Trip to Perry GA

Sunday, March 11, 2018
Left Allatoona Park vowing never to return because of the trains and headed to Athens on  I-75 but amazingly there was little traffic.  Obviously folks are not racing to their local church this Sunday.  From I-75 to I-285 to I-85 got us to 319 that took us to Athens where we arrived shortly after noon.  Randall & Carolyn helped us get the motorhome set up in their rear parking area and then the fun began.  Much visiting and home-made chili with cornbread sustained us.  A nap in the afternoon for Iris while Bob helped Randall prepare a dish to take to a party at their friends’ home.  Tuna from Italy with potatoes with lots of olive oil and it was well received and delicious.  At the party we met at the home of Tom & Kathy.  We had met them at their house exactly a year ago while we were in Athens.  Very nice party and people with lots of food and wine that everyone brought.  Quiet evening after we got to bed, no trains!

Monday, March 12, 2018
Had a light breakfast in the motorhome then coffee with Randall & Carolyn to plan our day.  We sat and talked until time to run some errands then ended up at “The National” for a great lunch with a nice Italian red.  Met the chef who is a friend of Randall & Carolyn.  Back to the motorhome for a nice long nap and at about 5:30 we started preparing the soup Carolyn had made for our supper.  We enjoyed some of the tuna/potato dish from last night, caviar spread on crackers and the winter soup with a couple of bottles of red to enhance it all.  Made our way to bed about 10 PM.

Tuesday, March 13, 2018
Today we went to “Uncommon Gourmet” for some frozen wild caught Alaska fish for our freezer as well as some Italian wine to enjoy while in Athens.  Also a stop at Trader Joe’s.

Wednesday March 14, 2018
Iris and Carolyn went to a breakfast and an interesting program for University of Georgia women’s basketball supporters.  Lots of tall women there.  Left Athens after saying our goodbyes to the Abneys and after getting fuel at Walmart it was away to Perry.  The rural roads of GA were fun to drive and the scenery is so much better than the back of trucks on the interstate.  Arriving in Perry we were parked promptly and being almost 5 PM we did not get to register, so had our happy hour and some supper with some TV.  Then a visit from Robert and Brenda, our friends from when we were in Winkler, Manitoba at the Unity (motorhome) factory last June.  They had arrived on the 13th so already knew the ropes and got us caught up to date.

Thursday, March 15, 2018
Up early to get registered and sign up for services available at the convention.  We met up with Robert & Brenda at the Tiffin motorhome exhibit to show them the new motorhome that we have on order.  The count for the convention was 2,940 RV’s so it was successful.  Lots of coach displays as well as exhibitors selling everything you can imagine for RV’s.  After lots of walking we opted out of the evening entertainment and had an early evening in the motorhome.

Friday March 16, 2018
Coffee and donuts this morning while the musicians entertained us in the big tent.  We then strolled through the indoor exhibits, Bob went to a seminar, we bought a new tire pressure monitoring system for the new motorhome, had lunch at a BBQ stand plus a dish of peach cobbler with ice cream.  The evening entertainment was a group of men from Macon who sang songs from the ’50’s, ’60’s, and ’70's.  Fun!. Lots of folks up dancing so everyone had a good time.  We left a few minutes early in order to get a tram back to our coach but there was a driving rain storm and after a long wait we finally got a golf cart that took us back.

Saturday March 19, 2018
Coffee and donuts again this morning.  We could learn to love this.  Met up with Robert and Brenda again an looked at some more exhibitors booths.  The evening entertainment was by a group called “Macon Pops” and we thought the music was a little too 70’s for us.  We expected it to be more big band sound but were disappointed so we left early and back to the coach.

Sunday March 20, 2018
We decided that we would leave a day early in order to get home a day early so after getting everything stowed we took off again on the GA backroads until we found I-85 that took us to our overnight stop at Greenville AL and the Sherling Lake Park, city owned and in a very wooded setting.

Monday March 21, 2018
From Greenville we drove I-85 until we hit I-10 to Bay St Louis MS where we spent the night.

Tuesday March 22, 2018
Left Bay St Louis and back on I-10 West.  We stopped in Baton Rouge to have lunch at Acme Oyster House with our sister in law, Merleane.   245 miles today to A+ Motel & Campground in Sulphur, LA where we have stayed several time in this nice park.  Arrived just in time to see the news, have happy hour and a sandwich.  Tiring day.  Iris went to bed early, Bob watched a Celtics game.

