As we continue our trek west, we’ve stopped in Chattanooga Tennessee for the next week before pushing on. A great campground although I’ve made a few observations worth noting. The Smokey Mountains are just that with the humidity. Such a beautiful and serene place. The people are friendly and the attitude is very laid back.
I’m going on a bit of a rant so bear with me. Gentlemen, if you are over 20 years old, please reconsider going shirtless. Unless you have washboard abs, no one wants to see you were the beer bong champion in college. Also, if you are my age, 64+, just don’t! Self image aside, man boobs are not pleasant to look at, period! Also men my age, please, for the love of God, no speedos under any circumstance. We don’t want to see a sagging banana hammock under any circumstances and for goodness sake, the mankini is simply wrong!!!!
The Raccoon Mountain Campground is awesome. We are in a great site which is next to the check in office, where we get to see all the action. We deliberate on each guest entering and we’ve basically became the campground greeters. So much fun and interesting to see the people and their rigs upon their arrival. The difference between full timers and weekenders is amazing to watch. A full timer has their rig set up in about 15 minutes, while the weekend warriors are good for an hour and a half. Sometimes is quite entertaining as they unipack 300 lbs of gear, which for the most part they’ll never use. LOL
We’ve all ready had some interesting folks come and join us in our camp. Met a couple from the Las Vegas/ Pahrump area and they turned us on to the Lodge foundry where we’ll go to see if there’s anymore cast iron we can’t live without. Also met a couple from Florida with the cutest miniture Australian Shepards you’ve ever want to meet. They were just so happy and friendly. They were well loved and so full of joy. Although we were expecting thunderstorms, they never developed so we splurged and ate our supper outside. Enjoyed spicy pork chops cooked on the flat top with beans cooked in our new cast iron pot on the induction stove. Will head into Chatanooga tomorrow to garner supplies and then Tuesday plan on Ruby Falls and then Lookout mountain railroad on Wednesday. Did I mention we’re still digging retirement?
Today is Memorial Day, and although many folks try to say ‘Happy Memorial Day’, after consideration, I don’t think that is necessarily appropriate. I believe, and this is truly one man’s opinion, Memorial Day is intended to be a day of reflection and remembrance of those who sacrificed themselves for our country. Those who wrote their check and it was cashed for our way of life. Vicki and I truly got that feeling as we drove by the National Cemetry in Chattanooga emblazoned with row after row of white marble tombstones. The boy scouts or veterans had adorned each grave with a tiny American flag making a poignant reminder of the ultimate sacrifice these men and women made for their country. So please reflect on that as we enjoy our three day weekend as well.
Our weekend was basically here on the campground, strategizing our next moves as well as enjoying Emmett’s Spokane Baseball Tournament. Six games and Emmett and his teammates pitched, hit and fielded their way to a 6-0 Tournament Championship! They defeated all comers. Ironically, they drove over 300 miles to beat a team that was 10 miles away from Stanwood in Arlington. We are planning on revisiting Ruby Falls and the Look Out Mountain inclined railway over the next couple of days.
Will also have to order some parts for the slides as another tooth has broken out of the passenger slide. Just another repair to be made which is just part of RVing. Also, have to figure out how the ice maker is plumbed as it is not getting water for some reason. Just another day in the life of full time RVers!
Vicki spoke with Frank Saturday, and as per usual, he took the Casino for another $250. How he does it I’ll never understand, but I salute him for his success. He’s doing much better post heart scare, so all is well for the most part. Heading toward 91 and still going strong, relatively speaking.
Nothing too much else to report other than the fact that we’re still loving retirement!
Day 85
Chattanooga is a wonderful stop with plenty to do with lots of history. Having seen most of the tourist stops years ago, we’re basically looking at places we haven’t seen and generally relaxing. We are at a wonderful campground on Raccoon Mountain. Our spot is right next to the check in so we can approve or disapprove of rigs coming and going. Such power!
We went into town and took the inclined railway to the top of Lookout mountain and what an experience. Although the actual trip was only about 5 minutes, the views were breathtaking and the incline was serious. At one point it was a 72% grade, which by any standard is pretty impressive. Came back and had probably the worst cup of coffee we’ve had in months. Tasted like they hadn’t cleaned their grinders since the battle of Chattanooga. We then walked down to Clumpies Ice cream and got a kiddie portion of Ice Cream. I got Coconut/Pecan/Dark Chocolate Cream and Vicki got a Chocolate Peanut Butter concoction that looked really good. We enjoyed that as we watched folks depart on the inclined railway. It made up for the lousy coffee.
