Spring 2018 Southern Trip: Home

Wednesday 4/25:  242 miles and parked at Fort Boonesborough SP. Richmond, KY

Site 113

We left Nashville just about 9:00 AM.  We hit some very scattered sprinkles, but nothing very hard.  We went through a time change, Central to Eastern, so that added an hour on the clock.  By the time we set up, it was just about 4:00.   We had reservations for two nights here, but in lieu of the need to hurry home we are staying only one night.  The weather was about 65 and partly sunny, comfortable enough to sit outside and have a beer.  While the park was nearly empty, every site had yellow tags indicating that it was reserved for the coming weekend.  Come to find out, there is a HUGE horse event in nearby Lexington.  We learned this from a couple who pulled in shortly after us and were parked across the driveway.  They had the same brand of camper as we do, Reflection, so that brought up immediate conversation.  Come to find out, they bought their camper from the dealer that was located next to the Nashville KOA where we were parked last night.

Thursday 4/26:  441 miles and parked at the Mercer/Grove City KOA

Today was a long day on the road.  We normally try to limit our daily drives to 250 or 300 miles.  Today it was 441 miles.  It was Interstate driving all the way, which has it's pluses and minuses. While the interstate is the fastest way to get from point A to point B, the amount of traffic and the speed of the traffic can, at times, be stressful.  Since time was an issue in this situation, we had no choice but to take the interstates.

The campground was nearly empty.  Since this is our last night on the road, we opted for one of the premium patio sites.  It was nice.  I'm glad we did.  We were able to sit outside in the sun and relax.

Friday 4/27:  405  miles and HOME!!

Today was another 400 plus mile day.  We followed the Interstates for all but the last 35 miles.  We arrived home about 4:00 in the afternoon.

After a very quick unhook and catching my breath, I rushed to the Canton Potsdam Hospital, about an hour away.  I arrived about 6:30.  My sister from Michigan, Mary Ann, was already there.  She had arrived yesterday.  Dad was unconscious and didn't know we were there.  We said our goodbyes, and he passed about 9:30.  It was not a sad time.  Living to 97, he had had a very full and productive life, raised a family, had children and grandchildren, and great grandchildren.  The last year and a half had been spent in a nursing home, so we all knew the end was going to come someday.   

So ends our "Spring 2018 Southern Journey".  Stay tuned for a western road trip this Fall.

Spring 2018 Southern Trip: Nashville

Sunday 4/22:  311 miles and parked at Town Creek Campground, West Point, MS

We woke up in New Orleans to rain, and it rained all day, sometimes really hard and heavy.  We arrived at Town Creek about 3:00 and set up in the pouring rain.  We just ran slides out, didn't unhook or even put jacks down.  This is a very nice park.  It has paved roads and level cement pads.   Since it so rural and out of season, and almost nobody here, we scored a walk-in water site along the Tenn-Tom Waterway.  We even got to see several barges pass by.

Tenn-Tom Waterway

Tenn-Tom Waterway

A very cool homemade custom RV

Monday 4/23:  293 miles and parked at the Nashville KOA

By morning the rain had stopped at Town Creek Campground, but it was still very overcast.  We had scattered off and on sprinkles throughout the drive.  As we set up in Nashville, it decided to pour.  Next time, we would opt for one of the premium sites with pavement.  The TV weather report this evening said they got over 2.5 inches of rain today.  The Nashville KOA is a very large park, and it was nearly full.  This was our second stay here.  For the rest of the day, we napped and watched TV.


Tuesday 4/24:

We did a load of laundry this morning, and so was everybody else.  There was only one washer available, so we only did half of the dirty clothes.  For lunch we found a craft brewery, Southern Grist.  The bar tender was very animated and conversational.  She is hiking the Pacific Crest Trail later this year. Very adventurous and very cool.  After lunch, we did a quick grocery shopping run at Walmart.

Several months ago we bought tickets online for The Grand Ole Opry.  About 4:30 we drove to Opry  and got there just in time to find decent parking.  We grabbed a snack at Claim Jumper, a bar/restaurant across the street from the Opry complex.  The Opry doors opened at 6:00. We got seated about 6:30 and the show started at 7:00.  Wow, this a beautiful facility.  We experienced a great show featuring Chris Young, Lyndsay Ell, Drake White, plus some older legends.  The Opry has a long and storied history and we saw a great performance in a very cool place.  Absolutely worth the outrageous ticket prices.  :-)  We got back to the camper by 9:00.  Evening drink, and bedtime.

