March 30 to April 5, 2002

Saturday March 30 we arose a bit later thaqn usual, and tried to call Nicki & David; no answer.  It seems strange that they would not be there, but after that storm it's possible the phone is not working.  We decide to proceed to our discussed meeting place and try to call again from there before looking for their house ourselves.  We arrived there just 1 minute before they drove up to lead us in.  They had just realized that their phone was out.  Sometimes miracles DO occur!  David joined me for the drive in to their house close to the Tennessee River;   indeed I needed his advice or we never would have found it, selected the safe route in, or been able to negotiate some of the turns in the road.  Nicki & David's location by the Street Atlas map is quite wrong; wrong street names on a correct map geometry are in Street Atlas.  We are careful to note the GPS coordinates for future use.  We found a beautiful house on a wooded hillside with RV space on the garage ramp near David & Nicki's travel trailer.   We quickly met Christy and Annie, the household's Golden Retriever girls; as with other Goldens we have met, these two are really pussycats at heart, and their major threat is licking us to death.  :-)   

They are lovely dogs, well behaved and playful.  

Nicki had planned brunch, so we enjoyed quiche, biscuits, and Canadian bacon.........and a very special tea with warming additives for this damp drizzly day, of course!  The phone was out, so no internet connections for anyone today.  Nicki & Claire went tour/shopping in the area while I worked on the website, anticipating a return of phone service, and David did some everpresent weekend chores.  The cellphone worked here, but the digital service (on those rare occasions when it was available) would not access the internet.  This location seemed to be in a coverage area equidistant from several towers that fought to make the connection; it worked most of the time on voice, but sure was confusing.  Landline phone service returned in the evening; I was able to update the website and get all my email for the first time in 2 weeks, and best of all actually SEND email.  We looked at the Tennessee Valley Golden Retriever Rescue organization website; this is the organization through whom both Annie and Christy were adopted.

Nicki and David are justifiably proud of their involvement with this group finding suitable new homes for displaced goldens.  Check it out at http://www.tvgrr.com/ .  After snacks on the RV, we enjoyed a southern barbecue of ribs and chicken in the house, then watched a movie while soaking in the hot tub.....mmmmm NICE!!  Sleep came easy this night.

Sunday March 31 we awoke and plugged in electricity to make coffee (and watch TV).  What a surprise to find that the Easter Bunny had found us here (we think he had a lot of  help from Nicki & David). What a magnificant basket he left us too!

Nicki made breakfast; eggs, toast, English style sausage (American made bangers),  crisp bacon, potatoes en cassarole....  mmmmmm.  We then enjoyed the improving weather outside, and toured David & Nicki's handsome travel trailer.

 I think we must get an awning support like David installed on his trailer for the middle of our awning; we do not use it often, but a slight sag is visible in the rolled up stored awning and this should be arrested soon.  We admired the extra room the slide out gave to the inside of the trailer.  

This should make very comfortable living quarters while they build their new home!!   The landscaped rock garden with spring fed fish pool is extremely pleasant to sit beside, listening to the birds chirp happily.  

The outdoor gardening activity is a pleasant break from our usual routine.   Nicki & David prepared Easter dinner for us;  the steak is delicious and tender, with superb bread and the tender sweet corn is ON the cob!   We're going to have to wait a bit to cut back on the food......  :-)

 David and Nicki have done a LOT of work here, and now are contemplating retirement within several years;  in preparation they are planning their retirement home in Florida.  We look with interest on the designs taking shape;  David makes good use of his computer revising and modifying the numerous candidate designs under consideration.  This is a really big task; it is always hard to make big decisions when given much freedom to choose. We have confidence they will ultimately make the right choice for them.  We say goodbye tonight; tomorrow is a workday, and we will depart after Nicki and David are at work.

Monday April 1 we said a final goodbye to Nicki when she brought out Claire's forgotten purse; David had already departed.  

I put pictures on a CD for them, and left it as we departed.  We stopped at a Tennessee info station on the way to Nashville and picked up lots of tourist info;  we quickly decided to divert to Jack Daniels Distillery at a National Historic Landmark sign on the interstate. This National Historic Site in Lynchburg, Tennessee was an interesting place.  It was obviously marketing oriented, and these "yard birds" might better fit the theme at another distillery, but they were pleasant companions nevertheless.

