And We're Off

 Day 1 (2/6/23)

Well, after packing up our camper on Sunday, we were set to depart for the start of our Grand Canyon adventure at 8am Monday, February 6!  However, as I was getting ready to pack the fridge in the camper, Ernie said....we have a leak in the drain valve!  A what in the what, was my reply!  Long story short, Ernie saved the day, fixed the leak and we hit the road around 10:30 am.  

As most of you know, I am planning on working on the road.  I set up my laptop using the HotSpot on my phone (technology is awesome by the way) and viola, I was in business.  Until.....do you know how hard it is to work on the road in western PA?  Bumps, potholes, and divots, oh my!

My laptop endured some pretty serious rockin and rollin, not to mention my stomach, but....making the best of it!

Our "plan" was to overnight at the Boundry Oak Distillery in Radcliffe, KY, which we did, BUT we didn't make it in time to actually see the distillery (OR BUY ANY BOURBON).  Apparently, every facility with alcohol closes as 6pm!  Go figure!  

We were the only RV in the lot (which is a Harvest Host site) and we were fine with that!  We ate a little dinner, played a couple hands of Gin and went to sleep for an early start the next morning!

Day 2 (2/7/23)

Up at 5am....now we KNEW going in that 2 people in a truck camper was going to be a challenge, so making coffee, brushing teeth, going to the bathroom was laughable!  We had looked at a few places to stay for today and decided on the Talladega National Forest!  Once we were back on Route 65, we saw a sign for Horse Cave and the Hidden River Cave, so decided to make a pit stop.  What a hidden gem in the middle of nowhere!

                    

Unfortunately, the cave tour wasn't open at 7am, or we would have loved to explore this cave, that has repelling, and zipline adventures.  Now I have never done neither repelling OR ziplining, but it does sound fun, right?

Ended the drive for the day at Talladega National Forest, where we purchased our Seniors National Park Pass!  Well, as you know Ernie is the senior and I am his guest! 

Onto Cheaha State Park!  It was a bit of a drive from the Park Ranger office, but worth it!

                                                                                      

We would have loved to take a selfie with the picture above as a backdrop, HOWEVER, when we got to the summit, there was a young woman holding a balloon that said "I Love You" with a note tied to it.  She had music playing and we felt she needed a private moment.  It seemed like she was mourning a lost love, so we left her be and hiked a little farther away to get a pic of the valley below!  

SO, we kind of watched from a distance as the young woman released the balloon and, of course, we witnessed the balloon get stuck in a tree.  The young woman was VERY upset.  I looked at Ernie and we both had the same idea....Ernie retrieved the balloon from the tree!  She was very appreciative and cried aloud as the balloon finally drifted off over the valley!  My heart hurt watching her and I said a prayer of peace for her!

Anyway, we settled for the pic below!  This selfie stuff is not easy!  Also, below is a monument to all flags that have reached the end of their life, which kind of gave me goosebumps!

On our way to find a campsite, we HAD to stop for a picture with SASQUATCH!

And FINALLY, the view from our camp for the night!

Should be in Florida tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!