Hot Springs, Ar.

Well summer time finds us in Hot Springs, Arkansas for a month, after a three month stay at Steve and Beverly's place in Fordyce. Always a great time visiting them.

While at Steve and Beverly's we welcome a new grand niece into the fold. She defiantly is a cutie pie.

Hot Springs has Oaklawn Race Track and Casino and the casino is closing their Texas Hold'em poker room today. I have played everyday and today will determine my total profit or loss.

Hot Springs is rather small but offers all the amenities we seek. We are staying at Mill Pond RV Park about 4 miles out of town. The park was once owned by Larry Snyder, a jockey for many years and a Oaklawn Park favorite. Older park with smaller rv sites but it is too hot to sit outside anyway.

We are really enjoying our slower pace of moving around. A month long stay seems to fit our old bodies.

Okatoma Resort & RV Park

We have moved to Hattiesburg, Mississippi as we make our way back to Arkansas. Okatoma RV Park is a nice park with about 75 rv lots and a dozen or so rustic looking cabins and park model cabins.

There are several "catch and release" small lakes on the grounds with the smaller one surrounded by the rv lots and cabins. A nice swimming pool is also on the grounds.

It is a Passport America park and we are allowed 4 nights with FHU's for $13 a night.

This is the "foot bridge" across the lake to the the showers and bathhouse. We needed neither so we chose this side of the lake.

This was taken from the foot bridge looking back into the park.



 

Of coarse ducks go along with the lake.

 



 

These are some of the rustic cabins

 

 

and some of the park models.

 

This is taken out our front door. All in all a rather nice campground.

Oatmeal-Raisin Cookies

Judy made oatmeal-raisin cookies to take to our twice monthly pot-luck dinner here at Azalea Acres Campground. Several people bragged on them and one lady wanted the recipe. Turns out that couple is also from Arkansas.

Tonight was Soups, Breads, and Desserts. A lot of Yankees and Canadians here in the campground and the "soups" were a little different to say the least. It's more about the the fellowship any way.

Beautiful Weather

Time for a little maintenance before we hit the road again. I did the monthly check on our  "batteries"
and battery box  and then I changed the oil in our Yamaha generator.

 

The generator is on the rear bumper and access is through this hole in the box and of course the oil drains out the bottom.







Just remove this blue panel and the oil plug and oil fill is in easy reach. Dang Sam, you need to wipe that generator, it looks filthy.

 

Everything is now ship shape for a little boondocking is we choose to.



Promised Land

Saturday was movie night ( actually we saw a noon matinee as I don't like to drive after dark) and we saw Promised Land a movie about "fracking" natural gas wells in Pennsylvania's Marcellus Shale region.

I am a fan of Matt Damon and have first hand knowledge of "fracking" having lived in Arkansas and its Fayetteville Shale boom.

The movie trailers depict a more exciting show than it really was. An enjoyable movie that was on the dull side.

Two Years

I can't believe it has been two years since that cold day in January, 2011 since we hit the road.
http://1948model.blogspot.com/2011/01/finally-on-road.html .

That said, it seems that we could not have traveled all the miles and seen all the sights in just two years. Not to mention all the friends we have made.

We have been to the states of Washington to California in the west and Florida to Maine in the east, criss-crossing this vast nation and enjoying our journey.

Our future plans are to continue to travel but to slow down a little.

What's for Breakfast ?

I am a fan of Banquet pot pies. A chicken or beef pot pie is fine with me for lunch or dinner.

 

 

This morning I tried the Banquet Deep Dish Sausage & Gravy. It was very tasty and had more sausage than I expected. 5 minutes in a 1100 watt microwave and "Breakfast is served".

 $.88 @ Wal-Mart seems a fair price for a warm breakfast.

 

 

OK, now for the part you are thinking about. Banquet also makes "fruit pot pies".

Winter Home

We are spending the winter at Azalea Acres RV Park, north of Gulf Stores, Alabama about half way between Mobile, Alabama and Pensacola, Florida.

I have never seem a privately owned rv park with this much room between lots. There could be another rv between the lots. Mostly retired snowbirds and at $315 and change a month for full hookups with 50amps and free "fast" internet, it is hard to beat.  $315 will not pay the utilities for most homes.

