HERE WE GO AGAIN

Off again into the RED...WHITE.. and.. BLUE YONDER ...1 sunset at a time!

 We had a busy month getting Lexi ready before our target departure date of Sept. 20th... and deciding to up-grade some of her interior put it over the top.

We took out the Jack Knife Couch and factory built in dinette "keeping the stand alone table" Most of the carpet and all of the linoleum was replaced with laminate flooring. Then we put in a double recliner and will use stand alone chairs {for a much more comfortable seating configuration}

We did make a quick trip to watch our Granddaughter Alexa play volleyball before we left ...we unfortunately miss some things when we travel.  

So all loaded with a new coat of wax and oil change...we were off with a "BANG" ... literally... we blow Lexi's left rear inside dully... not more than 50 miles from home on 75 and in the process lost the tire fender shield. We limped along with our 4-ways on into Beaver Dam and found "on Sunday" someone to sell us a new tire... but at a jacked up price!!!

But after a two hour delay and feeling we where just taken advantage of we were back on our way to our first night at the Beltera Casino, between Cincinnati and Louisville in southern Indiana along the Ohio River. It's a beautiful casino with a great golf course but at this point all we wanted was a good night sleep.


Our next day was far less stressful with a uneventful ride through Southern Indian with views of the Ohio River and rolling farmland.

These are pictures of our second night stay in Indiana at a Public Land area  
called German Ridge Trail Campground. A horse riding area in the middle of Hoosier N.P. with over 24 miles of trails for riding, biking and hiking.


As we left in the morning we noticed a pull in the steering to the right and a rubbing sound like a low tire or one that was splitting.

Again for the second time in three days we were again limping along the with 
our 4-way flashers on about 20 MPH... This time on a winding country road along the Ohio River.

It was not the best of feelings in itself... and with the small town of Cannelton, our first chance to find someone to take a look at what was wrong seemed like a long shot...especially with a motorhome. 

We are happy to say we limped into the right place! TTR Tire and Auto Service was the kind of place you would love to have close to home and never expect when you need it the most in a remote small town. Jason Tribbie /co-owner had a handle on the problem with in a short time and ordered parts {calipers and a brake line} 

Three hour later we were back on the road with a better much better felling then when we got our tire replaced a couple days before. So thank you again Jason for the pleasant experience and FOR LUNCH ... the Taco Salad was great!

Our next stop was very nice on Lake Glendale in Shawnee National Forest near the southern border of Illinois and we decided to stay for a couple of nights to re-group and re-charge.

While there we took a 3 1/2 mile 2 hour hike around the lake... our first hike together in over a year because of Tony's foot problems and everything went well so there will be more hiking activity on this trip.

We were going to stop in Missouri for a night but decided to push on into Arkansas and stayed at a nice Elks Lodge #   for the night...actually a great place ... free stay with electric and they bought the first beer!!!

As we moved into the center of the state we decided to go to Hot Springs and stay at the National Park. What we found out is the Hot Springs National Park is an unusual blend of a highly developed park in a small city surrounded by low-lying mountains abounding in plant and wildlife. The town has a Bathhouse Row which taps into the natural hot springs, with water the man attraction free water filling stations are found all around town.

This fountain was so hot you could see the steam coming up off the pool! 

The bathhouse tour was interesting because ...like in the pictures some aspects were very plush and elegant while others were very sterile.   

Also much of the history of Hot Springs is woven from the people who came here to vacation and live or maybe lay low during the years of Probation. Many like Al Capone, Frank Costello, Ben (Bugsy) Segal and Bugs Moran came here to learn the casino business before going to Las Vegas

 

Hanging out with Al Capone...

At the center of that activity is the Ohio Club, the only remaining business of once illegal casinos. Although it has been closed at times for fires, floods or because of being raided for illegal gambling and drinking, and it's said Teddy Roosevelt had a beer there.  

The name is the product of the Civil War when the Williams Family who first opened the Ohio Club in 1905 fought against each other in that war. Half of the family went to Kentucky and Tennessee and the others went to Ohio. After the war, a lot of entrepreneurs moved to the south and named there saloons / clubs after their home state. At one time Bathhouse Row had clubs named The Kentucky Club, Indiana Club 
Illinois Club along with the Ohio Club which "is still a great bar"

The town also has The Gangster Museum of America which highlights the towns colorful past which is preserved along with the bath houses to give visitors a unique experience. Well Worth The Trip...Well Worth The Stay!


As we moved into Texas we found a nice place with "very pleasant people" on Bob Sandlin Lake...(who ever he was) called Barefoot Bay Marina and RV Resort.

A good place to kick back and write this first post for this years travel blog.


 
Our next stop will be Fort Worth to visit Grand Nephew Greg at TCU and take in there Homecoming Game against Texas.

  LIVE
LAUGH
  LOVE
SanTony