Thursday, June 30, 2016

After a five-month hiatus, we got back on the road with a rather lengthy (for us) trip from Cumming, GA (no more ties to that place) all the way to Clarksville, TN. We made the 297.9 miles (77,045.2 total) in just under six hours. It might have been luck or just great planning that got us through both Chattanooga and Nashville with very few traffic slowdowns.

I never got around to cleaning the radiator, so I had to closely watch the engine temperature as we climbed Monteagle. The five miles of 6 percent uphill grade pushed the temp up to 210 degrees, but no alarms sounded, so we were good. At the top, we stopped in a rest area to let the engine cool off a bit and grab a bite of lunch.  It felt like the entire day went well, so I think we didn't lose too much of our traveling mojo during our time off.

I think Sam was relieved to be back on the road again away from all the air compressors and carpet layers and paint odors!  He is a traveling dog through and through.

Our realtor, Tricia, gave us a very generous closing gift - Big Green Egg Mini.  The next day in the Clarksville RV Park we saw this in a neighbors site.

David noticed this clever cat screened in patio cut into the side of a five-er.

Friday, June 17, 2016

Closing on the sale was a bit tedious as we waited more than three hours for everything to be completed. With a check in hand, we ran straight to the bank wondering if and when we could stop worrying about whether the whole thing might fall through.

We committed to staying in the area to help Jon and Sara with a number of things to help get them settled into their new home.  At least our chores for the next two weeks were much less stressful (no deadlines) and were much more satisfying (we were helping family instead of strangers).

We drove by the house one last time to retrieve St. Joseph.  He will now tour the country with us.

Thursday, June 16, 2016

We left Tennessee early enough to get the coach out of storage and set up again at Sawnee campground.  Most of the day's driving was in the car with the last 11.7 miles (76,747.3 total) in the coach.  After setting up camp, Joani found a creepy surprise.

I needed something nicer than a t-shirt and shorts to wear to the closing on Friday.  My better clothes are in this little closet in the back corner of the coach in thin plastic suit bags (thank goodness for the plastic bags!)

[enlarged]

I have no idea how long the fungus has been taking advantage of the moisture somehow entering the closet.  Miraculously, there was no odor.

[enlarged again]

Although there was a natural beauty to the growth, I sprayed it with bleach, pulled out the wood trim, caulked the corners and painted the walls with white anti-fungal paint.  Time will tell if I am rid of it.

While we were gone Jon had removed the last few things at the house. We visited the house one last time and said our final farewells (it really was not that much of a moment - we were both ready to move on).