Memories of "The Way We Were"

Memories of "The Way We Were"

October 5, 2013

"Lucy"  our Tiffin Motorhome in her garage

August 2012 we began the great adventure,  traveling for a year in a motor home full time.  Who knew it would be so hard  to give up the nomad life style!    We have been back in our home in Clarksville Tennessee for a month. We were blessed with amazing renters, so the house looks great.  Everything was in it's place within three days of moving in.   Now what do we do?  The neighbors are great, the "new subdivision" we live in has grown since we left a year ago. We have picked up where we left off with our neighbors and  our dear friends Brenda and Joe Douglas.   

My nesting instinct has dissappeared!  Life was so simple in  our motor home.  We had all our basic needs with us, in 35 feet of space.  I enjoy gardening, but I enjoy looking at a beautiful garden far more than the upkeep of a yard and garden. I enjoy having a clean house, 35 feet with central vac system saves so much time!   Hand washing dishes right after a meal didn't take any time.   Why do we need so many dishes and pots and pans in the house?   We certainly don't need all the clothes we unboxed to fill up the big walk in closet...we didn't use them for a year maybe it is time to get rid of them.

Yes,  reality has  now set in.  We managed just fine without all our "things" and now that we are back among the "things"  all I can think about is getting rid of all of it!  I honestly felt closer to each of our three children and our extended family while we were out traveling.  If we were needed, we just pulled in the slides, hooked up the tow and  we were on our way.    Bob thought he was missing his mail, but in one month back home each trip to the mail box is to retrieve junk mail!  

We learned a lot while on the road.  We learned we could manage with less, and less was more! I know  it isn't the life for everyone.  I wouldn't expect most to understand.  But those that enjoy the traveling and the simple things would love it!  We met so many interesting people, and were blessed with the opportunity of living life as a vacation for a year!  So you ask, what next?

We have put our home on the market For Sale!  We are planning to get rid of alot of stuff!  What the family doesn't want we will sell or donate.  I still have some furnishings I don't want to part with, so they will go back into storage when the house sells.   We are going to get back on the road as soon as possible, and continue the adventure:)

For now we will live with the memories of "The Way We Were On The Road" and make plans for the next adventure!   Hope to see ya'll out on the road soon, safe travels:)

Campbell, Wyatt & Nana (Val) 

Wyatt, PaPa (Bob) & Campbell

Georgia 

Tiffin Factory Campground

Red Bay Alabama

9/9/2013 -9/10/2013

Tiffin Factory Service Campground 

Customer Service Lounge

It has been  almost a year since we purchased our  Tiffin  Allegro Open Road,  warranty was coming to an end and we thought why not go to the factory.  We have heard so many stories from Tiffin owners about the amazing customer service this company provides.    We knew we were going to be in Birmingham for a wedding in September so we scheduled in advance our appointment for warranty work.  I checked the information on the internet and saw that Tiffin has a campground with "full hookups" for customers with appointments.

Georgia enjoying a romp in the "Tiffin Field"

We arrived early afternoon on the 9th to discover a very full campground.  Only space for dry camping in the dusty parking lot.  I was not thrilled.   I have never seen so many Tiffin's in one place.  As  I looked out at the sea of Tiffin motor homes  I am wondering is this a "Bad thing because so many need service?"  Or " Is this a good thing because their service is so good?"

The accomodations are not great, however all the staff was very friendly and helpful.  We had to run our generator all night for the air conditioners to operate.  Not a problem their were 14 Rigs in the back parking lot dry camping with us doing the same.   TV reception was poor so we watched DVD's  "The Help" and "The Notebook".  Did I mention this was our 41st Wedding Anniversary?   What better way to spend our anniversary than where we both prefer to spend our time together, in our motorhome :)

The next morning we were up early  to head to our designated service bay #5 at 6:45AM.   Bob stayed with the motor home and the service techs to learn how to do everything they were doing.  Georgia and I sat in the customer service lounge with other owners and their pups sharing RV stories.    Some folks had been there three to six weeks, for major repairs!  For those that don't have the time to wait, their motor homes can be dropped off and left to await service.    We were in and out by noon and on the road home by 12:30 PM :)  Now that was amazing!

Naming Our Motorhome  -   What to name her?

