Spout Springs

From Chesterfield we drove to Spout Springs. We were de-parkers and as I was hitching up I noticed a "funny" looking tire. So rather than do my de-parking duties, I changed a tire. It must have had a flat spot 'cause it was worn right down to the cords and next to it was raised tread. A very dangerous situation.  Glad I found it. The spare has been removed now and a new tire is in its place.

Finally getting on the road we made it to Spout Spring OK. At Spout Spring as I jacked up the trailer the jack went through the bottom skin of the trailer even though I had the jack in the proper location, so Airstream put the "star" in the wrong place.

Touring here was a treat, we first visited the site of Sailor's Creek Battlefield. Union lost 1,148 men and the Confederates lost 7,700 dead or captured. This was the last major battle between Lee and Grant.

Lunch was at a place called Charley's Waterfront Cafe. Food was good, deserts were terrific! After lunch we went to visit High Bridge, which is 120 feet high and set afire after the Confederates crossed it in retreat. Unfortunately for them the Union was hot on their tails and the fire was put out.

Next day was free so we did the tire thing mentioned above. Were unable to purchase the same brand but the spare is replaced with a new tire.

Wednesday, April 17th we visited the Museum of the Confederacy in Appomattox which is the overflow of stuff not in Richmond. The highlight was a speaker who talked about R. E. Lee. One of the best talks ever.

The afternoon we visited and toured Appomattox Court House, VA where Lee surrendered to Grant at the home of Wimer McLean, on April 9, 1865. An interesting fact was the first battle at Bull Run occurred at Mr. McLeans home and farm so he moved so his family would not be subjected to the war, then his new home ended up being the site of the surrender's signing four years later.

It is unfortunate but I forgot to bring our camera on our visit of Appomattox but the memories will forever be imprinted on my mind.

Daddy and Annie at play.

Shirley took this picture of Annie, she is growing up right before our very eyes.

We play a lot.

For those of you that have not noticed, Annie is growing. She has been in 9 states so far and is learning to look out as we drive along. We are even sleeping now.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Chesterfield Activities, CW Part III

This is written on April 16th which is the first day I have had to write. By Tuesday evening, April 9th, everyone had arrived and we headed for or welcome dinner where we introduced ourselves and renewed friendships. As usual we had a great meal and a great time.

Next morning saw us leaving at 7 am to take Annie to her first kennel stay. As the lady said, "Annie is ready, but you are not," meaning Shirley. It was hard for both of us as she has been with us 24/7 since she came into our lives. It must be like taking your child to the first day of class and leaving them at school.

The bus ride into Richmond made us glad we had a bus driver to rely on. Very busy place with very narrow streets. Here we visited the Chimborazo Hospital and Hollywood Cemetery, both of which were significant in the Civil War. Lunch was on our own so we ate at Cary Town, a famous area in Richmond.

From here we toured Richmond via bus including visiting the monuments celebrating the civil wars participants...all Confederate of course.

There were brush fires, so most highways were blocked and it took several hours to get back to camp, and even longer to reach Annie's kennel. We were very glad to all be reunited once again. Annie did fine, we were frazzled.

Day two, April eleventh, we left at 7 am for the kennel then took the bus back to Richmond where we went to the Museum of the Confederacy and also visited the Confederate White House where Jefferson Davis lived and did most of his work.

I purchased a Confederate belt buckle here to wear instead of my Union buckle because I did not want to be lynched by some of these Confederate sympathizers.

Friday, the twelfth, we drove to Petersburg National Battlefield. Saw a movie, then had a ranger tour, toured the battle ground, then visited the museum and finally visited Blandford Church. This battlefield was important because this was the last time Lee and Grant fought each other. It is also where the Union dug a tunnel under the Confederate Army, filled it with explosives and ignited it to blow them all up. Unfortunately, the Union army fell into the crater and many Union soldiers were killed. Had this not occurred the outcome of the war would have been no different, but hundreds of people died on both sides.

Statue of riderless horse to commemorate the thousands of horses and mules killed.

Shirley and a Confederate Soldier

Ruins of Treegar Iron Works, built cannon and trains.

Blandford Church became a hospital during the war.

Our Leaders, Ed and Beth

The Confederate White House.

Iron works compared with the modern city.

Statue at Pamplin Historic Park.

Mascot at battle.

More statues at Pamplin.

Original home at Pamplin area.

This is exhausting.

OK Yankee, come and get it.

