On The Road Again: Year Two
🎶On The Road Again: Year Two
Howdy y'all! We're back with tales of the adventures of The BoomerBus. After a year of living and traveling on The BoomerBus we finally determined that the actual machine which transports us to various locales is The BoomerBus. While we are enjoying these adventures we are also living Our Last Quarter as our granddaughter Lola explained to us when we informed her of our decision to live full time in a motorhome. You can read the details in our first post, The BoomerBus: Our First Adventure at the bottom of the page, More Posts.
Where are we and how did we get here?
So, after the crisis in Las Cruces, NM last November (see Our Great Western Adventure for details) we finally completed our 2024 adventure and dropped off The BoomerBus at NIRVC in Nashville for much needed maintenance and some repairs. We alternated our stays with David in Tellico Village, TN and the Christmas holidays with our daughter, husband and grandkids in Rhode Island. Brrr... We eventually returned to Nashville on 13 February, retrieved The BoomerBus and traveled to Red Bay, AL to have some modifications made by Josh Stanley, a gifted woodworker who worked for Tiffin building all the cabinetry in Tiffin coaches. Not only does he have the expertise to craft any carpentry you might want but his insights and ideas make his works unique. Thank you, Josh.
Red Bay, Alabama
Tiffin has spawned a large cottage industry in Red Bay and the surrounding area with entrepreneurs who can make just about anything for your motorhome. From exterior surfaces, interior design, plumbing, electrical, engine, chassis, there's a business here which can make it, repair it or improve it to suit your demands. Most of these entrepreneurs are former Tiffin employees and had a hand in building the coaches. Their experience is vast and expertise deep. If you own a Tiffin, at some time you'll make the pilgrimage to Red Bay and you'll probably have breakfast at Sparks in nearby Belmont, MS and/or at the 'Ole Country Store just down the road from Sparks. Located in a working gas station you will enjoy a simple but very tasty breakfast while sitting amid rows of automobile merchandise.
'Ole Country Store: breakfast amid the auto merchandise.
Another ubiquitous feature in and around Red Bay are what seem like WWII era bunkers and small green signs which state STORM SHELTER. Hmmm...
Storms A Comin'
While in Red Bay we stayed at the Red Bay Acres CG. As we checked into a virtually empty campground, the receptionist handed us the usual paperwork and a sheet which gave directions to the nearest storm shelter. She also informed us of probable severe weather during the night with possibility of tornados. During the night we endured hellacious winds (later clocked at 40+MPH) which battered The BoomerBus like never before. Sure enough, at 10:30PM our phone severe weather alarms both chimed simultaneously as the tornado warning sirens activated throughout Red Bay. TORNADO WARNING! SEEK SHELTER IMMEDIATELY! Fortunately, Linda planned ahead and had a 'go bag' which she grabbed as I gathered Izzy and jumped into the truck making our way to the shelter. Darkened and debris strewn streets and monsoon-like rain made the short trip a harrowing one. This is one adventure we don't want to repeat. At 11:47PM a tornado was confirmed by radar as we joined a group of about 10 in the basement of the Methodist church. Fortunately, the tornado missed us and The BoomerBus was unscathed.
NOTE: after experiencing numerous changes to our planned itinerary last year and confusing some of our readers, we decided not to post our 2025 itinerary in full. Rather, we'll post our planned stops for the next month or two. So, next stops:
1-15 March Buena Vista Motor Coach Resort, Orange Beach, AL
16-30 March Jellystone Watts Bar, Loudon, TN (medical stop)
01-07. April Travel to Ft. Worth Motor Speedway, TX for NIRVC Customer Appreciation Rally
07-10 April Ft. Worth
11 April TBD
February 23, 2025: Tupelo, MS
So, we're still in Tupelo, MS waiting on The BoomerBus to get fixed and adjusted. White it is in Red Bay, AL, we're staying Tupelo, MS -about 45 miles- because Tupelo offered the best pet friendly hotel accomodations. Tupelo also had a greater variety of food establishments and, well, ELVIS! Yes, ELVIS is everywhere here but not so much over-the-top commercialized. The historic downtown area has been transformed from old industrial warehouses to hip bars, coffee shops, pubs, and restaurants. Very walkalble, this area is still growing and atttracting a younger crowd scene. We're scheduled to depart Red Bay on Thursday, 27 February and spend a couple of nights in Gulfport, MS before settling down in Orange Beach, AL for two weeks. Here are some pics of Tupelo, MS.
Elvis's birthplace in Tupelo, MS.
28 February 2025
We departed Belmont, MS on 2/27 after several days to have work on The BoomerBus. New shelves installed by Josh Stanley, some paint repair and finally a ceramic coating on the entire coach. Looks fabulous! We traveled to Gulfport, MS and are staying just two nights at the Gulfport Luxury RV Resort before heading to the Buena Vista RV Resort in Orange Beach, AL for two weeks. Yes! Temps in mid-70s. Jackets are rolled up and stowed. Last night we had dinner at Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar sitting outside watching waves come gently ashore. Stuffed ourselves with oysters (me) and shrimp. Now it will take us several days to get The BoomerBus organized for travel and living but...we are home.
Here we are departing Belmont, MS after the ceramic coating applied by Stephanie and her team at Bob Moses Ceramic Coating. Thanks Stephanie! The BoomerBus received compliments as soon as we parked it!
Felix's Restaurant & Oyster Bar in Gulfport, MS.
3 March 2025, Orange Beach, AL
We are finally on the first leg of our next adventure, ensconced in the Buena Vista RV Resort in Orange Beach, AL. WOW! What a campground. The site is beautifully landscaped and paved with brick pavers. The site we're in includes a pizza oven, grill and sear station all fueled by a propane tank and a self contained fire pit also fueled by propane. Took us all day yesterday to get the BoomerBus set up for living and our first grocery bill was almost $400!...and we've yet to stock up on steaks. By the end of the day we were both exhausted. Today we'll begin exploring the area and restaurants. Seafood, seafood and more seafood.
As we drove from Gulfport, MS on I-10, we crossed over Mobile and the road leads close to the USS Alabama. What a sight. It is a majestic and huge battleship.
The BoomerBus parked in site 109, Buena Vista RV Resort. Outdoor kitchen to the left with a place to relax and socialize. Orange Beach is behind us. BTW: the beach is not orange but the sand is almost white. NOTE: warm enough for shorts & Ts but not enough to swim in an unheated pool.
Mardi Gras....Orange Beach Style
We brought our beach chairs to the entrance of the campground (CG) and joined a crowd of folks to watch the Orange Beach Mardi Gras parade. The CG provided free hotdogs and drinks, including beer, for all who were staying in the CG. There were approx 90 floats with a variety of themes. Some of the most innovative included two with live bands playing rock n roll, an umpah band playing New Orleans style jazz and one with a grilling station! The parade lasted over an hour and we met some of our fellow campers and enjoyed the afternoon before the approaching storm. During the night we endured constant 40MPH winds and a couple hours of torrential rain. Apparently the front spawned tornadoes further north in Alabama and in Texas as well.
Just a few of the Mardi Gras floats during the parade. There were approx 90 floats, moving slowly down Perdido Drive, the main road along the beach in Orange Beach, AL. Fun time.
Yeah, look at the size of those oysters! Yum yum. Two pounds of crab...all for moi! Didn't bother with the corn and potatoes.
Orange Beach & Gulf Shores, AL & Pensacola, FL
These three towns/cities are all close enough to each other and on the beach that it is almost impossible to tell where one ends and the other starts. Regardless, during our two week stay in the Buena Vista CG in Orange Beach, AL we visited each area almost daily. Great beach front bar and restaurant in Orange Beach, a retro diner and Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores and the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, and miles and miles of white sand beach. Awesome.
Here we are at Coastal, Orange Beach, one of our favorite bars and restaurant. On the beach!
So, this is the view from our table at the Perch restaurant in Gulf Shores. It is part of the Gulf State Park and includes three restaurants, a hotel managed by Hilton and possibly one of the largest and best campgrounds in the country! Huge sites, full hookups, pool, direct access to the beach, on & on & on...Maybe we'll plan a visit and stay in the campground.
Naval Air Station Pensacola, FL is home base to the US Navy Blue Angels demonstration team. The photo above represents the actual distance between these aircraft in flight! Just a few feet! The museum contains all original aircraft from WWI through present day. Some aircraft were retrieved from lakes and oceans, restored to pristine -but not flyable- condition. The history of each aircraft, including US, friend and foe, is detailed in placards. The museum is open to the public and free.
We departed Buena Vista CG in Orange Beach, AL early on Saturday morning, 15 March heading back to Loudon, TN for previously made medical appointments. The weather forecast for Orange Beach and surrounding areas was for gale force winds and severe storms later in the day. So, we got a head start and planned our next stop, an overnighter, at a Love's Truck Stop in Steele, AL. About a six hour drive. Now, y'all remember we endured a close call with a tornado while in Red Bay, AL in February and then the gale force winds earlier in the month while in Orange Beach, AL. As we traveled northward to I-65 in direction of Birmingham, AL, gusts of wind along the route made for some white knuckle driving. As we near Steele, AL our weather alarms on our phones chirp and Linda discovers that Steele, AL is under a tornado watch for the next five hours! We quickly decide to proceed toward Loudon, TN another 180 miles or approx 3.5 hours of driving. We finally arrive to our campground, JellyStone Watts Bar in Loudon, TN at 6:30PM. We set up the BoomerBus as darkness begins to fall only to have weather alarms inform us of a tornado WARNING! TAKE SHELTER! Where? A tornado touched down in Oak Ridge, TN, just a couple of miles from our location! Lightening and thunder was all around us. At least the rain waited until we were completely buttoned up. It rained all night. What's up with this crazy weather? C'mon man!
