Finally in Tennesse, the smell of everyone cutting their grass is great. Trish put on her pink cowboy hat with the partridge feathers, then her sandals ,getting ready to have her picture taken in front of the Grand Old Opry , oops, we never did find it, too much traffic, we couldn't take it, too used to the backroads, we did manage to find Opryland in the suburbs. Imagine, Paul got ID'ed in the discount beer store, everyone and we mean everyone has to show ID to buy liquor or beer in Tennesse! Stopped at a VFW at suppertime, (Veterans of Foriegn Wars), similiar to legion, had a chat with two Viet Nam Vets, one guy served in the second world war and then was a Sgt Major in Nam, served twenty seven years in the 82 Airborne. Reading the Herald on line , see you guys are getting snow while we suck up the sun here. Paul got a haircut, the barber said, "I'll give you a Tennesse flattop, and he did!" He was from Florida originally and has been to the Riverwalk in San Antonio where we are headed. Stopped in a roadhouse near Jackson and chatted up Tina, the bartender, and the only person in the joint, in 10 minutes she had told us how her husband died of Lou Gerhig's disease and her son died at 23 with a heart attack, she now lives back home with mama ,she talked our ears off, one other guy came in for a beer while we were there! Another Wal-Mart tonight, they have a security guard in a car patrolling 24 hours and she said she would watch over us! Tomorrow Arkansa! Probably didn't get Dale and Brian before they went to bed, sorry! Good Night Dale, Good night Brian, Good night John Boy!

Hooray, Hooray, we saw our first mosquitoes today! Virginia is for Lovers, Trish is estatic that four days later we are still in that state, Thank God, tomorrows Tennessee! As the parks around here have bears and I told her the parks in Florida have alligators, she urged we turn right for Texas. Thanks to all our followers for the comments, they make our day, and thanks to Jo-Ann for printing our travels. We met an old fellah in West Virginia, Paul asked him how long he had lived there, he said" All my life, so far!" We then told him we were headed to Florida, he said, "I don't think you can get there , from here!" Another reason to continue on to Texas! We chatted quite a while with a young cop in Kentucky, he didn't know much about Canada, but he had been to Japan to a martial arts school! Then in a burger joint we met another old fellow,
Chris was his name, he said his friends called him Christopher Columbus, because he was around so long, he was a Viet Nam Vet, Green Beret, he and Paul talked parachuting, he said he couldn't wait for warmer weather to get out his Gold Wing and head for Colorado, he was 74 years old. Trish brought the ingredients for a seafood chowder, but we ate the haddock for supper one night.
We went to a Super Foods in Kentucky, all they had was a few packages of flounder from China, shrimp from Thailand and farm raised catfish, we made our chowder with what we had! I asked a few people if they ate fish , they said,only when they went to a restaurant. We will try Catfish sometime soon though! Instead of over a mountain, we went through one, a one mile long tunnel, what an awful feeling having all that rock and earth above you, we both experienced a funny feeling and relief at the other end.

We should have taken the calendar from the guy who sold us two new tires, we are always guessing what day it is. It was Thursday we visited John Boy, not Wed. Just remembered, an old guy at Walton's Mtn told me he went to Nova Scotia on a bus trip years ago, worse trip he ever had, I asked him what he remembered about N.S., Can't remember much he said, just a Cove, he had me puzzled for a minute, I said Peggy's Cove? That's it he said, had a post office in it. Is that all you remember I asked, he said yes ,worse bus trip he ever made! Wife made me go! Paul nicknamed the GPS "Satellite Sally " today, he still differs with her at times. Did the boy scout thing this morning, ate our cereal right from the variety pack boxes, no clean dishes! The highways over the Alleghaney mountains are like roller coasters, we averaged 20 miles per hour for three hours, 3000 feet up and 3000 ft down, then repeat it again and again, our nerves were shot. Found a campground on the New River in Narrows, Virginia, one of only two rivers that flow North in the USA. We have decided to keep going SouthWest to Texas and by pass Florida for now! Heading for Nashville!

