Everything just clicked into place

Well, talk about good timing.  Yesterday everything just clicked into place.  We spent the night at Indy Lakes Campground just outside of Indianapolis with visions of arriving at Shipshewanna for the Open Range Rally the next day.  Pam and Momma had made reservations together for two adjacent sites.  Well, I mean to tell you, they REALLY didn't want ME to stay.  They said I was tooooooo heavy at 65 pounds.  WELL!!  Talk about discrimination.  Momma told them what a sweetheart I am and that I wouldn't be parading around the campground, and they had already taken Momma's money months ago......well, we got to stay....but no where near Pam and Jack. 
But the next morning everything clicked into place.  Pam and Jack pulled around to our site just as we were picking up the final chock.....super timing. 
As we were traveling, Momma was texting with Aunt Janice (her sister) and Uncle Robin who were also heading for the rally at Shipshewanna.  Somehow, all three rigs pulled in one behind the other.  Now how did that happen?  Everything just clicked into place.
Momma went into the office to register and low and behold, some nice camper had just left a BIG box of those super, tasty, Rise N Roll donuts that are to die for.  The gal said, "I'll gladly share.  I sure can't eat them all."  What timing....everything just clicked into place.  Dad woofed down that donut, licked his fingers and didn't even share a morsel with me.  He said he didn't want to spoil me.  Now what that REALLY means is that the donuts are just tooooo good to share.  But I forgave him.  After all, he did drive me here safely.
Well, we found our site without a hitch and ....once again....it all clicked into place.  We got all set up and zipped inside the rig just as the rain began to fall.  Yep, a day full of great timing.
Wow!  I never saw so many gray rigs in a row.  I heard Momma say there will be over 100 Open Range rigs here by Wednesday.  I am having a tough time remembering which truck is ours. I keep forgetting we have a new ride.   Jack's gray dodge sounds just like ours, but Momma always keeps me straight.  Now all these rigs look alike.  I'm sure glad Momma and Dad know which one to go to after my walk.  
Did I mention my cousin Ciar, the black lab is here?  Sure wish they would let us both off lead to run and race for a while.  He is so much fun to play with!!
Momma said this is going to be a fun week....something about lots of neat shops.  Dad just rolled his eyes.  That's okay Dad, you and I can hang out.
Hickory

Located where?? Inside???

While in Nashville, Momma and Dad took a tour of the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Conference Center. Yep, I'm left home once again but then I didn't have to do ALL that walking.  Momma said the place was even larger and more spread out than she remembered, but the foliage was worth every step.  It's like an inside park with waterfalls, tropical plants and even a river. One section even has a sky walk where you can view the low plants from above while walking amongst the tree tops.  This was Pam and Jack's first tour of the gardens.

  This was Momma and Dad's first visit since the flood in 2010.  The flood water was up to the under side of the bridges.  WOW!  They sure did a super job cleaning up.
The guys even found a coffee machine.  Swipe your credit card, pick your roast from light to dark and listen to the machine grind your beans and brew your cup. 

While the guys were sipping coffee, Momma and Pam rode the boat on the indoor river.  Disney has nothing on the Gaylord!!

Too bad they didn't have a pet walk.  I might have been able to go along.
Hickory

Momma just came home bouncing in the door, humming and singing with a dance in her step.  NOW WHAT?   Oh yeah, I remember now.  It's Friday night......Grand Old Opry night.  Must have been a super show!! 
You mean to tell me you saw 2 of the stars from the TV series 'Nashville' on stage....Will and Deacon?  And one of the gals who works behind the scenes of the show as a song writer performing on the Opry Stage.   If you had taken me, I would have been able to enjoy Mike Snider clawhammering on his banjo, as well as Exile, Little Big Town, Bill Anderson, Connie Smith, Mo Pitney, Jeannie Seely.  Lots of talent on the stage tonight as they celebrate the 90th year of live radio broadcasting. 
Now this makes two nights in a row that my parents were out late.  Last night it was a Mystery Dinner Theater evening. Dad said the apple strudel was excellent.....ALMOST as good as Lane's peach cobbler. 

