March 20th, 2010, Saturday

Another day on the road. Pulled out of Memphis around 8:30, disappointed we didn't see Elvis. Oh well, we bought a CD. Got off the main highway and onto a secondary road heading south. Miles and miles and miles of agricultural land ( a lot of it was being worked with those ugly green tractors) being used for cash crops and cotton. A lot of irrigation and huge fields. The traffic was light, weather up to 20 degrees. We crossed the Mississippi at Greenville, Miss and travelled into Arkansas - more fields of crops. We were only in Arkansas for about 20 miles and then we crossed the border into Louisiana - at least we can say we were to Arkansas. After an hour in Louisiana we crossed back over the mighty Mississippi and into Vickersburg, Miss. There are a lot of huge barges going up and down the river. We have finally hit spring as there are blossoms on most of the trees, it is warm and the grass is green. The magnolia trees are in full bloom and they are gorgeous. We are staying in the Ameristar Casino RV camp ground for $20 a night and that includes a buffet breakfast. We took a RV tour of the Historic part of Vicksburg and there are some beautiful homes and shops and cobblestone streets. Walked over to the Casino for dinner, music and dancing but only succeeded with the first one - dinner. The music wasn't starting until 9 and that was longer then we wanted to spend at the Casino listening to the bells and whistles. Supposed to be a big rain and thunderstorm tonight.

March 19th, 2010, Friday

Woke up to sunshine but still a bit chilly. Hauled on the old jeans again but we think it will heat up a bit. On the road heading to Memphis to check on Elvis. Stopped along the way in search of a new barbecue as ours "died" last night but didn't find the right one yet. Arrived at the Graceland RV park in time to have a quick lunch, change into short pants (up to 20) and head for Graceland. Really enjoyed the tour of Elvis's mansion (decor right out of the 60"s and 70"s), his car museum, his plane and his costume museum. A lot of songs and info for such a short life. We took a bus to downtown Beale Street for "barbecue" food and some music. A bit disappointed with the area, not very clean or up scale. Stayed for a couple hours to eat and listen to an Elvis double before catching the bus back to our RV

March 17 - 18, Wed and Thurs

Finally made it to a grocery store today and stocked up on some good food and munchy food. Bernie's first trip to the grocery store in 2010. It is still cool, rainy and gray in the city of Nashville so we headed down town to visit the Country Music Hall of Fame. It is very near Nashville's city skyline landmark "the Batman" building (AT&T building with two giant antennas that make it look like Batman) and the "District" which refers to the night life area around Broadway and 2nd.We were back at Camper's world for a 3:30 appt to get the furnace fixed - turned out to be dirt in the connections so it was not a big bill and we have heat ! Had a little e-mail from Karen Carmichael relaying a message that Billy would "loan" us his RV for the next trip since ours was having problems.Ha, ha ! Took a bus right from the camp ground downtown for the evening and roamed the District listening to country music, eating, more music, sipping, more music. There were lots of sights to see - people dressed for St. Paddy's day, some girls barely dressed at all passing out vouchers for the Coyote Ugly, police everywhere, musical street performers, cowboys and lots of lights and noise. And then took the bus back to the RV, Great way to travel in Nashville.

On the road Thursday morning by 9:30 and headed to the Belle Meade Plantation just south of Nashville. It was an interesting mansion restored to the mid 1800's with 2 floors open for viewing. It included the 1890's stable, smoke house, log cabin, slave cabin. It was the top Thoroughbreed farm in the US with most Derby winners (Seabiscuit, Secretariat ) tracing their bloodlines back to Belle Meade. After a picnic lunch we headed further south to Franklin where I found a quilt shop ! and Bernie found a Kubota dealer almost side by side. What luck ! After doing a bit of shopping, we took off to head south and found this wonderful road lined with huge, beautiful homes and horse farms. Miles and miles of fences and fields filled with horses. The next stop was Loretta Lynn's mansion, RV campground, mine, village but it was not open for the season so we had to settle for a walk across the bridge and around the grounds. It was back in the woods off the #40. It would be fun to come back when they are open. O well, we just cranked up Loretta singing "Coal Miner's Daughter" and drove to the KOA in Hurricane Mills, Tennessee. Parked the Rv and Bernie started to set up and came to find out the man in the next lot was from Perth Andover, NB and he grew up in Holmesville, NB - Bud Dougherty. Small world.