I started a weekly "Texas Hold'em" card tournament and everyone seems to look forward to it, I know I sure do.

We were really needing to stop for some r&r after a very busy summer.

Utility Trailer/Camper

While camping at Eastbank Campground just over the Georgia line from Chattahoochee, Florida this rig pulled in and you know me. I had to check it out.
















Standard 6x10 utility trailer converted into a nice little camper/sleeping unit. A window was added to each side and an A/C unit on the front with electricity being supplied with an extension cord thru a r/v receptacle in the front of the trailer that fed a breaker box on the inside.

Swing out the back door and pull out the "slide-out".





You enter from the two swing out doors in the rear slide out. The white box contains a small 120 volt mini  kitchen and used as a step to enter the camper doors.
















This is a view from the rear. This unit was used by a couple and their pre-teen son. They were always outside cooking, walking, hiking, or riding bicycles and just used the camper for sleeping.

Catching up

 

After leaving Zac and Sweetie Pie ( both are finishing their Ph.D's in French) in State College, Pa.

 

 

 

 We headed for Maine. The Adirondacks and Sararoga, New York (I used to be a big horse racing fan) were great as were Vermont and New Hampshire.

 

 



 

 

 



We had to stop at "Mayberry" I mean Mt. Airy, North Carolina hometown of Andy Griffith.

 

 

 

 

North Wilkesboro, North Carolina is home (closed in 1996) of one of the original Nascar tracks.

 



 

 

 

 

We are now on Lake Hartwell, just south of Clemson, South Carolina. We have a nice pull thru site and we didn't even unhook the pickup and we are here for five days and will not be going anywhere. A much needed rest is in order. This was taken from our front door.

 



Tioga

We are camping in Ives Run Campground near Tioga, Pennsylvania. Another C.O.E. park that is well maintained with nicely spaced spots. We just love C.O.E. parks and we have 50amp, water, sewer at you site plus we have great coverage for our satellite tv, cell phones, and internet via aircard. Life is good.

I walked down toward the 680 acres and turned back for this photo our our camper.

Standing in the same spot, this is facing the lake.

To the right is this empty spot (occupied before we returned from the lake).

To the left was this site. Empty now but the park will be full for the weekend. We reserved the last spot online last night.



My Nittany Lion

We are here at Penn State visiting my son and his "cutie pie". They are both finishing their PhD's in French and we are trying to visit without interrupting too much.

We are in Fort Bellefonte Campground just up the road in Bellefonte, Pa. For a huge football venue, there are only two campgrounds here. The other campground is a KOA. For you non campers, a KOA campgrounds only purpose is to see just how much someone will pay to camp.
We have been here a week and plan to stay until the end of the month.

Saturday I called a friend back in Arkansas and asked to borrow a light jacket. It was 110 in Arkansas and 62 here. I didn't get a jacket but he did warm me with a few choice words. It was since moved back in the low 80's.

There is a Reason

The two main reasons for putting "comments" on moderation are:

Porn: I already know how to find it!! (don't say you never look)

Politics: This time of year I am bombarded with mindless rhetoric. You will not change my mind so don't even bother.

Hope everyone is having a great 4th.

Paris, Tn.

Not trying to take the thunder from

Paris, Tennessee and their smaller version of the Effiel Tower,

   but nothing is like the real one in Paris, France.

Union City, Tn.

Union City is a town of about 11,000 in northwest Tennessee and not what you would call a "destination" but more of a pass thru sort of place. Well that will change in the fall of 2013, but first a look around town.

Union City is the county seat for Obion county and has a rather nice courthouse.      

                            

This statue at the courthouse honors Congressman Robert A. "Fats" Everett. No, I never heard of him but liked the saying on the statue "If a man don't want to work, he hadn't ought to hire out". A simple concept that is lost on a lot of people.

This beautiful church with copper colored dome was just off the courthouse square.

This is the county museum and this is what I previously mentioned that was going to transmit Union City into a destination. The museum is presently closed and everything is being cataloged because they are building a new 50 acre $60,000,000 show place. I had to type the number because "sixty million" written just doesn't have the same impact. Remember this is a small town of only 11,000 people. There are also several large warehouses around town used for collecting objects for the new place. Eleven log building are also to be moved.

