Lakemont Ridge, Frostproof Florida

This is the back of our lot when we arrived on Friday 23 Nov 2012.   Ellen planted this flower last year and look at it now.  Beautiful.   Sure is nice to be in warm weather.

Slideout floor in Red Bay

This is where they replaced to floor in my slideout in Red Bay.  They take the whole slideout out and replace the plywood floor with aluminum floor and then put her back.  All this took place the day before Thanksgiving.   Thanksgiving Day we headed for Florida.

 

Big hoist to remove the slideout

 

Hanging out

 

with the slideout missing.

 

No floor

Swamp Johns near Red Bay, Al

 

This is a very popular place for breakfast.  Just good ole southern cooking.

Helen Keller's Birthplace

This is the home where Helen Keller was born.  She lost her sight and hearing at a very young age.

 

Not easy to read but it lists her parents.

Rattlesnake Saloon in Tuscumbia

 

This is an very unusual place. They have a pickup truck with benches in the back to take you down to the Saloon.  The Saloon is in a cave.  They have a small place inside when the weather is cool but they have a hugh place outside under the rocks with a place for a band.  Only open on Thurs, Fri, and Saturday.  Also only open from April thru November.

 

This is the bar and restaurant used for cooler times.

 

This shows the stone above the restaurant and the walkway over to another party area.



 

This is part of the outdoor bar.  The bandstand is on the right in the back.

 

This is the party room under the cliff.  Bandstand in the back and the restaurant on the left.

 

This is the outdoor pravilian.  The picture was taken standing over the bar and restrooms for the outside.

 

This is the Saloon Taxi that takes most people down to the restaurant.  The road goes up on the left of the picture.

 

There is a walkway above the restaurant.  There are also chairs and tables on this level for small groups to sit and talk.  Great views from any level.

Coon Dog Cemetery in Red Bay, Al

Coon Dog Cemetery near Red Bay, Al.  Started about 1937 by a coon dog lover from Tennessee.  Still going strong.  They have a big party once a year and coon dog lover come from all over the states.

 

 

This is the graves decorated for the get together.  Several new graves this year.  Shelter in background for meeting. 

 

 

All kinds of grave markers.  Some are very outstanding.

 

 

The building in the back is the ladies restroom.  Nothing but first class here.

Speedy Pig in Russellville, Al

 

 

 

Had dinner on 17 Nov at the Speedy Pig in Russellville.  Good BarBQue.  This is about 25 miles east of Red Bay.   Good food.

Tiffin Factory, Red Bay Alabama

 

Here we are in Red Bay.  We got here on the 1st of November.  Still waiting for some service.  They fixed my antenna, both of them, and now I can watch Fox News.  They checked the floor in the slide out and said that the floor needs replacing.  Also the floor under the tanks where you fill up with water and dump the tanks.  You just get in line and wait until they get to you.  This picture shows the line-up of RVs in the lot.  They have around 100 sites with full hookups.  Still cool here.  Gets up to around 60 in the daytime and about 40 at night.  Would love to be in Florida.

 

Florida Bound

 

 

Yes that is snow.  We left Tomorrow's Stars on 30 October with the temp in the 20s and some snow.  That wasn't bad but the wind gusts were between 40 and 50 MPH.  We spent  the night in Cincinnati at Cummins Bridgeway where it got down to 29 degrees.  They serviced the engine Wed morning and we headed for the South.  Spent the night of 31 Oct in Camping World in Bowling Green Kentucky where it got down in the 20s again but not as much wind.

  

Spent the day (1 Nov) driving to Alabama.  Weather is better.  I think the temp got up in the 70s with the sun shinning and very little wind.

  

This is at the Welcome Center going into Alabama.  I think this is the Red Stone Rocket.  Arrived at Tiffin in Red Bay Alabama and the place is full.  Dry Camp for a couple of days and then we get full hook-ups.

 

Tomorrow's Stars 22 Oct - 30 Oct

Spending 8 days here while we attend functions and doctor's appointments.  Beautiful park.  Would recommend for anyone.  At least the weather is warmer this week.  Leave for Florida on the 30th.

Beaver Valley Chap 570 OES Installation on 20 Oct

 

We attended the OES Installation at Beaver Valley where Ellen was installed as Conductress.  Barbara Pelfrey, the Worthy Grand Matron, was the installing officer.  Nice installation with 78 people in attendance.

