Cumberland Gap National Historical Park

 We were raised a few miles from CGNHP and took it for granted most of our lives. Now that we have seen other National Parks and stay in State and National parks a lot we have grown to appreciate them a whole lot more. We have also decided to give some of our time to the park.

 Marcia will be helping out in the visitor center a few days a week, (or where ever they need help) and I will help out where ever they need me or can use me. They gave us nice shirts and hats to wear so everyone knows that we are officially helping out. They also are providing a very nice place for us to park the rig, right between a favorite picnic area and the rangers station.

 We will be here for the month of May, and if things work out for us and the park we will hang around for the month of June too. This really works well for us since we will be in the area any way because of dad's health issues. The etch-a-sketch shows us hanging around here until dad is better, so we won't be spending much $$ on diesel fuel for the next few months.

 Dad was put back into ICU tonight, he had started retaining fluids so they moved him back to the hospital room to treat his lungs. Once he was moved to a hospital room they did an EKG and found his heart rate was too high so they had to give him a cardiac drip, and with the drip he has to be under a close watch so ICU is where he wound up.

 The move was mainly because of insurance, they only pay for so many days of rehab, and the doctor didn't want to waste those days while he was treating his lungs. Which turned out to be a good thing because the found the elevated heart rate with the EKG and he will get that taken care of before it causes additional problems.

 With all the new changes tonight dad is doing a lot better. He walked to the bathroom and back by himself tonight. He was out of breath when he got back to the bed, but that is a big improvement from him not being able to lift his legs. One of his goals is to take off with us this summer to Montana, so if he gets well enough we will be headed to Lima Montana.

 Its late and I have a doctor appointment tomorrow in Lexington so this is it for this blog post, I'll be back for another soon.......................... I hope..........................

Th excitement Continues

Yes the excitement continues here in Southeastern Kentucky, it just isn't the excitement we want.

 We returned to Cumberland Gap National Park because dad was having major health issues. March the 20th he was admitted to ARH hospital with congestive heart failure and phenomena. He spent the next 12 days in ICU. He was then released from ICU and the hospital and sent to Tri State Health Care for rehab. The problem accrued because the doctor didn't send the script for his meds, which resulted in dad being rushed back to ARH with a 160 heart rate, on the 4th of April.
 Dad spent the next two days back in ICU where everything started improving because he was getting his meds. Another problem accrued when his regular doctor increased his meds causing his PB to bottom out the day after he was returned to Tri State. That triggered another trip to the ER where he was treated and released back to Tri State, but the ER doctor took him off his meds, and the doctors at Tri State wouldn't start them back.
 Monday the 11th one of the nurses at Tri State attempted to give day a sleeping pill at 7:30 AM. Thankfully dad and Scott caught the mistake. Some other things happened causing Tri State to limit all of dads visits, and when they told us to say our good-byes and tell dad we would be back at 4 PM I told them to get dads discharge papers because we were leaving.
 Tri State contacted Pineville hospital and rehab center for us and it was set up for us to take dad to Pineville. He has spent the past week in Pineville hospital where he has been getting better treatment resulting in him getting better physically. Today he was moved to the rehab center at the Pineville Community Hospital and doing A LOT better. So we have had plenty excitement, it just isn't the excitement we like.

 As for what we have been doing, we got to visit with three of my cousins from the Lima Ohio Area that I haven't seen in years. Beverly, Linda and Jamie came down to see dad and we got to spend a few hours together at the RV. I really think they liked the idea of us living in our RV full time.

 We have been getting our bingo fix too. Marcia goes several times a week, and I join her a couple times a week. It really helps when we are able to yell B I N G O, and they bring us the $$$. The jeep got a new set of shoes today. I had ordered a set of Cragar Mags, ( the hottest wheels made back in the 70's) and today we had them put on with a new set of Wrangler tires. We also have a new soft top to put on it next week, and a set of driving lights. The lights have smiley face covers to match the spare tire cover they put on it when the repaired it after the lady rear-ended Marcia in FL a few months ago.

 The "etch-a-sketch" is kind of broken until dad gets his health issues under control, but the Cumberland Gap National Park is a pretty good place for us to stay while we wait, and maybe we will be able to get some sightseeing in over the next couple of weeks.

 If you happen to be in the area let us know, we would love to show you around some......................

Moving Day

Today was our moving day, we drove all the way to the dump station and then parked the rig across the street from where it was yesterday. At least I did get the tanks filled and dumped, and turned the wheels.

 Friday dad was released from ICU and transferred to a rehab center about 6 miles away. Even though it was only 6 miles he did cross state lines. Crossing the state line created problems with his meds because the quack doctor that is filling in for his regular doctor didn't write the orders for his meds.