First thing on the menu Wednesday was Walton's Mountain Museum, located in Schulyer, Virginia. Home of the author of the Walton's, his name was Eric Hamner Jr. and his original house was directly across from the museum. He really did have the brothers and sisters and grandparents as shown in the series. He was the only one to go to college ,like John Boy, the others all graduated from grade 12, their mother said she went through high school eight times making sure her kids graduated. Eric moved to New York and it was there he decided to write about growing up in the backwoods. A woman at Random House took his manuscript home for the weekend, by mistake, after telling him she had at least a thousand to read before his! On Monday morning ,she called him and told him she thought he had a great novel, the rest is history ,as they say! Trish and I had just watched a few re-runs before leaving home, we just happened upon the real Walton's Mtn. , we spent hours looking at photos, in the room with the "recipe" still, Ike Godsey's store, the Walton's kitchen, their living room. The only thing missing was the real people that portrayed real people. Leaving the museum we ended up high in the Blue Ridge Mountains contending with thick fog, where it suggested large trucks do no more than 20 mph downhill for the next four miles, the road had runaway truck ramps, but Bernie, our brakes held out. We were exhausted at the bottom. No Legion in Lexington, so we settled in the Wal-Mart parking lot for a good rest. We were lookjng for Cheese Whiz and asked a few people in the store including an employee, no one could seem to tell us where to look, later on lady came running up and pointed to an aisle, it was the junk food aisle, and it was Cheez Wow! Paul mentioned before how inconsiderate some people can be, like the guy the other night that left his reefer running for some stupid plants just after we had selected a spot, than this morning a 6 am while he was shaving and having a bit of a sponge bath in the 24 hour Wal-Mart bathroom, some guy came in and actually sat on the throne and did his duty. " Good Night Mary Ellen!" " Good Night, John Boy!"

Left Leesburg, VA, travelled to Charlottesville, about two PM seen a campground site, free WiFi , so here we are blogging twice in one day. Enjoying that beer that only costs 65 cents a tin, no alcohol content on the can, Kirk, but it tastes good! Nice to see we have six followers, like to say hello to everyone at the Legion if you are getting the news! Please remember ,you can comment on any blog, and we can still receive e-mails at pauldavid@eastlink.ca and trobb@eastlink.ca At Starbucks this morning we saw a Harley-Davidson Ford truck , some sharp! Trish refuses to sleep in a cemetary at night, but we did have lunch in a nice one today, watched the guys getting a grave ready, even a tent awning in case of rain. Dogwood Festival this week-end, the trees are blooming as white as snow, did I really say that word? There are pink blossom trees mixed in, not sure what they are. Paul looking at the map and seen Norfolk east of us, reminded him of his navy days when they said, " We are the Girls of Norfolk, we don't drink, smoke, Norfolk! Virginia is for Lovers, so we picked a secluded campsite, Trish says TGFVA.

Good morning, another night , another Wal-Mart parking lot, we had company for the first time, a mini-Winnabago from Florida, he had a small trailer and towed a generator,we were tempted to ask him if we could plug in also, we also had another truck camper from Mass. , along with two 18 wheelers waiting to off-load at the garden centre in the morning, one truck run his reefer all night, but we still slept well. We are in Leesburg, Virginia. Yesterday we forgot to mention that while in the motel room, we dined out. Yes, we went to the camper outside the room and had pork and pasta, ( KD & weiners) by candlelight, helped to get back on budget.
Bought two new front tires, soon after we passed at least six Amish horse & wagons, Paul was so upset, getting horseshit on his new tires. Stopped at a Subway to pee, these three young fellows came out, Paul said, "We missed the sign at the last intersection, you couldn't tell us what's down this road?" , one guy answered, " Well, there's an Arby's, there a Steakhouse, a Boston Pizza and KFC! Paul said, " You sure think with your stomach, we meant, what town." His buddys laughed and told us the name of the next town" Ended up on the 695 around Baltimore, about four lanes on each side, didn't take us long to get off that, can't imagine travelling the I 95 all the way to Florida, no thanks. We saw a bus that run on vegetable oil! Tuesday was our first day without snow on the side of the road, just beautiful flowers and that green stuff everywhere. We are staying under budget quite well, the cost of food, gas is very low, air is expensive, had a slow leak one day and spent about $6.00, 75 cents a shot for three minutes air. Paul's descendents are from Virginia, they came to Jamestown in 1607, then moved to Chezzetcook in 1778. Trish is loving the trip, she finds everything so different and delightful!

