Sunday, June 24, 2012

YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE!


After thoroughly enjoying our time in Alabama, it's time to move around and spice things up a little.  Not spicy, but dicey, when you're heading through the Cherokee National Forest to Murphy, NC, in a 40' diesel pusher with a tow vehicle.
RV There Yet?


Rivers Edge Campground in Murphy, NC, was perfect for us...but getting there was a real trip!  On the way we passed the site of the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Rafting venue in Ocoee, GA. 
Ocoee Whitewater Center - Site of 1996 Olympics

No problem until an 18-wheeler meets you on a curve.  We were assured it was a lot better than it had been in the past.  My guess is that the rocks have been shaved by many trucks and rock slides.  This part of Georgia and western North Carolina is one picture postcard after another.
Rivers Edge Campground - Murphy, NC


Our neighbors putting their baby to bed at Rivers Edge



Rivers Edge Campground was developed with big rigs in mind, and while we were there a group of Shelby Cobra owners were having a rally in Murphy, and several of them stayed in our campground.  Aren't those cars a little loud?!  Classic cars and motorcycle rallies are well suited for this area ... plenty of beautiful places to drive on day trips.  
  
Going through the Gorge!
I think RV may be rethinking his route 



Guess we'll stick to being spectators from now on


We took advantage of the beauty around us to enjoy such places as Blue Ridge, GA, Nantahala Gorge, and Andrews, NC, but the interesting history was found in Murphy.   Murphy is the county seat of Cherokee County, so you can imagine their museum is packed with the history of western NC. 
My jaw drops when I think of everything in this museum!

Time to leave such a peaceful place...how are we going to get out of this gorge?!  We're headed northeast toward Lake Lure, NC for a couple of weeks of guess what....to practice...."The Fine Art of Doing Nothing".  Anyway, our trip was uneventful and beautiful.  Our next home for a few weeks is in the Hickory Nut Gorge, NC area...featuring Lake Lure, Chimney Rock, Bat Cave and Gerton.  Side trips to Hendersonville, Brevard, NC (enjoyed the annual  White Squirrel Festival in Brevard, NC), Asheville, Tryon, Rutherfordton and Fletcher.  We also met our friends Paul and Linda Hardin in Gaffney, SC one afternoon for lunch.  





We stayed as guests of Jim and Joyce Maddox at one of the most beautiful RV resorts in North Carolina - Apple Valley Farm, near Rumbling Bald Resort on Lake Lure.  This beautiful RV resort has about 45 sites on a lake, and it doesn't matter what time of the year you visit, it's drop-dead gorgeous.   The weather was perfect and there is always something scenic to enjoy.

Apple Valley RV Resort - Lake Lure, NC
  
Apple Valley Farm RV Resort - back of Clubhouse

Leaving Apple Valley Farm

We left North Carolina and said farewell to a very beautiful and tranquil setting.  We enjoyed seeing lots of deer, beavers, chipmunks, rabbits and an unbelievable assortment of song birds.    Our next stop is an ideal day drive for us, about 150 miles, to Lake Greenwood, SC (and that's pushing it)!


  

Wednesday, June 13, 2012

SPRING ROAD TRIP - APRIL 2012

This post was prepared when we started our 2012 travel adventure; however, I could not figure out the new rules of blogger.  So, instead of sending it to alphabet heaven, we're posting so you'll know we are alive, well, and continue to dance like no one is looking, so here goes!  Promise the next posting won't be so long!

Since you heard from us last, we enjoyed most of the winter with a flock of our snowbird friends at the Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort in Webster, FL.  On April 1, we said our goodbyes, and if all goes well, we will return to Florida around the end of October.
Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort - Webster, FL 

Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort - Webster, FL

Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort  -  Webster, FL

 First stop was to enjoy a full week packed with fun with family/friends in Green Cove Springs, FL.Our grandchildren are growing up so fast and we just don't get to see them enough.  We treasure our time with everyone we get to see on our whirlwind trips through GCS.

Kenzie - Kiley - Kenneth - Khloe

Kenzie Kenneth, Khloe and Kiley

An added bonus to our RV lifestyle are the friends we meet on the road, as well as Tiffin motor home owners we have met through the Tiffin RV Network (about 6000 members).  The second week in April we met about 80 coach owners at the Coastal Georgia RV Resort in Brunswick, GA for a few days. We also had an awesome visit with dear friends on St. Simons Island and enjoyed a spectacular low country boil on the beautiful Frederica River.  In our opinion, no trip to the Golden Isles would be complete without a shrimp fix at B and J's in Darien, GA. They offer some of the most delicious Georgia white shrimp and oysters that you'll ever eat.

Waiting for supper to jump out of the water - SSI, Ga

Sunset on the Frederica River, SSI - Ga
What a wonderful way to end a busy day.  SSI - Ga
 After the rally we traveled to Twin Oaks Campground near Perry, GA, then on to Flowery Branch, GA for 2 weeks at Old Federal COE on Lake Lanier.  We visited Chris and Lauren (younger daughter and son-in-law) for their 7th wedding anniversary (can you believe it?) as well as to assist in the plans of their new chiropractic office in Suwanee, GA.  We'll return in a couple of months to do lots of grunt work, help with decorating the new office, and get ready for their grand opening.
Old Federal Corp of Engineers Campground - Lake Lanier, GA

Old Federal - on Lake Lanier - Flowery Branch, GA

Old Federal Campground - Lake Lanier - Flowery Branch, GA 
 We spent a couple of days in  Lake Guntersville area of Alabama on our way to northwest Alabama. After Lake Guntersville, we stopped at  McFarland Park.  Florence, AL, one of our favorite cities in Alabama.  This post was written in Red Bay, AL while waiting for our annual service appointment at Tiffin Motorhomes. A trip to Red Bay wouldn't be complete without adding additional accessories while you're waiting on service!  You may not notice the new lights inside the lower galley cabinets OR the Winegard Road Trip In-Motion Satellite on the roof , but they are there.
Yes, RV commandeered a fork lift!
Tiffin Service Center - 45 bays of fun!

We would love to hear from you.  We miss all of you.  Hope to talk to you soon so leave a comment if you have a moment.  We've been trying to figure out the new format of blogger, and  plan to post more frequently.    Lots of exciting things on the way.  Blogger changed the rules in November so it has taken a while to get used to how to do this again.  Talk soon ....LYMI!