Wed, Nov. 8:  Tallahassee East RV Park, Monticello, FL:  Did the grocery shopping and laundry this morning.  The laundry facility here at the park is only so-so.  After getting that done we relaxed outside reading.  A beautiful day in the low 80s.  In the evening we drove back to Monticello and had dinner at a cute little Mexican restaurant.  Really good food.  Back to our park and watched TV.

A park near the capital in Tallahassee.

Tue, Nov 7:  Deer Run RV Park, Troy, AL, to Tallahassee East RV Park, Monticello, FL:  Relaxed yesterday and enjoyed the beautiful weather.  Left this morning at 10:00.  Seemed to take forever to get out of Alabama.  Takes a long time to get through Dothan, AL, on the circumvential. Stopped at the welcome center on Rt. 231 and Mike took over driving.  Just before we got on I10 we stopped at a Loves truck stop and filled up and had lunch.  Continued east on I10 and stopped at a campground we’ve never stayed at before. After pulling in there we decided to just keep on going and stay at the Tallahassee East RV Park.  Fortunately, they had a spot for us.  Unhooked and here for seven days.  84 when we pulled in here. 

Love the old capital building here in Tallahassee.  The new one sits just behind.  So glad they didn't tear the old one down.

Sun, Nov 5:  Birmingham South RV Park, Pelham, AL, to Deer Run RV Park, Troy AL:  A short, easy drive today, but rife with mishaps.  On our way out of the Birmingham South RV Park, I wasn’t sure if I had locked the refrigerator door or not.  So, we stopped and Mike went in to check.  It was, in fact, locked.  So, we continued south on I65, which on this stretch from Pelham to Montgomery is in pretty good shape.  Guess it’s just in the city of Birmingham that it’s such a mess.  Anyway, a short while after getting on I65 I noticed Mike hadn’t put the handle back in at the door.  So, as soon as I could I got off at an exit and then immediately on the on ramp, pulled over and Mike put the handle in its travel position.  Back on the road.  We stopped at the next truck stop we encountered and fueled up and had something to eat.  Mike took over driving.  After going a few miles I realized I hadn’t strapped down the living room TV.  So, we had to find another place to pull over and check it out.  We had to wait until we exited I65 and were on Rt. 80 east until we found a large strip mall with room to pull over.  Strapped the TV down and were on our way again.  We left Pelham at 9:45 and arrived at Deer Run by 1:00.  Set up by 1:30.  83 here.  Our living area looks out on a large field.  We may see some deer tonight.  It’s really pretty around here.

Big field across from us.

Our site.

Bad Driving Day...

Fri, Nov 3: KOA, W. Memphis, AR, to Birmingham South RV Park, Pelham, AL:  Bad driving day today.  Left this morning in a light drizzle and on the I55 bridge over the Mississippi I almost couldn’t stop when some vehicles in front of me came to a halt.  I forgot how hard it is to stop this thing.  I was standing on the brake, felt it starting to skid on the wet pavement, but stopped just in time.  Continued on I55 and then headed east on 302 through Olive Branch, MS, and then got on I22 east.  Stopped in Tupelo and filled up the tank and got something to eat.  Mike took over driving.  After about 30 minutes of driving there was a trooper pulled over with a car in front of him.  Just as we were coming up on him, the car pulled out just in front of us.  We couldn’t pull into the other lane as there was a car passing us.  Mike laid on the horn and stopped just in time.  Was hoping the trooper would pull around us and stop him for stupid driving.  But he didn’t.  We were hoping I65 would be in better shape this year, but it was still a mess through Birmingham.  But we made it here and were set up by 3:45.  81 here.  Nice!  Here for two nights.  Not unhooking.

Enjoying a glass of chardonnay

Beautiful blue skies and fall colors.

Mike tired and sweaty.

Big motor home next to us.

Mike holding a sycamore leaf from a tree on our site.

Sycamore trees have the weirdest bark.

Thu, Nov. 2:  KOA, W. Memphis, AR:  Relaxed today and finished putting stuff away.  Blustery all night, but pretty warm.  By the afternoon we had the AC on.  Still pretty windy.  We ordered sandwiches for dinner from the little café here at the KOA.  They deliver to your site.  We leave tomorrow morning for Birmingham, AL.

Warm enough for Mike to sit outside in shorts and a tee shirt.

Wed, Nov. 1:   St. Louis, MO, to KOA, W. Memphis, AR:  We left the storage area this morning at around 9:30.  I was a little nervous about driving, since I hadn’t driven the truck since April—not to mention hauling the fifth wheel.  But I was okay, especially once I got out of St. Louis traffic.  It started spitting rain once we headed south.  So, it was in the low 40s and spitting rain.  Drove through a few areas of moderately heavy rain.  We stopped in Sikeston for fuel and food, and Mike took over driving.  The rain stopped for a while and the sun tried to come out.  But once we continued on it sprinkled off and on.  But when we got to the KOA it was 70 degrees! Tired.  At least we’re here for two nights. Left-over soup for dinner.

Memphis KOA

June 27 through July 2, 2017; Bogota, Columbia, South America:  Flew down to Bogota for Mike's son's wedding.  Here are some pictures from our short stay there.

Laurie and Andrew at the airport.  Art James in the background.

Outside patio of our hotel--Hilltop Hotel--Bogota.

 

Brunch at Casa Velasquez.  From the left...Tim, Andrew, Laurie, Ann, Art, Gloria, Herman, Fernando, James, Carolina, Mike.

Mike with Carolina's father, Herman. 

Me with one of the locals.

Courtyard of the Gold Museum.

Government buildings--Old Town Bogota.

More government buildings.

Government Buildings--Old Town Bogota.

Guard at the Presidential Palace--Old Town Bogota.

Presidential Palace.

Me with one of the palace guards.

Old church where I was trying to take a picture and fell.  The rest of the trip was in a fog of pain.

I was trying to take a picture of this magnificent door.

Gold Museum--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

Gold Museum--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

Gold Museum--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

Had lunch here--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

Courtyard of the Art Museum--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

Art Museum--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

500 year old cathedral--Old Town Bogota.
Picture by Mike

Arrival of the bride--Hacienda Pozo Chico.
Picture by Mike

Here comes the bride...
Picture by Mike