Over 8 thousand unknown Confederates are buried here in Hollywood Cemetary.

Ranger talk just off the crater. 

Original fortifications have filled in a little from 150 years ago.

More rangers talking.

Is that Jerry Brown?

Combination storm celler and museum.

Proud parents.

On our day to visit Petersburg, Annie was left at home and it was just too much for her so she has gotten to go along the rest of the time.

Long Blog, but a lot is happening. Much More later.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Gathering of the group.

This is our first real day in VA. After last nights rain we took care of chores. Made it to Batteries Plus for  our MiFi then I took a solo trip to find Costco and got on a turnpike and had no change and no person to pay in dollars so I drove off to the sound of sirens and snapping cameras so I will probably be arrested before long for a $0.25 infraction.

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Shirley and Annie at our campground in Chesterfield Va.

Things are settling down, we are more rested. Our drive out was hard because we did not stop at all. A few people arrived yesterday and one couple arrived the day before, the Luthers, and we had a nice happy hour with them.

Shirley did laundry yesterday. Today I renewed the water etc. for our 5 day stay when everyone gets here. We have already found a kennel for Annie as our first two days, tomorrow and Thursday, we have bus rides and we don't think she can 7 hours in her crate by herself.

Weather has gone from rain, to freezing to last nights low of 57. Annie is meeting new people each day and now and calms down faster. Last night she threw up all over Shirley on her nightly potty break. She eats everything and anything, so no wonder.

More later after the group arrives.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Made it to the Eastern US

We are at the rendezvous site in Chesterfield, VA! From Natchez Trace in TN we drove to the Edgar Evans state park, still in TN. We were still glowing from our experience at the last two state parks so pushed on to this park. It was on a very narrow two lane road that wound up and up and up. Finally we arrived.

We were tired, and no body was there. Was this our April fools surprise? This park has a lake and mountains. We parked in a "parking lot" and finally found some people camped and they told us it was OK to park any place and the ranger would find us. So we walked and found a place we liked. I have parked in some hard places, I can back into a garage in Colfax, but try as hard as I could, I could not park here!

Finally, giving up we headed for the exit and learned we had been on a little one lane road with no room to turn, the two lane road would make it much easier so we found another place and finally parked. It was getting dark and the power was on the wrong side of the site and the angle of the trailer and truck made it almost impossible to unhitch which we had to do because we stuck out into the roadway.

Finally it all came together and we spent the night. The ranger found us late at night and Annie got her first chance to signal we had visitors. She went to the door and looked at me as if asking, what do I do now?

Next day we were on the road again headed for NC we made it near Asheville where we spent the night in a regular RV park. It was cold, very cold and windy but I did the necessary duties outside and we finally made it to bed.

Morning on the 3rd saw us driving with the trailer for the Biltmore Estate. This monster house is on 8,000 acres of land and now hires 1,800 people to maintain it. Long story here but it took 45 miles before we were out of there. Look it up on the internet, much too much to explain here.

By 1 pm we were back on the road headed for Greensboro, NC where Shirley was able to find matching silver that had been her mothers. After the tour we headed for the towns only RV park, arrived there after closing and one look at the place decided it was not for us. So we decided to try Lucille, our GPS and find a Cracker Barrel for the night. Lucille led us to a very undesirable area of town where we felt lucky to survive getting out and headed back to the freeway. Ultimately we found a Cracker Barrel and spent a restful night there.

On the 4th we arrived here in Chesterfield at a VA state park where it rained all night. Yesterday the 5th we had nice weather, purchased a new battery for our MiFi and found a kennel for Annie if we can get the courage to use it on our first two days of caravan where we will be on a bus on those days. We do not want to leave our Annie.

Finally got set up.

The corps built these for motor homes. Scary parking on boards.

Cabins in the VA state park.

Our campsite in VA, we seem to attract water.

In front of the Biltmore, Shirley is with Gerry Brown!

We spent most of our time on the grounds, was like a Macy's sale inside.

Good to be here early enough to get some thing done. Seems we need propane too.


See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Off the beaten path

If you have been reading our blog we have grown tired of the wonders of the freeways.  We've seen it before. Due to being in a hurry we have avoided sight seeing until we reach our destination. But we have learned to take secondary roads and stop in state parks for relief.  We stopped in the Village Creek State Park, just out of Memphis. It had rained all day, sometimes quite hard, but we stopped here and saw the movie on the place. Very interesting, and had a nice rest.

