Helen Keller and Wilson Lock and Dam

Today our adventures began by heading east and north from Red Bay to the Alabama area called "The Shoals"  (actually four cities - Florence, Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia) along a four lane divided highway through the beautiful green countryside where we saw people having a garage sale along the highway.   We passed through Russellville, the county seat of  Franklin County which has an interesting history.  While the county was established in 1814, the county seat in Russellville did not actually occur until 1890 as three other communities in the county held that title over a period of years until a mysterious fire in the courthouse in Belgreen burned and another election was held.  It seems that several communities wanted to hold the title of county seat.

The name "The Shoals" where we headed today came about as a result of the treacherous waters that run through this area on the Tennessee River.  The waters have been tamed by a dam and lock which I will talk about later.

The town of Tuscumbia has a quaint downtown which includes a majestic Colbert County Courthouse complete with tall tower with a clock, a restored railroad depot,  Helen Keller's childhood home,a lovely park and many antebellum  homes.

Our first stop was at Spring Park, an extensive park which includes a golf course, children's amusements including a carousel, roller coaster and train, picnic tables under the trees and Coldwater Falls (a man made falls) cascading 48 feet into a lovely lake with lots of Canadian Geese floating in the water.   In addition, there was a beautiful bronze statue of an Indian woman with a child called Sacred Tears which pays tribute to Native Americans.

Next we visited the birthplace and childhood home of Helen Keller.  The house was built in 1820 by Helen's grandfather on 640 acres and much of the family's furniture and Helen's personal mementos are in the home.  Also on the grounds (only 10 acres today) are the Cottage which was used as a school house for Helen while she was working with her teacher, Anne Sullivan.  Behind the house is the Pump where Helen finally made a connection between the word water and the water itself, Kitchen and Cook's Bedroom, the Ice House, Gardens and the Lion's International Memorial Garden.  A docent gave us a brief overview of the history of the house and family and then we were free to roam around the house and grounds.  What an inspiration Helen Keller was to America.

This is a copy of a statue of Helen Keller that can be found in Washington, D.C.

After a brief stop for lunch at Aunt Bea's Bakery and Bistro and a drive around town looking at all the old homes, we headed further north to the town of Muscle Shoals where we found the Wilson Lock and Dam on the Tennessee River.  After driving across the Dam we found a road that lead to the Lock area and we were able to watch a Coast Guard boat  leave the upper lock, the water in the lock drop to the lower level, barges enter the lock at the lower level, the lock close behind them and then watch the barges rise in the lock to the higher level, a process taking approximately two hours.  What a thrill and so interesting.  The Dam is the cornerstone of the TVA (begun in 1933) and boasts one of the highest, single-lift locks in the world.  Construction of the Dam was started in 1918 during WWI.

It was almost 4 p.m. when we left for home.  There is still much to see in "The Shoals" area which we will leave for our next trip to Red Bay.  Yes, we know there will be repairs on the RV again at some later time.  

The King's Birthplace

We are settled in our new camping spot for the next week so can now do some sightseeing in the area.

Today we ventured north making a stop in the next town/state about three miles down the road at a flea market store where I found a couple of books (like I need a few more to add to my full container in the bay).  We then proceeded on to the Natchez Trace Parkway going south toward Tupelo.  We had originally planned to cover this area when we left Vicksburg a month ago, but weather and a leaky roof prevented it.

Shortly after entering the Parkway, I snapped this picture and it wasn't until I saw it on the computer that I realized there is a lock showing up in the middle of the picture.  It turns out this is one of 10 locks on the Tennessee -Tombigbee Waterway which we had crossed.   The Waterway is an alternative route to the Gulf of Mexico extending 200 miles in eastern Mississippi where it connects with the Tennessee River. Interesting.

We stopped at several points of interest along the Parkway and were especially intrigued with the Pharr Mounds  which date back 1,800 to 2,000 years.  Indians in the area made these mounds and used them for burial sites.

