Tag Archives: Family Campers & RV’ers

Alabama

Another Overnight Elks Lodge & Alpine Coach Friends (Tuscaloosa, AL)

We continued our eastward trek along I-20 on Monday and ended up driving 227 miles from Vicksburg, MS to Tuscaloosa, AL.  We stopped at a Pilot/Flying J in Meridian and topped off the fuel tank with 84 gallons of diesel for $187.  I like the Pilot/Flying J’s because they’re always easy-in and easy-out.  Plus we have their discount card (Pilot RV Plus) that we can pay online when the bill is due.  Calculations after refueling confirmed our Scangauge D™ is accurate and we’re getting a little over 8 miles to the gallon.  Not too bad 🙂

Screen Shot 2016-07-12 at 10.21.18 PM

IMG_8710

Once again our ~$100 annual Elks Lodge membership pays for itself…  our iPhone app routed us to the Tuscaloosa Elks Lodge #393 where we went into the lodge and paid a reasonable $20 for the night.

IMG_8712

After checking in, we disconnected the Silverado and pulled into a 50 Amp full hook-up site next to the only other Coach at the lodge.

IMG_8713

Nice spots backed up to a short grassy area and thick woods.  Next to us was a nice covered picnic area with BBQ pits.

IMG_8714

After getting set up we went back into the lodge for some tasty margaritas and conversation with friendly folks.  The bartender cooked us up a really good pizza and a BBQ beef sandwich for our dinner.

IMG_8715

In the morning, I got our ladder out and spent some time washing the bugs off the front of the Urban Escape Vehicle.  With a little help from Stilla, I even got most of the coach washed and wiped dry again.

Around noon on Tuesday we hit the road again and plugged the route to a Walmart in Centre, AL into our RVND™ GPS.  We’ve been in contact with some old friends from Colorado Springs who invited us to park for a couple days at their new (to them) house near Lake Weiss.  Tom & Johnna Phillips coordinated to meet us at the Walmart parking lot so they could lead us out to their beautiful home on the lake.

Screen Shot 2016-07-12 at 7.31.16 AM

Tom & Johnna were already waiting for us when we rolled into the Walmart parking lot after our ~145 mile drive from the Elks Lodge in Tuscaloosa.  They guided us to their house where we’re now moochdocking on their 50 Amp power hookup 🙂

Tom & Johnna have been here a year now but used to be in the Family Campers & RV’ers (FCRV), Rolling Springs Chapter out of Colorado Springs.  We were also members of FCRV at that time and went on several camping trips together.  We’ve stayed in touch with them along with several other current and past members.  My Dad and stepmom Elaine are still active members and as a matter of fact – about this time last year we were with them in Gillette WY at the FCRV Campvention.  And BTW – did I mention Tom & Johnna also have an Alpine Coach!?

Tom grilled us up some burgers on the back deck while we watched the sun set over the lake in the back yard and got caught up.  Thanks Tom & Johnna for the hospitality!

Check back tomorrow for more pics… Tom & Johnna plan on showing us around the area…

Colorado

FCRV Rolling Springs (Colorado City KOA)

2 Comments

Friday was another wash & wax day since I was so rudely interrupted by the exploding expandable hose that I talked about in my previous post.  I decided to get another pocket hose from WalMart on Friday after doing some research on-line.  It seems that no matter which version of expandable hose you choose – there are many negative reviews on each.  The pocket hose is cheaper than the x-hose and this time I saved the receipt.  Anyway, I finally got the whole coach washed… it’ll take awhile for the waxing though – one section at a time is the best approach 🙂

On Saturday, we decided to go see the folks in the camping group we belong to – the Rolling Springs Chapter (FCRV).  So we jumped into the Silverado and drove down to the KOA in Colorado City where the group is having their weekend campout.  We “crashed” the party and got caught-up with folks… especially my Dad and Stepmom.  This KOA is about 65 miles South of Colorado Springs.  We stayed here with the group once last year.  Nice campground, but of course at KOA prices…

When we arrived around noon-time, most folks were out enjoying the local sites so we hung out with Biff & Linda Anderson outside their Monaco Coach (we still had our folding chairs in the back of the Silverado) until my Dad and Stepmom Elaine got back.  It was great catching up with them… Biff & Linda were especially helpful to us before we started our trip up to the Pacific NorthWest back a couple/few months ago… they provided us invaluable tips on routes and best places to stay because they had been before.  Thanks Biff & Linda!  It was great seeing you again.

Finally, my Dad & Stepmom Elaine arrived back at the CG.  It was really good to see them again too!  We haven’t seen each other since late July when we convoyed together to Lake Tahoe and spent an awesome week together at the Sugar Pine Point CG with some cousins that live in California.

This is the first opportunity we had to see Dad’s new Jeep!  He hasn’t gotten the baseplate installed yet to tow it behind his “FRED”.  That’s short for Front Engine Diesel.  It is made  by Gulfstream and the model is the Crescendo.  Elaine drove the Jeep down from COS, following Dad in the Coach.  Next time, I’m sure he’ll have it set up to tow.

IMG_4663
Dad “Bill” and his new 2014 Jeep Sahara

IMG_4668

Nice Jeep Dad!

Of course as soon as a hood goes up, others come by to check it out too 🙂

IMG_4665

I got to test drive it.  We all piled in and went over to Graneros Gorge which is just minutes South of the CG.  Although we didn’t need 4-wheel drive – it was still fun hitting the dirt road to get there.  Here we parked near the edge of the gorge.

IMG_4671

There are the remnants of a gazebo on the edge.  At least that’s what my research determined this was.

IMG_4670

View down into the gorge.

IMG_4679

And here we are looking down into the gorge.  You can see Dad’s new jeep in the background.

IMG_4676

I posed for a picture near the edge… Stilla kept telling me to take one step back…

IMG_4680

We got back to the CG in time for happy hour with the group.

IMG_4684

IMG_4686

It wasn’t long after happy hour was over and we all gathered together again inside the community room for our traditional Saturday evening potluck.  Tonight’s potluck theme was chili.  We had every sort of chili known to man and as usual there was more than enough to go around.

IMG_4691

Again, it was fun seeing all the great folks again in the Rolling Springs Chapter of FCRV.  C U all next time!

I started this post yesterday morning (Sunday) but just now (Monday) got it posted due to interruptions.  We picked up our son William and his girlfriend from the airport in Denver (DIA) on Sunday evening and have been running around all day today doing some sight-seeing and shopping… but I’ll do a separate post on that shortly…  I need to post this one first.