Pigeon Forge TN

[Echo]

Well we are here! Actually we got here and into the campground on Saturday. We were only here long enough to drop the trailer and plug into ele and we were gone again. Couldn't wait to get to Johnson City and see David and Conner!!! Got to David's driveway and couldn't get in as there was a big o'lfire truck sitting in the driveway in the way. House down the street had a problem of some sort and that's where they decided to park. Bummer! I went down the street, turned around and went back to David's driveway and drove out thru the field to get around the truck. David was watching and said, "as soon as I saw that white Chevy 4x4 cutting thru the field, I knew it was you Momma!" We spent 2 days up there visiting with him a other friends.

Now we are back here to the campground. They have put us in a temp site as the manager said he didn't expect up until the 26 or 2th. Now I know I told him that I had to be at Dollywood on the morning of the 26 for a safety orientation meeting. Have to be there the 26 and 27 and then have the 28th off. Then start OTJ training and work on the 29th. Got back here and no sooner had we gotten the trailer leveled when the manager showed up letting us know that they are gonna go ahead and move us tomorrow into our permanent spot. Sure am glad that we hadn't started to 'set up house' also. So tomorrow we will move, level and then set up 'house'. Actually I like the new spot we are gonna go into. Kelly would just as soon stay right where we are sitting. But the new spot has more shade trees. When we got here today the trailer wasn't to awful warm inside but it sure did warm up as it got later in the afternoon. David is gonna come down and tinker with out rooftop A/C and see if he can get it going. If not he says that he has at least 3 small room A/C units that people have left at the apts. when they've moved out. Got to check with him and see what size they are. Manager says that we are only gonna be able to run a 6000 to 8000 unit as a bigger one will just keep popping the breaker. ~sigh~ Oh well at least it will help keep it a little cooler in here! We have the bigger box fan plugged in and blowing but I have got to find my smaller one so that "I" can have one blowing on me!! ~whew~ Really looking forward to getting set up and settled in to our new home...

Love to all

[Liz]

Glad you made it safely, Echo, and have had that Conner fix. Hope you can get some AC for the summer months ahead.

[Sandersmr]

Glad you made it. And I hope that you can use the larger A/C. I just upgraded to a 6500 in my little 16 footer. The original 5000 wasn't enough for TX summers.

I know you are excited to get settled in.

[BirdbyBird]

So glad that you made it cross-country safely and are getting the "set up" shuffle out of the way. Here is to getting the house set up. Hope the work environment works out well, also!

[avalen]

so glad to hear you've landed Echo, set up routine will be fun and then the job training, woo hoo!!

[snowball]

good to know that you made it home safely and have an exciting summer ahead
have fun and enjoy Connor when you can
sheila

[mitch5252]

Congrats on making the trip safely!
Enjoy that grand baby.

[Echo]

Thanks everyone!

Only time we had any trouble was in Oklahoma. Someone or a whole bunch of someones must have said an extra good prayer for our safety!

We broke down just west of Clinton OK. We were sitting on the side of the road and I was on the phone with David asking him how much I cold expect to pay for repairs. The serpentine belt had come off so I was prepared to call either a road service or a tow truck. A guy pulled over and I asked him what he knew about it and if he wanted to be the hero of the day? My belt was bad but he got it back on and led the way to a parts store in Clinton OK. There he proceeded to tell the store guy what belt I needed and also a tension pully. I bought and paid for the 2 items and HE put them on. He didn't have the right wrench he needed, said it was in his other truck. I was gonna buy the wrench but he wouldn't have it!! He said he needed another one anyway so he bought it. Got me up and running again and would not take a penny for his time and work! Also about 1 1/2hrs later he called us to see how we were doing and if everything was fine. So somewhere between Elk City and Oklahoma City OK is an mechanical angel named Larry!! Both Kelly and I wanted to kidnap him and take him with us! I have to admit that I was shocked as ya just don't find those kind of people around to much any more!!! We were both very grateful and he will be in our prayers for a long time to come. We plan on calling him tomorrow to let him know that we made it, had no other problems and to thank him again.

