Travelling-- Meridian, MS

Today was travelling day. Didn't look at the clock when I got up but I know it was after 7:00 am. We were on the road by 9:00....we're really getting good at this. I've probably jinks us and we'll forget to do something the next time like put the steps in or something equally as negligent. After alot of "where do we go" questions and changing our minds last night, we finally decided to head for MS. We had a very uneventful day and I just wanted to share the pictures of our dogs. They seem to be adjusting very well to travelling!!!

Great Dinner and Fort Payne, AL

Monday--we really didn't do a whole lot except go to Wal Mart and try to get the things that we forgot the last time and a few halloween goodies for the kids! We then went to Ginny's for dinner. What a great meal.....roast beef and mashed potatoes and gravy, carrots, and apple dumplings (which we didn't get to try because we were too full and Nolan wanted to get back to the trailer to check on the dogs). I know it was good though because everything else was delicious!

Tuesday--after a couple of hours of trying to decide whether we could leave or not we finally decided that we would give it a try. We were packed, hooked up and ready to go within an hour. Not bad for being new at this!!! Decided to try to get to Fort Payne, AL, to another Passport America park called Wills Creek RV Park in Fort Payne, AL. We made it and set up before dark. We then made another trip to Wal Mart because one of the kids halloween treats got lost somewhere and I couldn't mail them without the same things in them.

Here's the park we're staying in.

That's us! Again, don't think this park has the H&L "It" factor but I like the full hookups and cable TV.
This field is right by the trailer and was green when we arrived yesterday. It was white this morning from frost.....way too cold here too!!!

Wednesday--Got up slowly and took it easy. Decided to get out and go see the Alabama (the music group) Museum. We first went to the post office to mail the halloween boxes to MO. Then we ate at Ryan's before we went in search of the museum. Was not very hard to find and we spent about an hour roaming around in the museum. Picture below is of one of their busses but we did not get to go inside. The lady working at the museum recommended we drive up to the Little River Canyon Park. So, we spent the next hour or so driving about a third of the way through the park. Beautiful but Nolan was getting tired of driving and sitting. We made it back to town got some milk and water then headed back to the trailer. Spent the next couple of hours trying to decide where to go....it's not easy!

Front of museum and bus picture.

Drive along part of Little River Canyon Park.

Ginny, Carter Family Fold Music Show, Lakeview RV Park, TN

Friday, we got around and made a much needed run to Wal Mart. What did we do before Wal Mart? Made it back to the trailer without forgetting too much.....still need dog food and dog treats, small BBQ grill, gloves for me when I have to help with the outside stuff, and I'm sure I'll think of something else!!!

Talked to Ginny and she was going to be home in the afternoon before she needed to take the kids to a church halloween event. So, Nolan and I managed to find our way to her house with the aide of my new iPhone and my memory. Good to see her again and the new baby.....you would think I would have taken a picture but I didn't!!!!

Saturday, Ginny and Levi came to see our new home and then we decided to eat lunch at a favorite BBQ place. I did manage to get a picture of Levi, he still has his mustache from his halloween party the night before, wouldn't let Ginny wash it off....he sure is a character!!!

After lunch Nolan and I found our way to Hiltons, VA, only about 25 miles from where we were to check out the Carter Family Fold Music Show. A very interesting place in the Virginia hills and a fun music show. We didn't leave there until 10:00 p.m. and of course we took the long way home. Oh well, it's not like we didn't have the time. It's so nice not getting stressed about time!

Sunday, Plan was to find the Country Music Museum at the Bristol Mall and maybe drive to Jonesborough, TN. While I was out walking the dogs, I heard something fall in the trailer.....it was Nolan! He slipped down the two steps from the bedroom to the kitchen. He was in a great deal of pain and we spent the next 2-3 hours trying to decide if he wanted to go to a doctor to check it out.

Finally decided he would wait and we drove out to Bristol for lunch and to check out the museum. Lunch was good and we found the museum but it was closed and since we were at the mall, I had to do a little shopping. Found two new blankets at Pennys and bought an extra set of sheets so I don't have to wait for the one set I have to get done washing before I can make up the bed.

