June 28th Schedule Change #3.

After meeting up with Brent last night, we have decided to head towards Ocean Springs, MS. to pick up a day in that area.  Looks like we will stop in Hattiesburg, MS. to pick up a hat for Ranger Mike at SMissUniv.  in Hattiesburg.  Probably stay at a Wal Mart there.  

Brutally hot down here, supposed to be 98 in Hattiesburg today!  Had to turn on the generator at 0230 because it was so warm.  Like they say, if you have a generator, run it!  

Here are the stops and the map for today's travels:Looks like 183 or 184 miles:

June 27th Chores around Birmingham...then on to Tuscaloosa!

Today was chore day.  First, I got the oil changed at Barrett Honda.  Good news is on 27 point checkup, all good!

Next, stopped by a Pep Boys, to see if they could fix the air conditioner making noise- he said he could, but it would take a day.  Haven't got that in the schedule, so we will have it looked at later.

That took until 1044.  Now we are on our way to a place called Alabama RV shop to see if we can get the mirror installed.  Hopefully we can.


Update:  We did get the mirror repaired!  Alabama RV is a good ole boy fix it shop, Steve the tech was on his first day, and Greg the manager, was trying to be very patient with him!  Took over 2.5 hours, but the manager only charged me an hour of labor- plus some screws and hardware, all in 123.75.!

Here are some shots from the day.  

The sign sort of gives the flavor of the place....

The original screws were damaged, so we had to go off to the hardware store for some replacements.

One of the many delays, Steve is bringing back a tool he left, and Gary is finally backing up the truck from the office, after 5 trips for missing parts or tools.!

Finally about 230, we hit the road for Tuscaloosa, got in touch with Brent Wells, and we are having dinner with him tonight at Logan's Steakhouse!  Looking forward to seeing him!

Brent seemed very happy, and had filled out very nicely, and was lifting weights!  We had a wonderful dinner!

Our campground at Wal Mart:

And the weather, it was bad hot today! Still 84 as I type this!

Scores for the day:

Fuel Consumption: 7.2 mpg

Gals used: 9 gals

Miles today: 72.2

Total miles for trip: 684.2

Max speed 67

Moving Avg: 46 mph 

Total travel time: 5:03, a 2.5 hrs at RV repair shop!

Plan for tomorrow is to head on down towards Ocean Springs, Mississippi, but we don't have reservations until Friday- may have to Camp Wal Mart it one night.  

June 26th Towbar repaired, on over to Birmingham Al.

Tale of the Garmin for today: Miles 62.9: Fuel used: 8 gals. Consumption: 7.4 mpg. 
Max speed: 67 Mov Avg 47 Overall Avg 33 mph  Total travel time: 1:53

Hot day today!  

This morning, we took the car over to Mr Franklin at F&S Towing and Body Shop to have the broken tow bar repaired.  He's a nice fella, and I have faith he will do a good job  
Update: Mr Franklin did do a super job. Had the coach back to us by noon.  Total bill was $96. and I gave him a $10 tip.  

Update #2:  While we were pulling into a Pilot just after leaving Anniston, a big truck sideswiped us, and took off the driver's side rearview mirror!  Could have been worse, I suppose.  Of course he didn't stop...  We'll try to make it to a shop tomorrow, but they won't have the mirror in stock..  Oh well.  

Depending on when the car gets back, we will drive over to Birmingham, Al. and stay at a Wal Mart there for 3 days, then over to Tuscaloosa to see Brent Wells, whom I taught at Ware Shoals, if I can get in touch with him.  

Have a new NM to see in Birmingham, the Civil Rights Institute NM, and a pair of Baseball stamps, for the Birmingham Barons.  Then we will basically rest, been pushing it pretty hard on the trip.  The we are off to Ocean Springs, MS. for a week of Miss Gulf Coast NHA stops.  
About 71 miles over to Birmingham today 

Then went to the Civil Rights Institute-  they had 1 stamp, plus a new bonus one, but I have temporarily misplaced them.  Also got a pin.  

Saw several markers while in town.  mostly across from the civil rights institute.

Got to the Birmingham Barons park about 3 or so, the gift shop had just closed!  I talked the ticket office gal into opening up the gift shop, and she did.  Got the stamp! She claimed they didn't have the Rickfield Stamp.  Oh Well.

Plan for tomorrow is to maybe stop by Camping World, but may not, since they will have to order a new one.  May just do some Birmingham stuff.  Then, we are do over at Tuscaloosa to visit with Brent Wells, who is finishing up his PHd in Chemistry!

June 25th Anniston Al today...

With the change of plans, we did an overnight at Anniston Al. Wal Mart.  

Mileage  157.0

Fuel used 21 gals 

Avg Fuel Consumption 7.2 mpg

Total mileage on trip so far Previous: 466.9  Now:623.9

Moving Average speed 47 mph

Overall average speed  37 mph

Total time for trip 8:01 hrs

Lighthouses visited  0

Lighthouse stamps gotten 0

National Parks visited  1 Freedom Riders NM -Anniston Al.

National Parks stamps collected  2

National Wildlife Preserves visited 0

Baseball Parks Visited 0

New markers/memorials : 

 Toy Boats for the Collection:  

Markers visited today:  14

New Plates today:  Several Al Counties- they issue them with a 2 digit code.

Pins today:  1

New Counties Visited today:

New State Capitol Stamps today:0

National Register of Historic Places sites today: 2

Colleges visited today: 1 Jacksonville State Univ, Jacksonville, Al.

Today, I had the Freedom Riders NM, a new park, and tried to get Mountain Longleaf NWR site, but for some reason it was padlocked.  Have to try that one tomorrow.

Also stopped by F&S Body Shop and Wrecker Services here in town, and he says he can fix the tow bar!  Was busy today, so we will drop the Fit off in the morning at 0830.  He says he will have it back that afternoon.  So we will delay going into Birmingham until later in the afternoon.  

The temp office is here in City Hall, below is a mural that was painted.  They haven't really done much else for the NM. 

As mentioned, this was a fail.  I'll call the office and see if they might be open tomorrow.  

Also stopped quickly by the Amtrak Station, the train to New Orleans and New York stops here coming and going.

Also saw a monument to Mr. Samuel Nobel:

I may go this afternoon to Jacksonville State Univ, and do a downtown tour of historical markers.  And get more of markers like these two above. 

Wound up getting several markers and a pin from Jacksonville State U.  

These represent Jacksonville State in Jacksonville, also a couple of markers:

Lots of plates today!  It rained really hard today, a real frogstrangler!