Thursday, June 30, 2016

We’re Here - Again

We arrived about 5:30 PM (Thur) to Carol’s brother’s campground in the hills near Augusta, WV.  It’s real nice weather.  It took us about an hour to get set up mainly due to the sat TV dish.  It had a hard time shooting through the trees.  We finally got it and then set up everything. 

The internet is very slow so that means not to many pictures and the blog will be spotty.

It was a very comfortable cool night.

See ya…..

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

What A Buy – Not!

We were on the road by 7 AM.  Yes, 7 AM.  Why? It just worked out that way.  We’re traveling from point A to point B with no wishes to stop other than to spend the night somewhere.  Since it’s summer and hot we have not much desire to spend the night boone docking somewhere. 

We went 410 miles today and it was all interstate.  Not too bad.  We got diesel at $2.09 and had to really looked around to get it at that price.  Most of the time it was $2.19 to $2.55 a gallon.

We arrived at the Escapees Park - Raccoon Valley in Heiskell, TN about 3 PM local.  The park is about 10-12 miles north of Knoxville  just off I-75.  We got a gravel pull thru, FHU, 50 Amp for $21.15.  Plus you could wash your rig with no charge.  Nobody would wash our rig though.  We saw a couple of friends and talked to them of course.  Talked to a guy who was going to sell his 2002 Harley Sportster for $1,800.  He was the original owner.  Damn, if this was happening in Livingston it would have been a done deal.  It wasn’t meant to happen for me evidently.

The sat TV dish took awhile to find the sat but did find it.  We had to reset the receiver and we lost our stored stuffed but oh well.

We got one more day of travel (475 mi) and then we will sit for about two weeks before heading to Vermont for the Escapade.

It got down to 59 degrees last night.  That was alright or should I say it was “cool.”

See ya….

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Heading North – Again…

We got under way about 9 AM Monday with 475 miles to go to a Passport America (PA) In Meridian, MS.  It was sunny out and already in the 80’s.  By noon is was 93 degrees and climbing.  Then it started raining.  Temps went down to 73 degrees so it was nice but raining.  It continued to rain for about 4 hours.  There went the nice clean RV and shiny wheels for sure.  The sun didn’t come back out but the rain went away later.

Then there was some traffic binding the other direction thank goodness.  It was a bigee.DSC_0002DSC_0004

Carol saw this interstate split and liked it.DSC_0005

Our PA park was listed under Meridian, MS.  We would stay here again.  It cost $20 (PA) for a FHU 50 AMP, cable TV, pull thru, level, cement RV pad and a green grass site, laundry, showers, etc.  It’s $17 if your RV does not have a 50 AMP chord.   30 AMP in other words.  I discussed this with the worker that we only wanted 30 AMP.  No deal so we hooked up the 50 AMP, ran both AC’s down to 73 degrees, hot water on and lights were on and we were home. DSC_0006DSC_0008

Now when we pulled in after 475  miles we saw these two arrows pointing in different directions.  I went to the left and it was right.  I mean correct.DSC_0007

Carol had a roast and veggies in the crock pot in the sink since when we started this morning.  It was plugged in of course.  Dinner was  ready when we were and it was quick, easy and real good.

I then spent two hours working on the part that I was sent from the company that made our switching/selection HDMI matrix.  I got friggin everything to work finally.  I will install the components more permanently when we get to WV.   Poke me – I’m done.

See ya

Monday, June 27, 2016

Monday Monday

Last day here in Livingston for awhile.  We went and saw my Mom.  We took her a few things to help her along.  She does remember she smoked and continues to do so (outside with a nurse).  Hey, I don’t say anything about her smoking anymore.  She enjoys it.  She appears to be taking each day as it comes.  Don’t we all.DSCN1218

Next was getting the mobile ready for our departure.  I basically turn off the water and set the thermostat (AC) to about 85 degrees to prevent mold.  Plus we leave two ceiling fans on low and unplug everything and turn off some circuit breakers. 

Next was the little camper.  It was already set up from when we left last time.  I did hook it up to shore power and put a fan on the inside.  Three roof vents are slightly open and it’s under the carport.DSCN1216                          DSCN1217

The barn……I locked that mess up.DSCN1214DSCN1215

The big RV I topped off the engine DEF and checked the water and oil.  I undid the sat TV cable (mess) and closed the awning (elect) along with a slap of the hand to help it close all the way. DSCN1212

Checked our mail.  We got the sat TV part I was hoping for.  I won’t be able to install it till later on ?  New on the left.DSCN1219

We went over Jon & Sue Glicks place to  say Good Bye.  We haven’t visited them in a long time.DSCN1221

See ya……

Sunday, June 26, 2016

Going On 17 Years Now

We’ve been back in Texas two weeks now.  Mom Hill is stable in her new home.  It’s Dogwood Trails Manor in Woodville, TX, a nursing home.  She don’t know how she got there or even where she lived before now.  She seems to be content with her surroundings as simple as they are.  This was the 6th time we’ve had to move her and the last.

It’s been pretty muggy here in Livingston that’s why we don’t usually come here during the summer.  We learned how to work around the humid times and even during it sometimes.  Bottom line – no thanks.  Not our cup of tea.

