Made it !!!!! We arrived in Troy Alabama at about 3:30 yesterday (Wed the 30th) The people we met here last year from Mich. (The Volz family) found us at the Flying J truck stop in Birmingham. Small world. The trip was fairly short at 560 Km. vs 790 the day the day previous. It is now 8:15 on the day of New Year's eve and the temp is at 46F...expected high is 60+. Today will be spent organizing things that were packed in a rush.

On the way !!!!

We are mobile. The intent was to depart on the 28th at 5:00, which we came pretty close to. We pulled out of the lane at 5:07. The drive to St.Caterines was good but change after that point. From there to north of Columbus Ohio was snow covered roads, blowing snow and SLOW traffic. The max. temp was 19F. We managed to travel 790km ( about 495 miles). The campground in Columbus (Alton RV Park) was basic, but served the purpose of a place to sleep. The propane ran out during the night, so the moring in the main living area was cool (freezing) the bedroom area was ok as we have a small ceramic heater in there as well as the propane furnce and electric blanket ( pampered aren't we). I got the second propane tank turned on and all is well now. The has been a change to the travel plans already. Because yesterday was so long (12 hours) we decided to bypass Pigen Forge TN and went on to Nashville. The campgroung here is very full (Nashville Country RV Park). The snow is miles behind and the temp is 37F. I got the truck and trailer washed in Louisville ( $55.00) so until the freezing rain comes tomorrow morning ...they say there's a chance...the unit is clean and spiffy. Tomorrow being the 30th, should find us in Troy Alabama, our "home" for 3-4 weeks. I hope the internet reception gthere is better than last year

Less than 2 weeks

Thought an update was due. We are now 12 days away from departure !! The house is pretty well packed up, with all the furniture in the basemaent, other than what is required for our day to day use. The workshop is full of boxes. The the driveway sit 2 "pods" which are similar to shipping containers. These contain all the furniture etc of the tenant. The trailer itself is about as packed as it can be until the last minute stuff is put in it. The reality of what we are about to do is starting to settle in. Brandy ( the Soft Coated Wheaton Terrier) is going in for her trim next Tuesday, then she'll be ready. Troy Alabama, our home for a month or so, is 61F today. Not too hot and absolutly no SNOW. I imagine the next update will either be Columbus Ohio or Pidgeon Forge Tenn. depending on time and internet availability.

Da latest

Well, here we are with music added and a BIG photo on the top....many thanks to Morag. The house has been rented ( for the second time, but we don't talk about the first tenants). This now allows us to get along with the packing up of things that are staying here at home and the things that are travelling with us. Just over 5 weeks and we're away. We've booked a camp site in Columbus Ohio for the first night and hope to make it to Pigeon Forge Tenn. for the second night. Stay tuned !

Gettin' closer

With many thanks to Willie Walker, the wheel bearings on the 5th wheel are repacked. While doing that chore, it was noted that the front spring on the right side of the trailer was broken. I managed to get the old one out, without too much difficulty, but trying to replace it was another story. I'm very glad the weather was milder last weekend, as laying on your back, on gravel with arms above your head isn't too much fun and cold November weather would have made it ever less so. Mechanically, I think the trailer is ready for our Dec28th departure. Now, if the house would only rent !!!!many thanks to Willie Walker, the wheel bearings on the trailer are repacked

Thanks Mo

Hey, thanks Mo for getting me back here....yes, blonde was in my past.

After leaving our home at 7:00a.m. Tuesday Sept 8, (yawn), we travelled to Mitchell for breakfast arriving around 8:30. The border crossing was a bit delayed (3/4 hour) but could have been much worse if wew'd left on the Holiday Monday. Sue had prepared sandwiches ahead of time which saved us a bit of time ( and $$$). The arrival at Woodland's campground was 4:00. As it it turned out, we were the last of the 10 units to get there. One thing we've found about campgrounds is, there is always someting new. The supper this night was one of those learning experiences. We enjoyed a "milk can supper". Into a milk can ( good luck finding one ) put 2 quarts of water. Add corn on the cob, 3 dozen, (after removing the tassles but leave the covering) which has soaked in salted water for 1 1/2 hours or more, plus potatoes, onion, cabbage, carrots and Kalbosa (?). This has all been palced in the milk can as you go along with corn being first and the sausage being last. Pleace the can on a hot fire. The lid of the can has had a hole punched in the lid. Over this hole, place a penny. When the penny comes off the hole because of the steam, the meal is ready 20 minutes later. Any liquid remaing after supper is served the next day(s) as soup.
Wed was a day of visiting the Mich. folks that camp in Alabama during the winter and getting caught up on the "news". Supper was mixed desserts
Thursday was a day of reading for the most part. Some of "us guys" went to visit Basil's hunt camp. He lives fairly close by and has 80 acres which a group of local people use for deer hunting. The salad supper at was wonderful again. It seems that all pot luck meals ALWAYS turn out.
Friday saw our departure for home at about 7:15. The trip both ways was uneventful ( thankfully).

Well, some may wonder "why do a blog about a trailer trip?’We, my wife Sue and I (Bill) started out about 3 years ago with a 35ft. class A motorhome. For various reasons, we decided that it was not the type of camping unit we wanted. Next ( last year 2008) we went the other extreme, a large pop-up tent trailer. Once again it was not quite right, although adequate. Our intentions, up until May of this year, were to travel to Guinea West Africa, to see our daughter Denise and family. While "over there" we intended to visit the Almalfi Coast of Italy and the Isle of Capri. Due to an unforeseen medical concern with Denise’s daughter, Denise and family were required to make a trip back to Canada, which lasted 4 months. Our plans changed. As I have been retired for a while and Sue was approaching "that age", we spoke of travelling a bit in North America. The die was cast. After purchasing a late model ¾ ton Dodge diesel and a 34 ft 5th wheel trailer, we have decided to take a year and do a circle tour of Canada and the USA. We will enter into this adventure in January 2010 from Troy Alabama. In the meantime, a few shorter trips have been or will be done. The Wine Country area of Beamsville and Vineland as well as a trip to northern Mich. to visit with friends we met in Alabama last year. Stay tuned as updates will occur on a random basis.