Campbellsville, TN United Methodist Church after lightning strike.  

Tuesday October 26

I think this makes try 6 at this post. It seems every time I get ready to send, I lose my connection.

The Avion Travelcade Club rendezvous in Chattanooga wound up last Wednesday. The day was mostly meetings and seminars. In the evening we were treated to what I think is the best ever catered dinner. Dinner music was provided by The USO Band (a very good big band). They also stayed to follow up the closing program with more music for our dancing pleasure.
Thursday dawned very foggy. As we didn't have too far to travel, we opted to wait a while before getting on the road. When we did we opted to take US-72 back into Alabama. Loretta had obtained a flyer for Unclaimed Baggage Outlet in Scottsboro. So we made a stop there, very large and sure have a lot of merchandise - some used and some new. However most prices could be obtained at stores with fresh merchandise. She did make a few worthwhile purchases. Plus it gave her a chance to walk and exercise her knee. We then decided to take AL-65 to Tennessee. A beautiful drive, but the sharp curves, steep hills and narrow roadways usually without shoulder kept me busy enough towing a 38' trailer so as to miss most of the scenery and beauty. A worthwhile ride, but without a trailer in tow. When we arrived at Circle P Farm near Lynnville, TN, we found there had been a heavy rainstorm in our absence. It had dried off enough that I was able to get into our parking slot and set up. However there is a lot of cleanup work to be done.

Saturday, I took Loretta to Campbellsville United Methodist Church for a baby shower for one of the members. While there I discovered that the steeple had received a lightning strike and the top half was peeled down like a banana. Fortunately, no fire or severe damage. Sunday we went back for the 4th Sunday breakfast. Good and nice visit, however with Sunday School and the Church Service afterwards 4 hours sitting was a bit much for Loretta's knee and she had to forgo part of the sermon.

Yesterday I drove her and daughter Sharon to Star Therapy in Columbia for their sessions there. Loretta had been keeping up with her exercises for the 2 weeks we were away, and the therapist was very happy with her progress. He said that he is sure when she sees the surgeon on the 4th, she will be taken off therapy. In fact she seldom uses her cane and often can get in and out of our truck without a step. Today was rainy most of the forenoon. But as we were getting low on propane we took a tank to Texas T Campground near Cornersville. Last spring the price there was $2.00/gal, but it is now $2.25. Also we were told that it would probably go up again. I guess that is to be expected as diesel fuel is now over $2.00/gal in this area.

Guess that is enough for now.

Andy and Loretta

Tuesday October 19

Not sure when I posted on Sunday. But after the church service here. Loretta and I went for a ride in the area and located a very nice and economical small restaurant for dinner. Then after some shopping, it was back here till the Vespers Service in the evening followed by the usual Joker games.

Yesterday was mostly meetings here. I attended several and hosted the 5th Wheel segment of the Bull Session. Our friend Gary Wheeler from Mor/Ryde was here with his excellent display. He had to leave before the Bull Session finished. It is always great to see him. We had supper including perhaps the best Catfish I have ever had at Captain Bud's before returning for the evening program. Entertainment was an excellent singer named Johnnie Sue with her small band. There were presentations announcing future Rendezvous' and as usual we played Joker a while

Today after the coffee hour, we rode in the carpool to the Tennessee Aquarium and IMAX Theater. Rain had started during the night and continued all day. So we were delayed both directions by accidents of which there were many today. Fortuantely our group travelled safely. The day was very entertaining and educational, and we had a great lunch at a nearby Microbrewery. I obtained a wheel chair for Loretta in the aquarium as she wasn't up to the hours of walking. However all that sitting wasn't too good either as this evening after that and quite a bit of time playing Joker, her leg is swollen some. Of course missing 2 weeks of therapy isn't good, but with the help of exercises she is slowly improving.

View from top of Hells Gate Airtram 

Sunday, October 17

It looks as if we are in for another good fall day here at the Avion Travelcade Club rendezvous in Chattanooga, TN. Past few days have been chilly but nice and the only rainstorms we have had were in the evening hours which interfered very little with the activities here. We are Assistant Directors but most of our duties were involved on getting people on to the grounds and parked. Parking was not in our department, but I did assist there also.

