Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery

Today we visited the only Coon Dog Memorial Cemetery, established in 1937.

There were some 

monuments to Coon Dogs.  This one commemorated the ability of Coon Dogs to tree their prey.

The cemetery had graves of plywood, stone, and even marble. 

The cemetery was decorated with flowers and flags for Memorial Day.

 This is something you will want to put on your bucket list.

And you thought there was nothing to see in Red Bay!!!!!!

     

Red Bay Alabama, Home of Tiffan Alegro Motorhomes

This is our second visit to Red Bay, Alabama.  You may remember that soon after we got our motor home in July of 2010, Bob hit a pole at a gas station and put a hole in the side.  Then our repairs were done by Chris Wright a former employee of Tiffin, who has his own shop for body work.  This time we were just getting a few minor things fixed so we came directly to Camp Tiffin and had things done by the manufacturer.  There are two ways to get work done here.  You can make an appointment.  Bob called in March and they could take us in September or come with out an appointment and they would work us in when they could.  We learned before we came, average wait time could be 2 weeks.  We had a flex line that drained our kitchen sink and goes out though a slide.  Bob has had it fixed twice before.  He wants it fixed right this time and he wants it done now.  So here we our.

We pulled in on Tuesday afternoon and the Camp looked like this.

This is one street and I would say there are four.  There is room for about 66 rigs.  We registered at the office and got our paperwork.  You need to list what you want done and then you turn it in and they decide whether the Mobile unit can fix your motor home or if you need to go into the bay for more extensive work.    ( This of course is if you come without an appointment.)

We were told that they thought the mobile unit could take care of us so be up and ready at 7:30 am on Wednesday morning.  We thought boy this is great.  So we, meaning mostly me, got up and was dressed by 7:00, good thing.  They came at 7:15. First they went over our list.  Right away they said we'd have to go to the bay, but they would fix some small things on the list.  They put in a new shade in one of our windows, Fixed a snap on a strap that ties our window shades up.  Replaced a molding piece on the outside of one of the slides.  Send us to Bay Diesel, for a parking brake knob and they were done.  They turned our paperwork in to the office and we were now on the waiting list.  No time determined.

So I went shopping in the company store.  Got our 40th anniversary T-shirt, and Bob bought a few other things in which you are not interested.  I know because I saw them and I know a little about the motor home and I don't know what they are.

This is what the camp looks like after 7:00 am most mornings, when all the motor homes are in their bays.

When they are working on your motor home, it goes in the bay.  If they don't have a side off or some other big problem.  At the end of work, which is 3:00 pm., you take your motor home back to your camping spot.

Every day I bugged, nagged, or as my friend Jackie says, was a motivational speaker.  To get Bob to go and check on when we would get into the bay.  On Wednesday, we were told there was four in front of us.  So I went to get my hair cut and colored.  On Thursday, we were told we were next.  On Friday, I went with Bob.  We checked with the scheduler.

The guy acted like he wasn't sure who we were.  We had heard from one RVer that if you slip them a little money you move to the top of the list.  Well, if you know Bob, you know that ain't going to happen.  A worker, came in and asked who he was supposed to put in bay 49.  Our paperwork was found and we moved into bay 49.  Bob said we were just in the right place at the right time. This is our bay, with the finished motor home moving out.

Our motor home finally in the bay. Notice our nice new bike bag.  Since I got a new bike, Bob bought this nice bag, so it stays clean while we travel.  So far we haven't taken it out.  But he promised me when we hit Ohio the end of August to visit my sister, he will take the bag off.

Here are our workers, Marion and Cory.

Well, they fixed our toilet from jiggling. Then they worked on the wood trim around the slide that was separating.  The roller on the slide needed adjusting. Checked our water heater, and then it was 3:00 and they were out of there and so were we.  Bob of course stayed with the motor home and watch while they fixed everything.  We moved out and will return at 7:00 am on Tuesday.

New Orleans: Day or I Should say Evening Five

As you know if you've been reading this blog, we have been trying to go to The Court of the Two Sisters, but have had complications.  We had decided that Sunday Jazz Brunch would better fit our schedule.  I had read on Yelps that the Jazz didn't start till noon.  So I thought maybe I'd call and get a reservation and make sure we were there when the Jazz was playing.  Well, it was a good thing I called because you have to have reservations for Sunday Brunch and they were already completely booked for this Sunday.  So I asked about this evening and we were able to get a reservation.  I booked us at 5:30 pm, as you know we can't stay up too late.