Next morning we left late, due to laziness and rain. Both got wet running to the showers, but it was relatively warm so it was OK. I even washed the trailer so it looked nice for about 5 miles.

Last night we stayed in the Natchez Trace state park in TN. Very nice, cold last night but warm now as we are leaving. They have had five days of rain but sunny and very nice right now. We drove the Trace a couple of years ago and loved its beauty, we are just a little early this year. But how many can say they have slept in the Natchez Trace?

Things are looking up. The toilet that would not flush has partially healed itself so we no longer have to add water.

More later as things develop.

After a days drive we have learned we all need exercise.

And sometimes we all need to relax.

This is our campsite in Village Creek State Park, Wynne, AR

Even daddy gets exercise duty.

Sometimes we play.

Sometimes we learn to sit.

Mommy likes to play also.










See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Made it to Arkansas

Since the last blog things have gone rather smoothly except we are getting tired. We have seen all this and because we stayed later so Annie could get her shots we have not stopped to see anything new.

We drove uneventfully through the cold country and even passed Santa Rosa to spend the night in Tucumcari, NM. This was OK except we felt the RV park was kinda sleazy. No grass in sight but it had cable TV and WIFI so we managed.

From here we made it to Amarillo, TX and stayed in an older park which was very dog friendly. We arrived early and Shirley did laundry etc. Annie played and it was kind of a day of rest.

We left Texas and drove into Oklahoma. Just outside Oklahoma City where we stayed at a park that included breakfast. This was different for us. Our next door neighbor was a pipe fitter and had just "drug up" (quit his job) this was fun for me 'cause my dad had been a pipeline welder and I kinda know the language of these construction workers.

We awoke to cloudy skies and thunder, and lightening. After a stop at Walmart and the hail stopped we drove all the way to Fort Smith, AR where rain and thunder storms are forecast. If we can survive tonight we will try to make it to Memphis, TN where we should be out of most of the forecast bad weather.

Annie has been wonderful except for tonight; she peed on the rug in our trailer. She had been taken outside four times but just wanted to play, so nature won out. Disappointing, but we have been told they sometimes forget things and revert back to being babies. Hopefully she will remember next time.

Anyway we have had no mishaps other than stuff breaking in the trailer, the shower and toilet not flushing. We have appointments at Airstream in Jackson Center for after our caravan.

Things will be OK.

Which one is Annie?

Couldn't pass these up, saw then at a rest stop.

Part of the decor at the Amarillo RV Park.

Shows the threat of weather.

Annie loves football.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie

Day three, four and five with Annie

Bakersfield was nice for us, we bought some oranges at a fuel stop and received some for "free" at Orange Grove RV Park after paying $33.00. A nice shower was much appreciated and we parked across from an Airstream from our local unit.

Annie once again proved to be learning and so far there have been no accidents in the trailer or truck. Next morning we drove to Tehachapi where I stopped at a Home Depot to purchase a shutoff valve so we could use our shower and not waste water draining into our holding tank. I left Shirley and Annie to fend for themselves and they did very well, Annie did her business and Shirley visited with passers by.

We hit the road and made it to Needles and stayed at the Elks, we have been there before and it worked out fine. Last time it was in the hundreds, this time it was cold. Annie had to go out at 1 am so we both went out with her to look for coyotes as she did her thing. It seems coyotes will lay under your trailer smelling the dog and as you come out...grab the dog for a nice snack.

We thought it was cold in Needles, our next night was in Winslow. We saw an ad for an RV park and we were tired so we stopped. It was a very nice place, the people were very cordial and accommodating; a great place to take a puppy. We ran the furnace all night as the low was 24 degrees. Annie's trips outside were taken care of by Shirley as I slept. My outside duty came in the early hours. Yes, it was cold.

Weather has been great, if you like cold, highs 54 low tonight here in Grants forecast to be 14 degrees.  Tomorrow we are headed for Santa Rosa, NM then we should start heading to a lower altitude and less freezing weather, but they are having storms in the eastern US. Nevertheless we can do nothing about weather and will survive.

Oh, now I get it, you just look outside.

Shirley & Annie looking at some snow.

Ya' gotta admit, I'm cute.

Shirley and Annie enjoying the morning together.

Annie found a football in Needles.

By the way, Annie just learned how to open her crate.  More to come later.

See Ya! Barry, Shirley and Annie