INTANGIBLE SOUVENIRS

The year 2018 ended on a positive note and we now reflect on our memories of approximately 4,000 miles traveled throughout the southeast and northeast part of the United States and Canada, from April through October.  Diesel prices were a little pricy in places like New York and Vermont - the highest we paid was $3.68 for diesel.  You know what that means to an RVer....we stay longer and enjoy the areas we travel even more.

Tiffin Motorhomes - Red Bay, AL

Bruce Deaton's Paint Shop - Red Bay, AL

New Stovetop - Installed by Brannon Hutcheson

We always start with a trip to our motorhome's birthplace, Red Bay, AL., aka Tiffin Motorhomes, and upon completion of our appointments we headed in a northeasterly direction.  By the time we leave we have addressed any issues or problems.   For us our time passes very fast while we are in Red Bay since we feel comfortable visiting all the little towns within a 50 miles radius. 

 Cities in Alabama like Russellville, Florence, Tuscumbia, Muscle Shoals, and then Tupelo, MS are usually on our list of places to shop or eat at local restaurants we've visited in the last 10 years.

We had a schedule and had several RV manufacturer rallies as well as the 97th International Family Motor Coach Assn. Rally at the Georgia National Fairgrounds in Perry, GA, where we would teach several painting classes called ARTitude Adjustment by Marty Whitney.  

Georgia State Fairgrounds - Perry, GA

Georgia State Fairgrounds - Perry, GA - Home of Annual
International Family Motor Coach Association

In June we met and traveled for 4 months with our friends, Clay and Frances Croom and Clay's 86 year young mother, Lynette Croom.  Oh, and I better not forget their Puggle, Sadie.  This worked out well for us and how could we forget the fabulous side trips and awesome meals prepared in 3 different Instant Pots and a Blackstone Griddle?!   There was always something delicious to eat.

A highlight in RV travel is visiting places you had heard about all your life.  The huge Cummins camping facility (345 acres) in Columbus, IN (Ceraland), which is an acronym that stands for "Cummins Employees Recreational Association", and was established in 1963.

Cummins Ceraland Park and Campground - Columbus, IN

Ceraland Campground - Columbus, IN

Elkhart, Indiana - State Fairgrounds and Campgrounds

Elkhart, IN - Tiffin Allegro Club Rally

We had a very exciting and successful Tiffin Allegro Club Rally at the State Fairgrounds in Elkhart, IN with 3 different ARTitude Adjustment classes by Marty Whitney.  We met our friends in Shipshewana, IN - always an interesting place to visit and eat wonderful food.  Do you see a pattern?

The agricultural ways of the Amish in Shipshewana have never changed.

Visit to RV/MH Hall of Fame

Old historical Amish Octagonal Dairy Barn in Shipshewana

Shipshewana IN natural unspoiled farmland beauty

 The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, OH

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Cleveland, OH

Niagara Falls,

Looking from Canadian Side of Niagara Falls - Ontario

View of Niagara River

The Anchor Bar (Home of the original Buffalo chicken wings in Buffalo, NY, 

The Anchor Bar - Home of the original Buffalo Chicken Wings

Order of chicken wings at The Anchor Bar

The Finger Lakes (all of them), 

the New York State Fair, 

Stowe, VT, 

Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream Factory.

We were in the Burlington, Vermont area to attend a Tiffin Allegro Club Rally at the Exposition Center in Essex Junction, VT -  always a wonderful experience and opportunity to meet RVers from all over the USA as well as teach three more ARTitude Adjustment classes.

Essex Junction - Champlain Valley Expo Center
Site of Tiffin Allegro Club - Burlington, VT

2018 Tiffin Allegro Club - Over 300 Tiffin Coaches in Essex Junction, VT

2018 Tiffin Allegro Club Rally - Essex Junction, VT

 Our heads swim with the details of every one of those small, beautiful and meaningful towns, villages and mega cities, and all the friends we made along the way. 

Our back yard in Webster, FL - our Winter base

Finally Home! - Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort
Webster, FL

 This was an exciting journey and although it was most enjoyable, we were happy and blessed when the time came and we were on the way home to get ready for our next adventure.

INCREDIBLE EDIBLES!!

Over the last 11 years we've been full-time RVer's, an important consideration of RV travel revolves around food....always!

