Oct 29 - 30 Nashville Tennessee Area

Weather  Fri - rained all day and cool high 58; Sat/Sun - sunny both days but frost at night high 66 (felt warm enough to ride with our black leathers on)

Stayed the weekend here at the Nashville Country RV Park, it is about 20 minutes north of the city but it definitely has some advantages;  close for us to get to some nice country roads, nights are  quieter and about half the price of the campgrounds close to the Grand Ole Opry.  And our friends Barb and Les will like these - bunkies!  Old log cabin design, we have a feeling we will be seeing more along the way. 

Friday was a chilling day for us, bought the paper had a cup of coffee, Billy did the Suduko, walked around the park when the rain stopped and chatted with fellow campers.  Everyone is so friendly, it wasn't quite the same as Billy going for coffee at the Liar's Club at the store but he fit right in.   Our neighbour says he is leaving tomorrow and we have learned some words of wisdom when we asked him when he was pulling out.  He said "see this watch, pointing to his wrist.  They gave it to me when I retired.   I eat when I am hungry, I sleep when I am tired and I leave when I am ready"  Now doesn't that just sum it up !!!!

 For those that RV we are finding some things we are glad we have with us:

• the electric blanket to warm up the bed at night unless you have one of those mattresses with the heat option
• Skype on our laptop to call my Mom and Dad everyday
• crock pot - yesterday we had a supper going while we went for a ride
• The Next Exit - Complete Guide to whats available at every Interstate Exit  we used that book both days while on the Interstates, I could check to see when the next Rest Stop was, Walmart, Diesel Fuel and know that we would not get into tight areas

Saturday we went for a ride around the area and had to get a snapshot of this old International Scout for Bob - Renee the front plate says Army but the back plate says "Barbie drives a jeep".  Really cleaned it up great.

Went to the Grand Ole Opry at night, there was a shuttle right from the park.   It's kind of an American Icon so we had to go.  Entertaining to say the least.  Gretchen Wilson was great, love her voice - and she did her Redneck Woman song which was a big crowd pleaser.  Charlie Daniels Band was the big venue of the night and he does play a mean fiddle, and he has the biggest 10 gallon cowboy hat you ever saw.  It was his 75th birthday and no one plays the Devil went down to Georgia like him.   He broke about 4 bows playing his songs and we both thought he was worth the price of admission. 

Sunday went for our usual Sunday ride with Don and Annie - no we didn't - we waited for you but you never showed up??? ha ha.  Found some nice little winding, hilly, flowing country pikes (that's what they call a road).  Fall foliage was pretty. And of course a low bridge that you would never want to meet while driving our Motorhome, we laughed thankful we were on the bike.

 

Moving on tomorrow morning - heading south to the Panhandle of Florida.  :)

Shakedown Trip - Oct 26, 27- Georgetown, Kentucky, Goodlettsville, Tennessee

Oct 26 Wednesday
Weather: partly sunny, midday18/65, night -rained all night 12/55

Yesterday was a long day and Billy hates the Ambassador bridge,,,,, it was bleep, bleep, bleep as we tried to get thru the pylons and then the f.....in jersey wall.  We took a cone out along the way.  Customs officers were so nice, they came on and said "wow this is beautiful".  They helped us look around the outside of the bus to make sure we did not do any damage to it.   We got lucky the day was sunny and no rain all the way down I75 south, we stopped at Georgetown, Kentucky as it started to pour rain about 4pm, we stayed at Whispering Hills RV Park.

  It had pull thru's and with the forecast weather being rainy for the next few days we thought we would keep going in the morning anyways.  The motorcycle riding does looks nice around the area so we have this as a must on the way home in the spring.   The rv park has a promising future, they just opened in march.   The roadways in the park were treacherous - no base underneath and sinkholes everywhere.  Our site was really soft too, but we got out ok.  poured rain all night, billy kept wondering if we would be stuck on the back wheels when we want to leave!!!!   Well if you don't sleep sound thinking about that;  ha ha.  First time sleeping in our coach - was great, nice and comfy and warm..... hey this is a clean blog and my kids are reading it too.   :)
So we did about 425 miles, only cut 1 guy off on the passenger side - there is quite a blind spot, stopped 5 times along the way including the Walmart Superstore to get some meat/dairy/fruit/veggies.  again a funny - would you not want a beer at the end of this first shakedown trip day?  Yes, maybe 2.   Well it is a dry county - no alcohol for you - really could have used a beer !   The rig is big - 56 feet and just over 10 feet wide is a lot to get used to driving but Billy took his time and did alright.


Oct 27 Thursday
Weather: Misting rain all day, midday 12/53 night -Cool 7/44

Today stayed grey and misty  but we have Sirius Satellite Radio in the coach so channel 24 Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville played all the way.  We left I75 and went over to the Bluegrass Parkway at Lexington till we hit I65 then went south till just outside Nashville  (215 miles) -  a non-eventful day on the road, easy driving.  Around Lexington is so beautiful with the horse ranches and went by Keeneland Raceway - wow - it is huge, acres and acres.  Have to go there in the spring. 
Staying at little place called Goodlettsville, Tennessee  - Nashville Country RV Park.   Got a great site - big pull thru, gravel and very flat, full hookups.  Nice.  Had supper with 103.3 Country Radio playing - just getting in the with the locals.  Then we look out our window and now we are reminded of home !!!   We think it is a good luck omen.

Checking the fuel consumption we are averaging 10 miles to the Canadian gallon, so we are happy with that, Billy is running an Econo mode.  Had side wind both days.
We are now 1 hour behind home time - crossed Central time zone at the bottom of Kentucky.  Forecast is sunny for the next 4 days so we are staying here till Monday with weather permitting we will try and get out the Harley tomorrow and go for a ride.