There was a Visitor Center further on and we stopped there to listen to a 15 minute video regarding the Parkway which is really not a parkway but a National Park 800 feet wide running 444 miles long through three states (Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee).  The road through this Park is very smooth and is not only treed lined with many interesting points of interest, but also filled with cultivated farmland.  An RV can easily navigate this Parkway but there are some points of interest which cannot be accessed.

Leaving the Parkway, we drove into Tupelo which is the birthplace of the King of Rock and Roll, Elvis Presley.  Below is a picture of the home he grew up in as well as a statue of him at 13 and the Assembly of God church where he first sang gospel music.  Long live the King.

Leaving Tupelo, we drove back to I-78 but left it again a few miles east to find a place for lunch in Mooreville which it turns out is one of those many small back woods places that hardly exist.  However, we decided we would take this back road through the countryside to the interstate and luckily we found a family owned restaurant called "Comers" which at 2 p.m. was still open and serving lunch.  The place was very clean and the only eating establishment in the area.  There were about twenty tables with only a couple occupied.  This changed quite rapidly after we were seated when numerous other people arrived.  Our lunch was good and the prices very inexpensive.

We crossed this rusty old bridge hoping it would hold together for one more car, ours.

Returned home to Red Bay and a quiet evening.  More adventures tomorrow.

Finished at Tiffin

Today all the work being done on our Phaeton at the Tiffin Service Center was completed.  We are very pleased with the service and highly recommend it to those with Tiffinn motorhomes.  New friends have been made here not only through RVillage but also from just walking around and visiting with people in the Customer Lounge while waiting for service to be completed.  There was lots of discussion about the service, the repair people, places to visit  and places to eat or not not only near Red Bay but also all over the U.S.

Tomorrow we will move to an small self service campground here in Red Bay to await our appointment to get our Norcold refrigerator changed out for a residential one on June 23.   For those reading this who are not RVers, there have been many problems and fires with the Norcold.  Since we are full timing now, we decided it would be prudent to change over to the residential.

While we await the appointment, Ron and I intend to do more sightseeing here in Alabama as well as Mississippi (the Mississippi border is just out of Red Bay) and will be posting our adventures and pictures over the next week.

Adventure Day

After hearing from some fellow RVers about a couple of interesting places to visit near here, Ron and I took off this afternoon so see what all the talk was about.

Our adventure took us 17 miles into the backwoods of Alabama not really knowing what to expect while driving down a dark treed shaded road

where we cautiously approach a  cemetery called "Coon Dog Cemetery."  not really knowing what we will see.  Coon Dog Cemetery you say.  Yes, Coon Dog.

The first dog buried here was "Troop" in 1937.

Leaving the Cemetery, we returned to the main road driving another 5 miles north and turning off on Mill Mountain Road to a sign that said "Rattle Snake Saloon."  What is that all about?  From a dirt parking lot with horses waiting to be ridden, we climb the steps into the back of an old truck and are driven down a narrow very steep windy dirt road to the Saloon which is actually a watering hole under a rock in the mouth of a cave.

Off to the left is a building which included a bar, tables and chairs and the kitchen, but we chose to sit outside under the rock along with the other patrons.

There was a tour group sitting at a number of tables, but we found a small slice of log table and outdoor chairs to await our waitress in short shorts.  Before 5 p.m. they do not serve liquor so we opted for a soft drink and an appetizer of battered and fried pickles which I had been wanting Ron to try.  I had eaten them many years ago and found them to be delicious.  Once again getting into the truck, we are returned to the top and head back to Red Bay.

A fun day.

Getting to and Waiting in Red Bay

We haven't fallen off the face of the earth, just have not had anything exciting to report.  On Monday morning we left Waynesboro headed to Red Bay, AL to get the work done on the RV at the Tiffin Service Center.  It was a long day (390 miles with strong cross winds) with a stay in Lenoir City, TN about 40 miles south of Knoxville.  The major event of the day was having to pull over to wait for a major wind and rain storm to pass; however, most of the day looked like the picture below.  Notice the sunshine and blue skies.

