Where are we going?

That's the question I pose to Linda every spring.  Most of the time, the answer from her is " I don't know."  Oh well, I guess it makes it easier for me to plan.  I know putting in stops she likes and a visit to her sister's family will make her a happy camper.  We have alot of common interests, but her favorites are: sports, art shows, casino 1 armed bandits, scenic drives, and animal adventures.  If I can include all these, I'm a hero.

Visiting family and friends are always at the top of our list, so what better way to start the trip than visiting "cuz", Don Pumphrey and his wonderful wife, Pam.  They have a wonderful farm outside of Quincy near Tallahassee.  Don and Pam always welcome us to stay on the farm.  They even have RV hookups!  As an added bonus, they have all kinds of critters around the farm, which Linda loves.  Also Don likes to see Linda's cat, Muffin.  I think Don would keep Muffin all summer, if Linda took her eye off of Muffin.

Muffin

Below are Pumphrey farm pictures from previous family reunions:

Bus parked in front of the barn

Cuz, Don

 After leaving Pumphrey's, we'll plan a stop in Red Bay, AL to tour the Tiffin motor home factory.  Next we'll head to West Memphis, AR to watch Mississippi River traffic...barges and the like.  After spending a few days in Hot Springs, AR, our bus will head north to Branson, MO via Arkansas Scenic Highway 7.  At Branson we'll relax, take in a few shows, and attend The Shepherd in the Hills outdoor Christian drama.  A dash to our old home town, Des Moines, IA to check out our old stomping grounds and college alma mater, Drake University.  Next stop will be the Twin Cities.

Back to the Fifties is a huge car show held at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. Last year they had over 11,000 show vehicles registered and 100,000 spectators.  After seeing all the shiny cars, we'll try our luck (Linda is lucky) at 2 casinos and RV parks we'll be staying at.  We'll use the car to tour the Mississippi River along the Minnesota and Wisconsin borders.

Next stop will be Elkhart, IN where we may tour more RV manufacturer plants.  Elkhart is at the heart of the RV industry.  We'll make a quick stop at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum in Auburn, IN before heading to Linda's sister's home in eastern Ohio.  We'll spend a couple of weeks there, then start heading home via Moneta, VA to see our friends, Mike & Barbara Forte.  Hopefully, we can catch brother, Scott, his wife, Andrea and oldest daughter, Sarah, in Charleston, before the final drive home.

Below is a map of our planned trip as of now .

View 2013 RV Trip Route Map in a larger map

Getting ready with one less passenger

This summer's trip will be our first without our long time pet, Snoopers.  She traveled, reluctantly with us for the last few years.  In the early years of traveling by RV starting in 2001, Snoopers people-grandmother would take care of her while we were gone.  Our trips were shorter and many times we'd fly home to take a break during the trip.  It's not easy to fly a cat or anything else with a cat for that matter.  Our trips over the years are longer and we added a second cat, Muffin a few years ago.  Once we had the 2nd cat, the decision was made to take both with us.  Snoopers didn't want to go, but she tolerated it.

Maria and Linda first saw Snoopers about 15 years ago in a pet store window.  Snoopers was a young mother with a litter of kittens.  She looked too young to have kittens, but some of the kittens looked just like her.  As the weeks went by the kittens all got adopted and Snoopers was left alone.  Even the last kitten with bowed rear legs like Snoopers got adopted.  Maria and Linda decided it was time to take Snoopers home.  We had two cats before Snoopers, so it was easy to make her feel at home.  She was both snoopy and spooky, but loved.

The picture to the left was taken 10 years ago when Snoopers was about 5 years old.  New Years Eve day she died.  She was a great cat and we'll miss her on our trip.