Headed toward the Ol' Dominion

Chattanooga, TN

So Donna gets homesick for Virginia and 30 minutes later our fall schedule is completely rearranged.  While everyone else seems to be headed south, we're headed for "little to no accumulation" of snow in/around Natural Bridge, VA this weekend.  And this year, it'll be Christmas near Sunrise, FL instead of Thanksgiving.  At least that's the plan!  It works out fine, though.  I have a fairly long gripe list on the truck, so it gets to go back to the selling dealer for repairs.  And we'll be in Fredericksburg for Thanksgiving - almost like we hadn't left.  (Note that our reservations for Fort Wilderness @ Disney World did not get changed.) 

We had a great time visiting my Dad, Stepmother, Randy Mc & Harolda, and John (David) while in B'ham.  We got to stay through my Dad's birthday which was a real treat.  After that it was back on the road Wednesday morning.   After a stopover in Chattanooga, TN (Best Trav-L-Park & a shopping trip to Camping World), we're now in a real pretty campground (Rocky Top) just outside Blountville, TN.  Tree colors are almost at or just past their prime for this area.  Always a scenic trip up I-81.

Later, David

Blountville, TN

A walk down memory lane

Dad and Anna

Randy Mc, John (David), and me

Back in 'bama visiting my Dad and stepmother and any high school buddies that can still tolerate me!  We've having a great, lazy time so far.  I eat while Donna paints.  Visited with Randy & Harolda Mc and John (David) Harris.  Also a great trip down memory lane as Randy and Harolda took us around the ol' neighborhood.  What use to be a high school now looks like a university. Street names are familiar, but they sure don't look

B'ham South Campground

the same.  Even our old home on Johnson Street looks pretty darn good. 

We'll stay through my Dad's birthday.  Then head on up to Virginia.  From there it's on to Fort Wilderness (Walt Disney World). Then down to Sunrise, FL for Christmas. After that it's on to Gulf Shores State Park for the winter.  At least that's the plan.

Later, David

Dad's toy

More Dad's toy

One more of Dad's toys

Tree clearing continues from the spring tornadoes in AL

Desert Rose

FYI: for the uninitiated, these are hit-n-miss engines used to power various pieces of tools & equipment before electric motors took over the as the main power source.  Other toys include model trains, lawn mowers...you get the idea.

Week 3 @ OWL Center

Well, our time is done at the Outdoor Wilderness Learning (OWL) Center.  We're finding that this three-week ministry stint is a good way to accomplish volunteer work.  You're not on a 40 hr week, and you're only there for a few weeks.  We had a great time and plan to go back - probably some time in 2013. 

This coming week we're in Birmingham to visit my Dad and step Mother and try to catch up with a few friends.  However, last Saturday Donna completely rearranged our end-of-year travel plans.  From B'ham we're off to Virginia for a few weeks.  After Thanksgiving it's a couple of weeks in Fort Wilderness (Walt Disney World) before they jack-up the camp site prices for Christmas.  We'll spend Christmas with Donna's brother David and his family in Florida.  Looks like New Year's will be Gulf Shores, AL (all of this depends on what breaks when and how long it takes to repair.)

 I promised a few pictures from our time at the OWL Center.  These pictures were taken by Sara Donaldson, and I especially appreciate her allowing us to use them.  Here's a few to let you get a taste of some of the things we did.  For our Facebook friends, there's an album with 157 pictures of our time at the OWL center.  Enjoy! David

Don Guy (NOMAD Volunteer)

Sara Donaldson (NOMAD Volunteer)

Pepper Jelly

Red Pepper Jelly

The End

Week 2 @ OWL Center

Week two same as week one, but different.  Pickles, preserves, craw-fish jelly, shelving build/install, bench & deck repair, pear & crab apple pickin', and cleaning was this week's agenda.  Thankfully, I got fired from the kitchen.  Donna also tells me I can't pick anymore pears (she has to peel them.)  Salsa and trail repair on tap for next week.  It's all hands on deck when salsa is being made, so I guess I'm only temporary fired from the kitchen.

This little little jewel is our latest pain-in-the-rear.  I found one of the trailer suspension airbag gauges reading zero.  Started the check to see where we were losing air.  As I looked between the tires, this little flag was proudly planted right in the air bag.  Don't know how it missed the brake and hydraulic lines, but if it had to take something out, the airbag was the least damaging.  Finding someone to replace the airbag is a whole blog post of its own.  Between the OWL Center staff and Lippert efforts, repair is set for this Friday.

I don't have a lot of pictures.  We've got a volunteer taking pictures of the team "in action."    I'm suppose to get a copy of those this week.  When I got 'em, they'll all go up on facebook.  I'll post a few here on the blog, too. 

Later, David

Week 1 @ OWL Center

Week one at the OWL Center is complete.  We've made new friends, help remove two trees off fences, some new shelving started, help pot ferns, helped make pear preserves, and helped make & filled countless bottles of various strengths of salsa. So far only one jar was broken, and I think I've finally splattered everyone with salsa.

Lake D'Arbonne

Friday we took a short trip to Lake D'Arbonne State Park for a four mile perimeter hike.  This state park is well maintained, has boat ramps, 50 amp full hook-up campsites, and cabins that are really houses.  Good hiking and mountain biking trails, too.  Still trying to find Lincoln Parish Park and it's bicycle trails. 

Donna's magic hands at labeling

I think finishing the shelving, trail maintenance, and pickle making is on the schedule for Week 2.  I'm told I'm still on the cooking team.  Guess I need to splatter more people.  Later David