Category: Our RV Lifestyle

Wake up to           #SUNSHINE!We like this RV park especially because it has a hot tub that we use nightly.  It also has a highway that for some reason truckers think they should be using their jake brakes on and the tweetest birds ever! Oh yes, planes and helicopters round it out.

We did see an usual toad

Today is visit downtown Nashville day.   We hop on the Downtown Shuttle and our adventure begins.

Our driver tells us there are 37 bars on Broadway, the main street, within four blocks aka “Honky Tonk Row”, and challenges us to have a drink in each 🙂

Many of the bars have several floors, with a live band in each section.  There is music galore.  The bands survive on audience tips.  Must be a difficult way to make a living but many an artist was discovered in Nashville.  This is an interesting read

So here goes..

Interesting signage.

Music City Walk of Fame samples

Ernest Tubb Record Store @ErnestTubbRS with mini Museum

Lunch @RockBottom –  Shrimp & Grits for me tasted much better than the photo looks,  Chicken Fried Chicken for Allan. This was a cheat meal for us as we follow the #Keto Diet.

Back to site seeing

Then there is world famous @tootsiesnet

Tootsie’s was crazy busy on all three floors.  Too busy for us but at least we experienced the Tootsie way.

All tuckered out after a great day we hop on to the return shuttle.  Looking forward to the hot tub.

I wake up about 6a to rain fortunately the storm wasn’t as bad as predicted. Allan wakes early as well, so we have coffee, decide to skip breakfast and head out at 815a, km 50,987. Today ‘s drive is 3-1/2h, destination Nashville

We watch a few other RVs leave, some easier than others because we are all parked on grass, very wet grass in spots. Some rock back & forth but all make it out.

We pack up, pull in the slides, raise the jacks and are ready to leave at 815a. 50,987km.

Bob & Cathy (that’s Cathy on the roof) are packed up as well, we say our good-byes and they pull out with no problems. In case anyone is wondering, no we will not climb up on Bailey.  We are both none to fond of heights. 

The grass we were on seemed relatively dry so we knew we’d be OK to back out. I stand on the road to direct Allan out as we do not want our tires to cross the road and end up in the grass on the other side. I motion, back up,  Allan starts then stops. What’s he doing?? I run to his window “what’s up?” “I’m stuck!!”.

Driver’s side, the side I see, is dry, I head to the passenger’s side – not so much. Try again, Bailey is trying to not disappoint but..

We use the lot marking plastic signs under the drive tires but no go. We are totally stuck!! Fortunately, we have RV road side assistance so place the call. They advise they will be there within one hour.

We imagine a heavy tow arriving but aren’t sure how they will get us out. It’s been sprinkling on and off, now off so we grab our coffees and take a walk down the road to kill some time.

There are not many RVs left. Near the end of the road there is a group packing up. “Good Morning, how are you?” the gent says. “Not good” I reply, “We are stuck!” He replies, “No problem I can pull you out”

Turns out he has a Ford 450 with a winch. We don’t understand how he’s going to do that but are happy he sounds like he knows what he is doing.

He unhooks his trailer, what a nice guy and comes down. He starts his winch and Allan hooks it to the back of Bailey’s hitch.

A few seconds later our new best friend effortlessly pulled us out the of grass/mud. We are FREE!

Our tracks!  Was worse than this photo depicts.  

Cancel the call to roadside assistance and we are on our way at 855a.

We know we are on the correct route when we see construction…It rains much of the way, we stop for groceries at Kroger.

What is that up ahead? An overpass height 13’6” our height is 13’ this is cutting it a little too close, we both duck as we drive under. Made it!!

Arrive at the KOA Nashville RV Resort at 2:40p.  Happily set up.

It stopped raining when we arrive so head to our very first @CampingWorld  a 6 minute walk. We buy a few bits and head back, yep raining again.

Race Day!!

And if that isn’t good enough it is also National BEER Day!!

Woke up to overcast skies. Fingers crossed the sun finds its way to the track.

