Day four - More touring around the Lebanon TN area (quilt stores of course). We got the RV ready for an early departure. Washed the truck and found diesel at a good price (thanks gasbuddy.com).
Day five - Pretty smooth travelling. I noticed that the road sign on I-65 for Bullit County KY was riddled with bullet holes - go figure!
The ride through Louisville KY was exciting. They are working on the lanes and have narrowed them temporarily. I got in a squeeze play between two semis on a curve. I thought for sure I made contact with one but there are no marks on the RV from it. Connie was taking a test nap and didn't get so see the show.
The ride through Indiana was uneventful. The ride through Nashville IN was interesting. Lots of antique shops and tourist traps. We will take a ride down there later sans RV.
The weather is perfect. Cool under shade at the show and no AC needed at night.
We are going to the morning church service and will post more later.
Thanks for reading.
Roadrunner, Homer and the banjo
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Day Three - Connie got offered a job!
What a beautiful day it was today, cool and clear just right with a light jacket.
We started off with a trip to Franklin TN to a couple of quilt stores. Connie got offered a job at the first one (dang, she turned them down and spent money there to boot). We spotted a Greek restaurant and had some really good gyros sandwiches.
On returning to the campground, I was lured to a campsite where live guitar music was coming from. After a quick intro, I got the banjo and we jammed for over an hour. The guy was from Louisiana and played mostly Cajun and country. His wife was scrap-booking and entertained Connie while we traded licks back and forth.
Tonight we met Niece Andrea, Nephew Paul, Paul's wife Jennifer and son Charlie for pizza at the Gondola House in Hermitage TN. We had hoped to also visit with Andreas new husband Matt but he was at work. We had a great meal and and even better visit.
We were wandering around and found a really winding hilly road (Tulip Grove Road). It was enough fun that we are going to video the ride on it tomorrow. Closest thing to a roller coaster we've seen on this trip.
On the ride home tonight I was impressed at the large concentration of fireflies. It's nice to see them recover from all of the spraying we've done over the years,
There is a cool breeze coming off of the lake. Perfect temperature for sleeping with the windows open and a warn quilt covering us,.
Thanks for reading
Ron and Connie
We started off with a trip to Franklin TN to a couple of quilt stores. Connie got offered a job at the first one (dang, she turned them down and spent money there to boot). We spotted a Greek restaurant and had some really good gyros sandwiches.
On returning to the campground, I was lured to a campsite where live guitar music was coming from. After a quick intro, I got the banjo and we jammed for over an hour. The guy was from Louisiana and played mostly Cajun and country. His wife was scrap-booking and entertained Connie while we traded licks back and forth.
Tonight we met Niece Andrea, Nephew Paul, Paul's wife Jennifer and son Charlie for pizza at the Gondola House in Hermitage TN. We had hoped to also visit with Andreas new husband Matt but he was at work. We had a great meal and and even better visit.
We were wandering around and found a really winding hilly road (Tulip Grove Road). It was enough fun that we are going to video the ride on it tomorrow. Closest thing to a roller coaster we've seen on this trip.
On the ride home tonight I was impressed at the large concentration of fireflies. It's nice to see them recover from all of the spraying we've done over the years,
There is a cool breeze coming off of the lake. Perfect temperature for sleeping with the windows open and a warn quilt covering us,.
Thanks for reading
Ron and Connie
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
One the road report - Day one and two
I found a size 12 Gold wedding ring today!
Day one on the way to Bean Blossom:
377 uneventful but scenic miles from Homosassa to Montgomery Alabama. We spent the night at Gunter Hills Army Corps of Engineer (COE) campground East of town. Very nice campground with 130 sites and another 150 under construction. We were one of only six campers there Monday night.
They have boat docks and a nice playground for kids. The shower house was squeaky clean and was air conditioned. Not bad for $10 per night with electric and water hookup.
Day two - Montgomery AL to Nashville TN.
Not a bad drive - we found diesel fuel for 3.59 near the campground and topped off with 50 gallons. We left a bit early and were able to miss the bad weather moving towards the area. We discovered the worse paved road ever. The concrete I-65 through Birmingham beat poor Ms Connie to death bouncing up and down. I guess that's one of the hazards of being well endowed. She finally held a pillow to herself to control the motion.