This photo shows most of the 50 acre site and the impressive tower.

A nice closer photo.

OK, now the "sixty million question", "Where did the money come from?".

Well it certainly wasn't Goodyear Tire and Rubber that closed its plant last year taking the 1800 jobs with it and the distinction of being the only plant licenced to build the tires for the new Chevrolet Corvettes.

Discovery Park of America is being funded by Robert and Jenny Kirkland. Not familiar with those names, how about Kirkland Home Decor Stores.

Tunica, Ms.

Robinsonville, in Tunica county Mississippi is a casino mecca just south of Memphis, Tn. that we have visited for many years and I can say there were fewer people than I have ever seen. It wasn't a ghost town but I think several casinos may not last much longer.

Sam's Town RV Park is closed for renovations after flooding destroyed it. Hollywood RV Park raised their prices $5 but you can bet they will lower them when Sam's Town opens back up.

Occupancy of Hollywood RV park was about 20% and their park rv park office wasn't even manned. You had to go to the hotel to check in. These two park used to be 80-100% full.

We stayed three nights, did our laundry, donated very little money and moved on.

Itchy feet

We plan to head east on Monday as we have been in Arkansas nearly four months. Plan to be in State College, Pa. by summers end. Way too long since I hugged my hairy-legged boy.

Yesterday I took every thing out of the pickup bed, washed it, and rearranged things. Can't say I helped it but I am satisfied with it for now.

Today I changed the anode rod in our hot water heater. It really didn't have to changed but I have been carrying the new one since Fresno, California and just decided to change it. You have to remove it to check it so might as well replace it since it only costs less than $20 and besides if I carry it much longer I will probably loose it anyway. One less thing to worry about.

The weather has been fabulous here. Almost chilly outside at night in a lawn chair with the wind blowing off the river. We have really enjoyed Toad Suck Park. The normal 14 night stay at C.O.E. parks can be extended another 14 nights upon request if the park is not busy.

A Busy Week

We made the trip to Fordyce to buy tags for our pickup and my small dual-purpose motorcycle that I have in storage.

Mission accomplished and we travel on to Shrevesport, La. with b-i-l and s-i-l for a little time at a casino. It made for a very long 400+ mile day. It really turned out to be a little more than I needed. After riding in the back of a car and not sleeping in my own bed, I was worn out.

We had a great time as always with b-i-l and s-i-l and as an added bonus, I rode my motorcycle enough to exercise it.

The wife has an appointment to get "kinky" on Wednesday so that will require another road trip. Why do they call them "permanents" when they are so temporary?

After that we are free to roam.

The Tom Sawyer in me.

We are staying at Toad Suck Park, a C.O.E. park on the Arkansas River just out of Conway, Arkansas. We will be here over the Memorial Day weekend.

                                                                                                                    
 As with all (Army) Corps of Engineers parks we have visited, this one is spotless and we have a spot on the corner that gives us even more space between spots. The  C.O.E. parks usually offer more room than state parks or private parks as they do not have to maximize their spots for profits.

This is our view of the river from our covered picnic table. We have 50amp service and water and with our senior discount pay $10 a night (sweet). This is a "dock and dam" on the Arkansas River and you can see the lower end of the 'lock" through the tree. You are looking at the lower side of the river.

This tug and its barges (the white you see in the photo) entered the lock on the rivers high side.

This photo shows the tug being lowered as the water in the lock is being evacuated.

This is the tug and barges after exiting the lock and headed down  on the river.

This is a closer shot of the tug. The whole process took about 30 minutes. Pure enjoyment as I sat at the picnic table taking all of this in.

Poker with Luther Van Dam

    Luther Van Dam, does that name sound familiar? It's the character Jerry Van Dyke played on "Coach". Jerry lives around here is at Oaklawn often.

    I was playing Texas Hold'em and he took the seat next to mine. Can't say I won any of his money but he didn't get any on mine. We just didn't get playable hands at the same time.

    I played a little over an hour and called it a day with just a small profit. If I play any longer I seem to get bored and stay in hands that I know I should fold.

    We are moving back to Little Rock tomorrow for nine days and who knows where we will be over the holiday weekend.