Vol 18 No. 3 - 30 May, 2014

After breakfast with Dave and Linda at the motel in Covington, Louisiana, we delivered two machines (two stops) in Houston, Texas - that was Thursday, 1 May.  Headed up to Waco ready to load two street sweepers on Friday morning.

Waco, Texas to Brewerton, New York.

Texas state wildflower - bluebonnets.

Spring time wildflowers in Texas are spectacular!

Internet:  Blue bonnets have been loved since man first trod on the vast prairies of Texas.  Natives wove fascinating folk tales around them….. the two predominant special of bluebonnets are found growing naturally only in Texas and at no other location in the world.

Another easy load! Drive on – drive off.  We ran that over the weekend to deliver Monday morning in Brewerton (near Syracuse), New York.

Deadheaded to Buffalo and had a day and a half visit with Jim’s family.

Thursday, 7 May we crossed the border into Canada and loaded in Niagara Falls, Ontario at Criveller Group.  Stainless steel tank, heat exchanger and pumps - for a brewery.  Seriously!  We had a load going to a brewery!

Niagara Falls, Ontario to Norfolk, Virginia.

Website:  Criveller Company was founded in 1978, with an emphasis on providing innovative processing and packaging solutions to the wine regions of Canada, specializing in stainless steel tanks.

The facility flourished, and in the mid-80’s, diversified with the production of brewing vessels, brew house process piping systems, and cellar tanks for the microbrewery and brewpub sectors.  With three state-of-the-art manufacturing locations (Ontario, California, and Italy), projects encompass the winery, brewery and now includes pasta sauce productions facilities, blending and metering systems for vodka production, tanks and packaging solutions to the bottled water industry and Olive Oil production.

The load consisted of a brew tank, catwalks and equipment.  

We delivered in Norfolk at noon on Thursday at O'Connor Brewing Co.  Several loads had already been delivered and the contractors were very busy in the old warehouse they were preparing for expansion of the brewery.  There was a crane and crew on site to unload the trucks.

O'Connor Brewing Co. delivery in Norfolk, VA.

The present brewery is on West 25^th Street, but we delivered to a larger building on West 24^th Street for the expansion phase.  At present the small staff produce 1,000 kegs and 15,000 bottles a month and supply bars and restaurants in the Norfolk area, but will be able to produce enough for the State of Virginia with the added plant.  That is the first time we have ever been to a brewery for 'work'.

Jim and I walked to West 25^th Street to check out the brewery and we bought samples for later when the truck was parked.

Jimmy was waiting for us at Big Charlie’s Truckstop at Virginia Beach.  He had delivered nearby, as well.  

We got the folding chairs out and sat behind the trucks in the clover and buttercups and wildflowers.  

The O'Connor beer was very nice and we had an enjoyable and relaxing afternoon and evening.

Jim and I were up early the next morning and went to West Point, Virginia with another Landstar driver to load at Rock Tenn Co.

Website: RockTenn delivers low-cost, high-value paperboard, packaging and marketing solutions to a wide range of markets.

RockTenn mill at West Point, VA.

The West Point location is a paper mill and we loaded heat exchangers/boilers that were rentals from ADCO and being returned to Bessemer, Alabama. The largest boiler company in Alabama and Louisiana, and headquarters in Bessemer.

West Point, Virginia to Bessemer, Alabama.

An easy drive to Alabama for the weekend.  We got to a truckstop south of Birmingham on Saturday afternoon.  Decided to explore around Tuscaloosa area.  

Unloaded the motorbike late Saturday and went for a ride, found some interesting roads and places.  Very ‘back woods’, and ‘down home’. 

Found the Green Lantern Pub, in McCalla; rated one of the oldest establishments in Alabama, believed to have been open since the 1920’s an old roadhouse on the Old Tuscaloosa Highway.  – an interesting place.

We got moving early Sunday morning and it was very foggy, but pleasant temperatures. Didn't have any destination in mind.  I did some research of the area and couldn't find anything of significance, so we wandered a bit.  These were great motorcycling roads: good clean pavement, with hills and sweepers – the kind we enjoy.  Not much traffic at all, though a couple of deer were out and about.

