A little catch up...We are back at Don's

August 15th...Crossville TN..We left this morning and headed for Clif's house in Crossville TN.  We had a beautiful ride taking the back roads all the way to Crossville.  Ken started feeling a bit queasy so we stopped at Mickey D's and got him a couople of sausage burritos and a little nap while I drove.  We arrived a Clif's after checking into the KOA cabin we had rented for the night.  We visited for a bit and then he took us sightseeing in his new Dodge truck.  Good thing he was driving, as we'd have been lost!  Saw where he used to live when he lived there in the 70's...also Crossville, was a town that during the   great depression received the benefits of the "New Deal".  252 houses were granted to people who qualified, and they also received between 20 and 40 acres of land to farm.  The houses are just adorable!  They helped build the houses and then moved their families into them.  I believe part of the deal was they had to live in the house for so many  years before they could be sold.  We saw alot of those homes!  Also went through the state park there and many other places in town.  After the drive went back to Clif's for more of a visit and some of his delicious spaghetti.  Made plans to meet the next am for breakfast.

August 16th...had a nice night at the KOA.  Don't think I would stay in a cabin there again, as the one we were in was a long walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night!  Other than that it was a great stay! 

We met Clif at his house and then went to breakfast at Kali's in town.  Good breakfast and such reasonable prices...After that we went to the "Homestead Museum" in town and learned about the cute houses we had seen yesterday. Then went to the top of the museum and looked about.  We left there and went to the "Crabtree House"..so we actually got to go inside one of the houses.  They are so cute, 3 bedroom 1 bath, kitchen, dining and living room...I could live in one now!!  We said goodbye to Clif and then headed for Chatanooga TN.

After checking in at the Holiday travel park, we decided to take a little ride and go to the Chatanooga/Chikamounga Battlefield.  It was about 1630 when we got there so didn't have much chance to look around, but did take the driving tour...nice job they did on America's first Military Park.  

Went back to the cabin, and Ken bar b qued some chicken legs and thighs..yummy for  him.

August 17th...Got up late, and I do mean late...we were down at the bathroom when the cleaning lady came in so around 1000 or so...left camp and headed for Ruby Falls.  I had been there when I was around 7 or so and then in 1985 we took our kids there.  Decided since we were so close we needed to do it again.  Unfortunately things change and we weren't impressed!  The tour probably had about 45 people in it, and then you met up with other tours coming out of the falls area..so commercialized, we both felt like we did when we were at Antelope Canyon last  year.  So that's a done deal forever..I'd hate to see how they handle it when school is out and it's loaded with kids..

I wanted to do zip lining, and next door supposedly had one, but it was more focused on being in the trees and an obstacle course about 45 foot off the ground..nope didn't work for me (even if you're harnessed)..so we took a drive to the top of Lookout MT and then back to camp..can't believe how fast time goes.  Got there late afternoon, so we went to the pool and spent a relaxing rest of the day.  Ken bar b qued some chicken thighs and then time to call it a night. 

August 18th..Set alarm for 0600 and got up at 0700...got out of there and went to Cracker Barrel for a fairly late breakfast.  YUMMY!! Then a nice leisurely drive back to Don's beautiful and here we are for the next little while! Ken's mowing the lawn and well, this is what I am doing! 

Salmon burgers and veggie burgers for dinner!

A beautiful day in Tennessee!

August 14th...Cornersville TN...Woke up about 0700...and worked on getting ready to go to the big town of Franklin, about an hour north of here..We did and visited Sam's Club and spent a little money of course!  After that we went to Chuys a mexican restaurant in town...I had their veggie enchiladas omg they were awesome!  Stopped at Kroger grocery and picked up stuff to make my own here at home.  They look awesome! We'll see how they taste later. 

We're getting ready to see Clif, tomorrow and then head for Ruby Falls.  We haven't been their since 1985.  We'll be back here on Saturday.  Beautiful weather today...yesterday we had a great thunder and lightning show..it's pretty clear today and about 85degrees.  

Grandma had some teeth pulled yesterday and implants put in, guess she's in a pretty good amount of pain..but the end result should be worth it for her.  

A beautiful day in TN!

August 12th...Cornersville, TN...Woke up in the new bed Don and Dana purchased for us...awesome!  Took our time in the am and just enjoyed the temps and the view outside.  Ken unloaded the car, I helped a bit and then we decided we needed to hit Walmart for some items. 

Headed over to POP's bar b q and truck stop for a nice lunch. I had their one trip salad bar for 2.99 and ken settled on a fried catfish sandwich with fries. 

Got back to the house, and got out the kindle and a chair, sat under the big tree out back and started reading.  Diane called so that put an end to that! WE had a nice conversation!  

Later on Ken was bar b quing some veggie burgers and called his mom.  He talked a while and then my turn.  

August 13th...Woke up about 7, coffee, breakfast and then we'll see.  Ca and surrounding areas are experiencing a heat wave...about 107.  We are experiencing about 85 and a little breeze..supposed to warm later in the week but for now it's great! 

We're here in Cornersville!!

