More wound healing education + Chattanooga train

March 26, 2026

Summerfield, Fl

Momma is finding out that wound education can be a very painful experience.  She had been diligently applying the expensive Santyl ointment but the dermatologist had failed to inform her that you need to activate it with saline. After being enlightened by the wound doctor, she discovered a whole new level of pain that is just intolerable.  Needless to say, the wound doctor told her not to use the Santyl that her body reacts so violently to and replaced it with Therahoney.  Let the healing begin!!

Meanwhile, Momma's day has been brightened with pictures and shared stories from her caravan friends in Chattanooga.  Today, several boarded the trolley for a narrated, air conditioned trip to the train museum.  Oooops....well, that was the way it was advertised.  As it turned out, the ac unit wasn't functioning properly so the windows were opened which interfered with the narration on the poor sound system as the riders bumped along on the hard, tiny wooden seats.  Definitely not the highlight of the day!

The train seats appear to provide a more cushioned ride.

Once again, the group enjoyed the use of the clubhouse as they gathered for games in the evening.

Just think Momma, if I had finger and toes, I could play board games with you.  After all, you know how smart I am😜

As everyone returned to their rigs, they enjoyed the beautiful evening sky on their last night in Chattanooga.

Travel day tomorrow.

I'm Chloe

 

Wound care + more Chattanooga

March 25, 2026

Summerfield, Fl

Momma and Dad headed out this morning to meet up with a wound specialist.  It turned out to be a very enlightening experience.  Not only were they not applying that expensive ointment with saline to activate it (no one had shared that tidbit), some of the other things they had been advised to do by the dermatologist were impeding healing such as the use of Vaseline and washing the wound daily with soap and water.  Thankfully, lidocaine was applied to the wound before the doctor went to work scraping the yellow gunk from the wound to allow the healing to take place.  Unfortunately, the effects of the lidocaine wore off much too quickly as far as Momma was concerned.  It will be a slow process but Momma ordered Juven, a wound healing supplement to speed up things as recommended by the doctor.  

While Momma is dealing with her medical issue, the caravan gang are still enjoying Chattanooga.  They located a delightful restaurant where they enjoyed lunch.

And of course when someone in the group has a birthday, it's time to bring out the cake and ice cream.

Pictured below:  Jim on the left, celebrating his birthday cake with Steve

and the rest of the gang.

 Happy birthday Jim.  I hear you got new tires on your birthday😀

This group does enjoy playing games. Tonight Cardgo with prizes from Lazy Days as well as candy, Fast Track, and Qwixx were played.

One more day left before departing from Chattanooga.

I'm Chloe

Home + Chattanooga fun

 March 24, 2026

Summerfield, Fl

Ahhh,  my very own grass under my paws.  We arrived home safe and sound Tuesday afternoon and settled back into our home. 

Before we departed Reed Bingham State Park, Momma took some pictures of a unique camping unit.

 Nothing notable on our drive today, but our camping buddies certainly had some memorable activities.

Jim noticed a tire issue, that, upon further investigation, was caused by a broken axle hanger.  Being in Chattanooga, while still traveling with the caravan, resulted in successfully locating a welder to perform repairs.  So Tuesday morning, it was off to the repair shop for a successful repair, followed by new tires.

Some of the group decided to enjoy an experience on the river.

Ruby Falls, a 145 foot underground waterfalls inside Lookout Mountain, was discovered in 1928 by Leo Lambert, who named the falls after his wife, Ruby.

With a lovely clubhouse provided for their use, the best way to end a day is gathering for a variety of games around the tables.

Pegs and Jokers Game

Swoop Card Game

Sure do miss my traveling buddies.

I'm Chloe

Relocating

 March 22-23, 2026

Reed Bingham State Park site 8

Adel, Georgia

Our GTC Spring Caravans have always been very flexible with a drop-in, drop-out policy as sometimes life can be complicated.  Saturday night we had a delicious pot luck meal for our last night at Noccalula Falls Campground.  If I were being perfectly honest, I should have said the two-legged had a pot luck dinner.  I was NOT invited.  I have a reputation of helping myself that is not appreciated at all by Momma and Dad.  But from all the lips smacking and ooohs and aahs, everyone enjoyed the meal that once again had lots of variety.

