We left Nashville around 7am, and headed up to Evansville, IN, to check out the LST museum there.  My first ship in the Navy was the USS Sphinx, ARL-24.  The Sphinx was originally designated to be LST 963, but was converted after the keel was laid, as World War II was wrapping up at that time, and other types of ship were needed.

LST 325 has a pretty interesting history, and the most recent 10 years are pretty cool.  A group of old Navy guys went to Greece to get it going and bring it back.  You can read all about it here… http://www.lstmemorial.org/ It’s a working ship, and they take it out for a few weeks/months each year, up and down the rivers.

We arrived in time to be able to take part in the Veteran’s breakfast they had going on which was nice, and unexpected.  I’d kept out my USS Sphinx ball cap, so I fit in with many of the other vet’s.  After breakfast, we waited for the cleanup, then joined in for a tour.  It was fun for me, as I hadn’t been on the Sphinx since sometime in 1988 or 89, and it was bringing back some memories.  It is a bit different, but the engineering, birthing, and mess hall space are similar.  The big open area that houses tanks was filled with machinery for us, and some other storage or work areas.  All in all, everyone had a good time, and the girls enjoyed seeing something that was like the Sphinx.

After, we headed on up to Morgantown.

We made it to the KOA in Nashville, TN.  It was a tense drive getting through Nashville with all the road changes and wind, but we made it in one piece.  The CRV had spent too much time in “towed” mode, and so the battery was dead.  The workers at the KOA were kind enough to get our Propane tank filled, and to give me a jump for the CRV.

This KOA Kampground is pretty nice.  You can search YouTube for “KOA Nashville” and you’ll find some video of when the place was flooded out a couple years ago.  No sign of any problem at the campground, but the local mall is still closed.  The Grande Ole Opry stuff is all back up and running though, and the Gaylord Opryland is where the Invensys event was being held.

Overall the campground was nice for us.  Not crowded at all due to the time of year.  The only “issue” we really had was with the showers.  For whatever reason, they use one of the outdoor beach type shower heads.  These are the kind that just spray a big stream at you, and you cannot move them at all.  And, they were pointed right out of the shower into the changing area.  I had soaked shoes the first day before figuring this out.

As a post visit update… We got to eat at some new restaurants, although they are chains.  We’ve now experienced a Waffle House, as well as Bob Evans.  Thanks to Naomi B. for the great dinner at Bob Evans.  We’ll be back there for some breakfast goodies soon… Hold the Avocado.

Very soon, I’ll get Diane on here to share about the visits she and Molly made to the state capital and an Elephant sanctuary.

Another early rise and hitting the road.  This routine is working, and no one getting cranky from being woken up too early.  This is good.  The goal for this day had originally been to get to Russellville, AR, but we’ve got a 1.5 hour jump by staying in Shamrock instead of Amarillo.  It’s a tad more windy today, and once we got to late afternoon, I used the apps to check on sunset, and RV stops on the route.  Memphis had plenty of parks too offer, but we weren’t going to get there till it was pretty dark.  Given all the bambi carcasses on the road, I didn’t want to do much night time driving.  Based on all of that, it looked like a place called Heritage Inn and RV park in Brinkley, AR was going to fit the bill.  I called, and they had plenty of spaces.  This is where technology went wrong.

First, the All Stays app “pin” for the location was north of 40, but the directions they gave on the site indicated it was south.  Ok, no biggie.  I punched in the address on the GPS, and off we went.  It took us off the right exit (I think) but then sent us even further south.  Once we got to our “destination” we were out among some fields, where all the roads were dirt and uncertain for the RV.  We saw another major highway 2 more miles down the road, and fortunately, it was a wide enough intersection with no traffic so we could get turned around.

Next, I used the GPS and searched for the POI for the “Inn”, and that got us there correctly.  It was south of the highway, and at the next exit.  Ok, so GPS/Operator fail, and now it’s dark.

Second “trouble”.  This place was rough.  The “RV Park” had about 30 spots.  All empty but one small trailer in a dark corner.  It was $20, but I could just park wherever I wanted, according to the clerk.  Several of the “guests” (more like residents) were out and about, cooking out on the walkway of the second floor of the Inn.  I had some concerns about the security of our stuff, but it was an hour after dark, and the next place that had spots was at least another hour down the road.  So, we found a spot, and hoped for the best.  The next bit of trouble was the shock I got from the electrical hook up.  Fortunately, since no one else there, i used another one that my cord could reach, and everything worked.

I went to bed early, and Diane and Molly stayed up late.  They were still on CA time.  All is secure and ready, and its time to hit the road…

Another easy day.  Up early for me, prepped and pulled out while the girls kept sleeping.  Diane gets woken up a bit, and helps with some odds and ends, finding things like headphones, etc., and then back to bed.

We seem to be ahead of the bad weather getting to CA now, and the winds aren’t too bad.  Driving still pretty easy.  Todays target had been Amarillo, but we made it all the way to Shamrock, TX.  Cool Gas Station here, used as the model for a gas station in Cars.

Another perfect stop, as we pulled in right at sunset, and got all hooked up.  The iPhone apps are still coming through just fine.

Well, it’s been pretty easy actually.  I got up, disconnected everything outside, got the cat secured, fired up the engine and pulled in the sides, lifted the levelers, pulled out, hooked up the CRV, and headed on down the road.  Diane and Molly still resting comfortably in their beds.  Made it to Barstow for gas and breakfast, then hit 40 and kept on going.

I’m not sure where we were when Diane and Molly got up, but so far so good.  We stopped for some lunch on the way.  Using my iPhone, The Weather Channel app (for sunrise/sunset times), and the GPS (which was set to “Winslow, AZ”), I could see early on that we would be able to get past Winslow.  I then used the “All Stays – Camp & RV” app to see what was available up the road.  Found a KOA that was in Holbrook, AZ.  Called them and found they had spots, so we decided to stop there for the night.  I worked out well as we pulled in there just after the sun went down.  Molly and I headed over to the Pizza Hut to grab some dinner, and it ended as a nice comfortable day for all.  Here’s hoping for similar outcomes in the days ahead.

All the moving and sorting that can be done in the time we have, has been done.  The RV has a little bit of extra stuff, but we’ll be organizing that, off loading via mail, trash can, or friends, along the way.  It’s been sad for Molly and Diane saying good bye to friends and such.  Sharon, Carissa, and Cheryl really came through the last couple days with some excellent help and support.

We leave in the  morning, super early, and begin heading east.  First major destination is Nashville, TN.  Hoping to make it to at least Winslow, AZ tonight.  Plan is to stop at truck stops or rest areas along the way for some zzzz’s and dinner.  Overall, expecting to make three stops on the say, and get to Nashville by Sunday.

Oh, and Happy Birthday Kim!

Well, I’m not going to try to count the days necessarily, but this one is important.  It’s Sunday, October 30, and we’ve parked the RV at Canyon RV Park, just off the 91 between Yorba Linda and Corona.  We’d stayed here a few months back with the Komfort Kruisers, and felt it would be good to use as a local base as we moved out of the condo, and into the RV.

Sunday through Wednesday will be super busy with packing, moving into storage, and getting stuff into the RV.  Oh, and some trick or treating for Molly, and various other activities and good byes.