WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 23rd 2011 296428

The start to the day was sunny and warm, but the forecast for the area was for showers later in the day.  So pretty here at Roosevelt State park it would have been nice to stay for a while.   Oh well, there is always next time!

Could not resist one last walk around the lake shore.  Just as I got to to the edge an Egret landed on the branch of a fallen tree.  It didn't seem to mind me being there at all.

So back to packing up and getting ready for the road.   While we were doing that a duck wandered up from the shore for a visit.

Took several pictures of it, as we needed to look this duck up in the book.  Not sure what it was.

As you can see it was not at all afraid of us, and in fact was extremely happy to be fed a little bread.

Research in the book showed it to be a Muscovy Duck.

Not sure if that is so, but that is what we found.

Now we really do have to get going!

It was a good easy ride through the rest of Mississippi, over the Mississippi River into Louisiana.

We  had  passed  an older Class C camper way back in Southern Carolina.  It was going so slow it was holding all the traffic up.   Now a couple of days later in MS we saw it again.

Decided to pull off in Rayville LA to buy some steak for dinner, and low and behold a few miles along the 1-20 we came across the same vehicle again - going equally as slow as before.

Stopped at the Welcome Centre in Texas. for camping info.  Great place, got tons of info.   We  both really enjoyed Texas when we were trucking.  Felt good to get back.

Read through the State Park Book, then back on the road heading to Martin Creek Lake State park.

Traffic not too bad, and a nice day.  Did see a Cop sitting at a ramp near the Interstate.


Mike was watching the side and rear mirrors and mentioned to me that we had  the cop now almost in the rear of our camper, so it appears we may be pulled over.  What for?  We had no idea.   The cop kept pulling up close and  backing off, then finally,  after what seemed like an hour, he put the flashing lights on, so we pulled over.  And you all thought there was not much exciting action on this portion of the trip, didn't you?

He got out of his car and checked the back of the camper, and shined his light in the windows of the camper and proceeded to walk along the passenger side to my window, which I had opened.

"Both of you show me your hands"  he demanded as he reached the window.  Naturally we did!   "Do you have any weapons?" he asked.  You know our reply "NO.  We are not permitted to have guns where we come from" we told him.  His reply was "That is insane, you should be able to carry a gun.  A gun has never killed anyone.  Only people Kill!"  

Oh Dear what will be next.  We felt like Bonnie and Clyde.

He proceeds to tell us our vehicle is "supposedly"  being reported as stolen.  Yes, this  little Camper we bought in 2007 in Ontario Canada, with new plates put on it at that time, was now a stolen vehicle in Texas.
So we handed over driving licences, ownership and any other info we had that might clear us of this crime before being thrown in jail in Texas!

The cop wandered back to his vehicle and ran all the info, and we sat there for what seemed like hours, before he headed back to our camper (only a minute or two later really).   He apologised for the inconvenience, there had been a computer glitch.  "Have a great trip, and take care"   And he was gone.

Now we wonder how many more times we will get stopped with this stolen vehicle.   What made him stop us anyway, he couldn't see the licence plate from where he was sitting anyway?   Really time to get to the Park and open that bottle of wine.  I need  one about now!

It didn't take us much longer on the road to reach
Martin Creek Lake State Park.   5.30 pm
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Managed to get another good site right close to the lake again.  

Once again a great park.

Sat out for a while planning the next day,  then had BBQ, and watched a movie.   Still fire bans at these camps due to high winds and dry conditions.  So no camp fire again.


We wonder what will be confronted with tomorrow.

Time for a glass of wine!

TUESDAY FEBRUARY 22nd 2011 295960

Final walk around the park area before leaving at 10.15 am.    This is the highest point in Alabama.

The ride from the park to Talladega was incredible all along the side of the mountain and river for 20 miles.  The weather was a bonus too, bright and sunny.

We took the time to stop in at the Talladega Race Way and the Motor Sports Hall of Fame.  Quite interesting.   Unfortunately there were no trips around the actual track scheduled until the afternoon, so we could do that, but still good to have a look around.

It was a good ride along the Interstate into Morton, near Jackson MS. to Roosevelt's State Park.   Once again another fabulous place to stay.
4 pm.   296428

Our site was on the lakeshore.  Very quiet, peaceful and warm.    So much beauty to see all in one place.

We strolled the area before supper.  Another place it would have been great to stay a while.

                                                                 Walk around the lake.

Saw the sunset over the lake before supper.


Then spent a relaxing evening planning the next couple of days ahead of us.

So far all going to plan.

Nite Nite!!!

MONDAY FEBRUARY 21st 2011

We got up early to see Kayleigh before she left for school.  School starts early here, 8am - 3 pm.

We were all packed and ready to leave about 9.30 am.                       295389.

Quite a nice day, even a little warmer.  

Stayed on the Interstate (1-85) to Atlanta.  It was quite an easy ride too.

From there we hit the 1-20 into Alabama.  Also good ride, not too much traffic either.

Headed to Cheaha State Park in the Talladega Mountains, which is the highest point in Alabama.   Very pretty area.

Beautiful drive from the Interstate to the Park through the mountains.

It has been a great day, some winds but not at all cold.

All set up at site 4.30 pm.  295960.

Great place.  All hook ups and Internet. 

Turned out to be a cool evening.

Wish we had time to stay here a while.  Lots to explore.





SUNDAY FEBRUARY 20th 2011

A little cloudy this morning, but not cold.  

After Breakfast "Mike The Mechanic" appeared, and decided he should really check that there was no damage done to our little camper when we hit the pot hole.

As you can see there certainly was some damage done to one of the new shocks on the front of the camper.  

So when we went out for a drive Mike bought a new one, that did not have a 90 degree bend at the end of it, and installed it ready for the rest of our trip.