Yesterday was break- out day, went off budget, lunch at MacDonald's, guess that symbol on the GPS works, the big M comes up everytime you drive near one. Paul bought a cold Cafe Monster, energy drink, cost 2.50, then he decided to rent a motel room. Place to shower, wash our pots and dishes, Trish said , O, Boy a double bed, Paul said, back off, I'm tired, I've been driving for 10 hours, besides, Virginia is for Lovers, and thats coming soon!
Seen 30 beer for $15.00 bucks in Wal-Mart, and gas for 1.65 a gallon yesterday, but already had a full tank and a full fridge. Trish noticed that we see lots of American flags everywhere and that not one is torn or tattered, unlike the Chester Post Office, they shame our country and our troops! We crossed the Deleware more times yesterday than George Washington ever thought of! The GPS took us right through Philadelphia, Trish went in a service station to use the washroom, two clerks, were in a bullet-proof cage with small holes to pass you cigs, change, etc.
If poverty is visible, we saw it in spades yesterday. Trish insisted we lock both doors, keep the windows up and then said, take me back to Bumf**k, SOMEWHERE, fast! I never heard Trish pray before, but she said "Hail Mary, full of Grace, get me out of this f**king Place". She said I should have that Louisville Slugger up front, I showed her the tire iron, beside my seat. She still didn't relax! Thank God for the GPS, wouldn't want to stop in that city for directions. We are back in farm country, near Lancaster, PA.

Missed blogging on Sunday, we didn't make much headway South either, Paul kept disagreeing with the GPS, I don't think he likes that woman's voice telling him where to go. He spent the day telling her where to go! We spent Saturday evening in the Legion in Bennington, Vermont, gave our branch ribbon to the President, he was a WW ll vet, he served with the first US Army outfit to engage the enemy when the US joined the conflict. He and his wife have alternated being President, sorry, Commander for twenty years, she stated she had planned to never run again, but the nominating committee came up with an asshole she doesn't like, so she will run against him next month! Don't want to give you the impression we are doing without Tim's . Paul's daughter, Karen, who we stopped to see in Amherst ,gave us a camping perculator, just pour the hot water over the can of dope we bought in St. Stephen, add our own double, double and we are on the road, breakfast comes later. Paul loves Backroads ,USA, but I never thought he would actually take me to Bumf**k , NOWHERE, where we experienced road rage, Trish was driving, a guy passed and beeped, Trish beeped back, he gave her the finger, she gave it back, he signalled sit on it and spin, then pulled away. We figure he must have been a skier from New York City. Paul purchased a little leaque Louisville Slugger, he feels that is much more humane than his machette' when a prowler nears our home on wheels! See you this evening!! My delete button is not working, the following is not swearing! llsr awyf,2r sh

Hi, we are in Woodstock, Vermont, in an internet cafe. Coffee, coaches, fireplace and friendly staff. They have been to PEI. Yesterday in Skowhegan, Maine, Paul saw a small sign that said Tim Horton's, turn right, we turned , never did find it, never asked anyone, then found ourselves back on Route 2 out of town. Maybe someone in town was teasing us Canadians, not a nice thing to do to addicts. Last night in Gorham, New Hampshire (Live Free or Die) no taxes, no seat belts required and no motorcycle helmets needed, we went to the liqour store, two forty pounders and a Carolans liquere for less than the forty ouncer at home, $34.00 total. Gas only 1.92 us gallon. I filled the truck on Wednesday at home for $70.00 with discounts and then filled it here for less than $50.00 us. Beer at Wal-Mart , 30 cans for 18.97, wow, we got one. Woman in the liqour store asked us if Nova Scotia was in Canada? Camped free again at the Wal-Mart, the manager did not come to our camper with a coffee in the morning,or maybe we left too early. Just outside of town we stopped at a spring and filled the water jugs, we saw a weasel.

