Another Sunday in Red Bay

This morning was our last quiet morning for a few days - weekdays in "Camp Red Bay" are pretty hectic. The roar of diesel engines begins around 6:15 each morning, signaling the beginning of the workday at the Tiffin service facility. We enjoyed the quiet this morning!

Jim got the laundry ready and headed over to the campground laundromat. It's one of the nicest we've been to, with 5 washers and 5 dryers. We had 5 loads to do, so that worked out just right.

We had no rain this morning, but it was still foggy. I played around with the satellite system while Jim was doing the laundry. Finally, the signal locked on and we once again have satellite tv. I got my walk done and helped Jim get the clothes folded and hung and put away. Pretty exciting, so far, isn't it?

I decided it would be a good idea to try and find the Weight Watchers meeting location in Muscle Shoals. The meetings that are held around Red Bay are all in the evening, so I am going to drive the 40 miles to Muscle Shoals on Tues. morning. Jim went with me and we set out. It was a good thing we went, because the directions and map were quite a ways off. After driving around the area I thought the meeting location was, I went in to the local hospital and asked someone for directions. I got the correct location and found where I need to be, and we came back home.

I still didn't take any pictures today, but I did find some to share. The campground hasn't changed much since last August:


Janna sent me a comment with a question about taking the dogs out in the rain. I put these raincoats on them, they don't like them very much, but they put up with them because they hate the rain even more.

This duck (or goose?) was one we spotted in Rockport in 2007, but could never identify. Today, when I read Sandra's blog, Nightly News, she posted a picture of some Egyptian Geese. I think this may be the same thing:

We have been watching the campground fill up this afternoon. I imagine it will be a busy, noisy morning tomorrow!

Back in Red Bay Again

Today was our last travel day for awhile - or so we think. After spending a really rainy night in Canton, MS, we left about 7:30 this morning and headed north on I-55. We stayed on the interstate until we got to US 278 and then we turned east. The roads were pretty good all of the way, and really great part of the way. We even took the motor home on the Natchez Trace Parkway for a couple of miles to avoid city traffic through Tupelo, where we picked up Highway 78 east. Just about 40 or so more miles after that to Red Bay, Alabama, where we'll be until the Tiffin repair folks kick us out, or our motorhome is all fixed, whichever comes first.

The rain had let up this morning, so we drove most of the way without a lot of rain, although we did have some light sprinkles at times. We got to the Allegro Campground a little before noon and got checked in. They did have some spaces available, so we are parked in site number 77, just across from the customer lounge. How convenient is that!

Among our list of "to do" items, we are planning to have our day-night shades replaced with pull-down blinds. We will be responsible for the cost of those, as well as a printer shelf or cabinet that we are hoping to have built. Otherwise, our list consists of a number of (mostly) small things that need attention.

We've spent the afternoon just hanging around, as the rain started up again shortly after we got set up. It's been alternating between rain, fog, and mist all afternoon. We've had problems getting and keeping a satellite signal as well, so we have been reading quietly and playing with the dogs or on the computer.

I have no pictures of today - way too gray and dismal to take any!

Farewell to Texas

After nearly 4 months in Texas, yesterday, around noon, we bid farewell to Texas and Hello to Louisiana as we crossed the state line. It's been awhile since I posted any new state signs!

We stopped at the welcome center rest area just across the state line and had a quick lunch before continuing on to Breaux Bridge and Poche's Fish-n-Camp for the night. What a find! We would never have known about this gem of a campground had it not been for Sandra and Gordon, and Passport America. Finding the park was a little tricky, but we did get there and settled.

We were parked along one of the several large ponds on the property. This was our view from our side window, across the pond to another section where rv's were parked:

I have a feeling there are some good meals cooked on this barbeque:

Pretty area!

We got up early this morning so I could walk before we got back on the road for today's journey. We ended up changing our planned route and stop for tonight. We originally planned to take I-59 north through Meridian, Mississippi. But after we thought about it and talked about it, we ended up taking I-55 north through Jackson, and have stopped at Canton for the night.

Another state sign:

The first part of the trip we had clouds but no rain. A short distance after we crossed the state line into Mississippi, the rain started, and has not stopped. We stopped for fuel at Lovel's Travel Stop in Canton, and paid $1.81 (cash price) for diesel. That's the lowest we've paid. We're parked for the night at Movietown RV park, just outside Canton.

We've been a little concerned about getting a spot with hookups at the Allegro Campground in Red Bay. This is one of their busy times, when snowbirds are on their way north after spending the winter in the south. When we got settled this afternoon, Jim gave them a quick call, and it looks like there will be a few spots open, so we will be heading out early in the morning for the last leg of our journey to Red Bay.

Thank all of you for your congratulatory comments on my weight loss. It feels good to achieve this, now the real challenge is continuing to lose, and maintaining that loss!

Visiting in Brookshire, Texas

Yesterday morning we got up fairly early so I could get ready to attend a Weight Watchers meeting in Katy, Texas. Jim went along and waited for me, as the plan was to have breakfast and do some shopping after the meeting.

I got checked in and weighed at the meeting. I was happy to find that all the eating at the gathering in Kerrville did not derail my program, and I have reached my official Weight Watchers goal. Just a little explanation here; I set a goal weight with WW which is a few pounds higher than my personal goal. The reason I did that is both financial and psychological. Financial, because as long as I don't go more than 2 pounds over that WW goal, I can attend meetings for free. Psychological, because I really want more than 2 pounds of "wiggle room", and I have learned from other members that it's pretty comfortable to continue a slow weight loss after reaching the official goal. I still plan to follow the same way of eating as I have for the past five and a half months and attend meetings.

After the meeting, Jim and I went in search of a place to have breakfast. Uh-oh, not much of a choice in this area! We ended up at a little bagel shop, where I had half a bagel breakfast sandwich and coffee. Then we went to the local Petco store and I bought new grooming clippers for the dogs.

Next stop was Camping World to see if they had the Coleman fire pits we were looking for. Yes - they had 2 left. One was the display model, so we made sure they had all the parts and were willing to sell it. They did and they were, so we called Mark to see if he wanted us to get it for him. He was at a store in Kerrville, looking to see if they had one, so he told us go ahead and get it for him. We did just that, now we just need to get back together with them to deliver it!

Time to get back to the Castle and do a little cleaning up before our dinner guests were to arrive. Of course, I needed to vacuum, so Jim all of a sudden figured out he needed something at Walmart, and he left me to do my cleaning in peace.

Ellie and her husband, Ron, arrived around 6. We visited and got caught up with each other's lives since we last met up with them. Then we enjoyed a pork roast with apricot glaze, hoppin' john and rice, broccoli and salad. I fixed berries over chocolate angel food cake with ice cream for dessert. Ellie brought a wonderful green salad. We were stuffed!

Picture time!

The 2 Ellie's with BoJangles:

Ron and Ellie with Jasmine:

Too soon, it was time for Ellie and Ron to head home, and for us to head to bed to rest up for travel day.

Our first challenge of the day, once we got on the road this morning, was to get across Houston. We'd finally decided, after much discussion and talking to several people, to go straight across on Interstate 10, after rush hour. I think that was a good decision - we made it across with no problems or delays.

Our next challenge was a dead stop for over 45 minutes just east of Beaumont, Texas. We finally called the local T-DOT number and found out that instead of the construction we thought was the cause, there'd been an accident and the eastbound lanes were closed. Finally, traffic started moving again, and we are are once again underway.

The planned stop for tonight is in Breaux Bridge, Lousisiana. Stay tuned for more adventures, justravelin.