And after that we had just cleared Oklahoma City and were rolling away from town in heavy traffic when I almost wiped out the rear end of a mini van. I had been leaving lots of room between me and what ever vehicles were in front of us all the way across. Well 4 vehicles came off a ramp right in front of me. Traffic was heavy and moving at about half of the posted speed limit and they were all riding their breaks when they all decided to come to a dead stop. Good thing I had let off of it when the other vehicles got in front of me. But let me tell you I had both feet on the break pedal trying to get stopped. The van directly in front had veered off to the shoulder as I had. But they weren't paying any attention to what was behind them. Kelly was leaning out the window screaming at them and I was laying on the horn. By time I got stopped I was only about 8" from the bumper and that's when they must had heard the horn or Kelly cause they floored it and shot up the shoulder. OMG!! When we got moving again, when the scare was over I started shaking and then crying. It had scared me so bad. I think I'm gonna stay out of the middle of Oklahoma for a good long while. Other than the break down and the near miss we had good travel all the way.

I am gonna have the worst time breaking myself of the habit of "drive, drive, drive"! I had told myself that I WAS NOT gonna drive like a trucker and put in more than 8hrs behind the wheel. HA! We left on Tuesday and got into Knoxville on Friday. Could have been here in the campground Friday night but I didn't want to monkey around in the dark. So we spent the night in a motel. Boy oh boy, that shower felt super!

Have decided tho to really scrip and save my pennies!!! I feel the need for a lighter weight trailer, a heavier truck, break assist and sway bars!!

[AlmostThere]

Good to hear from you and know you are getting settled and about to begin another adventure. I hope your jobs work out to be what you expected and you get some AC installed soon.
I know it must be wonderful to be back close to home again and getting in some Grandma time.
We want to hear from you often.

[Paulette]

So glad to hear you made it to your destination without any major troubles and thankful for your angel too! I know you are loving seeing the gs! Bet he has grown by leaps and bounds!

Yes, you have to get out of that trucker mOde when driving, but I have to say I would have done the same thing! Especially with a grand baby waiting at the other end of the line!!!!

[Colliemom]

I too am glad to hear you have made it safely and are now setting up "house" for the summer. Seems kind of funny in away, to hear you talking about needing some shade trees and a new AC, when before, you couldn't get warm enough, Now you gotta worry about being too warm

You certainly were carried along by lots of prayers and good wishes on your trip home and having that "angle" pop out of nowheere was a blessing in disguise. And missing the van by that short of a gap, shows that the Good Lord was indeed with you.

So now you can settle down to life in the woods of TN, start a new job, be near family and just plain enjoy the summer.

[JoySpice]

Welcome to my home state Echo and Kelly.. Glad you made it and are getting settled.. That guy sure was heaven sent. Glad he was there at the right time.. Maybe if Hubby and me get to Dollywood this year, we may see ya...

[sunshinecruiserTN]

Welcome back to TN, Echo & Kelly. I've met three couples this winter who work at Dollywood ea year. 1 of them works at Disney so they are back and forth. You get really good deals for peeps at Dollywood and then around the area while working for DW. Have fun, enjoy, stay cool and enjoy that grand baby.

[cpatinjones]

Happy to hear y'all made there and settling in.

[Echo]

Welcome back to TN, Echo & Kelly. I've met three couples this winter who work at Dollywood ea year. 1 of them works at Disney so they are back and forth. You get really good deals for peeps at Dollywood and then around the area while working for DW. Have fun, enjoy, stay cool and enjoy that grand baby.

It is so good to be home!!! Kelly and I have been getting high on the smell of "DIRT" that's not red and sandy and the smell of the GREEN of grass and leaves! Have so missed those 2 smells.

Have thought about working at Disney but have no idea how many jobs would or might be open during the winter months. Might have to check it out..