March 15-16th, 2010, Monday and Tuesday

Bernie's optimism was short lived. Started out at 14 degrees but quickly dropped down to 6 degrees. Another "ugly"day of gray skies and a bit of rain. We slept in a bit and then up and on the road after breakfast. First checked out the nearby Campers World store and then a Kubota dealer about 10 miles outside of Roanoke. Small dealer, not a fancy place and they sell Kubota and Cub Cadet. The weather was so miserable that we threw out our plans to visit Gaitlinbury and Dollywood and headed to Knoxville in Tennessee. A bit past Knoxville we stopped at The Soaring Eagle Campground, had a delicious dinner of hot dogs and chile (have not made it to a grocery store yet), a long walk and then discovered there was a problem with the furnace. It would come on but no heat ! Bundled up for the night and got some long over due reading done.

On Tuesday we did not linger after we arose as it was a little chilly (6 degrees). Headed for Nashville and some good old country music. Booked into The Two Rivers campground, hopped a small bus and did the Tour of the Stars Homes. Saw a few "small homes" of Martina McBride (who at the moment is playing in the Maritimes). Alan Jackson, Trisha Yearwood, Dolly Parton, little Jimmy Dickens (his wife did stop by the tour bus and talked to us). Their homes are in the Brentwood and Belle Meade areas south of Nashville. Got back in time to hop another bus and head to the Grand Ole Opry where we saw Little Jimmy Dickens, Terri Clark (Canadian), George Hamilton the IV and V, Bill Anderson, Lee Greenwood, Justin Moore, and others. A lot of fun. Furnace came on once when we came home but that was the only time. Have to get it fixed tomorrow. Getting too old to "rough it".

March 12-14, 2010 Fri - Sun

We did it. Packed and on the road by 9am friday morning. Great day for travel - sunny and 1 degree . Had a short but great visit with Grammie Jeanne and then we crossed the border into the States around 4:30pm. After buying a cell phone to use in the States, dinner and finding a hotel with an empty room (PEI and NS school break) we settled in for a good night sleep. Of course we remembered to turn our clocks back one hour but will we remember to "spring" them ahead tomorrow night ? Gained an hour for a whole day.
Saturday on the road by 7:30am and we headed to Midland Park, NJ to visit Steve and Mary Lockhart. About 3 hrs out of NJ we ran into the front end of the Nor west storm coming up the coast. High winds and rain. We arrived in time to get settled in before the storm really hit. Rain and more rain, high winds, power outages, sirens everywhere. A lot of trees down and some people lost their lives due to fallen trees. We are all OK and no damage to the Lockhart's property. We had a great visit with Steve, Mary and Erica. So good to see them
Sunday - the wind has died down and the rain slowed down but still an "ugly" day - gray and dreary and wet at 9 degrees. Left the state of NJ and headed south to the #81 and stopped for the day at Roanoke in Virginia . It rained on and off all day, the temp slowly climbed to 14 degrees, the traffic was not too heavy and the grass is starting to turn green. Saw hundreds of Canada geese flying north today. We went for a walk before supper and then talked to Jeff and Jack on the phone (they are in Florida) and Jack caught his first fish off Popi Chris's dock. He was sooooooo excited ! Bernie is optimistic and has pulled out the short sleeve shirt and sandals for tommorow morning. I think I'll wait another day

March 5, 2010

Thinking about leaving Amherst on the 12th and heading south for a few weeks. This weekend will be spent preparing the motor home, packing and organizing the house. Do we think the house will be in the same state when we arrive home in April ???

April 29, 30

On the road with long pants and sweater on ! The temp went from 35 degrees to 8 degrees over night. Welcome back to Canada !! Crossed the border with no delays, lunch in Woodstock with Billy and rolled into Johnville around 4 pm. Good to be back.
Great visit with Jeanne.
On the road by 9:30 with a passenger tagging along to Amherst. Cara is catching the bus in Amherst to Halifax to visit with Maria for the weekend. Glad to have her aboard. Home sweet home by 2 pm. Fantastic holiday but great to be home.