While flash pictures were prohibited in the still rooms and the charcoal filter mellowing rooms, I could easily smell the reason;  alcohol fume concentration just might be above the flash point.  :-)  

Since the liquid flowing in the locked compartments is highly pure alcohol, (and my nose knows), this picture was taken without flash.    We enjoyed our guide with his keen sense of humor, despite some difficulty understanding his country drawl; he was obviously competent, as we are still alive.  :-)  We came to Murfreesboro after asking the best way to Nashville at the refreshment bar in the distillery. The waitress serving lemonade and coffee in this dry county suggested the route through here, and we arrived at the Super Walmart just after dark. Gas at Murphy's is $1.229, $1.199 with the gift card.

Tuesday April 2 we fueled in the morning; gas is up 3 cents from last night.  It is worth the extra 60 cents not to have had to do it last night, though.  We are both tired, very slow to start, not getting out on the road until after 1PM;  just WHAT concentration of alcohol fumes were in the Jack Daniels mellowing room?  :-)  We decided that since the Grand Ol Oprey show was a main reason for us to do Nashville, and it is open weekends only, we would leave the city until next trip; instead we visited Andrew Jackson's home, The Hermitage, east of Nashville.  

The Hermitage is a beautifully kept property with beautiful gardens and many interesting exhibits and buildings. As with many restored historic homes, photography is forbidden inside the Hermitage itself.  I was amazed that the wallpaper murals in the house were still original and looked to be in excellent condition. The rear of the house was also attractive with the traditional columns.

 The grounds are still being studied with archaeological digs ongoing. This cabin was the Jackson's first home on the property.  

The Hermitage was a definite "Don't Miss" attraction on our trip; we closed the park, departing as the gates were already closed to incoming visitors;  they did not recognize we could not get the RV out through the opening they had left with half the gate closed, but Claire opened the way.  On the way in, we had noticed the town of Hermitage, TN had a regular Walmart open 24 hours within a mile of The Hermitage.  We had decided we could stay here instead of the planned Lebanon TN Walmart if the Hermitage tour tired us.  Since we were ready to stop, and Claire had noticed the chinese buffet next to that Walmart we pulled in for the night;   I apparently ENRAGED the owner of the restaurant by questioniong whether he used MSG in his buffet food. After a barely understandable tirade from him I decided to skip it and have a peanut butter sandwich in the RV, while Claire enjoyed the buffet.  She said the food was OK, not great, but the owner kept haranging her about MSG being a harmless natural substance used in steak gravy and many things other than Chinese food....GEEZE, what ever happened to the "customer is always right" philosophy of business?  I think I hit a nerve with him.....  :-)   We reserved Wednesday night in Geronimo campground in Crossville TN, where their Passport America rate is $5, water & electric only.  This is an ideal dump and water fill stop for us.  A FIRST; our door was knocked on in the Walmart parking lot. It happened while Claire was reading, after I had turned in; a lady with a young family in her car asked if we were the ones they saw on TV, her children had asked (I don't know what she was referring to, but Claire explained we were just retirees enjoying ourselves).  Uhhhhh....has anyone seen us on TV? We'd really be the last to know.  :-)

Wednesday April 3 we stopped at TN info station on I-40 to inquire about Smokey Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway; snow & ice are possible, but unlikely now.   We found Geronimo Campground with some backing around due to turned or badly located road signs. This place is at the END of a very rural road. We dumped and selected a drive through site; we were one of very few in the campground. It seems Passport America sites appeal to us;  this one was great for the cats.  I walked both, tying them together occasionally, but that did not work long. They would fight each other then one would start to balk and throw his harness.  Claire hollered loud; "DOG"; I saw it approaching, a large one unleashed.  I grabbed both cats in my arms, rope leashes dragging, Purry hissing, Pookie struggling to get his claws into something, and I was the only thing in reach. I ran at maximum speed (with THIS load) for the RV. When Pookie finally succeeded with his claws I let him jump; he almost pulled my arm out of my socket leading me back, then could not find the RV door.  We all climbed in, and the dog totally lost interest.  The camera is never available when the REALLY good shots happen....  :-)  The lady who came around to collect the $5 fee said the owner runs it much like a hobby rather than a business, does not advertise other than in the Passport America list, and they have few campers other than the occasional Passport America members like us who happen in. She and her husband fill in for the owner when he is absent, in exchange for a free site for their mobile home and motor home. They retired at 50, but have her husbands Marine Corps medical coverage; even with that they cannot afford to live in their former home in California, and were full timers in a fifth wheel for 6 years before stopping here. They were south this winter, and recently returned and helped open the campground.  The weather forecast indicated temperatures below freezing in the mountains tonight and tomorrow.  After a short discussion we decided to go home by the easiest route;  I think we are both tired (I certainly am), and do not need hard mountain driving with constant concern for the weather at this point.  We developed a 4 day return trip plan, with 3.5 to 6 hours driving each day;  that seems OK to us now, and we can always stop short of plan if we tire out.

