Vacations

I awoke at 6:00am and actually saw the sun fairly low on the horizon out over the water. I had to be up for a 7:15 phone call and sat outside to take it. After 45 minutes I was drenched in sweat – the humidity here is crazy! We had pancakes for breakfast and I did my normal mandated cleaning of the RV. I remind my kids that living in a small space is OK, but you have to have pride and keep it clean.

Jack and Marcella worked on their blogs last night and seem very enthused about the idea of writing and sharing their adventures. I think it is a great habit for them to learn and will greatly improve their writing skills.

We walked to the beach after breakfast. It is a solid 20-25 minute walk, but worth it. Although today was very different as the water was calm. We enjoyed ourselves for a while until the “attacks” began. First we saw a stingray. That was followed by Marcella getting stung and myself getting stung by jellyfish. By the time we left all of us had been stung (except James). Sitting on the shore to avoid the jellies as no better as the flies would bite and suck blood. Easy kill once they attach.

We made it back around 11:50 and showered and found lunch. Finally, my favorite part of vacation and the first time I got to experience it took place. I got a nap. James fell asleep and I crawled onto my bed. After an hour I awoke and saw Jack sleeping in his bed (up over the cab of the RV) and Marcella asleep on the couch.

 

We are going to try to change our reservations and cancel the next campground.  The kids got a net and want to fish and stay here one more night.  It’s hot, but we are having fun.

It is hot and humid in Mobile, Alabama. I remember coming to the south when I was a kid and visiting my Aunt Carol and Uncle Gary in Beaumont, Texas. Living in Minnesota at the time I had no idea what humidity was like, it engulfs you and suffocates the breath out of you. This morning was the same. The RV is cold enough to hang meat and I stepped outdoors into the equivalent of a Swedish Sauna. With that said, it is still pretty here. Last night the kids and I found a pier in the campground and we were able to see alligators lingering in the water, waiting for one of us to fall in. Of course, we are the strangers in their habitat, not the other way around. More entertaining were jack rabbits on the trail to the pier, the size of small dogs these rabbits were not shy and remained close to us – within 10 feet. There are also giant grasshoppers here, about 3 inches long and black.

James awoke at 6:05 today so we got an early start. I washed dishes and cleaned up. I have had a chance to write some code, write some book chapters, and reboot my POS (piece of sh*t) computer about four times as it does a blue screen of death every time I insert the wireless card. Jack is eating cheerios and James has inhaled a cup of Ovaltine and a granola bar. Marcella is in her usual sleeping state.

We headed out of Meaher State Park after breakfast and went to the USS Alabama Memorial Park. I have been to many museums, but honestly nothing nearly as impressive as this. We toured the battleship, seeing things just as they looked in 1942. Truly this is one of the best “frozen in time” museum displays I have seen in my life. The ship was put in condition just like it was in WWII. After the tour of the Alabama we saw aircraft preserved, my favorite an SR-71 Blackbird (always wanted to fly one) and then headed to see the USS Drum Submarine. I have never been aboard a submarine and this was impressive. There is something seemingly odd about these WWII vessels – it seems like we took a sudden leap in technology, almost alien in some aspects. Aboard the Alabama there was a “Degaussing” room – a generator feeding copper coils strung about the ship to prevent a magnetic field from forming. I have a degree in Chemical Engineering and understand physics concepts, but who would think of that?

After the USS Alabama we headed across the bay on I-10 and down to Gulf Shores. We are staying at Gulf States Park. Again, another amazing Alabama State Park. I just wish there were more trees here. We went to the beach and then came back for dinner: Steak (soaked in Whiskey), green beans, and macaroni and cheese. After dinner we went to check out the pool; Alabama spared no money on their investment here (other than trees) and the pool is amazing. We are now back at the RV and the kids are watching a movie. I have an early morning phone call and need to call it a night.

