1st week

This is my first blog. Not even sure what blog stands for, but I understand that I can pass on info to more people at a time and share pictures. As of October 29, 2007 we have started a new adventure of sorts. We are now full time RVers, so I will start with day 1.

We had an appointment set up for Oct. 29 at 1PM to have some repairs done on our 5th wheel(Moose). We arrived at RV center on time only to find out parts were not in but computer showed they would be in next day. We decided rather than wait, we would leave since it was getting colder everyday. We left going west to catch I-75. Going south we decided to at least get thru Cincinnatti so we wouldn't have to drive during rush hour the next morning. My husband(H) hates night driving with Moose, but of course it was dark when we reached Florence, Ky. Most campgrounds in the north close mid October, so we pulled into a WalMart parking lot to spend the night.

It was a very chilly night, got down to 29 degrees. We switched on the generator so we could run the furnace, which worked fine until after dinner was over. The generator sputtered to a stop. H checked everything over using a flashlight. Couldn't find anything wrong so we restarted it. That lasted about 10 minutes. I also could smell propane, so we left everything of, jumped into bed to keep warm. Thank God for alternative down comforters, we slept until early AM without being cold. Until we got up!!!! You dress really fast when it is that cold. We had not disconnected Moose from truck, so we were back on the road in no time at all.

Day 2
Hobbes, our cat, is making this trip with us. He is 13 years old and never traveled before. It has taken a little time for him to get used to being in a carry case while in the trucks. I get him out at times to sit on my lap but always with a harness and leash on so he won't get under the drivers feet. We make frequent stops at rest areas so Hobbes can walk. Guess what! Cats don't walk on a leash. If I took him really far away from truck and car noises he would follow me, but only a few steps. And he won't eat or drink until we are back in Moose for the night.

Hobbes has always had soft food in the early AM when H left for work. So about 0430 or 0500, he starts wanting us to get up. We have had to do some retraining on that subject. Retiring means you don't have to get up early.

We stopped early today in Nashville,Tn, just down the road from the Grand Ole Opry, am ashamed to say that we did not go to see a show that night. We stayed in a really nice KOA. Numerous restaurants close by, so we went out to dinner, camping does not always mean eating in.

We really like having a 50amp hook up, can use everything in Moose without worry of kicking a breaker.

Day 3
This AM we left a little later, 1100, and traveled uneventfully to Montgomery,Ala. Stopped at The Woods RV Park and Campground. The owners were so sweet and friendly. They showed us their 2 week old schnauzer puppies, one was white. We will keep this one on our list for our return trip.

Day 4
We left about 0930 for the final leg of the first part of our trip. Arrived at Navarre Beach Campground early afternoon. We are about 100 feet from the beach, but H was not happy having to back into a space rather than pull thru. He did great backing in, but our bikes stick out a little to the side and we had to accommodate a wooden fence at the back. This campsite is wonderful. We are partly under a tree, so we have shade and sun. A squirrel has been entertaining Hobbes and giving him exercise as he runs from window to window watching the critter. This campground has cable, but we had to make a trip to Camping world just down the road to obtain cable wire and extension for our sewer hose.

Day 5
We spent the day enjoying the area, went for a walk, did laundry, and got groceries. Took Hobbes outside on his leash and fastened him to a chair, he slipped right out of harness, gratefully he only jumped onto table and did not run off.

Day 6
We spent most of day at the Gulfcoast Art Festival, billed as one of the largest in the states. This was in Pennsacola, so traffic was busy and trying to park a Diesel, dually, crew cab, with an 8 foot bed was not fun. We walked about 4 blocks just to reach the edge of the festival. We enjoyed looking but did not purchase anything. Moose is not big enough to start filling it up with things we don't need.

Day 7
Time changed today. We have been really lazy. Bike ride this AM, then we sat on the beach to read. I got a little red in a very little time, so we moved to the shade. So far we have had a really good time. Have met people from Ohio, Indiana, Massachusetts, Texas, Quebec, and Idaho. Also some from just down the street.