Back Where the Heart is - HOME

We made it - Thursday; August 27.

After a short stop in Paducah KY to bolt the tow dolly back together, we made it to the Shawnee National Forest; Crab Orchard Campground between Carterville  and Carbondale, Illinois.  Beautiful part of our magnificent country.  But, no WIFI; so, delayed posting.

We made it in plenty of time for a walk through at the house Dominique and Chad are building as they start their life together.  Rumor has it there will be a Motor Coach pad out back.  Not sure the neighborhood covenants will permit such "down-home" activity.  Oh well.

We ended the day with a very delicious dinner - Legends at Walker's Bluff.  Very unique to Southern Illinois.  Rustic but elegant.  Chad and I watched the Superbowl there this past February.  Dominique celebrated her "decade" birthday a couple of years ago there.  Becoming somewhat of a tradition.

100 miles today.

Patti and Dominique Reviewing Progress
Christmas 2015 - maybe

Birthday Dinner for Dominique
Legends @ Walker's Bluff

#homesweethome  #avoidedbigdelay  #dinnerforfour  #earlyhappybirthday  

Lake Barkley Tonight - Old Stomping Grounds - Houseboat Dreaming

Early Morning in Alabama

Neighbor Weed-eating at 8:40 AM

Brisk Morning - YES

Pictures first tonight, just trying to be different.  Brisk night last night, leading to a brisk morning in Northern Alabama.  Ate dinner out side last night, at our picnic table.  Said "hello" to some of our passing, overnight neighbors.  One couple wanted to see the inside of our Coach.  Interesting group, RVers are.  Worried we'll catch that disease.  LOL

As most of you know, Patti is a late sleeper.  She was not a happy camper when awakened by the sound of one of our neighbors "weed-eating" the dirt outside our front window.  Dale commented that he was edging the drive - "Doesn't matter what you call it, still dirt," according to Patti.

Patti was amused that Dale was willing to make a 12 mile side trip this morning to get his Starbucks fix.  She reminded him that he thought that was unnecessary in the not too distant past.

Lots of beautiful road behind us.  The hills of central Tennessee are amazingly lush.  Getting used to the push of airflow from the over-the-road truckers.  We think we're really beginning to understand NASCAR drafting.  We don't recall "feeling" the approaching trucks from behind in the car/van.

We came through Nashville TN before rush hour.  Good thing, traffic was really rolling through all the construction projects.  Lots of trucks.

243 miles today.

#sweethomealabama  #weedwacker  #chillynight  #alittlebettereveryday 

Day Three of the Fall Color Tour

Nice travel day.  Cooler weather than we've had in a while.  Sunshine, Blue Sky.

Tourist Highlight of the Day:  Florida Highway 1 opened in 1921, made of brick.

Patti was a bit unnerved by the traffic, unfamiliar sounds from the rig and narrow construction lanes.  

One of Dale's pet peeves in life has been encountering vacationers, especially those in RVs, during rush hour traffic.  Well, today we were one of them.  We clogged I-65 at 4:30 PM around Birmingham AL.  People kept waving at us, but we couldn't see all of their fingers.  Hmm.  Oh well, we're learning.  Pulling 50 feet of vehicle in a strange place during rush hour gets the blood pumping - everyone's.

In for the night.

305 miles today.

Florida Highway 1 - Follow the Red Brick Road

#notinkansasanymoredorothy  #fallisintheair  #stilltalking   #typicalseasonedvacationers

Dale's Birthday - On The Road

A much less interesting day today.  No rain, yet.  No traffic problems.  It's 7:15 PM CDT and we're in for the night.  Beautiful Breeze coming off the northern Gulf of Mexico.  We in Navarre FL.  We thought the "beach" in the advertisement meant the Gulf Beach; The beach is on the intercoastal.  We can see Navarre Beach, just can't touch it.  LOL

Dale received a lot of "Happy Birthday" wishes by phone; text; email; and, Facebook.  Thanks to everyone who took the time.  67 and counting.

293 miles today.

In for the Night

Different Kind of Beach

#anothertriparoundthesun  #livingthedream #ontheroadagain

Day One - Fall Color Tour

Long day.  Two firsts:  First time we loaded a car on a tow dolly.  Not as bad as we expected. Stopped three times in the first hour to check the rigging.  It worked.  First (and hopefully last) time we arrived after sunset to setup for the night.  Not ideal.

I-75 northbound:  multi-car accident at mile marker 302 / 303; just north of SR 50 - Brooksville / Ridge Manor.  Parking lot.  Lots of traffic, just sitting; both directions.  Accident northbound; rubberneckers southbound.

I-75 northbound:  Wind and rain; Gainesville.  Waited it out at the Paynes Prairie Rest Area.  Nice time for dinner and listening to the rain.  Wind pushed us around a bit.  Glad we stopped.

Distance traveled:  219 miles

Rain & Wind

Loaded and Ready to Travel

Accident North of SR 50

#firstdaydone # thedreamcontinues #dayoffirsts

Fall Color Tour Begins / August 23, 2015

Good Morning America, How are you?

Today begins the Fall Color Tour for Patti and Dale Schumacher, Retired Americans.  We are traveling north, through Illinois and Wisconsin; then east to Vermont and New Hampshire.  When the leaves begin to change color, we'll head back south, along the eastern seaboard.  We fully expect to be on the road for two months.  We will see the change of seasons.  So, we're retired and it may be longer.  Come on along.

#bucketlistunderway #livingthedream #lifeisgoodtoday