Since last Wednesday, SKP ACRE has been filled with scheduled activities as well as free time for enjoying the many tourist attractions nearby. There have been Happy Hours, 2 catered breakfasts, a continental breakfast, an eggs-in-a-bag breakfast, 1 catered dinner, optional BBQ dinner and live theater performance, several seminars, door prize giveaways and lots of time for catching up with old friends as well as meeting new acquaintances. The weather has been pretty good with some occasional rain.
The only negative is the WIFI. Although the campground's website claims "Free and reliable WiFi throughout the property", it is actually only reliable from about midnight till 6AM! At most other times it rates poor to unusable. And since we are near the end of our Verizon month, our MiFi is near our limit so our email and web browsing have been severely hampered.
Tonight is the final gathering - a pot luck dinner. There were 103 rigs registered for the rally. We've had a great time.
Tomorrow, we'll get Little House's wheels rolling once again as we head toward Kentucky where we're looking forward to visiting with family members.
Our life on the highways and byways of America.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
SEVIERVILLE, TN: One Rally Down, One to Go
Since our last post on Saturday, the time has flown by. Our days were filled with Escapees Chapter 29 activities like dinner out at the Old Mill Restaurant in Pigeon Forge, breakfasts in the pavilion, campfires, our chapter meeting, a pot luck dinner, and lots of conversation. In between all of those events, Selene got the taxes done, Hank did lots of computer chores, we made trips to the drug store, Walmart, and post office, and there were a couple of naps thrown in to keep our energy level up. The Chapter 29 rally's final activity was yesterday morning.
Today is the first event for the 2015 SKPACRE. Many of our chapter members are staying over for SKPACRE, and many other attendees have been arriving. Last night, we had a nice visit with Herb & Lois, ham radio friends, who we saw in February at Orlando. We'll renew some more acquaintances tonight at Happy Hour. In the days ahead there will be shared meals, seminars, and other activities along with free time so attendees can enjoy the many venues in this tourist area.
Since we arrived last Friday, the weather has been beautiful with lots of sunshine. Now we're in a rainy period for the next several days, but most of the SKPACRE activities will be held in the campground's convention center, so wet weather is not a big concern.
Today is the first event for the 2015 SKPACRE. Many of our chapter members are staying over for SKPACRE, and many other attendees have been arriving. Last night, we had a nice visit with Herb & Lois, ham radio friends, who we saw in February at Orlando. We'll renew some more acquaintances tonight at Happy Hour. In the days ahead there will be shared meals, seminars, and other activities along with free time so attendees can enjoy the many venues in this tourist area.
Since we arrived last Friday, the weather has been beautiful with lots of sunshine. Now we're in a rainy period for the next several days, but most of the SKPACRE activities will be held in the campground's convention center, so wet weather is not a big concern.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
SEVIERVILLE, TN: ESCAPEES Time
It was great to be at Tom Johnson's just for the camping instead of being there for service. We had good visits with Bob & Sue and other friends.
Yesterday (Friday), we left about 11:45 A.M. for the 2 1/2 hour drive through the mountains to River Plantation RV Resort in Sevierville, TN. Our journey was mostly rain-free and the views were picturesque with the bright green of new leaf growth and the redbuds and dogwoods in full bloom.
River Plantation RV Resort is a large campground (see photo #3) with many amenities, including a large conference center and catering service as well as free cable TV. After parking in our site, we got everything set up and then gave Little House a good cleaning inside.
We are attending the Escapees Chapter 29 Fall Rally that starts tomorrow, and that will be followed by the Escapees SKPACRE event, and we'll be here until April 21 in site 199. We'll have more information on these events as the days unfold.
Last night we went to dinner at the Apple Valley Farmhouse Grill, which serves down-home meals starting with complementary apple fritters with apple butter. Their special dinners include, soup, salad, entree, mashed potatoes and gravy served family style, an additional side, and desert. Needless to say, no one in our group of 20 walked out hungry! The service was top-notch and prices were reasonable considering all that was included.
