Week 13 - Final Week

Day 85 - November 8 - Red Bay, AL

 

Still working on RV repairs.

 

Day 86 - November 9 - Red Bay, AL

 

All RV repairs are done and we're headed over to Paint at 06:00.  Boy, this has been an early wake-up week.  Paint was completed in the afternoon and we'll be ready to leave in the morning.

 

Day 87 - November 10 - Travel Day to Abbeville, LA

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERIC

 

Just a quick stop-over to cousins Marcel and Cheryl to catch up with them on their travels and family.  And of course, we couldn't go to Abbeville without our Cajun food fix.  Went to Shucks and was it ever yummy!!!

 

Marcel and Cheryl

 

Day 88 - November 11 - Travel Day Back Home

 

We had an excellent breakfast at Marcel and Cheryls then headed out on the final leg of our Fall Travels -- HOME.  And it is good to be back home.

 

Till the next trip!

 

 

 

 

Week 12

Day 78 - November 1 - Tuscumbia Area

 

Still recuperating.  I get my staples taken out tomorrow.  Yea!  Pretty awful, huh?

 

Day 79 - November 2 - Tuscumbia, AL

 

Got my staples removed this morning and I feel like a new person!  We also got a call that Red Bay had a spot for us so we're heading that way.

 

Day 80 - November 3 - Red Bay, AL

 

I felt OK enough to try and tackle cleaning the RV which took me all day long!

 

Day 81, 82, 83 and 84 - November 4, 5, 6 and 7 - Red Bay, AL

 

We've just been hanging out and waiting on the MH to get repaired.  We got called in for service on Tuesday and we've been in a repair bay ever since.  We may get out of here Friday.

 

Till next time. 



Week 11

Day 71 - October 25 - Stone Mountain, GA Area

 

Today is the day the fun part of the fall trip stopped!!  I picked up a bug while in South Carolina and was not feeling well.  While in the bathroom about 6:00 am, I passed out and hit my head on the shower door handle right in the natural part in the center of my head.  I made the trip to the emergency room via ambulance where I was treated for Influenza A and bronchitis, and had staples in my head to close up the cut.

 

We left Stone Mountain with barely a glimpse of the mountain and a beautiful golf course.  We'll put this on our list for another time!

 

Day 72 - October 26 - Travel Day to Wind Creek State Park, AL

 

I can honestly tell you that I've done nothing.  Larry has been my hero and a trooper, taking care of me and cooking. 

 

This is the only picture I took at Wind Creek.  It too is another great state park area that we will come back to at another time.  Another Northern Mockingbird.

 

Day 73 and 74 - October 27 and 28 - Wind Creek State Park Area

 

Recuperating and watching a lot of movies.

 

Day 75 - October 29 - Travel Day to Windemere Cove RV Park on Lake Guntersville in Langston, AL.

 

Day 76 - October 30 - Windemere Cove RV Park

 

Still recuperating.  I will NEVER go another year without a flu shot!!

 

This was a beautiful park in the mountains of Alabama.

 

We were wishing that was our house on the lake!!!

 

Day 77 - October 31 - Travel Day to Heritage Acres RV Park in Tuscumbia, AL

 

Getting set up in an area where I can get my staples taken out on Friday.  Still recuperating.  Hope everyone had a happy Halloween.  Ours was a very, very quiet one!

 

Till next time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Week 10

Day 64 - October 18 - Lake Norman, NC Area

We stayed close to camp today for more rest and relaxation.  But, right outside of town, we located Murray's Mill.

 

We literally had to hunt this covered bridge.  It was set way off in the woods.   Bunker Hill Bridge, ca. 1895



 

Then we spotted this cute little mural in the town of Sherrills Ford.

Day 65 - October 19 - Travel Day to Seneca, SC where friends, Pam and Frank live. 

But before we left, this little guy, Northern Mockingbird, was hanging out on the fence.



 

We're in North Carolina, but I swear this looks like a Georgia Peach water tower!!



 

Day 66  - October 20 - Seneca, SC Area

We met up with Pam and Frank last night and had good conversation with them and the family.  Today we're off to the Clemson vs. Virginia Tech football game, my first ever college football game!  And what a great time it was.  The tailgating crowd below was set up in the distance.



 

Pam and Frank have a reserved spot for tailgating and we proceeded to set up about 9:30 am.  It's always "beer thirty" when tailgating!!  Frank and son Frank are on the left.

