2021 Oct 21-26, Trip to Mooresville, North Carolina with sisters (6 days)

 Day 1: Oct 21, 

Traveled from hwy 43 to hwy 64, taking 207Al, turning into 11TN through Minor Hill to 31A through Pulaski to I-65 from I-65, we took I840 to I-40, stopping in Crossville to eat lunch. We stopped at Cracker Barrel, but they were closed until 10:30 that morning. We stopped at I-Hop but they were short-handed and had a long wait. 

So we walked next door to Stake and Shake they did not have a waiter or waitress. We had to order and pay for our food at a kiosk and then pick up our food at the counter. 

It's not much fun traveling when you cannot find a place to stop and eat. 

I ordered chicken fingers, fries, and a Diet Coke. Bought gas at the Shell Station and put $45.16 on my credit card. 

Once everyone finished eating, we got back on I-40 and headed east into Knoxville. We took the I-40 through Smokey Mountain into North Carolina. We arrived at our destination around supper Paula had baked a shepherd's pie, and we enjoyed a couple of mixed margaritas.

After supper, we sat around and talked, then decided who was going to sleep where. Becky and I slept on the sofa. Teresa slept on the mattress on the floor, and Emmalee slept in the bed. 

Childers Vineyard 

Day 2:Oct 22, 

Everyone got ready and walked upstairs for the
breakfast that Paula and Tonya had prepared. 

Today, we are taking a tour of Childers Vineyard at 12 p.m. We arrived a little early (11:30 a.m.), so we walked around in the gift shop until it was time to take the tour. It was a very large group. When the tour ended, everyone was given a sample of wine. We each decided to buy a bottle of wine instead of paying $20 to sample five different flavors. 

So, we ended up with four bottles of wine, which was cheaper than doing the sampling. I bought a bottle of Muscadine Sweet wine for $11.99 and two chocolates at seventy-nine cents. 

At 5:30 p.m., we rode to Lake Norman to take a dinner cruise from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on the Queens Landing Catawba Queen. 

It was a three-course meal beginning with a salad, Chicken Marsala (a lightly coated chicken breast based with marsala) with mushrooms, green beans, roll, & creamed potatoes.

Our dessert was cheesecake. We also ordered a bottle of wine.

Our boat had an upper and lower level and was full. When we finished eating, we walked outside and watched the darkness fall onto the lake. 

We began the cruise as the sun was setting. 

Another eventful day

Emmalee, Barney, and Me

Day 3: Oct. 23, 

Today, we are going to Mount Airy, the birth home of Andy Griffin. 

By the time we arrived, everyone was hungry, so we walked to Barney’s Cafe. But before we went to eat, we stopped at the public restrooms. It was a good hour's ride to Mount Airy. 

It was lunchtime, so we had to wait in line for several minutes. 

Mount Airy History Museum

Finally, seated in the back of the restaurant. I ordered a BLT with onion rings and Diet Coke. I paid for everyone's lunch. 

When we finished eating, we walked to the History Museum. We spent the remainder of the time shopping in the gift shops. We looked for the jail but kept going in circles. We were worn out from all the walking, so we headed back home. 

Later that night, Tonya lit the fire pit, and we had a Weiner and marshmallow roasts. We also made smores. 

Another eventful day

Open-pit Weiner and Smores night 

Day 4:Oct 24, 

Today, we had planned to go to the Renaissance Fair but decided it was going to be too crowded, so we decided to go to Goodwill. 

I think everyone bought something. 

Paula, Amber, and I got lunch at McAlister's and took it to Lake Norman to eat. I ordered a half Reuben and Southwest salad. 

Reuben corn beef, sauerkraut Swiss cheese, Thousand Island dressing, and marble rye bread. 

Southwest salad with chicken, avocado, roasted corn, black beans, mixed greens, tomatoes, cheddar, jack, blue, and corn tortilla strips with chili.

Teresa, Becky, and Emmalee went somewhere else, but they ate there. 

We meet them at the park later. The kids enjoyed wading in Lake Norman. 

