First Week Adventures

Dancing With the Weather

I began this article last night. I had no internet or cell service so could not finish and post last evening. Here’s what was going on at that time:

As I write I am sitting in my camper surrounded by lightening and thunder, with large, heavy raindrops beating against my windows and roof. The forecast is dire: severe thunderstorms and maybe hail, possible tornado, freezing temperatures, heavy winds up to 50+mph. I am in a state park campground just outside Memphis, Tennessee, and Kim is in the campsite next to mine in her Scamp camper. As with many state parks there are lots of trees, and this one is no exception. I made a calculation that if a tree branch hits my camper I would probably survive, so I decided to stay put. I also think that if the wind blows the camper over onto its side I will probably survive so that wasn’t a good reason to bail either. Rain and hail I think I can handle. Of course, if a tornado hits, all bets are off.

We are hunkered down with all the other brave souls who have decided to ride out the storm in their RVs and campers rather than bail out and go to a motel. Kim and I have been watching the forecasts all day, although at the moment I have no cell service so I can't check the radar to see how big the system is that is enveloping us or where the heaviest weather is going to hit next. No cell service also means that if there is an emergency I can’t message anyone, not even Kim. We’ve been texting sporadically, but it isn’t reliable.

Sadie is on the floor at my feet. She doesn’t like the thunder but seems calm enough knowing that I’m close by and she trusts that I will take care of her. She would much rather be outside where it is nice and cool but the rain is a bit off-putting for her and she asked to come in. It was hot today and the camper is stuffy so I have a fan blowing.

The storms are coming in waves, one after another with a few minutes of quiet in between. Just long enough for us to think it is all over, but then the thunder starts to rumble again. At one point a few minutes ago the thunder was so loud and the rain so fierce that I got down on the floor and wedged myself between my bench, the bed, and the sink/refrigerator area, thinking that would save me if a tree crashed onto the roof or a branch came in through one of my windows. When that storm started to fade, I came out of my cubby and peaked out my windows. It’s pitch black, but I can see lights of other campers in the distance. Occasionally the park ranger cruises through in his truck to make sure no trees have fallen and that we’re all ok. I like knowing he is watching out for us. I can see the lights of the shelter in the distance and periodically check to see if people are headed there for safety. I haven’t seen anyone venturing outside so I’m staying put. I hope Kim and Beamy are ok.

The weather went on like this for about 4 hours. Finally at around 11pm all was quiet. Then the wind picked up yet again, this time without rain, and we could hear it whistling through the trees, bending them to its will. Was this the tornado? Thankfully, no. The wind blasted around us for a time but subsided without any human or RV casualties, and Kim and I decided we could finally go to sleep.

Kim and I have camped together 4 times that I can remember over the past 2-3 years, including this trip, and three of those times have involved epic storms. The first time we camped together was for a long weekend in northern Michigan, and we bailed out a day early because it was nothing but rain and thunder the whole time. We learned later that an entire RV park not that far from where we had camped had been obliterated by the storms. The pictures taken of the area the next day were chilling, with trailers, RVs and campervans scattered all over the place.

The second time was when we were camping in Ontario along Lake Huron, and got a warning on our phones that a storm with high winds with possible tornadoes was coming and we should seek shelter immediately. Of course, when you are in a campground surrounded by trees and no buildings anywhere nearby, there really isn’t anywhere you can go to shelter. So we stayed put, along with all the other campers who had no place to hide, and waited it out. Thankfully, once again, we survived.

This time we were in a state park campground just outside Memphis. Let’s hope that’s it for this trip!!

The Joy of Spring Road Trips

As I was driving and camping through the beautiful Kentucky and Tennessee countryside I couldn’t help but appreciate the advantages of a late winter/early spring road trip versus a trip at other times of the year. Here is the list of advantages I have identified so far:

Very few bugs

I wanted to say no bugs at all, but then the temperature went up to 75 and suddenly they were everywhere. When I climbed in my camper one night there were mosquitoes all over the walls above my bed (which is where my lights were on). I tend to get big ugly, itchy welts when I get bit, so I spent quite a bit of time trying to destroy them all before getting under the covers. The next morning I had to wipe off all the mosquito carcasses that I smashed against my white walls. Small price to pay for a peaceful sleep, I would say. Now that the weather has gone back down to freezing and very cold, the bugs are gone again. Yay! (but I do wish it were a little warmer, at least during the day)

Colorful signs of spring

Almost as soon as I crossed the Ohio River I began to see glimpses of spring. The further south I go, the more colorful it gets. I don’t know the names of everything but I do recognize spring beauties, daffodils, forsythia, and red bud. There is a white blossoming tree, and many wildflowers that I don’t know but love the color and happiness they bring to a landscape. Sometimes I see what appears to be a purple carpet covering an entire field. In Tennessee the leaves are budding on the trees so everything is greening up.

Cool nights

My cabin heater works well when I need it but I often don’t use it during the night because I love being tucked under my comforter and quilts. Before one of my western trips I bought a heated blanket that I was sure I needed but then never used (one of those pre-road trip must-have purchases that I am so fond of). I sleep much better in a cool room than in a blistering hot room so the early spring nights are perfect for me.

Sadie weather

The coolish temperatures generally are better for Sadie and I can leave her alone in the camper without worrying that she is going to suffocate from heat. She actually prefers snowy days but if she can’t have that she will opt for cool days over hot.

*This is Sadie’s favorite spot right outside the door of the camper.*

I leave her out there until long after dark, and she yaps when she’s ready to come inside. Sometimes I have to drag her in before she’s ready so that I can go to bed. By the way, notice the blue padded waterproof dog mat under the laundry pillow dog bed. That has turned out to be a great purchase!

