It sits on 5 wooded acres and is secluded.  Near the San Jacinto river, it is less than 10 miles from Cleveland, Texas, a city of 8,000 residents.  There we can do our banking and shopping, find restaurants and even a movie theatre, “The Texan”.  In many ways it is comparable to our former home town of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.  The weather, though is decidedly different!  In the winter, a really hard freeze is 28 degrees Fahrenheit.  Most low temperatures are above freezing, even in January, and the motorhome will not have to be winterized when we are there.  Our plans  are to winter here and travel north during the warmer months.

The real attraction is the fact that it is rural and private, but within an hour and a half of our son Lance, his wife Teri and our grandchildren Robert and Lauren.  We can also scoot back and forth on special occasions – we are going to visit next weekend for Teri’s graduation from the community college.

The home was very inexpensive, but needs a lot of restoration and remodeling.  We spent yesterday, in the comfort of a window air conditioner, cleaning up the great room and kitchen.  As soon as we can get the hookups installed, we will take the motorhome there and park it next to the cabin.  Right now, we are staying at the Escapees national headquarters campground known as Rainbow’s End, near Livingston, Texas.

Parting shots!….  $1.88 for unleaded and $2.08 for diesel.

I don’t believe we will see these prices again.  Mark my words!

Copyright 2009.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

The weather outside is nowhere near frightful!  We have been running the AC daily as the high temperatures are in the mid 80's.  The motorhome is in the shop for routine maintenance and we are staying at my father's house.  I thought you might enjoy this picture of large cactus under the palms.  The neighbor-owner decorates the cactus with extra large Christmas  Tree ornaments each year. 

It has been a season of contrasts.  The joy of seeing our family has been countered by the sadness of seeing my father hospitalized with a debilitating illness.  The Christmas cards did not go out this year as we were completely distracted by the events of life.

Lissi and I hope you enjoyed a very Merry Christmas and wish you the very best of health and prosperity (I'll emphasize health) for 2009.

From Bradenton, Florida.

Bob & Lissi Little, and Millie too!

"When you can change your environment with the twist of a key, there is absolutely not a reason to ever be stressed again," - Michael Dautel

As we finish out our first year "on the road", I can take a few minutes to ruminate on the very conscious decision to become "fulltimers".  What started me thinking was an article, which appeared in the St. Petersburg Times newspaper, you can read it by clicking on the following:

"Full-time RVers view the entire country as their home"

The story features the Gypsy life of Michael Dautel, a former fiber optics executive who lived in an expensive Atlanta suburban neighborhood.  He tired of his life style in airplanes and hotels as he traveled for his job.  Nine years ago he quit his job, sold his house, bought a trailer and hit the road.  He is still enjoying the fruits of that decision.  He says, "The funniest thing was, I didn't miss a bit of it."

As I write this post, we am watching, on television, the continued meltdown of the U.S. financial markets as we once again test the lows set in early October.  No one knows whether the lows will hold or will become a historic reference point only.  At one time, we thought that selling our house, which we considered (perhaps incorrectly), an appreciating asset might be a mistake as we moved into our motorhome, which is (correctly), a depreciating asset.  Little did we know that many people would see their homes, their 401K's, and their IRA's as depreciating assets too.  Not only do we feel fortunate to avoid sinking real estate values, we have also abandoned all forms of school and property taxes associated with home ownership.  Another prevalent fear is loss of job and income.  As retired persons, that particular fear holds absolutely no threat for us.

I am surprised to read that there are an estimated 1 million persons who live full time in their RV, whether trailer or motorhome.  That number may, in fact grow in the coming years as Boomers punch out for retirement.  We are happy to be among them right now.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

For days on end, relentless heavy rain turned the roads to bottomless muck.  The artillery and heavy wagons sliced deep ruts in the road.  Wet, cold and covered with mud, 44,000 men of General Albert Johnston's Army of the Mississippi were finally ready for battle, four miles south west of Pittsburgh Landing.  On Sunday, April 6, 1862, the black sky of night  was reluctantly yielding to the gray of dawn.  The Confederates stormed out of the woods and assailed the Federal camps around Shiloh Church.  General Ulysses S. Grant and his complement of 44,000 troops were surprised by the onslaught.  Slowly, throughout the morning, Confederate brigades gained ground.  Grant's troops were forced to give way in a series of defensive stands, ending in an impenetrable oak thicket across from a "sunken road".  That final stand earned a nickname, "The Hornets Nest".   

That afternoon, a bullet whizzed through the air and sliced through General Johnston's right leg while he was horseback.  He bled to death under a nearby tree before medical aid could arrive.  The fighting ended at nightfall.