The next morning we went to Ruby Falls and took the cave tour there. Same falls as 30 years ago. The only difference was that they rushed us through the tour ala Clark Griswold and the Grand Canyon. Kind of a shame as I would have really liked to explore a bit more in depth the formations within the cave. We were the last folks so at least we could walk a touch slower and I could use my cane as an excuse. Met a cute couple from Minnesota who had just gotten married 3 days ago and were on their honeymoon. They were total funloving crack ups as the pictures can attest. The sun has come out the temperature has climbed accordingly. Glad to have had Dan fix our AC as the rig is a cool 72!!
Hopefully the parts for the RV will arrive tomorrow and we can repair the slide. Chatted with Josh yesterday and all is good after their trip to Spokane for the Memorial Day Tournament which Emmett’s team swept all 6 games for the championship!! All ready 6 tournament wins for the Cannons with still more to play.
Not much else to report other than still loving retirement!
Day 87
The day finds our intrepid heroes busy repairing the RV in preparation for the next leg. We have a West Virginia slide out cog (The cog is missing a few teeth.) that needed to be replaced. Ordered parts from Lichensten RV out of Indiana, a mile from the Winnebago factory, and they next day aired it to us. Ordered 2 since one of the cogs will inevitably fail at some point in time. It took most of the day and with a few false starts with pieces installed upside down, we got the new cog in and everything works just peachy. Intimidating at first, but with inspirational statements from by bride, watching the guy in Perry like a hawk and a little persistence with several breaks, the job got done.
That earned us a New York Strip steak and baked potato for the evening as we settled in for the night. Wouldn’t you know it, something else put up a road block. Went to lower the bed and low and behold, the bed no longer functions. After about a half hour of trying every trick we knew, Vicki moved to the couch and I slept crossways on the lower half of the bed. When we get to our next campsite, we’ll dissemble the bed and see if we cannot determine what has failed and hopefully repair it. If not it will mean dragging the mattress each night out to the living room. Ah the life of full time RVers’
Day 88
After a horrible night of sleep, Vicki on the couch, me on the bed side to side, we packed up and headed west. Raccoon Mountain Campground is a wonderful place to stay while in Chattanooga. Located on the western side of the city, it has easy access to all the tourist attractions while being very quiet and a staff that bends over backwards to serve your every need. With our week at this wonderful campground, we befriended a family of wood chucks which had taken up residence in the campgrounds burn pile. They would scurry around the big field, stand erect occasionally and would bark if we got too close. Vicki said one morning they ran to the pile and then peeked out at her to see if she would leave. Reminded her of the Minnesota Golden Gophers mascot that they use when an opposing kicker trys a field goal. The only thing missing was the dramatic music as it cocked it head to one side and peered at her with one eye. Sadly we left around 9 and headed west on I-24. No issues at all and filled up about 50 miles down the road towards Knoxville.
Soldiered on through Nashville and made it to our campground in Clarksville. No, we didn’t take the last train, we came by RV. LOL. Only people our age will get that reference! This part of Tennessee gave hot new meaning and we were in one of the sunniest parts of the campground. The tin can house that we live in immediately heated up to unbearable and the “30 amp” pedistal we were provided with wasn’t cutting it. So we disconnected, fired up the generator, and ran it until we had cooled the rig down enough to keep from passing out from heat stroke. Had a wonderful breakfast for supper and settled in for a relaxing evening with the telly. Oh and guess what, the bed worked!!! There is a loose wire somewhere, so when we get to an extended stay campground, we’ll see if we can’t find it and secure it. Just a reminder of all the things that can happen when your RVing.
Each and every day, we ask each other if we are still loving this lifestyle. Each a every day the answer is a resounding yes! Always looking forward to meeting new people, seeing a new front yard, and exploring this great country. It’s off to Indiana today and then on to Illinois as we work our way toward St. Louis, Oklahoma City, and finally Las Vegas. Did I mention, we’re still loving retirement.
