The Journey Home 2007: Some Side Trips!

We always enjoy stopping along the way, wherever we are headed, to see the little "gems" that make traveling so much fun. On our way back to St. Augustine in 2007, we took a side trip to Red Bay, Alabama to visit the "birthplace" of our motorhome, a 36' Allegro Bay (Tiffin Motor Homes) I named "Marilou". We stayed at the Tiffin RV Park while we waiting to get a few small items taken care of on the coach. Tiffin is know as a great dealer when it comes to service. I don't believe their coaches have any more problems than any others in the industry, but, the company's founder, Bob Tiffin, believes strongly in custom service. We have heard story after story of how Mr. Tiffin and his entire team go the extra mile to help Tiffin customers with any issues they may have on their motorhome. Well, now we have been to Red Bay and we can attest to the top quality service as well as their truly customer-friendly attitude.
Just for fun, we visited the legendary "Coon Dog Cemetery", which is situated some where in the Alabama "outback". Only coon dogs are allowed to be buried here. The first dog buried was Troop back in 1937! As the pictures show, this unique place is well cared for...just like a human cemetery. Goes to show, these folks really appreciate a good dog!

A beautiful state park we visited was Blue Springs State Park in Alabama (between Brundidge and Abbeville on Hwy. 10) We had the park to ourselves with the exception of one other camper.

We also stopped in Thomasville, GA again and while there took the opportunity to visit the AgExpo in Moultrie, GA. This was one HUGE event with many thousands of people attending. If it has to do with agriculture...you can find it here. There were exhibits, vendors, seminars, herding dog exhibitions, cutting horse exhibitions, and food galore. (Pretty much all that good stuff you find at a country fair...and then some!)

It is my considered opinion that the side trips just add to the whole adventure!

The Road Runners,
Buddy & Elaine
1st Thess. 5:18
PTL!

Faith and the Open Road

Before we left our home territory to start this adventure of traveling, we were quite committed and involved in our local church, Switzerland Community Church. We also have endeavored to live our lives for our Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God. We wondered if we would be able to continue to worship and serve as we traveled. We set a commitment to attend church on Sunday, wherever we were. Of course, the greatest opportunities for connection with the Body of Christ are when we are sitting still for awhile so that we can attend a church on a regular basis. As you study God's Word together and worship together,pray and fellowship together...that is when you REALLY connect with brothers and sisters in Christ. As we have traveled we have attended many different churches, large ones, small ones, very traditional, very contemporary, denominational, non-denonminational. Our main criteria is that the church we attend is solid in it's doctrine...God the Creator, the Trinity, Christ as crucified, risen, returning Redeemer, the Bible as God's holy word, baptism as a symbol of our faith in Christ, local and world missions outreach...all those things that we see as lifeblood of the Body of Christ found in the local church.
We have been blessed to have attended some truly God-directed churches. To date (end of 2007), we have spent time with two wonderful churches, getting to know and love the folks along side of whom we have studied, laughed, prayed and worshiped.
In 2006, while workamping on Lake Vallecito in Colorado, we attended Vallecito Church, a small mission church on the shore of that beautiful lake. We found the folks there to be most kind and welcoming. The preaching from Pastor Dave Guy was first rate and challenging. The fellowship was warm and fun. Lasting friendships were made here and whether we return to Vallecito or not, we know we will see these dear ones again..."when we all get to heaven"!
In 2007, we found our way the very first Sunday to Centerpoint Church in Pagosa Springs. We immediately started attending their Sunday school and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know our teacher, Byron Dobbs and his lovely wife Pat. Sunday school came just before the worship service so we stayed and enjoyed the lively music/worship experience. The pastor, Dan Sanders, was a solid Bible teacher and each week, we took something home to ponder from God's Word. Again this was a church filled with solid, warm, kind people and we were blessed to be able to worship with them for a season.
For anyone who is considering full-timing, we would challenge you to do what we did and find a good, Bible-teaching church for your Sundays. It honors God and will bless your heart.