 

The tailgating crowd chowing down.  Pam and son Frank are on the right and daughter Leslie on the far left.

 

Pam is the "queen" of tailgating.  She did a super job of preparing the party.  Yum, Yum.

 

Larry, Pam, Cathy and Frank

 

Noon game start.  Look at all that orange.



 

It was Military Appreciation Day and was told this was the best game of the year to be at.  I'll tell you the story of this football player, No. 83, a little later in the blog.

 

Action on the field.

 

These young men and women are being sworn into military service.

 

More action on the field.

 

As part of the half time show, both team bands performed together in honor of military families that have lost someone in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The people along the sideline are those family members.

 

In rememberence of those lost.

 

The MetLife Blimp.  Did you see us on TV???

 

The scoreboard

 

Every time Clemson makes a touchdown, the Tiger and the Corps do that number of pushups.  By the end of the game they did 38 in a row.

 

Pam and her "Sammy Watkins" T-shirt.



 

The story of No. 83 is a very heartwarming tale.  Rodriguez, No. 83, and a fellow soldier made a promise to each other that after they returned home from Afghanistan, they would both try to play football.  In some type of fire fight, Rodriguez's friend didn't make it and the two pilots shown below rescued Rodriguez and others that day.  Rodriguez came home and walked on the Clemson team.  He was honored this day as part of Military Appreciation Day, carrying out the flag at the beginning of the game and being able to thank the pilots that saved his life.  It was a very moving moment this day.



 

Pam and Larry enjoying the game.  Even Larry has on orange!!

Cathy and Pam having a blast!

Cathy and Larry having fun!!

The Tiger performing the winning pushups.

Pam enjoying the Clemson win.  Final 38-17



After the game we tailgated for a bit longer.  By the way, a South Carolina speciality is boiled peanuts.  Apparently you have to acquire a taste for them, cuz Larry and I thought they tasted like beans!!

 

 Day 67 - October 21 - Seneca, SC Area

 

Today after lunch we all went for a drive in the countryside.  This is the view from the Whitewater Falls hike.

 

 

Whitewater Falls

 

Pam and Cathy

 

The fall color is alive in the mountains.

 

View from Sumter National Forest

 

Stumphouse Mountain Tunnel - an incomplete RR tunnel for the Blue Ridge RR Company of South Carolina ca. 1856

 

The tunnel was filled with about 1/2" of water on the sides.

 

Issaquenna Falls

 

 Day 68 - October 22 - Seneca, SC Area

 

Today I rode with Pam, her mother-in-law and Leslie to take Leslie back to college in Columbia.  Here is Leslie and her grandmother in her dorm room. 

 

Katelyn (Leslie's roommate), Pam and Leslie

 

Day 69 - October 23 - Seneca, SC Area

 

Today I had an appt. to get my hair cut then Pam and I toured around Clemson and Seneca.  This is the clock tower on the Clemson University campus. 

 

And another building on campus.

 

Pam had never been to the Seneca RR Depot before, so of course I drug her over there!!

We had a wonderful time visiting with Pam, Frank and the family.  We thoroughly enjoyed the game and all the hospitality the Lamson-Scribners bestowed upon us during our stay in the area.  Looking forward to the next visit.

 

Day 70 - October 24 - Travel Day to Stone Mountain, GA

 

Until next time.

 

 



Week 9

Day 57 - October 11 - Pipestem State Park, WV Area

We've headed back into West Virginia on the southeast side that we didn't get to earlier in our WV trip.  This part of the countryside is a just as beautiful as the rest of West Virginia.  Today we are heading north and east from our Pipestem location.  Here is another beautiful river and mountains. 

 

This is our entrance into Beartown State Park.

 

This description below describes the Beartown SP area.

 

This is an old hand crank water fountain that actually works.

 

From Beartown SP we headed to White Sulpher Springs and home to the Greenbrier, one of the world's most famous and elegant resorts, dating to 1778.  Also underground the Greenbrier is the relocation facility for Congress that the government built during the cold war years.  The facility remained in a state of readiness for more than 30 years when outed by The Washington Post in 1992.  In 1995 tours were started, but we didn't get in this day because it was already booked up.  Just recently, the FedEx Cup Greenbrier Classic was held here.  We were told we probably couldn't afford to play golf here, and they were right!!  Below are some pictures of the hotel and grounds.

 

This is in the Women's Restroom!!

 

 

This is the entrance to the "Monte Carlo" type casino.  Not our type of casino.  The men have to wear jackets just to get in!!

