May 6, 2013 - Preparations have begun...

Take off day is May 15...we are getting excited like we always get when taking off for a new adventure. We had the RV tires rotated and brakes adjusted last week and now it is time to get serious about prepping for the summer. Fred does most of the hard work getting ready for our long trips. Although I help pack, he does almost everything else: de- winterizing, cleaning out the water tanks, cleaning the outside of the RV, waxing the front of the RV, making sure everything on and in the rig is in good shape, etc. etc. etc. Looking forward to...

Apr 21, 2013 - 1-4-13 to 4-21-13, EMMAUS MOTOR COACH & RV RESORT, SUMMERDALE, AL

1-4-13 to 4-21-13, EMMAUS MOTOR COACH & RV RESORT, SUMMERDALE, AL We planned to stay at Emmaus Motor Coach & RV Resort in Summerdale, AL for six weeks and ended up staying 3 1/2 months, and we plan to return next winter. This park is about 20 miles north of Gulf Shores and the gulf coast. This is an excellent park about 12 miles from Foley, AL where there are all the stores and restaurants we would want. We are leaving Emmaus RV Resort Monday, April 21 and heading for Townsend, TN for awhile and will be visiting Cades Cove and the Tennessee...

Mar 9, 2013 - Rainbow Plantation

Finally leaving Seffner, FL early as it is a very long drive to Summerdale, AL. We want to get there today so we can stay there for two days instead of just overnight. Uneventful day of driving. Tom calls our new windshield "our view to the world"....That it is. Beginning Mileage: 22,636 Ending Mileage: 23,145.5 Total Mileage: 509.5

Nov 13, 2012 - Summerdale, AL 2012

First, I want to wish my new granddaughter, Alexia, a big Happy Birthday. She is 2 years old today. Wish we were there to celebrate your birthday with you! On our way out of Biloxi we found regular gas for $2.96 a gallon and diesel for $3.58 a gallon. Yahoo! It has been a long time since we found these kind of prices. We have spent the last 4 days at the Rainbow Plantation an Escapee Park in Summerdale, AL. We visited here several years ago when the park was nearly deserted. This time folks were coming in for the winter. Happy Hour always...

Jul 28, 2012 - L.A. - Lower Alabama

Summerdale, AL Escapees Rainbow Plantation I still had a desire for hamburgers and since the Fish River Grill #2 was so good yesterday we thought we’d give it a try again today. I had a mushroom burger and Ron had the Cajun Crawfish Pistols. This restaurant is consistent with good food and friendly service. The meal was fantastic. We took a short drive near the RV park on a few roads we had not been on and discovered a couple of new and interesting things: 1) A pottery shop in a tiny building, snugly hidden down a dead end street. If you...

Jul 27, 2012 - Holmes Medical Museum

Summerdale, AL Escapees Rainbow Plantation This morning Ron went to a tiny, old fashioned barber shop in Summerdale (population 667). The barber is a retired Navy vet and knew just how to give Ron the haircut he wanted. Our plan for the day was to have a simple meal after the last two days of great cuisine so I looked for something that referenced “where the locals go.” I found the number 2 rated restaurant (Lambert’s is number 1) in Foley. The Fish River Grill #2 appeared to be a diner with a selection of simple southern style seafood,...

Jul 26, 2012 - Royal Reds

Summerdale, AL Escapees Rainbow Plantation I first learned of Royal Reds, the highly touted local shrimp, in 2010 from reading another RV blog. I've been waiting to have the opportunity to try Royal Reds for myself. According to gulf-shores-travel-guide.com -- Royal red shrimp live deep in the ocean, unlike other shrimp species. This shrimp royalty are the latest members of the shrimp family to join us here on the Alabama Gulf Coast. Though Frank Patti of Pensacola, Florida, first commercially caught the shrimp in the Gulf of Mexico in...

Jul 25, 2012 - Throwed rolls

Summerdale, AL Escapees Rainbow Plantation RV Park We finally made it to Lambert's today. The food and fun were worth the wait. We arrived at 1:00pm and were seated by 1:45pm. The place was packed and everyone was having fun. Not only is the food delicious but watching everyone and especially the kids with the roll throwing is entertaining. I think it's impossible not to enjoy yourself at Lambert's! Lambert's Motto: "We hope you come hungry, leave full, and hopefully have a laugh or two!" www.throwedrolls.com

Jul 24, 2012 - Summerdale, AL

Summerdale, AL Escapee’s Rainbow Plantation We had a leisurely morning, worked on a few projects and did not get in a hurry to do anything today. When we left the RV park around 2:15pm we weren’t quite sure if we were hungry enough yet to go to Lambert’s even though we had not had any breakfast or lunch. I think we had too much to eat last night! By the time we drove in to Foley we both decided Lambert’s would be a good idea. We pulled in to the parking lot about 2:30pm, thinking it was an off hour and would not be crowded, however, we...

Jul 23, 2012 - Marianna, FL to Summerdale, AL

Marianna, FL to Summerdale, AL 180 miles We woke up to another beautiful morning. The park was not as crowded and most of the weekend gang had left by yesterday afternoon. It was quiet and pleasant as we sat outside under the awning and commented that we wish we didn’t have to leave. If our site was not already reserved by someone else we would have stayed another night. Shortly after our conversation about wishing we could stay longer, a gentleman rode up on a bicycle and was very interested in our coach. He could not get over the great...

May 3, 2012 - Fairhope - a Lovely City In LA

The torrential rain continued through the night and we thought it would carry on into today but we lucked out. The sun came out and it was a bright sunny day - and MUGGY! We spent the late morning walking the streets of Fairhope - a beautiful town in LA- lower Alabama. Flowers and flags all over town. Cute boutique shops and restaurants and a fabulous waterfront walk. It got a bit uncomfortable in the early afternoon so we came back to the motorhome , cooled down and rested up before going out for dinner. I am leaving tomorrow but it is...

May 1, 2012 - Reunion

Had time to do a load of laundry before leaving Lafayette at 10 am. The five hour drive was ( thank goodness) uneventful and I received a big welcome from Jim and Diane upon arrival in Summerdale. Even though we speak frequently on the phone, there is nothing like a face to face chat. It is so wonderful to share good conversation and a delicious meal with dear friends. The only thing that is just as wonderful is doing the same with family.