The big red barn has been cleverly laid out with 3 tiers of seating around the center of the room.  While the attendees are moving around and enjoying the buffet, the center of the room is open.  When the Mystery Presentation begins, the stage is lowered from the ceiling to cover the middle of the room.  Sorry, no pics or video allowed during the presentation of 'Cliffhanger'.  They don't want the secret of 'who dun it' to get out. 
Two great evenings with excellent entertainment.  It just doesn't get any better.

Momma's Muffins

Wednesday was travel day from Chattanooga to Nashville.  It was a rather short pull...under 150 miles....and then with the time change to consider...from Eastern to Central time, we had a laid back morning.  I mean to tell you, I thought they would never get going.  It didn't matter to me, I loaded up about an hour early.  If they wanted to dilly dally around, that was up to them.  I was in travel mode and read to roll.
Our campsite has a nice picnic table and with the nice weather...just a tad cooler than we are used to....everyone decided on lunch outside.  Momma was warming up some of that super Creamy Chicken Gnocchi soup she makes and she had some of those fantastic Amish Muffins all on a plate on the counter under the microwave. 
Man, I couldn't have planned it any better.  Jack came to the door, to ask a question,  Momma turned her back on the counter, and I went into stealth mode.  She hadn't even cut those BIG muffins in half yet. One quick grab and I had a WHOLE muffin.  I took it to MY carpet where I have been taught to enjoy my snacks so I don't get crumbs all over the floor and began savoring every mouthful.  Talk about melt in your mouth.  I mean, that muffin just slid between my teeth and down my throat in record time. 
AND THEN Momma turned around.  She is VERY observant and it didn't take her long to ask that dreaded question in her stern, teacher voice, "Hickory Hime, what did you do?"  Well, that sure got Dad's attention and then he had to know what I had done.  Duh.....I enjoyed some of Momma's muffins, of course.  When opportunity arrives..........  Come on Dad.  You've told me often how great they are and YOU don't ALWAYS share with me.  Okay, maybe I should have saved a morsel for you.  But there are plenty more on the plate.  Just have one of your own.
Man, is this a great day or what?
Hickory

What a GEM....and it's free!

Momma and Dad had a trying morning on Tuesday, but the afternoon was a real treat for them.  When they walked into Coker Tire Museum, their timing couldn't have been better.  The tour guide was just getting ready to gather the group and kick off the tour. When Dad found out that the tour was free...well, you know Dad.....he was all smiles!!   Now no one in our family has heard of Coker Tires.  My cousin Cair, the black lab may have as males tend to inspect ALL tires, trees and bushes.  It is a small leap from tires to autos, trucks, motorcycles, bikes....and what a collection of restored items.  The museum turned out to be a great little treasure and well presented.

Momma was really impressed with this side car with a roof!!

And check out the detail and designs on this hearse.  Too cool

By contrast, the next stop was the International Towing and Recovery Museum with a $9 ticket charge and no tour guide.  The inventory wasn't even as extensive.  BUT....one of the first tow trucks spotted was from Momma and Dad's hometown in upstate New York.  Go figure!!

Interesting parade float.....TOE truck.

On to Nashville on Wednesday.  I'm ready to load up and roll down the road.  But I will miss the friends who have been coming over to play Pegs and Jokers every night.  They ALWAYS have cookie bones for me.  It just so happens that a couple with an Open Range 5th wheel were assigned the site next to us and our traveling companions, the Scales.  And talk about small world, she is a retired teacher from Ocala.  They didn't know how to play Pegs and Jokers so Jack, Pam, Momma and Dad taught them.  All they did was laugh all night.  A poor girl couldn't get any beauty rest at all!!
Hickory