Overnight Union reinforcements arrived.  In the pre-dawn murk,  Gen. Grant's 54,500 men struck back at the Confederate positions.  General P.G.T. Beauregard, who took charge of the Confederate Army, skillfully withdrew and returned to Corinth.  The battered Federal force did not vigorously pursuit the retreating Confederates. 

The Battle of Shiloh was over.  in two days of fighting it had cost both sides a combined total of 23, 746 men killed, wounded, or missing.  This was more than America had ever suffered in previous wars.  Union soldiers dug several trenches to bury the Confederates killed in the fighting.  Union dead were buried in what has become the U.S. National Cemetery.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

Centuries ago, it is said that bison wore the trail that became the Natchez Trace.  Later came the Native Americans and nomadic tribes who trod the Trace (meaning "road"), eroding it further down into the ground.  In the 1790's, Andrew Jackson courted Rachel  Donelson.  She was in her late teens and in the midst of a nasty divorce from her first husband, the flashy and wealthy Captain Robards.  There are still rumors and gossip about the legal status of her marriage to the up and coming Andrew Jackson, but no one doubts the validity and the passion of their love story.  The Jacksons later settled into Nashville and built a mansion, The Hermitage, (complete with a guitar shaped driveway) on a large plantation there.

The Natchez Trace was heavily traveled by the "Kaintucks", boat men who disposed of their river barge-boat and freight at the end of the Mississippi River.  They then walking or riding a mule or horse northward on the old Trace, they traveled north to Fort Nashborough (now Nashville).  In 1938, the Daughters of the American Revolution had a vision to preserve the historic Trace and its deep history of the old south.  Today the Natchez Trace National Parkway runs unbroken for 444 miles through deciduous forest, tobacco country, cotton fields and swamps.  We began our drive south from Nashville and stopped to see many of the historic sites along the route.  The modern parkway is a beautifully maintained and manicured two-lane road that is open to non-commercial traffic only.  The 55 mph speed limit is pleasant for viewing, yet speedy enough for efficient travel. There are many historic pull-offs and markers along the way, but no commercial services are available.  If you need lodging, food or fuel, you will leave the Parkway and visit the nearby local establishments.

Here is a photograph of the Pharr Mounds, the largest most important archeological site in northern Mississippi.  There are eight large, dome-shaped burial mounds scattered over an area of 90 acres.  According to markers at the site, the mounds were built and used until about 200 A.D. by a tribe of nomadic Indian hunters and gatherers who returned to the site at times to bury their dead, along with their possessions.  

The Natchez Trace National Parkway is RV friendly, too!  Most of the pull-offs are marked for RV parking, and the few that are NOT are clearly marked for "No Turn-Around".  We stopped at  one point on the southern portion to walk the "Old Trace" which parallels (and at some points crosses), the modern parkway.  We walked the historic, sunken, Old Trace for about a half mile to visit the graves of 13 unknown confederate soldiers who were buried there.  The sun was bright, the trail was silent, the feeling of history was deep and palpable. 

 Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

The photo below, originally taken on March 31, 2008 in the Black Rock Campground of Joshua Tree National Park, has been selected as the Photo of the Week for Week-4 of the Discover America Through Postcards Photo Contest. 

Lissi's photo submission is in consideration for the Grand Prize announcement on January 1, 2009.  The original Blog post can be viewed at:

 http://littlervadventures.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!AFFB47745419708E!295.entry

We received the following email today!  Please visit the contest web page at:

http://www.postcardsfrom.com/contest/2008/finalist-4.html

"Hi Lissi-
Congratulations! Your photo of "Joshua Tree National Park" California was
chosen as the fourth finalist in our 2008 DISCOVER AMERICA THROUGH POSTCARDS
Photo Contest.

The photo was made into a postcard and is displayed on the contest website
at: http://www.postcardsfrom.com/contest/2008/finalist-4.html
As a finalist, you'll receive an autographed copy of the book, Discover
America Diaries, Volume 1, which will arrive in 2-3 weeks. Furthermore, your
photo will be considered among the other three finalists for the Grand Prize
of $100, to be announced on our website on January 1, 2009.

Thank You and Congratulations!
--Ken & Priscilla
The Postcard People (r)
Postcards from America (r)
http://www.postcardsfrom.com
"Discover America through Postcards" (r)"

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

"The best of friends,  inseparable, they were  blood brothers in their youth." 