No lines

This is true for the off-season generally, not just spring. It is really nice visiting major tourist spots and not have to stand in lines or contend with hoards of people everywhere. There was hardly anyone at the Abraham Lincoln birthplace site and the parking lot looked big enough to accommodate thousands of visitors a day.

More privacy

Campgrounds are much more sparsely populated, especially during the week. In late winter and early spring, not a lot of families are camping. Weekends might bring people out but only those brave enough to withstand the unpredictable temperatures. I love the feeling of having campgrounds mostly to myself and just a few others. And you often get your choice of campsite. The campground I am writing from tonight let us switch to pull-through sites right on the water when we realized that we didn’t have very good spots reserved. Other times of year that would never be possible.

This is probably the most beautiful campground so far, but alas, we are only here one night. Wish we had our kayaks! On the other hand, it was 27 degrees last night - in Mississippi! Who would have thought it? So glad I brought my winter jackets and gloves.

Disadvantages of Spring Road Trips

Severe thunderstorms and possible tornadoes. Freezing temperatures during the day, especially when accompanied by high winds. Kind of dampens the fun of camping. So while we are camping in a beautiful setting right on the water, the temperature is so cold that we can’t even enjoy a fire and both Kim and I are tucked away in our cozy campers with the heat on. The view from the windows are stunning, though.

Highlights So Far

Day 1 Storm

I guess I shouldn’t forget that the recent storm near Memphis was actually the second one we’ve encountered on this trip. The first one was the very first day of our BBQ/Brew/Spirits Tour 2026. Kim and I had planned to meet in the late afternoon at a brewery in Dayton, OH and from there we were going to stay overnight at a state park. Instead, the weather prediction was quite alarming for the exact route we would be on, and Kim wisely opted out of leaving that day and decided to drive all the way to Mammoth Cave the next day. I went ahead with the original plan but while I was driving it became clear that the weather was getting worse the longer I drove, and by the time I got to Dayton the winds were fierce and it was pouring rain. I skipped the brewery and headed straight for the park where Sadie and I hunkered down and fell asleep to the tune of raindrops falling on our heads. Kim’s little Scamp trailer that she tows might have blown all over the road so she definitely made the right decision even though it meant a long day of driving for her the next day.

Mammoth Cave

Neither of us had been to Mammoth Cave before, and we found it to be a beautiful national park where we could have stayed several days. There are many guided cave tours available, some of which involve squeezing through tight spaces or crawling on your belly, or taking several hundred steps or even an elevator to see the wonders of the caves. Being older adults and not wanting to leave the dogs for too many hours alone, we opted for a rather benign, easy trek partway into one of the caves. We could have been in and out of it in probably 15 minutes but our guide helped us savor the moments by regaling us at several key stopping points with geology, history, and fun facts, and he also encouraged us to linger and take pictures, thus stretching the experience to about an hour. Kim and I agreed that we enjoyed the tour but that it was more of a taste than a deep dive, and that if we returned we would probably choose one of the “moderate” tours rather than this “easy” one. That said, no regrets whatsoever and the park is truly beautiful with lots of trails and natural beauty.

Before leaving the Mammoth Cave area we did manage to sample some local BBQ as well as some bourbon and gin at a local distillery in nearby Cave City. Bourbon was a must-have for me since we were in Kentucky, after all, but the gin was tasty as well. The BBQ was excellent and we decided that we need to come up with a rating system as we are going through this tour since we will be doing quite a bit of sampling and may want to make recommendations to others. Or remember which ones we liked best should we be back this way again.

Memphis

This was my third trip to Memphis and Kim’s first. We arrived on a Saturday night and it was a beautiful day and evening so we took advantage of the opportunity to walk down Beale Street, the famous strip of bars and restaurants, most of which have live music. We stopped in at the Rum Boogie Cafe and the blues band that was playing was wonderful. After that we went to the famous Rendevous for their famous Memphis BBQ ribs. We loved the dry rub on the ribs and it was clear why this is a favorite place for both locals and tourists.

Sunday we got off the BBQ track (can’t have BBQ everyday all month long - by the time I got home you’d have to use a forklift to get me in and out of my van), and had some of Gus’s famous fried chicken, which had been recommended to us by the bartender at the distillery in Cave City near Mammoth Cave (I’m not sure that southern fried chicken is any better for my waistline than the BBQ, but…). The chicken was delicious, and the dogs appreciated the beautiful walk along the Mississippi River after we were done eating. Most of the day was sunny and warm, but we knew we needed to be back at the campsite before 5 to get ready for the incoming storms. So we left just enough time to have a brew at the Wiseacre Brewing Company before heading back to the park.

*We found a fun hammock grove on our walk along the Mississippi River.*

*Kim had a little trouble with hers. Beamy was no help.*

Water Update

If you read my last article just before I left on this trip, I mentioned the epic fail of my kitchen drain and the inability of the Roto Rooter guy to fix it before I left. The plan was for him to return the next day (after I had left) to do a more thorough assessment and maybe fix it using a different approach.

Suffice it to say he was unable to identify either the nature or the source of the problem. I am now planning to contact my insurance company while I’m on this trip to give them a heads up of what’s going on. When I get home I’m going to bring in another plumber for a second opinion regarding my options. It seems that I am headed down the inevitable path of tearing something out and having to put it back. The only question is where in the house will this happen and will it only be floor, only a wall, or a combination of the two. I’m trying not to let my worry over this drain nightmare ruin my road trip.

Next Steps

From Memphis we are working our way south through Mississippi and Alabama, headed for the Gulf, with some fun stuff planned along the way. Stay tuned!