 Thursday April 4 we enjoyed the  water and electricity in the morning, and called Ron and Elizabeth and arranged to meet them at Frank's Pizza in Lexington on Friday night,  then dumped, getting out just after 1PM.  We got disoriented going through Crossville, losing our planned route, but found a propane dealer on the route we took.  We backed in and filled, then asked the dispensing lady how to get to I-40 East.  She told us a complicated way, but it turned out to be very well signed, so we really did not need the directions. The drive was uneventful, just seemed long for us; we must get used to that for the next few days.  There was unexpected heavy traffic in Nashville, but then we realized it was an hour later than our clocks; we had returned to Eastern Time, losing an hour from our day.  We'd better get used to that too, as it will happen again Sunday with the arrival of Daylight Savings Time.  Claire had prepared turkey burgers and string beans before leaving the campground, so dinner was fast and delicious.  We called brother Bob and arranged to stop and see him on our way through Pennsylvania;  we were delighted to find that Allen & Christy were still in the area, and we could see them too, before they departed for England.  He cautioned us that temperatures were going to the low 20's tonight, but with daytime temperatures in the 50's I do not think we have any freeze problems in the RV with heat turned on.  We crossed into Virginia and stayed in a Walmart in Bristol, just across the state line.  We were careful to reset our clocks this time;  we're gonna be in eastern time for a while.  :-)

Friday April 5 we started early.  The Virginia countryside is beautiful with Spring flowers blooming everywhere along the roadside.

 The cattle were grazing in Spring pastures and appeared happy to see the greening grass.

 We got confused in Roanoke looking for a Walmart with gas listed in the Next Exit.  It was also listed in the Walmart map book, but really was not accessible from the exit on the address road eastbound.  Got lost trying to get back from following the exit, as the airport and I-581 blocks lots of roads. The 1 penny savings over Flying J was surely eaten up driving around Roanoke.  We did get our gas and continued on our way; as Claire says, if this had not happened we would not have seen Roanoke.  :-)  We arrived at Lexington and backed into the visitor's center parking lot, dodging the horse and carriage already busy taking visitors on rides through the town.

. The Lexington Visitors Center was VERY accomodating; the lady inside said we could stay in their RV parking lot overnight if I called the police, and even offered a courtesy phone to do it.  The police wanted only the tag number and our name and the number of days we would stay.  Ron & Elizabeth joined us before dark; we enjoyed a few snacks in the RV, then walked to Frank's Pizza.  We enjoyed great Pizza and beer, and Margaret's story about serving celebrities and receiving no tip.  

We returned to a dessert of (Easter) candy.  Ron had a fine time with Nicki's easter basket chick.  :-)  

It would not peep for him, only for the other 3 of us.  He finally figured out it was skin resistance across the two rivits on the bottom of the chick, and wetting his palm made chickie go "peep peep peep......"  :-)  We wished Ron and Elizabeth good fortune in their lambing season which starts soon;  they will be staying pretty close to the barn until that is finished.  The farm dogs were still waiting for their supper, so Ron and Elizabeth headed home and we packed it in for the night; I was GLAD we did not have to leave this parking lot tonight!!

Saturday April 6 we left Lexington a bit after 10 AM, and drove steadily, stopping only for driver changes and once to make coffee.  We arrived at brother Bob's at 4:30PM, after driving through a few brief snow squalls on I-78.  The trip plan called for 309 miles, 5.5 hours of driving and we held the schedule pretty well.  We were glad to stop, as Bob guided us into a parking spot at the end of his driveway.  We ended up level and soon greeted Kathy, Christy, and Allen.

