Wednesday November 25, 2015
Travel day. We got up in Roanoke Rapids to a nice day. It was a little brisk in the am but started warming up as I took Summer out for a walk. We started cleaning up and motivating to get the coach all cleaned up and organized to pull the slides in, empty our tanks, and get ready to roll again. We needed propane so Dawson checked in at the office to get the tank filled. A nice young man was working – I think his dad owned the RV park and he was fun to talk too. He enjoyed our story of traveling with the kids and told us we would enjoy Charlotte. He filled our tank which was just about empty and then Dawson turned the rig around and we hooked up the mini van. I am still so nervous when we hook up that van that we do everything right. Especially gearing it into neutral so it will roll smoothly. I have 2x left it in park – ugggh!!! The transmission is just going to drop out one of these days if I am not more careful. So far we have been blessed that it is working ok. It made a few knocking noises this week here in Roanoke Rapids but isn’t doing it now. So we keep on truckin.
We got on the road about 10:15 am and its about a 4 -5 hour drive to down to Charlotte. There was some holiday traffic to deal with but it was not terrible. One thing we did notice is that the roads are relatively smooth here in North Carolina. Not as many pot holes, construction or bumps along the way. It is nice and noticeable, especially in our home on wheels.
Dawson stopped at a rest area about ½ way in ……he doesn’t usually stop so I was glad that he took a rest. Just to get up, stretch, eat and use the rest room…..it’s a good break when driving this big ol home down the road. As we got close to Charolette, Carla told us we would experience some heavy traffic and we did. But Dawson, once again, did very well with this thing and keeping us all safe.
We arrived at Glenwood Acres Family RV park right by the Charolette Speedway around 3 pm. Kristy and Phil greeted us at the office and Phil, with his green safety vest on, guided us to our spot. Home for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We got the coach all set up and ready for our stay. We ate some snacks and let Carla know we were here safely. They invited us over for the evening to hang out and say hello. I asked about bringing Summer and “of course, Summer is welcomed”, said Carla. So we emptied a few items out of the van and made room for everyone. Carla and Steve literally live 4 miles down the street. It is close and will be fairly easy to get too depending on traffic in front of the mall.
We found Carla and Steve’s house and were greeted by the two of them and a package from my mom! Thanks mom for the mail and Christmas gifts for the kids. We will keep them safe and wrapped until Christmas eve. We enjoyed a nice evening with the Gibbs meeting the 3 kids and the dog and getting to know Dawson too. Carla and I caught up on the family and what all the Morley’s are up too. It was a really nice evening and I think we all enjoyed the comforts of their home.
I asked Carla how she felt about me doing some laundry at her house tomorrow. She said “bring it”. So even though tomorrow is Thanksgiving…..I am going to get all our laundry cleaned and back in service. I didn’t do any in Roanoke Rapids – the machines there were super small and a little pricey. And here in Glenwood Acres – there aren’t any facilities for the laundry. So tomorrow – I will be super thankful for Carla’s laundry room and I will say that I will appreciate MY laundry room at home so much more when I return there after this RV adventure. Funny what you miss. I never dreamed I would miss my laundry room at home….but with 5 of us – it is a room that I now have a fond appreciation for and will treat mine better when we return.
We showed Carla and Steve our website – so they can follow us too. They aren’t on social media but can follow our site. It was fun to show them some of it mostly photos from DC. Carla was worried about Dawson’s ankle and Steve ended up giving him a boot to try for the night. He said it felt good and relaxed his ankle and foot to wear the boot. I think it is still really swollen but he says it feels better.
I was also able to upload photos and catch up on the blog at Carla and Steve’s as their internet was quick and didn’t limit me like these campgrounds have been doing each day. Internet can be a challenge. Steve showed Dawson his workshop and got him a beer. We all admired the wood working pieces that Steve has made all around his home. He is very good at what he does. Look at a few items on the photos- bowls, cutting boards, lamps, plant stand, and now he is making wine corks. Very fun.
We enjoyed a nice evening – eating homemade pizza that Steve made and enjoying their company and the comforts of their beautiful big home. Tomorrow we will be with them and several of their neighbors to celebrate and break bread with them for Thanksgiving. We are so grateful to Carla and Steve for the opportunity to be with them and their friends they call family. It will be an enjoyable and memorable time.
The girls enjoyed some disney channel after dinner and laying on the floor and the couch. Q was catching up with some friends with good wifi via his phone. Steve was going to smoke grill the turkey tomorrow so he started prepping the bird after we ate. Carla and him make a fun team and it is a fun memory to watch them interact and help one another in the kitchen. So many memories come flooding back in my mind from Dice Lane – just by being with them. Such amazingly fabulous, kind and giving people! We are blessed to know them.
We had some tired kids and being that we were coming back tomorrow we decided to wrap up our first visit at Carla and Steve’s - we are excited and looking forward to being with them tomorrow.
Back at the RV – we all were tired and called it a night. I read a book for awhile…until my eyes wouldn’t stay open any more. Dawson and I are reading “Harpo Speaks”. Interesting so far.
Thank you God for our many blessings and our safe arrival in Charolette!
