American Amazon. In America? Yes. America has an Amazon and it's right here in good ole Southern Alabama. It's better known as " The Mobile-Tensaw Delta". It covers an area of 200,000 acres of swamp, marshes, bottom river lands plus miles of the Tombigbee and Alabama Rivers. There are hundreds of rivers, bayou's and natural bays and lakes stretching as far North as the locks 100 miles up the River. It has all kinds of wild life here: alligators, moccasins, rattle snakes, coral snakes, squirrels, rabbits, wild hogs, deer, armadillos, coons and a lot more I'm sure I have missed. There is a PBS documentary about the Delta. I think it is produced by the state of Alabama.
Now, how about that? It all belongs to the state of Alabama. They turned down the federal government's request to take it over and make it a National Park. Good for Alabama. We don't need more federal government controlled land. Alabama controls the taking of game and fish and oysters (ummm), blue crabs and shrimp. We catch large mouth bass, perch and catfish here.
Today started out as rainy and cool. Started clearing up around noon and warmed up a bit. Tonight it cooled off a bit and the forecast for tomorrow night is down to the teens and SNOW. Yep, snow here in Southern Alabama. And to think, we snow birds came south to get away from the nasty weather. HAH!
I saw snow here in Magnolia Springs way back in 1946 and again in 84/85 (I think) I remember it got down to 4 degrees back in 1958. Stayed that way for a few days. BRRR.
That's your history lesson for today. Sleep well and may GOD Bless you
Monday, January 27, 2014
Saturday, January 25, 2014
Riverview Park, Bay Minette, AL
We arrived home around 6:30 on Wednesday and it was still quite cold and the temp was predicted to drop down to the mid twenties and even colder--low twenties--on Friday night. On Friday, we had some sleet and the temp leveled off around twenty five. Today, it is 30 and expected to level off at 40. The sky is clear and the warmth of the sun is welcoming. Gonna be a beautiful day.
Boomer seems happy to be home. He can run around the yard freely and not be constrained by a leash as he has to be in parks. He found his bed and jumped in to take a nap. Friday he slept a lot and today he is active and raring to get out the door. He wants more attention than usual and we think that's because for three weeks in the lounge at Allegro, he was "Mr. Personality". He had almost everyone coming to pet him and all knew his name. We were Boomer's mom and dad!
The family was very happy to have us home. Mike turned on the water and set the furnace to 65 and met us when we arrived. He parked his truck in the driveway to block any vehicles from getting close to the motor home in the night. Keeps the "scum" away in the middle of the night. We enjoyed a pizza with Jacky Perkins at the River Pub the night we returned.
We also had a wonderful surprise today when Jennifer and Bobby Gorham showed up. Bobby is a second cousin. I watched him grow from childhood. His mother and I were always close. My aunt helped raise me. Jennifer is recovering from having her big toe on her right foot removed due to a severe medical condition. She was able to walk a little with a walker. Bobby experiences spells similiar to epileptic seizures the prevent him from working. It's a severe safety hazard. Such a shame as he is a really accomplished diesel mechanic and qualified boat captain. He used to deliver equipment/stores/crews to the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Boomer seems happy to be home. He can run around the yard freely and not be constrained by a leash as he has to be in parks. He found his bed and jumped in to take a nap. Friday he slept a lot and today he is active and raring to get out the door. He wants more attention than usual and we think that's because for three weeks in the lounge at Allegro, he was "Mr. Personality". He had almost everyone coming to pet him and all knew his name. We were Boomer's mom and dad!
The family was very happy to have us home. Mike turned on the water and set the furnace to 65 and met us when we arrived. He parked his truck in the driveway to block any vehicles from getting close to the motor home in the night. Keeps the "scum" away in the middle of the night. We enjoyed a pizza with Jacky Perkins at the River Pub the night we returned.
We also had a wonderful surprise today when Jennifer and Bobby Gorham showed up. Bobby is a second cousin. I watched him grow from childhood. His mother and I were always close. My aunt helped raise me. Jennifer is recovering from having her big toe on her right foot removed due to a severe medical condition. She was able to walk a little with a walker. Bobby experiences spells similiar to epileptic seizures the prevent him from working. It's a severe safety hazard. Such a shame as he is a really accomplished diesel mechanic and qualified boat captain. He used to deliver equipment/stores/crews to the oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Service work complete and meeting new friends
Finally reached the end of our repairs and servicing today. The paint shop finished yesterday but took three days (over the weekend) to complete their work and I must say LD (the painter) did a superb job. Nita and Bridgid (new friend) and I finished a 1000 piece puzzle of a country farm scene. I'm still blurry eyed from looking at all the red and dark pieces.
Today we had an appointment to get the engine, transmission, generator and chassis serviced at a local Diesel Service shop where Tiffin sends all those needing that service. They are certified Cummings Diesel and Freightliner Chassis qualified. The "Diesel Shop" service techs said it appeared that the previous owner had never serviced anything except engine oil and a couple filters. So we had the works done: change oil & filters(all of them) in the engine: changed oil & filters in the generator: chassis completely serviced as well as changing fluid in the the transmission plus the filters: transaxle: tires and brakes checked and changed antifreeze in the radiator ( it was contaminated-diluted)and had to change the water reservoir ( it was broke and wouldn't hold the cap).
