Let's see.. a lot has happened since I last posted while we were at Dale Hollow..

We left there and went to Bailey's Point.. beautiful Corp park with a lake view.  We only stayed a week, but it was wonderful and dogs had a great time in the water.  Next we headed to a corp park we couldn't get into so we canceled our reservation and headed to Lake Cumberland RV park.  It was so nice we stayed a month!  The people were so nice and the facilities were really nice.  I had a lot of places to run, but OMG the hills!  The hills of Ky are beautiful, but not too much fun to run.  Making 5 miles on hills.. so not too bad.  While here we made a day trip to the Lexington Horse Park.  Had a wonderful time with the dogs at the park.  Watched the "Parade of Champions" and Rowdy had a seat up near the front.  He was very interested in all the horses.  Cigar was my favorite and possibly the prettiest horse I have ever seen.

 

Cigar

 

After LCRVpark we headed to Taylorsville, Ky.  Nice State Park and we always meet the nicest people there.  On the 9th I got to go hunting with Jan Bell and Don Gaskell.  The dogs did pretty good, except Libby getting skunked...peeeuuuuwww.  My poor Libby-lou.  On the 15th was the BWTA/AWTA dog trial.  Buddy and Jan ran the brush hunt and everyone seemed to like it.  Our dogs did really well and I am very proud of my Snap-man for getting high point Rally! Running was much more fun here- it is a little flatter.  Going upwards of 5 miles now.  Our good friends Pat and Al from Illinois got to come to the trial and we had a wonderful cook-out after the trial.  Good food and good friends, Pat and Al, Lynne McPherson, Jan Bell, Sussane Busse, Buddy and me.  From Taylorsville we headed right to the Magnolia trial.  What wonderful weather for a trial.  I judged the agility part of the trial on Saturday and Buddy got to show all the dogs.  He did a fantastic job and the dogs came away with a lot of ribbons, a champion and reserve.  My Snap-man did it again and got reserve champion in Trailing and Locating!  wahoooo Snap!  We got to see our wonderful and dear friends Pat and Al again.  This is one of my favorite trials.  We all have such a good time.   Fantastic place to run (sidewalks everywhere) and got a good run of 7 miles and a couple 5's and 6 milers.  I wanted to run everyday because it was so nice.

From Magnolia to Arkansas.  We are currently at Hot Springs Catherines Landing RV park.  very nice park and back to the hills for running.  Made a couple 6 milers and 4-5 milers.. The hills are brutal.  Buddy and I headed to the Hot Springs National park and had a wonderful hike to the top of the mountain.  So beautiful.. not great to wear flip flops when hiking.  (I didn't know we were going to hike up)  I think the dogs were even a little sore the next day. 



 

 

Tomorrow we head into Texas to Atlanta State Park.  So for now signing off.. see ya on facebook and email!  ;)

 

 

Still in TN

Well, we are still in TN..right now at Dale Hollow RV park.  Very nice park and we have a nice shady site.  Dogs seem to like this park, lots of places to walk and they can get in the water.  Rowdy still swims like a fish- just like his mom used to.  Boy do I miss my Bay Bay girl.  sigh.  Last year when we were here they had an over abundance of skunks.. this year no skunks, but a ton of bunnies!  I wll take rabbits any day of the week.  Someone dropped off some kittens..why do people do that?  I get so angry- can't you just spay and neuter your pets?  There are too many places that do it for free to use the "I can't afford it" excuse.  I hope God has a special place for these idiots.  Luckily, our RV neighbors just lost their old cat and they took the 2 that were left and got them checked by a vet and shots etc.  They were going to take them to the Nashville Humane society, but after talking with them yesterday, they are going to keep them!
This is a nice running park.. paved roads and a nice hike/bike trail along the river.  Guess what we saw!?  A River Otter!  He was so cute.  He was on the walkway and I thought he was injured.  Buddy held the dogs back while I went to check on him.  On my way to him, I kept saying "are you hurt little guy?  Are you ok?"  I don't know if he didn't hear me (he was busy grooming himself), but I got within 3-4 feet and all of a sudden he saw me!  He looked like a cartoon..his eyes got big and he scurried down the bank.. I laughed and laughed.  I went back to Buddy and dogs and we continued our walk.. got back to where we saw the Otter and there he was again!  Boy the dogs were very happy to see such a large critter!  LOL.. he scurried away pretty quick when he saw them!  This is where I have to tell you the story of relaying this all to my mom on the phone.  Buddy and I used to have a shepherd dog named Otter.  When I told my mom we saw an Otter, she was silent and then said "you saw Otter?"  I guess she thought I had been drinking and hallucinating!  It was pretty funny... I said "NO AN Otter"  She said " Oh I get it now..you had me worried"  LOL.  I remembered taking Otter to a vet we had recently seen about Otter's allergies and he said "how is Beaver doing?"  I cracked up!  I said his name is Otter.. he laughed and said I thought it was some aquatic mammel!  geez!
 Yesterday we saw a doe and 2 babies at her side.. They were awful pretty. 
Wednesday we head into KY to Bailey Point RV park near Scottsville KY.  Hope it is a nice park and has places to run.  I think my brother, Rick and his wife, Dorina are going to run in the San Antonio race with me.  Think I will run the half marathon this year.  The humidity here is keeping me from adding time to my 45 minutes.  I keep plugging along. 
Almost at the end of my 4 seasons going full time.  Still enjoying it and we have met some wonderful people on our trips.. maybe another 4 seasons! :)