Tiffany & Family
Travel day. We got up in Roanoke Rapids to a nice day. It was a little brisk in the am but started warming up as I took Summer out for a walk. We started cleaning up and motivating to get the coach all cleaned up and organized to pull the slides in, empty our tanks, and get ready to roll again. We needed propane so Dawson checked in at the office to get the tank filled. A nice young man was working – I think his dad owned the RV park and he was fun to talk too. He enjoyed our story of traveling with the kids and told us we would enjoy Charlotte. He filled our tank which was just about empty and then Dawson turned the rig around and we hooked up the mini van. I am still so nervous when we hook up that van that we do everything right. Especially gearing it into neutral so it will roll smoothly. I have 2x left it in park – ugggh!!! The transmission is just going to drop out one of these days if I am not more careful. So far we have been blessed that it is working ok. It made a few knocking noises this week here in Roanoke Rapids but isn’t doing it now. So we keep on truckin.
We got on the road about 10:15 am and its about a 4 -5 hour drive to down to Charlotte. There was some holiday traffic to deal with but it was not terrible. One thing we did notice is that the roads are relatively smooth here in North Carolina. Not as many pot holes, construction or bumps along the way. It is nice and noticeable, especially in our home on wheels.
Dawson stopped at a rest area about ½ way in ……he doesn’t usually stop so I was glad that he took a rest. Just to get up, stretch, eat and use the rest room…..it’s a good break when driving this big ol home down the road. As we got close to Charolette, Carla told us we would experience some heavy traffic and we did. But Dawson, once again, did very well with this thing and keeping us all safe.
We arrived at Glenwood Acres Family RV park right by the Charolette Speedway around 3 pm. Kristy and Phil greeted us at the office and Phil, with his green safety vest on, guided us to our spot. Home for the Thanksgiving Holiday. We got the coach all set up and ready for our stay. We ate some snacks and let Carla know we were here safely. They invited us over for the evening to hang out and say hello. I asked about bringing Summer and “of course, Summer is welcomed”, said Carla. So we emptied a few items out of the van and made room for everyone. Carla and Steve literally live 4 miles down the street. It is close and will be fairly easy to get too depending on traffic in front of the mall.
We found Carla and Steve’s house and were greeted by the two of them and a package from my mom! Thanks mom for the mail and Christmas gifts for the kids. We will keep them safe and wrapped until Christmas eve. We enjoyed a nice evening with the Gibbs meeting the 3 kids and the dog and getting to know Dawson too. Carla and I caught up on the family and what all the Morley’s are up too. It was a really nice evening and I think we all enjoyed the comforts of their home.
I asked Carla how she felt about me doing some laundry at her house tomorrow. She said “bring it”. So even though tomorrow is Thanksgiving…..I am going to get all our laundry cleaned and back in service. I didn’t do any in Roanoke Rapids – the machines there were super small and a little pricey. And here in Glenwood Acres – there aren’t any facilities for the laundry. So tomorrow – I will be super thankful for Carla’s laundry room and I will say that I will appreciate MY laundry room at home so much more when I return there after this RV adventure. Funny what you miss. I never dreamed I would miss my laundry room at home….but with 5 of us – it is a room that I now have a fond appreciation for and will treat mine better when we return.
We showed Carla and Steve our website – so they can follow us too. They aren’t on social media but can follow our site. It was fun to show them some of it mostly photos from DC. Carla was worried about Dawson’s ankle and Steve ended up giving him a boot to try for the night. He said it felt good and relaxed his ankle and foot to wear the boot. I think it is still really swollen but he says it feels better.
I was also able to upload photos and catch up on the blog at Carla and Steve’s as their internet was quick and didn’t limit me like these campgrounds have been doing each day. Internet can be a challenge. Steve showed Dawson his workshop and got him a beer. We all admired the wood working pieces that Steve has made all around his home. He is very good at what he does. Look at a few items on the photos- bowls, cutting boards, lamps, plant stand, and now he is making wine corks. Very fun.
We enjoyed a nice evening – eating homemade pizza that Steve made and enjoying their company and the comforts of their beautiful big home. Tomorrow we will be with them and several of their neighbors to celebrate and break bread with them for Thanksgiving. We are so grateful to Carla and Steve for the opportunity to be with them and their friends they call family. It will be an enjoyable and memorable time.
The girls enjoyed some disney channel after dinner and laying on the floor and the couch. Q was catching up with some friends with good wifi via his phone. Steve was going to smoke grill the turkey tomorrow so he started prepping the bird after we ate. Carla and him make a fun team and it is a fun memory to watch them interact and help one another in the kitchen. So many memories come flooding back in my mind from Dice Lane – just by being with them. Such amazingly fabulous, kind and giving people! We are blessed to know them.
We had some tired kids and being that we were coming back tomorrow we decided to wrap up our first visit at Carla and Steve’s - we are excited and looking forward to being with them tomorrow.
Back at the RV – we all were tired and called it a night. I read a book for awhile…until my eyes wouldn’t stay open any more. Dawson and I are reading “Harpo Speaks”. Interesting so far.
Thank you God for our many blessings and our safe arrival in Charolette!
Tiffany & Family