We came back home, and Teresa spent the rest of the evening washing clothes, and we helped Paula clean. 

Day 5:Oct 25, 

Today, we went to Publix Grocery, where I bought some banana bread and a drink. We each had an appointment to get a massage at Hand & Stone Massage for one hour. When we finished, we rode to Cracker Barrel for lunch. I ordered grilled chicken and pinto beans with cornbread and Diet Coke. Becky paid for everyone's meal. 

Kendall and I watched movies while everyone else was upstairs talking. We watched Hocus Pocus and Nightmare Before Christmas. They all ate leftovers, but I ate nothing because I was too full from lunch. 

Packed for the trip home tomorrow. 

Lake Norman

Day 6: Oct 26, 

Travel home.  

For Breakfast, I ate sausage and biscuits from McDonald's in Lenior City, TN. We were home before dark. Becky and Emmalee slept most of the way home. Teresa and I talked as she drove.  

Traveling I-40 through the Smoky Mountains 

🚙2015 July 7, Tuesday, Day trip to Jackson Tennessee

We left home around 8AM
We took Cox Creek Pky to Hwy 20 into Tennessee.
In Tennessee hwy 20 becomes 69
We continued traveling on hwy 69 through Savannah, we took hwy 64 over to Selmer up hwy 45.
For some crazy reason, our GPS took us off the beaten path through a little town called Finger.

Finger Store
We winded and twisted around the road back to hwy 45 in Henderson, Tn.

We rode past the Pinson Mounds sign, I wanted to stop but my husband said, it is just a pile of dirt and it is too hot.

Pinson Mounds Archaeological Area 2.5 miles

Finally, we made it to Jackson our first stop was the NC & SL Railroad Museum.
There was construction going on the road in front of the museum, we had to take a detour.

Detour sign and Neely House

We parked, I started taking pictures of the mural across the street, the Neely House, and the three train cars that were parked on the train tracks at the museum.

Mural of the Train Depot 

Kitchen & Dining Car, Caboose, Chessie System car

Chessie System Car

The Sleeping area

Kitchen 

Dining area
We walked into the museum where we saw more memorabilia that we could possibly see in one day. We watched the many tiny trains, twist and turn behind a glass case. I could have watched the trains for hours.

We talked to both curators, one of the curators ask me where we were from, I told her.
She asks me if I knew the Dunkin family.
She said her father-in-law was Colonel Dunkin and he is buried somewhere in South Alabama and she said she was a widow.
We thanked both curators and traveled to Rockabilly passing the historic homes on East Main Street.
This museum is free to the public.

Historic home on East Main St

Historic Greyhound Bus Station

Our next stop was Rockabilly Museum where we were greeted by the knowledgeable curator Henry Harrison. We toured the museum with a couple from Sweden.

The Swedish Couple 

I'm Going to Jackson
We got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went out.
I'm goin' to Jackson, I'm gonna mess around,
Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson, 
Look out Jackson town.

Well, go on down to Jackson; go ahead and wreck your health.
Go play your hand you big-talkin' man, make a big fool of yourself,
Yeah, go to Jackson; go comb your hair!
Honey, I'm gonna snowball, Jackson.
See if I care.

When I breeze into that city, people gonna stoop and bow. (Hah!)
All them women gonna make me, teach 'em what they don't know how,
I'm goin' to Jackson, you turn-a loose-a my coat.
'Cause I'm goin' to Jackson.
"Goodbye," that's all she wrote.

But they'll laugh at you in Jackson, and I'll be dancin' on a Pony Keg.
They'll lead you 'round town like a scalded hound,
With your tail tucked between your legs,
Yeah, go to Jackson, you big-talkin' man.
And I'll be waitin' in Jackson, behind my Jaypan Fan, 

Well now, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper Sprout,
We've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went.
I'm goin' to Jackson, and that's a fact.
Yeah, we're goin' to Jackson, ain't never comin' back.