We now know where to park for the French Quarter.  Closer to the restaurant and cheaper that other places further away. We checked out the art set up around the fence at Jackson Square.

There was a wedding going on at the cathedral.  I had someone take Bob and my picture.  Bob thinks this picture highlights his belly.

We did a little more window shopping and then arrived at The Court of the Two Sisters.  We waited in the bar for a short time.  

We were seated in the garden.  As you can see I don't think at this time we needed reservations, but it soon filled up with people, as it was Tulane's graduation.

After dinner, I told Bob it would be romantic if we took a carriage ride.  Actually, I had prep him for this, so he would be prepared to agree.  A few tricks I learned in our 40 years of marriage. One, Bob wants to be romantic, but doesn't know how, and two it's important to express my expectations 

so I'm not mad because he didn't realize it was important to me.

The horse toured us around the French Quarter.  We'd seen most of it, but it was still beautiful.

We tipped the driver and the horse.

Goodbye New Orleans, we enjoyed spending time in your city. 

New Orleans: Day Five

Pralines has spent a lot of time in the motor home this week while Bob and I explored New Orleans.  So today, we decided to take Pralines to City Park.  We didn't know it till we got there but there was a great dog park.  New Orleans Dog Bark was it's name.

The only problem was you had to be a member.  We weren't but it was OK someone let us in and we went.

Pralines was happy to be here.  She made friends.

They had a great path for walking.

Two pools for swimming.

A water fountain for humans and dogs.

An organization named PAWS had dogs up for adoption in the park.  I think that's why we got in so easy.  All the dogs who were up for adoption had a vest on showing they were available. There was also a sculpture of a dog that was to bring awareness of dogs needing homes.  These sculptures are in other places around town put up by the SPCA.

A beautiful park and a beautiful morning.

New Orleans: Day Four

Bob and I drove to the Garden District.  We did not have a map.  So it was an adventure.

This area was originally developed between 1832 to 1900.  It may be one of the best preserved collection of historical southern mansions in the United States.  The 19th century origins of the Garden District illustrate wealthy newcomers building opulent structures based upon the prosperity of New Orleans in that era.  Here are a few of the beautiful homes we saw.

Along St. Charles Avenue, the main street in the garden district, the oldest continuously operating street railroad system in the world runs. It has no air conditioning.and no way to turn around.  When it gets to the end of the line, the passengers must exit, while the conductor turns the seats around, then the passengers can reboard.

There is another streetcar in New Orleans you can ride today, with air conditioning and it can turn around, not as much fun.

New Orleans: Day Three

Today we wanted to hit the French Market, Cafe du Monde, and the Louisiana Museum.

We started at the French Market, which opened in 1791 and has continued to present day.  It is a 6 block area in the Lower French Quarter.

We walked through and decided on what we wanted to buy, but decided we pick things up on the way out so we wouldn't have to carry.  Think of a large swap meet with everything New Orleans.

We passed the statue of Joan of Arc.  Our tour guide yesterday, told us that locals give directions by telling you to go to Joannie on her pony.  Which refers to this statue.  Joan of Arc's statue was moved from where Harrah's is now located.

On we walked to Cafe du Monde. I had been there before but Bob had not.  We had beignets and coffee.

After a delicious stop, we headed to Jackson Square and the Louisiana Museum.  We had stopped by the museum on Tuesday, but didn't feel we had time to see.  The exhibits were of Katrina, Mardi Gras, and a photographs by Robert Tebbs of Plantations. (Couldn't pass up this shot on the way.)

This is how Fats Domino's piano was found after Katrina.

This disaster was so well documented.  Much of this exhibit were in video of actual events.

This flag was rescued by a doctor who was the last to evacuate a hospital.  He thought it would be important  at some point.

Another example of a Katrina Cross.

After the Katrina exhibit we proceeded upstairs to see the Plantation Photographs of Robert Tebbs.  He was a well known architectural photographer in the 1920"s.

He always photographed the front, back, and sides but especially the dilapidated parts.

This next picture shows a tree lined drive and one more plantation.  I am not sure I gave you a good sample of this exhibit, but we enjoyed it.

By now we were hungry and went to The Market Cafe.  We listened to jazz and ate a muffaletta.  A good completion to another wonderful day.