We are in a large RV Park with a strong presence of “Snow Birds” come January. Lucky for us, it’s a quiet season in October (except for 2 Halloween week-end events). Lots of pull-thru’s with long, level and sometimes paved sites. All sites have paved patio/lanai areas. While the office help is efficient they are prone to NOT volunteer information. After our arrival and reading the park flyer, we had questions about visitor parking, internet access, and propane. If you don’t ask all of the questions you will need to return/recall a number of times. They seem to be willing to only answer what is asked of them and not offer any other information that might be helpful to the questioner. As long as you don’t have to deal with the office, the other staff members are friendly and personable.
They have a large pool area with water slides, spray circles, and a canal surrounding the main pool with inner tubes for riding around. Another unique benefit is that they pick up garbage (that you bag and leave at the end of your site) daily by 10am. Though the down side to that is they do not have any recycling options within the park.
There is a small fenced area for dogs - which worked very well for Karma and her Frisbee. Even with that space, the park staff (as a whole) isn’t really into dogs. Karma thinks that all golf carts have treats since her first exposure to golf carts back in 2008 proved that out. That’s not true here. Karma could probably deal with her disappointment better if they would at least acknowledge her when they whiz by.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Carpenter’s RVs – Pensacola, FL
We didn’t send a SPOT® email because we were only here for the night. We wanted to ensure we were on site and ready for the fender repair at 8am. Since Carpenter’s is about 40 miles from the RV Park we got here last night. They have about 50 water and electricity sites in their facility for just this reason. They parked us in the first space across from the shop. The ordered fender was on the premises and they were able to complete the work in 1 day where the RV was parked. It is such a load off our minds to finally have all of the repairs completed from the “tread leaving the tire” episode in Broadus, MT.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Dogs - Stockton, AL
Yesterday while at the river, Ruthi was throwing the ball for both Karma and Athena. She was using the “chucker” so she was able to do it most of the afternoon much to the dogs’ delight. At first, the dogs would alternate throws and chasing - which made it very easy for Ruthi to keep up with them. Both Karma and Athena went into the river to cool off. Athena would go in for a swim with the ball in her mouth. Karma only went up to her shoulders, dropped the ball, and then lapped up a drink. When the ball got away from her (which was every time since this is a river with a good current), she’d whine and beg Ruthi to rescue the ball for her. But that wasn’t going to happen. Finally, Karma figured out that she could walk along the retaining wall in 5-6 inches of water and get as close to the ball as possible before she needed to swim.
Karma (almost 6YO) has played “ball” indoors/outdoors since we got her. In order, for us to throw the ball again it must be delivered within 12 inches of the thrower’s feet. Athena on the other hand is only 2YO and seems to think that if she has chased the ball down/found it in the weeds and headed back to the thrower anytime she drops the ball on her trip back is ok. She will be heading to Ruthi at full speed and just drops the ball between her front feet whenever it occurs to her. Ruthi sends her back and luckily Athena has an excellent nose (unlike Karma who can sometimes be standing on top of the ball and not sense it’s there). Athena finds the ball and tries again to get it closer to Ruthi.
Finally, Ruthi tired out and picked up both of the balls and stored them in the truck. Neither Karma nor Athena were willing to give up; so, off they went in search of the 2 balls that had earlier in the afternoon be lost. Sure enough they found both balls and a 3rd one that someone else had lost. All balls and the “chucker” went into the truck to end the game.
Annie, Boots’ sister Linda’s old, old, old Jack Russell, wasn’t into chasing balls but she did attack the waves made by the pleasure boats’ travelling on the river. She thinks that fish will be coming up on the shore from the waves. Since they don’t; she barks at the waves in disappointment.
Karma (almost 6YO) has played “ball” indoors/outdoors since we got her. In order, for us to throw the ball again it must be delivered within 12 inches of the thrower’s feet. Athena on the other hand is only 2YO and seems to think that if she has chased the ball down/found it in the weeds and headed back to the thrower anytime she drops the ball on her trip back is ok. She will be heading to Ruthi at full speed and just drops the ball between her front feet whenever it occurs to her. Ruthi sends her back and luckily Athena has an excellent nose (unlike Karma who can sometimes be standing on top of the ball and not sense it’s there). Athena finds the ball and tries again to get it closer to Ruthi.
Finally, Ruthi tired out and picked up both of the balls and stored them in the truck. Neither Karma nor Athena were willing to give up; so, off they went in search of the 2 balls that had earlier in the afternoon be lost. Sure enough they found both balls and a 3rd one that someone else had lost. All balls and the “chucker” went into the truck to end the game.
Annie, Boots’ sister Linda’s old, old, old Jack Russell, wasn’t into chasing balls but she did attack the waves made by the pleasure boats’ travelling on the river. She thinks that fish will be coming up on the shore from the waves. Since they don’t; she barks at the waves in disappointment.
THE River - Stockton, AL
Two of Boots’ brothers have 2nd homes built on stilts on the Tensaw River tributary. They’re about 40 miles north of our campground. We went up there for a barbeque. Boots’ sister Linda and her husband, daughter, son-in-law, 9-month old son and yellow lab (Athena) came, too. Karma and Athena were free to roam, wade in the river, chase balls, and practice with the Frisbee. We were a little worried about alligators in the water but neither dog seemed interested in really getting into deep water. Mostly they wanted to cool off and drink. Jack, the grandson, reminded us how much we miss seeing Gaven (Kassie’s son who is 4 days younger than Jack).
The ribs that her oldest brother prepared for us had what’s called a dry “butt rub” on them. Really, you can buy this in grocery stores but the aisle location varies from store to store. When you ask for it, you need to be careful how you request the product! I didn’t add any liquid BBQ sauce and really like just the dry rub. The coleslaw, creamed corn, butter beans, corn bread and rolls were all delicious!!!!! AND then we had home-made ice cream and blue berry crunch for desert! Boots’ relatives sure know how to feed us!!!!! Even without shrimp it was a great meal!