Website:  The Black Warrior, Bahaba and Coosa Rivers and their tributaries are among the waterways that wind their way through the region. The geography of the area varies from heavily forested hills to low-lying, marshy plain.

We travelled to the east and north of Tuscaloosa.  Found ourselves looking at a dirt road.  Got the map out to figure out the next move.  I had to get a photo of where we stopped – the corner of Blue Creek and Watermelon Road.

Map check!

We were only there a minute when a local towing a bass boat stopped and suggested, if we didn't mind 5 miles of dirt, it was a nice ride along a ridge and across a dam wall back into Tuscaloosa.  (He also told us that the small snake we just passed was a rattlesnake and we also saw a small turtle.)

Found a stretch of gravel road to make it more interesting!

Located along the banks of the Black Warrior River in west-central Alabama, Tuscaloosa is home to about 93,000 residents and a thriving business community.  It is home to the University of Alabama, and two Colleges.  Tuscaloosa has been traditionally known as the “Druid City” because of the numerous water oaks planted in its downtown streets since the 1840’s.

Around midday we had a look around Tuscaloosa. Because of the University and Colleges, it has a ‘party-town’ feel.  There are two breweries – we stopped at Druid City Brewing first and had their sample flight of beers – all very nice. 

We stopped at Moe’s Original BarBQue for a southern-style lunch – Jim had bbq pork and turkey, I had catfish with baked beans, corn bread and banana-nilla pudding.

To Black Warrior Brewery for just one of their Porter style beers.  Both breweries are small batch breweries and only supply beer in kegs (no bottles or cans) to bars and restaurants locally.

Back to the truck to load up the bike.  For not having any sights or destinations on the agenda for the day – it was fun and memorable.  Very impressed with Tuscaloosa!

Delivered the boilers/heat exchangers to Bessemer on Monday morning and over to a Tenaska Power Generating Plant near Billingsley to load six crane mats.
The next morning we delivered the mats to an equipment Rental place in Theodore, Alabama (west of Mobile).

Crane mats from Billingsley, AL to Theodore, AL.

Hurried over to Hattiesburg, Mississippi to load used plant equipment, got there late mornigng.  Yuk!  Our least favourite freight,   aways a challenging, dirty job - but at least it didn't require tarping.  It was a Wis-Pak Inc.

Website: Wis-Pak, Inc. is a manufacturer and distributor of Pepsi-Cola and other leading soft drinks.  Our corporate office is located in Watertown, Wisconsin.  We have production facilities and warehouses throughout the central U.S.

Hattiesburg, Alabama to Watertown, Wisconsin.

It was very hot and humid in Alabama when we loaded, but as we drove north the temperature cooled.  When we got up Thursday morning in Wisconsin, it was raining and 40 degrees F (4.4 Celcius) - a bit of a shock!  It did warm up a bit, but we didn't take our jackets off!

Delivered to the head office of Wis-Pak in Watertown, Wisconsin.  Then headed south to Chicago O’Hare Airport area to load Friday morning.

Loaded a stainless steel tank for another brew pub!

Brewery tank from Bensenville, Illinois to Lakeland, Florida.

On Sunday afternoon we stopped at a truckstop and had a few beers and catch up with trucker friend, Shane.  Getting to be like the old trucking days - hanging out and partying at a truckstop!

Shane and Jim having a cold beer between the trucks!

Delivered it on Monday morning, 19 May.  The Brew Hub is a new concept of brewery, and this is the first of five locations to be built.  Lakeland's anticipated opening date is 1 August.

Website:  Brew Hub provides an entirely new business model for the craft brewing industry.  With the right products and partnership opportunities, we’re putting the power back into the hand of the brand-holder – without the capital exposure. With our first brewing and packaging facility in Lakeland, Florida, we will become an incubation centre for partner brewers looking to capitalize on the fast-growing craft segment.

We had to wait for a third party crew to unload us, so we had a tour of the brewery.

Setting up a new Brewery.

Unloading at The Brew Hub in Lakeland, Florida.

Driving past the front of The Brew Hub, Lakeland, FL.