Finally managed to take a couple of pictures of the park we are staying in....Lake pictures are really pretty. Not a bad park!

This is our trailer and truck.

That's Nolan enjoying the sunshine!!

Crossville and Bluff City,TN

OK, this is not so easy......I forgot to take pictures when we left Sikeston, MO (not such a big deal cause we had been to Sikeston several times before) and then I forgot again when we left Crossville, TN, last night. I also didn't get anything posted here last night either. You guys that get all that done are to be admired! I'm too busy getting all the travelling stuff done.

We stayed at the Deer Run RV Resort in Crossville. Nice park sitting on a lake.....I think it was one of those resorts that people buy into and own their sites. However, I think they had 75 sites for anyone to stay in. It was a gated community setting. They had everything you could ever want....even their own church. The sites were wooded but kind of close together. The site we stayed in was a pull through site but not so level and the sewer hookup had to go up hill......and we all know s**t doesn't go uphill so well. Nolan did manage to get the hose blocked up so "it" could go down hill. However, with even all that, it was a Passport America member so we stayed for only $14. We didn't even unhook because it was such a long day of driving.....I've already told him I don't like driving that far in one day.....we'll see if he remembers!

I forgot that the only phone I have now is my cell phone and didn't dig it our of my bag before I went to bed.....Carla called several times (9 missed calls)....guess she was a little worried about us. I promise not to forget about the phone from now on!

Today we made it to Bluff City, TN. It's about 30 miles away from Ginny, one of my best friends and the reason we are here. Got here around 2:30 and set up. Cleaned everything and got settled.....I like knowing we're not moving tomorrow!!!!

We're staying at Lakeview RV Park. I think this park was mainly built for the races at Bristol. Newer park with small trees. It's built on a hillside with big sites and all the hookups with cable for only $20 per night (that includes the tax). It's also a Passport America park. We have already saved what our membership costs. They also have a enclosed area where pets don't have to be on a leash. And of course I'm sure you guessed from the name, it sits on Boone Lake. It's nice but probably would not have Linda and Howard's "it" factor. I think we'll be OK.

Which brings up another point.....it's not so easy to pick some place to stay if you've never been there before and aren't sure what you want to do....I think I'm going to have to do more planning than I first thought!!!!

Hitch Installed, Worked, Final Prep and We're Off

Friday, Nolan finally put in the last bolt to the hitch. It's in and we're ready to go! I was busy all day getting ready for a Longaberger Home Show at 7:00 p.m. All went well and it was a decent show of $371 in guest sales.

Saturday, Lazed around until we needed to get ready for my nephew's step daughter's birthday party. Spent about an hour at the birthday party and then we were off to dinner at friend's of ours who wanted to make sure we got together before we left MO. We had a great time and a great meal! We'll miss those kind of things for sure.

Sunday, I worked my last time for a while at the local convenience store....if you ever travel through MO on Highway 17 and go through Roby, you should stop for a soda! After I got through working, we made a quick trip to Competition to deliver some Longaberger to my friend, Gena. Didn't call first and she was not home but we talked a few minutes with her husband Steve. Then we needed to go to Nolan's niece's to pick up some of Nolan's long sleeve shirts that he originally didn't think he would need to take with us. Back to the trailer to finish some things before we pull out of the back yard.

Monday, Nolan said we needed this ring thing for the hitch so we made a trip to Lebanon to the RV Sales and Repair place there. Got the license renewed on the old truck since we will be gone a while and found out that we could renew the license on the new truck early. Ate a quick lunch at a mexican restaurant and then headed back to the trailer to get the paperwork we needed to renew the license on the new truck and pick up the propane tank to get it refilled. Then we were off again this time to Houston since it was a lot closer. Got the license for the new truck, filled the propane tank, went to Wal Mart for printer ink. Hurried back home so I could wash some more clothes and deliver more Longaberger. Around 7:00 p.m. my niece and her girls came to visit my sister so of course we had to take a break from getting ready and visit/play with them for a while.

