Category: Blog

Where Has All the Water Gone?

November 6, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Noccalula Falls

Today we headed south to see beautiful Noccalula Falls. We have been told by several people that this area has not had rain for over four months. Needless to say, the water coming down the falls was nothing more than a trickle.

The stream below that bridge is usually full and flowing. You can see the rocky river bed and easily walk across it.

We were hoping to see several waterfalls in Alabama. None of the ones we have driven to have any water flowing.

The grass is brown and dead, the stream beds and small river beds are basically dry, and we saw our second brush fire today.

A fire truck showed up just as we were passing by this fire. Makes you wonder how these get started. All I can think of is that some stupid inconsiderate person threw a lit cigarette out the window.

Pray for rain in Alabama, and thanks for coming along with us on our adventures and travels.

Cotton Fields: A Snapshot of Rural Alabama

November 4, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

I have never seen cotton fields before, especially so many with the cotton balls opened and ready for harvest. The cotton balls open in the fall.

The state of Alabama ranks ninth in the nation for producing cotton, and cotton is the primary row crop now grown in Alabama. Cotton is what made Alabama. Cotton is grown in 59 of the 67 counties in Alabama.

I wondered if people still pick cotton in Alabama. I discovered that cotton is picked by machines called cotton pickers. These machines can cover six to eight rows at a time and can harvest up to 190,000 pounds of cottonseed per day.

It reminded me of when we saw so many sunflower fields in North Dakota. I love driving around America and seeing things like this.

Have you ever seen the cotton fields of Alabama? Thanks for seeing them with us.

Valley View Awe at Cherokee Rock Village

November 3, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Leesburg, Alabama

I am so glad we found this gorgeous gem of a park on Lookout Mountain just outside of Leesburg, Alabama. My pictures don’t do it justice because I couldn’t get out and climb or hike through the rocks. You can get a better view of it on the park website.

This is a beautiful nature park with well-maintained parking areas, camping areas, picnic areas, and hiking paths.

The park ranger did not charge us to enter the park. We told her that we were just planning on driving through and right back out. She told us to go ahead and enjoy the park. A normal day pass is $7 per vehicle.

This park is a rock climber’s dream. It features crags, cliffs, and tall rock formations for climbing. Definitely not something Rich or I can do. Some of the sandstone boulders are as high as 200 feet.

Hiking trails for all levels from easy to moderate to steep, tent and RV camping sites, modern restrooms, and a new playground make this park the perfect destination for a day trip or a longer stay. And what a beautiful day it was for a drive!

All photos are taken with my iPhone. It does a great job don’t you think?

The view of the valley below encompassing nearby Weiss Lake is a view worth staring at for quite a while. I felt so small in comparison to this vast and beautiful landscape.

I was impressed with how nice the wooden viewing platform is.

We stood in silence for the longest time just enjoying the view. The valley below was breathtaking. It stretched out for miles. The sky was a brilliant blue.

We travel around the country from place to place and are always amazed at how beautiful each place is. When we are surrounded by such beauty, we are so grateful to be alive and healthy enough to see places like this.

The drive up Lookout Mountain to the Cherokee Rock Village Park in Leesburg, Alabama was time well spent.

I hope you enjoyed seeing it with us.

 

 

 

Moving to the Ville

November 2, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Sweet Home Alabama

We finally made it home to the state of Alabama for two months. This campground will be home for the month of November. We are close to the town of Guntersville on Guntersville Lake. The plan is then to move down to the Gulf Coast for the month of December.

It’s been a bit windy so we haven’t put out the awning or anything yet. We are located halfway between Guntersville and Albertville. We are living in the ‘Ville.

Alabama is a southeastern state that’s home to significant landmarks from the American Civil Rights Movement. I can’t wait to go sightseeing! I plan to see mountains and pine trees and white sandy beaches. I wonder what kind of wildlife we will find.

The first two days of November have been spent just relaxing and living. Sometimes we get tired of constantly going someplace.

Living in an RV is truly a rewarding experience. We have simplified our lives and found a great way to see the country and connect with nature.

Stay tuned as we explore the state of Alabama.

Thanks for coming along on the journey.

 

Tim’s Ford State Park

October 31, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Just south of Lynchburg, Tennessee on Highway 50 is Tims Ford State Park. The Tims Ford Lake is one of the prettiest lakes in Tennessee.

