Dixie Stampede

Day two of the SOITC Rally.  We attended seminars on RV products, extended warranty insurance and how to fix and repair woodwork.   Tonight’s entertainment was the dinner and show at Dixie Stampede.  The musicians who played during the  pre-show entertainment segment were very talented.  Everyone had a good time and plenty to eat.  The great thing about attending a rally is the wonderful people you get to meet.  It is fun to share travel stories and other RV experiences with them.   I tried to get a picture of a group of us that were sitting together.

(from left to right) Ann, Bill, Judith, Robert and Harris.

Harris and Jan.

The view of the balcony across from us in the carriage room before the show.

Bluegrass musician entertaining us before the show.

Banjo picker, bass player and guitar player.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

SOITC Rally Begins

Up early this morning and on our way to RV's for Less in Knoxville, TN to have one of the hydraulic jacks replaced. While we were waiting for our service tech John walked around where the new RVs are and saw Bill Henderson, whom we met in Kerrville, TX at the RV Dreams Really in 2009. He was there to pick up his new Elite Suites with his Freightliner truck. We met another couple, also waiting for repairs, Jan and Harris from TN. They are also attending the SOITC Rally. RV's for Less is where we purchased our 2011 Mobile Suites. They try to go the extra mile to give you the best service.

Once the hydraulic jack replacement was completed we were on our way to River Plantation RV Park in Sevierville, TN. I fixed us some lunch while John went to the convention center to pick up our Rally packets.

Tonight the Rally kicked off with a dinner and a show with entertainer Patty Waszak. She is the entertainer at the local American Oldies Theater. Very talented.

She plays 15 different instruments.

Laugh everyday. Happy trails. Stay safe.

Ober Gatlinburg, Clingman’s Dome and Cherokee, NC

Busy day today.  Our first adventure was to take Lester and Savannah to Ober Gatlinburg.  John and I have been to this area several times and thought they would enjoy it.  John and Lester rode the Alpine Slide and and Savannah and I rode the Scenic Chairlift. 

John and Lester on their way up to the Alpine slide.

This was the view Savannah and I had on the Chairlift. 

Our view of the Alpine Slide from the Chairlift.

Woohoo look at us dangling our hot pink toes high in the air. LOL

Savannah and I after making it to the top.

Our next stop was Clingman’s Dome, the highest point in Tennessee.  John and Lester completed the long hike up to the top and took some great pictures.  There were several sightings of bears in the park today.  John got a picture of one in a tree while at Clingman’s Dome.

Lester and Savannah at the Clingman’s Dome parking lot.

John and Savannah at the Clingman’s Dome parking lot.

Lester before climbing Clingman’s Dome.

If you look closely at the top middle of this picture you can see a bear.

By the time the Lester and John completed their hike and met Savannah and I  in the parking lot it was time to find something to eat.  We rode over into Cherokee, NC to try out Paula Deen’s restaurant in the casino.  After walking a long way to get into the casino they told us we could not walk through because Lester and Savannah were under 21.  Because the Freightliner is taller than the ceiling in the parking garage that would mean another long hike around the hotel and casino.  We all agreed we had walked enough today and voted to find a local restaurant in town.  Our choice was Paul’s Family Restaurant.  As we pulled up and parked across the street next two a couple of fire trucks, John noticed a group of firefighters leaving the restaurant.  It is always a good sign when fire fighters eat at local restaurants…..usually means good food. Yeah!!!  John spoke to the fire fighters for a few minutes then we all proceeded to the restaurant.  The food was great and our server had a good sense of humor.

Savannah’s plate.  Chicken strips and fries.

Lester and I got the shrimp and fires.

John’s plate.  Hamburger steak and fries.  He inherited all our servings of cole slaw.  He loves it……we don’t. LOL

John treated himself to a dessert……homemade coconut cake.  Just look at the concentration on his face.  

After finishing our meal we drove back to the campground and called it a night. 

