Moved on from the deep south --so wanted to see the swamp people-but too humid get back here in the fall over spring --pulled over at a road side veggie stand in Loisiana  for the best veggies and this guy one of 23 kids- lots of twins-good thing for her-- from a mom who was a single child and did not want her family without siblings--got that done and lived till 93 and dad at 101 James was part of the forced intergration of schools and his new teacher said he was poor-did not know what she meant- he was well fed from the farm- and had their own the family baseball team and won state competition .So otta there and thru Oklahoma  and Texas into New Mexico --Wow still hot but humidity drops and much cooler and the mountains start to come about in the distance. So moving up into New Mexico I -40 truckers passing us waving away--these guys are friendly - no clue now we know-got to Santa Rosa state park and hear clunk -clunk in one of the wheels-ripped that apart blew a wheel bearing.Next day down to Bozos garage -yep thats his name -sent us off to Albuquerque 100 miles away Mcbrides spring shop ---they did not have the small part too old--so they custom built a new axel in 3 hours -while we toured around this great town.Never thought about a home depot  on a road trip but got concrete blocks to hold up the house to make the axle change.Thank you Santa Rosa for letting us make repairs and great swim in the lake and sunsets,
Great folks here. Heading up to Sante Fe. Live for the moment  

Got out of Florida Pan Handle  loved all of it --stayed one nite on gulf coast of Miss--not enough time to figure that state out --slot machines donated 50 bucks to our trip .Now in Louisiana --nice country.Left the Rv here Fountainbleu State park north of Lake Pontchartrain-or could be called an ocean-21 mile bridge across--like riding an amusement park ride --up and down like waves--white knukle ride all the way then drops ya right into new orleans Got a room at Maison Dupuy on Toulouse street in the french quarters couple blocks from Bourbon st. Never saw the room again till midnite --lunch at Le Bayou for the cajun jambalaya and the first beer.Tried to get into Irenes --not luck Trav - just dinners.Jumped on a river paddle boat Natchez cruise down the Miss for a couple of hours .So we waddled off  that and  headed to another bar and got some oysters in the half shell. Gotta say close to a Welfleet oyster!!Walked around lots in and out of bars - more seafood-  great jazz music--loved it lots of trumpet and piano . One guy did Louis Armstrong --its a beautiful world---perfect one of the best  songs..Bourbon street is a scene ya gotta see- so we made it back to the  hotel by a pedal bike ricshaw---- goodnite-Next morning raining --checked out  over a foot of rain in the streets-wanted to stay most of the day but thought we would need pontoons on the side of the truck to get out.Geez cannot imagine Katrina, heard lots of stories--fast tracking to Santa Fe NM-in the am got to get back to the mountains and cooler air --this is so much fun
Live for the moment

Down below Pensacola --on a spit Santa Rosa island--Fort Pickins Nat Park- -10 bucks a nite with elec and water -- the fort started up in the 1800 to protect habors - went on till after WW2-- most action they had was the civil war against us Geez figure that out all bucks spent to shoot at us.. Most beautiful beaches-and the naval training base fighter jets screaming out over the gulf What a great routine-head to the beach in the am  boardwalk thru the plant dune area to the beach -- dig a hole in the sand to set up the umbrellee-chairs-get the book out--wow  lots of work digging that hole in the talcum powder sand!!The water temp is the best-- get outa from the umbrellee-- float around soft waves --folks are out there with tubes and floaties--go out a bit further and catch a sand bar . Went down to the pier today  group of locals catching  king mackrels 20 pounders--I gotta get ito that! Moving on in the am to Miss. Gonna miss this part of the US --lots of nice folks ----Met a Vietnam vet next door Mel from Arkansas --chopper gunship pilot same time I was there- thanked him for helping me get outa there
Live for the moment

