A few more miles north

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America 
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we tonight ?

Effingham, Illinois, Walmart.

        I had a wonderful night at the Flying J in West Memphis Arkansas. I got a good nights sleep, mainly because I am deaf, (ok, hearing impaired to be politically correct). I just take our my hearing aids and all is great ! Suzie did hear some traffic noise and she did not have a good nights sleep like I did, (I do have some advantages).

        Up early as usual , coffees, computing, the morning news and a walkabout the Flying J then hit the road about 7:40m. Heading north on I-55 and I-57  thru Missouri to Effingham Illinois . 317 miles today. 

317 Miles today

Missouri Welcome Center

Nice welcome center 

nice roads , remind me of northern Ontario

blossoms in the trees " Springtime"

rest area

        In Effingham we fueled up again at the Flyng J, mainly because their prices are good, they have RV islands and we have a Frequent fueler rv card gives us another 2 cents a gallon discount.

        We got here in good time, before 2 o'clock, so after fueling we went across the road to park in a Walmart for tonight. Well got the OK from management to stay the night and wandered about the store for a bit and checked out all the other places around. So many stores and restaurants  that we can walk to. 

         Now we can relax a bit, a  small happy hour with the two of us and walk over for supper. Of course they are all chain restaurants, but thats ok. The closest one was not busy at all. But across the road it was very busy, (happy hour helps) so lets go there.

        Happened to be TGI Fridays and yes they were busy at 4. 30 but we got a seat right away. Munched on a an appetizer, Suzie had chicken with mashed taters and of course my favourite suicide wings, fries, celery with blue cheese dip. A cold brew  to wash it all down then after a lot of fun, we can walk back home to relax for the evening. While we were here a wedding party also arrived to enjoy the fun times as well.

flatbread appetizers

Suzie's too much chicken, yep we have leftovers

got my wings! (no leftovers)

        Then back home to read, compute a bit and relax for the rest of the evening. Yep it was just another great day. Oh we brought desert home to enjoy a bit later in front of the tv.

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On the road again!

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we tonight ?

West Memphis, Arkansas, Flying J

        Another great nights sleep, and up early as usual, coffees, computing and a walkabout, showers then secure our rig getting ready to hit the road. A later start than usual (10 am) but we are only travelling about 5 hours and stopping for the night at a Flying J Travel Plaza in West Memphis. Don't need to get there too early, we are just staying in the parking lot.

278 miles today

        A nice travel day, slightly overcast not windy but still pretty warm (we like warm!)

unplugging from power, this friendly little fellow says hi!

here is the large group of kids from last night, all having breakfast

a nice drive along I-30 eastbound

Arkadelphia, " A great place to call home!" Love their water tower.

        We arrived about 3:15 pm fueled up our coach and got parked for the night.

fueled up here

Now we could park here between the trucks, Not gonna happen!!

a nice quiet spot to park here

         Checked emails, set up tv, walkabout and heated up a Shepherds pie I made the other day, for a couple nice easy meals on the road.

yep, a nice tasty home cooked meal and no dishes for Suzie!

         No, sis we are not going to Graceland again, been there, done that a few years ago. Was neat and glad we did. We are just not the Elvis fans that you are.

        We had a great relaxing day on the road, don't need to travel too far do we ? We are at home wherever we are, so lets enjoy the lifestyle, even if it is a parking lot. But we did get to see a sunset. Go figure, its in a parking lot and not on one of our great campsites, but we will take all the sunsets we can get.

sunsets are good!

        Thanks for stopping by.

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Last day in the sun, gonna miss the high temps!

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America 
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we today ?

Millwood Landing, Ashdown Arkansas

        Well we had another good nights sleep, kinda warm, windows open and fans going, no blankets (I don't like air conditioning !) but it sure was nice. This morning a bit overcast and much cooler only got to 76f (24c) today getting us prepped for cooler weather on down the road.

         But the morning walkabouts are nice, enjoy the scenery by the ponds and the nice rental cabins that they have here.

mirror images on the ponds.

porch cabins with two rockers are so inviting!

        All the logging done around here, there is a lot of these trucks, I mean everywhere! I got a picture yesterday of a loaded one below.

loaded with logs

         Well when these trailers are empty they have a really neat hydraulic system that folds that long trailer up on top of the tractor. Now how cool its that? Save fuel and wear on the tires.

        Wonder if we could do that with our RV's when we travel too?

pretty compact unit

         We really enjoyed a relaxing afternoon, just puttering around, check tires as I always do, sunshine, warm, sit in the shade and read for a bit while we can. Then super time, so I fire up our Weber for some potatoes in foil with onions, carrots and onions with honey and a couple of smoked pork chops.

yep it was tasty

        After we are done just put the grill and chairs away, secure our awning getting ready to hit the road in the morning when the spirit moves us. No rush thou, we have the time.

         Then a walkabout the pond with lotsa people there enjoying another nice evening, fishing, volleyball and horseshoes. Isn't camping just Awesome?

fishing

Volleyball and horseshoes

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You don't get Jack!

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we today ?

Millwood Landing, Ashdown Arkansas

        We love this area and the resort. The weather is awesome, but this is in a DRY county (actually quite a few dry counties around here). That means no alcohol sales, not even beer or wine in the stores or restaurants. I don't have a problem with that because we knew ahead of time. Yet here on the resort we have a nice restaurant and full service bar? Maybe because its a private resort, don't know, do you?