After leaving there the truck lost turbo boost, and with pedal to the floor could not get over 55 mph.  Jim decided to swing by the Detroit Diesel garage in Orlando to see what was wrong.  It was OK for a few miles, then lost power again.

When we got to Detroit Diesel it was running at full boost again but they didn't have time to look at it. Booked in for the next morning to get it looked at. We had to be up early in Daytona Beach to get to the truck, then the truck to the other side of Orlando by 7.30am.

I dropped Jim at the truck and on the way back to the beach I witnessed a beautiful sunrise at the World's Most Famous Beach!

The Atlantic Ocean at Daytona Beach, FL.

The truck ran as it should all the way to Orlando and when Jim got to the workshop, there were no computer codes registering, so other than replacing components randomly there was nothing to do, so Jim came back to Daytona Beach.

We had plenty to keep us busy with the truck and house.  Got to see a rocket launch from the beach – an Atlas V.

Internet:  A United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas V rocket carrying a payload for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) lifted off from Space Launch Complex on May 22.  The mission is in support of national defense.

Did not get a spectacular visual on a sunny day, just a wriggly rocket contrail.

Atlas V rocket contrail.

Some photos of mid-morning on the Boardwalk before opening and the beach crowds

Daytona Beach Boardwalk.

Main Street, Daytona Beach.

Jim accepted a load for Friday morning before the long weekend, another early morning.  Jim got to Lake Mary before 6.30am and loaded – the load was to go to Ontario, Canada and we could spent Saturday in Daytona and leave Sunday morning.  Jim was loaded and picked up the paperwork and noticed the shipment was destined for Manitoba, Canada (a western Province).  Our trailer is not legal there with the spread axle, and we didn't want a load to there because there is nothing coming back to the USA expect a long deadhead.  Jim had loaded and unloaded by 7.30am.

The truck had low power again right from starting out that morning, so he took it over to Detroit Diesel and waited until they could look at it.  This time the computer code indicated turbo boost sensor malfunction.  Less than $500 repair, and so happy it was fixed!

Now we had the three day long weekend to spend in Daytona Beach.  Friday evening was a concert at the Bandshell - we watched and listened for an hour or so.  Local performers, from the local colleges.

Saturday afternoon we met with friends, Sharon and Ron Brogan.  They were camping the weekend in Port Orange and we enjoyed an evening of grilling and laughter with them. 

A raccoon wandered into the area and found something to eat.


Monday was the Memorial Day holiday, we went for a motorbike ride north along the beach to Flagler Beach, took the 1970 moto guzzi ambassador had lunch at Johnny D’s, stopped at a couple of other places on our way back to Daytona Beach.

The International Speedway Boulevard bridge decorated for Memorial Day.

International Speedway Boulevard bridge.

Tuesday morning we packed up and went to St Augustine to load at a CAT dealer.  Sat there with another driver for an hour, then told our loads were in Orlando.  Down to Orlando, and loaded in the afternoon – six large air conditioner units.  Then headed north to deliver them in Kenilworth, New Jersey on Thursday afternoon at Ring Power – Caterpillar Heavy Equipment Dealer.

Orlando, Florida to Kenilworth, New Jersey.

The next day, Friday 30 May we loaded in York, Pennsylvania.  The Honeywell plant was being disassembled.  (Moving operations to Mexico.)  It is located in the centre of the city and obviously been there for a long time.

Internet:  More than 100 employees worked at Honeywell Process Solutions, making materials that are used in the gas industry.

We got there before the cranes, and the tank still had to be emptied.  It was not far to the historic downtown York, so I went for a walk around.  York is an old city with a lot of history.

Internet:  York, also known as Yorktown in the mid-18th to early 19th century, was founded in 1741, and named for the English city of the same name. By 1777, most of the area residents were of either German or Scots-Irish descent.

During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), York served as the temporary capital of the Continental Congress.  The Articles of Confederation were drafted and adopted in York.

York styles itself the FIRST Capital of the United States, although historians generally consider it to be the fourth capital, after Philadelphia, Baltimore and Lancaster.  The claim arises from the assertion that the Articles of Confederation was the first legal document to refer to the colonies as "the United States of America".

During the American Civil War (1861–1865), York became the largest northern town to be occupied by the Confederate army.

