New location

March 31, 2024

Eastbank Campground site C-18

Bainbridge, Ga

Travel day today....but no need to hustle as we are heading to a Corps of Engineers Park who advertise a departure time of 3pm and arrival time of 4pm.   With only 102 miles to travel, it was a laid back departure and a short drive.  Luckily our sites were vacated before 3pm, so they let us in early, which was nice.

Some of our group attended the Sunrise Service in Madison and were treated to a full breakfast while receiving a friendly welcome.

Check out my Auntie Carol.  She has STYLE!!

Her flamingo has bunny ears and her socks are full of white rabbits.

Our group has grown to 9 rigs with the arrival of Bill and Michele.  Their site is on the other side of the park so they had a bit of a hike with their chairs to join us around the fire. 

With everyone staggering their departure and some making a stop to shop or eat along the way, it was dinner time before everyone settled in.  But we were able to gather around the fire tonight.  

Bunny s'mores were on the campfire menu.  Yep, the chocolate was a bunny that hugged the toasted marshmallow while being sandwiched between two graham crackers.  

These gals know how to make a gooey s'more.

My day was especially memorable because my camping neighbors came over to toss my ball for me....and you all know ball chasing is my favorite activity!!  I'm so glad Rick and Louise are parked next to me.  I'll be enjoying sweet dreams tonight, just picturing another round or two of ball playing again tomorrow.

I'm Chloe

Hands on repair today

 March 30, 2024

The Station RV - site 35

Madison, Fl

Some days you might get to watch repairs being performed.  Some days you might get to roll up your sleeves and perform the repairs.  Today was a mixture.  

Dale and Debby rolled out early to head to the repair shop for the wiring job to get the new AC unit running.   Thus, watching repairs being performed.

Louise and Rick heard an unusual sound when they emptied their kitchen sink.  That turned into a hands on repair.  Dad sent his camera down the drain to determine what the issue was and then Steve and Dad came up with a plan as to how to get to the area in need of repair. 

Steve had to depart part way through the job as he and Carol had made plans to visit some friends in Tallahassee so Jan got involved with Dad.  Jan said that gave Dad a real dilemma.  Should Dad be mad at Steve for leaving with the job half done or should he thank Steve for leaving so Jan could step in. LOL

With the guys busy on a project, it was the perfect time for a couple of games of Fast Track for the gals.  But game didn't begin until Louise and I returned from the dog park area.   I had laid my saddest look on Louise.  She just couldn't turn me down.  She LOVES me!! 

She and Pam walked me to the fenced in dog area so I could run and chase my ball.....and then return back to my rig, tripping over my tongue that was hanging low from all the exertion.  What a fun morning for me!!

Today was pot luck dinner day for the group.  

Two large picnic tables full of friends and two smaller tables full of great dishes created by those friends.

  It sure looked yummy to me as I peered out the window.  That's right, I wasn't invited!  I guess my menu will be the same as last night's menu...and the night before that...and the night before that.  Yep, boring dog food.

I'm sure glad to see all the smiling faces tonight on the owners of the rigs with the positive outcomes to the repairs.  The AC unit is running and cooling once again.  The steps extend and retract once again.  And the leaky pipe no longer dispenses water behind the cupboard door.  

It was another great day for everyone here in Madison, Florida.  We will depart this area on a high note heading to Bainbridge, Georgia tomorrow in search of the Easter Bunny.  

I'm Chloe

Repair entertainment

 March 29, 2024

The Station RV - site 35

Madison, Fl

Our group is growing.  Another arrival today.  They will caravan with us to Louisiana and the Cajun Festival.

We were happy to receive a phone call from Louise and Lew who said a change in their plans would allow them to join us today.  When they pulled into the campground, the manager had a day off so the worker assigned them a site in a different area.  When they discovered where they had been assigned in relationship to us, they negotiated for a site closer to our group and all the fun. They slid right into the vacant site amidst our group.

The morning had a different type of entertainment, especially for the men. It was TOOL TIME!!   It seems some repairs were needed that involved some new parts.  One rig needed a new front air conditioner that arrived on top of a van.  Hmmmm??? Now how was that van driver going to get that AC unit up on top of that tall coach?  Ahhh, here comes another tech in a truck.  Whew!! No one in our group had to volunteer to lend a hand.  

A ladder to the top of the van.  A ladder between the van and the coach.  And strong men to transfer the AC unit.  Impressive show!!

The other coach was having some issues with their step motor failing to extend and retract the step. 

Unfortunately, the mobile techs were not successful in completing either of the tasks with positive results.  It seems there is a wiring/relay issue with the AC job.  It wasn't a simple AC replacement needed.  And the replacement motor they brought for the step job turned out to not be the correct motor. In other words....jobs to be continued another day.  

The solo stove is well designed for air flow so it burns the wood without giving off a lot of smoke.  

Everyone can sit anywhere in the circle and not have to worry about being smoked out. 

Jan brought out HIS solo stove to show the group.  And it really looks like a SOLO use product.  Check out its size by comparing with his shoe.  It is a compact travel size for sure!

