Another, another mini AL GTG 6/26/10

[sunshinecruiserTN]

You read that right, another AL GTG. AL seems to be a mecca right now. I arrived on Friday and then Vickie (Horizonseeker) came down today and we went to 2 RV dealers and looked around and then it was time for dinner. I had brought some fresh Gulf shrimp back and we did a shrimp boil. Everybody brought something and we just had a good ole potluck.

Here you see Jean (Sparkle) and Sarah (Bluepinecones) digging in as we all did but I just got them in the act.


Here is what some of the food looked like. On the forum, we all like pictures of our food.


Here is the group before Sarah arrived. Carolyn (sunshinecruisertn), Jean (Sparkle), Beth (Bethers), Vickie (Horizonseeker)


Since the bottom dropped out as we were getting ready for our potluck, the rain drove us into Somewhere. Here are all 5 of us, this time including Sarah.

It was a fun time.

[mitch5252]

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Huntsville's the hot spot, so it seems!
Great pictures.
Thanks for sharing.

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[Bethers]

What a great day. Of course, it was nothing like anyone planned. I had already had different plans for today, then planned to meet back up at the park with Carolyn, Sarah and Jean in time for dinner and a fire. As I was getting ready to leave, I returned a phone call from Vickie - and the whole day changed. She was able to come to Huntsville for the day - so like we say our plans are in jello when driving - that's what happened with the day.

It was fun. We went to a couple rv dealers and walked in the rigs. I saw online that one of them had a Safari Trek (my favorite Class A - no longer made) and I think I made believers of them. Not that anyone bought it - but it's so neat, especially for a single. And I walked into a Class C that I fell in love with. In a few years when I'm ready to move on to another rig, that will be on my short list to look for used. It was a 2010 Four Winds 25C if anyone is interested. Still small - very similar floorplan to mine now, and just would be "home" for me like what I have now.

Coming back, the fire was stopped by the rain that came through. As Carolyn said, Somewhere became our refuge (beautiful refuge) and the food and company was wonderful.

Carolyn needs to post some pictures of the road she drove up the mountain on in her rig. I guarantee she won't drive back down that road

[VickieP]

Somebody must have put up a revolving door in Huntsville! I"m glad yall had the opporunity to get together and now we have a face to put with HorizonSeeker/Vickie's posts.

[BirdbyBird]

Another wonderful day on the mountain! ....and apparently down at the RV lot I always love walking around rigs and imagining

[bluepinecones]

Took me forever to upload to Photobucket tonight but have a few more photos.
Friday afternoon, Carolyn called saying she was here and did I know anyone to hire to get her off that mountain. Seems her GPS routed her up the only narrow, two lane road with switch back hairpin curves. It is also length restricted but she must have missed sign. Took her back down that way today for photos on our way to RV shop. When you see those photos, remember she drove a 35 foot Class A with tow up there. After that, she should feel she can do anything!
BTW: The other two routes up the mountain are mostly 4 lane and no hairpin curves. She can get safely back down without assistance.

We spend most of Friday just visiting and without camera. Then decided to go out for Mexican dinner
Beth, Carolyn, Sarah


On the way back into park, we encountered this snake, a rattler, I think. Poor quality photo but didn't want any closer


Saturday I picked up the ladies for an RV shopping spree (too busy looking to remember camera most of the time but got a few)
Carolyn

Beth & Vicky

Beth & Vicky in Beth's next rig

Sarah in Beth's next rig (I really liked Beth's choice)

Another group shot of Dinner at Carolyn's Beth, Vicky, Jean, Sarah, Carolyn. I almost missed it - after taking the gang back from RV looking, I had to go tend to dogs at house then back up hill for dinner

and finally, Carolyn relaxing after dinner


Vicky went back to Nashville tonight but Carolyn has decided to stay another day. More photos tomorrow as the adventure continues.

[HorizonSeeker]

Wow! You just never know what will happen to the day when you get up in the morning. Started my morning in Hohenwald, TN visiting family. Thing is, that was halfway to Huntsville so when I got back over to 65 I made a decision: called Bethers cell phone and if she had time for me to visit I would turn south, if not I would turn north. She had the time so I turned south. Yeahhhh! Good thing she and Sunshine have nothing to hide because on each rig I poked and nosed and asked lots of questions. And then the bonus - we went RV shopping with BluePineCones. Yes, Bethers, I loved the Trek and did more research on them when I go home late last night. The icing on the cake was the wonderful dinner that the girls pulled together. Jean joined us and was a lot of fun. I hope we didn't wear her out, but she was a fun addition to the group. Took a "short" walk with Bethers and kept the snake story in mind but it was a beautiful trail through the woods ending in the downpour. I was sorry we didn't get to have a campfire and even sorrier when I had to leave but the storms were between me and home so the wise move was to get down off the mountain before dark and head for the house. Took the direct and not too twisty route down all the while trying to imagine Sunshine driving that big rig up the twisty route.

