July, August, and September 2010

We really started on our journey in July.  We head to Livingston, Texas to become Texas residence and join the Escapees for mail forwarding and discount campgrounds.  We found the RV of our dreams in Amarillo, Texas and headed north from Livingston to look it over and as it was perfect for us, purchase.
July:

 Our motorhome.  A 40' Tiffin Phaeton 2004.  We loved it when we first saw it and after 6 months we still feel we made the right purchase for us.

 We bought our motorhome in Amarillo, Texas and they had horses like this all over town.  Interesting!

Pralines adjusted to her new home.  As long as she has her bed, food, and a walk she happy.

  Our second day, our first accident.  Bob couldn't talk about it for about a week.

We were getting fuel and trying to avoid a pump on the right, ran into a pole on the left.  We have since found out that all RV'ers have their story.

 Craig's parents invited up to their Lake house, at Kiowa Lake for the 4th of July.  Addie had a great time.

 So did Grandma.

 Addie loves getting her face painted

  

                                                                 

 Dodad was teaching Addie to fish.  She was much better at the cake walk.  Winning a cake for the family after playing about 10 times.

 

 On our way to Branson, Missouri to learn to drive the motorhome we stopped at Eufaula, Oklahoma at Belle Starr.  We loved this park and want to go back.  Here Pralines and I are taking her nightly walk.

 This is a Scarlett Tanager which we saw at Eufaula Lake. Beautiful birds!!!

 A Scissortail Flycatcher is the state bird of Oklahoma.

You can see why we want to come back.  Awesome sunset.

We arrived in Branson, Missouri where I learned to drive.  Actually, I have driven 2 times in the last 6 months.  But at least I know I can drive if I have to.

Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, MO.  Heather had stayed here with Vicki, Macy, and Kathrine and had recommended we visit.

This is one of the many resturants.  It was a lovely area.  I know my book club ladies would love a retreat here.

 We spent one night at Boiling Springs, MO.  The river was brown and muddy.

They said it was crystal clear last week, but I have my doubts.  We won't be staying here again.

Next we arrived in Columbia, MO.  We stayed at lovely campground called Cottonwood RV Park for a few nights and then moved to another COE campground at Finger Lakes.

We had hamburgers at Boochie's.  We recommend it highly.

 Toured the town and would love to come back and spend more time here.

August:  We now moved on to Hannibal, Missouri to check out Mark Twain's home headed to my sister's for Labor Day.

 We went to a performance on Mark Twain's life.

 We visited his fence and .........

 home.

We took a paddle wheel boat ride on the Mississippi River and had good food with a great view.

In Springfield, Illinois, we stayed at the Double J. Campground, it was great.  We visited the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

Also, Abraham Lincoln's National Park. The neighborhood where he lived before becoming the President is restored and now a National Park.  Here is the Lincoln's home.

We visited New Salem, Illinois which is a park that has a recreated village where Lincoln lived as a young man, before he married.

 We toured one of Frank Lloyd Wright's home.  This home has been kept in great condition over the years.

This was the Dana-Thomas home and peaked our interest in visiting more of Frank Lloyd Wright's work.  I also read Loving Frank, which made me curious about his architecture.  This is one of the finest examples of his Praire Style

We traveled in Indianapolis, Indiana and toured the Indianapolis Motorspeed Way Museum.  Bob was in heaven.

We visited our second Frank Lloyd Wright home in Springfield, Ohio.  It had been cut up into apartments before it was bought by the FLW Foundation and restored.

 We spent a week at Long Lake Park Campground, in Lakeville, Ohio, which is in the heart of the Amish community.  This is Lehmans' Hardware.  They cater to the Amish and it had many very interesting items.

We visited the Yoder Farm.  Run by a former Amish farmer.  We toured the home, barn and school.

This was the living room in the Yoder farm.  Notice the car battery to light the floor lamp.  We loved this area.  Very beautiful, relaxing and the best food we had anywhere.

A real treat!!! A front view of the Yoder Farm.

This was the Malabar Farms, one of the first farms that was environmentally friendly.  Frank Malabar was an author, look him up.  He is an interesting guy.

We visited Mochians State Park and had lunch at the Inn there.  Bob visited as a boy, but things have changed.  Ofcourse, it's been 50 years or so.

September:  Labor Day with family.

Lazy days with family.  We loved it.  We camped at West Branch in Ravenna, Ohio.  Nothing like family.

We visited Viking Winery.  It was a lovely setting, but the wine was just ok.  Remember we are from California.

A special treat was meeting with some of the girls I went to high school with.  These are the girls from the Class of 1967.  I think we look great!.  Thanks Linda for arranging this dinner.

 We traveled to Goshen, Indiana for an Escapee Rally.  We learned a lot.  We went to an RV Boot Camp.

Our friends Howard and Linda, from the RV Dreams Rally in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina were here as speakers.

We met up with Kathy and Dave at the Escapee Rally and  decided to take a tour of the Indiana Amish Community.  We took a buggy ride.  Had lunch of course the Amish know how to cook.

We visited quilt gardens and.....

 and viewed beautiful quilt with unusual patterns.

On to Red Bay, Alabama to get the hole in the motorhome fixed.

 This is Chris, who worked on our motorhome.  He also advised us on everything Red Bay, where to eat, what to visit, even a hair dresser.

 Fiberglass  work.

The finished product except for decals.

Tiffin Motorhomes are manufactured in Red Bay, Alabama.  This is what you would call a factory town.  Everyone works for Tiffin or works for a subcontractor of Tiffin.  We took a factory tour.  It was fascinating.

We got to go right down on the floor of the factory to view the assembly line.

Bob would like this new Phaeton.  An upgraded model from our 2004 to a 2010 would only cost us about $300,000.  Guess we'll continue to enjoy our motorhome, expecially now that it is fixed.

I had planned to finish the year today, but there was so much to tell, you'll have to tune in tomorrow for October, November, and December.  Also most of this is blogged in greater detail in past blogs on this site.

We have moved from Wylie, Texas to Waco, Texas.  Beautiful COE park at Midway Park.  It was only in the 40's today, so I will have to return when it is warmer to enjoy it.