We woke around 6:30 AM to thickly overcast skies and temperatures in the mid 50’s.  We tried to keep to our morning routine as much as possible, minus the coffee and breakfast.  There are certain things we do that alert the cats that we will be starting the engine and moving the coach and, once altered, they immediately go to their “safe places” under the front passenger chair.  We wanted the cats to eat, have some water, and use the litter tray before we tipped them off.  We got dressed, made the bed, and checked e-mail, RVillage, and Feedly (iPad blog aggregator/reader); in other words, a pretty typical morning.  We were also checking the weather conditions along the route we planned to follow, but the cats didn’t know that.  As far as they knew it was just another day in paradise.

I had disconnected the water hoses (fresh and waste) and stowed them last night along with the water softener.  Around 8 AM we hooked the car to the bus and got it ready to tow.  That was the first clue.  Linda straightened up the inside while I disconnected the shore power cord and stowed it for travel.  Those were the big clues.  I switched on the chassis batteries, the engine accessory air valve and the air valve for the toad brakes, and verified that the inverter was working.  Linda double checked that the bays were closed and locked and then we did our light check.  She stayed outside the coach while I fired up the engine and let the air pressure build up.  The cats were already under the seat before I turned the ignition key.   As I pulled slowly out of our site Linda verified that the wheels on the car were rotating (transmission in Neutral), the front tires were tracking (turning L or R to follow the bus, indicating the steering column was unlocked), and that I had adequate clearance as I turned onto the park access road.  She climbed on board, closed and locked the door, and put her seatbelt on.  We pulled out of Live Oak Landing at 9 AM.

Our destination today was Northgate RV Travel Park just north of Athens, Alabama.  After a short 1.5 mile drive from the Live Oak Landing we picked up US-331 and headed north for Alabama.  I think today was the first time either of us have been in Alabama.  I have the vaguest recollection of having been to the NASA Space Museum in Huntsville many years ago, but the more I try to remember any details the less certain I am that it ever happened.  The only time I have ever been in Mississippi was the summer of 1975 when I flew to Columbus Air Force Base from Plattsburgh Air Force Base in northeast New York State as part of my summer ROTC training.  It’s possible that we also stopped in Huntsville, Alabama but if we did the memory of the trip is lost for now.  (If only I had a pensieve.)

We followed US-331 north as far as AL-97 which took us NNW to I-65 northbound somewhat south of Montgomery.  The rest of the trip was on I-65 north.  At exit 354, just 15 miles from the Tennessee border, we looped around onto US-31 south.  The entrance to Northgate RV Travel Park was 1/4 mile down on the right (west) side of the road.  I don’t know about the rest of Alabama, but this was a beautiful drive through woodlands of mixed hardwoods and conifers.  We started our trip at ~20 feet above sea level and ended at ~800 feet ASL, but we climbed much more than this suggests as we went up and down rolling terrain that included some long, steep grades.  There were also very few straight sections as the roads curved back and forth.  I’m not sure why, but I expected it to be flatter and more open/agricultural.

Entrance to Northgate RV Travel Park in Athens, AL.

We arrived at Northgate RV Travel Park at 4 PM and checked in with the owner, Wes.  This a simple RV park with great access from I-65.  There are sites for ~20 RV’s, all with 30/50 A electric power and water, and most with a sewer connection.  The interior roads and sites are gravel.  There are some bushes but no trees, and no frills here; this is a corner of Wes’ farm.  No bath/shower house, no pool, no laundry room, and no credit cards; Just a convenient place to stay, with good hookups and useable WiFi at a fair price, while traveling through the area.  This is an overnight stop with no long-term or seasonal residents and Wes will let you stay up to week, if you ask nice.  Wes has two very friendly dogs who roam the park checking on guests and the rules are pretty simple, “don’t ride the cows and don’t milk the goats.”  We logged in to RVillage and checked in to our new location.