April 6-7 Long Days of Volleyball

We got up early Saturday morning. We left the park about 5:30 am. The gates to the park are locked from 10:00 pm till 7:00 am. They have a small parking lot  outside the gate for people that need to be  out between those hours. Just sheer luck we were very close , about a two minute walk for us. It turned out to be an easy drive to the Georgia World Congress Center in downtown Atlanta. I had purchased my parking spot ahead of time in the Blue Lot for the three day event. I still wanted to get there early as it isn't easy to park my long truck in the little parking spots. It turned out that we were close the first day to the court we were playing on. Our games started at 8 and we finished about 2;30 the first day. We won the first pool we were in. We headed home and got back to our trailer 4:30 pm. Maggie was glad to see us. We were both very tired so we just had left overs for supper . Early to bed for these old folks. We got a pretty good thunderstorm around 2:00 am which woke us up for a little bit .  Up early aging Sunday morning and headed out in the rain. Luckily the rain was over when we got downtown. This morning we had a long walk to the courts we were playing on. The Georgia Center is a huge complex and pretty nice. We didn"t play our best today but and ended in a three way tie in our pool. it went to tie breaker rules which can be complex for me. The team we beat got 1st and we had to play a challenge game which we lost 25-23. Tomorrow we don"t play till 11:00. we headed back to the trailer and made it back home about 5:00 pm , both of us tired.  This campground is called Victoria Campground (COE Park). Its nice and big . It was spring break here and the park was full when we got here. This evening when Maggie and I took a walk it was pretty empty. They do have some nice waterfront sites. I don't think I would come here again as it is in a urban setting. The park is surrounded by subdivisions. It worked for what we needed here. One more day of volleyball and then we can chill for the rest of our travels.

6:20 am the morning

Kingwood Revolution 15 Elite

Susan Mackenna Mike

Mackenna Kristi

One of several waterfront sites

empty park now

April 5 2019 We made it to Atlanta

We got up today in no hurry. It didn"t take long to get ready to leave as we were already hooked up. We encountered no mechanical issues on the drive. We did have to take a detour because I-20 got closed down . We headed north northeast thru Alabama and into Georgia. It was a pretty drive but our gps misled us a couple of times. We still arrived at Victoria Campground around 3:15 pm. We got unhooked and set up. We just relaxed the rest of the evening. We have to get up about 5 in the morning to head to Mackenna"s volleyball Tournament.

Our campsite

Happy Hour

April 4,2019 A Long Day but Trailer Repaired

We got up early this morning and headed to the repair shop. It was only 2..4 miles and we made it. We left there and headed  to get breakfast. Found a truck stop  and had a pretty good breakfast. The rest of the day we went to a couple of stores and hung out at the park. We had hoped to put our chairs out and build a fire by the lake but the rain put a stop to that notion. Our trailer was ready about 3:00 , we picked it up and went back to the park. It drizzles and rained all evening. We leave in the morning hoping for better travels, Somewhere along the way I need to find a new wheel as the one that had the problem was bent and they didn't have one.  Even though we really didn't get to enjoy it Twitlley Branch Campground is a nice COE Park.  So far Mississippi is a pretty state to travel thru in the spring. We will be just north east of Atlanta Ga tomorrow. We will have 3 days of volleyball tournament with Mackenna"s team.

Napping in the truck at the park

Bolts sheared off

eating breakfast

Back at camp with trailer

April 3,2019 A nice drive in the Natchez Trace and then a downward spiral

It was about 38 this morning. I had to put on the furnace to warm up the trailer. We only had about a 4 hour drive so we didn't get in any hurry. We headed out and got on the Natchez Trace Parkway. It was a really nice drive, The speed limit is 50 mph. We hardly saw any cars. We got on I-20 in Jackson Ms and headed east. We stopped later to fill up the truck and eat lunch. About a mile later down the road we had a blowout on a trailer tire. I never felt it but a car signaled that I had a problem so I pulled over. Usually I would change my own tire but because of my back I called Good Sam, It took awhile but they finally got someone there. We finally got back on the road. That one call paid for my Good Sam. It s nice to have and luckily we had cell service. We were only 30 miles from our next stop. As we got to the campground office a guy pulled in behind us and said a tire was abour to come off of trailer. Sure enough  on another tire all the lug nuts and bolts were gone but two, I limped to our site with a wobbly tire. I couldn't break the two nuts to take tire off so I went to town and found a shop. The said if I get it there in the morning they could fix it.  Im hoping to limp the 2.5 miles to the shop.  Not a great day but it could have been worse.