24 March 2025
We're still in the JellyStone Watts Bar CG for a couple more days. We took care of medical appointments, visited with friends and Linda's brother Dave during this time. Now that I've learned what stuff we use more frequently at campgrounds, I rearranged the basement to make it easier to get that stuff out when we need it. Tools and stuff we use less frequently are stored on the driver side of the BoomerBus while beach chairs, rugs and stuff we use frequently are now stored on the passenger side. This is the side campgrounds usually place their tables, fire pits and paved area for socializing. This is also the side the BoomerBus awnings extend to provide shade when needed. We will depart here on Wednesday and travel back to Red Bay, AL for Josh to replace the current quartz dinette table with a maple top we purchased and made by Everhart's Lumber in Tellico Plains. When we lived in the sticks-n-bricks house, we were frequent customers and purchased several items such as a single slab black walnut dining table. Anyhow, I'll post pics once Josh is finished.
March 29 2025
We've been in Red Bay, AL for a couple of days to have some work done on the BoomerBus. Tiffin Service Center fixed two recalls: one, a 30A fuse on the solar panels and two, installed a harness which the NHTSA declared suspect and a possible fire risk. Since these are recalls, no charge to us.
We've been in Red Bay, AL for a couple of days to have some work done on the BoomerBus. Tiffin Service Center fixed two recalls: one, a 30A fuse on the solar panels and two, installed a harness which the NHTSA declared suspect and a possible fire risk. Since these are recalls, no charge to us.
We are staying at the red Bay Acres CG where we've been before. Fascinating to see all these Tiffin motorhomes -at least 50- lined up on back-in sites at the CG. Almost like a sales lot. They're all here to have work done. You can also tell which ones are heading to the Tiffin Service Center as they head out of the CG at 6:30 AM in a procession reminiscent of a parade. We are here until Friday, April 4th when we begin our journey to the NIRVC Customer Appreciation Rally at Fort Worth, TX.
Josh finished with the modifications we asked him to do on the BoomerBus. Here are two pics.
Josh built the cubicles and installed them in our closet at the rear of the BoomerBus. That side is Linda's. I have one almost identical on the other side. Our closet runs from side to side at the rear of the BoomerBus. Josh also replaced the quartz dinette table top with one we purchased from Everhart's in Tellico Plains, TN. It slides in like the quartz top when traveling and pulls out when we are camped. Makin' the BoomerBus home. Awesome work.
2 April 2025
We're still in the Red Bay Acres CG. The work we wanted done is complete so we're just chillin' and tryin' to keep the pollen from gettin' everywhere! The ceramic coating we had applied last time makes it so easy to wash anything off the BoomerBus. Awesome! We plan to leave here on Friday, 4 April and travel to Ft. Worth Speedway, TX for the NIRVC Customer Appreciation Rally.
Don and Jackie, our CG neighbors, flew a drone over the CG and sent us these pics. Very nice folks. Thanks!
The fishing pond covers the center of the CG while the buildings in the background are the office and what they call the Red Bay Yacht Club. A pet-friendly lounge area with couches, pool table, shuffle board and poker table and a service window where you can order pub style fare. That's Don & Jackie.
Here are some pics of RVs parked near us and then some of the BoomerBus and toad. The building behind us is the Girard installation facility here in Red Bay. They supply awnings to the RV industry.
...And the Creek Don't Rise...
Well, rise it did! We departed Red Bay Acres on Friday, 4 April following I-30 to JB's RV Campground near Benton, AR. Just an overnight stay as we travel toward Fort Worth for the Customer Appreciation Rally sponsored by NIRVC. While we expected thunderstorms, even "strong thunderstorms" as forecasted by the weather services, we slept very little that night. Shortly after going to bed we awoke to alarms for TORNADO WARNING! WTF? Again? The lightening show was both spectacular and terrifying. Just non-stop bolts which lit the sky followed by loud cracks of thunder and torrential rain which turned the gravel road of the campground into a stream. Our alarms now reverted from TORNADO WARNING to FLASH FLOOD WARNING! The BoomerBus was battered by heavy rain for several hours in the middle of the night. Water poured off the sides of the BoomerBus. At daybreak, tired and exhausted from little sleep and worries about the weather, we followed I-30 toward Sanger, TX for another overnight stay.
As we traveled I-30, both sides of the highway were covered with water. Streams were swollen and lapped at the road just mere yards from the pavement. The medians were small lakes while the storm drains were completely overrun by swirling, brown, muddy water. Whirlpools formed, menacing and swallowing everything. Piles of broken trees and branches formed log dams against bridges. Farms were surrounded by water and fields became lakes. And then we traveled through a storm cell which turned the sky black and unleashed torrents of rain forcing us to slow to a mere 35MPH. Visibility was reduced to a couple of car lengths and water began to pool on the roadway. All traffic formed a single file, turned on their flashers and endured the storm. We lost track of time but guess it took us 30 minutes to get through. We finally arrived at the Sanger/Denton KOA near Sanger, TX. No storms, no wind, just cool temperatures and a good night's sleep. Finally.
April 9, 2025: Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX
We arrived here on Sunday, 6 April and set up camp in the VIP parking lot just across from the racetrack. We promptly found a steakhouse to quench our hankerin' for some Texas steak. We settled on Perry's, just a short drive from here and sat at the bar, as usual for us. The cocktails were so unique we just had to try 'em: Linda's tequila based drink included an ice cube painted with gold leaf. The drink tasted great! I had a an Old Fashioned served in a martini glass rimmed with BBQ dry rub with a garnish of three BBQ pork bites. Yum!
The rally officially kicked off on Monday at 1PM with registration, followed by happy hour, dinner and entertainment on the 9th floor of the Speedway Club. What a view! I've included pics of the venue and the racetrack.
We met some great people, Dave & Lilliane (she's from Mauritius -look it up!- and speaks several languages fluently! Loved chatting with them) who've been RV'n for several years but aren't yet full timers. Over the course the next two days we spent time with them as well as other new folks attending the rally. In addition, we met Brett Davis and Angie Morrell again and made more acquaintances of the NIRVC staff. We also attended a couple of informational seminars on such topics as Aquahot (the water heating system in the BoomerBus) and cooking in a convection appliance which is also an air fryer and microwave all in one. I also played craps on Casino Night (play$) with our friend Izzy who is part of the sales team who sold us our BoomerBus. Great to see him again. It was fun experience and meeting other RVrs and exchanging experiences and adventures is always a rush. Tomorrow we head off toward Crystal Beach, TX on the Gulf coast and will be there for two weeks.
We pulled into this resort on Thursday, 10 April, afternoon. After setting up we ordered from Fin's Bar & Grill, the onsite restaurant, for delivery to our site. We were tired from the drive, 8 hours, encountering construction backups and Houston traffic on the way. We just wanted to chill and take care of the rest tomorrow.
We spent most of the day getting the BoomerBus and our site to the livable condition we enjoy. We rented a golf cart for our stay and took a ride on the beach. Just an awesome experience! I'll post pics later of the beach and this party place vacation destination Jimmy Buffet themed resort. It is amazing.
Here's our itinerary for the next few weeks:
10 - 23 April Margaritaville Crystal Beach, TX
24 - 26 April Gulf Beach Resort, Biloxi , MS
27 April In transit
28 April - 16 May Jellystone Watts Bar, Loudon, TN (more med appt's)
Margaritaville Crystal Beach, TX. The swim up Chill Bar sits in the middle of two pools: one for adults the other for kids. The resort has its own entrance to their private beach. Notice vehicles -cars, trucks, golf carts- driving on the beach. This is a hard-packed sand and vehicles can easily drive on it.
Izzy's first experience with a beach and salt water. She just wasn't sure what to do with the waves but chased that ball all over the beach! Loved it.
April 19, 2025
Howdy y'all! Over the past week we've spent time at the Chill Pool, had a few cocktails at the License to Chill Bar and met folks we enjoyed spending time with. We met Alain and Natalie, a couple from Montreal, as they were walking their two Italian Greyhounds. The dogs are beautiful creatures with sleek and graceful bodies which seem so fragile. While Izzy chased the ball on the beach, she wouldn't share with the two Italian Greyhounds. Alain and Natalie drive a Tiffin Allegro Bus. We certainly hope to see them on the road.
We also have befriended a server, Christine, and met her husband James at the Thursday night karaoke hosted by Margaritaville. Now, James can sing! We all had a great time, especially laughing at my tired rendition of Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline.
We also had dinner at Tia Juanita's in Crystal Beach. Wow! Their oysters and shrimp were huge and tasty. Yum, yum.
A couple of pics from Fins' Bar & Grill overlooking part of the CG, the 'bouncy bounce', stage and events field.
April 24, 2025
We spent our last remaining days at Margaritaville Crystal Beach lounging at the Chill Pool and making new acquaintances with a new group of folks who were attending a Grand Design rally. Grand Design is an RV manufacturer which produces fifth wheel and camper RVs. We became a Tiffin island in a sea of Grand Design RVs. The folks were quite friendly -as almost all RVrs are!- and we enjoyed their company. We returned to Tia Juanita's for our last dinner in Crystal Beach and had another seafood fest.
I-10East: NEVER AGAIN! 😡
We departed Crystal Beach toward Winnie, TX to catch I-10 East. That was the easy part. Once on I-10E, as we approached Beaumont, TX, concrete construction barriers became a non-stop feature of this roadway. Very stressful driving as I needed to pay close attention to the barrier on my right as semis passed me on the narrow lane on the left. I found myself clenching the steering wheel while my muscles -what's left of them!- in my legs tensed. As we crossed into Louisiana, traffic came to a standstill near Lafayette. WTF?
We were unaware of the traffic congestion- due to construction, condition of roadways, bridges which need to be replaced, etc etc- between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, LA. Unbelievable! From 50-60MPH to a complete stop. Bumper-to-bumper, inching along and suddenly back to 50MPH only to come to a complete stop, AGAIN! For miles!
