The Heat Is On

Glenn Fry was referring to a certain Beverly Hills Cop when he sang it.  We’re talking the more literal sense.  We’re burning as many fossil fuels as we can get our hands on.  Granted, LuLu’s dead dinosaur consumption is small compared to the average house but when the mercury hits the 20s it’s time to crank up the thermostat and even our carbon footprint grows a size or two.  Nashville is experiencing some “arctic air” as the weatherman calls it and it’s downright COLD!!!!  Tomorrow we may get sleet and snow, though it isn’t expected to stick anywhere.

Flo and Mingo sporting their winter gear.

Yes I said Nashville.  We arrived back last Thursday evening.  No nighttime back in by flashlight this time though.  We left Bessemer City early and pulled into the Nashville Country RV Park with plenty of daylight to spare.  It’s a far cry from the gorgeous spot we had on the lake in North Carolina but as far as RV parks go it’s okay.  It has all we need in the form of places to plug things into, laundry, WiFi, etc. It’s about 15 miles north of Nashville. We were on the east side before so we have some new little towns to check out now.  The surrounding area here actually is rural but not far from the suburban sprawl. I guess we got spoiled the past few weeks in North Carolina where it was so “country” you rarely saw anything except pick-up trucks and cows.

Nashville Country RV Park

There’s nothing like being at home for Thanksgiving - spending time with family, friends, and great food.  We’re somewhat comforted by the fact that we bring our “home” with us wherever we go but must rely on our thoughts for the rest.  Those thoughts are with you and yours. We wish all of our family, friends and those we’ve met on our journey so far a happy Thanksgiving.

Carolina In My Mind

Hello everyone, Margo here.

“In my mind I’m goin’ to Carolina.  Can’t you just see the sunshine.  Can’t you just feel the moonshine.  Ain’t it just like a friend of mine….”

Wait a minute.... I AM in Carolina – small towns – country roads -  Bessemer City to be exact.  Proud home of the Bessemer City High School Yellow Jackets and the Bessemer City Primary School Honey Bees.



City truck displaying their pride.
Downtown Bessemer City
Central Drug - since 1927

On this job Kevin has a guide provided by the utilities department who takes him out on an ATV Gator to check the gas lines.  Since Kevin does not need Hank (the truck) for this job he has been all mine and we go exploring.

Fall colors ablaze
This is Fall in North Carolina

Fall colors are spectacular here.  I take it all in as I drive these North Carolina foothills with no particular place to be and not sure where I will end up.  I usually follow the signs to “historic uptown” and look for a Mom and Pop coffee shop.

Lily Beam, another coffee shop haunt in Shelby.



Inside the Copper Rock in Shelby. Next door to the laundromat - lucky me.

After a day of enjoyable wandering it’s time to pick up Kevin and we often stop by Angel’s – our go-to coffee shop in Bessemer City where as was walk in Angel says, “Welcome back.  I just put on a fresh pot for you guys.”

Our home from across the lake

We’ve also really loved our campsite.  Moss Lake is a beautiful place to stay as the pictures show.  It’s like we’re on vacation but we still have the mundane every day things to take care of like laundry at the laundromat and washing the dogs.  It was too cold for Kevin to do that outside but we lucked upon a self-service dog wash in Bessemer City.  It’s just like a coin operated car wash except inside a little building.  Shiloh and Pepper were very surprised to see this place.

Inside "Shakers"

What a great business idea

Whether it’s Cherryville, Shelby or Bessemer City everyone is so genuine and friendly – makes me think small town living may be the best way to live life.



Kings Mountain mural




Time well spent at the laundromat. Still working on the afghan. Half way through.

Country road

On the road again

I have truly enjoyed and embraced our time here in North Carolina and am surely not wanting to leave just yet but duty calls and we are headed back to Nashville at the end of this week.  Kevin  is needed there and will be training a new hire.  I expect we’ll be there through Thanksgiving then onto the next assignment. We’re not sure where that will be but I’m pretty sure our time here in Carolina will be on our minds.

In-Joy!

