Sorry it has been so long since we left home and started our blog. We’ve been busy!
Friday, May 31, 2019
Loaded the motor home and departed for our adventure around 11 A.M. Dry
Camped for the night in the parking lot at Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, WV. We had a good Chinese dinner and played the slot machines for a bit. Contributed to West Virginia economy.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
We were up early and on the road. Stopped at a KOA in Wytheville, VA for the night. We were timing our arrival in Sevierville, TN for the HRRVC Eastern International Rally. Arrival times were noon to 4 PM. The campground was the River Plantation RV Park. It is huge. There are 150 units attending the rally and we only filled about ½ of the sites.
Sunday, 6/2 – Saturday, 6/8/2019
We got to see many friends that we have made in the past years while visiting state rallies in Texas and Arizona. It is amazing the bond that is created with fellow club members. We also got to meet the wagon masters and tail gunners for the caravan we are joining July 1. There were seminars, bingo, food and games.
We also visited the Bush Beans Visitor Center. We learned all about beans. They have a museum, café and general store. We also saw pigs fly!
We also had entertainment by Kenny Evans. He also recruited 4 of the members to be backup singers. It was hysterical.
Sunday, 6/9/2019
Said our goodbyes and headed north to Centre Hall, PA for the HRRVC PA Sate Rally.
Overnight at Walnut Hill Campground in Staunton, VA.
Monday, 6/10/2019 – Saturday, 6/15/2019
Arrived at the Grange Fairgrounds in Centre Hall, PA. It is about 30 minutes east of State College. Tragedy struck a member of our group on Tuesday. Our State Treasurer for HRRVC was on the way to Centre Hall with her husband when they had a flat tire. While waiting for the repair she unexpectedly passed away. It was a shock to us all when we got the phone call. Members of our group that are connected to EMS networks were able to find the location of their motor home and send another member of the group that lived nearby to see if he could assist her husband. She will be missed.
At the PA Rally we had seminars, food and fun. New member Lisa Rice showed us how her dogs, Patriot and Little Dude, train for search and rescue.
We had an excellent duo, LeBlanc & Kissinger, for entertainment on Friday night.
Rick and Duane had us all laughing during our Dad Joke session. They told one liners trying to get the other one to laugh. Duane won. He can really keep a straight face.
Sunday, 6/16/2019
Pulled out of Centre Hall around noon heading west. Destination Dawson Creek, B.C., Canada by 7/1/2019. There are 3 other couples travelling west from Centre Hall to join the same caravan. We plan to make Streetsboro, OH by late afternoon.
Meow Meow helps me navigate every day. He is a big help.
Along the Ohio Turnpike our phone alarms went off with a weather alert. The alert was a tornado watch. It said to seek shelter immediately. Where do you do that on a turnpike? Luckily there was a Service Plaza with a brick building. We pulled into the parking lot, kept an eye on the sky in case we had to run for the building. Luckily there was not a tornado but apparently there had been heavy rain near the campground we were spending the night. The road to the KOA was closed due to flooding on the road. We had to detour using some narrow residential streets to get in the campground. Excitement we don’t need!
Monday, 6/17/2019
RVing is like a hurricane every day. One of the group had a slide that wouldn’t retract so they called an RV repair company and told us to go on and they would catch up. They actually ended up calling the manufacturer tech support and the rep was able to walk them thru reprogramming the slide. It worked and they got underway. Destination that night was Birch Run, MI.
Nearby town, Frankenmuth, is famous for the largest Christmas store in the U.S. It is Bronners. It was something to see.
The town has a Bavarian flair. Very unique and beautiful buildings. The town is also known for their chicken dinners at The Bavarian Inn. We had to try it. Excellent fried chicken with all the trimmings.
Tuesday, June 18, 2019
We left the campground heading for Mackinaw City, MI. We arrived early afternoon. The town reminded us of Ocean City without the ocean. They had Lake Huron instead. The bridge that you take to Upper Peninsula was huge. Of course to add to the tension there was construction on the bridge. If the winds are too high they close the bridge or limit the vehicles that can use it.
Wednesday, June 19, 2019
We were on the shuttle from the campground to the ferry terminal at 8:30 to catch the 9:00 ferry to Mackinaw Island.
On the island they do not allow motorized vehicles. You have to walk, ride bicycle or take a horse drawn carriage. Lots of shops and restaurants. We opted to take a carriage ride. The driver took us around the island and gave us lots of information. There are year round residents but tourist season only runs May – October because the lake freezes solid.
One of the attractions on the island is the Grand Hotel. It is beautiful and very expensive. If you are not a guest you have to pay $10 to look inside the lobby! It was built in 1887. The driver told us the nightly rate starts at $380 a night. It has the longest porch in the country.
This is the view returning from the carriage ride around the island.
They actually have multiple employees whose job is to scoop up the horse droppings from the streets! This guy actually gave Rick the finger for taking his picture.
We also had a good lunch while on the island.
Thursday, 6/20/2019
Travelling again. Destination Harris, MI to visit friends of one of our travelling partners. Camped overnight at campground at Island Resort & Casino. Spent the evening at their home and they served us a real U.P. (Upper Peninsula) dinner. We had pasties. They are like our Amish fry pies or Spanish empanadas. Homemade crust with hamburger, potato, and veggies bake inside.
Friday, 6/21/2019
Destination St. Germain, WI to visit an Armstrong friend who retired to his family cabin in Wisconsin. What a cabin! It was beautiful. Some of you reading this blog know Jim Joyce and his wife Jean. They hosted the group for dinner at their cabin on the lake. The driveway back from the road was an experience.
They have an eagle that lives nearby. We heard the babies shrieking for food. We saw one flying in to feed the babies.
After dinner we briefly visited the house they live in. It has a gorgeous view too. On the way there we saw lots of deer. They are in the woods! But on a lake again. Great to see old friends.
Saturday, 6/22/2019
Overnight at a KOA just north of Minneapolis, MN. Group dinner with hamburgers and pot luck at the campground.
Rick & Elaine's Alaska Caravan 