.... I wanted to finish day 7's blog,
As I wrote before, day 7, Saturday, we were feeling perky and scheduled a number of tourist activities.
- We took a Grey Line Tour of Nashville, the highlight was visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame and we got done with that about 1 pm.
- We stopped at a Cracker Barrel for lunch... our first full meal in 3 days.
- We purchased Grand Ole Opry tickets online the night before and attended the 7 pm show... which was great!
... at the end of the day, we were feeling about 90%...
So ends day 7,
Day 8,
Today we left Nashville to drive to Lake Ridge RV Resort in Hillsville VA, a 410 mile drive... which we did and I'm tired... it's been a long day. Trudy is a really good driving companion, she stays awake 98% of the time, which helps me passing the time. Tonight we both have saddle sores from sitting all day Dale on the other hand is still wondering what we are doing... he is more relaxed now... he is being pampered a lot so he is OK with the trip.
Today's driving covered some nice scenery as we passed through East Tennessee and into Virginia.
We did stop for Krystal mini-burgers (we hope to also find a White Castle during the trip.)
Tomorrow, day 9, is our final drive to get to Washington D.C., where we will stay for about two weeks.
That's it for tonight... as I said earlier it has been a long day...
Dale, Trudy, and Doug
T minus 0. we have engine ignition and now leaving the launch pad.... we are leaving from Cathedral City (next to Palm Springs) and headed for Washington DC.
Stay tuned for the adventures of Dale the Dog, Trudy, and Doug...
Woof!
Today was a better "get the RV ready" day.
This morning I checked in with the RV store that is servicing our RV ... they said they didn't have my cell number, so they couldn't call and tell me the AC motor and squirrel cage came in and also the replacement fabric for the bedroom slider. I kept my thoughts to myself about them not having my telephone number .... With the parts in, I now have an appointment set for next Thursday to install the replacement parts.
Next, as I mentioned in an earlier blog, we'll be renting a Uhaul car dolly in Washington D.C., to bring back a Honda Accord. I wanted to make sure the RV towing hitch and wiring worked now so we wouldn't have surprises back in Washington, D.C., when we pick up the auto dolly. So this morning I took the RV to the local Uhaul Center and had them test the built-in wiring and tow hitch ... and everything worked! Yaaa!
All in all, a good RV day.
I didn't mentioned before that I'm a Rotary International member and I belong to the Palm Springs Sunup Rotary Club. For the next five days I'll be coordinating the activities of a Group Study Exchange (GSE) Team from Sweden. So my getting the RV ready will be somewhat on the back burner ... and that is all part of our trip master planning process.
Replacement tires are still a concern ... in the morning I'll check in with the tire dealer ...
and the end of another day....
Doug and Trudy.
Here we are relaxing in the Rig at the J & H RV Park in Flagstaff, AZ. We rolled into the RV park about 5:30 PM this evening after driving 407 miles today.
Highlights of the Day:
- Another on-the-job driving training day for Trudy as she drove on Interstate-10. Trudy drove for an hour or so, and did very well. As a Newbie to RV driving, Trudy had the most stress when the tractor-trailers zoomed passed us (don't we all!) We held our speed to 55-60 mph for best control... and I didn't even let out one scream, however I think Dale may have whimpered a little
- Do you ever watch the TV Food Channel Show (or maybe the Travel Show) called "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives"? Well, we stopped at a BBQ place for lunch called "Thee Pitt's Again", located in Glendale, AZ. Trudy had the pulled turkey sandwich and I had the classic pulled pork.... it was great. One of our trip's goals is eating at Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.
- An interesting part of today's trip was the change of landscape, from the low desert where we live in Cathedral City, CA, with a temperature today of 106 F, to raising up to 7000 ft elevation and pine trees, where the temperature is about 50 F. Pretty amazing we think.
We made OK time today, all things considered, averaging about 45 MPH...
Tomorrow, we have a 451 mile drive that should take about 8 hours.
So ends the adventure's first day.... it was a good shakedown for us and Dale, and for the Rig.
... until next time,
Dale, Trudy and Doug
We continue to plan and currently the first phase of the planned trip from Cathedral City CA to Washington DC is the following:
Day 1, May 30 - The general route is starting with I10 from Palm Springs CA to just outside Phoenix, then I17 to Distant Drum RV RSRT at Camp Verde AZ.
Day 2 & 3, May 31-June 1 - on day 2 we continue on I17 to I40 and turn East to I25, turn North at Albuquerque NM and drive to Taos RV CG in Taos NM. The idea is to spend two days in the Taos NM and Sante Fe NM areas as tourist. I'm not quite sure what the attractions are in Taos and Santa Fe... but we'll find out
Day 4, June 2 - we leave Taos NM, come back south on I25, then turn Eeast on I40 to Oasis RV Resort in Amarillo TX.
Day 5, June 3 - we continue on I40 to Oklahoma City KOA EAST in Oklahoma City OK.
Day 6, June 4 - we continue on I40 to state road 7, which is just past Clarksville AK, and then we head North to Branson MO. for the night and a show.
Day 7 & 8, June 5-6 - on day 8 leave Branson MO, and pick up federal highway 65 south to I40, turn East and head for Nashville TN. That is a 500 mile drive for the day. We stay on I40 to Two Rivers CG in Nashville TN for two days.
Day 8, June 7 - we leave Nashville TN and stay on I40 to Knoxville Tn, then we pick up I81 going North, spending the night at Lake Ridge RV RSRT in Hillsville, VA.
Day 9, June 8 - leave Hillsville, VA continue on I81 to I66 at Front Royal VA, completing the trip at Cherry Hill RV Park in College Park MD.
As of today that is the plan!
Newbie Blogger here.
I received some very helpful blog process information from the FMCA IT Manager and another member, but now I misplaced their responses ....
Anyway, thanks for the helpful information.
Howdy,
Ok, it appears we have the FMCA blog started... we now have to figure out how to have family and friends, outside of the FMCA community, read the blog. I find that is easier said then done.
By now, after a days worth of blog stuff, I probably have a number of blogs set up out in the Internet universe, none of which are connected to each other or FMCA.
Soooo, it seems to avoid retyping everything, I have to decide to continue with the FMCA blog and then copy and paste the blog into an email account for family and friends, or go with a separate Internet blog. However, right at this moment, I'll pause for a cool one.
Doug
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Doug & Trudy
F407567
2003 Newmar Kountry Star 3702
Freightliner Chassis, Cat 3126-330 HP, Allison 3000 6 speed
Mileage: 32,210
7.5 KW Onan Quiet Diesel Generator
Precision Temp Water Heater (instant heat)