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The drive from the freeway to the campground took us through town and then over a bridge over the Tellico Lake where we saw a lock used for raising and lowering boats from one part of the lake to the other.  Not something I have seen but once or twice.   Unfortunately, there was no overlook place where we could stop to see things better.  Strong winds and a heavy rain storm came through early in the evening and fortunately, it did not produce the hail and heavy duty winds predicted.

Tuesday was more of the same driving (290 miles) but this time there was a major accident tying up the freeway.  We were glad to have the CB to tell us what was happening and where we could get off and go around.  Unfortunately, we were just passed the exit to get off so endured an hour of stop and go for four miles.  I don't see how the guy who caused the accident could have survived based on the condition of the pick up truck we saw.   While we gained an hour due to changing time zones, web also lost it getting past the accident.   This pretty lake with reflection was a part of our trip today.  Again notice the sun and blue sky.  Hooray!

Arrived in Red Bay around 3:00, got checked into our site and with the service department.  We were told they would let us know sometime tomorrow when a bay would be available to start our work.  Soooooo,
this morning I listened to RV's starting up at 7:00 a.m. to go into Bays thinking it was nice to still be able to be in bed, when the phone range at 7:10 informing us we needed to bring the RV to Bay 3.  Needless to say, it was a scramble to get dressed and get the RV closed up and across the parking lot as soon as possible.

The RV spent the day in the Bay and we spent part of the day in the Customer Lounge with other RVers.  The interesting thing here which is different than most repair shops is that you are allowed to be in your RV and/or going in and out and asking questions while work is being done unless it is being painted or put on a lift.  They begin work at 7 and quit at 3 so at 3 we were bringing the RV back to our site and again setting up.

Stopped to meet a couple on RVillage who are here and spent an hour getting acquainted.  Tonight we went to dinner together here in town.  What a great way to meet other RVers and to find out about their adventures, sharing stories about interesting places to visit and to talk shop about owning an RV.  We hope to see them later in the week when they return here from a two day trip away while waiting to get their RV repaired.  There are people here from all over the country.  Amazing to see so many Tiffin RV's in one place. This is only one row of RV's here waiting for service.

While we don't have our little Trixie with us any longer, we do have a mascot who rides on our dashboard.

Granddaughters and Monticello

Saturday, June 6, 2015

What a great Saturday Ron and I had with our two Virginia granddaughters, Ariana (14) and Sarah (10).  Bill and Lisa brought the girls over to the RV in the morning under very sunny skies (thank goodness) for an overnight visit.  We left the RV soon after to tour Monticello, President Thomas Jefferson's hilltop home located in Charlottesville.

It was Jefferson's home from 1770 until July 4, 1826 when he died in the house exactly 50 years after the signing of the Declaration of Independence.  Much of the house was pulled down and put up several times as Jefferson remodeled. The home includes Jefferson's innovations, book, maps, scientific instruments, time saving inventions and items from the Lewis and Clark expedition.

Our view of the inside of the house was a scheduled tour of the first floor only guided by a gentleman docent who was very knowledgeable and encouraged questions from us tourists.  Ariana had several good questions which the docent answered without hesitation.  No picture taking is allowed in the house.

After a 40 minute tour, we were on our own to view the outside of the house, the kitchen and storage rooms under the house including the dumb waiter for delivering the wine to the dining room,

the beautiful flower gardens, the extensive vegetable garden and Mulberry Row (the center of the plantation where slaves, free and indentured workers worked and lived).  The girls were especially interested in the vegetable garden and walked the entire length as they recognized many of the vegetables growing in the garden.