As we approached Lake Charles, LA, traffic slowed to cross the Calcasien River Bridge. It truly seemed as if we were heading into the clouds. We inched along I-10 into Baton Rouge where we crossed the Mississippi River. The traffic congestion was comparable to the mess we encountered on I-80 south of Chicago and on I-5 between Tacoma and Portland last year. However, this congestion lasted longer. What should have been a 6.5 hour drive took 9 hours! After setting up the BoomerBus at the Gulf Beach RV resort in Biloxi, MS we returned to Felix's Oyster Bar & Restaurant and gorged ourselves with oysters, red shrimp - a local delicacy- and seafood gumbo. Back home, we didn't even watch TV. Just crashed into an exhausted sleep. Here a few pics of the traffic. However, these do not convey the anxiety of having to drive in this mess.
As you can see, I allow myself lots of space in front of the BoomerBus and the next vehicle. However, seems that other drivers always feel compelled to fill that void with their vehicle!
NOTE: we've done a lot of driving and traveled on many roads during our lifetime. We've seen all kinds of road kill. Near Lake Charles, LA on I-10, we witnessed our first alligator roadkill!
26 April 2025
We arrived at the Gulf Beach RV Resort in Biloxi, MS on Thursday, 24 April. This is not a resort rather, a glorified but well maintained parking lot with full hookups for RVs. Yes, two tiny swimming pools and the minimum of amenities, it served our purpose: attend the Pat Benatar concert at the nearby Beau Rivage Casino & Resort.
After a simply wonderful meal at the Coraline's restaurant in the BeauRivage casino, we attended the Pat Benatar + Neil Giraldo rock concert. Their opening act, Vindy's, featured a wonderful female vocalist who belted out Benatar-like tunes and then joined Benatar & Giraldo onstage to sing with Pat Benatar on a couple of songs. Yes, Pat Benatar started the show slowly, building up to one of her best known Grammy winning numbers, Hell is for Children. She hit the high notes and showed off her powerful voice as if it was 1985. Great concert in a super venue. We'll be catching the Brothers Osborne in MA and Brit Floyd (my annual fix) in Knoxville, TN later this summer.
We depart here, Biloxi, tomorrow morning and plan a stop in Pelham, AL in route to Jellystone Watts Bar RV Resort. We'll be there for two weeks in May. Here's an updated travel schedule.
Jellystone Watts Bar, Loudon, TN 5/01 - 5/15 med appt's, visit w friends
Candy Hill RV CG, Winchester, VA 5/16 - 5/18 visit w Michael, Maya, kids
Lake George RV Resort, Lake George NY 5/21 - 5/31 Luca's Baseball Tourney
Newport RV Park, Portsmouth, RI 6/01 - 6/22 Lola's graduation
RVrs are like boaters: ready to help others
As we pulled into Gulf Beach RV CG the other day, I knew the not fully closed step would draw attention. Yes, as we left Crystal Beach I noticed the steps would not retract completely, leaving the bottom step slightly open. I simply didn't have time to find the problem between Crystal Beach and Biloxi. It didn't affect our travel but certainly looked like a potential problem. So, the next day at Gulf Beach, our neighbor, Mickey proposed to help me fix it. While working on the step he noticed the BoomerBus giant awnings were misaligned. Yes, they functioned, opening and closing but without correction the misalignment could develop into a real problem. Mickey and Laura drive a '21 Tiffin Allegro Bus which they keep in top condition and Mickey just knows everything about RVs but especially about Tiffins. As I stood there watching Mickey climb up the ladder, he tightened and loosened bolts until the awnings were properly aligned, I felt useless. He fixed the step by using a pressure hose to blow off the sand trapped in the step guides and then spraying with silicone. Voila`! Mickey the Magic Man. Thank you and hope to see y'all on the road.
April 30, 2025: Jellystone Watts Bar, Loudon, TN
Yes, we're back in Loudon for medical appointments, restock the BoomerBus with our favorites, visit with friends and David and slow down a bit. Our plan is to depart here on 16 May and stop to visit with Michael and Maya and kids and then make our way to Lake George, NY where we'll watch our grandson, Luca, play in a baseball tourney.
The BoomerBus parked at Jellystone Watts Bar campground in Loudon, TN.
May 16, 2025
Our stay at the Jellystone Watts Bar campground has come to an end, but we'll be back in August. We stopped here to attend to medical and dental appointments, visit with friends and see to David. While the weather was mostly cloudy and rainy, we still had friends come visit us at the BoomerBus site and share some wine and munchies. Now we're on our way to visit with our nephew Michael and his wife Maya and the kids in Winchester, VA. Then onward to Lake George, NY.
We joined Alan, Susie, Gary & Joy at Aubrey's for dinner after their visit to the BoomerBus. Great time with former neighbors Gary & Joy and Alan & Susie -photo on the right- who purchased our house.
Some of the buildings housing the activity center and splash park in Jellystone Watts Bar. Note Watts Bar Lake in the background. Grand opening is today, 16 May 2025.
21 May 2025: Lake George, NY
Howdy folks! We are back in familiar territory: Lake George RV Park in upstate new York. We stayed here last year while attending Luca's baseball tournament in Saratoga Springs, NY. We are in the exact same site as last year.
After departing Jellystone Watts Bar campground, we headed toward the Candy Hill Campground in Winchester, VA where Michael, (our nephew) his wife Maya and two girls Cala & Cora visited us during the weekend. Great time with them and the two girls kept Izzy busy with playtime. I always enjoy chatting with Maya about investments. Linda and I were able to have dinner at the Antica Trattoria in Winchester on Saturday and met the owner, Pierina, who is from Palermo, Sicily. Excellent meal and another Italian we met on our adventure. They're everywhere, just like parsley. Old Italian saying.
We stayed at the Mohegan Sun Casino parking lot in Wilkes-Barre, PA on Monday night and had dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the casino. Verdict: unimpressive. Despite the reputation -and price- we compared this experience to other dining experiences we've had on our adventure and were not impressed. Impeccable service but steaks: well...See our comments regarding the restaurant in Presque Isle Casino, PA or Li'l Abner's in Tucson, AZ or Perry's in Fort Worth, TX. These were truly memorable, each in their own way but all were excellent.
So, we landed back at Lake George RV Park, NY on Wednesday, 21 May and after setting up we promptly made our way to the local Log Jam restaurant which we frequented last year. Sadly, Jamie, a fixture at the restaurant bar and long time resident passed away earlier this year. We so enjoyed chatting with him last year.
We are scheduled to be here through the rest of this month. Here's our schedule for the next couple of months.
06/01 - 06/22 Newport RV Park in Portsmouth, RI (attend Lola's graduation)
06/23 - 07/10 Normandy Farms CG, Foxborough, MA
07/11 - 07/23 Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA, ME
07/24 - 07/30 Bayley's Camping Resort, Scarborough, ME
22 May 2025: Lake George, NY
Today we just relaxed and enjoyed our surroundings in the Lake George RV Park. There are new arrivals in our little neighborhood and we see kids riding bikes. Their laughter fills the cool, wet -it's been sprinkling all day- air. Wet weather doesn't stop them from having fun.
Dinner in the BoomerBus.
28 May 2025, Lake George, NY
The baseball tournament has concluded and our family returned to Rhode Island. Luca's team won two and lost two but they made it to the playoff bracket, competing for a chance to advance to the winners bracket. Not to be. Sadly they lost and were eliminated.
The Avengers gather after their loss. However, they advanced further than last year and take pride in their accomplishment.
We visited the lake and town of Lake George. There was a huge motorcycle rally which crowded the streets of the small town with hundreds -or more- motorcycles. Later, we discovered this is one of the largest motorcycle rallies in the US and is taking place during the last week we are here in Lake George. Not hundreds but thousands of motorcycles! We managed to take a ride around the waterfront and take some pics of the vintage steamboats which ply the waters of Lake George.
We've been hankerin for German food for quite some time and last night we found it! Yes, Spargel on Nine in Queensbury was our choice. Linda did the research and found this restaurant, open just 18 months now, is managed by a German couple who emigrated to the US in the 90s. Spargel in German translates to asparagus and if you've ever been to Germany during this time of the year, you're certain to have had the white asparagus. While stationed in Heidelberg in the late 80s, we drove to nearby Schwetzingen to gorge on white asparagus during the Spargelfest. White asparagus only grows during this time of year and it is white because farmers constantly cover the vegetable with dirt to prevent sunlight from affecting the color. It only lasts a couple of weeks and Schwetzingen is considered the capitol of asparagus in Germany if not the world. Here we are, end of May in a German restaurant named Spargel and the chef's special today is: spargel in hollandaise sauce mit hausgemacht bratwurst und Weihenstephaner Pilsner bier.
2 June 2025, Newport RV Park, Portsmouth, RI
Als einem Gasthaus in Deutschland.
2 June 2025, Newport RV Park, Portsmouth, RI
Saturday, 31 May was a dismal and chilly day. It rained all day so we took care of house chores on the Boomerbus. We departed at 08:30AM on Sunday and arrived at our current location in the early afternoon after an easy drive from Lake George, NY. We are currently ensconced in site 401 at the Newport RV Park in Portsmouth, RI. While the campground doesn't have any frills, the gravel sites are mostly level and long enough to accommodate our rig. However, it's location is the reason we chose this spot. Close to Newport and, importantly, not far from Gaiya and Kevin's home. We are here to attend Lola's graduation from middle school and spend time with family.
We are surrounded by woods and greenery and since the campground is on the outskirts of town, it is very quiet, peaceful and relaxing. We sat outside and listened to the birds while a gentle breeze cooled it off. We are just few minutes from Middletown and Newport yet it feels like civilization is nowhere near.
The BoomerBus and toad on site #401 at the Newport RV Park in Portsmouth, RI.
