DAY 68 - BRANSON - VANCOUVER, B.C.

Our final day!

Don & Daphne begin their journey.

The final goodbyes!

Well it was time to say 'goodbye' to our RV journey and what a wonderful experience it has been for these past 69 days!    Don & Daphne were now going to take our place and drive our Rig to Phoenix with the rest of the group.   We got up early and had mixed feelings as we packed up our stuff ready for Gil & Sue to take us to the Springfield airport.   Took some photos before we left and then the 4 of us made our way in our truck towards Springfield.  Gil & Sue stayed at the airport for lunch then we said our goodbyes and I even got a kiss from little Max!
He always was such a part of our trip.   We were now on the last leg of our journey flying first to Chicago and then on to Vancouver - but with lots of wonderful memories and certainly the "Trip of a Lifetime".

DAY 67 - BRANSON - MISSOURI



And Max was there too!

 



One special brother & brother-in-law celebrates 65!







What a Celebration!

 Well with just one day before we leave our Rig with Don & Daphne and fly back to Vancouver it was more of a work day for me!    The guys took in a game of golf, Daphne and I stayed in the Rig and Sue, Marg & Jan visited some new shops.  Sue had planned a 65th Birthday dessert celebration with the 10 of us after dinner tonight...it took quite a bit of manipulating - particularly when Gil came to our Rig and wanted to know why we needed to go out for dinner at 4:30 when the show was at 8:00 p.m.   (Enquiring minds want to know!!).   I seemed to be the one to try to give some weak explanation to him  - however it all turned out fabulous!   Congratulations Sue on a great effort!   The guys just golfed 15 holes - we went to the Crackerbarrel for dinner - and came back to Gil & Sue's for the Birthday Cake all in plenty of time!    Went to the 'Oakridge Boys' at 8:00 p.m.   Just wished they had sung more Gospel.   I remember them from my New Zealand days - but unfortunately they sing more secular stuff now.   I probably wouldn't go again....but it was good to hear them once.   Now just one more sleep.....very mixed feelings!

DAY 66 - BRANSON, MISSOURI

What a musical city!    I am sure you could be here for 2 weeks and go to a different show every day and not repeat one!    Today Don & Daphne arrived and Bob & I drove to the Branson Airport to pick them up at 1:30 p.m.  They have come to continue the journey with everyone to Mesa, Arizona using our Truck and Rig and we are very grateful to them for this.   If they hadn't agreed to do this we probably wouldn't have been able to make this wonderful journey.   Tonight the 10 of us went to the Dolly Parton Dixie Stampede and enjoyed a great pre-show, dinner and show.    Again a wonderful evening.  

DAY 65 - BRANSON, MISSOURI

The Platters



The Violinist plays between his legs!

 What a great place Branson is!   Enjoyed a bit of a sleep-in this morning and then while Bob got the truck washed I walked around the 'Outlet Centre'.   Also we had to buy a couple of suitcases - it's amazing how much one can accumulate on a 10 week trip!   This afternoon we enjoyed the 'Platters'....lovely music and very entertaining.  Had tickets for the Andy Williams' show tonight and what a fabulous night that was.   Some of his guests were an incredible violinist - Russian Dancers - an Impersonator and others.  Andy was very entertaining himself and we enjoyed the evening very much.   Tomorow Don & Daphne arrive and they will be taking over our Rig on Thursday when we fly back to Vancouver.   This will be quite an emotional day - bitter-sweet for me.

DAY 64 - MEMPHIS, TN - BRANSON, MS.

Our Campsite in Branson

Well our drive to Branson, Missouri started off a little later than what we had planned as the left Leg on our Rig decided it wasn't going to go up!   We had had this repaired in Winnipeg so this was not good news....however with the expertise of Gil & Ted it was fixed a couple of hours later.   The part only cost $4.20 - and we were so grateful to both of them for all their help.   The moral of the story is:   "always travel with two knowledgeable mechanics and a Doctor - then your journey will be smooth"!!!   One interesting piece of information....the people in the Rig right next door were from Bethlehem a suburb of my home town -  Tauranga, New Zealand.   There were two couples traveling together - both from the Baptist church at Bethlehem - the woman being one of the Pastors!   They actually attended the Baptist church on Cameron Road where we were married before moving to Bethlehem!    We  spent most of the day driving through Arkensas and so now I have another State to add to my list!

Our RV Neighbours from Bethlehem - Tauranga, N.Z.



 


More Beautiful Scenery

  We are staying in a small RV park - but quite nice - and probably the fanciest Laundry room we have seen yet!   We are looking forward to attending some of the shows here in Branson and meeting Don & Daphne on Wednesday who are flying in to continue the journey in our Rig while we fly back to Vancouver.

DAY 63 - MEMPHIS - TN.

Can anyone see a 'surprise' in this picture?

