Monday 17 March 2014 – Visit with Carl and Donna
Janet and I awoke, ate breakfast, prepared the rig for travel, and departed Harvest Moon RV Park, heading to Tennessee, in between rain bands. We planned to meet with our dear friends, Carl and Donna, in Friendsville, TN, and to proceed to Maryville, where we were having the tires on the Volvo and on the Mobile Suites replaced with new, virgin rubber tires. [The tires on the Volvo were 7 years old and on the MS, almost, 7 y.o. For more, in-depth account of our on road “adventure” and tire purchase, click Travel or the “Travel” menu tab, above.]
Donna was waiting for us along the route to the tire store and led us directly to it. We left the rig with the mechanics at the tire store and rode with Donna for a delightful tour of Maryville, TN. Donna explained that the locals don’t pronounce the name of the town as it is spelled, but more like “Murra-vul” (sorry, if I still didn’t get it quite correct–I practiced saying it many times, but I’m not a polyglot]. Carl was still working as we toured; so, we stopped for coffee to relax, to chat–catching up from last summer when we met Carl and Donna in Charleston, SC for a week of RV vacationing–and to wait for Carl. Before I knew it, Carl was pulling into a parking space at the coffee shop.
About the time Carl arrived, I received a message from the tire store that all the replacements had been completed, except for the Mobile Suites’ “spare;” the mechanics could not figure how to get to the “spare” for replacement. So, Carl and I rode to the tire store to assist; however, it turned out that, not only did I not have the tool needed to lower the “spare,” but, even if I had the tool, I cannot access the windlass to lower it. We loaded the MS’ “spare tire” in the rear compartment of our smart for the time being and Carl escorted me to the secure storage lot where I left our rig overnight.
I rode with Carl to meet our wives, who, already, had a table and were waiting for us at Calhoun’s restaurant. We, each, ordered the same, a 1/2-rack of Hickory Smoked Bar-B-Que (pork) Ribs, but with different side-dishes. The food was delicious, but more than we could eat at a single meal. We left the restaurant in Maryville and headed to Carl and Donna’s home in Friendsville–a distance of about 10-15 miles, I estimate.
When we arrived, Donna gave us a tour of their lovely home. The four of us sat and chatted for hours; but, too soon, the “rack monster” jumped on me and demanded that I go to bed for sleep!
Tuesday 18 March 2014 – End of Leg #1, Deer Run RV Resort
The next morning after breakfast, Carl and I drove to the storage lot to trouble-shoot the Volvo’s problem with tail lights. We discovered that the wiring connector between the trailer connection and the Volvo was not making good contact; so, I adjusted it as best as I could and decided we could continue our journey, since the Volvo still has brake and turn-signal lights.
We left our rig and drove back to Carl’s home, where our wives were ready to go out for lunch. So, the four of us drove to the Lemon Grass Restaurant (Thai cuisine and sushi bar) for lunch. Carl ordered a sushi platter for our appetizer–California Roll and Spicy, Crunchy Tuna Roll–I abstained, as I’m not keen to eat sushi (maybe, one day I’ll try it). After the delicious lunch (I ate the Pad Prik Pork entree), we drove to the storage lot where Janet and I started the Volvo; Carl checked the lights for us and escorted us to US 321S, headed to Crossville via I-40W.
With cruise control set for 65 mph, the 45 mile drive was a short duration in light traffic conditions. We turned off the Interstate highway onto Peavine Road (TN SR 101) and made our way to Deer Run RV Resort, where we plan to camp for about a month before setting off for Leg #2!