Like all extended trips, plans sometimes change.  In this case, I received a call that my 97 year old dad, who lives in a nursing home, had suffered brain bleeding and had been moved to a hospital for treatment.  So, we are condensing the final week of our trip, cancelling our West Virginia stop, and making a rushed three day run home.

Tomorrow we camp in Fort Boonesborough, Kentucky.

Spring 2018 Southern Trip: New Orleans

Thursday 4/19:  205 miles and parked at New Orleans West KOA

The traffic today was reasonable and the drive was easy.  This section of I-10 is a good road to travel.  We arrived mid afternoon, set up, and just relaxed the rest of the day.  We're loving this southern warm weather, especially after a Northern New York winter.

Friday 4/20:

Today was beautiful, sunny and 70.  We signed up yesterday, as soon as we checked in, to take the shuttle to the French Quarter the next morning.   We were put on standby, but we lucked out and got on.  Apparently a couple people dropped out and we were able to have their spots.  I'm glad we did because the downtown traffic was a zoo.

First thing we did was sign up for a Hop-on Hop-off Bus Tour.  It was excellent.  We had a top, outside seat, and the guide was excellent.  She was knowledgeable and  very humorous.  That tour gave us an overview of the city, and helped us decide where to spend our time.  It was well worth the two hours and the money.

View of the New Orleans Super Dome from the bus tour.

We decided to spend most of our day in the French Quarter.  We have mixed impressions of the French Quarter.   

On one hand, it is old, historic and unique.  We were there during the day, so the famous music scene was not out in full measure.  There is probably much more music in the evenings.  On the other hand, it's definitely geared for tourists.  Lots of places to spend your money on things you don't really need.   But.....the architecture is amazing!!

We splurged for lunch at an upscale, restaurant, Antoine's.  They advertise as the oldest French-Creole restaurant in New Orleans, having been in business for 175 years.

Antoine's Restaurant

After lunch, we wandered down to the French Quarter Market.  There are shops galore here, ranging from food, to crafts, to clothing, to jewelry.  You name it, and it can be found here.  We meandered among the shops and booths, and did pick up a few things.

The market is located near Jackson Square, which is a very nice open park on the south side of the Quarter, located near the riverfront.

The shuttle was going to pick us up at the waterfront, near the Market.  The waterfront is interesting and historic.

The tall ships were in town for NOLA Navy Week to help celebrate the 300 anniversary of New Orleans.  In a "small world" episode, my cousin's daughter, Rebecca, was a crew mate on one of the ships.  While we didn't get to connect with her, it was neat to think that I had a relative helping sail one of the ships.

We got back to the campground around 6:00.  It was a long day, but fun and interesting.  Time to relax!!

Saturday 4/21:

Today was another  sunny and warm, 78 degrees, but  becoming overcast later in the day.  We decided to drive to a National Historic Landmark, Oak Alley, about an hour away.  In the early 1700's an unknown settler planted 28 evenly spaced live oak trees on the property.  In 1839 a mansion was built by Jacques Roman and the property became a sugar plantation using slaves as workers.  The Oak Alley Plantation was a truly fascinating visit, as we got to see how the "well to do" lived, as well as the primitive accommodations of their slave help.

Well, today is our last day in New Orleans.  Tomorrow we make the turn home and head northeast, but with a stop in Nashville, Tennessee first.  

Spring 2018 Southern Trip: Gulf Shores, Alabama

 Sunday, April 15:  248 miles and camped at Three Rivers State Park, Sneads, Florida

This stop was the mid way point for our trip from St. Augustine to Gulf Shores, Alabama.  It is small, but beautiful, quiet and pleasant State Park.

Monday, April 16:  193 miles and camped at Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, Alabama

We are staying for three nights here.  This State park is absolutely gorgeous!!  We stayed here for a few nights back in April of 2016 on our trip with Sue and Al Meyer.  We liked it so much, we came back for another visit this year.

Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16 and 17, Gulf State Park.

We spent all Tuesday and Wednesday just relaxing.  It was warm and sunny both days.  We rode our bicycles, grilled outside, and read books.  We did make a couple forays into Gulf Shores, one for lunch at Bills by the Beach and the other to visit the Big Beach Brewing Company.

Bill's by the Beach

We caught a gorgeous view of the crescent moon and Venus.

We caught a gorgeous view of the crescent moon and Venus.

Marina at Gulf State Park

Look close, and you can see the walkway bridge from the park to the beach .

Describing the long leaf pine restoration projects.

Restoration example because of damage from Hurricanes Ivan and Katrina

Another restoration example

We have had a wonderful time here.  In fact, we are thinking of coming for a whole week next year.  Great weather, good food, excellent bicycle riding, and lots to do.

Tomorrow we move on to New Orleans for three nights.