Well, we got married in a fever, hotter than a pepper sprout'
And we've been talkin' 'bout Jackson, ever since the fire went...

Playing the drums 

The Mural at Rockabilly

On stage 

Guitar

Henry Harrison 

We thanked Mr. Harrison for the tour and all the information about Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Brenda Lee, Johnny Cash, WS Holland, Jerry Lee Lewis, The Jordan Aires, Ace Cannon, Carl Mann, Narvel Felts, Wanda Jackson & Sam Phillips.

This museum cost $10.00 per person 

Our next stop was the Casey Jones Village and the Old Country Store Restaurant.

We ordered two senior buffet meals with tea cost per person was $9.98 total cost $21.91.

I filled my plate with collard greens, peas and fried corn fritters, a small salad plate and for dessert blackberry and peach cobbler. Oh, my gosh! It was so good!

Southern Buffet

Old Country Store Restaurant

Soda Shop woman frying up some apple pies

I took a few pictures outside, we walked across the parking lot, to the Old Town Music Highway Crossroads.

Motorcycle Made my Orange County Choppers

We walked to Casey's Museum Home, Train Museum and the gift shop.

Casey Jones Home 

The Hurst that carried Casey Jones 

The crash 

Casey Jones dining room 

Train engine 382🚂🚂🚂

Our last stop before starting home was the Winery, where I tasted several different wines before we purchased a bottle of Blackberry and Cayuga White wine, we spent $32.93.

We traveled home stopping at Chick-fil-a for dinner at 5:43PM.
We were both very tired from the trip and we both fell asleep by 8:30PM.
We had a great day it started out not too hot, by the end of the day it was humid.
Another full day of fun, see where next week will take us!

🚙2015 ~ Jan 20-22, Road trip to Gulf Shores, AL

Early Tuesday Morning I ask hubby if he wanted to go on a road trip to Gulf Shores, Alabama.

Day 1: January 20, 2015

We were on the road at 10:00 am.

We stopped at 10:40 am at Chick-fil-a in Athens to use the restrooms and eat an early lunch.

We both ordered a grilled chicken sandwich, diet coke, un-sweeten tea (me) and we shared a large order of waffle fries.

We both had a calendar card that we used for a free grilled chicken sandwich and a drink.

Our final cost was $1.80.

We traveled US 72 to I-65 from Athens to Birmingham where we saw signs for places like Hartselle, Vinemont, Cullman, Hanceville, Warrior, Gardendale, Fultondale, Homewood, Vestavia Hills, and Hoover.

We passed through Birmingham where we saw several very tall buildings and the Vulcan statue facing downtown Birmingham.

We stayed on I-65 passing through Pelham, Alabaster, Montevallo (home of the American Village), Jemison, Clanton, (rest area) Millbrook, and Prattville into Montgomery.

We saw as we crossed the bridge the tall downtown building of Montgomery.

We stayed on I-65 South toward Greenville, Georgina, Evergreen, (another rest stop and restroom break) and Atmore.

We turn east onto Highway 287 toward Bay Minette and then we turned onto highways 59/31 south, which took us through the town of Stapleton where highway 59 went southeast and highway 31 went southwest.

We stayed on highway 59 east, which took us through the town of Loxley.

At Loxley, we took Highway 90, which took us through the towns of Robertsdale, Summerdale, Foley, to Gulf Shores.

Our first stop was at Gulf Shores Public Beach where we walked on the sandy beach.

Gulf Shores Beach feeding birds
There were a couple of young men trying to surf but the waves were too small.

We saw a woman with birds flocking all around her; they were waiting for her to feed them. Finally, she ran out of bread and said to the birds, “I am sorry but the food is all gone as she walked away.”

We got back into the van and hubby drove us a little further down the beach.

We stopped to watch the sunset.

It was amazing watching the sun go from a bright yellow into an orange, red as it slowly disappeared into the Gulf which took just minutes.

There were many people there just to watch the sunset, some walked along the beach, others stood under the shelter while others sat in their vehicles facing the sun.