June 8, 2025: Newport RV Park, Portsmouth, RI
We came here primarily to attend Lola's graduation from middle school. The ceremony took place on Friday, 6 June at the Our Lady of Mercy School in East Greenwich, RI. As President of the Our Lady of Mercy Student Council, Lola gave the commencement address. Articulate with some humor and touching, this amazing young woman made all of us proud. Yes, all of us shed tears. She graduated with an overall average of 96% and was recognized by the President's Education Awards Program for academic excellence. I've posted photos below.
During the week, Linda and I found an Italian restaurant, Pasta e Vino in Middletown, RI and enjoyed home made pasta with seafood. Matt, the bartender also mixed some awesome cocktails!
June 11, 2025: Newport RV Park, Portsmouth, RI
We attended Luca's baseball game on Monday and sat through a drizzly, gloomy and foggy evening. However, Luca's team won -11 to 1!!!- so today we'll watch him and his team play for the local championship trophy. Luca pitched two innings and overall played very well. He's becoming a very talented baseball player.
Yesterday, Tuesday was another rainy day so Linda and I visited the Newport Car Museum which is located just a few minutes from our campground. It is a small private museum with approx 100 vehicles. Very interesting and just big enough to not get tired nor bored. Afterwards, we watched the movie Ford vs Ferrari again.
During the past few days we attended Luca's final baseball game -his team lost in the playoffs- and drove along Ocean Drive taking in spectacular ocean views and the famous mansions which the uber wealthy built as summer homes in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. We also visited Newport and watched sailboats of all sizes and sorts and visited Fort Adams State Park. Fort Adams was constructed during various periods of the 18th and 19th centuries. It guards the entrance to Newport Harbor. Finally, Linda and I celebrated our anniversary with a seafood fest at the Boat House Restaurant in Tiverton, RI.
21 June 2025: North Kingstown, RI
The first full day of summer proved to be a spectacular one. Bright sunshine, temperatures in the 80s and a gentle breeze made for the perfect day to spend at Gaiya and Kevin's home with our grandkids Lola and Luca. What a wonderful day, especially since it rained on the previous 13 Saturdays! In the afternoon we returned to our campsite and began the process of breaking down camp and preparing for departure on Sunday for our next destination: Normandy Farms Campground in Foxboro, MA.
23 June 2025: Normandy Farms Campground, Foxboro, MA
23 June 2025: Normandy Farms Campground, Foxboro, MA
After a relatively easy and short -55 miles- drive from Portsmouth, RI we arrived at the Normandy Farms Campground. Huge, towering trees everywhere the campground is set in a forest reminiscent of Lake George Campground in New York. The trees affect our Starlink connection and we frequently experience the dreaded 'spinning wheel' reloading our connection to Elon Musk's satellite constellation. Just a nuisance. Paved roads connect all the rows of gravel but level sites which easily can accommodate big rigs with their toads. Normandy Farms is consistently rated in the top 5 RV resorts in the country and it is easy to see why. This is truly a vacation destination especially for families with young children. The list of amenities and activities is non-ending.
We selected a site which faces north with trees on our west thus providing shade in the afternoon for our outdoor living room on the passenger side of the BoomerBus. A very gentle breeze allows us to extend our awnings which provide additional shade. Good thing! The first three days we're here, we experience the hottest three days of summer: 95,101 and 92 degrees!
While in Portsmouth, RI we lined our pantry and other cabinets in which we store food items with Reflectix, an insulation barrier which reduces the heat penetrating the BoomerBus.
Outside the heat is oppressive. The humidity -at 70%!!- compounds the misery brought on by such an exceptional heat wave. New England doesn't get this heat...except when we're here! So, we stay inside our air conditioned BoomerBus waiting for the heat wave to subside. Linda prepared another gourmet dinner of sauteed scallops, rice pilaf with slivered almonds and a cucumber, tomato and onion salad. We washed it down with champagne.
oui monsieur!
The BoomerBus & toad in site 907, Normandy Farms Campground.
Early morning visitors.
While in the Newport Campground we met Keith and Alison from Texas who drive a Tiffin Allegro Bus. We departed Newport Campground the same day and, unbeknownst to us, drove the same route. Keith and Alison followed us for quite some time along I-495N and just short of Normandy Farms. Two days later, Keith tracked us down and informed me that the BoomerBus was 'crab walking' on the highway! We suspect the BoomerBus needs a complete alignment to fix this problem. We also believe the origin of the 'crab walking' dates back to the problems we encountered between Tucson, AZ and Las Cruces, NM last year! While all the damaged parts were replaced and repaired, an alignment wasn't completed. So, we are scheduled to have one at the Tiffin Service Center in Red Bay, AL in August before venturing out to our adventure in Utah, visiting the "Big Five" national parks.
Keith and Alison are staying at the Spacious Skies CG in Littleton, MA just 30 miles up the road from us. So, we met at the Central House Tavern in Westborough, MA, -approx halfway between our campgrounds- for lunch . We enjoyed the meal but enjoyed their company much more. It was an hour of conversation before we ordered food! We exchanged contact information and promised to keep in touch and see each other on the road. Great folks! Thanks again.
Sunday, 29 June 2025: Normandy Farms
Yesterday we attended the Brothers Osborne concert at the Music Circus venue in Cohasset, MA approx 45 mins from Normandy Farms Campground. What a unique venue! An old time circus tent with a circular stage which rotates while the artist performs. Just 2300 people made for an intimate experience while the Brothers Osborne belted out their greatest hits -It Ain't My Fault- as well as some surprise covers such as Tom Petty's I Won't Back Down. We were eight rows back from the stage. One and half hours without a break. The Music Circus is truly a gem and well worth catching one of your favorites in a unique setting.
A rousing sing along with the Brothers Osborne.
Friday, July 4th, 2025: Normandy Farms
Today, 4th of July, we are going to stay with Kevin & Gaiya and our grandkids and celebrate Independence Day together at their home.
Here's an updated schedule of our upcoming travels:
07/13 - 07/23 Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA, ME
07/24 - 07/30 Bayley's Camping Resort, Scarborough, ME
07/31 - 08/03 Travel to Jellystone CG, Loudon, TN
08/03 - 08/12 In Jellystone CG, Loudon, TN
08/13 - 08/20 In Red Bay, AL for maintenance & repairs
How can you not love such a face?
July 10th, 2025: Normandy Farms
Howdy y'all! At every campground we try to find a place to eat which serves food prepared in an exceptional way. So last night we found Luciano's. Yes, Italian again! Linda researched and found this old school fine dining restaurant located less than two miles from Normandy Farms. We entered from the lounge entrance and found ourselves in a dimly lit dining room with small tables set up with white linen tablecloths and a bar with folks engaged in conversation, having drinks and something to eat. We joined them at the bar. We also noticed the staff all dressed in white shirts with jackets and ties. Linda said it reminded her of fine dining restaurants in Baltimore. Ones her parents were known to frequent.
We ordered a cocktail and engaged Rich, the bartender, in conversation. However, we realized very quickly that Rich was extra busy preparing drinks for the bar as well as the dining room and actually serving food to some of the dining room patrons.
The man to our left turned out to be an Albanian truck driver who is saving up to return to Albania and open an Italian restaurant with some American fare such burgers and hotdogs. Yes! He lived and worked in the New York restaurant scene for five years before moving into the trucking business. He was also quite familiar with Trieste!
The two men to our right were friends who met at this restaurant on a regular basis to keep the connection alive. Turns out one of them lives in Tiverton, RI just a five minute walk to the Boat House restaurant where Linda and I enjoyed a sumptuous seafood fest for our anniversary. Serendipity.
We also met Luciano, the owner, who grew up near Rome, Italy and came to the US about 30 years ago. He still speaks Italian with that Roman accent.
Linda ordered a crab appetizer which was a huge portion of crab meat while I ordered the deep fried zucchini flowers stuffed with ricotta. Yum! Our main course consisted of veal marsala for Linda while I pigged out with the porchetta alla romana special. Yeah, how often do you find zucchini flowers or porchetta on a menu? Huge portions, we took the leftovers home and will make something with them.
July 14, 2025: Bar Harbor/Oceanside KOA, ME
Can you say Baa Habaa? Lobstaa? We arrived here yesterday after a six hour drive from Normandy Farms, MA. Overall an easy drive as the traffic was light and the roads were great. We zipped through the toll gates with our EZPass on the BoomerBus windshield and were set up by 4:30. As we drove through several small towns to get to our destination, we couldn't help but notice the constant signs advertising lobstaa! The Lobster Shack Cafe`, an on site food truck, prepared two lobsters for us and we sat down for another dinner on the BoomerBus washed down by a Springfield 2020 Chardonnay (another purchase from South Africa).
The campground includes frontage on the Mt. Desert Narrows, a body of water which empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Yes, typical oceanside weather: foggy, chilly (temps in the mid 60s) with a gentle, but constant breeze and a morning dew that gets everything a bit wet.
Perhaps the most unique camper we've ever seen! The vehicle in the photo is a Can Am Spyder (a three wheeled motorcycle with two wheels in the front) which is pulling a pop up camper!
Lobstaaa!
Campsites along the water line don't have full hookups. Most are for smaller campers with less power demands (30A vs 50A) than ours and there aren't any sewer connections. Understandable. Our particular site is a couple of rows back but we still have a glimpse of the water....when the fog dissipates.
Gonez to da Dogz
Howz it goin friendz and followerz? Yez, Izzy'z back for more talez of da roadz. So, I zat in da Trog'z lap this morning up front watchin' da action outzide. What a zight! So many of my caninez taking their humanz for a walk. The humanz stop to let us do our buzinezz and clean up afterwardz. They still don't underztand that when we meet other caninez and get exzited, we juzt want to smell buttz! We don't want to play! Smellin' buttz iz howz we can tell our namez.