Two last things: My kids asked me why I blog our vacation details. I explained to them what seems obvious now is erased by the sands of time. I have blogged my trips to Israel and Oshkosh thinking I would never forget. I blogged the death of my dog Shadow and see the hurt I felt. Blogging creates a diary and Marcella and Jack both decided to start their own. Second, RVing. It is easy to mock people in the South, combine that with RVing and we are easy targets. There is probably nothing more family oriented than hitting the road and traveling in an RV. I cannot imagine people I would rather spend time with than my kids. Today they proved themselves once again my helping me this morning; while I went to shower they dried and put away the breakfast dishes, disconnected the water and power, and brought in the slide. They understand responsibility and I put it out there for them to take. Too many parents my age (43) expect far less of their kids and baby them. I live life like a 1950’s Dad and expect them to step up and help. My kids have life skills and always amaze me.

 

PS – I guess we are hungry.  James and Marcella got cookies and Jack is making popcorn.  I just made taco dip:

1/2 brick cream cheese softened and spread on the bottom of a 5×5 dish

Add about 1/2 jar salsa over the top

shred 1/2 brick Monterey Jack cheese over the top

Nuke for 1-1 1/2 minutes.

 

Moving out and loading up brings challenges. Instead of a relaxed morning I am usually thinking about how to get things done while cooking, cleaning, or prepping for the road. Jack was up early, 6:40a after James crawled in bed with him. Marcella has enjoyed sleeping each day until 8:30 as I usually move her to my room and close up the couch. I made the coffee strong this morning and finished some chores around the RV. With a six hour drive ahead I felt the conflict between a desire to get on the road but yet wanting to keep my relaxed vacation attitude.

Breakfast was bacon (of course) and pancakes. The first batch of pancakes soaked up the bacon grease. For the record, they were probably the best. Jack helped get the awning in, fix two vents on the roof and generally clean up. I found myself drenched in sweat and craving a shower due to the Alabama humidity. We navigated to the dump station after filling our on board water tank – ugh. Nothing like the movie RV and I headed to the showers before hitting the road.

The drive was beautiful as Alabama is rolling hills, trees, and a lot of rocks.

Down I-65 through Birmingham, Montgomery, and south to Bay Minette. The Wal-Mart at Bay Minette gave us a chance to restock a few items (bacon, chips, cookies, and water). It was hot, nearly 99F, and the Air Conditioned

Wal-Mart felt like heaven. Of course, you can read my opinion about big box stores here.

Our campground tonight is incredible. For $30 I own water front property on Mobile Bay. The humidity is outrageous and it’s warm, but no complaints, I am on vacation. Tonight for dinner we are having a pork loin (done on the grill) and some pasta. There is no pool here and we are focused on staying cool indoors. I can see why full time RVers take to places like this – cheap rent and paradise. Tomorrow we head to see the USS Alabama.

 

Jack managed to teach James to read a book today – “Red shirt, blue shirt.”  James occupied himself on the floor of the RV playing cards.

The views out our windows…..

James rose at 6:40am this morning, no surprise. I cranked up the coffee pot (a percolator that fills the RV with the smell of coffee) and worked my way outside). I managed to write my newspaper column and finish yesterday’s information about vacation. In addition I am working on a book and managed to get parts of several chapters written. I made “Dad’s bacon and eggs” for breakfast, eggs cooked sunny side up in the bacon grease. Kids love them and so do I.

At 10:00am we headed to the cave for the tour. It took about 45 minutes to tour the one-mile long cave. The depth was approximately 125 feet and there was an underground lake partially visible with crystal clear waters. When we came up top it was hot! It was about 90F compared to the cool, naturally air conditioned feeling underground.

The rest of the day was spent at the pool. This state park is “old school” as far as the facilities, more like things were when I was a kid. The playground had metal pipe jungle gyms, metal slides and wooden

teeter-totters. The pool was a concrete pool with two diving boards; my kids had not seen a diving board in years. There was even a

high-dive which Jack managed to dive from five times. Marcella and Jack both went off the high dive multiple times jumping to the depths below. Even I got up and dove off the high dive several times. I have to remind my kids who is “king.”