The good, the bad, and the ugly

Well, Momma said to tell it all....the good.......well, we are still on schedule.  The bad.....let's see, do I begin with Dad opening the cupboard door, leaving it open and Momma running her head into it. OUCH! Or maybe I should begin with getting ready to go out for my morning walk.  Momma opened up another cupboard to get out my pretty colored, scented, poop collection bags and got beamed on the head with the BIG umbrella.  Or maybe just get on to the major issue of the morning...."What do you mean the gray water tank won't open up to dump?" 
Dad got out his travel creeper.....a throw rug to keep him off the ground...and crawled under the rig to investigate the issue.  It seems the cable that controls the valve to the gray water tank pulled out.  No more control over the gray water tank valve.  Time for a new part.
Ah, what luck!  An Open Range dealer just a few miles away.  Dad gave them a call and the next thing I knew, Momma was securing the inside for travel and Dad was breaking down the outside items.  They sure have this packing up routine down to a science.  That was so quick, I almost didn't have time to gather myself off my favorite rug and trot on out to the backseat of the truck.
Not only do they have packing up down to a science, they are getting real good at U-turns.  Yup, missed a turn and had to head back the other way.  Sure is a good thing churches have huge parking lots to turn around in!!  But then the real challenge came when the address was wrong and they wound up on a dead end street.  I'm glad Dad is soooo good at backing up to get turned around.  Now wouldn't you think with all the challenges getting to the RV dealership that things would go smoothly when they arrived?  What, you don't have that part in stock????  Dad was flabbergasted!!  What really hurts is he is sure he has a part at home in his shop. 
Well, anyway, the tech was able to get the valve opened and the secondary valve further down the line that Dad had installed eons ago will keep the gray water from dumping on the ground until he releases that valve.  Yep, we are good to go until we can get to a location with the part.  Back on schedule once again.
So instead of touring in the morning, everyone headed out in the afternoon to tour while I just snoozed away after all the morning excitement. 
Now as for the ugly......that was how I felt when they returned with a BIG take home box.....aren't they really called 'Doggie bags'?  Hey, I'm the dog here.  Don't put that in the refrigerator.  You are making me feel ugly about all this!!  I'm sure I'd love Sugar's BBQ ribs as much as you did.  Just give me a chance here.
It sure turned out to be an interesting day with lots of unplanned events!!  I wish those door latches on the refrigerator weren't so far off the floor.
Hickory

Oh My!!

When we pulled into Fair Harbor RV Park, I spied a big Class A with some of that yellow caution tape near the front door.  "Oh no", I thought, "Jerry and Tommy have been here."  But then I realized that there wasn't enough caution tape to be one of their jobs/pranks.  Just one lone strip across the entrance door.  Not yards and yards....ribbons and ribbons of yellow tape. 

Strange.... And then I took another look. OH MY The windows are all burnt out and busted.

Just look at all that black smudge that the fire left behind. 
Well, the story is...... a couple from Canada were luckily awakened at 2 am to the smell of hot rubber and  had time to bail out of their rig.  Their rig had just been in the shop for the Norcold refrigerator recall repair a month ago.  The recall repair was unsuccessful as you can see!!  Now that's scary.  The fire just gutted the interior before the first responders could put it out.

I'm sure glad I have a good nose and a loud bark but I will probably never have to take action.  Dad installed a fire extinguisher in the back of our refrigerator. https://squareup.com/market/fire-and-life-safety .  The price may look a tad high, but Dad says I'm worth every penny. He wants to keep my gorgeous coat shiny and soot free.
All the fire extinguishers on Mac the Fire Guy's website are very effective.  I watch a demo using the extinguisher that came with our rig .....which didn't put out the fire Mac started....and then Mac's extinguisher that smothered that fire in no time......and it didn't reignite.  Plus, there is no residual white foamy mess afterward that you get with the cheapie, minimally effective extinguishers.  My Dad was smart to make his purchase...but then, my Dad always practices preventive practices.
Did you know that he replaced one of our slide cables just before we headed out?  He said it looked frayed and he would rather swap it out at home...close to his workshop...rather than on the road in one of the many states we will be traveling in. 
I sure like traveling with my Dad.  He even opened his wallet and FINALLY bought a new truck so we shouldn't have any breakdowns on this trip!!  It sure rides nice!  I even have my own AC control in the backseat.
Dad is still trying to figure out all the buttons and settings on the dash.  Momma just laughs and says something about 'teaching an old dog new tricks'. 
Hickory