Thanks to Bethers, Jean, SunshineCruiser and BluePineCones for being terrific hosts and taking in a stranger and making her feel at home. It was a great day and my jaws are hurting from all the smiling and laughing!

[Nasoosie]

DANG! What great pics of some fantastic ladies! AL is certainly the place to be!!!! I love seeing what you all look like at last. And Beth's trademark colorful dresses always make the photos a bit flower-like! I am so happy for you all!

I will now go look up that class C that Beth liked to see what it's like inside.

Thanks, girls, for the peek at your adventures.

[Liz]

How great that Huntsville is becoming one long extended gtg! I knew I would be missing some fun. I like the looks of that Class C Beth...will have to look into them when I'm ready to look for another....not for awhile yet. Nice to see Vickie joining in the group. Best wishes for successful shopping.

[avalen]

wow, what a busy place, so good to see more faces to the names. Shrimp must
be everyones favorite cause thats what we had when Beth and Sparkle were here
in AZ. Good choice

[sunshinecruiserTN]

If you want to see the pictures of the infamous road to Monte Sano State Park in Huntsville, you can visit my blog. It will give you a pretty good perspective. What a challenge but I met the challenge and I'm better off for it. I'm glad that the story ended the way it did.

[mitch5252]

Man, Carolyn, my heart started racing just reading about your uphill adventure! (and thanks for the warning about the TN waterfall park...I had wanted to go there! Won't now.)

At least it was all worth it and you got down safely. Sounds like everyone is having a great time and enjoying good food, good beverage, and most of all - good company!

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[Bethers]

Liz, I'm hoping to find someone in a couple years that bought that model and barely used it It's a new model for them - MIGHT have been out last year - but this was a 2010 - and boy, if those salespeople there had ANY brains they would have been all over me. Who knows what stupidity I might have done - hahaha - and I just have a feeling all 3 of these ladies would have helped the salesperson - not help me be my frugal self

Sarah and Carolyn were leaving to play bingo when I got back today. I'm hoping to get over to my blog after having stolen pics from all of you to catch it up. I didn't take any from the visit with Liz or this one - as everyone else had their cameras, so I'm just "borrowing". But did have mine today for my sightseeing.

[sunshinecruiserTN]

Man, Carolyn, my heart started racing just reading about your uphill adventure! (and thanks for the warning about the TN waterfall park...I had wanted to go there! Won't now.)

At least it was all worth it and you got down safely. Sounds like everyone is having a great time and enjoying good food, good beverage, and most of all - good company!

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Mitch, don't miss going to Fall Creek Falls. Just don't go on Hwy 30 but take Hwy 111 and it's a great drive and terrific park. Good campgrounds too.

[bluepinecones]

I had a bit of a laid back day today. Carolyn cleaned her rig getting ready to leave tomorrow and since her baby is headed to shop for a check up, she transfered somethings to car. I put way too much time into browsing RV sites on line. I do really love that class C Beth found yesterday.
Anyway I didn't go up the mountain until afternoon. Beth was already gone so Carolyn and I visited a bit then walked over to Jean's rig. We had a nice and unusually long visit with her before heading back down the hill. Beth was just returning as we were leaving - she doesn't like bingo; seems Sparkle burned her out on it in TX last year.
We did a brief drive around a few blocks of one of the historic areas and the lakes at Big Spring Park. Then it was off to the Elks Club as it was bingo night. We had dinner there too - baked chicken, green beans and mashed potatoes for $3.95 - sorry forgot to photograph. I did get a couple of shots of Carolyn getting set to play (those are her dobbers, not mine, tho she did give me a green one to keep)

We had our good luck charms but didn't help much as no wins at our table

Even without the win, it was a very good evening.
After the game , it was back up the mountain and say bye under a bright full moon rising. Sadly, Carolyn will be leaving in the morning but that will give us another traveler to follow all summer.