In the Postbellum era (1865–1877),York remained a regional center for local agriculture, but increasingly became an important industrial center, with such industries as steam engines, railroad manufacturing, and papermaking coming to the forefront. 

York also features some unique architecture ranging from colonial era buildings to large gothic churches.

The York Motor Car Company built Pullman automobiles from 1905 through 1917.  A model was driven to San Francisco and back over about one month to prove its reliability several years before the creation of the Lincoln Highway, which ran through town, connecting New York to San Francisco.

York notes:

The York area had been home for more than 100 years to the Pfaitzgraff pottery company, which built its first factory in 1895 and continued manufacturing in York until 2005.

**Though now produced by the Hershey Company, the York Peppermint Pattie was created in York in 1940. (Favourites of mine - York Peppermint Patties!!)

York Barbell is a reseller of barbells and other equipment for weight training and bodybuilding, and is the home of the USA Weightlifting Hall of Fame.

A large Harley-Davidson motorcycle factory is located in York and employs roughly half of Harley's production workforce.

The Stauffer Biscuit Company is rooted in York and has produced animal crackers since 1871. A major regional department store,The Bon-Ton, is headquartered in York. Just north of York is one of only four Starbucks roasting facilities in the world.

An interesting walk!

The city has been called an "architectural museum" because the downtown features numerous well-preserved historic structures.

I got back to Honeywell as they were draining the nitrogen from the tank before loading it on the trailer.

York, Pennsylvania to Bolivar, Ohio.

After loading, we took some back roads to Middleburg, Pennsylvania and picked up a used truck transmission for Jimmy.  We were on roads much better suited to a motorcycle!  Through the mountains and valleys, small towns and Amish country.

The nitrogen tank is going to Bolivar, Ohio to deliver on Monday, 2 June.

Vol 18 No 2 - 30 April, 2014

Jim and I loaded up the truck on 1 April, caught up with Bob Stanton for a quick lunch before we left Daytona Beach and then headed north towards Savannah, Georgia.

Loaded 2 April at the Georgia Port Authority in Savannah – one used military truck from overseas and delivered it at Red River Army Depot west of Texarkana, Texas on Friday morning.

Savannah GA to Texarkana, TX

Friday afternoon, Jim and I stayed in the truck at Lake Greeson Narrows Dam 6 miles north of Murfreesboro, Arkansas.

Internet:  Narrows Dam is a gravity dam. The core is concrete, the foundation is rock.  A gravity dam is an engineering structure that by its own weight resists the forces imposed with a desired factor of safety.  Gravity dams are designed so that every dam section is stable, independent of any other dam section.  Narrows Dam is 941 feet long, with a height of 183.5 feet.  The Dam impounds the waters of the Little Missouri River to form 7,000 acre Lake Greeson, a prime recreational lake in southwest Arkansas.  Authorized as a flood control and hydroelectric power project.

Saturday morning we loaded diving equipment.  Army Engineer Divers had completed a repair on the dam.  A grate 80ft down the dam wall had to be replaced.  The US Army Corps of Engineers Divers are trained to undertake reconnaissance, demolition, and salvage tasks underwater.

They had three 20ft containers (one was a decompression chamber) and three smaller containers of equipment, oxygen, etc.  Another truck arrived Saturday morning.  Two 20ft containers were put on us, and the rest on the other truck.

Lake Greeson Narrows Dam, Arkansas.

After the trucks were loaded, they were going fishing!

We had not been in this part of Arkansas - very picturesque, rolling hills, lakes.  Just south of Murfreesboro is Crater of Diamonds State Park.

Internet The "crater" is an eroded lamproite pipe where diamonds were discovered in 1906.  100,000 were found by 1933. It is the only publicly-owned diamond site where visitors may search for diamonds and other gems and keep what they find, regardless of the value of the stone.  Other than diamonds, other precious and semi-precious stones are found within the volcanic matrix such as garnet, amethyst, jasper, agate and quartz.

I looked on the ground where we were loading, but didn't find any diamonds!

Drove the remainder of the weekend and delivered the containers to Fort Eustis, Virginia on Monday morning.  The same divers met us there.