The rest of the ride was pleasant with light traffic until we got into Nashville.
We are staying at another COE campground - Seven Points. We've stayed here before but today was a bonus. We have driven into the most ideal weather I could hope for. The wind is out of the North, the humidity is very low and it is cool with no AC needed even at the peak of the afternoon.
We grilled burgers and had a nice salad for supper. I sat outside and picked banjo for about an hour. Lots of folks walking by to see who was ruining the bluegrass music (I guess). Anyway - no other players were lured over so I put it away to update this blog.
We got in contact with family in Nashville and will hook up with them tomorrow evening (poor working stiffs eh!). Connie wants to tour the area quilt stores tomorrow and I am pleased to accommodate her.
We will stay here through Thursday before moving on to Bean Blossom IN.
Oh yeah - about the ring. I lost my wedding ring early in April when coming home from a bluegrass festival. I was sure I put it some where in the camper or in the house but despite searching high and low, no ring. Connie hated to see me without one so she bought me an early father's day present of a replacement ring. This morning when I was getting my wallet off of a high shelf in the RV, I heard what sounded like a coin sliding. I reached up to see what denomination it was and to my complete amazement, a ring appeared. Too cool! Connie is happy, I am relieved and life is good. She confiscated the replacement ring and considered the morning a complete success.
Thanks for reading and we will update tomorrow with the mischief we get into over the day.
Take care.
Ron and Connie.
Day one on the way to Bean Blossom:
377 uneventful but scenic miles from Homosassa to Montgomery Alabama. We spent the night at Gunter Hills Army Corps of Engineer (COE) campground East of town. Very nice campground with 130 sites and another 150 under construction. We were one of only six campers there Monday night.
They have boat docks and a nice playground for kids. The shower house was squeaky clean and was air conditioned. Not bad for $10 per night with electric and water hookup.
Day two - Montgomery AL to Nashville TN.
Not a bad drive - we found diesel fuel for 3.59 near the campground and topped off with 50 gallons. We left a bit early and were able to miss the bad weather moving towards the area. We discovered the worse paved road ever. The concrete I-65 through Birmingham beat poor Ms Connie to death bouncing up and down. I guess that's one of the hazards of being well endowed. She finally held a pillow to herself to control the motion.
The rest of the ride was pleasant with light traffic until we got into Nashville.
We are staying at another COE campground - Seven Points. We've stayed here before but today was a bonus. We have driven into the most ideal weather I could hope for. The wind is out of the North, the humidity is very low and it is cool with no AC needed even at the peak of the afternoon.
We grilled burgers and had a nice salad for supper. I sat outside and picked banjo for about an hour. Lots of folks walking by to see who was ruining the bluegrass music (I guess). Anyway - no other players were lured over so I put it away to update this blog.
We got in contact with family in Nashville and will hook up with them tomorrow evening (poor working stiffs eh!). Connie wants to tour the area quilt stores tomorrow and I am pleased to accommodate her.
We will stay here through Thursday before moving on to Bean Blossom IN.
Oh yeah - about the ring. I lost my wedding ring early in April when coming home from a bluegrass festival. I was sure I put it some where in the camper or in the house but despite searching high and low, no ring. Connie hated to see me without one so she bought me an early father's day present of a replacement ring. This morning when I was getting my wallet off of a high shelf in the RV, I heard what sounded like a coin sliding. I reached up to see what denomination it was and to my complete amazement, a ring appeared. Too cool! Connie is happy, I am relieved and life is good. She confiscated the replacement ring and considered the morning a complete success.
Thanks for reading and we will update tomorrow with the mischief we get into over the day.
Take care.
Ron and Connie.
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Our 2012 Summer Travel Adventure Has Begun
Ms Connie and I have officially kicked off our summer vacation!
I am taking about 5 weeks off from my contracting job (still officially retired from Progress Energy).
This summer's travels include:
Stop back often and I'll try to keep it entertaining.
Ron and Connie
I am taking about 5 weeks off from my contracting job (still officially retired from Progress Energy).
