Well, our time in Troy Alabama is drawing to a close. It's been a great time here, with super people and a very nice campground. Last night was another pot luck supper, needless to say it was as good as they all seems to be. One thing we have discovered is that the folks here are not familiar with butter tarts....what a pity. We are doing our best to correct that. Sue has baked a batch for "wine time" today, I'm sure recipes will be exchanged. Tomorrow it's westward bound for Meridian Miss. for a day or so, then a short drive to Jackson Miss. following that.

Yesterday, Tuesday, we did a tour of the Hyundai plant in Montgomery. While it was similar to the tour we had done at Honda in Alliston, the method of getting place to place was different. Here they use a "train", while at Honda, you walked the tour. It seemed to be a pleasant place to work. They really stress the quality of the cars, with QC being done throughout the whole manufacturing process. We weren't allowed pictures in the plant. The bus tour we did of Montgomery before going to the car plant was very interesting as well. It certainly is a clean city with a mix of new and old architecture mixed together. While there we visited the museum of civil rights woman Rosa Parks. She's the woman that lead the bus boycott in '65. The two pictures here are of what happens to an awning when left open during a 40-50 MPH wind and the second is of raw cotton as it grows . I should explain that the collapsed awning was on the trailer opposite us. There were actually two like that and they were beside each other...you really have to retract these things during (or before) high wind

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Where to now ???

Brandy in her very common position...looking for the next adventure

Is spring coming???

Just 11 months until Christmas day...have you paid for last year yet??? We have had more rain last night , Sunday Jan 24. and another tornado watch as well, however nothing developed. There are quite a large number of Robins here now and a lots of motorcycles heading south, likely to Florida for bike week. We've not done too much in the way of travels. Went done to Dothan to a flea market on Saturday past. Sue and a bunch of ladies from the campground have been quilting at a local church. Today was a lunch they provided (shepherds pie). We will be making preparations on Friday to leave here on Saturday. Should be a fairly straight forward job ( I hope). Tomorrow it's off to Montgomery, to tour the Hyundai plant and also do a tour of the city.

RAIN !!!!!!

Here we are, Thursday January 11, 2010. The temp has been going up gradually. It is going to 72F today. Right now at 11:00, It is 63F. Last night we had a rain "shower" all 3.5" of it. We are under a tornado watch until noon today, but it looks like that threat has passed, as the sky is clearing. On Tuesday we went down to Fort Rucker which a large Army base near Ozark Al. The museum we visited has 160 aircraft in it, including the largest display of military helicopers in the world. We're off shortly to get Brandy a trim....she really needs it. We will be pulling out of this campground on Jan. 30 and heading to Meridian Miss. From there the next stop will be either Jackson Miss. or somewhere in LA.

Saturday was the day we had a chilli cook-off. In spite of the fact our recipe was advertised as "World Class" and a multi contest winner, it didn't place in the top three....not to worry, there is now enough to last rest of the trip, just think of the money we'll save. There is always something related to food going on here. Yesterday was a lunch at Santa Fe, a local eatery. Today is a get together for those that have birthdays and anniversaries in January, tomorrow is the potluck breakfast. I think we'll have to upgrade to a one ton truck before we get home

This picture is of one of the old houses in Eufala Alabama. They often built these as their town homes as the ladies of the time didn't want to be stuck in the country all the time. There over 60 of these homes ranging in time from 1830 to 1909. They were built when cotton was king, by the cotton barons. This one is Fendall Hall, built by a Mr. Young in 1856. The family lived here for 5 generations. The workers are from the Alabama Dept. of Corrections. They bid on these jobs the same as any contractor. The guys doing this project must get certified to remove and apply lead paint ( didn't know you could still buy the stuff). They use lead to try and maintain the house as original as possible Upon release, this certification will be of benifit in the "real" world. We also went to another place called Shorter Mansion. It was completely different having been built 50 years later and in a more "modern" style. Had a great lunch at a place called The Riverside Grill (chicken and cornbread dressing)

One of the cotton fields we passed on the way back from Eufala which was about 1 1/2 hours away. The cotton had been picked, but as with a lot of crops, some gets missed

Walking the dog

Went for a walk behind the campground and found an old car grave yard. Belong to a guy that has two pit bulls and he's gonna restore them for his son....right

January 09,2010 and it's still VERY cold here in Troy Alabama. It was 19F this morning and a high expected of 35. We had no water for the past 2 days, but it will on later this p.m., thank goodness for our fresh water holding tank. It's interesting listening to to the radio and they precautions they offer. Drain you house plumbing of water if you don't have heat....leave a tap dripping to prevent the lines from freezing ( we do that here if the water hasn't been shut off). Oh well, relief is in sight it will be in the mid 50's by Thursday and warmer after that. All of the South has suffered with this fridgid air. Our Saturday pot luck breakfast was cancelled today because the rec hall was too cold.....bummer. Sue has been quilting a couple of times, at a seniors center in Troy with Miss Jewel, Ms Melba and others. There is a chilli cookoff scheduled for next Saturday.......we're gonna win!!!!!!!!

Jan 4/10 and the weather here is COLD as is most of the southeast. The prosperity lunch was Collard Greens which represents folding money and black eyed peas, which represents coin money. Corn bread is also served as it is almost everywhere. The supper on the Friday night was a soup buffet serving gumbo,7 can soup (7 types of beans),chili, and broccoli soup. Sat. night say a Bluegrass group come in to play. Did you notice how much reference there is to FOOD. More will follow once we have something to report.......kinda gettin' used to doing very little.

Happy New Year from a wet Alabama. We spent the evening with other campers enjoying snacks and liquid refreshment. It was an early night...seems the ol' folks don't party too late. At noon today the resort holds a Prosperity Lunch which, as we understand it, is all southern food each of which stands for something.....more information to follow. Happy 2010 to all that follow this blog.