Returning to her birth place,  brought to mind we still had not come up with a name for our home on wheels.  It has been a  long road literally trying to come up with the perfect name.   Tiffy seemed too fluffy, Alley just won't do.  I contemplated and thought of "Ethel" from  I Love Lucy  maybe we'll call her Big Ethel.    Having seen the movie "The Longest Trailer"  starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.   I could relate and laughed so hard.     "Lucy " or  "Big Ethel"?

We are always living an adventure in our motor home,  so many funny moments I think it is appropriate to call her "Lucy"   and  when we climb in for each trip we can say "Lucy, we're home!"

"Lucy"  

Happy Trails to you till the next time:)

The River Walk at McGregor Park

Clarksville Tennessee

One of my  favorite places to walk in our hometown is the Riverwalk.  This beautiful park is  is along the Cumberland River, in the River District of Clarksville.   The Park is home to the Cumberland River Center, which houses "As the River Flows" A History of the Cumberland River.    The park also  has an Amphitheater and the River Bend Stage.  This area  is the place to be on the 4th of July as it really comes alive with live entertainment and an elaborate fireworks display located on  other side of the river, directly across from the park.   The  Amphitheater hosts concerts.   The park  consists of numerous picnic platforms  terraced into the hillside along the walk enabling everyone to have a great view of the river.   Benches and swings are  placed throughout the walk as well.    Children can enjoy a wonderful play ground.

Cumberland River Center

Meandering walk way along the river  

International Avenue of Flags is also located in this park

International Avenue of Flags

As The River Flows " History of the Cumberland River"

Returning Home...

Thursday August 22, 2013

Music City  - Nashville TN

We have returned home to Tennessee, with mixed emotions.  Our full time traveling is coming to an end:(  One year on the road, 30 states and 14,012 miles!   We don't want this to end :(    Our renters are moving out and Bob & I are moving back in the house next weekend.

We are not giving up RV travel, we still plan to travel part time, several months a year.  We will miss full timing.   We are so thankful we were able to live our dream this past year:)   Our next adventure is to put our home on the market For Sale!   We are considering relocating,  and building a smaller  home, with less maintainence.  Location yet to be determined.  We may change our minds after we are back in the house, and decide to sell everything, and Hit the Road again full time:)    That is our prerogative since we are retired:)

I will keep the blog going with our travel adventures and RV Park Reviews.   We have family commitments  on the East Coast this winter, so if we snow bird it will be on this coast.   For all our Palm Desert Snow Bird friends, we will pick up where we left off in 2015:)

For those that are considering Full Timing in an RV....Go for it!  We have been so blessed with so many experiences and so many new friends.    Till we meet again on the road, Happy Trails to you!

A new take on the "Tortoise and the Hare"

ALDRIDGE  GARDENS

Hoover Alabama 

While staying in Huntsville  I had the opportunity to head South just past Birmingham to Hoover.  This was a day trip with my dear friend Vicki Bryant.  We will be attending Vicki's son's wedding at Aldrige Gardens on September 7th.  Vicki  had some pre wedding errands and I went along and we visited, this beautiful  and whimsical place.

Their "catch phrase"  "Aldridge Gardens - Nature and Art in Balance"  Open daily from 8:00 A.M, to 4: 00 P,M,  Admission is Free :)   You can't beat Free!   The Gardens host numerous  special events from weddings, to music presentations and corporate events.  We strolled the gardens and enjoyed the spectacular natural beauty and the whimsy of sculptured art placed throughout the gardens.

The upcoming wedding will be beautiful!  So glad we will be able to attend.  If you are in the Birmingham area visiting Aldridge Gardens should be on your list of places to visit.

Outdoor Pavillion

Beautiful Tree where many events take place under the  tree

Flower Gardens surrounding the house 

Little Waterfall 

This lake is the  centerpiece in these lovely gardens

Val & Vicki

So many beautiful flowers and shrubs

Another fun Rabbit sculpture

Not sure what this is called, but it looks like a giant  arrowhead hanging like a pendalum

Redstone Arsenal   -  Huntsville AL

7/25 - 8/22/13

This rocket towers above The U.S. Space and Rocket Center  and is seen from the Interstate as you enter Huntsville on I-565

Huntsville Alabama  also known as the  "Rocket City" is located in the central part of the far northern region of Alabama.    The National Trust for Historic Preservation named Huntsville to its "America's Dozen Distinctive Destinations for 2010 List"  Huntsville is the fourth largest city in Alabama.  Population in the Huntsville Metropolitan area is 417,593.    Huntsville is home to NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and the United States Army Aviation and Missle Command nearby at the Redstone Arsenal.   We have visited Huntsville many times and decided to return and make it home for the month of August.   