This summer's travels include:
- Nashville TN for a few days of family visit and some great live acoustic music,
- Bean Blossom IN for the 8 day long Bill Monroe bluegrass festival,
- Lafayette IN to visit with family,
- Northern Indiana for a visit to Amish country,
- A possible Cubs game at Wrigley field in Chicago,
- Owensboro KY to visit the IBMA bluegrass hall of fame,
- Paducah KY to visit the national quilt museum
- Hot Springs AR to visit family
- Crater of Diamonds State Park in Murphreesboro AR to dig up a rough diamond for Ms Connie,
- And anything else we see that has a brown sign or looks interesting along the way.
Stop back often and I'll try to keep it entertaining.
Ron and Connie
Monday, August 8, 2011
Terrible news about my sister Linda
A terrible tragedy in our family has caused us to cut off our trip and head back home from Indiana.
My dear sister Linda was hit by a truck while crossing a street in Hillsboro Oregon on Monday, Aug 1. She was taken for treatment but despite this, passed away later that same night. Linda had commented on most of my blogs under the name Katara. You may remember from an earlier blog that Linda had just completed making a scrapbook of my life as a retirement present. That book and my memories of growing up with my big sister are more precious than gold to me.
My sisters Judy and Linda were coming to FL this fall for a wedding and for my retirement party.
We were with family when we got the news and quickly made the decision to head back to FL to be with my mother as we dealt with the loss and grief.
Linda leaves behind two grown children and one grandson. My sister Judy has gone to Oregon to be with them and help with arrangements.
Here is one of the news articles about the tragic accident: http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2011/08/hillsboro_police_identify_woman_struck_and_killed_by_truck.html
We are comforted by the kind thoughts and prayers for the family.
Linda, I miss you.
Ron
My dear sister Linda was hit by a truck while crossing a street in Hillsboro Oregon on Monday, Aug 1. She was taken for treatment but despite this, passed away later that same night. Linda had commented on most of my blogs under the name Katara. You may remember from an earlier blog that Linda had just completed making a scrapbook of my life as a retirement present. That book and my memories of growing up with my big sister are more precious than gold to me.
My sisters Judy and Linda were coming to FL this fall for a wedding and for my retirement party.
We were with family when we got the news and quickly made the decision to head back to FL to be with my mother as we dealt with the loss and grief.
Linda leaves behind two grown children and one grandson. My sister Judy has gone to Oregon to be with them and help with arrangements.
Here is one of the news articles about the tragic accident: http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2011/08/hillsboro_police_identify_woman_struck_and_killed_by_truck.html
We are comforted by the kind thoughts and prayers for the family.
Linda, I miss you.
Ron
Linda in 2007
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Camping with the Carnies and the Lost Wallet Adventure
The adventure continues!
The remainder of the bluegrass festival was about the same as I wrote of on the last blog. Very good music and extremely hot weather as well.
The highlights of the festival for me was when IIIrd time out sang "Erase the Miles" with most of the audience singing along (myself included). On Saturday our friend Cricket (DJ from WMNF) came to the festival with Carl Jackson and his father. A side note of interest - Carl wrote "Erase the Miles". We got to hang with them for a bit and watched as they rehearsed with Bradley Walker and Darrin and Brooke Aldridge for the evening performance. These folks make it look so easy. I got to visit a little more after the show and picked up a CD of Louvin Brothers songs performed by Carl and others - great road music.
A funny thing happened when Connie and I took our evening showers at the festival temp facilities. Connie's shower did not have a spray head on it and every time she turned the water on, mine dropped off to a weak drizzle. She got done and knocked on the door to see what was taking me so long.
We left OH on Sunday about 11, stopping at the Model T Ford club of America museum in Centerville IN. Had a nice visit with the RV parked at the side under trees. Didn't know it at the time but Connie left one of her canes there somewhere - a hint of things to come it turned out.
We hit torrential rains most of the way to Indy after that stop. If you read my early blog, the RV repairs held up well and there were no leaks.
