 | "so ... |
[Ken 04/30/2016] When we are in one place for more than a day or two, we will typically hang an US flag from a stretched bungee cord on the face of Faith. Most RV'ers, we have come to realize, are war heroes who have served our country and this is one way that Deb and I can demonstrate our "Thanks," and our pride.
When we switched our vehicle registrations from Colorado to Texas, however, everybody began to assume [understandably] that we were born-and-bred Texans. Let it be known that we now consider, and will continue to consider ourselves, Coloradoans, in spite of our address and/or what the black-and-white license plates may indicate. So to clarify our 36-year geographic legacy, we added a Colorado flag to the bungee cord. The outcome is a Texas license plate just below a Colorado flag on the front of Faith.
Now EVERYbody is confused!
Oh well...
When we switched our vehicle registrations from Colorado to Texas, however, everybody began to assume [understandably] that we were born-and-bred Texans. Let it be known that we now consider, and will continue to consider ourselves, Coloradoans, in spite of our address and/or what the black-and-white license plates may indicate. So to clarify our 36-year geographic legacy, we added a Colorado flag to the bungee cord. The outcome is a Texas license plate just below a Colorado flag on the front of Faith.
Now EVERYbody is confused!
Oh well...
the gulf coast |  |
[Ken 04/26/2016] On this leg of our adventure, today is our last day in Alabama. To be honest, when anticipating our time here I did not expect the state to be so much fun. Aside from a couple of very serious rainfalls, the weather was beachy and inviting. This allowed us time to explore and enjoy a lot of what this very green state has to offer.
Other than trips to the beaches, we kayaked several times, explored a couple estuaries, went out for runs in different parks, toured historic downtowns and municipal pier areas (we really liked the city of Fairhope on Mobile Bay), hiked, walked piers, biked through Gulf Shores State Park, the Hugh Branyon backcountry trail, and Orange Beach, toured forts and museums, and a lighthouse, went to a pecan orchard, visited an alligator farm (...why?...), visited a dentist (Ken had lost a crown), and even found some entertaining places to eat out. Just for fun, Google ThrowedRolls.com.
To see more pictures, be sure to visit the OUR SCRAPBOOK page. We had certainly underestimated the beautiful state of Alabama. In fact, we had such a great time in the state that we are a bit sad to be leaving.
It is easy to understand why the license plates here advertise, "Alabama the Beautiful." But now we head into northwest Georgia; to quote Union General, William Sherman, "...GEORGIA tomorrow!" (SORRY).
It is easy to understand why the license plates here advertise, "Alabama the Beautiful." But now we head into northwest Georgia; to quote Union General, William Sherman, "...GEORGIA tomorrow!" (SORRY).
 | a future sower project |
| [Ken 04/25/2016] We were on our way to our next project at the west edge of the Appalachian Plateau when we decided we should check out a couple places on the route. Tonight, we are spending the night at a project site that is relatively new to the SOWER ministry. We are at Eagle Rock Boys Ranch in Attalla, Alabama. There is not much here yet, except one-and-a-half boys' homes and a small RV park. |  |
Eagle Rock is a small camp with a big vision (and a lot of heart). Most of the boys who are staying here are lost, homeless, and/or are from broken homes. In addition to giving the boys a place to stay, home-cooked meals, and hope in Christ, the vision includes farming the acreage located at the center of the camp and then letting the boys sell the harvest at their thrift store down the street, in town.
 | As soon as the ranch's second residence is finished (in June) it will immediately be nearly fully occupied. Wow! As we travel these highways and byways, Deb and I continue to be overwhelmed with all of the deeply meaningful and blessed ministries that are filling REAL needs in our country. This boys ranch is a great example; another project that can use all of the help from volunteer groups that it can get. We will certainly keep this one on our list as a possible future SOWER project for us. |
things we learned
in the south
 "Flares" |  "Buggy" |  "Kawl Ott" |
 "Bald Shrimp" |  "All Bowed Up" |  "Far Tar" |
 "Coke" |  "Pih-Kahn" |  "Pee Can" |
 |  |  |
| "Rayed Lat" | "Tarnation"  "Bail Papers" | "Ketchup" |
watch out for salamanders!