My female humanz makez great progrezz every day. The Trog, well not so zmart but he takez puppy zteps. Whatz can I zay? Femalez rule! Izzy out til nexzt timez. Zee ya!
July 16th, 2025: still in Baah Habaah
Over the past couple of days we drove through Acadia National Park following the Park Loop Road and drove through Bar Harbor earlier today. OMG! Acadia was so packed with people -pedestrians, hikers, bicycles- that my pedestrian warning system was constantly buzzing me. Yes, it was a spectacular day (80s) but I simply couldn't wrap my brain around the number of people and cars in the park. While Acadia is a beautiful park with jaw dropping vistas, the crowded roads spoiled the natural setting. Perhaps I would have enjoyed it much more when I was younger and able to hike and climb. Not anymore.
Bar Harbor today was just one mass of people every where! Sidewalks were so full, people walked in the streets, cars were parked every which way and buses trying to navigate it all. Blood pressure meds here I come! Yes, we're old and quiet, space and the slow pace are our priorities. We don't need a Baah Haaba T-shirt. However, we are still going to enjoy lobstaa, just not in Baah Haaba. 😎😎
Oh yeah, one more thing! We are in northern Maine. Yesterday's temps in the 80s and today's temps surpassed 90!
In Acadia National Park.
Watching the sunset in our campground.
Bar Harbor Update: A Day at the Spa
Ahhh...what an experience! We treated ourselves to a spa day at the Tree of Life Spa in Bar Harbor. We've been regular 'subscribers' to massages, mostly for therapeutic reasons. During our time in Tellico Village (18 years) there were periods when we would employ the skills of Julie on a monthly basis. She is a gifted massage therapist who fixed all our body aches. We've also enjoyed massages just for the good feeling we experienced afterwards. Our day at the spa at the Tree of Life is one which will not be forgotten. During four hours, massage specialists treated us to a complete facial, a whole body massage and topped it off with a foot and leg scrub. Each therapist employed their skills alternating pressure with gentle caressing while applying various oils. Short breaks between sessions allowed us to replenish fluids and chat. Yes, we agreed we felt like jello at the end of the experience.
Blue Skies & Beutiful Sunsets: Not Always
Yes, we experience more than our fair share of blue skies and beautiful sunsets and the photos I post depict them. However, it is not always so. Here's a photo of a day in the rain taken from the BoomerBus at the Bar Harbor/Oceanside campground.
Also, while at this campground, we contacted a local wood craftsman and commissioned a custom cutting board which also serves as a cover for the stove. Made from curly maple, same as the dinette table.
First photo is the induction stove in the BoomerBus. Just a single piece of glass. The second photo is of the three piece quartz cover for the stove. Heavy! The last photo is the new curly maple cutting board which also serves as the stove cover. One piece, we can lift it by inserting fingers into the holes and pulling up. Just a couple of pounds. Easy! And it looks great.
Friday, 25 July 2025: Bayley's Camping Resort, Scarborough, ME
We arrived here yesterday after an easy 3.5 hour drive. By 4PM we were set up at our campsite and Linda began researching for a place to have dinner. Our site backs up to a fishing pond with a water fountain. After dinner, we sat outside with our after dinner cocktails, watched kids fish and play on the dock and enjoyed the cool air until sunset.
Here we are at the Bait Shed, a local seafood eatery with benches and tables outside along a dock at Pine Point Beach. Just two miles from our campground, we were met with the familiar scent of sea air immediately after exiting our car....er, the GMC Canyon, our toad. We sat outside and enjoyed peel 'n eat shrimp and mussels in white wine sauce. Yummy, yummy, yummy! Another gem discovered by chance. Another adventure.
Tuesday, July 29, 2025: Bayley's Camping Resort, Scarborough, ME
As y'all know we seek to find a food establishment at every destination which leaves us with memories of the experience. Following our daughter and son-in-law's recommendation, yesterday we found one: Earth Restaurant at Hidden Pond near Kennebunkport, ME. WOW!
We started with a cocktail at the bar -de rigueur for us- and chatted with a gentleman from Rhode Island (go figure!) who was spending a few days with his wife in one of the cabins on site. There are plenty of photos of the restaurant online so I won't post any here nor will I post any of the grounds surrounding the restaurant. I'll simply say: superb, peaceful, relaxing in a natural setting.
Once at our table, our server introduced himself as Grant....from Port Elizabeth, South Africa! He attended school in Stellenbosch, an area we are quite familiar with as we regularly explored the local restaurants and vineyards with our dear friends Neil and Sharyn over six trips to South Africa. Yeah, we enjoyed a lively conversation with Grant and he took care of us. The food: WOW! Yeah, there it is: SERENDIPITY!
Seated at a window overlooking the grounds of Earth restaurant and Grant, whose service was impeccable and humor kept us in stitches.
Grant would check on us regularly and stop and chat a bit more. His girlfriend, also from South Africa, works at Earth as well. They explained to us they would like, very much, to work at RV campgrounds and travel around the US. We gave them some pointers which we've learned living this lifestyle now for 16 months.
Our main course consisted of roast duck in a cherry gastrique for me while Linda chose the Iberico pork chop. Without question, one of the best duck I've ever had. We are both very leery about duck as it often is a very fatty and unappetizing -for us- plate. I ate every bit of it! The cherry gastrique replaced the usual plum sauce and added a hint of sweet and tart to the duck. We washed everything down with a bottle of 2021 Pinot Noir from the Willamette Valley.
Our dessert capped the meal with doughnuts (not to be confused with Dunkin') for Linda and Tres Leches for me. Yeah, an experience we'll remember and include in our catalog of memorable adventures. Superb! Livin' Our Last Quarter and lovin' it.
Tuesday, 5 August: Jellystone Watts Bar Resort, Loudon, TN
Well, we're back in familiar territory. We've been here before. We departed Bayley's CG in Maine on 31 July, stopped overnight in the Walmart parking lot in Milford, PA, a second night at the Candy Hill CG in Winchester, VA and the third night at the Fort Chiswell CG in Max Meadows, VA.
Our last day at Bayley's we met Dave and Robin, who arrived in their 2019 Dutch Star on Wednesday and parked in the site next to ours. We enjoyed our brief time together and exchanged contact info. They are also embarking on the full time experience, if I recall correctly. Dave's old fashion cocktails are killer! Hope to see y'all on the road.
Sunday we set up camp and spent time with David at the Tellico Village Toqua Bar & Grill for dinner. Monday I had my dental implant completed and we did some grocery shopping and had dinner at Neil & Sharyn's house. They are travel companions with whom we've shared many adventures in South Africa and Italy. Wonderful friends.
Sunrise on Watts Bar Lake viewed from our site. The BoomerBus and toad at the Jellystone Watts Bar Resort and Campground.
"Full Timers": What does that mean?
So, we describe ourselves as Full Timers because our definition is someone who spends most of the year living and traveling in a motorhome and doesn't have a 'sticks n bricks' place somewhere. We spend more than nine months living and traveling in the BoomerBus and we don't own a home. However, our definition is not universally applicable.
For example, we met a couple who live and travel in their motorhome approx nine months of the year and then spend three months (December, January and February) in a site they own in Florida. The site does not include a home, casita nor living structure. Just a parking space and tiki bar. They are Full Timers.
Another couple own a site with a small permanent enclosed living structure (living room/bedroom) which they also occupy three months of the year. They are also Full Timers. So, the definition gets fluid. What is a Full Timer? I guess it is subjective and personal. We are Full Timers.
"Do you like it" and "What do you miss?"
Those are the two most often asked questions we get when we explain our lifestyle to anyone, even other Full Timers. Yes, we like it -very much!- and we are enjoying this lifestyle for a variety of reasons which I won't list here because, again, these are subjective and personal.
"What do you miss?" We don't miss the 'stuff'. We do miss people who enriched our lives before this lifestyle change. We get to see these people when we come back to Tellico Village and it is an emotionally rewarding reunion. Sometimes it seems we've been away for much longer.
Finally, we are also asked "Which is your favorite place"? Answer: not a single place rather, features, experiences, and amenities of multiple places. Each place has its own special reason.
🎶🎶 still haven't found what we're looking for...🎶🎶
Our latest modification: removed the chrome/aluminum shower frame and replaced it with an all black one. Much better. Matches all the fixtures.
Sunday, 10 August, Knoxville:
Tennessee Theater in Knoxville.
Saturday, 16 August: Red Bay, AL
Yes, we're back in the Center of the World for everything Tiffin: Red Bay, AL. The BoomerBus needed an alignment -thanks to Keith & Alison who alerted us to the BoomerBus 'crab walking'- and other minor maintenance items and repairs. However, it appears every Tiffin produced also needs some kind of repair and/or maintenance at this time! Crazy busy! While we planned to depart here on 8/20 we may not be able to until 8/23. So, our planned itinerary westward will need to be adjusted. Flexibility is the middle name of Full Timing.
Last Thursday we went to Reeve's Fish & Steakhouse in Golden, MS just a 20 minute drive from our campground in Red Bay Acres. A site neighbor who has been coming here for approx 15 years suggested we try the place. It's only open Thursday to Saturday. Without his recommendation we would probably not have stopped there and likely thought it was part of the church which sits less that 100 yards from the dining establishment. No designated parking spots and all gravel & dirt around the building which resembles a large double wide. The entrance is not clearly marked so we followed someone inside.
Communal or family style seating with tables of ten, a buffet for all sides and the best catfish I've ever tried. Linda enjoyed a perfectly grilled steak. Clearly a place known by all locals as folks arrived in droves. We were certainly in the minority -a couple- as most people arrived in groups. Most folks knew each other. Most of the servers were related. We spoke with the mother who asked us if her daughter -our server- treated us well! Another experience, another adventure.