Tiffin doesn't do any of that type of work anymore and it's their way of supporting the local community. Seems as though most of the area supports Tiffin in one way or another. I really respect them for that. Even their workers are allowed to provide Tiffin type services to us after working hours and away from the maintenance facility. They just don't want them to compete. Materials must be purchased from Tiffin to ensure quality work is done. All parts are available through the company store.We had the top of the slide outs replaced and resealed (re-caulked- took 20 tubes of caulk) the roof.
Tonight we joined our new friends, Ron & Bridgid, for a farewell dinner. They leave tomorrow as well for either Savannah, GA or back to Vancouver, WA. We had dinner at a "red neck" restaurant called "Swamp John's" . It is a small building converted from a service station that still had the pumps (6) installed. The fried fresh catfish was just "fantastic" and delicious. Has to be some of the best I've ever eaten. I had a large platter--had two fish on it. Anita had a medium with three filets.
We had several meals with Ron and Bridgid and the most unusual was breakfast at "A n D Grill" in Vina, AL, about 10 miles down Hwy 19. The "chocolate gravy and biscuit" was a first for Nita , although it is on almost every café menu in this area. But, the entertainment was at the next table and so funny. There were about 6 or 8 locals and they could do stand up comedy anywhere. They included us in their conversations and tall tales and of course you know me . I can adlib and joke with the best. We could hardly eat, laughing so much. To add to it they were obviously redneck by the way they talked. Oh, the chocolate gravy was pretty good. Nita said she will have it again.
Tomorrow morning we will head South
Today we had an appointment to get the engine, transmission, generator and chassis serviced at a local Diesel Service shop where Tiffin sends all those needing that service. They are certified Cummings Diesel and Freightliner Chassis qualified. The "Diesel Shop" service techs said it appeared that the previous owner had never serviced anything except engine oil and a couple filters. So we had the works done: change oil & filters(all of them) in the engine: changed oil & filters in the generator: chassis completely serviced as well as changing fluid in the the transmission plus the filters: transaxle: tires and brakes checked and changed antifreeze in the radiator ( it was contaminated-diluted)and had to change the water reservoir ( it was broke and wouldn't hold the cap).
Tiffin doesn't do any of that type of work anymore and it's their way of supporting the local community. Seems as though most of the area supports Tiffin in one way or another. I really respect them for that. Even their workers are allowed to provide Tiffin type services to us after working hours and away from the maintenance facility. They just don't want them to compete. Materials must be purchased from Tiffin to ensure quality work is done. All parts are available through the company store.We had the top of the slide outs replaced and resealed (re-caulked- took 20 tubes of caulk) the roof.
Tonight we joined our new friends, Ron & Bridgid, for a farewell dinner. They leave tomorrow as well for either Savannah, GA or back to Vancouver, WA. We had dinner at a "red neck" restaurant called "Swamp John's" . It is a small building converted from a service station that still had the pumps (6) installed. The fried fresh catfish was just "fantastic" and delicious. Has to be some of the best I've ever eaten. I had a large platter--had two fish on it. Anita had a medium with three filets.
We had several meals with Ron and Bridgid and the most unusual was breakfast at "A n D Grill" in Vina, AL, about 10 miles down Hwy 19. The "chocolate gravy and biscuit" was a first for Nita , although it is on almost every café menu in this area. But, the entertainment was at the next table and so funny. There were about 6 or 8 locals and they could do stand up comedy anywhere. They included us in their conversations and tall tales and of course you know me . I can adlib and joke with the best. We could hardly eat, laughing so much. To add to it they were obviously redneck by the way they talked. Oh, the chocolate gravy was pretty good. Nita said she will have it again.
Tomorrow morning we will head South
Sunday, January 19, 2014
Coon Dog Cemetary
Today we drove 21 miles through the wilderness and back roads (gravel/clay/dirt) to reach the famous , only one in the world, "Coon Dog Cemetery". The requirement to be buried there is to be a thoroughbred Coon Dog. Certification must stipulate that the dog only ran coons. Not rabbits, not deer, ONLY COONS. There are coon dogs with head stones and cement slabs with not only their names and birth/death date but also their pedigree numbers, their owner and from where they came from.
Are you through laughing yet. We laughed when we first heard about it. The drive was interesting since we were going through back woods where there were deer hunters trucks parked along the road. After getting lost once and retracting our path we finally found it. It is on a hill top overlooking a valley, so to speak., with only wilderness surrounding it. It was started by Key Underwood of Tuscumbia, AL who wanted to honor his dogs. He and fellow hunters started the cemetery back in 1937 in a hunting camp.
They get a lot of visitors. Most are probably Tiffin Motor Home owners , like us, who are here for factory repairs and are touring the area while awaiting their turn in a work bay. The visitors log has names from all over the states and one was from London, UK and a couple from Canada. There was even a separate ladies and men's toilet.