Now back in TN and feel like we are home.  Small RV park off of I75.  Overniter RV park.  Today Buddy and I went to the GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAIN NATIONAL PARK.  It was beautiful!  I can just imagine the Indians roaming this area, with a number of critters for food, fresh water and caverns to live in.  It was so beautiful. 

Have a great Memorial Day everyone.  God Bless America.

Stopped in Georgia at a really nice Corp of Engineer park- John Tanner State Park.  Soon to be a County Park.  Very nice only 31 sites, but clean and a large lake that has a running track around it.  Up to 45 Minutes, but it just doesn't seem too fast.  sigh.  Want to run a marathon (on my bucket list) and I figure it will take about 4-1/2 hours at the minimum..so still have a long way to go.  Couldn't do it without my shuffle!  :)

back in Alabama! yea!

We finally left Florida and are now in Eufaula Alabama at White Oak Creek Park.  it is a Corp of Engineer park (always good for the price).  We got here and found it is possibly the nicest park we have been in.  The lake is right at our trailer with a nice beach area.  The dogs got to swim and chase the ball.  We try to wear them out as much as possible.  We might be asked to leave though, Izzy bit the park ranger when he came to chat with us.  Why do people put their hands in our dog pen?  I would never do that without asking first.  Oh well, it didn't break the skin, but it really shocked the guy.  sigh.

the site we are at

finally a dog friendly park!

While at De Funiak Springs, we couldn't find a park that was dog friendly and it was really frustrating.   De Funiak Springs and a gorgeous park and yes..dog friendly.  So staying here for a month and we find a park within 5-6 miles from where we were and the dogs loved it.  So, needless to say, we got to go to the park twice!  It was a really great park to run- mile track around the lake.. so nice.

Rowdy swiming in Circle Lake

USS Alabama

Buddy and I took a tour of the USS Alabama and the submarine USS Drum. We also saw some war helicopters and statues.  The Alabama was HUGE!  It was like a city in the battleship.  I never knew the main battle guns were so big- 16 inch bore size...wow. 
They had a memorial area for Vietnam vets and Buddy saw the type of helicopter he was a crew chief on in VN.  They also had a tribute to the four legged soldiers working along their human counterparts. It all was very emotional.  God Bless our Soldiers, past, present and those that didn't come home.

We saw a B-52 named The Calamity Jane!  I had to take a picture of my little girls name sake (Mach One Calamity Jane)!

We get home to a beautiful sunset.. We will hate to leave here.





Alabama

We had the best time in Alabama!  We went on an air boat ride through the delta with our RV neighbors, Barb and Rick.  It was so much fun!  Our capt. Chris, was very knowledgeable and we learned a lot, saw some most amazing things and had a wonderful time.  Got to see a small alligator on the bank.  He/she was pretty cool looking..from the boat that is :)

Gorgeous sunset on the delta

Spanish Fort, Alabama

We are at a beautiful RV park (Meaher State Park) in Spanish Fort, Alabama.  The park only has 56 sites so it is relatively small, but large pine trees and a beautiful water site.  We get to the gate and the lady says that we can have a water site (right smack down at the water) or an inland site.  We said "water for sure!  and grass for the dogs" We absolutely got what we wanted.  we are about 50 feet from the bay and there is a lot of grass between the sites.  So we set up and get the dogs in the x-pens and we start looking around...so what is behind the trailer?

