THE HOKEY POKEY CLINIC

We took a familiar route to Alabama from central Florida, in spite of all the warnings about the weather....we felt blessed not to be in the path of tornadoes and dangerous weather patterns on the weather radar.  A new campground was recommended that we had not stayed before.

Hitchin' Post Corral and Campground RV Park
Cottondale, FL

The Hitchin' Post Corral and Campground in Cottondale, FL is a convenient overnight location at the intersection of I-10 and Hwy. 231.  The resident owners will confirm they were sold "swamp" land and have spent quite a sum of money, hard work, and many sleepless nights to have a campground they can be proud to own.  Nothing fancy and they accept Passport America (which means a reduced rate).  We will return.

Hitchin' Post Corral and Campground RV Park
Cottondale, FL

When morning arrived we headed northward the next day and "about 200 miles" later we stopped at a favorite campground in Montgomery, the capital of Alabama.  Capital City RV Park is convenient, safe and managed by caring owners.  We had an early wakeup planned for the next day, dinner was already prepared, and it wasn't necessary to unhook our tow car.

Alabama 2018

We arrived in Red Bay, AL and our favorite campground in Alabama - the Downtown Red Bay RV Park.  Sometimes it's just the friendliness of the people that you meet along the way that makes you want to return.  After the past 10 years of annual/semi-annual trips to Red Bay and northern Alabama we feel we are returning home and seeing old friends.

Downtown Red Bay RV Park
Red Bay, AL

Do we have to go back to Red Bay every year?  Probably not...but we feel confident our annual maintenance will be done by experienced mechanics and craftsmen.  This year we are having some major paint work done at the independent body shop, Custom Paint and Auto Body operated by Bruce and Melody Deaton.

A Little Cosmetic Work at
Bruce Deaton's Body Shop - Red Bay, AL

   After Bruce finishes we have an appointment in nearby Vina, AL for a couple of upgrades and mods done by Brannon Hutcheson at Custom RV (We call that ACCESSORIZING).

ACCESSORIZING AND RED BAY...SAME THING!

Oil and filters will be changed at Bay Diesel by Chris Morrow's team.  Since we have scheduled appointments we hope our planning falls into place seamlessly, and most of the time it does.  So you see, it's like the hokey pokey and we turn ourselves around....that's what it's all about!

CUSTOM RV - Vina, AL
Brannon Hutcheson, Owner

Our busy three + weeks in Red Bay will pass with lightning speed and then we'll slowly head north to attend a Tiffin Allegro Club rally in Goshen, IN which will be held from May 14-18.  Remember, I teach FUN art...not FINE art ... and we have planned several ARTitude Adjustment painting classes that will be creative and a barrel of fun!   About 300 Tiffin coaches will congregate at the huge Elkhart County 4H Fairgrounds and enjoy another unforgettable rally.  We are pleased to be a part of such an amazing group of people for fun, food, entertainment, and always a lot of laughter.

A STROLL IN RED BAY

Welcome to Red Bay, Alabama!
Established in 1907

We are in Red Bay, AL, for a service appointment at Tiffin Motorhomes (after our 4000 plus miles journey that started last May), for work, repairs (windshield #4), modifications (A/C#3) and upgrades, to our coach and engine (see Coach Upgrades Tab).  With the usual arrival of "snow birds" in motorhomes the town of Red Bay realizes an economic upturn at certain times of the year, and this is one of those times.  People from all over the United States and Canada converge on this community throughout the year.  Many are here just to follow the construction of their new motorhome!

Tiffin Service Center Campground
Red Bay, Alabama

Spending time at the Downtown Red Bay RV Campground has given us an opportunity to see some beautiful areas of town we never knew existed.

Red Bay Downtown RV Park
Red Bay, Alabama

Downtown RV Park 

Red Bay Police Department
Red Bay, Alabama

Old Red Bay Hotel
Presently being renovated and refurbished

Hanging flower baskets on every street corner in
Red Bay, Alabama

 A walk in Red Bay is calming, rewarding and educational, and best done in the early morning or late afternoon. The very active Red Bay Garden Club is responsible for placing a sign near the Mississippi state line on the west side of town that says "Red Bay is a Bird Sanctuary".

A serene walking lane in
Red Bay, Alabama lined with historic homes

A home on a small spring-fed lake surrounded by
beautiful landscaping

This is called the Coca-Cola House
So neat and well kept!