Tuesday, Boy, I sure did not sleep well.....so, I was up at 7:00 a.m. Started washing a couple of loads of clothes cause I wasn't sure where we would be staying tonight. For the first time, I got things ready to go.....slide the slides in and put stuff where I thought it would be OK for the ride. Nolan went to put air in the tires, grab a bag of ice for the black tank, and back to hook the truck up to the trailer for the first time. All this took lots longer than we thought but we finally managed to pull out of my sister's around 11:30 a.m.

Here we are, ready to leave:

We drove until around 4:00 p.m. and decided to stay in Sikeston, MO, for the night at the Town and Country Camping and RV Park. I'll show you a picture tomorrow. Well......things didn't travel as well as I thought they would. All major things were OK but there was a mess to clean up. I forgot a bowl of potpouri on the dining room table, a small bowl of change on the computer desk and pretty much everything else on the desk, two baskets on the dresser in the bedroom....all fell somewhere and spilled their contents everywhere. Nolan walked in the door first and that was a mistake.....I heard about the mess for a while. Got that all cleaned up and everything running and the dogs settled. We took off to eat at Lamberts where they throw the rolls......very good but way too much to eat!!! Long day, hope tomorrow is a little better!

Hitch and TOPS

They worked all day on the hitch again and now only have one bolt left to finish.....should be finished tomorrow.....did I say that yesterday?????

We really plan to leave my sister's backyard on Monday so tonight was my last night to attend my weekly TOPS meeting. I've been the Leader since April and needed to get someone else to take over.....finally one of the other girls agreed. I hope they keep it going....it sure helped me to not gain any more weight and I did managed to loose about 10 pounds. Was great to get together and help each other even if some of us didn't loose all that we wanted!!!

Hitch, Cooking Again, and Mattress Topper

They did work on the hitch again....still not done but a little closer....says may be done tomorrow!

Was in the cooking mood again so I fixed some steak baked in Campbell's mushroom soup and baked potatoes with monkey bread for dessert. Should have cooked the steak a little longer but the monkey bread was great!

Mattress soga.....in our house we had a king size memory foam mattress not a Tempurpedic but a name brand. I slept pretty good. Before that we had a pretty good regular queen size mattress that was guarenteed to not sink in the middle. It did and the company rebuilt it or gave us a new one; however, we did not use it. We purchase a king size bed about the same time that had the memory foam mattress on it. The regular mattress was in our spare bedroom. So, when we bought the trailer of course the mattress in it did not seem like something I could live with. We put the new queen size mattress that was in our extra bedroom in the 5th Wheel because it was new and we had used it before with no problems until we had to have it replaced. Would have preferred to use the king size memory foam but of course the kind size would not fit!!! Well, I'm not sleeping very well.....after about a month I purchased one of those toppers with 3" of foam and 1" of memory foam. It really raised the height of the bed to something that was not comfortable and it did not fit the queen mattress very well. It was about an 1" too short all around so I gave it to my niece for one of her kids beds. We took it over to her house tonight. It did not seem to help my sleeping very much anyway. I'm still not sleeping very well.....I've got to find a solution!!!!!!

Passport and Voting

No work on the hitch but we did do some things that needed to be done before we leave MO. Went in to Houston, MO, Texas County Courthouse to do our absentee voting and straighten out our address with the county. They would not take just a POB so we had to give them my sister's address.

We also decided that Nolan should get a passport since we will be so close to Mexico all winter. I got my passport in 2005 when I went to Italy with my daughter. I have to say the process now is much simpler. The Houston Post Office will take the picture and send in the application for you. The only small clitch in the process was that they would not accept the birth certificate that Nolan had. It was the original birth certificate that the doctor gave Nolan's mother when he was born. Not a certified copy from the state. Obtaining a certified copy was not as complicated as when I got one. He was able to go to the County Health Department in town and get a copy right there for $15. What a deal! Did not have to wait for it to be mailed to us from the state. I just want to say that I think that the cost of getting a passport is way too high......$75 to the government, $25 to the post office for processing, and $15 for the picture. So, the whole thing cost $130 for a short trip to Mexico maybe.