Gianelli Sausage (since 1946) - A MUST at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, NY

The Westside Market
Cleveland, OHIO
Oldest market - home to over 100 vendors

The Westside Market
Cleveland, OHIO
Oldest market - home to over 100 vendors

The Westside Market
Cleveland, OHIO
Oldest market - home to over 100 vendors

We also enjoy local-owned restaurants ... like those with lots of vehicles outside all the time.  We regularly visit Trip Advisor about local restaurants because those recommendations are made by people ... like you or me.

Anchor Bar - Buffalo NY
Home of the Original Buffalo Chicken Wings (1935)

Honey Hut Ice Cream Shoppe
Cleveland, OHIO - Since 1974

When we go grocery shopping it is to buy food we love to eat and prepare for our table and we always expect it to be fresh, delicious, and most likely locally produced.  Local farmers' markets and local butcher shops are a plus wherever we travel.  We became satisfied customers of grocery stores like Wegman's, Shaw's, Martin's, Piggly Wiggly, Trader Joe's, Fresh Market, Healthy Market and many other independent stores on a regular basis.

Not only is this an awesome farm - I met some of my relatives in
Ithaca, NY

FOR REAL - Relatives you meet in central NY
THE KNAPP'S

Ithaca Farmers' Market - Gorgeous!!
Ithaca, NY

Honey Farmer - Ithaca, NY

To participate in the weekly Ithaca, NY Farmers' Market
you must live within 30 miles of the Market - since 1973

Parkway Orchards - NIAGARA-ON-THE LAKE, ONTARIO, CANADA

WESTSIDE MARKET - Cleveland, Ohio
Beautiful and over 100 vendors

Finger Lakes Popcorn from Guess Where!?
Popcorn grown in Lansing, NY

 Our Spring/Summer/Fall travels began in April, 2018, and around the beginning of June, in Shipshewana, IN, we began a 4 month journey of great RV travel with our friends, Clay and Frances Croom, Lynette Croom (Clay's 86 year young and  beautiful mother and new RV full-timer), and their Puggle dog, Sadie, accompanied by delicious and exciting regular home cooked meals with our "dueling" Instant Pots, griddles and grills.

RV with Clay, Frances, Lynette Croom
at Country Hills Campground
Marathon, NY

Our meals usually were always with careful planning and completed with minimal effort, which made the end of every day a great time to sit outside, talk about what we had done that day,  and make plans for the next exciting day.

Chef Clay and Chef RV
Preparation of Buffalo Chicken Wings

Chef Clay, Chef RV Preparing Dinner on Griddle
(Sadie is photo-bombing the picture)

The "saute" part of our Instant Pot Dinner

We celebrated birthdays, visited with friends, and always expressed our thanks to God that He had safely delivered us to another destination and blessed us beyond measure.

Celebrating the visit of our friends
Jane and Jean Unger at Essenhaus, Middlebury, Indiana
near Shipshewana, Indiana

Friends getting together in Goshen, INDIANA
Tiffin Allegro Rally 2018

I'm Singing Happy Birthday to Frances....
Too bad you can't hear my singing on this video!
Cleveland, OHIO

At the end of 4 months of travel with the Croom's we sadly departed to travel separate directions, but we will definitely plan to do this again.

Breakfast - Sausage, Pancakes and Vermont Maple Syrup!

Cajun Barbeque Shrimp
Laissez Le Bon Ton Roulet!

Anchor Bar Chicken Wings
Buffalo, NY

Gumbo with Shrimp, Chicken, and dainty Blue Crab Claws
Now you're talking!
Cleveland, OHIO

Country Fried Steak - To be finished with gravy in the Instant Pot
Junius Ponds, NY

Pork Tenderlions - Saute and finished in the Instant Pot
Junius Ponds, NY

Italian Sausage with peppers and onions
  Delicious cooked on Griddle!
Junius Ponds, NY

Skirt Steak with Homemade Griddle Potatoes

Instant Pot Pork Steaks, Broccoli Salad and Fresh Ohio Green Beans

For the most part our cookware consisted of 2 Instant Pots, 1 electric Calphalon table top griddle, and the Croom's discovered the perfect small gas griddle/grill that was perfect for RV travel - and it came with a stand.  Just like you would do with your grill, the seasoning of the cooktop assured the food never stuck to the grill top.

Clay Croom's Gas Griddle on the portable stand

Hamburger Night on the Griddle

Fried Shrimp Appetizer

Instant Pot Pork Steaks ready to be finished
on the griddle with barbeque sauce

We enjoyed many breakfasts, lunches, appetizers and dinners of unbelievable culinary delights.  And always, without fail, this is what we had at the end of every delicious meal:

No leftovers ever!