The ribs that her oldest brother prepared for us had what’s called a dry “butt rub” on them. Really, you can buy this in grocery stores but the aisle location varies from store to store. When you ask for it, you need to be careful how you request the product! I didn’t add any liquid BBQ sauce and really like just the dry rub. The coleslaw, creamed corn, butter beans, corn bread and rolls were all delicious!!!!! AND then we had home-made ice cream and blue berry crunch for desert! Boots’ relatives sure know how to feed us!!!!! Even without shrimp it was a great meal!
Saturday, October 15, 2011
Shrimp - Foley, AL
Here we are in South Alabama. Really that is what they call it. We are minutes from the Gulf of Mexico - all that sand and shrimp. We have eaten it deep fried, grilled and pan-grilled. Probably the only version we have missed so far would be Ebi (sushi shrimp) and raw. The restaurants almost all have shrimp on the menus no matter what type of food is the mainstay – Mexican, Italian, BBQ, etc. etc. etc. Our favorite restaurants are “Shrimp Basket” [everywhere in this area], “Mickie’s” [Gulf Shores – same owner as Shrimp Basket)] and “Bahama Bob’s” [on the beach in Gulf Shores]!!! There are a lot of others but these 3 are the best and our favorites!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Interstate 65 - Montgomery, AL
A sorority sister of Ruthi’s had commented that their trips South in the winter are always challenged by the “bumper-to-bumper” traffic on Interstate 65. We though she was referring to the section in Indiana. We had originally planned on going through Indiana to see the varied architecture in Columbus, Indiana at the time of the discussion. Our plans changed due to the Interstate 64 bridge closure in Louisville, KY. With double the traffic on another old bridge we decided it was more prudent (read safe here) to cross the Ohio river from Illinois to Kentucky – which we did.
But back to the “bumper-to-bumper” comment - we thought initially it was the flow over from Chicago, we began to notice all of the semis going both ways hauling who knows what in which direction. Then, more and more automobile traffic on the road began to pass us (of course the only drivers near the posted speed limit). Surprising enough here it is the start of October and there were more RVs going North than South most of the way to our destination in South Alabama.
Lynda had hit it on the head it was “bumper-to-bumper” on Interstate 65 North and South. This is interesting to us. We have been on a lot of the interstates across the 43 states we have hit so far. While around cities the traffic does pick up, mostly there aren’t any situations that would reflect the “bumper-to-bumper” label until we did Interstate 65. Also, we had a hawk/falcon/eagle following us down the road. Honestly, it was probably a number of them but it did appear to be our own bird of the trip.
But back to the “bumper-to-bumper” comment - we thought initially it was the flow over from Chicago, we began to notice all of the semis going both ways hauling who knows what in which direction. Then, more and more automobile traffic on the road began to pass us (of course the only drivers near the posted speed limit). Surprising enough here it is the start of October and there were more RVs going North than South most of the way to our destination in South Alabama.
Lynda had hit it on the head it was “bumper-to-bumper” on Interstate 65 North and South. This is interesting to us. We have been on a lot of the interstates across the 43 states we have hit so far. While around cities the traffic does pick up, mostly there aren’t any situations that would reflect the “bumper-to-bumper” label until we did Interstate 65. Also, we had a hawk/falcon/eagle following us down the road. Honestly, it was probably a number of them but it did appear to be our own bird of the trip.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Dinner - Huntsville, AL
We stayed in Huntsville long enough to meet Ruthi’s friends from work in Anchorage for a Mexican dinner. The wife got transferred down. The husband works for a national company and can work from home. Additionally, it saves his company money now that his travel costs are from Huntsville instead of Anchorage.
Monday, October 3, 2011
On the Road - Huntsville, AL
With Kentucky and Tennessee on this trip South, that makes it 43 states we have been to – only missing North Dakota, Indiana (we seem to keep circling but not landing there), Delaware, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Kansas. We may pick up the last two next Spring when we leave Texas. We might try to go through Grand Junction, Colorado and see the oldest grandson (Erik) and his new twin girls born a few weeks ago.
All the way through Kentucky on Interstate 24 south after each exit there were mileage signs for the distance to Nashville, Tennessee. So, finally (90 miles later) we cross over into Tennessee and there isn’t another mileage sign until we are 17 miles outside of Nashville. Nashville, TN is about 60 miles into Tennessee via Interstate 24. Hmm.
At the first rest stop within Alabama, there is a NASA rocket on display since this is so close to Huntsville, AL. We were camped at 1 Tranquility Base in Huntsville at the Space and Rocket Center. That’s where all of those kids used to attend Space Camp. Or, at least it looks like “used to”. The play ground facility and rocket launch pad (for the kids’ own rocket shots) look like they have seen better days. But there are 2 huge rockets towering above us on display at the center.
All the way through Kentucky on Interstate 24 south after each exit there were mileage signs for the distance to Nashville, Tennessee. So, finally (90 miles later) we cross over into Tennessee and there isn’t another mileage sign until we are 17 miles outside of Nashville. Nashville, TN is about 60 miles into Tennessee via Interstate 24. Hmm.
At the first rest stop within Alabama, there is a NASA rocket on display since this is so close to Huntsville, AL. We were camped at 1 Tranquility Base in Huntsville at the Space and Rocket Center. That’s where all of those kids used to attend Space Camp. Or, at least it looks like “used to”. The play ground facility and rocket launch pad (for the kids’ own rocket shots) look like they have seen better days. But there are 2 huge rockets towering above us on display at the center.
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