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Welcome to our Blog! If you wish to see where we have been since November 2005, you do not need a password. Simply use your keyboard DOWN arrow to scroll all the way to the end to locate that first post. Events are in order from latest to oldest (11-2005). If you only want to view certain months or locations, you may click on the desired month/event under "Previous Posts" on the right side of the narratives. For photos too small to see in detail, you may click on the pic. To minimize the photo and return to the view mode, click the large BACK arrow at the top-left of your screen. If you wish to comment on any one of our posts, that opportunity is available. Just click "comments" and type your message. If you would like to forward any of our posts to a friend, along with your own message, click the envelope symbol at the bottom of each desired post. Thanks for visiting us. Stay tuned for updates as we make our way across this great land. Be sure to see our photos and descriptions of Alaska and Hawaii. For an international perspective, you may want to peruse our three journeys to Guatemala, where we visit our youngest daughter, Courtney, and her family each year. A part of our mission outreach is sponsoring two young girls in the school that Courtney and Josh operate in San Marcos on lovely Lake Atitlan. We also help support a small evangelical congregation in that city of 3000 + people. Everyone who complains about America should spend at least a month in a developing country. Finally, during those months when we are in our home, and our RV is resting in its port, we try to describe life as we experience it in an Airstream community located in the small Texas City of Hillsboro, located one hour south of Fort Worth on I-35. God Bless! Jerry & Gloria Romans 8:28

West Tennessee, Texarkana, TX, and Home

Corps of Engineer RV Park Near Nashville

Neither of us was feeling terrific when we left Kingsport and headed west toward Nashville, Tennessee’s capital. Just east of the Country Music Capital of the World off I-40 lies J. Percy Priest Lake, a Corps of Engineer facility. We have camped there many times, and it felt good to be back. The sites are huge and giant shade trees are abundant. The weather was perfect. We even had a lakeside site with fabulous view. All we did was walk around the campground and take short trips to the water’s edge for two days. This kind of serenity is what camping should be all about.

From Nashville we traveled on west to Millington, a suburb of Memphis. There we stayed in another familiar RV park at the Mid-West Naval Supply Center. We were able to get a shady site near the laundry. Our clothing maintenance task at that facility took the better part of a half-day. Next to the RV park is the commissary, so it was convenient to re-supply without having to unhook our truck from the trailer.

Boating at Scenic Elliott Lake

Gloria at Lookout Beach

From Memphis we crossed the Mississippi River and drove on past Little Rock, Arkansas. It would be over 300 miles to our next stop at the Red River Army Depot just west of Texarkana, TX. Just short of there we elected to stay the night at another Flying J truck stop on Route 30. RV spaces were in abundance as we pulled in just before dark. The next morning we reached Lookout Beach on Elliott Lake at the Red River Army Depot. This is the best bargain in the military RV park system. For $7.00 per night with our Golden Age Passport, we had a concrete pad, lakeside view, and full hookups with 50 amp electrical service. Elliott Lake boasts good fishing and boat rentals. As well, one can rent a log cabin. A new conference center with bedrooms is under construction. 

Again, we stayed for two days and did absolutely nothing. By that time Jerry's cold was better, and Gloria's health was improving  each day. On September 27 we drove the last 240 miles to our home in Hillsboro, TX. How great it felt to be back with friends and neighbors after three and a half months on the road. We had traveled 7000 miles through 17 states and two Canadian provinces. Never have we had so many people stop by (some rapped on the door) to admire our Airstream and ask how we like our Toyota Tundra. Many said that their goal was to one day own an Airstream. One guy asked if they are maintenance free. We had to smile at that one.

All in all, we enjoyed a fantastic trip, even though Gloria had four trips to various ERs. We are so thankful that the good Lord provided so many opportunities for us on the road and so many gorgeous views. We don't know how many more of these excursions we will get, but we shall always savor this one and remember the many wonderful people with whom we got to interact. Some of them we will never see again, but this was a wonderful way to say goodbye.