Outside Elvis Presley's Mansion

Elvis's Grave

Our day started at 10 a.m. and finished at 10 p.m.!   Our RV Park was right at Graceland so we could just walk to all the attractions there.   Needless to say we spent the entire day at Graceland (other than walking back to our Rigs for supper) and then back again to hear Joe Kent give a wonderful 'Elvis' show.   He didn't profess to be an Impersonator - just sang great songs, dressed similar to Elvis - but a very clean wholesome show that I would go to again in a minute.    This morning we took the 'Platinum Tour' which included everything except viewing Elvis's report cards!    Seeing the Mansion, his cars, his aeroplane, his grave and many other artifacts - made the day very enjoyable.

DAY 62 - NASHVILLE, TN - MEMPHIS, TN

Bob led today....and we both felt a little sad when we realized that this was the last time we would be doing this!   We have become very accustomed to this life-style....setting-up...pulling-down...securing cupboards with bungy cords....filling our travel coffee cups....charging our cell phones....tying our chairs up and of course pulling our slides in!   Not to mention all the outside work there is to do....but now that it is coming to a close we realize how we are going to miss it.    The friendship and fun the 8 of us have had will certainly not be long forgotton.   I'm writing like this is our last day....it's not - but we do only have 6 more sleeps!    Today was an enjoyable traveling day...nice stop for lunch....a beautiful highway and again lovely trees that were changing color.    After set-up at our lovely Campsite here in Graceland we visited the Memphis Mall to pick up some transferred goods...grocery shopped...and then went to Marg & Ted's for lovely pumpkin pie and coffee.   Our Campsite is called 'Graceland RV Park and Campground' located on Elvis Presley Blvd here in Memphis.    We are very close to all attractions and tomorrow we are so excited to be visiting Elvis's home here in Graceland. 

DAY 61 - NASHVILLE, TN.

Well another relaxing easy day!   We have travelled thousands of miles, sightseed so much - that it has been nice to have the last couple of days just low-key.   The guys golfed again and all 4 of us girls went to the Mall and took advantage of Macey's amazing sale!   This evening Ted had got us tickets for the Opry Country Classics held at the Ryman Auditorium downtown Nashville.   Larry Gatlin was the Host and he and his brothers sung such songs as "Broken Lady"...."Farther Along"....a very good show.   We have had 3 nights of concerts in Nashville - all quite different and all very good.  We certainly have had a real taste of this Musical City!

DAY 60 - NASHVILLE, TN.

No pictures will be posted today - mainly because I didn't take any!!   The guys golfed this morning and Sue, Marg & I went to a Mall about 10 minutes away while Jan opted to have a 'catch up' morning.   Bob had got tickets for an evening at the 'Bluebird Cafe' - which is a place where up and coming singers and song-writers perform.  It is a very popular place and we enjoyed it very much.   Stopped off at Shoneys for dessert and altogether it was a very nice relaxing day.  

DAY 59 - NASHVILLE - TN.

Our Home for the next 4 nights!

Country Music Hall of Fame




Bob has always admired Elvis!

 

Here we enjoyed a wonderful concert tonight.

Left for a day in Nashville at 10 a.m. and got back to the Campsite at 10 p.m.   We started off by stopping at the Visitor's Centre acquiring some information for today and also booking an evening at the Bluebird Cafe for tomorrow night.    This is where aspiring song-writers and new artists perform - all on the threshold of 'making it' on the music scene.   We had lunch at an upstairs restaurant however we all dearly wanted to hear some live Music..... after all we were in Nashville!    Leisurely we wandered - dropping in at various shops - and then the rain started!    Last night there was lightning and thunder and now it had started again.   Some of us had umbrellas but some didn't - and so got quite wet.    Then we decided to drop in on "The Stage" - and enjoyed about 30 minutes of Country Music by a very good group over diet cokes.   Still anxious to take in a concert tonight - we visited the Grande Old Opry to see if we could get tickets - and that we did.  So...tonight we experienced 2 1/2 hours of wonderful Country music which all of us thoroughly enjoyed.   It ended up being a fabulous day and even though we got a little wet and bedraggled looking....accomplished everything we wanted to do and more!

DAY 58 - CARTERSVILLE GA TO NASHVILLE, TN.



Our Entertaining Driver




My 'State' Picture - always seem to miss the official "Welcome one" !!



Longest Pedestrian Bridge in the World we walked over!

 We ended up leading the first part of the journey today as had to visit an RV Repair place in Chattanooga.   Yesterday one of our slides became intermittent and then completely refused to work!   It took about 3 hours for them to fix it - luckily it wasn't the motor just a wiring problem - but the up-side of this was we got to see Chattanooga!    Caught the Electric Shuttle to the North Shore with a very talkative and interesting female driver - and I got to take several pictures including the Tennessee River and the Longest Pedestrian Bridge in the world!  On our return from the North Shore after a very nice lunch - we walked over this famous Pedestrian Bridge and then drove back to the RV Company and picked up our Rig.   Luckily we are travelling with very obliging family and friends who waited patiently for all that went with the picking up and payment of the repair.     Arrived in Nashville Tennessee around 5 p.m.