After all that, we took the bedspread to the laundry to wash and dry while I did some shopping at Wal Mart. Why is it that you can't leave that place without spending $100 or close. There's always something there that you just can't get buy without!

Work and a Nap

Another work day at the local convenience store. Worked from 7:30 until 3:00. As I've said before, I really enjoy running the cash register and catching up on what the local community has been doing. However, I was tired so the rest of the afternoon was spent taking a nap and a quick trip to the Stax Diner in Plato for a delicious cheeseburger and fries.

No work on the hitch today....maybe tomorrow????

Work, Tool Box

Well, thought I was through with my part time job, but I was wrong. Opened the convenience store today and worked until noon. Was good to get to see everyone and catch up on the local gossip.

Nolan managed to get the tool box bolted in but work on the hitch has to wait until his brother returns....maybe we'll make some progress on Tuesday.

Tool Box, Apple Butter Festival

One step closer....we made a trip to Springfield to purchase the much needed tool box for the bed of the truck. Finally made a decision on the one we want and got it....yeah!!!! We bought a Delta Pro that fits down in the bed of the truck.

Carla was making a second trip to Mt Vernon, MO, for the Apple Butter Festival and wanted us to go also. We met her there and enjoyed a couple of hours of crafts and fun things to eat. It's a really good festival if you are ever in the area during the event. Town square and side streets are full of booths of crafts and stuff. They also had a huge car show which is always fun to browse through and the day was a beautiful fall day.....not too warm and not too cold, no rain!

Hitch

Today they actually worked on installing the hitch. It is in the truck but only one bolt is holding it in.....not secure yet. Nolan's brother left that evening to visit his step daughter for the weekend. No work on the hitch til Tuesday and maybe not then....we'll see. Dinner was pizza at Walt's again.....that's becoming a habit!

Hitch

Nolan and his brother decided they need some stuff for the hitch installation. So, we made another trip to West Plains, got it, and ate lunch at a fish place. Found some stronger magnets for the washing machine lid. They work better.

Went to my TOPS meeting. We then went to the local convenience store for pizza and talk......I love spending time with friends and talking. Hoping this new adventure leads me to new friends and lots of talking.

Cooking

I'm not much of a cook but today was a cooking day! Was a lazy day but around 11:00 I started some beef stew. Also decided to try my friend Ginny's recipe for Apple Dumplings. Both turned out really good and we ate around 6:00. Invited my sister and nephew over since I also have trouble cooking for just two.

Put up some more pictures with the 3M picture hanging strips. Did I say I really, really like those things.

Truck, Shopping

Made an appointment to get the truck serviced and check on the installation kit for the hitch in West Plains. Got all that done.....the installation kit was not in stock and we did not order one. Got the brake controller and Nolan will install that. Guess he will also talk to his brother tomorrow about the installation kit. Don't know when we'll get going!!!

Made a stop at Wal Mart and got a few groceries. Also got a couple of other things for the RV. Need to wash the outside tomorrow so I got a few things to do that. More 3M picture hangars, a over the door hanger for Nolan's jacket, magnet strips for the washing machine lid (didn't work, magnet was not strong enough), and 3M hooks for the bathroom sink area. 3M hanging products are great!!!

Back to Working on Getting Ready to Travel

Well, got back to my new home on Friday night.....what a good feeling to be back in your own bed! Mom is doing well and I felt comfortable leaving her to get better on her own. She was getting around by herself and gettin stronger every day. Here is a picture of Brenna and my uncle (my Mom's brother) at the hospital....isn't she so cute. She was so good! We all spent the night at the hospital that night and she was no trouble at all.....I think her and Nolan and a pretty good time actually!

Took a couple of pictures of our 5th Wheel sitting in my sister's yard. Sure wish we were ready to move on.

Here's our new to us truck to pull it with!

I think I mentioned that the recliners in the trailer were not comfortable at all. Mine actually made my legs go to sleep when I sat in it....they were terrible. Here's our new ones!

We're getting there.....things are coming together. This week we get the hitch installed and look for a brake controller.