Twitlley Branch Campground

Natchez Trace

Bad Tire

April 2, 2019 On the Road Again Finially

We got on the road today doing a spring trip. We had already cancelled the last 3 weeks because of my back issues.  I'm finally doing better but getting everything loaded yesterday made me a little sore this morning. We left about 7:30 heading east. It was a nice day and an easy drive. There was one stretch on I-10 before the state line that was pretty rough and bounced everything around in the trailer.  We drove about six hours and stopped at Natchez State Park for the night. We were able to get a pull-thru and I didn't even unhook the truck. Susan straightened up inside and Maggie and I took a little walk. We are in campground B, its small but nice, perfect for an overnight stop. There were several spots open when we got here but by nightfall it was full. One pleasant surprise was at Mississippi State Parks 65 and older are half price so it only cost  $15.00.  Wish Texas would do that.  I cooked a little supper on my Lil Smokey and we just chilled the rest of the evening.

Ready to roll

Stopped for potty break and had a sandwich

Maggie was ready to take a break

Natchez State Park 

cooking a little supper

March Spring Break Week

Spring break for the grand kids is here.  Our plans were to take Peyton and Luke camping and then we were heading to  the hill country till the end of the month. We cancelled those plans due to my back.  I'm just not able to deal with a trailer and camping right now. I am definitely better and able to do a few things.  Its still pretty wet around here but I  have been able to mow most of the yard. I also was able to do some spraying for weeds. I made a trial driving run with Susan. We went to Silsbee and then to Beaumont. The driving was OK but walking around tightened my back up pretty good. Susan traded in two of her sewing machines for one brand new super fancy machine and table.  She brought the machine home and they are going to deliver and setup her new sewing table and pick up her old machines.  Mike/Kristi and the kids went with some friends skiing at Lake Tahoe. I'm going to get Peyton and Luke and bring them home with us for awhile. I    left early Thursday morning and got the boys,, we got back home about11:30am. That's 6 hrs of driving for me.  The boys were ready to romp and play. Since the rain missed us I took the tractor and put some dirt in the backyard for them to play in. It doesn't take much to keep them happy.  For supper I went a got pizza and of course some bluebell ice cream for dessert. Friday morning the boys got up early a little before 6:00 and the first thing they said was" when are we going to eat, Im hungry".  Later that morning we took them to the movies and they had a good time. When  we  got back home they played in their dirt pile the rest of the day. We also rode the Ranger at different times. Friday night they were wore out and went to bed pretty early and slept till 7:30 the net morning. Saturday morning we went to town and visited great granma  and then went to the City park and played. We made a stop at McDonalds for happy Meals and headed home.  The highlight of the day was catching a train coming thru town.   Peyton said we were really lucky to be the first car at the crossing so we could see really well.. On Sunday I had to take the boys home. Spring break over.

Jan 22-Feb 24 A Wet Dreary Winter

We have not done much the last month. Club volleyball has started for our 2 older granddaughters so we try to make their games. So far they have played on different days . Sammi has started softball practice but the weather has been holding them  back.  I did manage to go up to the deer lease one day when we had a four day dry period. I picked up my game camera and rode around looking at what the loggers have done. It sure looks different. Back at home it has been just to wet to do much of anything. I did manage to mow most all of the yard one day so the outside looks a little better. I also got the rv washed and am starting to get it ready to roll.  Susan has been quilting as usual. She had an eye checkup and found that she needs cataract surgery on both eyes. She will get this done sometime after our spring trip. She left last Wednesday to go visit Adam and also a friend she used to work with. I have had blood pressure issues so I finally went to a cardiologist. He has changed my medicine and of course I have to go a do some more testing. I went to an Ole Timers Reunion last Friday night. I had a good time visiting with all the folks that I used to work with. I left a little early because of the volleyball games I was headed to on Saturday morning.  Unfortunately that night I stumbled and gracefully fell at home. My foot and back kept me from attending any games. I need to heal up because I have lots of things to do before we head out next month.

Mackenna

Mackenna"s team won this tournament

Ashley