I would call it the 'baby' stove as it is quite petite.  I think rather than those fluffy marshmallows being roasted over the bigger fire, you would need to roast minature marshmallows.  They should have lit that stove and invited Bella and me to enjoy the fire in the small stove. Then it could have been known as the Doggy Stove.  It would have been perfect!!

I'm Chloe

Great day for enjoying sun and fresh air

 March 28, 2024

The Station RV site 35

Madison, Fl

With the rain subsiding and the morning weather looking ideal for a fresh-air breakfast, Momma and Dad invited their fellow caravan members to enjoy bacon and French toast, made with Momma's homemade walnut cranberry bread.  

Dad fired up the grill 

and loaded the griddle with slices of bread dipped in a cinnamon egg batter and everyone chowed down.

Now if you look closely, you still won't find me attending that scrumptious smelling breakfast....because I wasn't invited to share the feast.

Fortified for the day, some of the gals decided to check out Madison.  They began at the high priced Madison Antiques Market and Interiors shop.

It was a rather large building

loaded with merchandise on display

Do you remember the old brownie and boy scout uniforms?

The shop took advantage of all the available space on two levels, including items hanging from the ceiling.  

The next stop was the Country Store, a much smaller building with more pocketbook friendly pricing.

The guys caught up on swapping tales, enjoying the beautiful weather, while some of the gals played a couple of games of Fast Track.

Dinner was cooked over the Solo Stove using pie irons.

Everything seems to taste better when cooking and dining in the fresh air.

And everyone was delighted to greet another arrival who missed the  breakfast but definitely arrived in time for happy hour and pie iron dinner.

Welcome Jan and Joyce.

It was a day that ended with smiles on everyones' face after a relaxing day with friends, enjoying a weather perfect day.

I'm Chloe

Caravan day two - new arrivals

 March 27, 2024

The Station RV site 35

Madison, Fl

It appears the weather worked to the advantage for our latest arrival rig. You see, with the clubhouse not completed at this new RV campground, an outdoor breakfast had been planned - if the weather allowed.  Well, in the wee hours of the morning, the skies opened up and the rain came teaming down with a side show of thunder and lightning.  Needless to say, I was not a happy pup.  I REALLY don't like all that noise!!  Thus, the breakfast plans got pushed to the following day ... which means today's arrivals will get to partake in the breakfast feast rescheduled for tomorrow.

The rain quit before the lunch our so our latest arrival didn't have to set up in the rain.  As a matter of fact, they had a full group welcoming party.

Right this way Steve and Carol

Nice parking job...but I wish Auntie Carol was parked closer to me with her full dog treat cupboard.

The weather allowed for an outdoor happy hour gathering.

Before heading out to Cucinella's Brick Oven Pizzeria for a delicious evening meal for the two-legged.  Pizza, calzone, spaghetti with meatballs, salad ..it was all tasty.

and for the campfire dessert.....toasted marshmallows

....cooked over a fire with wood and a fire pit (solo stove) provided by our the campground owners

who graciously have offered us the use of a vacant site....free of charge...for our use while we are here!!

Camping with friends in the fresh air.  It just doesn't get any better...except for a good game of fetch with my favorite ball!

I'm Chloe

Wheels rolling - spring caravan time

 March 26, 2924

The Station RV site 35

Madison, Fl

The signs were all there.  Momma and Dad were going in and out of the 5er, going in with full hands and coming out with empty hands.  And with tubbies for all, including the scrubbing on the rig, the truck and yes, even ME, giving everyone a shine, there was no doubt in my mind.  The wheels would be rolling soon.

Tuesday was a beautiful travel day weather-wise.  Not so much with traffic though.  But with law enforcement out in droves, there wasn't much speeding going on.  What a surprise as we neared the exit for highway 326.  Our lane of traffic just SUDDENLY STOPPED without warning.  There were lots of rubber marks visible so I know it wasn't the first time for that occurrence.  The question is, why didn't all those vehicles who were trying to exit and causing the backup of traffic pull over onto the wide shoulder of I-75?  We finally found a break in the traffic that had been whizzing by at 70mph so we could pull out and resume our travels.

We are set up in a 'new' campground.  It is so new that the clubhouse is still under construction, the office is a cute little retro colored trailer 

and the picnic tables are not warped.  The sites are pull thru with a cement pad and patio area.  Nice streetlights line the interior roads and the location is an easy arrival just off of I-10.  

So far, 5 rigs have arrived from our caravan group with number 6 due to arrive on Wednesday and number 7 on Thursday.  Our group will grow by an additional 2 rigs at our next location and adding one more at the following location brings us to 10 rigs.

Our location is close to a Dairy Queen that we had to check out.

  As it turned out, it was more of a food court with not only Dairy Queen, but Wendy's and Subway as well.  

Some of us enjoyed a meal while others had eaten earlier and just enjoyed dessert.

Louise had her heart set on a chocolate dipped, vanilla cone.  She was informed that the ice cream was too soft for dipping so....this is what they served her.  

Looks more like a hot fudge sundae to me!!   I'm wondering why they didn't bring me a doggie bag???

We had picked up a few smashed bugs along the way so Dad revived our shiny nose look with a few swipes of the nose cleaner.

I got to play ball with my good friends Rick and then another session with Louise, but I kept my coat clean and shiny.

Day one of our travels and the fun has just begun.

I'm Chloe