All in a day: Oklahoma and Texas

So the day started good when whe left Arkansas this morning, We were doing good time until we stopped for lunch at which point we found out that a part of our hitch had fallen off, probably from the 100 miles of vibrating road we had been on this morning. So we finaly found an RV repair place in Elk City Oklahoma. To make a story short two hours later we were back on the road.

My wife asked me if we had enough gas to make it to Amarillo, we had 150 miles to go and the car computer indicater that I was good for 175 miles so I said we are OK. So after a construction zone and a weird road change indicated by the GPS we ended up 10 miles from our destination and with 8 miles left of gas. Needless to say there was a few I told you so and I'm not the one walking 2 miles in the boondocks to go get some gas (also I didn't now yet where the gas station was, it was actualy 2 miles past my destination) so when the computer counted down to 0 we repeated the I told you so etc... An interesting fact you can drive another 4 miles on fumes when it's indicated that you have 0 gas.

So we finally got to the campsite at sunset. After we set up we called the Big Texan Steak Ranch and they sent a Limo to pick us up, the real thing with a cowboy driver and horns in the front.

 When we got there ther was two guys trying for the 72 ounces free steak challenge but they didn't make it. Me I had the anniversary special 1/4 the size so only 18 ounces. We took the Limo back, I'm going to bed and I intend to snore all night :)

Tomorrow we cross New Mexico.

Nashville : Music City

This morning we went downtown to visit the city, we started with the visit of Studio B the oldest surviving recording studio in the city it is located in the part of the city know as music row. Full of history it was the place where many hits by many artists were receorded over the years.

We also visited the Country Music Hall of Fame also a very interesting visit 3 floors full of history. Also a big archive preserving the past for the future.

For lunch we went on Broadway and Fifth at Robert's Western World next to Tootsie Orchid Lounge where there was a live band and we had a good time.

In the evening we had tickets for the Grand Ol Opry great place and a great show, it was Charlie Daniels 75th birthday and it made the evening extra special.
Tommorow whe hit the road again.

Day two: From Pensylvania to Tennesse

So yesterday was an other driving day with rain in the mountains. We drove 1600 km or 1000 miles so far. We are now a short 3h00 drive from Nashville. We stopped in a Walmart an replaced the coffee maker, life is wonderfull again.

First Day

It started well we did no suffer much delay at the border, now we know the trick leave with an empty fridge and do the grocery in Platsburg, they have a nice grocery store. Then back on the road, I took the corner a bit tight, jumped the curb and emptied the cupboard on the floor. The main casualty was the coffe maker.

Whe then arrived at the campsite near howe's cavern but surprise it was closed for the season.

So we visited the caverns that were very interesting, even with a nice boat ride on an underground river. Well worth the detour, also I found a new road the 88 that is very nice.

After the visit we drove for 285 miles and arrived at a campsite in Pensylvania near Harrisburg around 23h00 and went strait to bed.

Today it's raining but we are closer to our Nashville destination.

Last Preparations

Well the departure is tomorow so today was the day of the last preparations. This morning it was the car stuff I had an appointment at the garage for an oil change, I like the syntetic it's better when towing and I'll be due for an other when I come back since I should do more then 15000 km on this roadtrip. Also I had a tie rod to replace on the left side and got the alignement done at the same time it makes for a more relaxing drive. Filled the gas tank, the winshield washer fluid and passed trough the car wash. I also check the air pressure on the trailer and the car including the spares.

Everything is packed up and ready to go including the note on the dashboard : (don't forget to unplug the trailer from the wall.) I only forgot once but my wife makes sure she reminds me once in a while. :)

Tomorow is a small driving day we have only 240 miles / 385 km. to do, we are going to Howes Caverns near Cobelskill NY. We should arrive early enough to visit the caverns, otherwise we will visit them the next morning.

Road Trip 2011 (Getting Ready)

Once again the vacation time is coming, this year the departure will be on October 26 for a 52 days trek. The main destination is San Francisco with scheduled stops in Nashville, Petrified Forest National Park, Death Valley National Park, Monterey, Joshua Tree National Park, Palm Springs, Yuma, San Antonio, New Orleans, Pensacola, Savanah and more..

Needless to say I plan to take a lot of pictures and share some of them with you on this blog. Our first planned stop is in Nashville Tennesse, we have tickets for the grand ol opry a staple of country music and the longest running live radio show in the US.

Meanwhile I've been keeping busy doing the research about the trip, finding the spots I want to see and photograph, tagging them in Google Earth and entering them in my GPS. Wednesday I go and pick up the Travel Trailer from it's summer spot in Dunham and bring it in the driveway so we can start to get it ready for that perticular trip.

More to come as the departure gets closer.