Two boys, from vastly different backgrounds, became the closest of friends in tropical Miami.  John was a devout Catholic from New York, he went to parochial schools.  Robert, was from Fort Worth, Texas, and was raised a Methodist, he was a product of the public schools.  His family ties traced back to Northern Ireland.  These two lads had little intrinsic commonality, but they became the best of friends during their high school years.  Then graduation for Robert separated them.  First Robert joined the U.S. Army and was sent to S. Korea.  John enlisted in the U.S. Army and became a helicopter pilot and was sent to Viet Nam.  They then lost contact with each other for the next 43 years until a Google search brought them together once again.

We took our motorhome to Nashville, to spend a few days with John and Betty Horn at their beautiful, secluded log home in the Tennessee woods.  Their driveway is 400 feet long and offered a perfect campsite near the entrance.  John's wife, Betty is from Australia.  We had a great time enjoying Betty's gourmet cooking, playing cards and catching up on lost time.  I put together a list of things that John and I have in common.  It is surprising that two different life paths can exhibit this degree of commonality.  Here are the points: 

• Worked as side-rider in an ambulance
• Served their country in the U.S. Army
• Have never been treated for a broken bone
• Married foreign born women
• Held prominent positions in higher education
• Have been employed as professional mechanics
• Like to play cards
• Like good food and drink
• Worked in funeral homes
• Owned and operated private aircraft
• Owned and operated motorcycles
• Love cars and speed
• Were blood brothers in their youth
• Like to watch movies

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

Gaylord Maxwell is famous among RV'ers.  He founded the Life On Wheels program, now offered at multiple locations around the country.  He also wrote columns for Motorhome Magazine and others.  I just read his last article, "Shakedown Cruise", in Motorhome Magazine's October issue, which was published after his death on September 20, 2008.

He was a force, a prophet, and an evangelist.  Lissi and I attended the Life On Wheels conference in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in 2005.  Without an RV of our own, we stayed at the local motel and were pleasantly surprised to be asked to join Gaylord and his wife, Margie for breakfast.  They spoke of their "fixed base" in Idaho and their love of travel by RV.

His philosophy was succinct.  Please PLEASE WATCH THIS SHORT VIDEO and you will understand.  (Photo and video courtesy of RVtravel.com)

The following provided by RVtravel.com host Chuck Woodbury.  "

"He passed away at age 83. Maxwell was the beloved founder, director and guiding light of the Life On Wheels conferences, held annually at colleges in Arizona, Idaho, Iowa, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Maxwell and his wife Margie had recently moved out of their spacious home near Moscow, Idaho, where for years they had hosted popular parties for Life on Wheels instructors.

The former history teacher turned RV dealer started writing articles for TL Enterprises (Trailer Life, MotorHome, RV Business, Woodalls Campground Management) in 1972. His column in MotorHome magazine has been a feature for more than 25 years. The author of two books -- Fulltiming: An Introduction to Fulltime RVing and Home, Sweet Motorhome -- he and Margie had spent their winters in Yuma, Arizona. Among Gaylord's many honors in the RV industry was his induction into the RV Heritage Foundation Hall of Fame in 1997."

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

Photos courtesy of National Park Service

We stayed at a very nice RV park in Cave City, Kentucky.  The Cave Country Campground, a Good Sam park, is located just a few blocks from I-65.  It has 51 sites that are perfectly level, long and wide enough for big rigs, and every site has a full 50 amp hookup.  The owner/managers are extremely friendly and helpful.  They even pick up your trash from your campsite.  A fenced-in pet exercise area got "two paws up"  by Millie, our traveling mutt.

We signed up for one of the many tours of Mammoth Cave offered by the National Park Service.  They preserve the cave system and a part of the Green River valley and hilly country of south central Kentucky. This is the world's longest cave system, with more than 365 miles explored. According to NPS materials "Early guide Stephen Bishop called the cave a "grand, gloomy and peculiar place," but its vast chambers and complex labyrinths have earned its name: Mammoth."

I called the reservation center and scheduled the two of us for the Frozen Niagara Tour, with a 50% discount for Golden Age holders ($5).  We parked at the visitor center and departed by bus.  Our journey took us over the top of the cave to the Frozen Niagara Entrance. This entrance, created in 1924, makes it possible to see this, the only decorative area of the cave. Lissi, a claustrophobic, took one look at the man-made entrance and said "no way!".

I walked through a fairyland of formations, and a few tight squeezes, crouching to learn how travertine is formed. The ranger showed us the concentration of cave crickets that live close to the entrance.  We descended steps under the Frozen Niagara formation to visit the Drapery Room. The Park Ranger turned out the cave lights so that we could experience total and absolute darkness.  After speaking for few minutes, she posed a hypothetical question.  What it the lights didn't come on?  What would we do? Everyone thought and quickly abandoned hope.  But then she asked everyone to bring out their digital cameras, cell phones and PDA's and turn them on.  The area was lit like daylight!  Modern technology! 