Health Concerns Galore

As we left Front Royal, Gloria was not doing well physically, could not make it to the bathroom on her own, and seemed a bit disoriented. Jerry had picked up a terrible cold. We made it to Wytheville, VA, where we stayed in an RV spot at a Flying J truck stop. Neither of us slept well. The next day, we arrived at Warrior’s Path State Park in Kingsport, TN. We often have stayed here, as the hilly, lakeside park is shady, peaceful, and beautiful. As well, our son, Mark, wife Christy, and their son, Ethan reside in this city.

By the second night in Kingsport, Gloria’s health continued to decline. Jerry took her to the Holston Valley Medical Center ER, where she was treated for a urinary tract infection and released with a prescription for antibiotics. She was terribly weak, and Mark suggested that we stay at his house rather than in the trailer. Jerry readily accepted, as he was feeling lousy himself with his terrible bronchial cold. It was great having Mark’s family as support for next three days. Mark even did our laundry. We finally got back to our trailer for an evening wiener roast with Mark and Ethan, but Christy was unable to attend due to back spasms. No good deed goes unpunished. Jerry had successfully passed on his cold to Mark and Ethan during our stay at their house. We were not able to get together again as a family due to coughs and fevers. Christy did visit us with a gift of fresh peaches. No one felt like taking or posing for photos. This was the kind of parental visit no family deserves. Gloria was feeling better, so we moved on toward Nashville. 

Northern Virginia: Our Former Home

Robin, Alejandro, and Samuel at Skyline Ranch Resort

After saying goodbye to Andrea and Holden, we traveled on to Front Royal, VA. We have had a membership at Skyline Ranch Resort near the Shenandoah River for 28 years. It’s always good to see old friends at the ranch, and the campground is convenient for getting back to Northern Virginia where we lived for 30 years prior to 2008. Our daughter, Robin, husband, Alejandro, and son, Samuel, live in Fairfax about 60 miles away. We enjoyed several meals at their home, and they spent Labor Day weekend and another Saturday with us in the ranch. Samuel loves the pool, and he and his parents also played miniature golf and shot lots of games of pool. Samuel looks so handsome with his braces removed.

Joanie, Bob, Gloria, & Jerry

Larry & Jerry

Bob, Gloria, and Carol

Catherine & Gloria

We also attended church at Columbia Baptist twice. We once were quite active in that church and still have many friends there. Our social events included dinner at the homes of Bobby and Jo Ann and former neighbors, Carol and Bob. One day we drove to Madison for lunch in the home of Larry and Catherine, old RV and church friends. On our last Sunday we took Joanie, one of our favorite poets, and her son, Bob, to lunch after worship. Joanie always remembers our birthdays and anniversary with one of her spiritual poems.

Millie at the Bridge Table

One of our pleasurable activities when we return to Northern Virginia is to visit Handley and Millie, who were special friends in our Airstream club. They live at the Greensprings Retirement Center. Even though they are in their nineties, they are both alert and still play a good game of Bridge. Lunch with them in their colorful dining room was a special treat.

Handley: Former Region 3
Airstream President

Gloria at the Classy Strasburg Hotel

Another important event during our stay at the ranch was the celebration of our 55^th wedding anniversary. Jerry had planned a day of special events for September 7, but Gloria was feeling puny. Hence, we settled for a wonderful lunch at the historic Strasburg Hotel located not far from the campground. The quaint old building once served as a hospital (1907-1915) for that small agricultural community. The picturesque town, located in the fertile Shenandoah Valley, dates back to 1761 when it was settled by German speaking Pennsylvanians.

Strasburg Hotel: Once a Hospital With Attached Nurses Quarters

Gloria also had time to get her hair done by her all-time favorite beautician, Vicki. After nearly three weeks at Skyline Ranch it was time to drive on to Tennessee.