From RV homes to trains

 

 October 27, 2020

Crossville, Tennessee

Momma was looking forward to checking out the Cheese House in Crossville but it certainly didn't live up to her expectations.  I suppose you are thinking that her expectations were just too high, but it was a total consensus of the group that the shop was a bust.  Maybe with less shopping traffic due to Covid, they weren't stocking much in the way of inventory???  Or producing as much product??

What kind of saved the stop from being a total disaster was the Antique shop right next door.

 

We didn't find any treasures to bring with us but it was interesting to step back in time.  

But the first stop of the day was enchanting.  Carol and Steve introduced us to the "Tail Gunners" on their Alaskan Fantasy tour, Mike and Suzanne. 

They were gracious hosts who invited all of us to their home in The Gardens, a development for RV owners.  Each home or duplex has a 16 foot high garage to house an RV plus a shorter double garage for other vehicles. 

Dad cringed when he thought about the electric bill that must arrive at the end of each month with 2300 sq feet of living space, 2300 sq feet of garage space and basement all climate controlled.  Of course he is used to the many months of AC required in Florida vs the lower temps that Tennessee offers.

Mike and Suzanne have made their house their home, settling in over the last four years.

But what made Momma's eyes sparkle the most was....

No, not the cat.  It's the appliance right under where the cat is sitting.

A crushed ice machine.  The appliance has a heater so the ice never gets old, it is recycled and fresh constantly.  Now how cool is that?  And it's crushed ice!!  Momma's favorite.  No half moons that slosh in the cup so you end up wearing half your drink.  

What a nice, friendly couple...but then isn't that true about most RVers?

After a quick bite at the Flying Pig...yep, BBQ on the menu,  the gang was treated to a special viewing.  Tom's brother-in-law is active with local train enthusiasts who have set up several working model train displays in the outlet mall. 

They typically don't open until the weekend but Vince was kind enough to open just for us.  WOW!!  Displays everywhere. 

Now what you may not realize and appreciate is the hours, days, months, years that it takes to set up the life like settings.  You may think the track is just lay down and the trains run.  Oh no!  The track needs to be secured so the train won't derail and that in itself is a feat. Nail down the track too tight and the rails dip and cause a derailing.  And the gravel looking bed for the track needs to be sealed so the dust doesn't compromise the cars. 

Then there is the time spent creating the minature mountains and tunnels

and we haven't even begun to discuss the wiring needed to make the train zip around the laid track.

Quite an impressive display. 

Thanks Tom for arranging that for us!

I think you'll agree, it was another great day in Tennessee....especially since Dad took me out the the grassy area behind our rig and tossed my ball for me to retrieve.  

I'm Chloe