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Monday, January 4, 2016

Starting the New Year Off Right

Atchafalaya Basin Welcome Center
I-10   Louisiana

We left Jonestown, PA on January 1 and traveled 451 miles to Bristol, VA where we overnighted at Camp Walmart.  We have stayed at this welcoming Walmart before.  It is right off I-81, lots of room to park well before the parking lot for shoppers.   There are several restaurants right beside this Walmart including Golden Corral.  We were good. We heated up the ham, cabbage, red skin potatoes, black eye peas and cornbread we had cooked the night before.   This is a MUST menu for Leonard on New Years Day.  It is frightening to think what dark mishaps would occur over the year if the menu was varied.

The next day we drove 397 miles to this Thousand Trails park in Arley, Alabama


What a gem.  It sits high on an arm of Smith Lake in Central Alabama.



Our site was spacious with a concrete picnic pad, grill and table.  Full Hookups.  With our membership to TT it cost $3.00 a night.   We plan on returning for the first two weeks in May.



Arley is about 40 miles from son Lennie's house.  After we got settled in, we drove over for a visit and some luscious lasagna and tiramisu.   Here is Lennie, Lois and the kids Jordan and Maddie Jo.


Father and Son


As usual we go to church when and where possible.  On Sunday we met our family at Daystar church which they attend in Good Hope, AL.   The church was very different from what we are used to.   Len and I agreed it left us cold.  We are used to smaller churches and a completely different format.  But they must be doing something right.  It attracts a younger congregation with lots of children.  They have 3 services at this campus with about 2,000 total attendance.   There are two additional Daystar churches in the area.   A church that can get and keep young people coming is a good thing.

After church it was lunch with the family back at their house and then visiting for a few hours before returning to the campground to get ready to continue this journey.

Yesterday I received a phone call from our friend Judy Hughes.  We met Judy a few years ago at an Escapees park and make efforts to catch up when in the same area.  She and her hubby Leonard (!) live in Baton Rouge.   In looking at this blog she saw we were going to overnight at Camping World in Hammond.  We made plans to meet there and then go to dinner at Cracker Barrel.  When we pulled in, they were there waiting.


It is a delight to meet up with people we really enjoy.  But.....I was afraid Judy and (my) Leonard were going to fisticuffs when the bill arrived.   JUDY, my dear friend......You bought the last time too. Next time we pay, hear??????

As it turned out, we did not get permission to overnight at the electric sites we used to use at Dixie RV/Camping World.   I guess things have changed, right Lauri?   We were told we could dry camp in the parking lot.   It was still early so we decided to move on.

So, here we are......at the Atchafalaya Basin Welcome Center.  462 miles covered today.  Only about 120 miles from our home for the next 10 days.  Stay tuned.

3 comments:

  1. Should have told Len to use more of that Louisiana charm :) Let us know if you're in the Houston area sooner. We're in Livingston until the 13th.

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  2. Glad to read you are having an enjoyable trip meeting family and friends.
    Be safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  3. so happ6 i was able to get on your blog tonight. Weather here is cold but the sun has returned. Snow is covering the mountains all around right now. So i think by time you make it back it should be much warmer

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