 Monday dad started his therapy and all was really good. He did several sets of therapy because his shortness of breath limits him in how long he can do it. The doctor he has at the rehab center has never seen dad, but after we had complained about dad not getting his meds it was decided he needed an EKG. The EKG showed that his heart rate was way too high, so he was sent back to the hospital where he was admitted back into ICU.

 So now that his regular doctor will be back Tuesday, and that he will be getting his heart meds maybe his stay in ICU will be short and he can get back to his therapy so he can get built back up and go home.

 Marcia and I are enjoying being close to family despite the weather and the hospitals. The park is terrific if only we could spend a little more time in it, and Marcia is getting her BINGO fix almost every night. We will be here for another two weeks before we need to dump the tanks again, and maybe we will move to the other side of the park for a change then.

The Etch-A-Sketch gets shaken up

Last Sunday we left the Cumberland Gap NP headed south, Sunday night we were parked at Camping World in Spartinburg SC. Monday morning we turned the rig around and headed right back to the Cumberland Gap NP.

 We got a call Sunday night telling us dad was admitted back in the hospital Sunday evening. He had phenomena and his heart rate was too high and fluttering, and that was enough to convince me to spend a few extra weeks in this area. we all know I try my best to avoid cold weather, but I really want to be here for dad in case he needs me in any way.

 So we have been spending a lot of time at the hospital keeping dad company. We have been making our donations to the bingo halls too. As much as my wife likes to play bingo, and as many places we have played all across the US, Middlesboro has the best bingo we have found.

 For $10 at the "yellow building" you can get a computer with 72 chances to win, or for $8 you get 16 chances on paper. The games range from $50 to $1000, but the bingo halls really make their money selling pull tabs. That is a lot better than paying $15 to win $50 like some places we have been to.

 We are also blessed by getting to spend time with our kids. Miss Jaelyen has really got us wrapped around her finger, but it is well worth it, and the best thing is we can give her back any time we want to.

 We really have no idea when we will leave here, but we will enjoy everything except the cold................

Kentucky

We made it to KY, I had the ct scan, spent some time with dad, played bingo, (and won), and now we are headed south.

It was cool while we were at Raccoon Valley, but I got to watch the UK Wild Cats win the SEC tourmemnet, and we got to spend some time with Jenelle. On the way to Middlesboro we stopped to fill up the MH. $3.67 a gallon was a bargain considering it was over $4 a gallon in some places in FL.

 You gotta love the country folks in the hills of KY, the lady that took my money for the diesel ask me in the most sincere tone, " do you have someone famous in there". Referring to the MH, I said no not really, and then she said, "I seen the "KOUNTRY STAR" on the side and thought you might have one of those country singers in there".

 I had a little accident with the MH backing into a site at the park, the front end got into the dirt and some damage so we will be putting it in a shop to get it fixed as soon as we find a shop we think will do a good job. I called the factory but they are booked up for several months so maybe we will find one here in SC.

 Dad is doing OK, he still gets really short of breath if he walks around any, but I think summer weather will help him as much as anything else will. Scott has really improved, he is getting around on his bad leg as if nothing happened.

 Monday night we went to bingo, and I won the $1000. game, (they have three a night) . After all the times I have been to bingo that was the first time I hit the big game. We went every night after that and didn't win anything, but I can now say I have won the $1000.

 Today we left Middlesboro and started south, we made it to Camping World in Spartinburg SC. We will spend the night here and get an estimate on the fix for the damage I did at the park, and then we will head deeper south to try to avoid the cold front coming through later in the week.

Stay tuned to see what happens next....................

It has been too long

 I know it has been too long since I last updated my blog, but what can I say?

 We left Wauchula and drove the 100 + or - miles to Sumter Oaks. As soon as we parked the Kountry Star on a lot we jumped in the jeep and drove to Flagship RV to pick up the Santara. Flagship RV has had our Santara since we dropped it off back in April of last year. They were going to sell it for us, but all I got from them was a call telling us the starter was out and it was going to cost $450 to replace it. They did call one other time with a low-ball offer from a dealer up north somewhere.

 Once we pulled it into a site at Sumter Oaks Dave and Maryann looked it over and told us they wanted it. It being late Friday afternoon we decided to do the paper work on Monday, but we told them they were welcome to move in anytime. Maryann was excited so they started moving in right away.

 Friday night Norm and Peg, Marcia and myself, and Dave and Maryann took a drive to werda-hekamiat, (I am not sure about the spelling) for the fish dinner. All you can eat for $10, and the first plate they brought out was all any of us could eat. It was a good night out for everyone.

 Saturday we helped Dave and Maryann move into their new rig, and I answered all of Dave's questions, at least all I could answer. We also moved the Kountry Star to a site right next to Dave and Maryann so we would be close in case they had any questions, or needed anything we could help them with.