The Visitor Center at Monticello includes a Theater with a 15 minute video about the home and Jefferson, a Discovery Room for children to explore many different items, a Gallery with a model of Monticello among other things, and of course a very nice gift shop.  Our trip back to the Visitor Center from the house on the shuttle included a stop at Jefferson's headstone.

The girls worked up quite an appetite during the tour, so we stopped at Ruby Tuesday's for an early dinner.  They were happy to return to the RV afterward as they had a chance to swim in the pool.  The evening was spent playing a game of UNO and watching a movie they had brought along.    We were all quite tired and slept well.  We did find out how quickly we could inflate the hide a bed and the girls assured us that it was quite comfortable.

Sunday, June 7, 2015

After a nice leisurely breakfast, the girls wanted us to again teach them  how to play " Chicken Foot" which we had done several years ago.  Ron won one game, Ariana one and I came in last both times.  Lisa and Bill arrived to pick them up around 3 p.m.

Our Granddaughters

What a pleasure it was to spend time with the girls whom we had not seen in quite a few years.  They are both very well behaved and a pleasure to be with.  We look forward to spending more time with them when we return from our trip down to Red Bay to get the work done on the RV.

Finally Getting Out

Friday, June 5, 2015

The past couple of days have been more of the same, rain, rain, rain so there has not been much to write about.  We ran errands, poked around in a couple of antique stores, laid low in the RV, visited the local Elks Lodge for a drink and dinner, and spent an evening with son Bill and family playing a game called Apples to Apples.  Lots of fun for all of us.

Yesterday, the sun actually peeked out for a bit of time so we ventured out  in the afternoon to see more of the Blue Ridge Parkway, this time starting at the north end here in Waynesboro and driving about 30 miles south along this narrow, windy road filled with trees and flowering shrubs.

We stopped at the Hump Rocks Visitor Center learning about life in the early 1800's in the mountains and at numerous overlook sites.  Since it was later in the day and cloud cover was still with us, the treed covered mountains were a bit dark so picture taking was limited.  Not a lot to say about the drive except that it really is beautiful.

We did; however, see this sign though we never saw the cliff they referred to.

On the way home, we passed a German restaurant where Ron and I plan to have dinner when we return here in July.  Our number has come up at Tiffin and we  leave here on Monday for two days of hard driving to get to Red Bay, AL by Tuesday night.   Not sure exactly what day work will be done as we had to push the Monday work they wanted to do to later in the week.  Once this work is done, we will remain in the area until the 23rd when we have other RV work scheduled at a local shop including replacing our Norcold refrigerator with a residential one.

More tomorrow about our day with the granddaughters at Monticello.

Beautiful Countryside and Old Homes

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Yesterday was a day for baking and catching up on household things so we never left the RV.  Today, however, we spent the day driving and seeing more of this beautiful state.

Driving west from Waynesboro, we drove to Staunton which was the birthplace of our 28th President, Woodrow Wilson.  Staunton, VA is one of the oldest cities west of the Blue Ridge Mountains  and was settled by John Lewis in 1732 and named for Lady Rebecca Staunton, the wife of Governor William Gooch.  The town was laid out in 1747 and was largely unscathed during the Civil War so today it has one of Virginia's finest collections of 19th century architecture.

The above house is now the Berkeley House Bed and Breakfast.  If you would like to see what the inside of this home looks like, go to www.bhbandb.us and take the virtual tour.  Incredibly beautiful.

Our first stop was to see Woodrow Wilson's home, Museum and Library.  Woodrow Wilson's father was a Presbyterian minister and Wilson was born in the  hilltop Manse, a 3 story 4,000 square foot house in the Greek revival style with 12 rooms and includes a beautiful Victorian garden.  In Wilson's  time there were no other homes close by and the church was located down the street.   The back of the house overlooks the city below.

Front of the Manse

 Back of the Manse

Garden

A couple of doors down the street is the Woodrow Wilson Museum and Presidential Library.  The Museum also includes Wilson's Pace-Arrow limousine and a replica of a trench our soldiers  used during WWI.