Sunday morning was travel day with some heading for destinations by themselves while others continued on to the next caravan destination - Chattanooga. 

There they go.....on the road again....

We, sadly, bid everyone farewell as we are heading home to get Momma to a wound specialist.  She had radiation in December to get rid of skin cancer just above her ankle.  Unfortunately, even with a variety of pills and ointments, the last being a small tube with a cost of $311, nothing has worked over the last three months to heal the painful wound.  The doctor said it is time for a new intervention...a wound specialist.  So our route has taken a southern turn.

In the meantime, the caravan gang has met up at Holiday Travel Park, kicking off the first night with another shared meal as they greeted some drop-in friends.

Steve and Tina

 

Kathy on the right joined the group with her husband Greg
 (not pictured)

Being a very social group, happy hour was enjoyed as they gathered near site 121.  Then they moved into the clubhouse for another shared dinner

followed shared stories and games.

I even received a special "We miss you" photo from my ball playing buddies.  

Meanwhile, our day of travel turned into a challenging, stressful trip.  About 40 miles from our destination for the night, traffic slowed to a painful crawl with a top speed of 10 mph.  Unfortunately, that crawl lasted for a good 30 minutes.  We finally found ourselves rolling along at normal speed when the next 'shoe dropped'.  With 6 miles to go, the Ram began loosing power and the check engine light lit up on the dash.  'Now what?'  We continued on after saying a prayer that fortunately was answered, allowing us to pull off I-75 and head to High Falls State Park.  There are two campground areas but registration is located in a third area.  Momma had been told, 'If you go over the bridge, you've gone too far.'  As they neared the bridge, Momma spotted signage to turn left and she said,  "Turn left.  There's the bridge that we aren't to go over."  Dad didn't quite hear all that Momma said and proceeded across the bridge.  Ooops!  As it turned out, there was a church with a large, empty parking lot that was perfect for getting us turned around.  As we turned ...right..now that we were heading in the opposite direction after crossing back over the bridge, we came upon a building labeled 'Trade Post'.  Hmmm?? is that where registration takes place or do we continue further? y Luckily, Momma went inside to check it out and even though there was no signage identifying that this was the registration site, she was able to get registered, receiving a map to our site and gate code info.  We headed for the Riverside Campground Area and Dad held his breath as he wasn't certain the Ram had enough power to traverse the hilly road towing the fifth wheel.  "Dad, quit holding your breath or you will pass out and we will drop off this narrow, winding, hilly, one lane campground road.  Then we will really be in a pickle!  I've got it covered. My paws are crossed."  

After successfully reaching our pull thru site and getting set up, Momma and Dad decided to grab some fuel.  The Ram must have liked being fed as the engine smoothed out so they traveled a couple more miles to take advantage of a recommendation from Louise to enjoy a southern dinner at Buckner's Family Restaurant where food is served family style on a lazy susan in the middle of the round table.

Black eyed peas, ham, fried chicken, creamed corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, stewed tomatoes, macaroni and cheese, corn bread and rolls topped off with peach cobbler made for some tasty eating.  So it seems Momma and Dad were happy and full and the Ram was happy with it's full tank, purring nicely, although the check engine light was still displayed on the dash.  I was disappointed when they returned and forgot to give me my dinner time dog treat....but they got the hint when I gave them a reminder to hand over my dental bone treat.

Today we traveled further south to Reed Bingham State Park

which had nice signage for their registration building.  Dad's mind was busy as we traveled, puzzling the Ram's 'issue' that appears to have resolved itself as the check engine light is no longer lit.  But there was definitely an issue.  The Ram acted starved for fuel so.....a lift pump issue?  or an injector going bad? or ???  The Ram will be getting a check up and the codes read to see if there is a chance of determining what exactly took place.

Meanwhile in Chattanooga, some decided to enjoy the views from the Incline Railway.

It's called Look Out Mountain

And the day continued, gathering in the clubhouse once again for some social time and shared snacks

while Momma and Dad located an afternoon snack in Adel, Georgia

as well as some diesel at $4.62 a gallon.

Tomorrow we should arrive home while the GTC Caravan Gang will experience more adventures in Chattanooga.

I'm Chloe