Everyone was spellbound at the sight.

Sunset at Gulf Shores

Hubby drove us to Lulu’s 200 East 25^th Avenue Gulf Shores, Ala.

We could hear music and someone singing as we approached the restaurant.

We were greeted and taken to table 43, which had a great view of BAT who was entertaining the crowd.

BAT is a singer-songwriter, heavy folk, and acoustic entertainer.

BAT sounds like The Beatles, Queen, Simon & Garfunkel, Billy Joel, and Eagles.

LULU'S 

He had the audience singing the lyrics of many different songs along with him.

He did many old television show theme songs such as Green Acres, The Brady Bunch, The Adams Family.

We ordered the Big Fry Seafood Basket (serves 2), which includes shrimp, Oysters, Crab Claws, and Fried Fish.

Big Fry Seafood Basket

The meal was served with French fries, coleslaw, and hushpuppies $30.99.

After a very good meal, and awesome entertainment we left Lulu’s and Hubby drove us to Staybridge Suite.

We checked in and took our luggage to room 315 on the third floor.

Tonight at the hotel, they were having a wine tasting so we came back downstairs to sample the different wines.

On the food bar, there was Mac & cheese, & Fiesta Salad, with all the beer on tap and soda that you could drink.

There were about seven different kinds of wines and I sampled all of them but the only one that I liked was the white Zinfandel.

It was a social hour and we talked to a couple from Atlanta, GA. They were like us getting away from the cold and sickness.

Hubby talked to another man about politics.

We finished our wine went upstairs and soaked in a tub of hot water, watched some TV and went to bed.

Day 2: Wednesday, January 21, 2015

The next morning we both took a shower, dressed and went downstairs for breakfast, which was about 7AM.

I ate an omelet, two sausage links, covered in syrup, a few walnuts, and diet coke. Hubby ate an omelet, two sausage links, ham, a burrito and drank a glass of orange juice.

We went back upstairs grabbed our luggage; looking around to make sure we were not leaving anything and checked out.

We thanked the woman at the register told her how much we enjoyed our stay and would defiantly return.

Hubby drove us back to the public beach for one last walk on the sandy beach and where I could take some early morning pictures.

Gulf Shore Waves

He then drove us to Orange Beach, FL so I could purchase 10.00 worth of scratch-offs. I won eighteen dollars that were eight dollars more than I started with.

We rode back to Gulf Shores stopped at the restrooms at Gulf shore Park and then we're on our way home.

We stopped at Burris Farm Market in Loxley where we purchased a bag of Pecans/Walnuts for $10.88, boiled peanuts $2.99, Molasses $5.99 and banana blueberry bread $2.99; we spent $24.91.

We walked back to the van got inside to put our purchase in the back seat. I reached back for the banana bread for I wanted a slice but it was not in the bag.

I walked back inside and told the woman at the register she had forgotten to give us one of our bags.

She apologized and I said if I had not looked inside for the bread we would drove off without the bread and Molasses.

I got a plastic knife to cut the bread from the bakery.

We were going to stop at Peach Park for some peach ice cream and peach pie but they were closed for a private party.

We stopped at Munchies Chevron in Calera, Al to fill up with gas. Cost $35.00 price $2.13 for unleaded plus and held 16.36 gallons.

We stopped a couple times at rest stops but did not stop again until we reached Athens.

In Athens, we stopped at DQ where I ordered a chili with cheese hot dog with onion rings and diet coke.

Hubby ordered a hamburger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles with French fries and diet coke.

Our last stop was at Lucky’s car wash at 4:09PM spent $8.00.

We were home just before 5pm.

We had a wonderful trip, where we walked along the sandy beaches of Gulf Shores, watch the sun fade into the gulf, ate seafood at Lulu’s, tasted wine at Staybridge Suites, won $8 on scratch off ‘s in Orange Beach, had a restful sleep at Staybridge Suites and a safe ride home.

Who could ask for more?

BAT Entertaining 

Staybridge Suits bed

Condo's and Hotels along the beach