Weekly Update

We're settling in at the 'burg.  The pic above is looking out our door.  Nicest view we've had in our various visits at this KOA.  We continue to follow peak pollen.  We left Gulf Shores at the beginning of peak pollen.  We spent the week at Stone Mountain during peak pollen.  So here we are in the 'burg during peak pollen.  Bet it's peak pollen when we get to Lagrange, IN and International Falls, MN, too!  Yes, folks, there is an advantage of quickly heading west across the Mississippi this time of year.

We're in full swing of the mundane things one must do:  truck maintenance, doc appoints, etc.  On the plus side: we've had one meal out with Beth & Frank when we arrived Monday.  This is before Dr. Cook tells us to quit eating out so much.  Yeah, like, we didn't know that?!

Verizon wants us to try a new MiFi before we choose early termination and give our current one back to them.  Based on what I'm reading on various forums, that's probably not a solution to our problems with the 4510L unit.  We'll see, I guess.  Probably end up biting the bullet and adding the 4GB monthly plan to our smartphone and start using it as our hotspot.  I just hate adding $30/month to our bill (plus the penalties for whatever amount of data we'll use over that 4GB/month) because Verizon doesn't have a reliable MiFi.  Before you think it's the 4G network, note that our MiFi stumbled &  dropped us constantly while at Stone Mountain where we were in 4G coverage and three bar signal strength.  Our smartphone didn't flinch.  When it's the 4G network, both have issues.

Donna still gets to visit Mary Washington Hospital and help out her friends.  That goes well until she asks me a question about Excel.  It's amazing what I've forgotten since retiring!  I guess I've got to go and get us an Excel for Dummies book!

Anyway, that's it for this week.  Until next week, David

Back in Fredericksburg, VA

Stormy weekend at Oak Hollow Family Campground, High Point, NC

Conrad Memorial Baptist Church, High Point, NC

We arrived safe and sound in Fredericksburg this afternoon & was greeted by high winds and a definite change to the "cool" side of weather. Freeze warnings abound around here and the tank heaters are on!  Plus on the way up, today, we collected enough bugs on the front of the trailer to make a bat die of jealously, too.  Yep - definitely "spring"!

Had a first this afternoon.  Ever hooked up a water hose, had a leak, wrapped the thread with plumber's tape, and it solved the water leak?  Well, we had the opposite happen this afternoon.  One of our old, old 4 ft hoses started leaking and it was time to replace it with one of our new, $13 each (plus shipping), 4 ft custom made hoses.  Pulled one out of the box, wrapped all the threads with plumber's tape, and started inserting the old quick disconnects - which didn't fit.  Hey, I could've gotten one of those $0.99 hoses from Camping World that didn't fit the quick disconnects and it's a heck of a lot cheaper!  Out of frustration I dig out a new $9 each (plus shipping) quick disconnect, wrap its threads with plumber's tape and guess what?  That stinking thing didn't fit, either!

So now what??  Out of frustration I yank the plumber's tape off the threads of the quick disconnect, reattach everything and guess what?  No friggin' leaks!  I'll take it, and we moved on to finish setting up the trailer.  Last I checked, it still ain't leaking.  That's definitely a first for me!

Later, David

High Point, NC

World's largest set of Chester-drawers

Tent site along the lake at Oak Hollow Family Campground

After a full day's travel, we made it to Oak Hollow Family Campground in High Point, NC.  It's a beautiful, first come, first served campground when the "Market" isn't happening.  Don't know for sure what the "Market" is, but it packs out High Point, NC for a couple of weeks.  We know from experience - we hit it last year!  Anyway, about a half dozen rigs where here when we pulled in.  In about two hours, that count probably doubled.  Definitely not a packed campground this year.

View of the lake from the marina

We're here to visit Craig & Donna Craven before moving on to Fredericksburg, VA on Monday.  I know the two Donna's have a full weekend planned.  Hopefully, some of that includes eating out!

Later, David

Stone Mounttain State Park

Serenity Park

Our campsite

We're back at Stone Mountain, Ga visiting Donna's brother and sister-in-law plus we've sneaked in a visit with Tom & Greer.  Everyone is as well as can be expected.  Turns out this week is not only warm, but prime pollen time for the area.  Take a walk and your shoe soles are green.  Tire treads are green.  Truck & trailer are green.  We haven't rolled the awning out in hopes of minimizing the pollen  

View of the lake from our campsite

sticking to the fabric.