Loretta's knee is still giving her a hard time, so we haven't engaged in visits to local attractions that would require a lot of walking. On Friday, I did accompany about 45 others on a carpool to Arnold Engineering Center about 70 miles from here. This was another one of General Roy Manor's excellent tours of Air Force facilities. Arnold is not an air base, but a research and development site. We had a briefing and video on what they do there followed by a bus tour of the facility. We stopped and went into several of the test facilities. One of these was a 16' supersonic wind tunnel which we were able to walk into. That sure makes one feel small. If i recall corectly, they can generate a wind of almost 8 times the speed of sound there. I think they have another even larger there. We also went into the building where they have a test facility to test solid fuel rocket engines and inspect the test chamber. They test for all military branches, so the 200 military personel are not all Air Force. They also have aobut 2500 civilian contractors working on base. A very interesting tour and an excellent lunch to finish off.

In addition to shopping (Camping World has just opened a new store a couple of blocks from here)and driving around the local area we have tried out many of the excellent eating places in the area. Yesterday the Men's and Ladies luncheons were served and I think they were the best we have ever attended. The evening programs have included excellent local entertainment and as usual, we have enjoyed visiting with old friends and making new ones.

On Columbia Glacier in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada 

Now in Chattanooga, TN

Wednesday October 13

n Monday, we continued to Jordan Park in Chattanooge with John and Mary Lu Ehrle. When we arrived, we parked and set up in the Handicapped Parking area so Loretta would not have to walk too far to the activities here. We are Assistant Directors here at the Avion Rendezvous here, so most of rest of day was spent making sure my crews were in place and ready to start the next morning. We then went shopping for groceries and got lunch. In the evening we visited some with other early arrivals.

Yesterday I got out before 8AM to make sure my Greeters and Checkers were at their sites. Then discovered that there was only one "Parker" working to help arrivals get into the parking spaces. This was not under our department, but I offered to assist and spent most of day in the camping area. It rained a good part of the forenoon. Did take off to accompany Loretta to check in for the Rendezvous (Avion Travelcade Club rally). After supper in our trailer, we went to the trailer of friends Bob and Clara Lee fr0m New Mexico. There Jerry and Josie Drum from Texas joined us for an evening of Joker games, visit and socializing. Great time except the arrival of the Drum's was delayed due to a very heavy rainstorm. But it cleared off after that passed.

One of the beautiful scenes on the Moutains to Sea Travelcade 

On our way to Avion Travelcade Club Rendezvous

Sunday October 10

On Friday, I took Loretta and Sharon to Star Therapy in Columbia for another session there. I shopped some then waited for them to finish. When we got home, I hopefully secured the computer so it will travel better. Son Woody came by with our traveling satellite antenna, he had painted a picture on it from one of our Travelcade photos - Beautiful. They then invited us out to supper and daughter Sharon also. Saturday was another trip to Columbia for some more errands. Then again in the evening as we took Bill and Sharon to Catfish Campus for supper.

The weather looked threatining, so I did part of preparation for our move to Chattanooga on Sunday. This morning, I finished securing before church. Then afterwards we got hooked up and on the road. To give Loretta a smoother ride, I opted to go south to Huntsvillle, AL and take Route 72 east. After about 100 miles we stopped for dinner in Scottsboro, AL. While dining, we discovered that John and Mary Lu Ehrle from the Oklahoma Unit of the Avion Travelcade Club were dining there also. They are staying at Crawford RV Park nearby, so when we finished eating, we came here. Nice park, on a hillside, but sites are level with concrete pads and patios. After getting settled, they came by for a nice visit. We expect to travel with them tomorrow to Chattanooga.

Loretta still in pain a lot of the time. Therapy seems to help for about a day, then she suffers again. However, I think she is improved each day.

We caught these on the Alaska Travelcade  

Week of 3 October

Other than a shopping trip yesterday, not much to report for the day. Today after church, about 25 members of the family and friends gathered at Circle P Farm for a birthday celebration for grandaughter Michelle. Lots of great food as usual and chance to visit with some grandchildrlen and great-grandchildren that we hadn't had previously. Loretta still suffering, but was able to get around even better today. In fact she has now retired her cane, but still has to use the booster step to get in and out of our truck. But it is a pretty good step up into that so don't really blame her.