We have been to Fort Eustis several times in the past:  Fort Eustis is an 8,300 acre Army installation in southeastern Virginia, within the City of Newport News.  Fort Eustis is the Transportation Corps Training Centre, providing training in rail, marine, and amphibian operations and other means of transportation.  Fort Eustis is virtually a city in itself - complete with a shopping mall, bank, credit union, post office, hospital, chapel, a USA and Red Cross and many other facilities.

We delivered in the rain, then reloaded in Chesapeake, VA – not far away.  A packing company that picks up overseas containers from the Port and distributes them.  Part of a used manufacturing plant!  Greasy, dirty, loose bits and pieces, it was still pouring rain.  Ughhh.  Lots of straps and chains and trying to get all the sticking out bits inside the trailer so it would be legal. (Anything sticking out past the trailer edge requires an oversize permit.)

Wednesday, 9 April, we delivered that in Pontiac, Michigan to a machinery movers company, they will assemble it – the men that unloaded us were not very excited about the load either!

That afternoon there was about a 300mile deadhead, but we loaded in Wadsworth, OH going to Florida.  It was rolled roofing with a skid of hazmat (adhesive) and tarped.

We had experienced two frosty morning while in the north of the country.  Jim found a drive tyre had a portion of tread off.  It still had a lot of wear on it, but we replaced it on the way to Florida.

Needed a tyre on the way to Florida.

Delivered the rolled roofing near Orlando, Florida then to the house in Daytona Beach.  Spent the weekend catching up with Ron Hewitt, and Jimmy was in town also.

I play Trivia when we are in Chinchilla, Queensland and Daytona Taproom has a Trivia evening on Mondays and we attended to see how it worked over here.  Jimmy came with us, it was quite different from Chinchilla but we caught on fast.  Lots of fun and some nice beers at the Taproom!

Trivia at Daytona Taproom.

Trivia comperes.

We spent a lovely evening at Lis and Harvey’s in De Leon Springs , and out for pizza and beers with Jimmy at Panhead Pizza.

Had wanted a load out by Wednesday 14^th, but nothing suitable came up.  Jim spent two days polishing the cab of the truck.  That is a BIG job by hand.  Still have to finish up the roof fairing, but ran out of steam.  

Also, wire brushed and painted the trailer wheels.  They had some rusty areas especially from sitting in the salt air while we are in Australia.  Looking a bit spiffy now!

Wildwood, Florida to Suffern, NY.

Left the house early Easter Sunday morning to load in Wildwood, Florida, two and a half hours away.  It was a full load of disassembled metal shelving, and heavy.  Time consuming to load and strap it on, because all the sharp edges required padding to protect the straps.

Easy drive to Suffern, New York, delivered on Tuesday morning. The parts we had were to make huge shelves for a furniture warehouse. Over to Muncy, Pennsylvania and loaded big drain pipes and delivered them the next day in London, Kentucky.  North to Lexington, Kentucky to load Trane air conditioners.

Muncy, Pennsylvania to London, Kentucky.

Lexington, Kentucky to Charleston, South Carolina, Trane air conditioners.

The loads fell into place for us to visit friends, Chris and Judi Collins.  They live in Wisconsin and three years ago bought a ‘cottage’ in Gatlinburg, Tennessee - a Ridge Top Retreat.  It is for holiday rentals, but they spend a week at a time there, a few times during the year.  They had the last week in April allocated and invited us to visit while they were there.

Thursday morning we left the rig at a truckstop east of Knoxville, Tennessee and unloaded the motorbike.  An hour ride south through beautiful terrain, and the towns of Sevierville and Pigeon Forge to Gatlinburg.

Wikipedia: Gatlinburg is a mountain resort in south-east Tennessee, (population about 4,000) it is hemmed in on all sides by high ridges.  Pigeon Forge is approximately 6 miles (9.7 km) to the north, and the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) to the south. Gatlinburg is an important tourism destination in Tennessee, with many man-made attractions, and the only ski resort in Tennessee – Ober Gatlinburg.  Because of the ease of obtaining a marriage license in Tennessee, Gatlinburg is a popular destination for weddings and honeymoons with over twenty wedding chapels in the town and surrounding areas.