Jack and Marcella made dinner (Hamburger Helper – Crunchy Taco) and we ate two bags of popcorn while watching Marcella’s DVD selection for the night, “Mean Girls.” Yeah, Lindsay Lohan was semi-normal once. James fell asleep in my arms and we called it a night about 9:15. Vacation is tiring.

 

 

Our second day of vacation took us from the Parnell Creek RV Campground to the Space and Rocket Center in Huntsville, AL. Jack, Marcella, and James road the Mars simulator and were awed by the rockets. Marcy and Jack discovered the G-Force simulator and the rocket shot rides. They also had a chance to climb a rock wall

– both making it to the top. Marcella looked like Spiderman as she quickly scaled the harder end of the wall. We watched an IMAX movie about the Hubble Telescope and a 3-D movie about dinosaurs of the sea. Overall we spent nearly six hours at the Space and Rocket Center. Jack wants to go to Space Camp next summer, maybe with a bonus I can afford to send him. How cool would that be?

After Huntsville it was back into the “Beast” to travel to Rickwood Caverns State Park. First impressions – wow! This place only has 13 campsites and I did not know what to expect. On pulling in I saw an immaculate campground, exposed rocks, a gigantic pool with high dive and a playground. For $20/night you can’t beat camping at State Parks. Two years ago was our first RV outing and we camped at KOA’s. I have come a long way since then and definitely prefer state parks over the commercial endeavours for RV camping. Not only do they cost less but they are more aligned with nature.

I have to share about dinner. We have a menu for each day, last night (Saturday) was beer soaked pork chops and garlic noodles. Tonight the kids had asked for Chicken Casserole – Dad’s signature dish. Traditionally, I make Chicken Casserole like this.
Traditional Chicken Casserole
1-2 lbs cut up chicken tenders or breast (boil until done)
½ bag egg noodles (cooked)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 container sour cream
Combine and put in casserole dish.
1 tube of Ritz crackers crushed and mixed with butter. Sprinkle over top and bake at 350F entire dish for 45 minutes.

Since we are camping and it is hot I wanted to cook outside. Also, money being an issue I ended up getting a different kind of chicken. Once on the road, I discovered I did not have a casserole dish, only a metal cake pan. Thus, I modified the recipe as follows.

John’s Kick-Ass Chicken Casserole

1-2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs (dark meat and greasy, hmm)
– Grill the chicken until done. Use seasonings to flavor (I used Montreal Steak Grillmates)
1 lb box “Seashell” noodles. Cook until done and drain.
1 can cream of onion soup
1 container sour cream
1-1 ½ cup milk
Combine and put in 9×13 metal pan. Generously grease the pan first (I used margarine on a napkin). 1 tube of Ritz crackers crushed and mixed with butter. Sprinkle over top. I baked in a hot 350F oven for 15-20 minutes (until hot).

 

Marcella, Jack, James and I left on vacation in the motorhome for Alabama.  Haley and LeeAnn headed to Bermuda!  Why?  Well, Haley was hesitant to want to go to Spruce Creek High school last this past year to be part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program so we “incentivized” her with a trip.  Annually we take a trip in the motorhome to show the kids America – not wanting to miss this year we started on the way to Alabama.

Getting out of the house was the hard part.  It seemed I wanted to do one more thing before I left – work on my Mustang overheating issue (ugh).  Then we had to head to Ingles and get food for the week.  Finally, we hit the road at 12:45pm.  The RV being the RV, we move a lot slower so it took nearly three hours to get to Dalton, GA and then we finally made it onto I-75.  Of course the zero-visibility

rainsorms did not help.

We passed through Chattanooga with all three kids riding up front looking out the windows.  Finally, we arrived at Parnell Creek RV Camp

at 4:15p and setup.  I started marinating the pork chops for dinner and we headed to the pool.  It was an easy evening of pool, dinner and back to the pool.  In celebration of

the first night on the road Jack made a big bowl of popcorn (by the way, after years of buying Orville, Popsecret is by far the BEST) and we watched “RV” together on the pull out couch.

Sunday brings adventures in Hunstsville at the Space and Rocket Museum.