I'll post some places we went to after Vermont and give an update on where we've been and where we are now. So get your favorite drink and sit back this could be a lengthy post.
We left the beautiful green of Vermont with the intent of heading West to Idaho along the Northern Route of the US. Driving across upstate New York was beautiful and I had no idea they grew so much corn and soybeans up there. Most if not all GMO because it had the name of the seed supplier by the crops. If you know anything about me you know how I despise GMO's and Monsanto. But that's for another time and place so I won't go on my rant about how bad they are for you and cause tumors, cancer and organ damage.
Onto Niagara Falls which was amazing and beautiful. The day was warm and it was crowded but the falls gave me a better understanding of this planet's power. We are so small compared to this.
From the Maiden of the Mist Boat
Above the Falls
From the Canada side.
Beautiful rainbow.
We moved through the state of New York in just a few days with our goal being Indiana to have few things done on the coach. If you'll remember last November we were there for a long time having some work done. This time we needed the desk we had made and installed last year fixed because it was causing the counter top on the kitchen counter to raise up when the slide came in. Well the shop who did the work was out of business, (shocker), so we went to another place recommended to us. We were there only 6 days and had the work done, almost. There is more that needs to be done to the slide but that's for another time.
After leaving there we went to FT Wayne Indiana, why do ask would we go there and not head West. Well we have become FEMA housing inspectors in our travels. It's an as needed kind of job. When there is a disaster in our country like tornadoes, hurricanes, flood or earthquakes we go in and help people who fill out applications for assistance.
There was a little hurricane which came through around this time if you'll remember named Issac. We were notified that we were on Stand by to go to Florida possibly and then it changed to Louisiana. So we headed South.
When we got to Ft Wayne we saw a coach just like ours (which never happens) and met some really nice people Terry and Kathy who live in Texas. They were headed south also to go home. So on our travels south we stop in Lexington Kentucky to cool our heals for a day or so while Issac did his business over the southern states. While there one of our 3 AC units on the coach went bang and filled the front of the living area with a vapor. We knew we were in trouble since it was in the high 90's going into Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana. Tom scrambled to find an AC unit where we were. Turns out they were manufactured in the town where we just had our work done on the coach. If only it could have broken a few days earlier. We made arrangements for one to be shipped to North East Louisiana and to have it installed the day after Labor Day. All was well, although hot with only 2 AC units, as we made our way South and hooked up with Terry and Kathy again in Tunica Mississippi on Thursday before the weekend.
As we had moved south we prepared ourselves to go in and do our job in Louisiana by getting rain boots, measuring devices, and stocking up on food in case there was a problem in the grocery stores. We sat and watched the storm moving it way up and around. Then on Saturday evening we got the call to come to New Orleans and we had to be there on Monday. Oh no, we had an appointment for the AC to be installed on Tuesday. This was not going to work. We bit the bullet and went to New Orleans without the AC being installed, knowing we were going to have to have it shipped which meant more money.
These are photos taken from the RV as we moved into the city:
We made our way south to New Orleans and finding the last 50 amp RV site in town, so we were told, moved into a rough neighborhood just east of downtown. It was basically a narrow parking lot. I would have had trouble parking a large truck in here but Tom parked the RV like champ with just 2 turns and he was in. We were clearly the biggest thing in there. The weather was hot and sticky. Our clothes stuck to us. It was 98 but felt like 118. We did our best to keep the coach as cool as possible by putting fans out to move the air around. We were able to keep it around 84 inside. The dogs seemed to be okay with it.
While in this lovely balmy environment we found a hitchiker who we think wanted out of the park or New Orleans and thought he might hide in our shower to keep cool and wet. I found him one night when I was ready to shower. When I touched him he jumped as high as my face and looked me square in the eye. I screamed and it was something out of a sit com because I was in the shower with the door closed and a frog jumping up and down. Sometimes landing on my legs or on the wall next to me. It was actually pretty funny after a few seconds. I started to laugh thinking of the absurdity of me screaming with this silly little frog who was probably more scared of me than I was of it. Tom caught it and took it outside to the little pool area where he released it.
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| White Lipped Frog |
On Monday we arrived at our first meeting and received our equipment. It took a while for them to get everyone settled and finally around 10 pm we got our first applicants. Tom got 24 and I got 20. The next day we headed out to do our job. Simply verifying the information on their applications. We did this for about 5 days in some questionable neighborhoods. But we got to help some people who needed it and some who did not. While there we were able to get our AC and have it installed but it took until Friday. Which was good because we were moved to Ponchatoula Louisiana, North of New Orleans. This was good because we got to get the coach out of that dirty place and into a real campground. Here we worked for another 5 days with about 45 applications between the two of us.
Then were told there were no more applications so our time was up. We were both a little disappointed and wanted to work longer but it seemed there wasn't the assistance given with Katrina so many people were not applying like before. We made some money and paid for our AC, some fuel and our expenses. This brings us to September 15th when we left Louisiana and were happy we did.
Since we were now in the South it didn't make sense to us to head North to get to Idaho without stopping in Texas to see a couple of cousins on Tom's side. We had a great time visiting and catching up with Larry and George. After this we moved North and stopped at our new friend's Terry and Kathy's place outside of Ft Worth Texas. Where Tom got these great shots. Although I didn't like the whole killing the chicken scene it was nature and I have to respect it.
Now we have left Texas traveled through New Mexico and have arrived in Camp Verde Arizona as of this writing today Sept 23. We'll be going to Phoenix tomorrow to see the grand kids and then onto California to catch up with our friends there.
Hope you enjoyed the update. Photos of Sedona in the next post are from yesterday. Now I am caught up and will keep the blog updated. Thanks for joining us on our adventure.
Peace...
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