Situated in the Tennessee River Valley, several platueaus and large hills partially surround Huntsville.  These plateaus are  part of the Cumberland Plateau, and are locally called "mountains" ( of course they are not big mountains like the Rockies).  Monte Sano Mountain ( Italian for "Healthy Mount" ) is the most notable and is East of the city.    I will cover the surrounding area in another post.  Today  I want to share Redstone Arsenal with you.

We set up our home away from home at the Military RV Park on Redstone Arsenal.  It is in a great location  convenient to the Post Exchange and  Commissary as well as a gym and Chapel and Medical Clinic.  The park is also nestled at the base of a big hill surrounded by a wonderful hiking trail.   Georgia and I try to hit the trail every morning about 6:15 AM and walk for 4 miles.  Starting early is important here, any later and we will be melting in the heat and humidity.      Following  are some photos from our walks around  Redstone Arsenal.

This plaque is located just in front of Centenial Chapel  along the walking path

My favorite tree!  Georgia and I walked past this daily.  It was just across from our camp site

Site #28  our home for the month

Now for a  stroll  through the rockets and aircraft  displays on the Arsenal

I grew up an Air Force Brat, and Space Travel has always facinated me.  It is  amazing to stand back and look at these rockets and the shuttle engines.  Remembering,  listening to a radio broadcast of the  our astronauts taking the first step on the moon.  Yes I am that old, it was a radio broadcast when we were living in Germany and we gathered around the radio to listen.  Good Times, fond memories:)

PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN

Rocket Park

This park has seen better days, sad to see the display  looking like this

The park was dedicated  July 1, 1960 " This park stands as a living testament to the spirit of cooperation that continues  between the U.S. Army and NASA.   

These Space Shuttle engines are on display outside the George C Marshall Space Flight Center

Space Shuttle Main Engine 

J-2 Engine

The F-1 Engine

This is just a small taste of all there is to see!    I will bring you more of Huntsville and it's surrounding beauty soon:)

Scott AFB  St Louis, IL

7/18-7/25/13 

Welcome to St Louis!  We arrived at Scott AFB and stayed at their Fam Camp (Military RV Park and Campground).  So far all but one of the AFB Fam Camps we have stayed at were located on a lake:)    This makes for a pleasant view and enjoyable walks with Georgia.  

St Louis Arch

This is a small Fam Camp, with just 22 RV Sites.  Sites are  back in gravel sites with electric and water only.   We had a nice shady spot right across from the Laundry Room and Showers / Restrooms.  I always like a spot close to the laundry.  Glad  we have our own shower and restroom in our motor home.  Upon arrival at the Fam Camp we discovered our space was already taken:(   The people there had not checked out yet and were still out sight seeing.  

The Office  assigned us another site which actually was nicer:)  I love how God blesses us with little things like that:)  Miss Georgia was so happy with this park as there was a huge field of grass for her to run and chase the ball in!   We had a delightful few days with some very nice neighbors.    

This is what Georgia looks like when she is ready to play!

Our wonderful field to romp and play fetch in!

The lake, complete  with a fishing dock

Picnic Gazebo by the lake

Campfire area with benches (L)  Bath house & Laundry Room (R)

Our site

Basswood RV Resort 

Platte City Missouri 

7/15/13

This is a huge RV Park with Cabins and RV Sites close to the Kansas City area.  I would not consider it a resort it is a big campground.  It is definitely off the beaten path.  Don't rely on GPS as it brought us in the wrong way.  I didn't think we were ever going to get there.  The staff is friendly and very orgainized keeping the campground  in pristine condition, and  helping out the campers.   The camp store is well stocked and they have Pizza delivery.  There is a large pool and play area for the kids.    It looked like there were many long term campers.  

We were here  for only one night.  It was very busy and reservations are needed. 

One of the lakes 

Campfire pit  for campers to enjoy

Our site

Pool and Playground