Down here in the Panhandle --stay outta the traffic -lots of that-- and get onto  the beach--beautiful !Couple of nites on Henderson Beach state park one of the best  lots of beach time in and out of the water-a few  days at you alligator warning signs there-- no swimming. Tough to get camping spots here this time of the year  --but  Pan handle is vacation time for the locals --time to come for us is spring and fall Got back to the Emerald Coast  today at Topsail State park . Still using the AC at nite --get to to surf in the day Ahh cool and breezy--all beaches here sand is like talcum powder not crowded at all--so today at Topsail Hill  state park--woowee on a paved RV pad and tram  walk or bike mile to the beach ----nice way to save  the dunes  and space between.Getting down on the shrimp ,fish,and clams here.Working our way towards Pensacola to the Gulf National park

Lots of moves and sights since Nashville--made it to Huntsville Alabama--hooked up with the Green family neighbors from NH --that relocated down here---family exploded since then--BBQ--fire works --thanks great family.So if you want to see fireworks--get on down here between Tenn and Al. It could duplicate the bombing of Iraq.Fireworks for sale everywhere even in Walmart. In Huntsville  one of the best Botanical gardens --ever Mim was flipping out --then to the Space Museum and it was my turn blown away how huge all those rockets and stuff is--except the capsules --so small.Never knew this is where our space program began from the rocket scientist boys who defected from Germany in WW2 .
Moved south stayed in a Nat Forest campground Telledega next to but far enough from the big Nascar track --on a small lake--tried to let bass hook on to my line  --no takers
Mim stayed outa of the water when she heard someone say just saw a copperhead go by then --hey theres a water moccasin over there.Then there is the family on the beach--does ---Rossseta Stone have a program for Southerner? Geez we make believe we understand them --and they vice versa.Great folks-- all down to earth.
Decided to try a US Army Corps of Eng campground--huge park on a TVA lake --great site and well done -- bring your jet ski here lots of room ---no place for a kayak . Last nite here local folks parked next to us. Woowee lots of rope lights -palm tree lites---geez look like Vagas out there--went over to compliment the display --grandma said not selling any of these! So paying less for gas these days down here
 2.89 to 3.10.  Gonna hang out here in the Florida panhandle for a week--bought a new beach umbrella for the red head today--water temp is like it is in Costa Rica

Live for the Moment

The best part of the day --to laugh at--so excited to get to the Opry- park the truck not hooked to the  RV in a lot as big as Maine ---we are late--showtime a great time--10,000 folks get up head to the same lot--and noboby knows where they parked--so we all held up our truck auto clickers to blow our horn ant lites--it became its own concert we ran into the couple who sat next to us--what an adventure -what the heck look for your car and meet people or stay in traffic--

Geez whats with this heat wave ---since we left the Smokies--went to Winchester TN Tim Fords Lake created by the TVA--huge-dropped the kayaks in one day --no
problem jumping in and out of the water- next days we set our chairs right in the water and waited for the sun to go down .Woke up next morning wanting to go north to Nashville and the Grand Ole Opry. Stopped on the way in Lynchburg TN- Jack Daniels distillery--had this tour guide Randy worked there 36 years weighed in about 400 plus straw hat hankie hanging out of the pocket--gave us the lowdown on Jack and the plant great guy and  tour.So at any one time they have 80 million gallons of fire water on hand ready to put in the jugs .You can now buy your own barrel put into bottles for a mear $10,000 And they also ship the empty barrel to you also. Having a party planned soon? On the the way up we noticed the outside thermo on the truck said 108 deg-Why? It never gets that hot even in Costa Rica or the equator.The Grand Ole Opry show had a  great bunch of performers even Little Jimmy Dickens hosting some of it at 91 years old.

Spent today in the Country Music Hall of Fame --right up from the beginning when the migrants from Europe came with their musical talents--made instruments and made it come alive in the hills of Tenn, Kentucky Virginia--to Brooks and Dunn---great all fun day.Moving on in the morning to Huntsville  Ala to see some special friends--then to the Gulf Islands Nat Sea Shore