This trip is the least strenuous and good for people who want a short introduction to Mammoth Cave. 

Landmarks Seen: Frozen Niagara Entrance, Rainbow Dome, Crystal Lake, Frozen Niagara flowstone formation; Drapery Room

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All igRhts Reserved.

Inside this Memorial Building on a farm near Hodgenville, Kentucky, is a small log cabin (16' by 20').  The former owner of the cabin donated it to the Federal government and claimed that it was the original birthplace of President Abraham Lincoln, the sixteenth president of the United States of America.  Young Abe grew up here, fetching water from the Sinking Spring, until the age of 7 when the family moved to nearby Elizabethtown, Kentucky and abandoned the marginally productive farm.   His father Thomas, was an uneducated but skilled carpenter of Scottish-Irish descent.   On the stormy morning of Sunday, February 12, 1809, Nancy Hanks Lincoln gave birth gave birth to a boy. He was born on a bed of poles covered with corn husks. Peggy Walters, a neighbor who was only 20 years old, assisted with the birth and said "Nancy had about as hard a time as most women, I reckon, easier than some and maybe harder than a few. It came along kind of slow, but everything was regular and all right. The baby was born just about sunup on Sunday morning."  The boy was named Abraham after his paternal grandfather who had been killed by a Native American in 1786.  From these humble beginnings, Abe rose to lead this great nation through a most perilous time.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

Well, after six weeks on our campsite in Pennsylvania, things have changed. 

The slide room is in.  The levelers are up.  The wheels are turning and Willie Nelson is playing "On the Road Again" on the CD player.  That's a sure sign that we are migrating south.  Our route takes us through the craggy peaks of West Virginia, and our stop for the night is at The Stonewall Resort on Stonewall Jackson Lake.  For us it was an overnight stop, but we enjoyed it greatly and would definitely spend some more time if we travel this way again. 

In addition to campsites, the Resort offers houseboat rentals, paddle boats, canoes, kayaks, bicycles, or swimming pool.  All that is available for an extra charge of $14 per campsite or houseboat. 

 Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

These palm sized radios are very inexpensive.  Costing less than $20 at most discount department stores.  Like most modern technological wonders, they are packed with features and options.  They operated on either of two frequency spectrums.  There are 15 General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) channels and 7 Family Radio Service (FRS) channels available.  The FRS channels have an expected range of up to 2 miles, and the GMRS channels can reach out as much as 6 miles.  Each channel can be set to respond to one of 38 security codes which makes using the walkie-talkies seem to be a private conversation.  The radios operate on frequencies in the 462 megahertz and 467 megahertz bands.

So what do we use them for?  What makes them indispensable?  The primary usage is for guidance when backing the motorhome into tight spaces.  The driver gets detailed instructions in real time, even when the guiding partner is not visible in the mirrors.  When we get an escort to a new campsite, we offer one of the units to our guide to help the communications.  

Secondarily, in remote campsites, when walking the dog or taking a hike, I use the radios for emergency communications back to the motorhome, if ever needed.

They are rechargeable and store in their cradle, ready to be used anytime.   

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

The foliage is ablaze with color as we prepare to depart our fair weather home in north central Pennsylvania.  The deer, bears, porcupines, skunks, squirrels and chipmunks are all busy in preparation for the snow and cold of winter.  We have already experienced the first frost, which is often anticipated as it kills the insects. 

Below, please note that Wal-Mart stores may look alike, there are certainly some not so subtle differences.  (Like the hitching post for Amish carts at our local store).  The two deer in the next photograph (one is in the background and camoflauged well) came walking up to the Jeep when I was using the cell phone.  After casually checking me out, they continued to munch on the local vegetation.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

One of our favorite pastimes when traveling throughout this incredible country is to sample the local grown produce and specialities.  Here is a picture of our favorite roadside market near Lock Haven, Pennsylvania.  We have enjoyed the plentiful wax beans and new potatoes.  We have learned to make our potato salad with bleu cheese salad dressing in lieu of mayonnaise for the very patriotic "Red, White, and Bleu" potato salad.  Another favorite has been eggplant parmigiana for a meatless feast. 

Eggplant Parmigiana

Ingredients:

2 Medium Eggplants
1/2 Cup Bread Crumbs
1 Egg, Beaten
1 Cup Mozzarella Cheese, Grated or Sliced

Simply dip sliced eggplant in beaten egg and roll in bread crumbs.  Fry for about 5 minutes, turning once, until brown.  Place in a deep baking pan (we use Pyrex brand), sprinkle with parmesan, cover with spaghetti sauce and top with mozzarella cheese.  Bake for about ten minutes until the cheese is browned. 