One of the first places we stopped at was the dam. The dam overlook area is a must-see. It’s a pretty place.

The Tims Ford Dam was named after an early Ford crossing the Elk River near Winchester. A ford is a shallow place with good footing where a river or stream can be crossed by wading, or inside a vehicle getting its wheels wet. A ford may occur naturally or be constructed. Fords may be impassable during high water.

The dam provides water supply and flood damage reduction downstream on the Elk River, primarily for the town of Fayetteville, Tennessee.

The lake is huge and encompasses 10,700 acres with approximately 250 miles of shoreline.

Just down the road from the dam was a house with a lot of ducks and turkeys running around inside the fenced-in yard.

Black Cayuga Ducks

The Black Cayuga Duck is a rare breed of domestic duck that is believed to have originated in Cayuga County, New York in the early 19th century. They are known for their distinctive black plumage that shines with a greenish sheen in the sunlight. Black Cayuga Ducks are also known for their hardiness and adaptability, and they can thrive in a variety of habitats.

Black Cayuga Ducks were first introduced to Tennessee in the late 19th century, and their populations have grown steadily over the years. Today, they are another one of the most popular types of ducks found in Tennessee. I have never seen any of these all-black ducks before.

Chinese Geese

Chinese geese are large, domesticated geese originally native to East Asia. They are not native to Tennessee either, but they have been introduced to the state and can now be found in many areas. I have never seen any Chinese geese before.

Chinese geese are known for their distinctive appearance, with their large size, knobbed black beaks, stripe down the back of the neck, and brown plumage. They are also known for their hardiness and adaptability and can thrive in a variety of domestic habitats like ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Chinese geese are a popular sight in Tennessee today. They are often seen swimming in ponds and rivers or foraging for food in fields and meadows.

Muscovy Ducks

Muscovy ducks are large, domesticated ducks normally native to Central and South America. They are not native to Tennessee, but they have been introduced to the state and can now be found in many areas of the state. Today they are a common sight in Tennessee. I have never seen these ducks before.

They are known for their distinctive appearance, with their red warty faces, fleshy knobs on their heads, and dark, glossy plumage. They are also known for their hardiness and adaptability, and they can thrive in a variety of habitats, including farm ponds, lakes, and rivers.

Tims Ford Lake was designated a Bill Dance Signature Lake on Dec 21, 2021. Rich likes watching Bill Dance.

The lake is beautiful and so are the fall trees. We saw a couple of fishing boats on the water, but it was a chilly day.

Tims Ford State Park is beautiful. I’m glad that Tennessee State Parks have free entrance. We enjoyed seeing such a beautiful area.

Thanks for traveling with us. I hope you enjoyed seeing Tims Ford State Park in Tennessee.

 

Historic Lynchburg, Tennessee & the Jack Daniel Distillery

October 31, 2023  – Traveling with Rich & Julie

The Jack Daniel Distillery is the oldest registered distillery in the United States and among the most prestigious listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

We drove thirty miles south to Lynchburg while we were camping in Tennessee.

The first place we stopped was the Tennessee Whiskey Trailhead & Lynchburg Welcome Center which is just across the street from the distillery.

This place provides additional parking for the distillery and a free shuttle service.

Two of the nicest men greeted us and told us all about the small town and told us where everything was. We visited with them for quite a while.

Jeff and Billy get 5 stars from us for kindness and helpfulness!

We hopped on the free trolley which took us on a short ten-minute drive through historic downtown Lynchburg before dropping us off at the distillery visitor center. The trolley driver was fun to listen to as he told us some history.

Despite the operational distillery, which is a major tourist attraction, Lynchburg’s home county of Moore is a dry county. But you can buy a lot of products with whiskey in them. And none of the residents work for Jack Daniel.

Sadly, the old jail museum was closed the day we were there.

Did you know that Davy Crockett lived in this town from 1811–1813? Neither did I.

The next stop was the Jack Daniel Distillery Visitor Center. We did not take a tour.

But we enjoyed walking through the museum exhibits and the bottle shop. Purchasing bottles of the famous whiskey is much more expensive here than at a corner liquor store.

If you want an actual gift shop with all things Jack Daniel, like t-shirts, the downtown hardware store is the place to go.

