Monthly Archives: July 2015

Tomorrow begins the Michigan part of our trip.  We have spent the last 5 days experiencing Nashville, Tennessee again with the California branch of our family.  Unfortunately, the temperatures all this time have been record-breaking.  Right now, at 4pm in the afternoon, it is still 97 degrees with a heat index of 104 degrees.  Fortunately, though, our grandchildren are all part fish and we got our RV campground fees worth of swimming pool time and our share of air conditioning.

Early in the week we took them to see the Nashville replica of the Parthenon.  It was really fun watching them put this replica into perspective with the photos of the real deal in Greece and the concept of Greek gods versus the One True God.  If you have never seen it, inside this massive building is a HUGE statute of Athena.  Although James is only 9 and Rebecca is 11 years old, they were very interested in what they were seeing and asked lots of questions.

On another day, we did the Country Music Museum, and a live show at Opryland.  Larry Gatlin and Vince Gill were two of the performers I recognized and we were there to hear Home Free (new acapella group) make their Opryland debut.

Country Western Museum in downtown Nashville

On Saturday, James and I got to set the agenda because this was the official celebration of our July 11th birthdays.  As my friends all know, this is keeping in step with my personal philosophy of celebrating my birthday the entire month of July.  James picked brunch at Cracker Barrel and a trip to the toy store, followed by swimming in the pool.  I picked a trip to the awesome hotel, Gaylord Opryland to walk through the lobby, take a boat ride and then have dinner in one of their restaurants.  I chose the Ravello Italian restaurant and it was not a mistake.  Most of the restaurants in the hotel feel like you are dining “al fresco” but it is perfectly monitored 70 degrees everywhere in that lobby.  If you have not seen this hotel, it is worth the trip. Waterfalls in the lobby of Gaylord Opryland

Think Gaylord Palms Hotel in Orlando times four and then add a little more.  It was interesting to see how high the water damage from the 2010 flood had gone and all they had to do to reopen.
The family left this morning for Atlanta, we went to church and then lunch at the restaurant at Belle Meade Plantation, one of our favorites.  Jim and I just woke up from a long overdue nap and now, Let the Trip Begin!!!!!

This morning we left for our 2015 adventure which includes a week with family in Nashville, Tennessee and then on to explore Michigan for six or seven weeks.

We are driving up the west coast of Michigan, taking in Mackinac Island and the U.P. and then back down the east coast.  We have lots of interesting stops planned along the way and hope you will follow along with us.  You don’t want to miss the mushroom houses in  Charlevoix, Ford Museum, Grand Hotel and other stops we think will be fun.

Right now we are spending the night in a campground in Perry, Ga where it is hotter than …….(you know the place).  The only consolation is it’s just as hot back home.