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Pigeon Forge, TN

Out of Littcarr, KY by 10:00 and on the way to Pigeon Forge, TN.   The ride was uneventful and we made it to Creekside RV Park by 1:30.  After getting set-up we were off to the pool.   Before we realized it dinner time was upon us.  We needed a few groceries so off to Wal-mart we went.  Tonight we had tacos.  No pictures of the food…..we were real hungry and ate them quickly. LOL   We did manage to get in a walk through the park after dinner.

Our site.

Entrance to the park.

The pool area across from our site.

Tomorrow we plan on doing some sightseeing in the Gatlinburg area.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Gone hiking.

This morning we all went hiking on the trails in the park. The first part was all up hill. Uck! I don’t like a straight uphill climb. The scenery was nice and we got a few pictures.

Lester, Savannah and John waiting for me to catch up.

Yeah, we finally made it to the overlook.

The view from the overlook.

Another view from the overlook.

It was all down hill on the way back. If you look real hard you can see Lester at the bottom of the hill, Savannah in the middle, and then me. John was half way to the top of the hill watching us go down.

After lunch we chilled out for a while and caught up on laundry and stuff like that. Savannah took a little nap and Lester could not resist getting a picture of it.

I guess that hike just caught up with her. LOL

For dinner tonight we had grilled chicken, baked potatoes and salad. The weather was a nice 78 degrees so we decided to eat outside.

Tomorrow will be travel day for us. Our destination will be Pigeon Forge, TN.

Laugh everyday. Happy trails. Stay safe.

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Fred and I got up around 9:00 this morning and went out for our morning walk.  When I got back everyone was still asleep so I sat outside and read for a while enjoying the nice weather.

This afternoon we went back to Wal-mart to pick up the prescriptions that weren’t ready yesterday. I called before making the 30 minute trip over to Hazard so it wouldn’t be a wasted trip.

John cooked some BBQ pork for pulled pork sandwiches for dinner.  Forgot to get a picture of the food but it was yummy.

Our little bunny visitors came back again today.  I tried to zoom in real close but the pictures blurred a little.

Laugh everyday.  Happy trails.  Stay safe.

Detergent and Ice Cream.

It has been very warm, in the upper 80s since we arrived in Littcarr, KY and no rain but I am not complaining because I don’t like cold weather or rain. 

The laundry detergent was running low so John got out his supplies and made another batch. 

John mixing his ingredients.

Spent most of the day chilling out  I did manage to make time to put away the winter clothes and make more room for the summer ones.  We also made a run to Wal-mart to pickup my prescriptions after the pharmacy called to say they were ready.  It takes exactly 30 minutes to get to Wal-mart from the park and I bet you can guess……….Yep the prescriptions weren’t ready.  The clerk at the counter told me they were out of my items but they would be in by 2:00 p.m. tomorrow.  I won’t hold my breath but I will call before running over there tomorrow.

Savannah and John

Me piddling in the kitchen.

Lester

For dinner tonight I made a stew out of the left over roast and put a salad together while John grilled some corn on the cob. 

Lester took a picture of his plate before the food was all gone. (Oops…by the look of those homemade croutons I think I over baked them)

We decided to eat outside since it had cooled off  and soon noticed we had visitors.

There were three rabbits that kept coming in and out of the bushes.   The one is these pictures was the largest one that stayed out the longest.

After dinner we played a few rounds of 10 Penny when Savannah had an ice cream craving.  John got on the computer and found a Dairy Queen about six miles from the campground so off we went.  Any excuse for an ice cream run will do. LOL   I think it was 10:00 when we got to the Dairy Queen.

Savannah and Lester gave it a thumbs up. She had a Butterfinger blizzard and he had a strawberry shake.

My banana shake.

John had a small dip cone but he ate it before we could get a picture of it. 

John finishing off my banana shake.

Laugh everyday. Happy trails.  Stay safe.