Slurp!  Delicious!

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

Since we have been on our campsite in north central Pennsylvania for 6 weeks, we are not traveling.  I thought that I would take this opportunity to reflect on our journey through 27 states over the last year.  Specifically, I want to focus on the technology of modern travel.  Our motorhome is replete with electronic systems.  For example, through an inverter we are able to use the microwave or any standard home appliance at anytime, even while motoring down the highway.  But for this series of posts, I want to focus on the separate devices that make life on the road enjoyable and safe.  The list includes:

1. Motorola "Q" PDA with Cellphone
2. Toshiba Satellite Notebook Computer
3. Garmin C330 GPS
4. Winegard Movin' View In-Motion Satellite TV Antenna 
5. Sirius Satellite Radio
6. Trailer Life Directory Campground Navigator
7. HP1610V All-in-One Printer, Scanner, FAX and Copier
8. Acurite Indoor-Outdoor Thermometer
9. Uniden FRS 2-Way Walkie-Talkie
10. Cobra CB Radio with WX

This post is about the number 10 listed item, the Cobra CB Radio with Weather Channels. 

It seems that the more remote our campsite, such as some in Montana and Nevada, the more likely to find a NOAA weather radio repeater nearby.  This important government service can help protect property and save lives for the ranchers, farmers, hunters, fishermen, hikers and campers in the area.   Frequently, when there was no local AM or FM radio station to be received, the NOAA Weather service was loud and clear.  Warning of snow, rain, and fronts with wind or storms with hail and tornados possible. 

With a single button push, the radio can be switched to the Citizen's Band.  Since we have a CB ih our towed Jeep, it is simple for me to keep in touch with home when going out to the store.  Other times, when taking the motorhome in for service, etc., Lissi can drive the car and keep in touch with me in the motorhome. 

   Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

Labor Day Weekend, 2008 and the Sunrise Campground was FULL!  We are staying at our permanent site in Haneyville, Pennsylvania.  Tents were all over the place.  Families picnicking and playing the perfect afternoon soon.  One of the families was the single-parent family pictured above.  This photograph was taken about 25 yards in front of our campsite.  We had a great evening visiting with the neighbors after the bears departed. 

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

The windows are open, and I can glance out the screen door to see the magnificent greenery provided by nature.  We are on our "home" RV site in Haneyville, Pennsylvania.  It is about 20 miles north of Lock Haven, on the Allegheny plateau.  For us, it has been a luxury to be in one spot for a little rest and repair work.  I've been working through a short "to-do" list of routine maintenance tasks, and some repairs and upgrades.  Believe it or not, the last two days I cleaned out the "basement" (the storage bays under the motorhome).  They had accumulated layers of road dirt and grime from our ten thousand mile lap around America.

The weather has remained perfect, in the upper fifties at night (which is excellent for sleeping) and just grazing eighty degrees Fahrenheit in the late afternoon.  There are reports of bears visiting the campground, but we have not seen them.  On the other hand, we have enjoyed seeing the wild turkey and deer.  They out number the humans here.

   Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

We spent the day visiting the Rock 'n Roll Museum and Hall of Fame on the shores of Lake Erie, in Cleveland, Ohio.  We saw some unusual artifacts, for example the white, studded, jumpsuit worn by Elvis Presley in his later performances.  Or how about the beaded vest worn by Sly of Sly and the Family Stone!  On display were several guitars, which belonged to Jimmy Hendrix, and the psychedelic Porsche driven by Janis Joplin.  In the theatre, we watched the original feature length movie, "Help!", starring the Beatles.  Below, yours truly is standing in front of the converted private bus used by Johnny Cash to tour the country.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

In addition to the vintage motorcycle racing (road racing, motocross, enduro), there are many other activities going on concurrently.  There are vintage motorcycle shows where the bikes are judged.  There are vintage motorcycle auctions.  There are marque specific get-togethers. 

Below, see the 90 year old "Wheel of Death", demonstrated by the grandson of the originator.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.

The Vintage Motorcycle Days event is an annual occurrence at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio.  From around the country trucks and trailers carrying two wheelers from the past (and a few vintage motorcycle riders too), arrive in this rural Ohio setting.  Some riders take these precious antiques onto the track to compete (above).  In competition, some crashes will inevitably occur.  Below, following the crash, the rider was all right, but the motorcycle burned.  The black smoke is coming from burning fuel carried in the tank.

Copyright 2008.  Robert O. Little.  All Rights Reserved.