At 1:00 AM Monday Hank received an email notice that the results of his tests at NC Heart and Vascular Center were available, but he was unable to get anyone to give him the results until Thursday afternoon. The PA had initially listened to his arteries using a stethoscope and had heard evidence of some arterial blockage. The tests showed normal blood flow and blood pressure in both legs, feet and all 10 toes, and found some blockage in his left leg but not enough to require invasive treatment. (The right leg is where he had swelling, redness, and scaly patches.) The PA has prescribed Plavix to improve the blood flow in his left leg and suggested a medicated cream for the skin condition on his right leg. She also implied that his symptoms are not what she would expect to have been referred to them, but more likely to a dermatologist. He never saw the doctor, only the PA that assists the doctor, the PA's assistant, and the lab technician. When we get back to Raleigh this fall the PA wants him to come in for another consultation to "keep an eye" on the blockage in his left leg.
Complimentary Single Serving Of Apple Cinnamon Muffins, Applewoods Apple Fritters, Homemade Apple Butter and Applewood Julep
Served with Mashed Potatoes, Choice of Homemade Soup And Choice of Vegetable
Yesterday (Friday), we left about 11:45 A.M. for the 2 1/2 hour drive through the mountains to River Plantation RV Resort in Sevierville, TN. Our journey was mostly rain-free and the views were picturesque with the bright green of new leaf growth and the redbuds and dogwoods in full bloom.
River Plantation RV Resort is a large campground (see photo #3) with many amenities, including a large conference center and catering service as well as free cable TV. After parking in our site, we got everything set up and then gave Little House a good cleaning inside.
We are attending the Escapees Chapter 29 Fall Rally that starts tomorrow, and that will be followed by the Escapees SKPACRE event, and we'll be here until April 21 in site 199. We'll have more information on these events as the days unfold.
Last night we went to dinner at the Apple Valley Farmhouse Grill, which serves down-home meals starting with complementary apple fritters with apple butter. Their special dinners include, soup, salad, entree, mashed potatoes and gravy served family style, an additional side, and desert. Needless to say, no one in our group of 20 walked out hungry! The service was top-notch and prices were reasonable considering all that was included.
At 1:00 AM Monday Hank received an email notice that the results of his tests at NC Heart and Vascular Center were available, but he was unable to get anyone to give him the results until Thursday afternoon. The PA had initially listened to his arteries using a stethoscope and had heard evidence of some arterial blockage. The tests showed normal blood flow and blood pressure in both legs, feet and all 10 toes, and found some blockage in his left leg but not enough to require invasive treatment. (The right leg is where he had swelling, redness, and scaly patches.) The PA has prescribed Plavix to improve the blood flow in his left leg and suggested a medicated cream for the skin condition on his right leg. She also implied that his symptoms are not what she would expect to have been referred to them, but more likely to a dermatologist. He never saw the doctor, only the PA that assists the doctor, the PA's assistant, and the lab technician. When we get back to Raleigh this fall the PA wants him to come in for another consultation to "keep an eye" on the blockage in his left leg.
Complimentary Single Serving Of Apple Cinnamon Muffins, Applewoods Apple Fritters, Homemade Apple Butter and Applewood Julep
Served with Mashed Potatoes, Choice of Homemade Soup And Choice of Vegetable
Friday, April 10, 2015
DEPARTURE NOTES: Tom Johnson Camping Center Campground, Marion, NC
This well-kept campground is on the site of the service bays for Tom Johnson Camping Center. The roads are paved and the back-in sites have concrete pads and full hook-ups. In the nearby building, are the service center offices, as well as a comfortable lounge area with clean restrooms, showers, and laundry facilities. There's also TJ's Cafe which serves good breakfast and lunch items at reasonable prices. Garbage is picked up at your site twice a day. There's good reception for satellite TV, but over-the-air TV is limited to UNC public television. Verizon service is good and the free WiFi is good most of the time. Cost is $30 per night with a monthly rate available.