        Any how I took a drive this morning to cross the state line into Texas (Texarkana), 20 minutes  away and right there is Du- Jack's Liquor. Hey its right on the state line, middle of nowhere, when we passed it last friday the parking lot was full, still busy this morning, they sure have the location right for sure. I picked up a few good deals and headed home.

their sign is very true

         On the nice drive back I passed many large trucks loaded with logs all heading to the Domtar Ashdown Pulp and Paper Mill a major industry in the area. And yes you can sure smell it in the air too (glad the resort is far enough away).

Domtar

         Back home we just enjoyed the weather, chatted with neighbors, walkabouts, and a bit of cooking. I made a shepherds pie to heat up when we are on the road friday for a few days. And some potato salad for supper tonight while I was at it.

        Then a bit more waxing and polishing our coach, until its time to relax in the shade with our books. Gotta enjoy reading while we have the time and weather.

        Before we know it time once again to fire up our Weber to grill a couple of chicken breasts I had marinated, put them on a fresh bun, with tomato, lettuce, mayo (a little hot sauce for me). An fresh made potato salad, a nice summer time meal.

tasty 

        Now still nice enough to sit out and read until 7:45 when it starts to cool down, 75f. Skeeters coming out again so we call it another great day, no complaints.

        One more day here then we hit the road!

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More fun in the sun!

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we today ?

Millwood Landing Ashdown Arkansas

          We are still here loving the great weather and relaxing, just enjoying our time to relax. Before we get back to Ontario only eight more days and we will be so busy visiting relatives and friends. Will be awesome, but, a busy time for us so let's relax now while we can. Parents, grand parents, great grand mother,  kids and grand kids all in the first weekend we get home. Maybe even a few friends too. Whew, make me tired thinking about it but can't wait, we will be in the area for 5- 6 months.

          So the weather here is great 85 plus F, humid and sunny. Putter around, did some more waxing of our coach (I do a bit at a time, maybe an hour or so a day). I did some maintenance stuff, lube tow bar, hinges and things. Then its mid afternoon, time to put the chairs out and enjoy our books for a while.

nice sunny day

        About 5 o'clock fired up our Weber Q 100 grill and threw on some wonderful shrimp I marinated in garlic and Olive oil, just to make light tasty supper tonight.

         Whipped up a rice pilaff to add for a great supper.

shrimp and rice awesome!

        Now to relax a bit more outside with our books until about 8 pm, getting dark and a few "skeeters", time to come in and shut down.

         Good night talk, again... Glad you could drop by.

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Boy we picked this week right!

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we today ?

Millwoood Landing, Ashdown Arlansa

        Not much to say, had windows open and fans going all night. Yep we picked the weather right this week. The standard day, up early, coffees, computing and walkabouts the ponds and resort. Nice and quiet here, just the way we like it.

        Puttering around some more, wax a bit more of our coach and a few minor repairs and adjustments. Also time to give me another hair/beard cut and trim with Suzie's help (like to do it outside when the weather is good). Then, wow where did the time go. Get our books out and read for a while and chat with a neighbor for a bit.

find a cool shady spot to read

love the trees

clear blue skies

        Soon time to fire up our Weber to bake a couple of potatoes and grill a nice tender pork loin roast.

nice pork loin roast

         Then throw it together with a tossed salad, applesauce and  there ya go another tasty meal.

         After dishes done it's still hot inside so once again outside to read until the sun begins to set and the bugs start bugging, about 7:45, now we reluctantly head inside to wind down more, after another great spring day.

        Yes we do love this lifestyle. Thanks again for stopping by.

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Just more great weather!

Thanks for joining us on our journey of North America
 in our Holiday Rambler, since August 2006

Where are we today ?

Ashdown Arkansas

        I know, I know ya'll getting tired of hearing about our great weather. But that's just the way it is and why we are living this lifestyle. I'm just telling it like it is. We don't get tired of it and will enjoy every minute of it.

        Just started the early morning with coffees, computing and walkabouts when the sun comes up, making a plan for the day. The plan is, we have no plan, nothing we want to see or do in the area so think we will hang out. What's the hurry after all this is our house and we have nice scenery here.

our coach across the pond

another pond with a nice house there

        Before it got too hot I puttered around, waxed the car and just enjoyed the great weather. Shortly after noon it was 90f (32c) as you can see below. 

       By this time open the awning for some shade and enjoy our books for a while between walkabouts and chatting with a few new neighbors.

yep its a tough life 

beautiful blue cloudless skies again

         My biggest chore today was what to have for supper. And I enjoy doing that anyway, gives me great satisfaction to whip up something tasty.

        In the freezer I found a porterhouse steak (bought it on sale), then decided to try my hand at twice baked potatoes, (onions, cheese, bacon, cream cheese, sour cream, butter) and wow they were terrific (no calories at all,, lol), some fresh mushrooms with onions & green peppers then some broccoli just because we do need our veggies. Got the oven doing the potatoes and the Weber grilling the steak, we sure had a feast.

tasty indulgence 

        Now satisfied after a tasty repast, its still too hot inside, 86 f, so back outside to watch the sunset in the trees, enjoy the cooler air and chat until it was dark, skeeters coming out now, so time to retire after another great day.

        Thanks once again for stopping by.

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