Heading north on a scenic road through beautiful rolling hill farm countryside, we stopped in Verona to take in one of Americas largest Antique Malls (135,000 square feet all one one floor).  If they don't have it, you don't need it.    No need to take your lunch as the Mall includes a cafe with free wifi (for those men like Ron who don't like to shop).  I want to go back when I have more time.  Ron couldn't even get the entire length of the building in this picture even from across the parking lot and the grass area.

In Fort Defiance, we came across this old abandoned military academy.

Our drive then took us further north into Harrisonburg where we will return another day.  Turning south back to Waynesboro where we are staying, we took another scenic road through  more farm land taking a side road to the Natural Chimney's and the Moss Creek Presbyterian Church and Cemetery established in  1768.

What intrigues me most are all the old homes with the many chimneys, something we do not see in the southwest.   Note the 4 chimneys found on the Manse picture.  Each of these chimneys had a fireplace on each of the three floors for a total of 12 fireplaces in the home.

A Busy Weekend

Friday, May 29, 2015

Today was a busy day as we attended the 8th grade award ceremony at Granddaughter Ariana's Middle School and took the family out for dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse which was very good.  It was good to have the entire family together and to catch up on all the family activities.  The grandchildren have grown so much since Kathy was here 4 years ago.

Saturday, May 30, 2015

While daughter in law, Lisa and granddaughter Ariana attend a band day function at Six Flags, Bill and Sarah take us for a day trip in the area.  Our first stop was at the Chiles Peach Orchard and Farm Market which grows various fruits (apples, peaches, cherries and strawberries) and allows the public to come and pick each in its season.

We had never picked strawberries so this was a new venture for us.  After picking up a cardboard flat box, we were told to cross the road and pick in the rows to the far right which we did while also sampling a few strawberries along the way.  There is nothing better than a vine ripened warm strawberry.  We purchased our berries as well as some strawberry doughnuts for dessert for this evening.  Yum!

After leaving the Farm we traveled along the same road, stopped at an antique store for a bit and then stopped at the Albermarle Ciderworks Tasting Room.  We had never tried this before and to be honest, neither of us was too crazy about the  tastings we sampled though Bill seems to like it.  It all tasted like apple cider vinegar to me.  While the adults were doing the tasting, Sarah was offered regular apple cider left from last falls crushing.  It was very tasty.  There was also a local blue grass band that was playing.  Great music.  Note the feet of the lady bass fiddle player.

We then drove into Charlottesville to see the University of Virginia where Bill works.   Charlottesville was founded in 1819 as an academia village by Thomas Jefferson.  The old part of the University of Vrginia was designed by Thomas Jefferson with the Rotunda (a domed library modeled after the Pantheon in Rome) designed in a neoclassical style.  It opened in 1825 with 123 students and a hand picked faculty of American and European scholars.  At the present time; however, the Rotunda  is undergoing some renovation with scaffolding surrounding the outside not allowing for good picture taking.  The remainder of the campus buildings are beautiful old red brick with lots of trees, flowers and grasses.   The university design is considered an outstanding accomplishment in American architecture.   Like most large campuses today, the University buildings are spread out far and wide with a campus transportation system to help students get from one building to another.

A short stop for some lunch and then a drive back to our RV completed our day.  Another day we will return to Charlottesville to see Jefferson's home, Monticello and other historic sites in the area.

Sunday, May 31, 2015

We spent the day in the RV getting food prepared for a dinner here with the family.  Sarah is surprised that Grammie can bake like she did in her sticks and bricks house.  Though we had a hard rain shower several times during the afternoon, we were able to eat dinner at the picnic table outside.  Hamburgers with cheese and NM green chili that Bill roasted and peeled last fall. along with tossed salad and fresh strawberry shortcake for dessert.  What a treat that was.  Bill has found a place to purchase Hatch green chili here each fall.