GLOBETROTTING

Miramar Beach - The Emerald Coast in the
Panhandle of Florida

And there we were, already excited about being at one of our favorite destinations, and then it rains just about every day of our stay on the Emerald Coast in west Florida.

#1 State Park and RV Campground
Topsail Hill Preserve State Park

Topsail Hill Preserve State Park in Santa Rosa Beach, FL is one of the most desired State Park RV resorts in Florida - always being voted #1 in the State of Florida.  This geographical area of Florida is referred to as The Emerald Coast because of the vivid blue green color of the water in the Gulf of Mexico.

Santa Rosa Beach, FL
How can you forget the white confectioner sugar sandy beaches?

This area is very desirable as far as real estate is concerned and so much development is taking place since our last visit.  Hard to believe all the new construction as you drive down Highway 30A. This popular and scenic highway connects Santa Rosa Beach to other planned communities such as Watercolor and Seaside to name a few.

While in Destin I completed an 8 week online business course which will enhance future ARTitude Adjustment classes. During our time in Destin I flew to Toronto for a 4 day business conference that had been scheduled since last April.

Toronto, Canada at nighttime

Toronto, Canada - on beautiful
Lake Ontario

 The trip in itself was worthy of a blogpost, but I'll just say the trip was very successful and worthwhile in many ways.

We are officially on our way to Red Bay, AL and will be in Montgomery, AL for an overnight.  We are traveling with our friends, Clay and Frances Croom, and Mrs. Lynette Croom, Clay's 87 year old spunky and lovable mother.  Our choice of a place to stay while we are getting service in Red Bay is always the Downtown Red Bay RV Campground.

Downtown Red Bay, AL -
Home of Tiffin Motorhomes

Highway 24 - also referred to affectionately as
Tammy Wynette Highway

The next few weeks will be interesting because northwest Alabama holds lots of exciting opportunities....but you have to look for them sometimes.

If you want the freshest catfish dinner anywhere, you
head to Swamp John's Restaurant, Red Bay, AL

The Rattlesnake Saloon  - yes, a pickup truck takes you
to the cave where the restaurant is located inside

Celebrated once a year on Labor Day Weekend - Worth a visit!
Only AKC Registered Coon Hounds are allowed to be buried here.

 By the way, Red Bay is the birthplace of our motorhome, Tiffin Motorhomes, and while we usually pull into town every year, this year we will be here as Red Bay celebrates 200 years on Founder's Day on September 21.  We try to make Red Bay one of our travel stops if possible, where we not only get to visit special friends but we receive exceptional and professional service for our Tiffin Allegro Bus.  

ACCESSORIZING!!! RED BAY, AL 2009/2

Driving from West Memphis, AR to Red Bay, AL isn't a problem - unless you think driving 170 miles a day is strenuous. Borderline for us! When we arrived at the Allegro Campground in Red Bay, it was packed with coaches awaiting service and we were assigned a site in no-man-land area of the campground (where they replace cracked/broken windshields); however, this is what we refer to as "dry camping"(no sewer, no water, but 50 amp service). Hopefully, a site will become available before too long. As long as we are here it is at no cost, - we meet our neighbors and before too long, we're having a great time.

Accessorizing. We've opted for 2 recliners instead of the couch we had previously. We added another custom louvered wooden fan cover installed as well as our bedroom end tables, and our "Zephyr" closet shelf with support. What a difference this makes! We had an exhaust brake switch added as well as a couple of electronic adjustments.

It is SO dusty and dry in Red Bay; (cough, cough) but we enjoy so much about this area! It is so enjoyable we already can't wait until next year. (Catfish at Swamp Johns, daily lunch specials at The Pig, buying local country sausage/thick sliced bacon and brown eggs at the campground office, etc.). Small world: we met a couple at Tom Sawyer Campground in W. Memphis, on their way to RB, from Quebec City, Canada, and enjoyed seeing them again when we got settled in Red Bay. Waiting on service, we took a tour of the downtown Red Bay Museum. Red Bay has celebrated their 100 year birthday just a few years ago. In another journal I mentioned this was Tammy Wynette's home area, so the museum has dedicated almost a half of the second floor to her memorabilia. You don't meet too many old-timers in this area who didn't know her personally. In Florence, AL, I commented about all the pictures of Tammy and George, and was told the owner of the restaurant did Tammy's hair over for over 25 years. Anyway, Tammy's last husband, George Richie, and his new wife (an ex-Dallas Cowboy's cheerleader)still come in with their little girl. Whoa!

It's Homecoming weekend in Red Bay, so we have to leave before the homecoming parade begins downtown. We've accomplished everything on our list, and look forward to moving over to McFarland Park, a city park on the Tennessee River, in the beautiful town of Florence, AL. (home of W.C.Handy).

CAMP RED BAY!

Some of our pictures of the Allegro (Tiffin) campground are below. We arrived mid-day Wednesday, in Red Bay, AL. The first time we came to Red Bay was to tour the plant where all Tiffin products are made. It impressed us enough that we decided we could easily live in a 40' diesel pusher with 4 slides. I think you'll see, in the next few days we're here, there is a lot to see and do. Some of it is a little unusual, but some of it is sensational, to say the least. Just put it all in perspective! Tiffin is really Red Bay; Tiffin Motorhome Industries, Tiffin Supply, Allegro Campground (on an old municipal airport runway in Red Bay); and many industries related to the construction of Class A motorhomes. We are settled in site 42 with a 50 amp connection and sewer (fhu) full hookups - what more could you ask for? About 100 similar coaches are surrounding us. Each morning about 7:00 a.m,. the ones who are to be in the service bays pull out and report to their service techs with their warranty or service items. There are about 50 service bays. There is a building you can go to where rver's have taken furniture out of their units and bought other furniture - and you can buy it at cost if you belong to the Allegro Club. Maybe they didn't like the sofa - and wanted European Stressless chairs. Or they want a different oven or need a different carpet. Also, lots of interesting people here from ALL over the country. I mean, everywhere! The day after we arrived, Norris from Tiffin drove up and took all our requests - about 50 of them - and informed us they will be able to get to us in about a week - week and a half. So, we are going to be loving this area for the next couple of weeks. We already have some interesting side trips planned. Red Bay is a trip in itself. The factory is open for tours 2 times a day - you can visit the completed '09 models as they are being manufactured, and see the latest and greatest in new floor plans and options. The campground is exquisite - just kidding, but it isn't bad. There is even a store to buy RV supplies. And eating places! We ate lunch at Swamp John's - best catfish in the area we've been told. Talk about local flavor. Ezzell's Bar-B-Q. You have to be careful. These are professional eaters and if you ate everything on your plate, you'd explode in front of everyone. The local Piggly Wiggly, another popular eating spot, is one of the favorites around here. You can buy your groceries as well as get hot foods from their plentiful selection on the buffet. Wednesday is chicken and dumplins, I heard. No one has made the top 10 list. Remember, this is like a "camp" experience.
Did I tell you we are on an old airfield? I better start jogging....NOW!