D165 - 10/10/24 MILTON YOU WERE BAD!

Home! We have made it home!! Three long days of driving to arrive after the storm. 

There is much for us to assess in the morning. We arrived home in the dark tonight. We have many thanks for those around us. 

Thank you to our wonderful neighbors and friends who sent us pictures today of our home. It was very comforting to see our home in your photographs. Thank you friends and family who cut the large tree limbs in our front yard. Thank you to the best neighbors ever who took time from their clean-up to clear our driveway so that we would have a place to park our Airstream on our arrival. We are grateful! 

As far as we can tell our home is fine. So grateful. Best we can tell there has been no power here for over 24 hours. To those who know … the quarter was in the bottom of the cup. Tim and I just did a quick walk through in the dark with headlamps inside. We will spend at least tonight in the Airstream in the driveway and possibly more. We are grateful. 

Daylight will bring more assessments. We do know that there is more damage in our backyard. Shed, sea kayaks and fence had a fight with Milton. We are grateful no more damage was caused. Actually we anticipated more. We will have days of clean-up and waiting on power before we move back into our home. 

Please be patient with any return responses from us. 

To any of our neighbors and friends … if you need internet please DM me. I will get you connected. It may mean hanging out on our front porch but we got you!! Come for coffee! Also if there is anything we can do to help you or resource for you please contact us. 

Sending big hugs to our neighbors who did not fair as well. We are here. We are here to help and here to support and listen. 

LOVE YOU ALL!! 🩷

We are so grateful! 

Dinner: SNACKS! 

Sunset: 7:01 pm 

Sunrise: 7:25 am

Elevation: 120’

Miles from home: ZERO 

Miles driven: 

16,652.5 miles

Wildlife viewings:

Great Egrets 

Hawks 

D164 - 10/09/24 SOUTHERN ALABAMA

 

Late last night in Clarksville Tim saw a big John Deere tractor traveling on the road in front of the Cracker Barrel at a high rate of speed. Then this morning here comes the same John Deere tractor loaded with the family coming to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. That’s how you do it. Only in Tennessee!! 

We departed Clarksville, Tennessee and continued our drive on through Tennessee and into Alabama. Today was not a tough drive but just a long day of driving. 

Highlight of the day was stopping at the Buc-ee’s in Athens, Alabama. We fueled the truck then went inside to shop. Not only did we spend $65 on snacks, sandwiches and a t-shirt but somehow managed to take one and a half hours to do that. What the heck?!

Basecamp for this evening is not only a Boondockers Welcome site but also a close friend of the family. We will hopefully be able to head home tomorrow but we can stay here as long as we need. 

Had a lovely dinner at the local Mexican restaurant with our very gracious hosts. Then retreated back to the Airstream to monitor Hurricane Melton and plan our re-entry. 

Stay safe out there  everyone. 

Dinner: Agave Azul Mexican Restaurant 

Sunset: 6:17 pm

Sunrise: 6:42 AM

Elevation: 280’

Wildlife viewings:

Hawks

Blue Heron

Great Egret 

D163 - 10/08/24 EARLY DEPARTURE

 

This morning we departed the Airstream Club International Rally three days early. Our original planned return home was November 1st. A few weeks ago I received a call for an eight day job in Tampa. This would make us return home early around the 13th of October so that I could arrive in Tampa on the 14th to begin work on the 15th. 

Now with Hurricane Milton bearing down on Florida we are heading back even earlier. Our plan is to hopefully arrive home late on Thursday the 10th right after the storm passes. About three weeks earlier than planned. 

Tonight’s basecamp is at the Cracker Barrel in Clarksville, Tennessee. We stayed just down the road from here on Day 3 of this Epic Adventure. Looks like we have company for the evening and they appear to be from Florida and have also just left the rally. 

Everyone please stay safe out there. 

Dinner: Chicken Fried Chicken! 

Sunset: 6:21 pm

Sunrise: 6:51 am 

Elevation: 520’

Wildlife viewings:

Hawk

Deer

Blue Heron 

Great Egret

D162 - 10/07/24 OFFICIAL DAY 3 OF THE AIRSTREAM RALLY

Had a fun morning at the Paws and Claws Showcase: Rally Pet Show and Parade in the Swine Barn. 

Headed to the Vendor Buildings again to pick up a few small Airstream parts. Always a good idea to grab them when possible to save on shipping. And finally got to tour the new 2025 33’ Airstream Classic trailer! 

$$$$$

Continued our Driver’s Meeting for our early departure. Decision has been made. We will depart the rally three days early. Returned our golf cart this afternoon. 

Ended the day with a super fun Halloween Dance and Costume Party in the Swine Barn! The costumes were amazing and so much thought went into them. The Vintage Airstream Club knows to put on a party. Wow!! 

Sunset: 6:45 pm

Sunrise: 7:13 am

Wildlife viewings:

Lots more flamingos! 

A few dinosaurs. 

And a bunch of Buc-ee’s Beavers!!