Margo

Train Kept A Rollin'

Hey Folks,

Remember the Aerosmith song with the above title?  We were reminded of it this week but not because we saw the “Bad Boys From Boston” in concert.  Let me explain.   As you know we were assigned to Bessemer City, NC and left Nashville last week for said little town just west of Charlotte.  As soon as I heard we were going I started my research on RV parks and things to see and do.  I’ve mentioned this in other posts.  I check the area for the best RV park especially paying attention to the surrounding area on Goggle Maps.  I want to know about that neighboring nuclear plant, old earthen dam or the always feared nearby clown college.  The problem in this case was the fact that there was only one RV park near Bessemer City and it was so new it wasn’t on Google Maps, or anyone’s map for that matter. We thought okay, we’ll just go for it.  I mean you really can’t have an adventure like this without a little livin’ on the fly.  It couldn’t be that bad could it?

We had an uneventful trip over the mountains, through Asheville and arrived at the campground after dark.  We checked in and paid for the week.  No problem finding the site, well okay a little problem backing in by flashlight but once we were in all was well.  I tended to my chores outside with unhooking things and connecting wires and hoses and such and Margo tended to hers with getting the inside back to living condition.  By now it was close to bedtime and we relaxed.  Then we heard it.  A far off rumble getting closer.  The dog water bowl started vibrating just a little bit (remember Jurassic Park). The rumble got louder and the screeching sounds began.  We looked at each other just as the whistle went off.  TRAIN!

My first thought was who would build an RV park right next to an active train track? Margo’s first thought was how many more would come through during the night? During the following week my question was never really answered.  Margo’s question was answered as the week went on. About 4 to 6 depending on the night.

This was the view from our front door at daybreak.

We have a happy ending here though.  It always pays off to check with the locals so that’s what I did when I went to work on Monday with the Bessemer City Gas Department.  I hit the jackpot again ending up in this little town.  Everyone is down home country nice and willing to help especially the guy they have guiding me around.  He knows all the local spots and told me to check out the campground at nearby Moss Lake.  As I write this on Friday night, after a week of listening to trains, we are now listening to the sound of water over the Moss Lake spillway and the occasional Mallard duck.


Moss Lake from the front door.... much better.



Fall is here and the colors are spectacular.  Next time we’ll show you around these parts; the little towns of Kings Mountain, Shelby as well as Bessemer City.  This area deserves a post all it’s own and I’ll leave that one to Margo.  Stay tuned and look for it down the line.

Hit The Road Jack

...but you may just be coming back. Here’s the deal folks. We’ll be hitting the road at the end of the week. The company is sending us to Bessemer City, North Carolina. It’s a little bitty place about 25 miles west of Charlotte, population 5,300. It’ll be a small job, just 2 to 3 weeks, then the plan is for us to come back to Nashville and winter over here. There’s plenty of work left here in the Music City but Bessemer City needs a little attention too. We’re going to miss it here but at the same time we’re looking forward to a little small town atmosphere and change of scenery.

As I mentioned in the last post we planned to take in Oktoberfest and in fact did go last Saturday, along with half of Nashville and then some it seemed. The polka band was jammin’ and the beer was flowing but I have a beef with Mr. Samual Adams. Sam - $15.00 for a mug of beer! Really? We actually drew the line there and didn’t drink, just wandered around. Margo found the cat adoption tent and almost brought a little Tabby home but was informed that it was the shelter mascot and she could not have that particular kitty.

The streets were packed.




More cowbell!!!!






"Precious" certainly fit her name.

As you can see it was a shorts and flip flops kind of day last Saturday but as I write this a week later old man winter is knocking. He blew in a few days ago so we’ve transitioned to unpacking the winter clothes and sitting around the fire. Margo started a new craft project just in time for the season. She got turned onto making a Monk’s cloth afghan, aka Swedish weaving, from my brother’s wife Teresa back when we were together in late July at Mom’s. It’s in the early stages but I asked her to get going on it – brrrrr!



All in all we’ve enjoyed our stay here at Countryside RV Resort. It really is very quiet and peaceful as well as convenient to the big city. The Boys really enjoyed the meadows but are itchin’ to put on their road hound badges and get moving. It’s all about new sights and smells for them. Us too, although we’ll leave the sniffing to them.  We leave you with some scenes from the trailer park.

Each row has a theme. We were sheep.



Margo and "The Boys" in the meadow.

Rock the Boat

Things have been pretty mundane at work of late.  Get up, clock in and walk the gas line.  Get up, clock in and walk the gas line.  Get up, clock in, launch the boat and cruise all morning up and down the Cumberland River. WAIT A MINUTE!!!!  WHAT!!!!  Launch the boat?