WHAT?

Don't Harass the Alligators?  Are they kidding?  First, where are they and Second, who in their right minds would want to harass them?  Well, we did find out that they rarely (only seen one time) come on shore, but hey this is Cindi and Buddy we are talking about.  I'm sure if it is to happen again it will be while we are here...sigh.  We did see about 5 float by this morning, but they stayed off shore and the dogs can't see them.  So before we take the doggies out we do an alligator check. 

Other than that we had some of the best seafood we have ever had at a place called the Oyster House .  I got grilled shrimp and Buddy got the locals favorite.  I have to say, most places you go to (inland) you get 5-6 shrimp and a ton of fries to fill your plate..this place was just the opposite, you got a ton of grilled shrimp and a handful of fries.  I must have had 20 large grilled shrimp...yum!  Now Buddy's plate was just packed with food, fried oysters, fried flounder, and about 20 boiled shrimp and small corn cobs..OMG!  Now everyone that knows me, knows I'm not a seafood person, but I would eat there everyday if I could. 



We get home, do an alligator check, put the dogs out and watch a wonderful evening unfold.

It is stunning.

Until then... DON'T HARASS THE ALLIGATORS!  :)

bad time in Mississippi

This has been the craziest place I have ever been during a storm.  We were right on the coast and some BAD storms came through.  we had wind, thunder, lightning, tornadoes.. it was awful.  today was beautiful! 

Beautiful

time on the beach when it wasn't storming.  Izzy LOVED

the different ocean birds.. she wanted THEM!!!

Livingston, LA

SNOWFLAKE

snowflake..she is beautiful!

Beautiful RV park with a lake and a swan named snowflake.  She is pretty and the dogs would like to know her personally...sigh.   The lake is really nice and the dogs have gone for a swim everyday.  We can't let them off the leash bc they want to find snowflake.  Damn terriers.  This is a really nice park and very dog friendly.  They have a lot of doggy bags and trash bins to put their stuff in.  Our neighbors, Cheryl and her husband Loyd are very nice and we had lots of laughs tonight talking about our "adventures". 
We will be here for a week then on east.

Libby still can't realize she could jump out.

aren't they pretty?!

Lakeside RV park, Livingston, LA

our beautiful new trailer

my Little Bailey - girl

Most of you know that I lost my little Bailey to cancer.  It took me this long to write without crying (yeah right).  She was a true lady and a wonderful mama dog.  She did love her babies.  She will be missed so much.  The trailer seems empty and we still have 4 others.  Things I miss the most:
- her smile.  She showed those teeth and grinned.  If you got too close, you would get your nose bit.
- The way she relaxed, by holding a stuffed animal in her mouth and kneading with her front paws until she fell asleep and she would hold on to the stuffed animal while she slept.
- her love for hunting.  She grabbed an opossum by the tail and pulled it out of a hole the night before she died.
-her easy going attitude.  She was always the lady
- her love for her puppies
- if you threatened to kiss her feet, she would try to take your face off.. More bark than bite.

She will be missed so very much.

life in the RV

Been in Uvalde for ove 2 months and I'm anxious to get on the road again.  Heading to San Antonio on the 13th for a couple weeks.  Bailey goes to a specialist on Tuesday.  Say a prayer.

My little Bay-Bay

Our new trailer:

Our new coat rack

pretty outside

pretty inside

dogs doing what they do best:

whats up?

Not much going on.  Had some elective surgery done and am healing just fine.  Dogs are hanging in there, but ms. bailey is still having potty problems.  I think the final diagnosis is chronic colitis.  sigh.  poor girls feels like she has to poop every 5 minutes and howls when she hunches over.  When not doing that she runs around like a little puppy.  I'm stumped on what else to do for her.  She is on low protein, high fiber diet and gets yogurt a couple times a week.  Anyone have any ideas?
Still loving the new trailer.  It is just what we have been looking for.  Just love it.
Hope to see everyone at the texas 2 step dog trial in Navasota!