Our Planned Itinerary
thru 8/22 in Red Bay
8/23 - 9/01 travel to Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT
9/01 - 9/10 in Mountain Valley Resort; Vic & Nora fly into SLC 9/06
9/11 - 9/15 in Village Moab RV; visit Arches & Canyon Lands NPs
9/16 - 9/19 in Ruby's RV CG; visit Bryce Canyon
9/20 - 9/24 in Gateway RV Park; visit Zion NP
9/25 - 9/28 in Roam America Horseshoe Bend RV; visit Horseshoe Bend & Antelope Canyon
9/29 - 10/01 in Goulding's RV CG; visit Monument Valley
10/02 - 10/10 in American RV, ALBQ for ALBQ Balloon Fiesta
Vic & Nora depart 10/09 from ALBQ return to Italy
Saturday, 23 August: Arnold, MO
We departed Red Bay Acres this morning at 7:30AM heading toward our final destination, Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City, UT. Along the way, on I-55, we witnessed a state trooper with flashing lights pull over a bicyclist riding the shoulder. Really? You ride your bicycle on an interstate? Anyhow, we arrived in Arnold, MO mid-afternoon and parked the BoomerBus here:
We'll stay here overnight unless the Arnold Police asks us to leave. While Walmart welcomes RVrs to spend the night, Arnold Police don't. We'll see.
Sunday, 24 August 2025: All American RV Campground, Rock Port, MO
Our previous experience in a Walmart parking lot -see our stop at the New York/PA state line in Matamoras- for an overnight was an uneventful and pleasant one. This one in the Arnold, MO Walmart: not so much. Certainly the fact the Arnold City ordinance prohibiting overnight parking contributed to our stress. However, our rest was constantly interrupted by non-stop vehicular traffic, street racing and extremely loud motorcycles. We did get a few hours sleep but very fitful. As dawn broke, we were ready to move on.
On I-70 near Columbia, MO we encountered road construction. It's everywhere! However, what made this section of approx 20 miles of road construction different and perhaps the most stressful we've ever encountered was the two lanes became separated by concrete barriers and NO SHOULDER what-so-ever! I mean I had maybe one foot on each side of the BoomerBus. It felt like one of those luge racers in a tunnel. OMG! Stress, stress, stress! Never been so stressed driving the BoomerBus.
Made it to our next campground, a great stay in the middle of corn fields. Yeah, our daughter would love this: Children of the Corn all over again! It's OK, one night and we are in a pull thru full hookup site. Tomorrow we'll stay two nights in North Platte, NE.
Monday, 25 August 2025, I-80 Lakeside Campground, North Platte, NE
We departed Rock Port, MO and followed I-80 toward North Platte, NE. After a six hour, uneventful rather boring drive on the interminable I-80 we arrived at our destination, I-80 Lakeside Campground. A relaxing afternoon making the BoomerBus livable for the two days we are here. Linda researched for a place for us to dine and we decided on the North 40 Chophouse in North Platte, just a 15 minute drive from the campground.
We sat at the bar, as usual, and engaged Jayzee and Melissa, the bartenders, in conversation while sipping our favorite cocktails. Intrigued by the bacon rack appetizer, we ordered it. Yeah, check out the pic of this thick cut crispy bacon! You are given meat scissors to cut pieces as the bacon hangs on the rack. Juicy and delicious.
After enjoying the appetizer and cocktails we were seated in the dining room for our meal: steak. I had the 14oz NY strip with mushrooms and onions while Linda had the same but Oscar style. Huge portions, we took the rest home for future use.
Our next stop: Laramie RV Resort in Laramie, WY for two nights then onward to one of our favorite places, Little America, WY. We stayed there last year.
Perspectives
For all of you who think we're driving a huge combination, check out this C-class parked next to the BoomerBus in North Platte. Yeah!
Thursday, 28 August 2025: Laramie, WY
We departed North Platte, MO and followed I-80 all day to arrive in Laramie, WY. I-80 is a very long and mostly pleasant drive through Nebraska, Wyoming and Utah. It follows pioneer trails made during the late 1800s. The Sherman rest area is the highest point on I-80 and reaches 8,640 feet of elevation. I-80 is also known as the Lincoln Highway. 
We stopped there to rest and take a few pics. We are in Laramie for two nights then onward to Little America, WY for three nights before arriving at our destination Heber City, UT on 1 September 2025.
Friday, 29 August 2025, Little America, WY
We arrived here after four hours at 12 noon following I-80 from Laramie. Looks the same as last year: conglomeration of old motel, gas station, truck stop and RV park. But it serves our purpose: just 130 miles from Heber City, UT. We set up the BoomerBus, took a nap, shower and now we're about to go to the restaurant -yes, part of the conglomeration- for their famous chicken fried steak.
Wednesday, 3 September 2025: Heber City, UT
Howdy y'all! We're in the Mountain Valley RV Resort in Heber City, UT. We departed Little America, WY on Monday, 1 September and followed I-80 in to Utah until turning onto US-40 toward Heber City. Along the way we drove through canyons with rivers and streams and what seemed an army of fishermen in their fly fishing outfits casting their lines. A beautiful sunny day with temps in the 80s, brought people out enjoying all kinds of water sports on the Echo and Jordanelle Reservoirs. Near Park City ski resort the construction boom was evident as condos were rising near the ski slopes. The geography has changed from the mostly flat and barren landscape of I-80 around Little America, WY to hills and mountains covered with trees and other vegetation.
Mountain Valley RV Resort is a beautiful resort with well laid out landscaping allowing for grassy areas throughout. Each site is separated from the next by a rock and vegetation barrier providing some degree of privacy. The sites in our section are extra wide -allowing our BoomerBus and toad side-by-side- and 80' long! We are set up in site S42 in the "21 & over" section with a dedicated pool just mere feet from our site. Overall, this resort ranks in the top five of ones we've visited.
The dedicated 21 & over pool, hut tub with clubhouse.
Tuesday, 9 September 2025: Mountain Valley RV Resort, Heber City, UT
Vic & Nora arrived at 11 PM on Saturday, 6 September at the SLC International Airport in Salt Lake City, UT. About an hour later we gave them a quick tour of the BoomerBus before dropping them at their cabin for a good night's sleep. Sunday was reserved for rest & relaxation to help them get over jet lag. There's an 8 hour difference between Trieste and here. Linda made dinner in the BoomerBus and we stayed in the campground all day. Vic & Nora rode our electric bikes around the campground to get a lay of the land.
Monday, 8 September we took a drive along a scenic byway from Heber City to Provo and back. We stopped at Bridal Veil Falls for pics. Back at the BoomerBus we enjoyed a charcuterie board for lunch and then...nap time! Later we went to the Back 40 restaurant for dinner and brought home leftovers which Linda will use to make sandwiches.
We will depart here on Thursday, 11 September for Arches National Park in Moab, UT.
A charcuterie lunch washed down with a 2009 Chateau Lilian Ladouys Bordeaux. Yum yum!
We boarded the Heber Valley Railroad Train in an authentic 1919 railroad car for a two hour ride though the valley. Informative, interesting and amusing the staff gave a history lesson on the railroad and the valley itself. We enjoyed a box lunch while Sheriff Edward -armed and dressed in period western gear- informed us of the goings on of the scoundrels in the area. We were also entertained by two musicians who sang songs of the era.
Later, for dinner, we went to Dairy Keen (yes, reminds you of the much more famous one) for some fast food. However, the food was not the star attraction here. The model train choo chooing its way around the entire ceiling was.
Tomorrow, 11 September, we depart for Moab to visit Arches National Park.
9/11...Never Forget
Thank you all who reached out. Your thoughtful, kind and caring spirits touched us. You are all in our hearts. You are all proof there's good in our world.
Friday, 12 September, 2025: Village Camp Moab, UT
We departed Heber City and followed US-189 through Provo Canyon and the charming city of Provo until catching US-6 to Helper, UT. The landscape changed from mountains, streams and vegetation to flat desert. The wind blew so hard I struggled to keep the BoomerBus centered on the roadway. Not fun when there's a semi-truck passing you! We made our usual mid-trip stop in a church parking lot to let Izzy do her business, have a quick lunch and run the generator.
Now we followed US-191, also known as the Dinosaur Diamond Prehistoric Highway through total desolation and flat desert topography. We just couldn't imagine the pioneers coming through here in their covered wagons.
As we turned south at Crescent Junction we began to see formations of the red cliffs Moab is so famous for. Now the topography became much more interesting. As we approached Moab, RV parks, bike trails and off road vehicles became a regular sight. We pulled into Village Camp Moab RV Resort and were set up by 3 PM. Vic and Nora were in their cabin when a powerful thunderstorm dumped mountains of water on the campground. It rained so hard we couldn't see more than 20 feet for a few minutes. Shortly after, the sun reappeared and by sunset most of the puddles were gone.
This morning we're going into Arches National Park at 9 AM, our assigned time. There are so many visitors now one has to reserve an access time.
Saturday, 13 September 2025: Arches National Park, UT
As planned, we entered Arches National Park at 9AM yesterday and began our two hour exploration of this magnificent natural wonder. At every turn we encountered jaw dropping geological features, stopping to gaze in pure wonder. Incredible sights simply continued as we progressed through the park. We could clearly see thunderstorms in the distance but we weren't concerned as these were what seemed on the horizon. Suddenly, all of our phones chirped with a weather warning: FLASH FLOOD WARNING. SEEK HIGHER GROUND! Whaaaa....??? We quickly drove to the park exit as the clouds seemed to gather in a dark and menacing storm front. We enjoyed the two hours in Arches National Park. Pics posted below.
There are so many more pics of this spectacular park, but blog space is limited. You need to come and witness first hand the magnificence of this natural wonder.
Shortly after arriving back at the campground, we endured a monsoon downpour. Major roads were closed and the town of Moab simply shut down. Yeah, fortuitous decision to leave the park when we did.
