Fall Western Trip 2015: Nashville

Monday, 10/26 and Tuesday 10/27

274 miles: camped at the Nashville KOA  on Music Valley Drive, Nashville TN

Today it was rain, rain, rain.  In fact, so much that I never got a pic of the campsite.  The remnants of Hurricane Patricia were chasing us all day.

One of many the highlights in Nashville is the Opryland Hotel.  There are 11 acres of indoor gardens, shops and restaurants under glass.  It is beautiful. We wondered around, did a little shopping, and bought lunch.  Normally is a $25 fee to park an visit, but someone from the campground told us where employees park for free and we found several spots open.

The next day we caught a shuttle from the campground and hit downtown Nashville.  Although wet and rainy, we had a wonderful time.  It would be great to hang out here in nicer weather.  But be warned, this is not a inexpensive place to vacation.  Even so, we had a great time.  One of our first stops was the Country Music Hall of Fame.  We really enjoyed this place.

Later, we stopped at some of the bars on Broadway Street.  There are so many!!  We randomly stopped at one, The Broadway Brew House, and had a very nice time.  Good beer and some excellent live music.

Next time, maybe a longer stay in Nashville with nicer weather.  :-))

Wednesday, 10/28: 224 miles

Camped at Kentucky Horse Park, Lexington, Kentucky

This is an amazing campground.  It is gorgeous, especially with the Fall colors.  The sites are level and spacious.  We would absolutely stay here again.  The campground is just a small part of a much larger complex of 1,224 acres dedicated to man's relationship with the horse.

On the way to Lexington, we passed the National Corvette Museum. I have always wanted to visit, although I have never owned a Corvette.  You may remember the story about the sinkhole that formed within the museum last year.  If not, here is a video link.  It was a good visit, although I enjoyed it much more than Judy.  Apparently, Corvettes are mostly a "guys" thing.  :-))

Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, 10/29, 30, and 31

309 miles and "camping" in the driveway of son Matt and Jaime Sipher,  Shinnston, West Virginia

My sister Mary Ann and her husband Eric drove down from Michigan to meet us and catch a chance to visit Matt and Jaime and the kids.  Among other things we visited the Heston Farm Winery for a tasting.  It was a really fun weekend.

Sunday, 11/1: 224 miles

266 miles and camped at the KOA in Jonestown, Pennsylvania.

We have been here many times before, and it is a good halfway stop on the trip between Matt in West Virginia and home in Gouverneur.

Monday, 11/2: 336 miles

Home!!!!

So, after 9,606 miles and 56 days we have landed back home.  We were able to see some new sights and connect with friends and family.  To truly appreciate this great country, you should really travel it.  Flying just doesn't give you the real perspective of how large, great, and diverse this nation is.  To quote Mark Twain, "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness."

Until next time.......

Fall Western Trip 2015: Fort Collins, Colorado to Nashville, Tennessee

Wednesday, 10/21:  254 miles and camped at the KOA at Goodland, Kansas

Fort Collins to Goodland, Kansas.

Squirrel patrol.

It was foggy and rainy most of the drive today, although the rain ceased for a few hours and we were able to set up dry.  However, it started raining later that evening.  In fact, it rained all night in Goodland, and it was wet, wet, wet the next morning.  On top of that, my phone on my bed stand said it was 5:30 when I woke, so I jumped out of bed.  Then I found out that the manual clock in the kitchen said 4:30.  GRRR.  Apparently we are so close to the time zone change border, the iPhone flipped over even though we technically were still in Mountain Time.  Oh well.  As we drove out of town the next morning I remembered a giant 80 foot tall Van Gogh replica that I had seen several years ago.  We had to stop, in the rain, and take a picture.

Thursday, 10/22:  240 miles and camped at the KOA in Salina, Kansas

Goodland to Salina, Kansas

It rained, sometimes very hard, all the way from Goodland to just a few miles from Salina. Fortunately the rain held off for us to set up.  Judy discovered that there was a Brew Pub in Salina, so we stopped there for dinner snacks and a sample.  Blue Skye turned out to be a nice stop, and we bought a growler of their IPA.  If fact, the bartender had lived in Eugene Oregon for seven years and we had a great conversation about the local brew pub scene in Eugene.

The Salina KOA was very empty, and very nice.  Across the road was an agriculture museum featuring antique farm machinery.  It turned out to be a great place to go for a walk with the dogs.

Friday, 10/23:  258 miles and camped at Riverside RV Park in Bartlesville, Oklahoma.

The rain has stopped, the temperatures are in the low 70's, and it was a very pleasant drive.
The campground is small and crowded, but the staff is extremely friendly and helpful.  For some reason, I never got a photo of our campsite, and although it was not scenic, it served the purpose.

We arrived early and there was plenty of afternoon left, so we decided to visit the Woolaroc Ranch. Woolaroc is the creation of Frank Phillips, founder of Phillips Petroleum.

Bartlesville is also the home of the Price Tower, which was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.  In fact, it is the only realized skyscraper that Wright designed.

Saturday, 10/24:  187 miles and camped at Lake Fort Smith State Park, Mountainburg, Arkansas

This is amazing state park.  There are only 30 sites, 20 of which are full services.  The pads are all nearly level and paved.  We were on site 10, and had a pull through.  But these pull throughs are different.  They run parallel to the road, so the view from your awning is completely private and wooded.

Sunday, 10/25:  250 miles and camped at Delta Ridge RV Park, Forrest City, Arkansas

It rained most of the day today.  We arrived in Forrest City about 3:00 and quickly set up in the cold, wind and rain.  Not the most fun day.  :-)  We settled in for naps, left overs for dinner and TV watching for the rest of the day.

On to Nashville, Tennessee tomorrow.