The pictures I have posted are of Marlow United Methodist in Summerdale, Alabama, Vallecito Church, Vallecito Lake, (Bayfield) Colorado, and Centerpoint Church in Pagosa Springs, Colorado.

A partial list of some of the houses of worship where we attended: First Baptist of Thomasville, GA, Life Church of Covington, LA, First Baptist of Mandeville, LA, First Baptist of Livingston, TX, First Baptist of Red Bay, AL, First United Methodist of Durango, CO, Pine Valley Church, Bayfield, CO, Centennial Community Church, Centennial, CO, Faith Community Fellowship, Littleton, CO and Marlow United Methodist in Summerdale, AL.

The Road Runners
Buddy & Elaine
1st Thess. 5:18
PTL!

A Few Extra Pictures for the Railroad Buffs

My Daddy was a railroad man and his Daddy before him. So I have always had a love for trains. Daddy told me railroad stories, explained the different sounds of the train whistle and what they signified, and generally filled my mind and heart with the colorful world of trains. We have quite a few friends who either work or have worked on the railroad which is why I am adding this additional post to our blog. For those of you who love trains....The Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad is a pleasure you need to experience. It is a narrow gauge railroad like the Durango to Silverton (Colorado) train - although perhaps not quite as famous. After all, the Durango to Silverton was immortalized in a song by C.W. McCall. Still, the C&TRR has its charm. The Durango to Silverton travels through some of the most spectacular country in America. The Cumbres treks through some magnificent scenery too! If you are ever in this area of our great nation, treat yourself to a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec. You will certainly enjoy it.
The Road Runners,
Buddy & Elaine
1st Thess. 5:18
PTL!

Goodbye Sportsmans' - All Aboard The Cumbres & Toltec RR

Three days before we were to leave Sportsmans for the season, my sister Carolyn & husband Ray arrived. We had a little time to do some site seeing around the Pagosa area (Williams Lake, a hike to Piedra Falls, some scenic drives, a last chance at the famous Green Chili Cheeseburgers at Dorothys in town...). We also visited an artists' camp on the Piedra River banks. These cowboy artists camp from Arkansas, New Mexico and Idaho to take photos in the beautiful San Juans. The guys from Crazy Horse Outfitters set up the tents/camp, then brought in horses and dressed in full cowboy regala, posing for the artists. That was fun to watch.
On September 23rd, a cool, rainy Sunday morning, having said our "goodbyes", we pulled out of our "summer home" campsite and drove to Chama, New Mexico for a ride on the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad. We stayed at Rio Chama RV Park, a nice little park within walking distance of the train station.
Carolyn and Ray stayed with us since they also wanted to take a ride on this historic train. Our pups were boarded with the local vet for the day, then reported to the train station and boarded a luxury bus for the ride to Antonito, Colorado. You can do this ride by either taking the bus from Chama, NM to Antonito, CO and riding the train back OR taking the bus from Antonito, CO to Chama, NM and riding the train back the other way. We took the former since that ride starts on the high desert plains around Antonito then climbs into the mountains, going back to Chama. The train stops as Osier for a wonderful buffet style lunch (included in the price of your ticket). You have a few minutes to browse the gift shop, then back on the train to finish the ride. There is an open car and you are allowed to go back there for some spectacular views. The morning was quite cold so I did not tarry out there long, though there were some hardy souls who rode in the open car most of the way. The train has the support of The Friends of the C&TRR and they provide docents to ride along with you, giving you all sorts of information about the railroad itself - history, engineering of the track, geology of the area, flora and fauna, etc. These guys were very helpful and full of all kinds of stories and anecdotes to keep the ride interesting. This ride takes most of the day but you will not regret it if you take the opportunity to board her and head off! Trains buffs will REALLY enjoy it.
The Road Runners
Buddy & Elaine
1st Thess 5:18
PTL!