Our campground was covered with 3-4" of muddy water but, by the end of the day, the water receded and most of the campground was dry. However, the La Sal Mountains south of the campground donned their wintery coat. Yes, it snowed.
Nora graciously volunteered to make gnocchi al ragu` to which we gave a unanimous vote of agreement. 😁 Nora's Moab gnocchi in the BoomerBus! Washed down with a bottle of 2010 Rioja Gran Riserva and a bottle of 2021 Renzoni Tempranillo. Doesn't get any better.
🎶🎶 ...nel blu`, dipinto di blu`...🎶🎶
Monday, 15 September 2025: Moab, UT
Yesterday the Colorado River tour guides from NAVTEC picked us up at 1PM and drove along Potash Road toward the put-in for the boat. Along Potash Road we stopped and admired the petroglyphs left by the ancients approx 1500 years ago. The road runs right along sheer cliffs and there are spots to pull off and take pics. Fortunately we didn't see any modern day graffiti.
Petroglyphs. (Click on the pic for detail)
We boarded the inflatable, powered by a 70HP two stroke engine and began our "calm water" adventure on the Colorado River. It was truly a calm ride through the muddy Colorado with branches, weeds and other unrecognizable things floating along due to the recent torrential rains in the area. Nonetheless, the rock formations, cliffs and buttes made us forget what was in the water. While we tried to capture the majesty of the canyon, pics just don't do it justice.
We all agreed the total silence was a real surprise.
A long day was wrapped up with a huge mixed salad prepared by Linda which we enjoyed outside in the covered picnic area of our RV site. No, the lizard was neither invited nor part of dinner. 😳
Monday, 15 September 2025: Canyonlands & Dead Horse Point
We set off to explore these two parks mid-morning by driving the 30+ mile loop in Canyonlands and then to the shorter Dead Horse Point overlook. WOW! There really aren't enough adjectives to describe these natural wonders and, again, pics just don't convey the true majesty of what we witnessed.
The pic above on the left is of the potassium evaporation beds to make potash fertilizer. The Colorado River on the right and the flat plain on the left of the river is where Thelma and Louise drove off the cliff.
Thursday, 18 September 2025: Ruby's RV Park, Bryce Canyon, UT
We departed Moab on 16 September and followed I-70 -mostly- until the turn off onto US-89 and UT-12 to Bryce Canyon City and Ruby's. An uneventful five hour drive during which we stopped at Love's in Salina for fuel (112.5g/$450), let Izzy do her business and a bite to eat. After setting up, Nora made a delicious risotto using some leftover steak and the ragu` she made earlier in the week. Yum!
Friday morning we piled into the toad and made our way to Bryce Canyon National Park, just two miles down the road from Ruby's RV Park. We decided to drive to the furthest viewpoint, Rainbow Point at 9,115 feet of elevation, and work our way back to the entrance, stopping at every overlook and viewpoint. WOW! It seemed as if the natural beauty of every stop outdid the previous one. After a couple of hours we finally reached Inspiration Point and Bryce Canyon Amphitheater and our brains simply were on sensory overload. Again, no pics can adequately portray the true majesty of this natural wonder. As a friend of Reuben Syrett (Ruby) told him, "there's a big hole in the ground over there, but you should go see it for yourself", y'all should go see it for yourselves.
Later in the evening we went to Ebenezer's Barn & Grill for dinner and show. Great time listening to the Bryce Canyon Wranglers sing country hits and watch the crowd, from different parts of the world and US, sing along and clap hands. Fun time.
NOTE: we were fascinated by the many different languages spoken by visitors. Awesome that the world is here to share these wonders.
Took some time to horse around....😆
We departed Ruby's campground in the toad around 10AM to explore Utah's state Route 12, also known as Scenic Byway 12 and the All American Road. Constructed over a five year period from 1935 to 1940 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, this 122 mile long road will have you turning your head saying "wow" innumerable times. The road winds its way through stunning rock formations, alpine forests and breathtaking views. At the summit elevation of 9,636 feet we watched aspen groves turning yellow and orange shimmering in the sunlight. We also drove through Dixie National Forest -several times!- and skirted Capitol Reef National Park along the way. We watched a golden eagle fly from a roadside tree and saw bison in a large corral. We stopped in Escalante for a break and get some information literature at the Visitor's Center. We drove through pioneer towns consisting of two or three structures such as Angle and Antimony on UT-62 heading back to Ruby's. We finally connected with Black Canyon Road and John's Canyon Road on the edge of Bryce Canyon for a long, straight and flat road which exited two miles from our destination. After six hours of travel, we were ready for a break and dinner at Ruby's Inn Restaurant.
Tomorrow, Saturday, 20 September we're off to the Gateway RV Park in La Verkin, UT to continue our adventure and explore Zion National Park. Later.
Tomorrow, Saturday, 20 September we're off to the Gateway RV Park in La Verkin, UT to continue our adventure and explore Zion National Park. Later.
Monday, 22 September 2025: Gateway RV Resort, La Verkin, UT
After a leisurely three hour drive from Ruby's on Saturday we arrived at Gateway RV Resort in La Verkin, UT to visit Zion National Park. Both the topography and temperatures have changed significantly. Typical, movie standard mesas dot the skyline and the sun is shining with temps in the 90s. Fortunately, the RV resort includes a great pool.
After unpacking and settlin in we went to the Stage Coach Grille for dinner and cocktails. Vic & Nora's Wagyu burgers were quite tasty while the steak fries were simply ginormous! My bone-in pork chop was huge so I took leftovers home for another meal. Linda relied on her favorite chicken fried chicken. The cocktails were awesome. Sunday we did some grocery shopping and chilled by the pool taking a day to just relax. Today, we're off to Zion. Later.
Sunset colors in front and back of the BoomerBus.
We entered Zion National Park following scenic byway UT-9 from La Verkin, UT. We followed the road through the park which allows private vehicles and went through the 1.1mile long historic tunnel carved into the rock. Simply spectacular. Towering rock formations and ever changing colors yet with grown trees made for a constant contrast. Beautiful.
On the left photo above, the formation is known as the Checkerboard Mesa. Click the photo and look closely, you'll get it.
What surprised us the most was the scale. Yes, that's Vic & Nora in the photo at left standing just on the other side of the road while that's our toad in the photo on the right, again, just on the other side of the road. The rock formations are immense.
As we departed Zion and followed the road back in direction of La Verkin, we spotted a herd of bison. This afternoon is more relax by the pool and then Nora and I are going to make a risotto from leftovers for dinner. I'm confident we'll find some kind of liquid refreshment to wash it down. 😳
Aha! Found it! A Springfontein 2016 Petite Verdot from South Africa.
Risotto in the desert! 😋
Tuesday, 23 September 2025: Gateway RV resort, La Verkin, UT
We visited Grafton today. It's a ghost town near Rockville, UT consisting of approx 5-10 buildings, some made of mud bricks and others of hand hewn logs. It has been mostly restored to represent the period in which it was built. First settled in 1859 by Mormon pioneers it grew to approx 160 people subsisting primarily on farming. Most of the population moved away after repeated flooding and Indian attacks. The end of the town is traced to 1921 when the Mormon mission ended and the last resident left Grafton in 1944. The town is notable for being used as a set for the film Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid.
Thursday, 25 September 2025: Horseshoe Bend RV Resort, Page, AZ
We traveled from La Verkin, UT into AZ, back into UT and finally back into AZ primarily following US-89. Now, we found crowds in every National Park we visited. Certainly, Arches and Bryce were two parks in which we encountered an international cacophony of languages. Whether in group travel or individuals, it seemed as if the world was here. So, it wasn't a huge surprise to meet an Italian couple from Genova while visiting Bryce. We struck up a conversation and enjoyed a few minutes of sharing experiences. They were on a whirlwind tour but with limited time. Nonetheless, they were in awe. However, while traveling from La Verkin to Page, we stopped in Kanab, UT to have a McDonald's lunch. Yes, you guessed it: we run into an Italian family from...Genova having lunch in McDonald's. Serendipity.
We're finally in our site at the Horseshoe Bend RV Resort and preparing to have Mexican for dinner. Later y'all.
Sunday, 28 September 2025: Page, AZ
Yesterday we followed our Navajo tour guide, Julia, through the slot canyon known as Deer Canyon. A labyrinth of twists and turns with multiple ladders made of rebar installed by the Navajo. A two hour adventure of fantastic sights. Just five tourists with one guide made for an intimate experience.
Today we visited Horseshoe Bend and Glen Canyon Dam. It seems the world has discovered Horseshoe Bend. I couldn't keep up with the different languages. Once on the edge and absorbing the magnitude of Horseshoe Bend, the word which comes to mind is majestic. Another natural wonder which can't be fully appreciated unless you stand on the edge. Do it.
We also visited Glen Canyon Dam. However, Linda & I remained at the top of the overlook while Vic & Nora followed the trail and made their way to the edge overlook and took the photo at the bottom.
Glen Canyon Dam.
Tomorrow, 29 September, we're off to Goulding's RV Resort to visit Monument Valley.
Dinner at The Rainbow Room, Lake Powell National Recreation Area, Page, AZ.
So, after an easy two hour drive in mostly desert landscape of the Navajo Nation, at Kayenta we finally turned onto US-163 and began seeing the famous structures of Monument Valley. Yeah, our photographic skills simply aren't up to reproducing the splendor of this natural wonder. So, I copied a few pics from Google and posted these below. Other photos, and they easily identifiable, we took and I've posted as well. Later today we're going out on a tour led by a Navajo to explore the area. Pics will follow.
I'm watching over you mommy.