Wednesday March 23, 2018
Today we left Sulphur LA and drove all the way home to Georgetown.  309 miles.  We try not to drive more than 250 miles in a day but anxious to get home.  So real life starts again tomorrow.

Bluebonnets near Brenham, TX on the way home

On the road to Perry GA

Wednesday, March 7, 2018
Departed Georgetown in our Unity motorhome, driving I-35 North, with all the trucks coming out of Mexico, to Waco where we left the freeway and traveled Hwy 31 toward Tyler through lovely green fields, some trees budding out and the odd jonquil in bloom, past lots of cattle in the pastures and a couple of buffalo chomping grass.  A beautiful drive until we got to Tyler and continued east on I-20 with more trucks.  Upon arrival in Longview we entered our campground for the night, Fernbrook Park, a very nice comfortable park.  We were tired so a little happy hour, a snack and to bed.

Thursday, March 8, 2018
From Longview, we got fuel and began our day traveling toward Shreveport LA and after much maneuvering of really bad streets we arrived at Ralph & Kacoo’s seafood restaurant where we used to eat a lot and today we ate a lot again.  Iris claimed the crab was good while Bob had grilled and fried catfish fillets with a fantastic sauce after we both had seafood gumbo.  Our waiter, Jamershea, was attentive and was helpful making our choices.  When asked how he got such a name it seems his father had an African roommate in college with that name so hung it on his son when he was born.
From Shreveport we continued on through Monroe crossing the Ouachita River then further east we left LA by crossing the Mississippi River to arrive at Vicksburg MS.  Our park here was River Town Campground and another great choice.  Bob tried to get the satellite dish set up but was unsuccessful so we watched the one channel available on antenna.  Called Dish about the problem but wait time was too long so another early night.

Friday, March 9, 2018
Vicksburg and another fuel stop where we knew the price was good as they were covered up with dump trucks.  Finally got filled up and back onto I-20 to Jackson and Meridian.  Had a stop for lunch at the Alabama Welcome Center, a huge truck parking area that was unoccupied so we were able to put out our slide room and open the door while we cooked fried chicken and left-over carrots from Ralph & Kacoo’s then enjoyed our meal.  Continuing from the LA/MS border on I-20 we had lots of trucks and cars until we got to Birmingham and Pelham, our destination for the Birmingham South RV Park.  Nice enough park, large, former KOA so sites very close.  Got set up and found that our tow car, Honda Fit, had dead battery.  Seems our charger from the motorhome was not functioning and the phantom power eaters ran the battery down.  The fun was only beginning - a busy train crossing lies less than 100 yards from the campground and trains blew their whistles every 15 minutes all night.  Not much rest.  We’ve marked our book so we don’t stay here again.

Saturday, March 10, 2018
We left the noisy campground at Pelham and after getting fuel, our most expensive diesel so far on this trip, it was back to I-20 to continue East.  Crossing the border between AL and GA we stopped at the GA Visitor Center for a rest stop and continued on to Hwy 61 and turned north to get to Cartersville.  This road was through a combination of built-up commercial and residential, very hilly so on the two-lane the folks behind were probably not too happy with our speed but we maintained the posted limit.  There were large areas of just woods so it was a pleasant drive and it allowed us to avoid 70 miles of interstate highways including I-75 that is such a mess with traffic.  We arrived at the Allatoona Park, checked in, got the power and water connected and just as we sat down the rain started.  We had a quick sandwich snack listening to the rain.  Just as we were ready to leave to visit our friends, Collyn & Helga in Acworth GA the rain stopped long enough for us to get to the car.  Helga was a neighbor when we lived in New Orleans in 1980 and after we left NO she and Collyn married 33 years ago.  They will both be 87 this year and while their travels have been curtailed they still enjoy life.  We had asked them to choose their favorite restaurant and we’d all go to dinner.  Little did we know that involved a drive into downtown Atlanta on I-75 but Collyn drove so no bother.  We had a great dinner at Babette’s Cafe and if you’re in Atlanta it’s worth a visit.  Saying our goodbyes we drove back to the campground about 12 miles distant and were glad to see our bed.  We lost an hour today crossing from AL to GA then after we went to bed we lost another hour with DST.  
It rained all night but that muted the sound of the trains which were nearby again.