My brother Steve had called around and found campsites at the Johnson County fairgrounds in Franklin IN for a very reasonalble price (107/week full hookup) so we were headed there. The GPS didn't have the fairgrounds as a point of interest so I got to the town and stopped at Tractor Supply to ask direction (cue the impending doom music). I hopped out of the truck putting my wallet in my pocket (I thought) and headed into the store. I saw a couple getting out of their car and asked them. They gave me a "Duh" look and pointed to the double ferris a block south of the store. Hopped back in and away we went.
Got to the fairgrounds and found the midway being dissasembled and also noticed no wallet in my pants or in the truck! Scooted back to Tractor Supply and looked around with no success. Asked inside and no one had turned it in. Noticed a white van parked where I got out the first time but the man and boy getting inside didn't say anything and left before I could ask about the wallet.
Resigning myself to dealing with a lost walllet, I called and cancelled all of my credit cards and turned in a police report incase it turned up. I was sick over this.
AAA to the rescue! About the time I finished all of this, my phone rang with a call from AAA auto club South in Fl. They were on a conference call with AAA hosier club and a man who found my wallet in the Tractor Supply where I lost it. He was only about a block away and brought it to me intact including the cash. Amazingly he was driving a white van and had his young son with him. About the same time a policewomen came by to complete the report. A happy ending all around but we won't have credit cards for a while. He refused a reward but at the urging of the policewoman, took it for his son's education.
Steve came down from Greenwood and had steaks with us as we celebrated.
The campground was about 50% filled when we arrived with the majority of the folks associated with the fair midway. They must not have another fair to go to as they took about four days to take stuff down and are removing it with just four semis making trips each day. Not much drama but they seemed to be tolerant of banjo music. Most are gone now and the campground is down to six RVs and of them, three have FL plates.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw more work on Steve's with the exterior finally completed and water-tight. We celebrated by going to Johnny Carinos italian restaurant in Greenwook. There used to be one of these in
Brooksville FL that we really liked but it closed. I had Chicken Marsala - most excellent!
This morning (Thursday) we loaded up and went back to Lafayette to get in some quality visiting with family. With all of the work I really haven't had much opportunity. Once again we hit the Dog N Suds for rootbeer and coney dogs on the way in. We plan to hang here for about a week then go to the state fair before heading to Arkansas and then eventualy home.
Thanks for reading.
Ron
The remainder of the bluegrass festival was about the same as I wrote of on the last blog. Very good music and extremely hot weather as well.
The highlights of the festival for me was when IIIrd time out sang "Erase the Miles" with most of the audience singing along (myself included). On Saturday our friend Cricket (DJ from WMNF) came to the festival with Carl Jackson and his father. A side note of interest - Carl wrote "Erase the Miles". We got to hang with them for a bit and watched as they rehearsed with Bradley Walker and Darrin and Brooke Aldridge for the evening performance. These folks make it look so easy. I got to visit a little more after the show and picked up a CD of Louvin Brothers songs performed by Carl and others - great road music.
A funny thing happened when Connie and I took our evening showers at the festival temp facilities. Connie's shower did not have a spray head on it and every time she turned the water on, mine dropped off to a weak drizzle. She got done and knocked on the door to see what was taking me so long.
We left OH on Sunday about 11, stopping at the Model T Ford club of America museum in Centerville IN. Had a nice visit with the RV parked at the side under trees. Didn't know it at the time but Connie left one of her canes there somewhere - a hint of things to come it turned out.
We hit torrential rains most of the way to Indy after that stop. If you read my early blog, the RV repairs held up well and there were no leaks.
My brother Steve had called around and found campsites at the Johnson County fairgrounds in Franklin IN for a very reasonalble price (107/week full hookup) so we were headed there. The GPS didn't have the fairgrounds as a point of interest so I got to the town and stopped at Tractor Supply to ask direction (cue the impending doom music). I hopped out of the truck putting my wallet in my pocket (I thought) and headed into the store. I saw a couple getting out of their car and asked them. They gave me a "Duh" look and pointed to the double ferris a block south of the store. Hopped back in and away we went.
Got to the fairgrounds and found the midway being dissasembled and also noticed no wallet in my pants or in the truck! Scooted back to Tractor Supply and looked around with no success. Asked inside and no one had turned it in. Noticed a white van parked where I got out the first time but the man and boy getting inside didn't say anything and left before I could ask about the wallet.