Chris and Judi's house is high up a mountain, a very steep and winding road up, it is built on the side of the ridge.  Great views of mountains towards the east.  The house is three levels, with three decks to view the mountains.  It is beautiful, though not much level ground!

Inside.

Thursday afternoon, Chris and Judi showed us the sights of Gatlinburg and a car ride along Roaring Fork Motor Trail.  It was early Spring and new leaves were just emerging, and the wildflowers were abundant.  A beautiful and unique time of the year.

Roaring Fork Trail.

Internet:  Once the site of a small Appalachian community, today the stream's area is home to the Roaring Fork Motor Nature Trail and the Roaring Fork Historic District.

Like many mountain streams, Roaring Fork is volatile. While the stream presents as a peaceful trickle on any given day, it quickly becomes a raging whitewater rapid after a mild rain shower. The "roar" of the water is amplified by its echo on surrounding mountain ridges.

From its source, Roaring Fork drops 2,500 feet (760 m) over just two miles (3 km).

Hardy, independent and resourceful people settled in the mountains, and some of their buildings have been preserved.  The small pioneer cemetery was poignant.  Most ‘headstones’ were unmarked flat pieces of rock, and I wondered how they found a level plot of ground that could be penetrated to bury the deceased.  Around the fence line was a man-made rock wall that held the soil in to form the cemetery.  With the large rocks and tree roots, there was barely ‘dirt’ to plant crops, but they had obviously carted the soil to make the cemetery.

We had several photo stops at a mill, waterfalls, old buildings, bridges, babbling brooks.

Smoky Mountain Brewery in Gatlinburg for dinner and sampled some of their beers.

The morning view from Chris & Judi's deck - which was the main feature for buying the house!

Friday was for rain forecast, we opted for a car ride to Dandridge to the Bush Bean factory, visitor centre, museum, and cafe located in the original 1897 A.J. Bush General Store.

Duke (the dog), Chris, Jay Bush and Jim.

Bush Bean can.

The Theatre featured Jay Bush and Duke: Jay Bush is the current family spokesman and appears in commercials, Duke is his golden retriever.  They have been making Bush commercials for 17 years. 

Jay had told Duke the family secret recipe, and Duke’s entrepreneurial efforts to ‘sell’ the recipe are very popular.  Oh, Duke the dog can talk!

The museum displays over 100 years of canning at Chestnut Hill.  That was fun and interesting! “Roll that beautiful bean footage!!”

We had lunch at the Café, the featured baked beans were the maple cured bacon ones. Bush’s have 9 varieties of baked beans, and many other canned vegetable products.

Jim and Chris ordered chilli, Judi and I had the pinto bean and pecan pie with ice cream!

We spent Friday afternoon in downtown Gatlinburg, first stop was Ole Smoky Tennessee Moonshine!  I have previously considered ‘moonshine’ to be hazardous and avoided it for the most part, but the tasting counters and presenters were fun and hard to resist!

Ole Smoky Moonshine samples.

Ole Smoky Website:  Born from the fertile soils of Eastern Tennessee, born from river streams winding through thick forest, born from hollers deep and hidden, born from passed-down secrets, and passed-on traditions. Born from good people and passed on to the same.

Ole Smoky is the first federally licensed distillery in the history of East Tennessee.

Wikipedia:  Moonshine, white lightning, mountain dew, hooch, and Tennessee white whisky are terms used to describe high-proof distilled spirits, generally produced illicitly.  The word “moonshine” is derived from the clandestine nature (i.e. by the light of the moon) of the operations of illegal distillers who produced and distributed whiskey.

Many songs and movies made about moonshine!!

Also, a very good band played!

Judi treated us to a chair lift ride!  Jim has a fear of heights, but he made it to the top and back to town!!  We got quite a lot of entertainment from his terror! Skylift – “Come fly up Crockett Mountain on the best seat in Gatlinburg”.  Some beautiful views of Gatlinburg and the mountains.

Gatlinburg!

Saturday was a beautiful, warm and sunny day, so we went exploring on the motorbikes through Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Website:  Ridge upon ridge of forest straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee. World renowned for its diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of its ancient mountains, and the quality of its remnants of Southern Appalachian mountain culture, it is America’s most visited national park.