One of the neighbours was so “rain shy” he decided to leave prior to the Indy starting.  These are his “trying to get out” tire marks. He needed a tow.

We secure our seats using our lawn chairs (kind of like leaving your towel on a poolside chair in the DR) then waste some time at “Wine Down at Indy”.

About 130p we head back to Bailey to pick up our race scanners that enable us to listen to the drivers chatting with theirs teams. Gets pretty colourful at times. Also get our cooler filled with must have bevies and snacks.

Look what pops out to enjoy the race

Back to our seats in plenty of time for the 3p start. It is always fun being at the races, but this wasn’t the most exciting. One caution, 90 laps.

Alex finishes ahead of Felix. Needless to say, Allan was having more fun than me. Bonus, the rain held off.

 

 

Just like that, the race is over.  Allan gets to be ahead. Can’t wait for the next one so I will again rule!!

Back to Bailey after the race for dinner, Traegar steaks and salad. And watch as some clear out.

Forecast was for another storm Sunday night. We are too stupid to be concerned so just carry on enjoying our last night.

First full day at the track. Hilltop parking is filling up and we meet the neighbours, Bob, Cathy and their 5-month-old puppy Cooper.

Sights around the Fan Zone.

We heeded this warning!

There are many practice sessions for the various series. We speak to several fellow RVers to determine the best corner to watch the Indy race and get many different opinions.

We explore the track to determine which corner we think is best. We settle on the back straight due to the track configuration, we have a great view of corner 5. This spot turns out to be directly across from where Bailey is parked.

Mary-Ann (me) chose a new driver this season, Felix Rosenqvist, a new diecast car was required for the dash. Allan got his annual Indy schedule t-shirt and I replaced a much worn out sweatshirt. Purchases done for the season.

No rain, yahoo, during the day, rain again at night.

 

Off to the races!!! It’s raining but not even that deters us.

Day’s plans – get Bailey wash at the Blue Beacon – hope it stops raining before Bailey’s bath.

Pouring rain seems to be the trend for us. Good thing, it rained so hard it removed the bugs from the front of Bailey and the windshield. No Blue Beacon for us today.  Still raining

We arrive @BarberMotorPark  at 255p.

Info says gates open at 3p; we drive right in. There are cars on the track, several RVs set up already. We didn’t have to worry about arriving too early.

We follow the signs to Hilltop Parking. A few flowers on the way.

We set up, quicker than normal cause we are boondocking the 4 days we are here. We must be careful with water lasting and the amount of power we use.

We walk around to familiarize ourselves with the track, life doesn’t get much better.  🙂

Pouring rain again, wakes me up about 3a. All these spots are on grass, no pads, all the rain is making it mushy.

Leave time: 1009a; 50,718km.

We arrive at Benchmark RV Park in Marion, after a few stops on the way about 5pm.

Back to today, Allan has about 3 hours of work to do so I am entertaining myself writing this, sitting outside in the beautiful sunshine and heat, a great change from the rain.  Just love this weather.

Allan’s amber beer assortment ..

Wednesday was  pretty much like today.  Allan worked, I hung out.

We are getting super, duper excited because Thursday we head to Barber Motorsports Park, our first race in Bailey.

 

 

 

Super cloudy, no sky to be seen.

Choices are stay in and play games or risk the rain and head to Peter’s Grocery Store for much needed meat. Off we walk, Bossier City, Louisiana is not pedestrian friendly but we make it using the shoulders. We get to the other side of the highway and see signage directing to Louisiana Outlet Mall, Horseshoe Casino,  and Margaritaville Casino,  @Mville_Bsights 

We forget about the grocery store for now, off to see the sights.  We walk past @FlyingHeartBrew and decide to give it a try on the way back.

Horseshoe Casino, @Horseshoe_BC  is much nicer than ours, offers several restaurants and entrainment and best part it doesn’t smell. People still smoking but much better ventilation. We found the slot machine of our choice and promptly lose our $20s. Vegas gambling and the occasional win was more fun!

