting and plastic ties while I sleep in. We pad the steps of the ladder. Not only is it now much cushier, but it also is purple, matchiing our RV's upholstery. Woo hoo.
Funny Place Names: Hometown, PA; Frackville, PA (I finally learn that fracking is part of the process for making steel); Hechsherville, PA (is that where all the Rabbis that make everything Kosher are trained?)
Rate the Campground: Creekside, Campground, Edinburg, VA - 7 out of 10.
Plus it's raining, and we're soaked already. I wanted to write "Just Married" on the back window of the RV, but the soap would have washed right off. So that will have to wait until the first sunny day of our trip.
I am very proud of Bob's patience. He kept his cool even though I was still printing the "Rovin' Art RV" signs after our 10 am EDT.
Heading to Edinburg, VA. Witness the aftermath of a terrible accident. Big guy lying in the road. Traffic backed up for miles. Hope he is OK.
Arrive in Edinburg. Lakeview Campground. Lots of German architecture - large stone homes with round turrets and towers. Used our first wedding gift cards - Sunoco and Cracker Barrel. Thanks to our friends and rellies for supplying our needs. Camper is getting 8.65 mpg.
Bob fixed the right tow dolly light. His little tool kit comes in very handy.
Campground has full hook-up. For those of you new to camper lingo, this means electricity, water, and sewer at each individual camp site.
It's a family-owned and run private campground on a little winding road under the trees. Very hot. The family elder has made homemade banana, peach and grapenuts ice cream. We try all three. Very refreshing.
Overnight it rains a little. Meens Creek behind our RV is very soothing. There is a resident family of ducks. We feed them grapenuts. There are flies everywhere. The soil is very red.
Bob and I decide that the steps of the ladder leading up to our "overcabin bed" are really rough on our delicate prince and princess feet when we climb down in the middle of the night to pee.
An "overcabin bed" is typical for a Class C vehicle where a double bed hangs over the driver's and passenger seats. The bed pushes back and forth and collapses upon itself so that it is not in the way when driving.
Bob goes into the town of Edinburg to Walmart and buys some fleece, batting and plastic ties while I sleep in. We pad the steps of the ladder. Not only is it now much cushier, but it also is purple, matchiing our RV's upholstery. Woo hoo.
Funny Place Names: Hometown, PA; Frackville, PA (I finally learn that fracking is part of the process for making steel); Hechsherville, PA (is that where all the Rabbis that make everything Kosher are trained?)
Rate the Campground: Creekside, Campground, Edinburg, VA - 7 out of 10.
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