Sevierville, TN

We left Baileys Point about 9:10 on Saturday morning, with a estimated time of arrival as four hours travel time depending on traffic.  Well, we made two mistakes; we didn't have a Tennessee map, just a SE USA map and the GPS isn't programmable for RVs.  It took us on some back roads, that in Iowa would have been gravel (these were blacktop) but so narrow the dually had to straddle the center line or the rear passenger side tires were in the grass. Yes, no shoulders, just grass and in many cases steep hills. Talk about nerve wracking!😢.  After 2:30 hours of these roads we were still heading southeast but not coming to wider more "normal" roads.  We were struggling to find a place to stop or turn around, but finally came to a little country church with a house across the road.  While I sat in the truck and tried to calm my nerves, Dave went over to ask directions.  The lady told us we needed to turn around and go through the little town we had just passed.  There we were able to connect with a bit bigger road and finally a main highway. Whew!!!!!!

After 3 hours we were finally on a road on the map and the GPS was agreeing.  Once we hit I-40, I thought just a little while now, but nope, road construction and we slowed 10 miles an hour and sometimes a complete stop.  This lasted for quite a distance, I'm guessing about 15 miles.  Finally outside Knoxville traffic opened up and no further problems or delays. After 6:30 hours we finally arrived at the River Plantation Resort.  

We have a nice back-in site with patio, huge "backyard" with a river flowing behind us.  I will get some pictures and post later.  Yesterday we took multiple walks and met the other rally attendees and organized dinner out for ten of us.  It poured very heavily Saturday night and everything was drenched. The day was cold and windy, so not conducive to sitting outside and relaxing. 

More later😊

On the road again

Well we are off on our first trip of the year. Yes, I know, after a year in the Airstream, it is hard to believe I am back in it again after only four months in the house.  We left Wednesday right at 1 pm as I wanted and arrived at parents about 5 pm.  Had a short visit and left early, 7 am on Thursday for Barren Lake in KY.  Here is our campsite at Baileys Point recreation area overlooking the lake. 

Our view through the trees is nice, we can hear the ducks, geese, and various birds and the boats out on the lake.

The sites are nice, decently level and spaced fairly well apart from the other sites on each side of us.

There are five sections and it is nice walking with the dogs around each loop overlooking the water.  If we come this way again I would definitely stay here.  The shower house is a bit older but very clean and well kept.  COE campgrounds are always so pleasant to stay at with their views around water. 

Quite a few people have boats with them and we also saw people fishing from the shoreline.

Tomorrow is another driving day with us arriving in Sevierville, TN after only about a 4 hour drive, hopefully.  Check back as I will have updates on the educational rally we will be attending for 7 days.  Then we will be heading down to visit friends in Florida with a stop in a Georgia state park along the way.  

Candy

April Prep work

Greetings All,  I think spring is finally here.  We have numerous robins in the yard and  the grass, what there is of it, is greening up.  As many of you know, we moved into our new house on 31 December 2014.  The hole was dug on 20 April 2014, so it was a very busy 2014 for us.  We are in and loving it.  Lots of boxes still yet to be unpacked, but what we need is put away.  I am sure that many of the items still in boxes will be finding new homes.  There are many places I will take stuff that we don't need and have accumulated over 38 years.  Living in the Airstream as definitely shown us that we can get buy with much less.  There is a Womens' shelter, a homeless shelter and a Christian center, similar to Goodwill and of course Goodwill that will be receiving many items this year as we continue to unpack.

The front of the house, from the circle driveway

The house from the street south of us

The deck and one of the retaining walls, to the right of the house is the full

hook-up RV pad. 

Now that the house is mostly finished and we have a few trips coming up, with the first one this month, it is time to get the Airstream back in shape.  Yesterday I took down all the curtains and will be hand washing them, so the clips don't break, as they are hard to find. Today will be time to remove everything so we can review what we do and do not need this year on our travels.  Then on to a very thorough cleaning and boy, does it need it!!!  

While I am working on the inside, Dave is going to re-caulk all the windows and seams.  Last fall, we found we have another leak somewhere.  We had it caulked last year before we left for Arizona, but it seems to have re-appeared and then we had it done again when we returned to Cedar Falls in April. Tuesday we have an appointment to have the wheel bearings repacked. After it gets back from the shop, it will be time to put it back together, hopefully with cleaned upholstery and curtains.  I am hoping the cushion covers don't shrink!! 

We are really looking forward to our trip to Kentucky,Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.  We will be attending a rally in Tennessee that I have been wanting to go to for four years.  It is an educational rally about everything RVing, but particularly learning what you need to know to full-time.  We won't be full-timing, but hopefully, part-time full-timing. Meaning at least a couple months at a time, 3-4 times a year.  We both love to travel and explore new areas.  Retirement has been well planned for quite a long time and we sure are enjoying it. 