Architectural details in historic
neighborhood - Red Bay, Alabama

Flowers and landscaping are an important
part of every neighborhood downtown.
Red Bay, Alabama

Downtown neighborhood in Red Bay, Alabama

Red Bay, nestled in the northwest part of Alabama, is in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and is comprised of hard working people who have made this their home for generations.  Most have strong traditional and Christian values, a sense of community pride, patriotism, and historic preservation.

First Methodist Church
Red Bay, Alabama
(At our campground we hear the church bells several times a day)

Foothills of the Appalachian Mountains
The view as you arrive in Red Bay, Alabama

There is an obvious town spirit and pride in Red Bay.  This weekend in Downtown Bay
Tree Park, is Founder's Day, an annual festival that has become a tradition in Red Bay.

Bay Tree Park
Red Bay, Alabama

Franklin County Cattleman's  $8. Steak Sandwich Special at
Founder's Day - Delicious Treat!

Craft Show - Founder's Day
Red Bay, Alabama

 On Founder's Day there is entertainment, a barbeque cookoff, Franklin County Cattleman's Association's delicious ribeye steak sandwich. an always awesome antique car, truck and motorcycle show, and a spectacular craft fair.    

CHOCOLATE GRAVY OVER BISCUITS

I have always enjoyed going to different countries and enjoying their particular foods, whatever it was.  Even if it was unusual looking I felt I could at least take a bite and try not to insult anyone.  One little bite couldn't hurt you.  It's usually the thought of it that takes a bite out of you!

This morning we are making our preparations to leave Red Bay, Alabama, after a week of repairs, touch ups, modifications and a couple of tweeks here and there.  Since we are going to get away early this morning we decided a local breakfast (just a take out) would be easier than preparing a typical breakfast on the coach. 

Main Street - Red Bay, Alabama

I went to the busiest gas station/breakfast place close to us.  I've never tried their food, but there are dozens of cars every weekday morning stopping on the way to work.  The sign outside said they served fried bologna biscuits....how could I go wrong?   It was extremely slow because it is early Sunday morning, and I am deciding what to order.  RV wants something smaller - semi-healthier - sausage, egg and cheese biscuit.  I order the hungry cowgirl, er., Tammy Wynette breakfast .... scrambled eggs, bacon, grits and biscuit.  We WERE on a healthy diet/lifestyle but we'll splurge just this one meal today.  The lady behind the counter says, "Would you like chocolate gravy with that?"  I told her I had never heard of chocolate gravy and would that be like red eye gravy?  "No, she says, that is like M&M's melted with Hershey chocolate bars and served over a biscuit." I'm thinking:  Are you kidding me?  She hands me a plastic spoon coated with her chocolate gravy, and I agree, it is exactly as she described it.  I said, "Sure, give me some chocolate gravy over a biscuit,"   RV isn't going to believe this.  Mission accomplished.  

  

Cowgirl Breakfast - White Gravy

 

Just about to take my first bite of CHOCOLATE GRAVY!

 

Today, breakfast was a new experience.  About 4 tablespoonfuls of that chocolate gravy was like a sugar bomb, my heart is ricocheting in my chest, wobbly knees and shortness of breath...she even told me how to make it in the event you would like to experiment.  3 - 2 - 1.  The ratio of sugar/flour/cocoa.  It looks like this is the morning carb of choice, a stick to your ribs kind of thing.  I can see it being like an early morning birthday cake.  Fluffy biscuit/chocolate gravy.  Ummmmmmm. But not my cup of tea.

Chocolate Gravy - Sweet and Savory (served with bacon)

  Forgot to say, you need savory to go with this sweetness, so guess what, she threw in a couple more strips of bacon.  Thank you very much. This wasn't on my bucket list but I'm going to check it off anyway.  We've had a great annual pilgrimage to Red Bay this year.  We enjoyed seeing lots of old friends, (thank you to the Page's, Nabor's, Fischer's and Hutcheson's)  and made great memories that I'll document in another blog.  We'll look forward to seeing them next year, if not before.  Safe travels everyone.  

Beautiful Walking Roads in Red Bay, AL - one block from Downtown RV Campground
Red Bay, AL

 I've started a new Facebook page called Attitude Adjustment https://www.facebook.com/attitudeadjustmentclass. Please "LIKE" if you haven't already.   Attitude Adjustment is the name of a class I teach at Florida Grande, and I plan to begin teaching in some other locations in the next couple of months.  It is a way I want to communicate with people with similar interests and ideas.  You are welcome to check it out and I hope you enjoy it, or LIKE it.