[Deb 04/02/2016] I think this little lizard was attracted to my colorful shoes. He slithered up and made his way partly up my shin.
EEEW!
I jumped and he was gone.
According to some, these "creepy crawlies" are endangered. Maybe in Costa Rica, but not in the Hill Country of Texas or where we have been along the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama! In fact, at a structure in Texas, they were nesting in the eaves and crawling all over the moss that had grown on the building. At another location they would cling to the stucco side and bask vertically in the sunshine! Now they are climbing on my shoes in south Alabama!
Here are Some Facts:
According to Wikipedia, there are about 655 living species of salamanders. One third of these are found in North America. Interestingly the highest concentration of these guys is found in the Appalachian Mountains. Some salamanders are even poisonous.
EEEW!
I jumped and he was gone.
According to some, these "creepy crawlies" are endangered. Maybe in Costa Rica, but not in the Hill Country of Texas or where we have been along the Gulf Coast of Florida and Alabama! In fact, at a structure in Texas, they were nesting in the eaves and crawling all over the moss that had grown on the building. At another location they would cling to the stucco side and bask vertically in the sunshine! Now they are climbing on my shoes in south Alabama!
Here are Some Facts:
According to Wikipedia, there are about 655 living species of salamanders. One third of these are found in North America. Interestingly the highest concentration of these guys is found in the Appalachian Mountains. Some salamanders are even poisonous.
Luckily, this was not the case in my experience. The brightly colored one that climbed up my leg was not in the poisonous category!
So, there you have it! More information about salamanders than you wanted to know. I’m still wearing my colorful slogger shoes because they are great here in the Alabama mud.
So, there you have it! More information about salamanders than you wanted to know. I’m still wearing my colorful slogger shoes because they are great here in the Alabama mud.
 | another front |
| [Ken and Deb 04/01/2016] April Fools Day was a challenging one for us. First off, Ken lost a crown from one of his molars. For the entire drive from Pensacola, it was pouring rain - the most we have encountered as full-time RV'ers. And when we got to our new camp, Camp Baldwin in south Alabama, Faith's slides and jacks would not work (turned out to be a failed shuttle valve on the hydraulic manifold). We set up camp as best we could. Other SOWERs were showing up in the rain, too. At least we were all in "this" together! |  |
In spite of the pressing deluge, Deb worked her way around-and-around the motorhome kneeling in the mud to check on each immovable jack underneath. Deb also hooked up the water, sewer, and electric. Then we had to move the motorhome a little bit. Again, Deb hooked up the water, sewer, and electric. She was kneeling and standing in the persistent Alabama rain for quite a long time.
Ken was tearing into Faith's hydraulics. Once he figured out that the shuttle valve was the problem, he had to figure out how to remove it. It was like working in a river; we were both soaked.
After showers, we were warm and cozy inside Faith. Deb put on her "Happy Camper" shirt -- attitude is everything, right? For a few days (until the new valve arrives) we are sleeping quite comfortably in a wobbly, smaller home!
In spite of the pressing deluge, Deb worked her way around-and-around the motorhome kneeling in the mud to check on each immovable jack underneath. Deb also hooked up the water, sewer, and electric. Then we had to move the motorhome a little bit. Again, Deb hooked up the water, sewer, and electric. She was kneeling and standing in the persistent Alabama rain for quite a long time.
Ken was tearing into Faith's hydraulics. Once he figured out that the shuttle valve was the problem, he had to figure out how to remove it. It was like working in a river; we were both soaked.
After showers, we were warm and cozy inside Faith. Deb put on her "Happy Camper" shirt -- attitude is everything, right? For a few days (until the new valve arrives) we are sleeping quite comfortably in a wobbly, smaller home!
The RV park at Camp Baldwin is beautiful. The RV park is not actually IN Camp Baldwin -- it is situated in an idyllic stand of loblolly pine trees on the east banks of Wolf Bay (...more kayaking ...yay!..) in extreme south Alabama. The rain is scheduled to stop this evening and we are promised at least one week of sunny weather after that. But I hear that things can move slowly down here ... we'll see!