Our list for travel this year includes the states mentioned above and also South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and North Dakota.  Also this year we will be spending some time in Vermont, for "Camp Gone to the Dogs", fly-fishing and exploring New York state.  These two states are absolutely beautiful in the fall, so I am hoping our timing will allow us to see some colors.  But, we need to be back in time for our sweet Hailey's first birthday in October.  We are so thrilled to be living closer to our children and grand-daughter and we have no regrets.  But the road calls to me, so we will continue to head out and explore the lovely USA.  

So as we start our yearly travels this month, check back as I will have lots of pictures and Nacho will chime in with updates.  Wishing all of you a great 2015 and safe travels!!!

The Jones' with KT and Nacho. 

P.S. Drop by to visit, we have a spot for your RV!!   :)

February Update

Hello from chilly Iowa.  Today the high is supposed to be 36, quite a bit higher than the last couple weeks.  It sure is nice being retired so if we do not want to go out in the cold we don't have to.  Ha!  It is great!!!  Sorry to the rest of you working folks; your time will come.

Dave is catching up on fly tying and planning some fishing trips for when the weather warms up.  We have also dug out all our maps, books, and DVDs in anticipation for our trip to Wyoming, in particular to Yellowstone.  Dave's absolute most favorite place to visit.  Today he is off to a Fly Fishing seminar in Dubuque put on by the club he belongs to, Dubuque Fly Fishers.  Last year he did zilch fishing, so this year he is already planning to do a lot!!  He still co-owns a trailer in prime fly fishing territory in NE Iowa, so is planning on heading that direction quite frequently.

I have finished the touch-up painting in the house, but still have quite a bit of trim work left to do, but am not in a rush to do it.  I just would like to have a 2nd coat on it for a bit better finish. We are loving the house!!!  Dave's design is really working for us.  Guess we are getting old since we enjoy every morning having our coffee and watching all the birds come to the five feeders we have set-up in the back yard.

 A couple days ago Dave saw 14 pheasants wandering around on the hill behind the house.  We are just on enough of hill we can look out over the back woods and farm land behind us to observe wildlife and the peaceful view. The deck should be a real treat to use this summer. Hoping we have visitors to enjoy the view with us, so if you head to central Iowa, give us a call.

Next month the goal is believe it or not, to clean out the Airstream, get it reorganized and caulk the windows and other prep for our trip south in April.  There is no way I ever want to live in it full-time again, but traveling with it is very enjoyable. I am still holding out for a fifth-wheel as we are still planning on traveling for long periods of time throughout the year. After a year in the Airstream, it is clear to us that for long periods of time, it doesn't have quite the amount of space we both would like.

We have finally decided on a church home and joined a small group. It is a very friendly church, pretty large, but it feels welcoming to us. Also very familiar to our former church home in Rock Island.

Well, that is our latest update, just emptying boxes and getting the house organized, playing with our granddaughter and enjoying living closer to both of our children, whom we see much more frequently than ever before (except when they were living with us, ha-ha).  Hoping all of you are staying warm and enjoying life.  God is good!

Hugs to all,
Candy

New Year and new adventures

Happy New Year!  2014 was a fantastic year for us and we feel very blessed and fortunate. 

2015 is starting out pretty great also though we are not in the Southwest in warm weather; we are in Iowa.  We are enjoying our new home which we moved into on the 31st of December!  It is a very enjoyable home to live in (especially once we unpack all the boxes).  I also have quite a bit of painting to do, but that should keep us busy through the cold winter months. It also keeps us in Ames and close to our new granddaughter, whom we are enjoying.  

Come April we will be spending more time again in the Airstream though not living in it fulltime.  It was a bit tight.  I am still researching Fifth wheels and hopefully we will be able to purchase one in 2016.

This spring we have a trip planned to Tennessee to attend a rally then travel further south to visit friends in Florida.  Upon our return we will have time to do some yard work, laundry and repack the Airstream for a trip out west with my brother and sister-in-law.  After a few weeks, we plan to return and spend the rest of the hot Iowa summer enjoying our house, deck and yard.  We may take a few weekend trips for fishing and canoeing or biking.  Then this fall we have a few weeks planned in the northeast traveling with a friend to Vermont.  Of course, plans can change, but this is how our year is being planned, Lord willing.  So you can see this year should be fun and exciting.  Retirement is great!!!!

Wishing each of you a great year filled with The Lord's blessings.  I will try to keep up the blog a bit more as we go about on our travels. 

The Jones'