 

Alan and Kim Booker who were installed as Associate Matron and Associate Patron.

Beecher and Ellen Vaughn

On Sunday, we attended a Republican Party Pig Roast in Greenville.  Jim Buchy is running for state representative.  Jim and I received our 33 degree together.  Larry and Diane Beck were in attendance and we had a nice visit.

NCT Rally at Darke County Fairground 18-21 October

 

Nice local rally at Darke County Fairground with four couples.  Bob and Rita Bailey, Beecher and Ellen Vaughn, Kenny and Judy Kauffman, and Kauffman's daughter Kathy and her friend Larry.  Rainy and cold but Bob made a nice pot of soup and we had an excellent meal.  Many card games and pumpkin carvings.  Rita makes a nice witch.  Judy fell on Saturday morning and fractured her ankle.  Good luck Kenny.  All in all, we had a great time with Lionel and Charlotte  Balcom, and Ron and Phyllis Ullery coming in on Friday for the meeting.  Bill Brauer was deer hunting and we understand that Bill and Bill Jr got a deer.

 

 These are the pumpkins that were carved.

 

 This is how they looked in the dark

 

 Of course we had a witch.  Rita came in on her broom

 

 The winner of the pumpkin carving was Kenny Kauffman on the right.

Good Sam Rally, Marion

 

Parked at the Marion County Fairground for Good Sam Rally on 13-16 September

 

 Connie Koverman and Ellen Vaughn

Bill and Vickie Elliott

Homeless on 10 October 2012

We spent two weekends having a garage sale, which went very well.  Then on 9 Oct 2012, they picked up most of our furniture for an auction in Xenia.  On Wednesday 10 Oct 2012, they picked up  the rest of our furniture and took it to the auction.  We are now homelesss and are camping at Poor Farmers Campground for 9 days.  Then we go to a campout at Darke County Fairgrounds.  We will leave for Florida on 30 October for the Winter.

Hot Air Balloon Festival 2012, Van Wert

 The NCT Southwestern Buckeyes Chapter #1 met in Van Wert for the Hot Air Festival on Sept 6 thru Sept 9.  We were joined by West Central Chapter #92 for the weekend.  When we arrived, it was raining and  we had trouble getting into the parking space.  It did get better but they were never able to lift off.  I think there were 19 balloons there and some from as far away as Arizona.  The Balloon Glow was nice where they brought them onto the field and lit them up for everyone.  After that, we had great fireworks.  As usual, there was several get togethers for food and plenty of it.  Great weekend, even if the weather did not cooperate.

 

 Balloon Glow

 

 

 

Fireworks

 

 

 

 

NCT at Poor Farmers Aug 2012

 

 

Monthly campout for Southwestern Buckeyes #1 at Poor Farmers Campground in Fletcher Ohio.  Beautiful weekend with no rain. On Thursday we went to a Chinese Restaurant Buffet in Piqua. We went out to eat in Urbana at the Farmers Daughter on Friday.   Lionel tried to get the Farmer's Daughter but failed.  We had a carry in meal on Saturday with Barbara providing the hot chicken sandwiches and Sunday morning, the Balcoms cooked pancakes for everyone.  We enjoyed card games such as 31 and golf.  I think the new name for golf is Oh S***.  We ended the weekend with a great ice cream cake that Barbara Slusser provided.  The Slussers were great hosts for the weekend.

 



MOT Bill Brauer, Wagon Master Lionel Balcom during the meeting where we discussed the campout for 2013 which the Wagon Master has scheduled.  Great job, Lionel.

 

MOT Bill Brauer w/Carol Brauer and Ellen Vaughn in background

 

MOT and Wagon Master w/Larry Slusser, Charlotte Balcom and Barbara Slusser

Carol Brauer and Ellen Vaughn,  Carol had both hips replaced about two weeks ago

Carol Brauer out for a walk, isn't she doing great

 

Gail Vaughn, our daughter and Ellen Vaughn. Gail and Terry Sanner came to visit us on Saturday.

Larry Slusser and Barbara Slusser during a BS session.  We did not have any duct tape.

Lionel Balcom, Charlotte Balcom, Barbara Slusser, Larry Slusser with Ellen Vaughn in the background

Lionel Balcom cooking breakfast for the Chapter Members