View at Clingman's Dome.

Part of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Appalachian Trail passes through the centre of the Park.  Elevations in the park range from 876 feet (267 metres) to 6,643 feet (2,025 metres) at the summit of Clingmans Dome.  Within the park a total of sixteen mountains reach higher than 6,000 feet (1829 metres).

We rode through the park, stopped several times for photos – at Clingmans Dome and the Tennessee / North Carolina state line.  Exited the southern entrance of the park in North Carolina at Cherokee, stopped in Maggie Valley for a late lunch, then back to the house.  A spectacular day!

The Home Owners Association for Chris and Judi’s ‘ridge’ had a rather lavish function at the Gatlinburg Convention Centre that evening.  Lots of great food, an open bar, and a band with dancing.  It was festive and people were very friendly.  We ate well, and danced a bit, much hilarity ensued!  We had fun.

Sunday morning, Jim and I had to leave.  The Great Smoky Mountains have the largest black bear population east of the Mississippi River. Chris and Judi have seen them on their property and the day before we got there, but we didn't see any.  (A mother and two cubs visited three days after we left!)

So much to see and do in Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, and the Great Smoky Mountains – we definitely want to come back.

We headed back to Knoxville, loaded the motorbike on the truck, did some maintenance, and headed to South Carolina to deliver the air conditioners on Monday.

Two stops, took a long time waiting on forklifts: one at the airport, the other at the Air Force Base at Charleston, South Carolina.

South to Savannah, Georgia and loaded Tuesday morning at Keen Equipment.  Loaded a loader and a roller.  While we were loading I noticed anti-freeze pouring out from the engine!  Headed to the truckstop and had the radiator hoses replaced, so it was 1pm before we got rolling.

Pooler, Georgia to Houston, Texas.

Break down!

The load was for Houston, but our Aussie friends, Dave and Linda were in Louisiana.  Met up with them Wednesday mid-day in Covington, Louisiana - we got a motel room.
The plan was to visit the Abita Brewery in nearby Abita Springs!  It was a good place to make more memories!  A small brewery, but is expanding.  Abita beer is available in a lot of states. 

Website:  The tasting room is where all tours of the Abita Brewery begin.  Take a seat at the 24 foot polished mahogany bar and enjoy samples of almost every Abita Beer, inspired art and shop for Abita Beer merchandise.
Since the turn of the (last) century, people have been travelling to Abita Springs, Louisiana for pure, clean-tasting water.  Thus, with its fitting natural resources and small-town Southern charm, it became clear to us that Abita Springs would be the perfect place to pioneer the freshest and most unique tasting beers available today.  Established in 1988, Abita Brewing Company is proud to be the oldest and largest craft brewery in the southeast. 

Starting on the very first keg of Abita Beer, we have understood our responsibility to be a good corporate citizen.  This year we will donate more beer and root beer to various charities and fundraising events than we brewed our first year of business.  In addition to our in-kind support, we have also launched several highly successful fundraising events.

Less than 60 days after the April 2010 explosion on the Deepwater Horizon drilling platform in the Gulf of Mexico, the first bottles of Abita SOS (Save Our Shore) rolled off the production line.  We donate 75 cents from every bottle sold to a charitable fund that assists with the rescue and restoration of the environment, industry and individuals fighting to survive the disastrous oil spill.  To date, over $500,000 has been raised for the cause.

The tasting involved getting a cup and walking past all the taps and pouring your own.  People kept going around and around, getting samples and drinking each one while waiting in line for the next sample.  Seven flagship brews, then several seasonal brews.  Very impressive beers and community spirit.

We had a late lunch / early dinner at the Abita Brew Pub Restaurant and it was excellent Southern food!

Spent the evening at the motel, catching up with Dave and Linda’s travel experiences for this trip.  Included a 7 day cruise out of Houston, Texas to ports in Mexico, and driving to San Antonio and Dallas (Texas), St. Louis (Missouri) to Shreveport and flying out of New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday to Los Angeles.

A bit of wildlife – a geese family outside the motel. Linda and I watched them for a while.