It is sprinkling a bit now, so we head to the Outlet Mall which turns out to be an outdoor mall but at least it gets us closer to Margaritaville.  This is the nicest of the 3 casinos. We find a bar and I have a #margarita, of course.

Allan discovers a local brewery amber, Abita! @TheAbitaBeer  brewed in Abita Springs, LA. After enjoying our beverages, off to find a promising machine, and there goes another $20. Louisiana gambling is not for us.

Skies are more threatening. We make it to Flying Heart Brewery where Allan discovers yet another Amber ale. A look outside, it is now pouring fortunately it stopped when we were finished so now on the Peters Grocery Store found on Yelp. Get there only to discover it is closed for who knows what because there are employees in there doing something.

Even this sidewalks #Bossier is not pedestrian friendly with a sign dead centre.

Back to Bailey. Tomorrow’s destination, Marion, MS.

I thought today was April 1^st and Allan was a prankster because my cell is gone, I search ever where to no avail so wake Allan up in a panic. We search and then remember the Find My Friends feature – it shows the cell is at Walmart, off Allan goes. It takes awhile for him to return and my heart continues to race. Allan is back – NO they don’t have it. Now Allan remember he can text me. RELIEF, it’s in Bailey. Finally found! Hiding in the most obvious spot, the couch crevice.

Today’s destination – Diamond Jack’s Casino, Bossier City, LA.

Leave time 748a, 49,444km

We’re excited thinking the Casino will be heaps of fun, hopefully with nightly entertainment. We arrive and set up. The park is much nicer than the Circus Circus RV Park. This one has grass and trees.

We head over to the casino and walk in the door. WOW what a smell, it turns out smoking is still permitted EVERYWHERE! We had considered eating in the casino but no way was that going to happen now. The casino is on 3 floors, we wander the floors, chose our slot machine and quickly lose our $20.

Back to Bailey we go.

 

 

We are bringing Bailey back to Ontario for the summer. The best part of this trip is we are going to our first Indy Race in Bailey at Barber Motorsports Park in Leeds, AB. We’ve had these tickets almost as long as we’ve had Bailey and the time is here.

Airport Limo pick up 600a; WestJet to Phoenix leaves at 935, on time. Nice change from our previous Air Canada flights.

Time change is in our favour, we arrive in Phoenix about noon and grab an Uber to Goodyear. So warm, we kind of wish we could stay for a while. All Bailey systems go, we are hoping the jacks are finally fixed. We leave at 1235p; km 48,173 using Hwy I10.

Today’s destination: Deming, AZ. The weather is OK but oh so windy. We learned Arizona & New Mexico are really bad for wind in the Spring.

Scenery: lots of cacti, big rock mountains, smaller hills, lots of dust.

Bailey with the big boys at a rest stop. Dust storm are bad in the area, fortunately we didn’t encounter any of consequence only minor ones at the side of the highway. The photo doesn’t do it justice. Spots are bugs on the windshield.

These are the road side instructions if case of a dust storm.

We had a near miss with a large bird that got caught in a draft, but he managed to pull out on time.

We arrived at Roadrunner RV Park, in Deming about 615p. We set up just beating sundown. No food on board so we decide to eat out then pick up some breakfast food at Walmart about a 20-minute walk, then Uber/Lyft it back with our groceries.

Off we go, it’s really dark as many of the street lights are out. Most of the businesses on this stretch are out of business. How safe is this? Perhaps we should have investigated more but they say do something each day to scare you – this is it for today.

We pass a hotel that has a restaurant, as we approach they flick the sign from Open to Closed. Keep walking, get to Walmart. Eyes and legs do more licensed restaurant searching not a one to be found.

Plan B: Walmart! I say to Allan, based on what we are seeing I doubt Uber/Lyft is here and there isn’t. We limit our purchases as we are walking home. We get a lemon pepper rotisserie chicken and what turns out to be surprising delicious coleslaw. Get breakfast food.

Walk back we encounter a skunk but fortunately it saw us first and headed to the bushes.

Arrive back have a much-needed beer or 2 and have dinner. We get to bed midnight ish.

Let’s see what tomorrow brings!