When you get through laughing, enjoy the photos. I didn't post all of them. Her are the actual requirements:
Are you through laughing yet. We laughed when we first heard about it. The drive was interesting since we were going through back woods where there were deer hunters trucks parked along the road. After getting lost once and retracting our path we finally found it. It is on a hill top overlooking a valley, so to speak., with only wilderness surrounding it. It was started by Key Underwood of Tuscumbia, AL who wanted to honor his dogs. He and fellow hunters started the cemetery back in 1937 in a hunting camp.
They get a lot of visitors. Most are probably Tiffin Motor Home owners , like us, who are here for factory repairs and are touring the area while awaiting their turn in a work bay. The visitors log has names from all over the states and one was from London, UK and a couple from Canada. There was even a separate ladies and men's toilet.
When you get through laughing, enjoy the photos. I didn't post all of them. Her are the actual requirements:
To qualify for burial in this unique cemetery, where more than 185 coon dogs have been laid to rest, it has been said that three requirements must be met:
The owner must claim their pet is an authentic coon dog. A witness must declare the deceased is a coon dog. A member of the Key Underwood Coon Dog Memorial Graveyard, Inc. must be allowed to view the coonhound and declare it as such.
"We have stipulations on this thing," says Larry Sanderson, Vice President of the Coon Dog Graveyard. "A dog can't run no deer, possum -- nothing like that. He's got to be a straight coon dog, and he's got to be full hound. Couldn't be a mixed up breed dog, a house dog."
Ladies?
Boomer has to investigate
Two hounds treeing a coon
Saturday, January 18, 2014
Visit With Les and Jane Breeding
We drove to Oxford, MS to visit with a pilot friend that was my Plane Commander in Patrol Squadron 10 in Brunswick, ME, while we were assigned to flight status in the squadron from 1960 thru 1962. We flew about 2000 hours together from Brunswick to Argentia,, NFLD, Goose Bay Labadore, North West Territory, Canada, Thule Greenland, Iceland, Scotland, Norway( Oslo, Stavengar, Oerland, Andorra, Bodo) and in the Caribbean plus a lot of submarine hunting patrols out of Brunswick.
Reliving all the old times and sharing stories of people , places and times was just wonderful. Especially since we had been told several years ago that he had passed away. We located him after his flying friend's girlfriend contacted me asking for a referral, endorsement, antidote, about him for his retirement,
We look forward to seeing them again in the future. Perhaps we can stay there a few days and really reminisce
Friday, January 17, 2014
Tiffin Mfg
We had a great day in Red Bay, AL. Went to Tiffin Ind, and watched them make motor homes, walked around all over the factory with our guides, Brenda and Floyd. How many other mfg's will let people watch every process as they make their product. Tiffin turns out 12 Motor Homes per day and one of those is the luxury model (just under half million $), AND, they are all sold to individuals or dealers before they leave the building.
How's that for a success story. In the general area of Northwest AL and Northeast MS, Tiffin employs about 1500 people. There are two large mfg in Red Bay other than Tiffin; Sunshine Mobile Homes and Sunshine Products (dog food). Little unemployment, poverty and crime.
The pictures are not in order, but you can get some idea of the process of building a motor home. The carpentry shop and the paint shop are in separate buildings, but the rest, from the chassis up is under one roof. Although, they still use two other chassis mfg's. We watched them make electrical harnesses for specific models. Most of the steel comes from Mexico, but some is coming from a mill in Florence and the impression we got was that more would be mfg locally.
Entrance to the carpenter shop. Chassis storage in background
The pictures are not in order, but you can get some idea of the process of building a motor home. The carpentry shop and the paint shop are in separate buildings, but the rest, from the chassis up is under one roof. Although, they still use two other chassis mfg's. We watched them make electrical harnesses for specific models. Most of the steel comes from Mexico, but some is coming from a mill in Florence and the impression we got was that more would be mfg locally.
Only Cherry and Alder Wood is used. They cut, shape and plane everything needed from boards.
Step one is [preparing the chassis. This one is a Freightliner
This one is used for the Allegro Bus like ours
Cummings Diesel Engines
Step 2-add the flooring and some of the plumbing--holding tanks
Floor insulation and tile
Building the motor home from center outward.
Adding one of the slide outs
Holding tanks. White for water-90 gal, 40 gal black (sewage) and 60 gal black for grey water
The rear cap
Installing a side
Installing wiring and lights and putting iu wiring bundles
Preparing wire bundles
Preparing wire bundles, The wall is measured and marked. Each wire is laid on pegs for desired length
Finished product waiting for furniture
Putting in furniture
Finished product
Freightliner chassis in background
Saturday, January 4, 2014
The Boomer Bus sits in Red Bay, AL at the Tiffin Service Campground. It is Saturday and all is quiet, it seems like a good time to create a blog in order to post our travels and adventures as we see more of the good old USA. The usual crew is aboard: driver-Jesse, navigator-Anita, and master-Boomer.
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