Besides getting Mom situated we’ve accomplished other things like me.  I’ve been getting my blood situated by mainly losing weight.  I got some shots to get but they will wait until our return in the fall.  Plus the doc said to lose another 10 pounds.  That would put me in the 180’s.  I haven’t been there for a few decades like three or four.  I will “Ensure” it’s done, maybe.

Earlier this month we celebrated RV full timing 16 years.  This year we forgot about our date of June 6th but remembered within a week or two.  We are now working on our 17th year.  Wow, it just don’t seem like it.  It’s been an adventure for sure.  Oh so many stories and fun for sure.

We are heading back North Tuesday.  Now Carol’s Mom is doing not to well at all so it will be a quick trip up to the Maryland area.  We have 1350 miles to go.  We will make it in 3 days of about 450 miles each day.  Coming down here it was 600 mile days.  Not really enjoying the drive as much as we could/should be doing but that’s the way it goes.  There will be other days for us to enjoy more for sure.

Carol is doing fine when she isn’t thinking of her Mom.  She’s doing a lot of line dancing between my Mom and me taking care of my medical BS.  She’s a real trooper.

We will be attending the Escapade up in Vermont the tail end of July.  From there we have no real plans what so ever.  Any ideas?  Come around September sometime we will probably end up in Livingston.  We will be getting the little camper ready for Alaska.  It will be our 6th trip driving.  What a friggin adventure every time.

We are still planning to head West for the New Year (where?) like we’ve been doing for the last 16 years.  I think it’s a routine.  Maybe we just enjoy the hell out of it.

A few things on the RV are trying to give us a hard time like the roof sat TV and the awning.  I will moan and groan about them or something, later on.  Since things are kinda returning back to normal (that’s a joke) this blog will become normal again too (it’s a joke too).

Sunday’s NASCAR was one good race and I don’t really care for concourse road races.  Go Tony Stewart.  I think he raced with his heart and got congratulations from just about all his fellow race teams.  That’s a bigee!!!!

See ya……..

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Mom Hill

Mom Hill has had some problems.  She has had several mini strokes and a serious infection which has resulted in a very accelerated dementia.  No meds to back track her condition and she is stable at this point.

We are in Livingston now and with her.  She recognizes us and asks how our babies are (Kraig & Kristy - adults).  She doesn’t know where we are from or our ages…. it’s a blank.  She can’t really talk or relate to where she’s at or things in general.  She watches TV with no sound and so forth.

Tuesday she was transferred to a nearby nursing home in Woodville (Dogwood Trails Manor).  After 3 weeks (rehab) they will determine her status but the outlook is not good at all to regain any more than she has now.  She will remain in the nursing home.

Thanks For Your All Support,

Dennis & Carol

Saturday, June 4, 2016

Just Riding Around The Water

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Going down a back road and then the road disappeared and this creek was streaming along.  This is two days after the heavy rain.DSC_0003

See how wide this creek got.DSC_0004

 

We had a 1” stream running under our rig and thru our fly tent.  See the bottom of the tent.  It acted as a filter.DSC_0008

We’re parked at the bottom of this tower.  Can you hear me now?DSC_0005

When was the last time you saw a tractor on a used car lot?DSC_0006

I didn’t have any wooden blocks to play with so I used rocks.DSC_0007

Friday, June 3, 2016

Just Doing Much Of Nothing

Hey…. we’re in WV….DSC_0002

Sure..you got water if you got enough hose like 200 feet.  The water don’t really look brown if you don’t look at it.  Plus, hold your nose when you drink it and you don’t notice the smell.  Just kidding…..you might need only 175 feet of hose.DSC_0005

Here’s Jim & Kim’s site.  Hope they don’t mind the clothes.DSC_0006

I had to move about 5 feet forward so we could get out of the worse of the mud from the rain.  Plus we now have roof satellite.DSC_0010DSC_0013

Who needs a garage when you have porches!DSC_0015

Home sweet home.  I think they like light houses.DSC_0019

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I think this sign reads right.DSC_0034

Here’s the navigator pointing to where we are at.  One problem.  We’re about where her forehead is with the white arrow.DSC_0033DSC_0025DSC_0029

There is life in these waters.  I wonder if the turtle’s foot is OK.DSC_0028DSC_0032

We are out in the sticks.  If we wanted to continue on this road there is a toll and a troll.DSC_0030

Yep… six bits if you know what that is.  If you could drive it…you could go across the bridge.

Who needs entertainment parks when you can just drive around and have a few good laughs.DSC_0036

Yep, that’s the bridge…no kidding!!!!DSC_0037DSC_0040DSC_0045DSC_0041We just laughed and went across.  Next time we will bring life jackets.

Our kind of Post Office.  Who needs those multi million dollar buildings in a small city area.  This ain’t why stamps cost so much.DSC_0024DSC_0047DSC_0050DSC_0052DSC_0053DSC_0055DSC_0057

Just like Mel’s dinner.  Good food and cheap prices.DSC_0058

Winchester, VA old town.DSC_0060DSC_0061

See ya…