DAY 57 - AUGUSTA GA - CARTERSVILLE, GA

An evening stroll by the lake!

Downtown Atlanta



Our Home for the past 57 days!



Didn't leave til 9:00 this morning as a shorter trip was planned today.   Walked over to McDonalds at Wallmart and had coffee and an Egg McMuffin and then Ted started us on our way.    We stopped at another McDonalds for a break - and ended up having lunch there.  (I just hope my Doctor doesn't get access to this Blog or he would not be impressed!)   The last part of the trip was a little nerve-racking to say the least.   We found ourselves on the largest Freeway ever - in fact at one point another complete 4 lane Freeway merged onto the Freeway we were on!  Poor Ted was leading - and making sure we were in the right lane to exit required lots of concentration.   We had planned to stay at the Atlanta Marietta Park but when we finally arrived we were told they were full!    Anyways it all turned out for the best as after a few phone calls we managed to book at the Allatoona Landing Marine Resort in Cartersville - a very lovely RV park - and we all arrived safe and sound!   Tonight we all ate together outside and then went for a wonderful walk down to the Marina.  We are right beside the lake - a very beautiful place here.

DAY 56 - MYRTLE BEACH - AUGUSTA, GEORGIA

Our Campsite for Tonight!






Jan makes some suggestions for our entertaiment in Augusta!!

 

  Well we are certainly taking in a lot of States on this trip - adding Georgia to the list today!   An uneventful drive to Augusta - stopping at Dunkin' Doughnuts for coffee and then Subway for Lunch!   We didn't want to arrive at Augusta too early as we decided we would spend tonight at a Wallmart Parking Lot as there didn't seem to be a whole lot of RV Parks to choose from close to where we want to be.   It was 89 degrees F. and so needless to say that us girls quickly shopped at Wallmart (mostly because of the air-conditioning) and then Ted very kindly drove us to the Mall for the evening.  Jan had some photo ordering to do and the guys watched football!   I should add that normally we have air-conditioning in our Rig - except we are not hooked up electrically tonight.  

DAY 55 - MYRTLE BEACH




  Well there isn't too much to say about today other than Myrtle Beach is gorgeous and I wish I could stay here a week!   It is another Hawaii - beautiful beach and fabulous weather.  This morning I opted to do some Laundry while Bob stocked up on water at Wallmart.   This afternoon Gil, Sue, Ted, Marg, Bob and I drove to the Beach - walked along the beautiful surf beach and the Boardwalk.   Tonight we all went out for dinner and had lots of good conversation and fun.   Tomorrow we leave for Augusta.

DAY 54 - MYRTLE BEACH

What a beautiful place Myrtle Beach is!  Very touristy - reminds me of Florida.   The guys got up early this morning to golf a different golf course and had fun.  We girls decided to go to a large mall....however had a bit of difficult finding it though due to wrong directions given from the Briarcliffe Office - however thanks to asking several people along the way we eventually found it!   We all needed our hair done and can you believe it - walked into J.C. Penny's and all got appointments!   A short visit to Steinmart on the way home completed our day and tonight we are just going to 'hang out'.   Tomorrow is a sleep-in day - and then perhaps go to view the Beach itself.   Lovely and relaxing here.

DAY 53 - FAYETTEVILLE N.C. - MYRTLE BEACH S.C.

Bob was the leader today and it was a relatively short trip arriving at Briarcliffe RV Resort before noon.  The guys had booked a game of golf at Myrtle Beach and there were Outlet Shops relatively close to the RV park - so everyone was happy!   Briarcliffe RV Resort is very nice - quite upscale so we just may stay here an extra day!!   Us girls had a great time this afternoon shopping and then went grocery shopping at Wallmart.   It was a great Wallmart - with lots of groceries!     Made Spaghetti for dinner - Bob has to buy a fitting for the drainage of the 'black water' so he and Gil left to see if they could find one.   The result - the repair man is going to come tomorrow!

DAY 52 - WILLIAMSBURG VA - FAYETTEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Another scenic drive....I think Virginia may be my favorite State so far - although all have been beautiful in their own way.   I know I talk a lot about the trees - but I am so impressed with the denseness of the beautiful trees - all different shapes and colors....God certainly made a beautiful world.   Don led the way this morning and we had our coffee break at McDonalds again (this is becoming quite a nice habit!).   Passed into North Carolina shortly afterwards and was so pleased to at last be able to capture a picture of the sign successfully!    Arrived at Lazy Acres Campground around 3 p.m.   We plan to get together for dessert at Jan's tonight and play Jokers as haven't done that for a while.    Bob is excited to go to Myrtle Beach tomorrow and has already booked a golf game for the afternoon.  Fortunately there is shopping close by!!