Resigning myself to dealing with a lost walllet, I called and cancelled all of my credit cards and turned in a police report incase it turned up. I was sick over this.
AAA to the rescue! About the time I finished all of this, my phone rang with a call from AAA auto club South in Fl. They were on a conference call with AAA hosier club and a man who found my wallet in the Tractor Supply where I lost it. He was only about a block away and brought it to me intact including the cash. Amazingly he was driving a white van and had his young son with him. About the same time a policewomen came by to complete the report. A happy ending all around but we won't have credit cards for a while. He refused a reward but at the urging of the policewoman, took it for his son's education.
Steve came down from Greenwood and had steaks with us as we celebrated.
The campground was about 50% filled when we arrived with the majority of the folks associated with the fair midway. They must not have another fair to go to as they took about four days to take stuff down and are removing it with just four semis making trips each day. Not much drama but they seemed to be tolerant of banjo music. Most are gone now and the campground is down to six RVs and of them, three have FL plates.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday saw more work on Steve's with the exterior finally completed and water-tight. We celebrated by going to Johnny Carinos italian restaurant in Greenwook. There used to be one of these in
Brooksville FL that we really liked but it closed. I had Chicken Marsala - most excellent!
This morning (Thursday) we loaded up and went back to Lafayette to get in some quality visiting with family. With all of the work I really haven't had much opportunity. Once again we hit the Dog N Suds for rootbeer and coney dogs on the way in. We plan to hang here for about a week then go to the state fair before heading to Arkansas and then eventualy home.
Thanks for reading.
Ron
Friday, July 22, 2011
Baking at the MACC
Hi all!
We are camping near Columbus OH at the "Musicians Against Childhood Cancer" bluegrass festival (www.bluegrassclassic.com). The heat has been and continues to be incredible for the Midwest area. More about that later.
Since I last updated the blog, we spent last Saturday (7/16) at my cousin Karen's house on lake Freeman near Monticello IN. It was really nice to visit and catch up with the cousins as Nancy, Roxanne and Aunt Peg were there. They have a new tri-hull pontoon boat that we toured the lake on. The last time I was out on that lake was about 1968 or so. Quite a bit more development since then.
At the end of the day we packed Connie back up and headed back to Indy.
Sunday, July 17 we travelled to the bluegrass festival site. Our good friends from FL Dorothy and John met us there. We are very near the spot we camped at last year and had electricity (very limited - not enough to run AC). We visited with them and explored the grounds and called it a night after having some grilled beef tenderloin and greek salad.
Monday, July 18 - Connie's Birthday!!!
The four of us took a road trip to Amish country NE of Columbus. We started out at Charm OH eating lunch at "Grannie's Cupboard". Great meal prepared simple county style. Afterwards we went up the hill across the street to Kiem Lumber - kind of a home super-store with really nice hardwoods, fixtures and tools.
Leaving Charm we stopped at a farm advertising baked goods (Miller's Bakery). The house was off the road up a one lane hill and like many in the area, had no electricity. Connie picked a large dutch apple pie for desert - best we've had in many years.
We then went to the town of Berlin where they have a concentration of shops for tourists. I parked myself on a shady porch and let the others go shopping. Connie hit two quilt stores finding region themed fabric. Dorothy and John hit a natural food market.
We then went to Lehman's hardware in Kidron OH. It is a very large store that caters to a non-electric world. They have many tools and things for sale that you might remember your grandparents having. Last year I was able to find chimneys and wicks for some table lamps I have from the 1890s.
After a long visit we headed back to Columbus with severe weather following us the whole way. We made it to the campground about 10 minutes before it hit with torrential rain and 60+ mph winds. My awning would have not survived. Lesson learned - put the darned thing down to storm configuration before leaving the campground.
Tuesday we hung around the campground area - got groceries, had some prescriptions refilled and had laundry done. When we sat down to jam, it was just too hot so we called it a day. Connie talked me into buying some A shirts (we call them wife beaters) and staying a little cooler. I also bought an Ohio State shirt thus completing my OH camouflage outfit.
