Rest and Relaxation, Jimmy Rodgers, Travelling to Covington, LA

Sunday and Monday were days we just sat around and read books all day. I can't remember the last time I read a book. Was very relaxing!!!

Tuesday was the day to visit the Jimmy Rodgers Museum (only open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday that's why we stayed 2 extra days).

This is a picture of the outside of the building--no pictures allowed inside.


Nolan standing by the historical marker sign outside the building (he tried to get me to let him take my picture but I didn't let him have the camera, sorry, Carla).

This is the lady that works here. She followed us outside to tell us something else about another historical marker sign downtown.

The museum is in a beautiful city park.

We had plenty of time so we took a drive out to where the cemetery he is buried in.

The lady at the museum recommended we eat at Crescent City Grill. It was excellent!

Wednesday was our travel day. Took our time about getting things ready to go but we were still pulling out of the campground around 9:30 am. Very uneventful trip. We've paid for a week at the Land O Pines Family Campground, Covington, LA. Hopefully, I can get Nolan to take me into New Orleans, maybe a little east to Mobile, AL, and Gulfport, MS; and maybe over to Baton Rouge. Lots to see and do that's not too far to drive. However, if he doesn't want.....I like this campground alot!

See a couple of pictures below.

That's us.

Down Day at Benchmark Coach and RV Park, Meridian, MS

Not much happening around our little happy abode today as you can tell from the pictures. We did manage to go and wash the truck but that was about it!!!

Tequila sleeping in the sun!

Lucy (she's a Silky Terrior), posing for her picture.

Oscar posing for his picture.

Both of them ignoring me.

This is us parked at Benchmark Coach and RV Park, Meridian, MS.

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!