The HANDFUL

We had a little houseguest this week and while it was just a short visit we had lots of fun. We are already back North with her where lots of bathroom remodel work is happening. We did a bit of visiting and had lots of visitors while she was here. Always fun to have her stay. I think the highlight of her visit if she were telling it would be having a weinee roast and smore night in the backyard!

She is growing up...

Having the cousins visit was also lots of fun...

Putting up the ceiling drywall is just one of the several task on the todo list for this weekend!

Total bathroom remodel of not one but two bathrooms iswhat Stumble and Bumble are currently knee deep involved in. It's not a quick paced job but progress is being made. Stay tuned.

The HANDFUL

Got the Northern Crew here for a few days and ain't nobody mad about that! Lots going on with a birthday celebration tomorrow.

She got a great 25c buy at a yard sale this morning!

The HANDFUL

The best thought out plans change! So on Sunday we were rested and ready and decided to head on into Great Smoky Mountain National Park... Yeah, I'm not gonna say it was m.i.s.t.a.k.e. but it WAS super duper busy and crowded.  The drive up to Clingman's Dome was long and bumper to bumper traffic. People were doing pull off parking about for the last half mile up. When we left they were even farther back on both sides of the road. But the mini donuts on the way there were scrumptious!

Walking up the .5 mile path to the Dome was a worlout. Gracious! It was straight up, ooh-kay, okay, maybe NOT straight up but up at a huge angle. I made it. Views were good, some haze but still overall a spectacular view. Took the time to stop (wait in line) at the little ranger store on the way down in hopes of scoring a T-shirt but no joy. Not only are they VERY proud of their T-shirts at GSMNP ($34.99) they didn't have a size M in hardly any styles I liked. I'm just disappointed that the last few NPs we have visited are so stinkin' expensive with their T-shirts. Why?

We started our trek home this week. There were several routes to take and we pretty much had decided to just wing it but when we hit Kentucky we were sooooo close to Mammoth Cave National Park we decided to stop. And stop is all we did. While I had been here and got to take a cave tour in my childhood MiRVB had not so we were plannig to do the self guided tour like we did at Carlsbad. Nope, that didn't work out, they had no tickets for this type tour until October 18th. So we got the T-shirts (which were much cheaper than any other Park we visited and just as cool) and motored on.

As we motored we passed a very large GM factory... and as we pass MiRV realizes it is the corvette factory. Next thing I know we are crossing three lanes of traffic to make that exit and find ourselves in the parking lot of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Now I'm quickly googling and find out there are factory tours. We head inside to get the scoop. Unfortunately, no tours, you know COVID and all. So since we are here and all we just decide to tour the museum instead and $28.00 later we are in the museum theater learning all things corvette. While it was a cool stop, the venue has a big focus on the sinkhole that occurred a few years back. By far the Harley Davidson musuem in Wisconson is way better. But it you're a 'vette enthusiast I'm sure you'll enjoy a visit. MiRV certainly did. AND we go the T-shirts though MiRV would have preferred to pick up an actual corvette there!

Thankfully, we are back at the Meadow, have ROADA tucked away (although she needs to get in for a looksy at the water tank issue and service) and now we are catching up on home chores. I have sadly only really scratched the surface on our trip. There were so many more things we were able to see and do and I have just not captured them, this makes my crazy but also I know I cannot put everything here so I have attempted the highlights. 

The HANDFUL

So we did make it onto the Blue Ridge Parkway via Skyline Drive which was just beginning to pop with fall colors and another National Park. Ohio has a national park...who knew? Well, MiRV did, so we planned a stop. Stopping was not easy. This is NOT an RV friendly National Park. We were, thankfully, able to snag a spot to park at the Ledges area (though truth be told we took up three spaces and just prayed for the best). We hiked the 2.5 mile trail and enjoyed the scenery. We tried to get to some of the Falls in the park but there was NO parking to be had for an oversized vehicle. We even drove waaaaay out of way and still no joy; I call that a BIG party foul. We were able to get into the visitor center and see one of the neat bridges but it was a no go for most other areas.

Oh, and the update on our water tank is that we believe it is still leaking. Spoke with the dealership and we will just be without onboard water and address it with the RV repair shop when we return to MO. So there is that to contend with upon our return.

Alright, well today we are heading on to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park via Tsali Campground in the Cherokee National Forest. We have been in Tennessee the last couple days. 

So fun to get together with these people!

So driving Skyline Drive was neat in a lot of ways. Had some beuatiful views and swirly, curvy roads, though I feel like the Blue Ridge Parkway was even more swirlier, curvier, twisty turny. So the ride was at times notsomuch fun for me...but again, scenery was very pretty to look at with so many shades of yellow and green it was amazing to see. If you can take a look at the many beautiful landscapes and scenery without being able to belive in creation perhaps you need your eyes checked. God created such a beautiful world for us, it saddens me to think about how we are not being good stewards of all that He has so freely given to us.

We have decided to take a couple down days and wait out the weekend before moving on. It is fall break in this area and we have definitely noticed an increase in the crowds. Our plan is to just chillax until Monday before we head into GSMNP. I haven't been here since childhood and remember virtually nothing. MiRV was last here while on his AT ThruHike.

The HANDFUL

It's been a week of travel for us...we are in OHIO and stuck at the MB dealership with a BlueDEF issue on ROADA. Thankfully, we were able to make it to the dealership before the dreaded limp mode kicked in. Also, thankful that said dealership could take on the repair. We did have some quality reading time while hanging out in the waiting area. We also got to reconnect with some Alabama folks. 

The other three dealerships we called gave us no reassurances they would be able to get us in...sooooo after 2.5 days here in Dayton we are back on the road, albeit with a water tank situation that remains to be seen if it is resolved. Nevertheless, we are heading East in the morning. Grateful to Katie and her team for the assist. 

We came to Ohio for a retirment...funny how things work out. Met these fine folks in Italy, stationed again together in Nebraska, last saw them in Texas in 2016. Military connections are funny like that you just meet up whenever and it's always good. 

Congrats to the the newly retired Chief!

The retirement ceremony was at the museum which was very cool!

Oh, and there was definitely more bathroom reno progress before our departure...plumbing progress. 

AND we got a couple days at the Indiana Dunes National Park...while I wouldn't want to discourage anyone from ever visiting one of our national treasures I have to say this particular park seems underwhelming. Nonethless, we visited and made some memories. Did a little hiking and enjoyed a little downtown after an exceptionally busy last three weeks!

Here we come Blue Ridge Parkway!