True to my character, I've already created a scene in the campground.  We took a walk along the lake shore and found that someone left their fire still going in the campsite's fire ring.  We walked back to the trailer and got a bucket, then put about six to eight gallons of water on it.  Wasn't sure it was truly out, so we called the local, non-emergency number to let the park know that there's was an issue

Tent sites along the lake.

with an unattended campfire that while out, we weren't sure it was truly safe.  Next thing we know the fire department has arrived with lights and horns just a blaring.  They go the campsite and do a true professional job of breaking up the campfire.  Once that's done, they take the opportunity to ensure they have all the right keys and test all the gates within the campground.  This also let's them "tour" the campground ensuring all the kids get to see the fire engine.  Hopefully, a good time was had by all, and the firefighters didn't miss too much of "March Madness".  We sure felt safer after they took care of the campfire!

For those of you who may visit this campground with a larger RV, you'll want one of the premium campsites.  We've seen some wicked leveling required for the motorhome/travel trailer full hook-up sites during our walks around the campground.

Later, David

Birmingham

Walking Iris

Desert Rose

Well, all worked well on the 8th, and we've had a great time visiting Dad & Anna.  Hopefully, we didn't ruin our welcome!  We also spent a great evening with Randy and Harolda on Saturday.  The picture, above, is of Dad & Anna's Walking Iris.  Apparently the bloom only last a day.  So we got lucky and got a picture of it before it dropped off.

Tomorrow - if everything continues to work - we're off to Stone Mountain, Ga to visit Doug & Louise.  We'll be parked at Stone Mountain State Park - one of my favorite parks.  We suppose to have a premium site overlooking the lake.  We're looking forward to that.  And, hopefully, we'll blow most of the pollen off the truck and trailer on the way there!

Later, David

Last Day at Gulf Shores

Windy day at Gulf Shores

It's been a blast -  we now think of it as home - but it's time to head north.  If the hydraulics work in the morning, we'll be on our way to Pelham, AL for a week to visit Dad & Anna.  We haven't moved any hydraulics since arriving here.  So we're keep our fingers crossed when Donna hits the slide buttons tomorrow!

We've enjoyed eating out with all the folks who passed by this way.  Greg & Judy and Don & Zola were routine dining friends that provided a lot of laughs plus a lot of good insight.  As a guy who grew up in Alabama, it's just interesting that we got all our local info from folks who are from Michigan.  I guess that's how the Michibama T-shirt got started!  Speaking of eating, we somehow stayed within the dining-out budget but blew the grocery budget.  As Greg is quick to point out, we shoulda ate out more!  But based on my new, expanded waistline, I don't think so!

We'll also miss the local "liars" club - the members of our little cul-de-sac who were excellent hosts for us newbies to the Gulf State Park.  They were gracious & tolerant of all my rants about cheap water hoses and all those aggravating little water leaks that drive me nuts - just like electronics.  Marilyn & Tom, we really appreciate you sharing Oliver with us and letting us get our dog fix.  Maybe I'll be able to throw the ball better for Oliver next time!

So that's it for this season.  Hopefully, we're back to aggravate everyone the winter of 2014.

Later, David

Visitors & Commemorative Air Force

B-29 Liberator FiFi

Marti & Terry arrived safe and sound Wednesday, and they're all having a good time.  Weather is cooperating and Donna & Marti are quickly whipping Terry into shape bicycling.  Too bad they have to leave so soon.

We took a Saturday visit with Judy & Greg to meet their daughter-in-law and see FiFi - the B-29.  Several more planes were there including the P-51 "The Brat III".  For those who read  

P-51 Mustang "The Brat III"

some of the more obscure aviation news, yes, this was the P-51 that experienced a landing gear issue Sunday.  Fortunately, that got resolved and all landed safe and sound.  Didn't learn a lot about the bi-planes, but they were neat, too.  More pictures are on my facebook page.

Well, we're on our last week here this season at Gulf Shores.  Somewhat sad, but it's gettin' time to leave.  Senior & snowbird discounts are over!

Current plans are to visit Bill & Debra this weekend, then head to Birmingham, AL Thursday.  We're there for a week, then over to Stone Mountain, GA for a week or so.  From there it's off to High Point, NC for a weekend and back in Fredericksburg on March 27th.  At least that's the plan until I break something.  Later, David