Wednesday, 01 October 2025: Monument Valley, UT
Yesterday we hopped into an open air truck with14 other tourists and let our Navajo driver and guide, Warren, take us on a "deluxe" tour of Monument Valley. Well, folks just pay the $80 and let the Navajo take you on the tour. Don't, I repeat DON'T take your own vehicle -even a high clearance 4x4- on the 17 mile loop. Deceiving, it starts out as a level gravel road. Aha! The guide is allowed to take you back country where the road becomes a trail with slabs of rock and deep sand. Yeah, after 3.5 hours of jolts, bumps and scary swerves my body ached all over. However, my oh my oh my! I simply don't have the adjectives so I'll let the pics do the talking.
Yes, we HAD to find and stand at Forrest Gump Point. Yes, it's become a photo op. Tomorrow we're off to Albuquerque.
OK, so at the end of the day -after an afternoon nap- we enjoyed an Osmizza in the BoomerBus. Yeah, Triestini y'all know...
Saturday, 4 October 2025: American RV Park, Albuquerque, NM
We arrived here on Thursday for the final leg of Vic & Nora's Western Adventure. Located on the edge of Albuquerque, this RV park is in an ideal location to venture into the city and in a position to view the balloons as they drift overhead. We are here to, hopefully, catch some of the 2025 Balloon Fiesta. We arose early this morning to see if we could watch balloons from the mass ascension scheduled at 7AM. However, sustained winds in excess of 25MPH grounded all balloons. We did get to witness a spectacular sunrise.
Wednesday, October 8, 2025: Albuqueruqe, NM
We've been quite busy the past four days. So, no, we didn't make it downtown to the balloon fiesta fairgrounds but chose to take the easy way out and drive and stop along I-40 and I-25 to watch the balloons. Yeah, I know, not the same. We -namely I- chickened out and cheated. Anyhow, still an awesome display. Fortunately nobody was hurt when two balloons clipped power lines and were downed in a neighborhood. For some truly extraordinary photos, go to the 2025 Balloon Fiesta website.
We also dined at the Route 66 Diner. Yep, it sits on historic Route 66. Check it out.
We also rode the Sandia Peak Tramway. Brrr.... 30F cooler at the top than the base!
We also treated ourselves to a "deluxe" pedicure.
Finally, we capped our adventure with.....
Yep! We relived our youth with Sir Paul McCartney who played for 2.5 hours, 35 songs at the Albuquerque Isleta Amphitheater. We left wanting more.
Monday, 13 October 2025: Margaritaville RV Resort, Crystal Beach, TX
So, Vic & Nora departed Albuquerque on 9 October via PHX, LHR and back to LJU where they had transportation to Trieste, Italy. Five weeks just zipped by but it really was an adventure of a lifetime, especially for them. We departed the next day for our destination, Margaritaville Crystal Beach, with over night stops in Amarillo, Wichita Falls and Madisonville, TX. It will take us a couple of days to clean the BoomerBus inside and out but we have time. Next week we'll join the AIM rally here, but for now, it's shower, get into some comfortable summer clothes -it's 85F here!- and walk to Fins for dinner and a cocktail.
Sunrise.
Izzy's favorite activity on the beach: chase the ball.
Izzy's favorite activity after beach: z-z-z-z-z-z-z
Dinner on the BoomerBus.
More fun in Margaritaville Crystal Beach, TX.
Shrimp boil on the beach with live music. We feasted on gulf shrimp, sausage, potatoes and corn and then danced barefoot in the sand to the music of a live band. Yeah, great end to an awesome rally in Margaritaville Crystal Beach, TX. Saturday, 25 October we're off again to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL for a couple of weeks.
Monday, 27 October 2025: Gulf State Park, Gulf Shores, AL
We departed Margaritaville Crystal Beach on Saturday and followed mostly I-10 to Baton Rouge, LA for an overnight. We arrived here, Gulf State Park on Sunday afternoon after a five hour deluge which seemed to follow us all the way from Baton Rouge. Water everywhere! The sun showed itself this morning and everything seems to be drying quickly. We'll take our time to set up and relax for the next two weeks.
On Sunday, Keith & Alison arrived in their Tiffin Phaeton and brought two new -to us- friends, Tim and Madeleine who also drive a Phaeton. We met Keith & Alison while staying in the Newport RV Park in Newport, RI last June. As we left that campground, Keith & Alison followed us for several miles and noticed the BoomerBus was out of alignment. Thanks to them we were able to remedy the issue before it became a major problem.
We all dined at the Perch restaurant which is just one of the Gulf State Park dining options. Great spot on the beach watching a beautiful sunset and enjoying delicious seafood and scrumptious cocktails.
Keith, Alison, Madeleine, Tim, me & Linda.
Sunday, 9 November 2025: Birmingham South RV Park, Pelham, AL
We spent our last night in Gulf State Park with our new friends, Keith & Alison and Madeleine & Tim at the Perch restaurant enjoying seafood, cocktails and friendship. We departed on Saturday, 8 November following I-65 North and stopped at the Birmingham South RV (we stayed here earlier in the year for an overnight) just for and overnight and will continue our journey today toward the Four Corners RV Campground on Percy Priest Lake near Nashville. Our plan is to stay there four nights to prepare the BoomerBus for storage & load the truck with what we want to take with us to David's in Tellico Village.
Yeah! Great sunsets.
Double Take! Woke up this morning and found this Super C parked next to us. Cool.
Howdy y'all! We arrived here Sunday afternoon from Pelham, AL. This is our last stop for this year before we drop off the BoomerBus for storage at the NIRVC Nashville facility on Friday. The Arctic blast which affected most of the country brought us snow flurries, sub-zero temps, and 35MPH winds. We endured two days of winter! Fortunately the heating systems of the BoomerBus worked perfectly. Today we awoke to bright sunshine and climbing temps. We are camped on beautiful Percy Priest Lake. What a great campground with a large marina, cottages on the water, all kinds of water toys, large pull-thru sites and easy maneuvering for big rigs.
We are here for a few days to get the BoomerBus ready for storage which means arranging the storage bays, loading the toad with clothes we'll need over the next couple of months, removing all perishables and other 'stuff'. Over the next two months NIRVC Nashville will store the BoomerBus and provide necessary maintenance services and minor repairs. We'll pick it up on February 12.
We dined on a risotto with leftover shrimp we had in the freezer and used lobster broth to add flavor. Washed everything down with a bottle of Gruet champagne rose` made by a Frenchman who makes American champagne in Albuquerque, NM. Yeah, try it! Yum!
Where are we going next year?
We dined on a risotto with leftover shrimp we had in the freezer and used lobster broth to add flavor. Washed everything down with a bottle of Gruet champagne rose` made by a Frenchman who makes American champagne in Albuquerque, NM. Yeah, try it! Yum!
Where are we going next year?
While we've made a plan (Sharyn's favorite saying) we are also certain there will be changes & updates but here's what we have so far:
February 14 - March 7: Laguna Caribe in Fort Myers, FL
March 10 - March 13: AIM Rally in Sevierville, TN
March 21 - April 6: Sugarloaf Key, FL
April 7 - May 2: Margaritaville, Auburndale, FL
May 3 - May 18: Jellystone Watts Bar, Loudon, TN
May 21 - May 26: Lake George RV, NY
May 29 - June 3: NIRVC Music City Rally, Nashville, TN
June 4 - June 14: TBD
June 15 - July 15: Normandy Farms RV, Foxboro, MA
July 16 - July 28: TBD
July 28 - August 26: Swan Bay RV resort, Alexandria, NY
August 27 - September 12: TBD
September 13 - September 24: Autumn Harvest Fantasy RV Tour
October: ??
November: ??
Saturday, 15 November 2025: Tellico Village, TN
Saturday, 15 November 2025: Tellico Village, TN
We dropped off the BoomerBus yesterday at NIRVC Nashville for storage, maintenance and some minor repairs. We are now in Tellico Village staying at David's this month before we head up to Rhode Island and spend the holidays with Gaiya and Kevin and the grandkids. I'll start a new adventure blog for 2026 when we pick up the BoomerBus in February, 2026. Thanks for following the adventures of these Boomers as we live our last quarter in the BoomerBus. Take care y'all!
Looking forward to you comments. Stay safe. And let LInda back up the bus!!
ReplyDeleteI am no longer permitted to park The BoomerBus....and owe Linda big time!
ReplyDeleteThe table looks really pretty!! Can't wait to see more pix and good job on keeping up with the blog :). A+. Keep boomering on! Love y'all, Pupa
ReplyDeleteThe drone pictures look great! May we'll see you on the road in the future! Safe travels and have fun traveling in your Boomerbus!! Don & Jackie Davis
ReplyDeleteIt is very nice to meet a couple like you! So beautiful example for us. Hope we gonna have the chance to see you in montreal or around, it will be a pleasure !
ReplyDeleteSo nice to meet you as well. We'll be back in Margaritaville Crystal beach in October. See you then?
DeleteHello Romano, Hope you are fine u and your wine. We are home since monday after 8 days at myrtle beach ocean lakes campground. It was a really nice end of travel. We will probably go to nouveau brunswick and Maine in usa in June but after I'll be back at work in July, so rv time will be finish for a long time 🥺 where are you now ?
DeleteHello Natalie & Alain, how are you? We are at the Jellystone CG in Loudon, TN. Taking care of medical appt's, dental and visiting friends & family. We'll be in Maine beginning 11 July. First near Bar Harbor then near Scarborough. We're going back to Crystal Beach in October with the AIM rally. See y'all then or sooner? Ciao
DeleteHello Romano, weather is so bad here in Montreal since one week, cold and rain, it is so disappointed. How are you?
DeleteIt was great to meet you two. Hope southern Texas was great. We are back on the road on the 15th. Hope to run into you again soon.
ReplyDeleteThanks, so good to meet y'all as well. Hope to see y'all at the AIM Rally in Crystal beach in October. Safe travels.
DeleteHappy anniversary!!! How many years now?
ReplyDeleteShe's tolerated me for 48...but who's counting?
DeleteGot an address where you all will be spending the rest of 2025-February 2026. PM me
ReplyDelete