We are Sam and Kim Wilkins and we are retired full time RVers in search of 70 degree weather. Our home is now a 42-foot fifth wheel.
We sold our home and more of our belongings in order to see what this great United States has to offer by way of beautiful scenery. Along the way we have met some of the nicest people.
After we left Texas, and taking advantage of our membership with Harvest Host, we stayed at two of those hosts and two WalMart parking lots (one in Oklahoma City and the other in Ozark Arkansas, we stayed at a KOA Campground in Marion AR. While there we realized we were close to yet another family member. We contacted them and planned a meeting at a local restaurant for a visit. Then James (Cork) and Shelby Fawley invited us to their home so we were blessed with a second visit and also met a couple of daughters and other family members.
This trip is full of family connections and we love it.
Our next stop was in Hurricane Mills TN at the Loretta Lynn Ranch Campground. We stayed there around 15 years ago and enjoyed tours of all this little town has to offer, the Vanlear Coal Mine replica, Butcher Holler home replica, the LL museum and the home she shared with her husband and children. Things have grown since our last visit, the campground is much larger as well as many of the buildings.
Next on our route was Pigeon Forge TN, Sam’s favorite vacation spot. Our friends, Charlie and Cheryl Stein, are work campers there. While visiting them we enjoyed The Hatfields & McCoys Dinner show, saw bear/deer/turkeys at Cade’s Cove, took in views of a beautiful waterfall and ate at Mel’s Diner as well as The Old Mill Restaurant, one of our favorite places.
We stopped at another Harvest Host in Draper VA, called Draper Village & Mercantile. This is a collection of small businesses situated on a farm that provides many services. We enjoyed a great breakfast the next morning before heading out.
Then we headed to the Shenandoah Valley Campground. We’ve been visiting this campground since our children were little and our grandchildren grew up with us there as well. The waterfall at the campground has been the backdrop of many family photos. Several of our grandkids visited and a couple of them spent the night. Hamburgers were grilled and S’mores were roasted and eaten. We’re blessed that our family still enjoys making wonderful memories with us old folks.
Last month’s article was so stuffed I forgot to mention that while on the tour to the West Rim of the Grand Canyon we were able to stop for photo opportunity at the Hoover Dam and walk the bridge just above it, when I was 12 my parents were able to drive across it, which is still an option but not for our bus. Also, before we left Arizona we stopped at this little town called Winslow and took the opportunity to stand on a certain corner.
Now we are home again and staying at the peaceful Lost River Campground in WV, such a beautiful and quiet campground which is owned and operated by a great group of people. We look forward to visiting the rest of the family as well as reconnecting with friends. We plan on attending grandkid’s and a nephew’s graduations along with attending family reunions that we missed last year. We look forward to visiting our church family. as well
This lush green state is a huge contrast to many of the desert views we’ve seen on this trip out West and we look forward to resting and taking in its beauty. How blessed we are to be “Back Home Again”. My heart is full with the blessings of taking in so many different views of the USA.
Blessings to each and every one of you.
