Today was a travel day.  Thought we were going to spend a couple of days in Pennsylvania.  Little did we realize that once past Wilkes Barre on 81 it’s no mans land for camping unless you want to travel an hour off the highway.  We ended up in a Walmart parking lot only 298 miles from home.  Two other campers joined us there.  They had the same problem.  When we were ready to leave the next morning we couldn’t figure out how we got into the parking lot without losing our a/c on the top of the camper.  Never noticed the night before that this Walmart set up overhead height clearance restrictions. They did it because across the street there is a tractor trailer fueling station/rest area and apparently Walmart doesn’t want the overflow in their parking lot.  Clearance was only 12’2″.  FYI our camper is 13’4″.  One of the Walmart employees noticed our dilemma and told us that the 12’2″ was actually a lie. That there was more clearance than that especially if driving right under the middle which is what we must have done the night before.   With the guidance of several employees we were able to leave the parking lot with NO room to spare.  The 12’2″ sign on the overhead bar was actually swinging when we left.  At one point we thought we were going to have to deflate the camper tires just to make in under.  But it didn’t come to that.  Like Alan says he would rather be lucky than good.  We were VERY lucky today.  It could have been a very expensive and embarrassing day.

Loaded everything up today. Off we went, then about an hour in Alan was changing a tire again.  Apparently, another bad tire stem.  Some days it’s just not fun being the guy.  And it’s not like I can do anything to actually help.  We have already decided that before we do this again, if we don’t trade this unit in for another one, we are going to upgrade our tires to “G”.  This is ridiculous.  We are finding out that the newer units come with the sturdier tires.  They are actually dump truck tires.  Apparently, we are by far not the only ones with this issue.  Our neighbor told us that he was on the road when a big rig in front of him blew a tire.  The tread went under his right front tire on his motor home, took out his electric steps at the front door, took out the exhaust system for his generator, took out the front tire of the car he was towing, then took out a tire on the car that was following him!.  The police officer, when he got to the scene, asked if he was the cause of all that carnage.  He said no, he was only the recipient.  Moral of the story is don’t follow to closely behind tractor trailers!  Not a good day for him.  EXPENSIVE DAY.  When you are aware it’s amazing how many times you see someone changing a tire.  Or how many burn marks there are where someone had a car fire.  Ouch!  When you listen every one has a story.  But all is well with the Pauls.

Still in Atlanta – rained all day.  First day that we have actually had a rain day since leaving Rhode Island.  Keith, Michelle, Alan and I had a leisurely breakfast, just hung out and visited then they left to go back to Florida.  Bummer, enjoyed their company.  Hopefully, next year we will do this again with them.  Alan and I just relaxed, did laundry, found a pet store that sold Big Al’s food.  Packed up for tomorrow. It was really to late to leave.  Headed toward Knoxville to do some riding tomorrow.

No pictures today – because Alan, Keith, Michelle and I went camper shopping.  Have stopped in several places during our travels.  Saw some goodies today.  So many choices. We did see one today that could be a real contender.  Now is the time to buy because of the closeouts for 2016.  We shall see.  Then we went to Hobby Lobby – saw some Xmas decorations that might become part of my front window display.  Just saying. After that we went to hunt down a 2016 EOS Volkswagen for Michelle.  Unfortunately, to no avail.  But we are helping her along to her next selection.  Love helping to spend someone else’s money.  They are part of the VW diesel buy back.  Looks like a new car is coming their way.  Had a very pleasant low key family day.  But, make no mistake, Atlanta is hot and sticky.

Today was a travel day from Vegas to Flagstaff, Arizona.  Boring!!!!  Good thing we checked in early.  While we were checking in a gentleman came in and asked if we had a motorcycle or atv in the back.  When we said yes and that we were planning on riding in Sedona the next day he said no motorcycles allowed.  We told him that we were only going to unload it, that it was quite and it was still a no.  Fortunately we found another campground about 5 miles away.  That was a first for us – there are campgrounds that restrict how large a group of motorcyclists can camp at one time but this was a bit much.

Drinking coffee on the front porch – this is what you see except there are probably 30 of them flitting around.  Have not been able to take a picture of the many chipmunks running around the patio.  Heard wolves last night to.  So busy visiting did not have a chance to ride today as planned.

Travel day today.  You know you are in the hinterlands when your accessing your GPS for poi (points of interest which includes gas, restaurants, et.) and the screen comes up blank!  We were on US 94 and let me tell you there was 70 miles of NOTHING but grazing land.  Did see fields of sun flowers – odd to see all the heads of the plants facing one way towards the sun.

Just to let you know camping is alive and well.  It took several calls yesterday and again today to find a spot for the night.  Statistics say that there are 8.9 million rv families and that was back in 2011.  I think at least half are on the road with us!  The place we are at tonight in Colorado doesn’t have a blade of grass.  We are packed so close together I think we are in New York city.  So much the wide open spaces (at least for tonight)!

Tight quarters tonight

Miles and miles of windmills and corn

Big rest area for a big rig and nothing but blue sky