And finally, we visited the grave of Jack Daniel in the Lynchburg Cemetery. We heard that he was quite the ladies’ man and the chairs were placed here for his lady friends to visit him.

If you are ever in the area, Lynchburg is definitely worth a visit.

Thanks for reading and coming along with us as we see America.

How to Keep Your Home on Wheels From Falling Apart

November 1, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

RVing on BUMPY roads

RVing is a great way to see the country and explore new places. You have the freedom to travel wherever you want, whenever you want. Life on the road in an RV can be a dream come true. But there’s one downside to RV life that can be a real pain: bumpy torn-up roads. They can be extremely tough on your RV home.

If you’ve ever driven an RV down a bumpy road, you know how jarring it can be. Everything inside and outside shakes and rattles, and if you’re not careful, things can fall and break.

We know this firsthand, because we live in an RV motorhome, and have driven on some of the roughest roads in America. Many highways and roads are in poor condition and are constantly under construction. We’ve had things fall off the shelves, break in the cabinets, and had nuts and bolts come loose. We’ve had drawers fly open while driving down the road and one time the refrigerator door wasn’t properly latched and it flew open spewing all its loose contents onto the floor.

Over the years, we’ve learned a few things about how to keep our moving home from falling apart because of bumpy roads. How do we do it? Here are a few things we have learned over the last two years.

Secure everything.

This includes cabinets, drawers, shelves, furniture, and appliances. Use bungee cords, straps, and latches to keep everything in place. Put away all your dishes, pots, pans, and other loose items. Put locks on your cabinets and drawers. This will prevent them from opening accidentally while you’re driving down the road.

And store fragile items in padded containers. This will help protect them from all the bumps and shocks. If you don’t secure everything, it’s likely to fall and break when you hit a bump.

Slow down

Drive slowly and carefully. The faster you drive, the more likely things are to come loose and break. The slower you go, the less damage the bumps will do to your RV. Avoid driving over potholes and other large bumps. If you can’t avoid them, try to drive over them carefully and at an angle. The faster you’re going, the harder the impact will be when you hit a major bump. So, it’s important to slow down when the going gets rough.

Inspect your RV regularly

Check your RV for damage after driving on a bumpy road. This means looking for loose nuts and bolts on your furniture and appliances, cracked caulking, and other signs of wear and tear. Check your nuts and bolts regularly. Make sure that they are all tight and secure. Inspect your RV regularly for any damage. Look for cracks in the walls and ceilings, in addition to loose nuts and bolts.

You should also have your RV inspected regularly by a qualified mechanic. This will help identify any potential problems before they cause a breakdown.

Additional tips

Use a heavy-duty hitch and tow bar. This will help keep your tow vehicle attached to the RV and prevent it from swaying back and forth. And check the connections every single time you stop at a gas station or rest area.

Be prepared for flat tires. Bumpy roads can cause your tires to wear out more quickly and increase the chances of a flat tire. Keep a spare tire and jack on hand and know how to change a tire. Check the tires every single time you stop to make sure they are properly inflated.

Conclusion

Living in an RV and driving on bumpy torn-up roads can be challenging, but it’s also rewarding. Despite the challenges, we love living in the RV. It’s a great way to see the country and experience new things.

By securing everything ahead of time, slowing down, and inspecting all your connections regularly, you can help to keep your RV from falling apart on bumpy roads and enjoy your RVing experience to the fullest.

Be patient. Driving on bumpy roads can be frustrating, but it’s important to keep your eyes on the road, slow down, and drive carefully.

Exploring Stones River National Battlefield

October 31, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

A National Park in Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Stones River National Battlefield is a historic park and cemetery with a visitor center and walking trails along a Civil War Battlefield in Tennessee. There are several hiking trails and a driving trail.

The first place we stopped at of course was the visitor center. The Union victory at Stones River opened the way into the Confederate heartland. The battle was known as The Battle of Murfreesboro and lasted three days, from December 31, 1862, until January 2, 1863.

According to the History Channel —

The North was in control of central Tennessee, and the Union victory provided a much-needed morale boost in the aftermath of the Yankees’ loss at the Battle of Fredericksburg in December 1862. Stones River was a hard-fought, bloody engagement, with some of the highest casualty rates of the war.

The driving tour is easy to follow and highly recommended. Stop #1 is a field where Rosecran’s Union Army arrived and occupied on December 30, 1862, the eve of the battle.