The Cumberland River snakes it’s way through Nashville quite majestically.  The gas lines do as well, although I can’t say they’re as majestic.  When the two cross each other we have a dilemma, although a good dilemma for me. So yeah, last Thursday I got paid to do some motorboatin’ on the river most of the morning.

A large gas line crosses the river at a place called Clarksville Pike.  It came due to be inspected so the company gave me and one of my co-workers, Warren, the task of surveying it.  Warren has a bass boat so the company made arrangements to rent his boat for the survey.  Keeping it all in the family is always the best way.

Early Thursday was a bit chilly at about 50 degrees but the sun was coming up and warming things up quite well.  The nearest boat ramp to the site of our target gas line was a couple of miles upriver so a cruise was in order.  The water was like glass when Warren pushed the throttle forward and we planed out.  It’s times like this when you have to ask yourself, “ I get paid to do this?”

After a while we arrived at the crossing.  Warren used the trolling motor to make a few passes and I held out the detection instrument we use to find leaks normally; the theory being if it was leaking, since it was a gas, it would rise to the surface and be detected just as any other leak is detected.  Yes, I know, it’s complicated but we had figured it out before launching with complicated mathematical calculations and physics and stuff.

All was well and that’s good since I have no idea how they would fix it if it weren’t.  By lunch time we were back on terra firma and I was walking the line as usual but not a bad day.

The SS. Minnow






The scene of the crime



Railroad Bridge

Full throttle!

Nashville's skyline from the Cumberland River.



The weekend is here and we’re headed out to the Nashville Oktoberfest.  It’s a big deal here with an attendance of about 30,000 beer loving Nashvillians and this year, two thirsty Floridians. Chances are good we’ll find a beer vendor somewhere.  No guarantees on pics that aren’t a bit blurry – jus’ sayin’.

Till then keep it between the buoys and Auf Wiedersehen!

Everybody's Working For The Weekend.......

Hey folks,

Lots to fill you in on.  First off, to fulfill one of the purposes of the blog, to let family, friends and enemies know where we are and where we’ll be.  We’re in….. ready…. drum roll…. Nashville.  Yeah, still here but that’s not a bad thing because there’s still lots to see and do.  The company decided to keep me here for another month to help the permanent crew catch things up.  We’re not complaining and oh, this will give me more time to get my recording contract all sewn up….

So what have we been up to?  Well, as the group Loverboy said back in ‘81, we’re “working for the weekend.”  After working through the week we make it a point to explore the area each Saturday or Sunday.  Last weekend we went to the Cheekwood Botanical Garden and Museum of Art in South Nashville, the 55 acre estate of the Maxwell House Coffee fortune.  It’s a sight in itself in the daytime with the immaculate gardens but starting back in May and running through November they commissioned an artist by the name of Bruce Munro to do his magic with light.  Using hundreds of miles of fiber optic cable and over 20,000 lighted spheres he’s transformed the gardens into (using his words) an “iridescent landscape”.  My pictures here by no means capture it but at least give you an idea.  Their web site does a better job here.  We took it in with a few hundred other like minded art aficionados on an absolutely perfectly crisp and cool evening.

The white bulbs in the background are actually lights, turned off in the daytime.
The whole landscape changes color. Quite a sight.

The loggia "light shower". Note the size of the doors compared to Margo.



This weekend we took a ride to Franklin.  A sleepy little town south of Nashville that seems to be well liked by a few celebs who have made it home including Carrie Underwood, Brad Paisley, Keith Urban and Nicole Kidman as well as NASCAR’s Darryl Waltrip to name a few.  They were all busy so we instead just checked out the downtown area.  Margo was in heaven with all the quaint shops and of course we found a cool local coffee shop, The Frothy Monkey.  I people watched and took pictures, my idea of heaven.  This was mainly a trip to get the lay of the land as we’ll be going back to check out the memorials and old southern mansions associated with the Battle of Franklin, a major civil war battle that occurred here in November 1864, also called the “five bloodiest hours” of the war.  We’ll report on that in a future post.

Until then we know you’ll be working for your weekend and hope you are enjoy them as much as we do ours.

The Frothy Monkey. Great coffee.

I HAD to take a shot of this little shop. Nice choice of names. It also turned out to be Margo's favorite.

] Downtown Franklin