It's 11:48 am in Farmington, Maine, the Sun has just crossed the Equator, it's officially Spring, we had a rainy day driving to the border, at 5 PM we came into sunshine in Calais. Right away, we felt better about the exchange we paid for US funds, gas was 63 cents a litre, beer is $20.00 for two and one-half dozen, it comes in boxes of 30, two quarts of Crown Royal for $35.00 and draft at the American Legion was only 1.50. "Boots" the bartender was very friendly, he wore a baseball cap while serving, then lit up a cigarette, Trish was ecstatic! Boots was US Army and we also met another Paul from Ware, Mass., he was an airborne medic, as Paul was, so you can imagine the conversation. Paul asked him Where is Ware? He said that was a tired joke!
Boots directed us to the Wal-Mart and we camped in the parking lot, cracked the Crown Royal, made supper , then collapsed after ten hours of driving, three draft , burgers and sidekicks, but we were on the road again at 6 am. There was a cemetery across the street, but Trish still insisted on the Wal-Mart for sleeping!

It's 6:37 am and we are pulling out for points West, then a hard left turn South when we reach
New York state. Destination today, Calais!

When the Sun crosses the Equator at 11.47 am on Friday, we should be halfway across Maine, we are leaving at 6:30 am on Thursday morning and hope to have a cold one in the American Legion in Calais, tomorrow evening. Spent all day today in the Sunshine putting on the camper and loading it for 5 weeks. The truck is in tip-top condition thanks to Bernie, my mechanic, does anyone else have a mechanic that will come to your back yard if necessary, I don't think so.
Bernie is a retired backyard mechanic and he takes good care of me! A month ago, I had a frozen gas line and he came here in the bitter cold and got me to the Legion on time for Happy Hour.
Heading East on the 103 tomorrow, we won't see the sun rise, because it will be raining.
We will probably stop to see my daughter Karen in Amherst at her work for about 15 minutes, time enough to take her a Tim's & roll up the rims. Hope we can get across the border with birth certificate and driver's license, because we don't have passports!

We are getting excited, in 4 or 5 days we are on our way to Texas, today we are attending a Tequilla party with our affluent friends in Chester, they spent Christmas and New Year's in Las Vegas and then two weeks in Mexico this past month. We enjoyed their house and kept the home fires burning. Brian will probably have some Mexican recipes on the go. It will be nice to spend some time with all our Legion friends before beginning our journey to the Sunny climes! We hope everyone enjoys coming along with us on this site! http://www.seetheusaon9900aday.blogspot.com/ We are going low budget & high tech, wireless lap top, digital camera, and a GPS, in a twenty year old camper and a thirteen year old truck, wish us luck! Wasn't that a Party!

Right now we are aiming for the first day of Spring to pull out for the Sunny South, get the income tax done, new control arms and front end alignment on the truck, a few other odds and ends and we will be on the road,and every day it will get warmer and warmer. We were talking about the new movie coming out called "One Week" , about a guy that has one week to live and heads out on his motorcycle across Canada, Paul said if he had one month to live, it would be spent exactly as we already plan, driving south to the sun, with his lover by his side, stopping in American Legions for a beer each evening, meeting new people, camping somewhere new , having a game of cards and whiskey with water. You have to be pretty content with your life ,when your plans don't change just because your dying! We will miss our annual first fishing trip of the season to the Noel Shore where Trish caught her first trout weighing 4 and 1/2 pounds, each and every trout she caught for two years in a row all weighed over 3 pounds and that is not a fish story.

Nearly three years ago I was dreaming of meeting someone who would complete my life. They say that dreams can come true and mine did. I met Paul and very quickly we became soul mates. We have done some travelling to NB & NL but this year we will be leaving soon for an extensive trip into the USA. Our truck and camper will be our transportation and our home for about a month. I have not travelled in the USA as Paul has, oh except for last summer when we went to Calais for a few hours( Paul said that was a trial run to see if they would let me cross the border, he is such a funny man) I am ecstatic about this trip and can hardly wait for the departure date to arrive.

Paul had a heart attack during Christmas of 2007 in Cornerbrook, Newfoundland. He had an operation on New Year's Eve in Halifax and is thankful to still be alive. He trys to exercise more and eat better, and while on one of his long walks in Western Shore, he came up with the idea to trade for a truck & camper and head for the Sunny South. We love Curling, so decided to take off on April 1st. The plan is to drive to Florida and Texas, see some old armed forces buddies, Snowbirds, and camp free, where ever we may be, sometimes sans electricity! We plan to see everything that costs nothing, enjoy the outdoors, the Sun, play a lot of crib and rummy , and stop at as many American Legions as we can for a cold one!