Oscar the Siamese cat is waiting for 6 months of quarantine to expire before joining Christy and Allen in England.  His markings are quite like Pookie's, but unlike Pookie he is typically Siamese vocal, and has the classic slim body and long legs.  They both have identical red glowing eyes though.  

We enjoyed snacks in the RV then Kathy's delicious supper.  We chatted until realizing it was really an hour later than the clocks said; with the daylight savings time shift this night, it's time to SNORE!!

Sunday April 7 it was predicted 17 degrees overnight, hopefully Winter's last stand, but the outdoor thermometer under the RV showed 27.5 degrees.  As Bob reported his thermometer said 15, we assume a lot of heat escapes through the bottom of the RV, keeping the temperature of the holding tanks higher than the outside temperature; that's OK, we will not worry as much about the tanks freezing.  :-)  We planned brunch at a restaurant Sunday, and thoroughly enjoyed the food at Whispering Springs Hotel near Kutztown, to the extent that some of us might even have overeaten a little.  :-)  

Christy and Allen had another dinner to attend as well, so they departed from us here, and we visited Anjie and Matthew and 3 year old Ethan; it was nice to finally see their beautiful home on the country hillside.

 Ethan is still the same charming boy he was last Fall, and is growing like kids tend do; a bit faster than geezer minds can keep up with.  :-)  

After puzzling over a map of the United States for a bit and jumping the battery on Matthew's lawn tractor to start it, we returned to another of Kathy's delicious dinners; chicken breast and roasted vegetables.  The Tabasco hot sauce we brought from Lousiana appeared to be a bit hotter than the day before, but fortunately brother Bob sounded the alarm before I did anything foolish.  I overcame an overstuffed stomach from the brunch to do justice to this delicious and healthful meal.  We are, after all, only a few days from home and a much needed DIET.  :-)

Monday April 8 we said goodby to Allen on his way to work; in a week they are off to England for a 2 year assignment.  We put appropriate pictures on a CD  for the folks, and prepared to depart.  We enjoyed coffee and sweetbread sticks in the kitchen with Bob and Christy, then said our goodbyes and backed up the driveway to begin the 6 hour drive home.  We planned to fuel in New Jersey at our favorite Pilot truck stop; this worked out, as gas was $1.239, the lowest we have seen for quite a while.  We also took advantage of their truck scale to weigh the RV in full long term cruising trim.  We still have 1600 pounds of spare carrying capacity, and both axles have about the right proportion of spare capacity.  We will not have to reduce loading yet!  In late afternoon we arrived home after taking a new way for us, following the road sign suggesting the best New England route was up the New York state thruway directly to I-84 rather than across the Tappan Zee bridge.  We were pleasantly surprised that the thruway toll there was much lower than we remembered on the trip south across the Tappan Zee bridge, and the Hudson river bridge toll which was listed at $1 for cars was $2.50 for our "two axle truck".  It may have been 10 miles longer, but well worth the extra milage to save possibly $15 in extra tolls on the Tappan Zee route, and the driving was MUCH less congested.  We did not notice the cats perk up as much as we neared home as they did at Christmas time; perhaps 2.5 months exceeds their long term memory of home?  We found everything in the house pretty much as expected; it was not long before Purry and Pookie were running in the yard and climbing onto the porch roof to enter the house through the upstairs bathroom window as if they had never left here.  We are VERY gratified that they see little need for the litter box here, either.....they are indoor/outdoor cats again!  :-))))))))

This trip has been GREAT fun for all of us (I'll speak for the cats too; they are out terrorizing the neighborhood).  

Future Plans; We will stick fairly close to home this Summer; perhaps taking some short trips, but nothing longer than a week.  It is pure speculation for us to plan that far ahead, but in early September we do expect to head west again, hoping to see the Grand Canyon and Colorado Indian ruins before the weather drives us further south.  We plan to be home for Thanksgiving and Christmas this year; how exactly we accomplish that is for the future to reveal also.  Until then, enjoy YOUR Summer; we sure expect to enjoy ours.  :-))

For those who do not bore easily, some statistics since we left home October 30, 2001.

 THE END