 

There were many cottages and houses on the property as well as the hotel.

 

The high $$ golf course.

 

White Sulphur Springs Depot and Christmas Shop

 

Herns Mill Bridge, ca. 1884



 

The General Lewis Inn, ca. 1834



Lewisburg, WV, America's Coolest Small Town

 

The Old Mill, ca. 1797

 

 



Day 58 - October 12 - Pipestem State Park Area

 

Today we stayed in the State Park and toured around the local area.  This little chipmunk was scampering around our campsite.

 

Bluestone Lake, just outside the state park

Bluestone River

 

Pipestem Falls

 

I love the orange colors!

 

There are two lodges at Pipestem.  One is only accessible by Tram, which we checked out here.

 

The Bluestone River running by the lodge.

 

Again, the trees were just stunning.

 

We took a short hike to Long Branch Lake.

 

And look at these colorful trees across the lake.

What a perfect Christmas tree!!

Overlooks at Pipestem SP

This overlook tower is at 3000' elevation where the brown marker is.

Sight from the overlook tower.

 Day 59 - October 13 - Pipestem State Park Area

Today we headed due north to Gauley Bridge, WV with our first stop at Cathedral Falls.

Then to Kanawha Falls, also in Gauley Bridge.

Gauley River

Hawks Nest State Park

The New River Gorge

Our Jet Boat excursion we'll be taking to see the New River Gorge Bridge.

Captain Ron

Sights from the jet boat excursion.

The New River Gorge Bridge - the largest single span arch bridge in the hemisphere.  Views from the New River.

Our jet boat excursion.

An unnamed waterfall

Babcock State Park - The Glade Creek Grist Mill, one of the most photographed sites in the state.

Look at these reds and oranges!

The New River Gorge area

The New River Gorge

Some beautiful purple flowers in the midst of all the fall color.

The New River Gorge Bridge.  Views from the Canyon Rim Overlook.

View from smaller bridge crossing New River

Floaters on the river

and kayakers too going through the whitewater

 

 

Views from the New River (opposite direction of the jet boat excursion)

View from underneath. 

Day 60 - October 14 - Pipestem State Park Area

Today we played golf at Pipestem State Park Golf Course.  It was another beautiful golf course with spectacular views!

This guy didn't even run away!

What a view from the tee box.

And another great view!

Day 61 - October 15 - Pipestem State Park Area

Today we drove a little north to Beckley.  On the way, more beautiful fall colors.

Our visit to West Virginia wouldn't be complete without a visit to a coal mine.  This is the Exhibition Coal Mine in Beckley which gives us an overview of what the coal mining industry was like in the early days.

My pictures in the coal mine didn't turn out too good.  Riding on the rails through the coal mine.  Notice how low the ceiling is.

Extensions going out in all directions.

 

Precious coal

 

Riding the rails again.

 

Beams holding up the ceiling.

 

Cutting tools

 

Our guide and narrator, a retired coal miner, explains how this bucket is used to hold hot meals.

 

The coal companies would build and supply housing for all the coal miners.

This is an example of a single mans house.

 

One room

 

This is an example of the Superintendent's house -- more elaborate.

 

  

 

And this is an example of a family man house.

 

 

And of course, the outhouse!

 

The Chapel

 

And the precious coal!



 

There are a lot of new safety measures today used in the coal mining industry, but even still, accidents will and do still happen.  Having been in the coal mine gives one a healthy respect for the guys and gals that risk their lives in this industry.

 

Leaving Beckley we ventured back over to the New River Gorge Area, specifically the Sandstone Visitor Center and Sandstone Falls.  This is a gorgeous area of the New River.

 

 



 



 

Note the RR track running along the river.

 

  

Leaving the visitor center we headed over to an overlook of Sandstone Falls.  While here we ran into a young lady and her two sons.  We got to talking (as she noticed our Texas plates) and found out her sister lives in Katy.  Its a small, small world!!

 

 The falls from river level.







 

 

 

Some more oddities in West Virginia!!



 

And the leaves back in our campground were stunning.

 

Day 62 - October 16 - Travel Day to Sherrills Ford Campground on Lake Norman in North Carolina.

 On the way over, the trees are still showing their colors.

 

Some of the landscape in the area.  You can tell we've left the WV mountains!!

 

Our RV overlooking beautiful Lake Norman.

 

Day 63 - October 17 - Lake Norman, NC Area

 

Today was a much needed rest and relaxation day. 

 

Till next time!