August 11th...Cornersville TN!  We made it here about 1900 hours.  We got up this morning about 0430 and had our coffee and meandered to the showers in Eureka Springs AR KOA.  Left about 0630 and had breakfast at the Forest Cafe. yummy!!  I had the veggie omelet and Ken had corned beef hash and eggs. The fried potatoes were incredible...ok I know I shouldn't have them but I did give half to Ken.  Makes it ok doesn't it?! 

We left there and decided to take highway 412 all the way to Columbia TN.  Beautiful..certainly slower than the freeway but so much to look at. I love looking at all the homes along the way.  The crops planted and most ready to harvest.  Haven't figured out the corn crop though, as most looks dead. So did they already pick somehow and just let this go so far? interesting..

We got here to Cornersville about 1900 and came into the house...Don and Dana had bought a new bedroom set for "our room"...beautiful. We were planning on staying on the air mattress we bought last time, which would have been just fine..but this is incredible..will have to get pics tomorrow! The weather was perfect when we got here, about 80 with a breeze! 

August 10th...We left the KOA just below Wichita and headed out. We didn't leave till about 1030 as we just puttered around...oh well..we ended up in Eureka Springs about 1830...not bad after the late start..We had to change the tire on the trailer first as it was flat this am..we ended up babying it as far as we could and then in Coffeyville KS we had to buy three new tires..not fun and not cheap but had to be done..Dollar tire did a good job! 

August 9th...WE spent the night at the Goodland KS KOA..we visited Jenn's mom in Stratton and had a nice visit.

We're getting to TN...slowly...

August 6th...spent the night at Rock Springs KOA...we had been there in May..ok place to spend the night but nothing special.  Alot of locals live there, working people.  Still a nice night! Don's birthday today, he turned 52! I remember when he was 6 and I was his reading buddy! WOW!

August 7th...Got up and left fairly early and ended up in Strasburg Co just outside of Denver.  We stopped at a rest area and had a nice lunch.  WE were trying to meet up with Don and Dana somewhere as we're going east and they're going west.  Didn't happen as we took the 287 from Laramie WY and they stayed on 25.  Enjoyed our evening and decided not to set the alarm.  I've had a horrible cough and it's just taken the wind out of my sails.  

August 8th...Well, we slept in and it was about 1100 when we left the KOA!  Great, easy morning.  We drove on I70 and when we hit the town of Stratton we decided to see if Paul's friends were home. (Ken, KC and Paul visited with them in Sept 2009)   Mom and her almost dau in law, Britteny were there, so we visited for about an hour.  Very nice people and a nice visit.  We left and by then, we decided we weren't going too far.  So we came 19 mi over the border of KS and ended up at the KOA in Goodland.  Had  a really nice afternoon, swimming in the pool (we were the only ones there) did a load of laundry (yes reality catches up )...but a nice relaxing day!! 

Saw on FB that Jacob and Aaron started school today! Hope all went well!  Jacob in the 6th and Aaron in the 2nd! They grow up way to quickly!!!

Tennessee here we come!!

August 5th...Winnemucca and Wendover NV..Left about 1130 this morning..got 22 miles from Winnemucca and came to a dead stop on the freeway.  There was a crash, toyhauler had overturned and fell apart along with the f150 towing it.  We were stopped for about 45 min, so I climbed in the back of the cabover and made some lunch...just finished and off we went.  Thunder and lightning everywhere...fires too!  WE made it to Wendover and decided that was far enough for the day (my kind of driving, about 250 mi)..


Had some veggie burgers and salad for dinner, then bed about 10.  Warm all night long...Up early and on we will go! 

Getting ready to go to Tennessee!!

August 3rd..Winnemucca...Today I ran to town to pick up a few groceries and some meds for while we're gone.  Ken changed oil and got trailer hooked up, not sure how we're gonna secure car on the trailer.  We will leave either tomorrow or Sunday at the latest.  Don and Dana leave TN for CA on Monday am.  It's hot here and everywhere I guess.  Not much too exciting just working on getting ready. 


August 2nd...Winnemucca..We were in CA after our Dr appt on the 1st.  Things were good for me, I lost 17 pounds in the last 4 months. Lots of my cholesterol numbers dropped, so Dr Grant was happy about that, but my triglycerides went up!  She wants me to try and go "gluten free" and of course still the no meat low low cholesterol.  I know I drink too much wine, and in researching triglycerides I found that wine increases it...so less (much less) wine.  
While I was there, she called Ken in to talk about his prostrate ultrasound and told him a few things to do to hopefully keep drugs and surgery out of the mix. He is going to be trying some herbs and saw  palmetto to see how that helps. Appts in November when we get back. 


August 1st...Had the dr appt, some veggie chinese and headed for Georgetown.  Bryan had cooked some delicious hamburgers and fries. Yes, I did eat a hamburger, because I had gone 4 months with no meat I decided to treat myself.  Delicious! Now back on the diet~!
After leaving Bryan's house in the am we ran into Chris and the boys on the way to Dr. Seth had a good crash night b4 during bmx and ended up dislocating his shoulder...ouch! 


I am really hoping to be better on this blog as we travel. Looking forward to this trip and hard to believe when we get back it will be November!!