Festival - On Wednesday the festival started. This one has the best "A list" line up of any we have ever been to. Great music and shady seating area but still so hot we had to actively hydrate every day. Heat indexes have ranged from 105 to 110F at peak of the day with little breeze to help. We had a storm interrupt the show on Wed around 6 PM and it dropped the temperature about 15F for the rest of the evening. I got thoroughly soaked running to the camper to lower the awning and turn on the generator and AC.
Thursday we got no rain and they opened one of the air conditioned buildings at the park for heat relief.
Friday (today) I lugged gas to fill the RV tank to keep the generator running. It took about 15 gallons to fill it. The first two cans were 348.9/gal and the price went up to 375.9 for the third (just my luck to have only one can). Connie is going to spend the day in the AC today and come to the shows after supper. I don't blame her but I am going to watch all of the shows staying as cool as I can.
That's the news for now - thanks for reading.
Ron and Connie
We are camping near Columbus OH at the "Musicians Against Childhood Cancer" bluegrass festival (www.bluegrassclassic.com). The heat has been and continues to be incredible for the Midwest area. More about that later.
Since I last updated the blog, we spent last Saturday (7/16) at my cousin Karen's house on lake Freeman near Monticello IN. It was really nice to visit and catch up with the cousins as Nancy, Roxanne and Aunt Peg were there. They have a new tri-hull pontoon boat that we toured the lake on. The last time I was out on that lake was about 1968 or so. Quite a bit more development since then.
At the end of the day we packed Connie back up and headed back to Indy.
Sunday, July 17 we travelled to the bluegrass festival site. Our good friends from FL Dorothy and John met us there. We are very near the spot we camped at last year and had electricity (very limited - not enough to run AC). We visited with them and explored the grounds and called it a night after having some grilled beef tenderloin and greek salad.
Monday, July 18 - Connie's Birthday!!!
The four of us took a road trip to Amish country NE of Columbus. We started out at Charm OH eating lunch at "Grannie's Cupboard". Great meal prepared simple county style. Afterwards we went up the hill across the street to Kiem Lumber - kind of a home super-store with really nice hardwoods, fixtures and tools.
Leaving Charm we stopped at a farm advertising baked goods (Miller's Bakery). The house was off the road up a one lane hill and like many in the area, had no electricity. Connie picked a large dutch apple pie for desert - best we've had in many years.
We then went to the town of Berlin where they have a concentration of shops for tourists. I parked myself on a shady porch and let the others go shopping. Connie hit two quilt stores finding region themed fabric. Dorothy and John hit a natural food market.
We then went to Lehman's hardware in Kidron OH. It is a very large store that caters to a non-electric world. They have many tools and things for sale that you might remember your grandparents having. Last year I was able to find chimneys and wicks for some table lamps I have from the 1890s.
After a long visit we headed back to Columbus with severe weather following us the whole way. We made it to the campground about 10 minutes before it hit with torrential rain and 60+ mph winds. My awning would have not survived. Lesson learned - put the darned thing down to storm configuration before leaving the campground.
Tuesday we hung around the campground area - got groceries, had some prescriptions refilled and had laundry done. When we sat down to jam, it was just too hot so we called it a day. Connie talked me into buying some A shirts (we call them wife beaters) and staying a little cooler. I also bought an Ohio State shirt thus completing my OH camouflage outfit.
Festival - On Wednesday the festival started. This one has the best "A list" line up of any we have ever been to. Great music and shady seating area but still so hot we had to actively hydrate every day. Heat indexes have ranged from 105 to 110F at peak of the day with little breeze to help. We had a storm interrupt the show on Wed around 6 PM and it dropped the temperature about 15F for the rest of the evening. I got thoroughly soaked running to the camper to lower the awning and turn on the generator and AC.
Thursday we got no rain and they opened one of the air conditioned buildings at the park for heat relief.
Friday (today) I lugged gas to fill the RV tank to keep the generator running. It took about 15 gallons to fill it. The first two cans were 348.9/gal and the price went up to 375.9 for the third (just my luck to have only one can). Connie is going to spend the day in the AC today and come to the shows after supper. I don't blame her but I am going to watch all of the shows staying as cool as I can.
That's the news for now - thanks for reading.
Ron and Connie
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)