Spring has sprung in Ontario

 

Yeah, I know, you've seen a shot like this before, but this was taken just yesterday in our usual spot at the Barrie KOA. And this maple has really grown with a vengeance, having just barely a bud on it three weeks ago.

 

We are back, finally settled in, and if you are in the neighborhood, please stop by and say hi and sip a nice glass of vino.

 

 

Part of our ritual of returning to Barrie is to stop at the flag factory to replace the worn out banner with a new, bright one.

As I was getting the old one off the pole and getting the new one ready to be mounted, Bandit did his usual cat thing of really making sure every other cat in the area is well aware that this is "his" flag.

And I couldn't resist the ginger (new term) haired kid as he ran across a picture of something that didn't exactly please him.

It is great to be back and to celebrate we hosted Jo-Anne's brother, Rick, on his birthday and he was joined by our niece Danni and Grandpa Martin. Great 72 degree day on the patio for burgers, slaw, and some of Danni's home brew wine ... which was an excellent cab by the way.

To close out here is a bit of a recap of the trip up here from Dallas. We drove 2066 miles averaging 8.7 miles per gallon, and used 237.8 gallons of diesel at an average of $3.90 a gallon (the HHR didn't use a drop). And still the ATM here is wonderful as you draw out your $200 Canadian and it costs you $184 US ... almost a free bottle of wine every trip to the machine.

OH Canada!

We did cross into Canada at Port Huron amidst the heavy traffic you see here ... Port Huron is always our favorite place to cross.

And we arrived uneventfully in our usual place at the Barrie KOA and began to set up for the summer. But then we found out about ...

The Heist

The reason it's taken a bit for me to catch up on the blog business is that right now I'm writing this from our apartment in Dallas. Whoa! That was quick. Yes, our apartment got burglarized just after we left, most likely by someone reading about our lifestyle right here and wanted to take some of our crap.

Anyhow I flew back to Dallas and have spent the week working with insurance, police, irresponsible and unconcerned apartment staff, etc. The police say it was clearly an inside job done with one of the many keys that the complex allows their folks to have ... you are never too old to learn something new.

Anyhow the locks are changed and the garage door bolted shut to protect the un-stolen remnants and I'm back on a plane soon to see how Jo-Anne is doing on her crash course in solo RV care and maintenance. After this experience I'll have to be careful as she won't need me around to pretend to fix the bus!

Spring isn't here yet as we arrived in Port Huron on the 6th. I guess it is just barely growing as the grass is starting but the trees haven't gotten the word. Actually was snowing here last week.

Above is our favorite site at the KOA and our annual church experience. They actually do hold weddings in the little chapel and it's probably really beautiful in the middle of summer.

Below are a couple of RV interest items. First is a view of the Flying Scotsman as it is folded up for travel. Still very functional and with access to all the needed kitchen things for that rest stop lunch.

And finally I mentioned that we had to get a new little microwave as our big built-in one fried itself. OK, space is always a problem and until we get the real micro fixed the replacement will live on the counter below the old. But what is inside the old unit ... yup the toaster oven ... hey gotta be resourceful in 400 square feet, eh.

Off on the 7th to Canada!

After Gatlinburg we headed north on I-75 through a massive traffic jam north of Knoxville and arrived at an RV park we hadn't been to.

The Whispering Hills RV park was about 5 miles off the highway and about 10 miles north of Lexington Kentucky near the town of Georgetown. Really nice facility with large open sites ... pull-thrus a bit short, but OK. Great desk folks and a very quiet park.

Above is Jo-Anne trying to look like the Air Force wings I guess ... but whatever it was it got us moving down I-75 again toward Dayton.

We popped into the Wright-Pat Fam Camp and said hi to our great friends Greg and Char. I had called in earlier for reservations, but we have never had a problem and the sites are huge and paved for $25.We had a super pizza at their place that evening and talked about all our ailments and what the future might hold for all of us.

Some memories.

 

While in Gatlinburg on another trip at least 20 years ago we stayed at this old motel by the chair lift. It was neat with some timeless 1950's knotty pine and other room décor including a black dial telephone and the lift next door that was closed at the time.

 

So the old guys hopped on the thing and rode a couple hundred feet to the top on an absolutely perfect 68 degree day. The commercial photo below shows the happy campers as we approached the junk shop at the top.

And below a view from the top down to the city below.

A typical Gatlinburg street scene below ... really quaint and well maintained.

And the blogger posing ... don't ask why ... with one of the local residents.

Great time and wish we had more time to explore the National Park and the surroundings more fully ... next trip, eh.

Turning the bus around tomorrow and heading northward!

After another 220 miles of I-40 to the east we veered off the Interstate and arrived in Sevierville of Dollywood fame. We expected the glam and glitter and weren't disappointed ... and also didn't slow down.

 

Our destination was another 20 miles up into the mountains and the charming town of Gatlinburg. We picked a new park out of the book and while the GPS guided us right to the place it didn't tell me how to get into it. This is a newly renovated park and is undergoing growing pains with much construction nearby and normally slow government help.

The pic below is the final resting spot ... notice the bus on the grass. The park was on the left side of a four-lane highway and because I turned a bit quickly we couldn't make the required U-turn. There we were across two of the four lanes and backing up some frustrated but surprisingly tolerant traffic and the owner of the RV place running toward us.

I finally moved very gently the wrong way down a side street, with other folks backing up, and then snuck sheepishly into the LeConte RV resort to the east of Gatlinburg.

After all the excitement and finally properly parking the Flying Scotsman we headed off for some much needed food and drink.

We stopped by Three Jimmy's as recommended by the park hosts and were not disappointed one little bit. I had a freshly caught brook trout and Jo-Anne had their half rack of ribs, both some of the best we have had in a very long time. Washed down with a couple of tankards of Amstel ... the day's excitement slowly went away.

This is really a first class RV location with some wonderful hosts. In back of the RVs below you can see some of their "glamping" structures in which you can enjoy the good parts of camping without sleeping on the ground.

Above them is the start of some tree houses as well. These structures again will be basic but provide you with spectacular views of the mountains within the National Park across the road.

Again, first class new place for anyone who wants to visit Gatlinburg and at about $50-60 per night well worth it.

Nashville

 

Another 200 mile jaunt down I-40 to Nashville on Thursday landed us at the Nashville Shores RV park on the bank of J. Percy Priest Lake just to the east of the city.

 

This is an old park sharing the property with a massive water slide, boating, fishing, and zip line adventures. As the amusement part of the place wasn't open yet it was very quiet, but I wouldn't want the site above in the chaos of a summer weekend.

As I said, while highly rated, this is an old park with old infrastructure and we couldn't get sat where we were parked. The lots are very narrow and the access is pretty tight in the trees ... car stayed on the grass.  Off tomorrow to Gatlinburg.