After a very stressful week culminating with the tear-filled funeral of our "Uncle Bird", we got home hurriedly, threw some gear in the camper, packed the fridge and cabinets, and set sail for New York. NO travel plans, no schedule, no itinerary, we just went. We left home at 5 p.m., and 11:30 p.m. found us a little east of Meridian Mississippi. We rolled into a KOA campground, plugged in and went to sleep.
It was a struggle, but we were back on the road by 9 a.m. and then sailing along, we began to realize we had been full blast for a week now with precious little sleep and were fast 'hitting the wall'. Driving along that morning we decided that we were not gonna drive late into the night again, but that we were gonna stop early and get a full night sleep.
About 2:30 that afternoon we were driving through Tennessee when we heard a "pop" out side and Peggy said, "What was that?!" We both looked out our windows and saw that the camper tires looked okay from where we sat, so we kept going. A mile or so down the road we stopped for gas, and while filling up, a friendly, bearded country-boy pointed out that we were getting a flat on one of the rear trailer tires. We both looked closely and found what appeared to be a nail in the tire, so this nice local guy, told me that the place to get the tire repaired was 10 miles up the road. I thanked him and stuck a can of fix-a-flat in the tire, aired it up and we headed up the road to the next exit.
The tire held and we pulled into a truck stop, hoping for a GOOD, permanent quick fix. We do have a good spare tire but the jack was in the SUV, buried under a mountain of camping gear, so I figured no use changing it if I can get someone to plug it right on the trailer.
We found a truck stop with a repair shop for the place, so we headed there. The mechanic there at that truck stop said he couldn't do a car sized tire, so directed me to go back under the interstate, past the Shell gas station to Libby's. He said, "She has a big sign. They'll take care of you; it's a big blue building; you can't miss it."
Well, we easily found Libby's big sign and a big blue building with a HUGE sign stating something akin to (but not) "NAKED DANCING GIRLS" and another sign with a painting of a woman with her bare backside showing. (WHAT?)
Back at that truck stop, where the guy recommended "Libby", there amongst the trucks and truckers, we had seen a very beautiful woman in shorts and long hair approach and flag down what appeared to be a trucker, who had gotten out of his truck, who was minding his own business, just sauntering along toward the truck stop restaurant. Peggy said,"Wow! She's beautiful!" Apparently the trucker did too, 'cuz he stopped dead in his tracks as she shoved her hands down into the back pockets of her tight blue jean cut-off shorts, stuck her extremely large chest out at him and gave him the biggest smile. Peggy said again that the woman was sure beautiful, but I just muttered, "No need to be impressed, Peg, she's a Truck Stop 'something-or-other'" and had to explain a few things to her about truck stops that she didn't know.
So, it was with that frame of mind, upon finding, "Libby's" and the huge "naked dancing girls" sign, on the big blue building, we were like, "We don't want a naked dancing girl, no matter how experienced she may be, blowing up our tire." Further back up the long driveway, we saw on the hill a big couple of blue buildings, so up there we went averting our eyes as we passed our "original" Libby's, the gal with the bare butt in the painting still smiling over her shoulder at us.
The office lady in Libby's truck and trailor repair shop was very nice and sweet. We had a pleasant conversation. Now the young grissled, "old crab" changed the tire in less than 10 minutes. At first he growled, "Whadda ya want?" and it never got better, although, by now, you must know me; I tried joking with him and he only got more scowling and grumping around so I left him alone in his misery, doing his job. When he finished, I was so thankful I handed the man $2 and told him to have a beer on the way home on me. He grabbed it, turned his back and stormed away, so I called after him...the poor guy needed a good word, "Thank you, and God Bless you, Dude." Nothing. We feel kinda sorry for folks like that. I hope he's not like that all the time and that he was just having a bad day. You just never know. So with that and a ten dollar repair bill, we were back on the road. The other local folks were very friendly and 2 old boys after 'ironing it out between themselves' decideded we should continue north a few miles and check out Henry Horton State Park.
We rolled into the park around 5 p.m. and the charming camp host got us checked in and parked in no time. The man and his wife, who worked the office were so nice and so was the park, and we were so exhausted that we decided right then and there to stay 2 nights, in order to recuperate. We were in bed asleep for before 8 p.m. and didn't get up till 7 this morning; it was then that we remembered the camera. This is the trip so far.
We didn't start the map till we got up on the interstate, not wanting to show the trail to or from our front door. We left out the trip through the beautiful swamps of South Louisiana . This morning found me drinking coffee before 7 a.m., finally fully rested and able to enjoy the trip.
It wasn't long before I got the ole black iron pot going, and breakfast cooking.
Aint nuffin like a ole peculator full of coffee to wash down a bacon and egg breakfast.
Slap that on a slice of toast.
Camping breakfast at its best.
With the dishes done nothing, left but to rest, 'decompress' and get ready for the next leg of this 1,500 mile road trip. In the mean time the park is beautiful and our new camping buddy Bo is having as much fun as we are.
Worse than a kid, but having a ball anyways. This road trip is truly starting to be fun.
9/12
While typing yesterday's post.
Deer peacefully walked by.
When I looked down after the deer walked by I saw an inch worm had inched his way along my key board.
While Peggy put together a coleslaw in the camper, Bo and I enjoyed the great outdoors.
Before we left home Peggy had made and canned a pot of smoked chicken, sausage and okra gumbo. I put some heating and a pot of rice on.
To turn a wonderful evening into a perfect one our camp ground hosts, Kerry and Donald stopped by for a nice visit and a bowl of gumbo truly wonderful folks.
I typed this update in a Walmart parking lot as Peggy picked up a few supplies. So it's back on the road with more later. We drove to Wilmington Ohio, and stopped at Caesar's creak camp ground at 7 pm. The weekend crowd was out in full force, but they didn't bother us any all 3 of us went right to sleep and wish we would have had the time to investigate the park. The campground was plain and really just a grassy field with hook ups. That is always a very good sign that the happy campers weren't there for the campground but the fishing. I itched to join them but now fully rested we needed to get to our base camp..
9-13
We left Caeser's park at 9:30 having forgotten about the time change, and came rolling into Webster, NY camp ground at 8:30pm. There a nice couple out on a moon light stroll helped us back up between the trees to our dark secluded spot. With that done this ends the road trip to NY. Here it it.
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