DEPARTURE NOTES: Hunt Horse Complex, NCSF, Raleigh, NC
This campground is on state fairgrounds property behind the Hunt Horse Complex off of Youth Center Drive. All sites are back-in gravel pads, with full hookups, and are close together. The area is pretty quiet except for several train horns during the day and crowd noise if there's an NC State home football game across the road. During the state fair in October, availability is very limited and the rate is $30 per night instead of the usual $25 per night. All sites are first come first served, unless previous arrangements are made for groups with the State Fair Security Office. There is no bathhouse or full-time attendant but security is provided by State Fair Security, who also collects payment after you choose your site and phone them. The area rea can be very dusty with the gravel roads and sites, and the hard-packed dirt entrance road. The outdoor horse arena can be seen from the corner of the campground. Cell phone coverage is good, and the free WiFi signal is okay most of the time.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
MARION, NC: Time to Relax
Today we left the Hunt Horse Complex campground shortly after 10 A.M. for the trip to Tom Johnson's Camping Center Campground in Marion, NC.
After a stop for fuel and lunch, a 30 minute stop & go near Greensboro caused by an accident, and a quick pit stop at a rest area, we arrived about 2:45 P.M. The weather was cloudy with rain showers. We've been here many times, but this visit to TJ's is just to use the campground facilities and to visit with our friends, Bob & Sue from Four Oaks, NC who are also here. We'll be here until Friday, when we'll continue our journey to Sevierville, TN where we'll be attending two rallies.
We're still waiting to hear from Hank's doctor on the results of last week medical tests.
After a stop for fuel and lunch, a 30 minute stop & go near Greensboro caused by an accident, and a quick pit stop at a rest area, we arrived about 2:45 P.M. The weather was cloudy with rain showers. We've been here many times, but this visit to TJ's is just to use the campground facilities and to visit with our friends, Bob & Sue from Four Oaks, NC who are also here. We'll be here until Friday, when we'll continue our journey to Sevierville, TN where we'll be attending two rallies.
We're still waiting to hear from Hank's doctor on the results of last week medical tests.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
RALEIGH, NC: Almost Time to Leave
Happy Easter!!
We've been back in Raleigh since March 23 and it seems like we've been busy most of the time. There have been doctor visits, including checkups for both of us, lots of visits with friends including some new friends who were staying here and saw us online, an overnight stay with us by Mike, many meal outings, car maintenance, preparation for the Raleigh hamfest which was held yesterday, lengthy phone calls, trips to the storage room and the DMV as well as various normal chores.
After bruising his right knee while kneeling the tile floor last fall Hank has had problems with his right leg swelling, discoloration, and some red, itchy and sometimes sore skin on his right leg. In November the doctor recommended elevation and compression socks but the problem has persisted to various degrees since then. At his regular spring visit with the doctor on March 16th the doctor recommended he have an ultrasound of his leg. When that did not find any problems he was referred to NC Heart and Vascular where he had two visits including a more thorough ultrasound to check for suspected arterial blockage somewhere in his leg. He's now waiting on the results which will determine if it can be managed with medication.
Tomorrow, we're returning to the car dealership for more work since they didn't seem to get all of the problems fixed during the last visit. We may be leaving Raleigh on Tuesday to start our journey to Sevierville, TN where we're scheduled to be on Friday.
We've been back in Raleigh since March 23 and it seems like we've been busy most of the time. There have been doctor visits, including checkups for both of us, lots of visits with friends including some new friends who were staying here and saw us online, an overnight stay with us by Mike, many meal outings, car maintenance, preparation for the Raleigh hamfest which was held yesterday, lengthy phone calls, trips to the storage room and the DMV as well as various normal chores.
After bruising his right knee while kneeling the tile floor last fall Hank has had problems with his right leg swelling, discoloration, and some red, itchy and sometimes sore skin on his right leg. In November the doctor recommended elevation and compression socks but the problem has persisted to various degrees since then. At his regular spring visit with the doctor on March 16th the doctor recommended he have an ultrasound of his leg. When that did not find any problems he was referred to NC Heart and Vascular where he had two visits including a more thorough ultrasound to check for suspected arterial blockage somewhere in his leg. He's now waiting on the results which will determine if it can be managed with medication.
Tomorrow, we're returning to the car dealership for more work since they didn't seem to get all of the problems fixed during the last visit. We may be leaving Raleigh on Tuesday to start our journey to Sevierville, TN where we're scheduled to be on Friday.
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