Vince took all of us for really nice drive to show us around Ballentyne area, a short distance from where they live now, to show us where they hope to move too in the near future.   It really is a very prestige area, and would be a wise move if and when possible.

This is where they live now.   As you can see there is nothing wrong with this area either.   It is a lovely home.







Back for lunch and in good time to settle in to watch The Daytona 500.  It turned out to be a really good race, not too many cautions, and a really exciting ending.   The Rookie Trevor Bayne won.  His first race, and first time around Daytona.   Looks like he could go on to do a whole lot of good things.

To complete our super family day we all went to P.J. O'Reilly's for dinner, which was excellent.

Managed to skype with Andrew when we  gt back - all good in Australia.

The rest of the evening we just sat around and discussed everything we could think of.  I think we managed to put the world and lots of people right.   That exhausted us all enough for bed.

Good Night!   See you tomorrow - on the road again then.

SAURDAY FEBRUARY 19th 2011 295128

Nice and sunny but cool morning.    Cooked breakfast and all ready to get on the road again by 10.45 am.

It was still quite windy, but not as bad as yesterday.

Good to see these mountains again.

Lucky for us we had no need to use this ramp.







Really good ride into North Carolina.  Stopped to do some shopping.

Lake Norman NC.

Arrived at Vince, Barb and Kayleigh's about 3.pm.   Quite a bit warmer here in Charlotte.  Feels good!

Sat around catching up on the last year of events.   Chatted with Danny on skype.  It appears there is is lots of new snow in Fegus.   As you can see.

After supper Vince showed us his new music room.   We had a really good family evening listing to music and telling all kinds of stories.  Kayleigh has been brushing up on her "Queen's English accent".   Wish you could all hear it.

Cannot let Thor get away without a picture.

We have had a really good day, travelling and getting to our first destination.

Always good to spend time with your family.

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HERE WE ARE ON OUR TRAVELS.

Apologies to any of you trying to keep track of our travels.  WIFI here in the Southern States is not good.  Virtually impossible to even check e-mail.  So we will do our best when we can. 

I must tell you all this is a fantastic trip, there has been quite a few "adventures" and cannot wait to tell you all about them.  However, it may be when I get back to Durham before I can download  any pictures and manage to stay on line for more than two minutes at a time.

First weekend away we were with Vince, Barb and Kayleigh.  That was a wonderful family time.   This can never be replaced, it has been excellent.   Look forward to returning on the way back.   

The next weekend we were with Alison and Norman in Tucson, Arizona.  We had a really good time, thank you again guys. Loved the house, property, mountain trail and the beer and wine. Cannot wait to tell you all about that trip.  This was all new scenery to us.

Right now we are in San Antonio Texas.  Where everything is BIG, except the WIFI!!!

Had a great time along the River Walk.  Some how Hiker Mike remembered were Durty Nellie's Irish Pub was without any problem at all.   Special weekend here.  175h Anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo and also San Antonio's Fiesta Weekend (rather like Mardi Gras).   We have so many pictures to show you all.
Tomorrow we hope to find the Spanish Market (it was 20 years ago that we were here last.).

Oh Yes.   The soup can is still hanging in there since leaving Durham Feb 17th, and we have done
4827 miles so far this trip.  Let's hope it will keep going.

Will catch you all when we can.   We will get this blog updated when we get back to Durham, with all the stories, adventures and pictures.

Please stayed tuned for the next episode.  Normal Service will be resumed as soon as possible.

Friday 18th February 2011

Awoke sometime very early, still dark, to our little camper being rocked from side to side.  Then I heard two bangs.  I realise it may have been stupid to stay at a rest area in New York, but we have done that many times.  Surely no one wants to harm us here.  I glanced over at Mike, and yes he was still breathing, so no one had shot us.  Peaked outside through the drapes to see two people just leaving the car that was now parked next to us.   Guess the bangs were their car doors.  They were really battling the winds trying to walk across the parking lot.  That explains why the camper was moving so much.   Bonus - can go back to sleep for a while.

We were up and ready to leave at 8.15 am and still the wind was extremely strong., making it difficult to keep our camper on the road.  Certainly was not at all cold.

Stayed on the Thruway to Fredonia, where we stopped for breakfast and our usual supplies.

As the wind was so strong we stayed off the Interstate for a while.

Here you can see frozen Lake Erie.  

The ride along NY 5 was very pretty,   We passed a really great looking State Park which we will be very interested in going back to through the summer or fall.

Back onto the Interstate around Erie PA..   Still extremely windy.   From Erie there was not much snow to be seen.  However, there were many huge pot oles, and we managed to find a real good one.  It left us with a lot of noise coming from under the front of the camper.   After finding several more pot holes, and the noise getting louder, we had to pull off the Interstate to try and find out what damage had been done.   Mike the Mechanic to the rescue!  However, when he looked underneath, nothing looked out of place.   So back on the road and fill up with gas.  Still we couldn't see anything wrong, and much to our surprise, the noises were not so bad.   Headed back onto the Interstate just as the rain started.

We took steady ride into VA.

Although the rain was heavy the ski hills were open and all the lights on.

It still looked really impressive.

Drove on to Wytheville VA for the night.   Very heavy rain.   Huge notice on Camp Store Door.  "Do not leave any food outside.  Bears have been sighted here."    Oh well it is raining so we will not be outside.  6.30 pm.      Mileage, 295128.

All set up, and even had Internet, so were able to chat with Natalie and Danny.  Couldn't get Vince n skype but did text.  Everyone doing good. 

Nice supper, watched some TV, did some e-mails, relaxed.

Other than very high winds (60 mph) and huge pot holes the day was good.   Today we woke up and had breakfast in NY, Coffee in PA, Lunch in WV, Dinner in VA.   Reminds us of our days when we were trucking.