 Sunday was a relaxation day for us, although I did get really tired watching Dave move stuff from their class C to the Santara. I did get to watch the KENTUCKY Wildcats beat the TN Vols in the last regular season game. It was a bad first half with TN up by 10, but the second half KY came back to a 6 point victory.  Later we did do the Mexican place across from Wal-Mart, they have good Mexican food, at a reasonable price and we try to eat there every time we are at Sumter Oaks.

 Monday the jeep was hard to start, and then it wouldn't start. Dave walked back to our site and got Norm to bring his truck up to jump the jeep off. Once it was started I took it to Auto Zone and everyone else went to Webster to the flea market. I joined them after buying a new battery for the jeep. The price of batteries has jumped up since I bought the one we put in the tracker.  It was a good day at the flea market, everyone found something they couldn't live without.

 It was late by the time the banks did the transfer of $$ so it was Tuesday before we went to the DMV in Bushnell so I could sign the title of the Santara over to Dave, but we got it all taken care of. I really hope they are satisfied with the Santara, although I told them if they added a couple zeros they could move into the Kountry Star and we would move back into the Santara.

 Tomorrow we will leave Sumter Oaks and start or meandering towards Kentucky for my doctors appointment on the 17th. That is if the "etch-a-sketch" doesn't get shook up too much tonight, and the rain moves out early enough for us to get out of here. The plan it to drive the 300 miles to Twin Oaks RV Park so we can soak in the hot tub a couple days before getting in the cold up in KY.

I really hope things warm up in KY or we may not stay there too long.....

Wauchula

 We came to the SKP Resort here in Wauchula for two reasons. The first being it was going to be a few degrees warmer than in Bushnell And the second was the Jeep dealer here was on the preferred list of the insurance company of the the lady that rear ended Marcia's jeep a few weeks ago, and I wanted a jeep dealer to repair it.

 Now that the weather is warm enough here in most of FL that the few degrees doesn't effect me too much we could leave this area and explore another part of FL., except the jeep is still in the shop. Skip is the guy in charge of the repairing of the jeep and he told us it would be ready by Friday. Not Friday March the 4th, we were talking Friday Feb the 26th. The 25th he said the first of this week, and then Monday it was the middle of the week, and yesterday he said it will be ready on Friday.

  I tried to explain that I really wanted to be rolling down the road Friday AM, so later today we will see if they can get it put back together and have it ready for us to pick up by close of business Thursday. We have went by to check on it almost every day, and I did take a few pictures so I could look back some day and see what they did. Although the pictures will more than likely wind up in some folder on the pc and I won't be able to find them when I decide I do want to see them.

So I think I will post them here so I will know where they are, if you aren't interested in seeing the damage, and progress of repairs you don't have to look. (if I can remember how to post pics.)

This picture shows some of the damage done inside the bed of the jeep.

 This is the rear of the jeep after they took it apart to start the repairs.

 Here he has cut out the bent up corner panel enough to cut the welds where it is welded together.

 another one of the cut away area

 In this one he has started putting the new pieces on.

 Here it is back together with new metal, he just has to straighten out a spot under the door and it will be ready for paint.

 Now it is in the paint booth, where they will put several layers of primer and paint, before going into the bake cycle.

 And here it is after the paint work. It needs to set a few hours before they put everything back together and replace the decals I had put on to match the Kountry Star.

 I really hope we are able to drive it home Thursday afternoon, so we will be able to roll the wheels on the Kountry Star Friday AM.

  It hasn't been all about the jeep here at Wauchula, we got to attend our first Pioneer Days today, (Wednesday). We saw some amazing tractors, and a lot of "hit -n-miss" engines, the old ones that sound so funny running. The flea market was good, but the guy that told us there would be lots of RV stuff was wrong. I enjoyed it enough that I may just go back Thursday since the jeep won't be ready early enough for us to head out Thursday.

 Later we decided to go out for Mexican food. We stopped and ask John and Char to join us, and they were pleased to drop everything and jump in the truck and go with us. John and I had a good time harassing the waitress, she was really busy with a large group so when she got to our table to take our order she said she was sorry. I told her that was an odd name for a person, Sorry? She explained to us that her name was Heidi, but it was too late, John and I called her by sorry the rest of the time.

 Later it was bingo, and I must have offended them here because they haven't let me win but once since the first night when they let me and Marcia win. Although Marcia is still in their good graces because they let her split one pot with someone else. Any way it is always fun to play bingo here at the SKP Resort.

 Now it is time to play with the "Etch-A-Sketch" and hope the jeep dealer doesn't shake it up for us Thursday afternoon..................