Monday, May 11, 2015

Progress

Hi All,

We have made a lot of progress. Our factory service was completed today and, as usual, the Tiffin service techs did a great job. We love the new carpet. Even Ginger got new carpet!


The new dash mat looks great. Also in this photo is one of the reasons it is great to be in Red Bay. The long black defroster vents had deteriorated and crumbled when removed. No problem-a two minute walk to the parts store and $10 later we had new ones.
Still lots of work to do but we are making progress.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Muscle Shoals AL

Hi All,

We are making slow but steady progress on the coach upgrades. The new carpet looks and feels wonderful. When we got here, Tiffin service techs inspected us for recall items. They found two problems that we will have fixed but it will take an extra week.

Today we drove to Muscle Shoals, AL. First stop was the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. The museum is not too big but certainly not for lack of Alabama music talent.

Hank Williams, Nat King Cole, Tammy Wynette, Jim Nabors, Alabama and in and on. Speaking of Alabama, this is their first tour bus!


How about this magnificent Wurlitzer juke box.

After a delicious lunch in Tuscumbia, we drove to the Tennessee Valley Authority Reservation, a conserved area of nature trails south of the Tennessee River near the Wilson Dam.

Great, well maintained trails

with hyacinth and columbine filling the air with sweet fragrance.

The first bridge across the river here was built in 1832. Storm damage, burned during the civil war, train wrecks and rebuilding with steel filled the history. When taken out of service in the 1990's the lower deck was rebuilt for pedestrians.
It was a nice day but we are humbled recounting our Muscle Shoals day while friends Carroll & Marilyn Johnson are blogging about their trip through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. 

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Sweet Home Alabama

Hi All,

We are back in Red Bay Alabama to refresh and rejuvenate our motorhome. In January we flirted with the purchase of a newer (2012) 40 foot Phaeton. We could not put a deal together so we focussed our enthusiasm on refreshing our 2007, 35 foot coach.

The work to be done includes new carpet, wider dinette credenza, reupholstered dinette chairs, all LED bulbs and lots of other repairs and tweaks (the list is over 40 items long).

Some of the work will be done at the Tiffin Factory Service Center but most will be done by local technicians, typically former Tiffin employees. 

The Tiffin service center has 50 service bays and a 110 site campground. Most of the coaches here are top end Phaetons, Allegro Busses and Zephyrs. There is probably $15-20 million of motor homes here.

Hopefully we can get all of the work done by the end of next week and be on our way to Grand Teton.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Goodbye Florida

Hi All,

After nearly six months in Florida, we hit the road today en route to Red Bay, AL and then Grand Teton.

We had a wonderful Florida send off from this flock of sandhill cranes.

Love,

Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Sunday, May 3, 2015

One More Day

Hi All,

We were sort of adrift for 12 hours today; condo checkout at 10AM, flight at 10PM.

After breakfast out we drove to Kapa'a to hike along the beach bike path. The irreverent Kauai book author said the hike/bike path would be completed when Lady Gaga draws her first Social Security check.

More beautiful ocean vistas



Next we drove to the Marriott to poke around

Nice pool.

The lobby has this magnificent antique wooden canoe on display.
We found a good Thai restaurant for an early supper then it was off to the airport. 

10PM Kauai-Los Angeles- Orlando arriving 3:51 PM Sunday.

After Monday getting organized, Carl & Sandy drive to Red Bay, AL for coach service.

Roberta & Elliot fly to Miami arriving about the same time. They will then drive north to Bellingham, MA.

Hope you all enjoyed our Kauai adventures. The four of us will be traveling together next to Croatia in April 2016. 
Love,

Roberta & Elliot,
Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone

Saturday, May 2, 2015

May Day Lei

Hi All,

On May Day there is a flower lei competition at the Kauai Museum.

We saw dozens of beautiful leis. This one won a major award.


Here are some close-ups of other winners.







Next stop was the Koloa Rum Distillery where we sampled several different local rums-yummy.
We spent the evening at the Art Walk in Hanapepe then back to the condo to start packing.

Love,

Roberta & Elliot,
Sandy & Carl 
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502

Photographed and sent from Carl's iPhone