Stop #2 is called the Slaughter Pen where Confederate forces launched attack after failed attack but the Union forces held their ground. Both sides experienced heavy losses.

Stop #3 is a cotton field where Rosecran’s Union Army established a defensive line and continued to hold its ground.

Stop #4 is a field where canister charges forced Confederates back into the trees. Union troops defended the Nashville Pike and railroad here. The railroad and pike are still there.

This National Battlefield contains several displays of original cannons and wagons from the battle.

Stop #5 is an area called the Round Forest. The Union Army held its position throughout the entire day. This forest was covered with Confederate dead and wounded soldiers and was dubbed “Hell’s Half Acre.”

After the battle, most of the dead from both sides were quickly buried on the field. In 1865, they were moved and reburied in the new Stones River National Cemetery which is located across the street from the visitor center. Over 6,100 Union soldiers are buried here, with 2,500 of them having no name.

Stop #6 — The Artillery Monument in the photo below marks the battle’s final attack. Here is where 57 Union cannons fired upon the approaching Confederates, killing or wounding 1,800 men in a short time.

The Hazen Brigade Monument is shown below. Colonel Hazen’s men were the only Union soldiers who didn’t retreat. Over 400 of his troops fell in the battle and the survivors didn’t want the world to forget, so they built this monument in 1863.

It is one of the oldest Civil War memorials in the country.

They were buried according to what state they were from…Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky.

The Battle of Stones River at Murfreesboro engaged approximately 76,400 men and had the greatest percentage of casualties of any major battle in the Civil War. It was declared a Union victory but at a great cost of life. Rosecrans’s men were so battered they would not campaign for another six months.

Camping at Whispering Oaks Campground

October 30, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

A quiet retreat in Manchester, Tennessee

We set out from Kentucky and drove south on I-65, eventually arriving at Whispering Oaks Campground in Manchester, Tennessee. The campground boasted a reputation for peace and quiet, and it didn’t disappoint. The only sounds we heard above a whisper were the acorns pattering on the roof of the RV.

The wooded area was lush with beautiful oak trees decorated in the colors of fall. Squirrels scampered about gathering the nuts for winter. Our spacious gravel site offered a picnic table, rug, and campfire ring.

We had beautiful weather at the end of October. We did a little sightseeing, but mostly we sat outside in the lawn chairs listening to the breeze knock the acorns off the trees.

Our pull-through RV site was large and equipped with 50 amp electric, water, and sewer. The water pressure was good and we had no problems. Neither one of us checked out the public restrooms, laundry, or game room facilities so I can’t speak for those amenities, but from our experience, this was a nice relaxing place to spend our three days in Tennessee. And all at a reasonable nightly rate.

Whispering Oaks Campground gets a thumbs-up from Rich & Julie. Thanks for coming along with us as we travel south for the winter.

(all photos were taken by me)

Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park in Tennessee

October 30, 2023 – Traveling with Rich & Julie

Established in 1966

We arrived in Tennessee and found our campground in Manchester. The rolling hills of Tennessee are gorgeous. The Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park was only ten minutes down the road and it was the first place on my list to visit.

State Parks are some of the prettiest places to see. The Old Stone Fort State Archaeological Park is a hidden gem that offers a glimpse into the past. This historical site was built during the Middle Woodland Period, about 2,000 years ago.

Native Americans built several mounds of dirt and rock and probably used it as ceremonial grounds. The massive earthen mounds form an enclosure measuring 1.25 miles around approximately 50 acres.

It was abandoned by the Middle Woodland culture around 500 BC, but it was later used by other Native American groups, including the Mississippian culture. By the time European settlers arrived in the area in the 18th century, the Old Stone Fort was in ruins.

Two pedestal mounds are located inside the enclosure and were used for ceremonial purposes. The walls are up to 20 feet high and 30 feet wide. History buffs and nature lovers like us love visiting places like this. There were very few artifacts found in the area, leading archaeologists to conclude that it was a religious ceremonial site as opposed to a village site.

We walked through the museum which houses a variety of exhibits and watched a short film explaining the history of the area. I love learning about the history of the places we visit by exploring the museums and artifacts. All Tennessee State Parks are free to visit. This is wonderful for us as we travel.

Thanks for traveling with us.