EFFINGHAM ILLINOIS TO FOREST CITY ARKANSAS: A MUCH BETTER DRIVING DAY AND MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EVERYONE

It was the beating blades of an Air Ambulance helicopter that woke me up at 3 this morning.  After all we were in an Air Park for the night and this is where the area’s Air Ambulance helicopter is based.  Three and a half hours later while Kelly was brewing up our morning coffee we heard it coming back and a couple minutes later we watched as it landed in darkness not far away with all it’s landing lights on.  I bet Joe would have liked that one Betty.

THE HELICOPTER LANDED JUST OUT THERE BY THAT BUILDING YOU SEE PAST THE RIG……THE  AIR PARK’S GRASS LANDING STRIP IS OFF TO THE RIGHT

It was a 28F degree start to our day but didn’t feel too bad when I stepped out with Pheebs.  No wind, no rain and no snow.  Despite the ever present cloud cover it was an Okay start to the day.  We were roasty toasty in the rig and all systems were working.  Nice when that happens.  We had the big wheels rolling by 7:35 Illinois time or 8:35 Ontario time.

WHEN DRIVING AN RV ONE HAS TO ALWAYS REMEMBER TO LOOK UP…..WE MADE IT THROUGH JUST FINE

THIS PHOTO SUMS UP HOW LIGHT THE TRAFFIC WAS AGAIN TODAY

Couple more things about the Air Park, they have hot showers and laundry facilities there as well.  Forgot to mention how our 10 year old memories had forgotten just where exactly the Percival Air Park was so slowly rolling south of Effingham on highway 45 Saturday afternoon I saw a couple cars coming up behind us so pulled over onto the narrow shoulder so they could pass.  First car went by but the second didn’t and pulled right in behind us…….with red and blue lights flashing.  Oh-Oh it was a State Trooper!!  Took him a minute to exit his car and walk up along the passenger side of the coach.  Our in-house good will ambassador Kelly quickly engaged the fella with her cheery manner telling the officer we were looking for the Percival Air Park.  We were only a mile from it and he was only too happy to give us directions and wish us a Merry Christmas.  Whether he pulled in behind us for any other reason we don’t know.  Maybe he just saw a grumpy old guy going by that needed some Christmas cheering up.  So a very Merry Christmas to you too Mr. nice Illinois State Trooper fella:))  

 

IT WAS QUITE A TIME THESE TWO BAYFIELD BUMS WERE HAVING WHILE ROLLING DOWN THE ROAD

 

‘ARE WE THERE YET MOM’

‘What a difference a day makes’ I kept thinking to myself as we motored south along I-57   Bare and dry roads, no precipitation and visibility was excellent with cloudy skies overhead.  Interstate traffic was the lightest I’ve ever seen  East of the Mississippi so what a great driving day it was.  Pulled into a Rest Area somewhere north of Cairo Illinois where Kelly whupped us up a couple hot dogs and fresh coffee. And by golly if we didn’t see Elvis there.  Kelly even got a picture of  him while I cleaned the rig’s rear view mirrors and checked the oil and tires, etc. (and a correction about Saturday’s rest area lunch, it was turkey salad sandwiches Kelly made, not tuna)

I FIGURE WE MUST  BE GETTING CLOSER TO WARMER WEATHER EH

After writing the above paragraphs at the rest area stop we were back on I-57 heading south and within minutes we overtook a big yellow snow plow salting the road.  What the heck!!  We weren’t half a mile past the plow when I noticed sprinkles on the windshield.  Yep, we had driven ourselves into a light misty rain and I figured that plow driver knew a lot more about the road conditions than we did so with intermittent wipers on and a close watch of the road we throttled back our speed.  Luckily we didn’t have any problems.  That light rain stayed with us all the way to Missouri (which wasn’t too far) and only quit once we crossed the Mississippi River from Illinois to Missouri.  Nice to be back on dry roads again.  Hooked up with I-55 and hung a left for Memphis crossing into Arkansas along the way.  A big wave later to Elvis as we swung off I-55 on Memphis’s west side onto to I-40 heading West.  From here on in most of our travels will be Westward-Ho to the land of enchanted mountains and deserted desert sands.  ‘Yay team’.

KELLY CHECKS HER CRACKER BARREL MAP

A belated Happy Birthday to Kelly’s Mother who turned 93 December 23rd.  Her Dad was born on the same day as her Mother……Kelly wrote on her Facebook:: Today I celebrate my Mom who turns 93 . She continues to live in her own home. She drives, loves to read and best of all Shop !.... Go Mom

We don’t have any presents to open Christmas morning because we opened them before we left home.  Pheebs got a new Olly the Ollyphant which I must remember to take a picture of.  Santa brought Kelly and I a neat-o Himalayan Salt Lamp which I also forgot to take a photo of before we left.  It’s as heavy as a rock so we couldn’t bring it with us but Pheebs brought Olly and those two bums have been having a blast.

A FEW PHOTOS ALONG THE WAY TODAY

AND A COUPLE PHOTOS FOR THE CAVE PEOPLE DENNIS AND DONNA WHO I KNOW LIKE TO STOP HERE ON THEIR TRAVELS

And by golly Paul over at R Sanity RV Adventures was able to save Christmas again this year and it had something to do with Santa Claus and nothing to do with being shot out of a cannon wearing a ballerina costume.  Well not yet anyway.

BRIDGE OVER THE MISSISSIPPI BETWEEN THE STATES OF ILLINOIS AND MISSOURI

KELLY GRABS A FEW PICS OF THE BRIDGE

 

AND WE BROUGHT THE AMARYLLIS  CARON AND CHRIS GAVE US AND ‘HEY’ WE HAD US AN ELVIS SIGHTING NORTH OF MEMPHIS

A NUMBER OF CONSTRUCTION ZONES WEST OF MEMPHIS ON I-40

It was about 2:30 when we decided to call it a day.  Kelly, on her map found us a Walmart location in the town of Forest City Arkansas and we happily pulled ourselves into a corner of the large lot and shut er down.  Lots of busy Christmas shoppers bustling about and I’ll be darned if the Sun didn’t pop out for awhile an hour later.  Now some folks might think spending Christmas Eve in a Walmart parking lot would be kinda gruesome but not us.  We’re quite happy to be here and even went in and mixed it up with all the local Christmas shoppers.  And my oh my what an animated bunch they were too.  Lots of Christmas decorations and twinkling lights.  Yesireee we were in the Spirit alright.  After all, we had been listening to Christmas music all day on our Sirius Satellite radio.  Christmas music that reminded us of our younger years.  Bing Crosby, Perry Como, Johnny Matthis, Andy Williams, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett, and the list goes on…………..  

OUR OVERNIGHT SPOT FOR CHRISTMAS EVE 2017

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and thanks to one and all for your many warm Christmas wishes:))

GROANER’S CORNER:((  You Know Your Overweight When:: 

* You dance and it makes the band skip.
* You are diagnosed with the flesh eating virus, and the doctor gives you 22 more years to live.
* You put mayonnaise on an aspirin.
* You go to the zoo and the elephants throw you peanuts.
* Your driver's license says, "Picture continued on other side."
* You ran away and they had to use all four sides of the milk carton for your picture.
* You learn you were born with a silver shovel in your mouth.
* You could sell shade.
* Your blood type is Ragu.

----------------------------------

Christopher Columbus was the best deal maker in history. He left not knowing where he was going, and upon arriving, not knowing where he was. He returned not knowing where he had been, and did it all on borrowed money.

=============================