Elena's log; Days 34 - 47

Day 34 in Robson's Runabout (March 6)
Today, we drove 5 hours to Georgia Veteran State Park. We just hung around after that, eating dinner, watching a movie, and going to bed. It was a relaxed day.

Day 35 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we drove 40 minutes to a Presbyterian church in Americus. After church, we went and walked around. Then, we went to a civil war prison and watched a really sad (and gross) movie that explained how awful the prison camps were. Then we went out to look around the 24 acres that more than 40,000 men stayed in, and 13,000 died in. When we left, we drove back to the campground and to the playground. Then, we made a fire in the fire pit. Jonah and I got a whole trash bag full of big pine cones to throw on it. Then, the boys and I designed roller coasters until we went to bed.

Day 36 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we just basically hung around the campground, until about 6:00 when we went to a really fancy restaurant in the campground's hotel. I got gumbo. When we got back to the RV, we made a campfire and roasted marshmallows.

Day 37 in Robson's Runabout
Today, the boys and I got a big trash bag and filled all the way to the top once and half once. I gave up when they lazily abandoned me saying, “the pine cones hurt”. I picked up way more then they did and my fingers hurt too but so what? When I got back to the camper Mama and I went for a little bike ride. Apparently, it was too long because the boys freaked out. They came looking for us and soiled their socks. Then, Mama started making Mac'n'cheese. When Dada got back from golfing, we started packing up for Alabama. We ended up having to get something fixed in the camper when we got there. I read Where the Red Fern Grows. It was a really good book but it made me cry. When we got there, it was raining so Jonah and I went looking for waterfalls. We went “squish-squash” through the mud and got really dirty. We had pasta with oysters and/or spaghetti sauce on top for dinner. Then, we watched a movie and went to bed.

Day 38 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we drove to Montgomery, Alabama to look at all the civil rights stuff. We took a trolley tour all the way around the city. We went to a Wirtzells Oyster House. Their motto is, “oysters... fried... stewed...and nude”. The boys made up poses. We have a video that will be posted I think. Then we went to “Tucker Pecan Company”, owned by a very nice couple. Everyone got something; the boys got ice cream, Mama and Dada shared chocolate covered pecans, and I got pecan brittle. Everything was good. We headed back to the camper and had dinner, stew with biscuits. We watched a movie and went to bed.

Day 39 in Robsons Runabout
Today, we started driving the few hours to Selma, Alabama. About three quarters of the way there, the transmission started to work wrong. We stopped at a Walmart parking lot and went in while Dada called Spartan. The boys had McDonald's while Mama and I laid off and waited. We ended up having granola bars. Dada ended up going back to the repair shop in Montgomery. The boys, Mama, and I stayed in Selma and looked around, in an old depot, in a beautiful plantation home, and in a cemetery. Then, we drove back to Montgomery in the van to see Dada. He had flowers, digital clocks for our beds, and 2 movies. We had ribs, watched a movie, and went to bed.

Day 40 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we drove around, waiting for the camper to be fixed. We went clothes shopping and got Mama and the boys some stuff. I would've gotten something, but nothing really looked right on me. Oh well. When the camper was done, we drove for 5 hours to see Mama's friend Lori. We didn't see her that night, because it was 8:00 when we got there. We watched a short movie and went to bed.

Day 41 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we met Lori in Florence, at her house. She gave us the tour of her town. We went to Helen Keller's home. Then we went to a restaurant called “Trowbridges” for lunch. They had great ice cream too. Then we went for a walk and saw the college football mascots for that town, Una and Leo, the lions. They had a very pretty enclosure. Next, we walked around the college and got in the car. We dropped Mama and Lori off at her house and Dada, the boys, and I went back to the camper for “rest time” and a walk in the woods. Isaac and I ran ahead to see if they could catch us. They didn't. Then, we went back to the RV and had dinner. Then, we watched a movie until Mama and Lori showed up. They brought us fried Snickers bars. I honestly would've rathered a regular Snickers. Then, after I ate that, Mama, Lori, and I chatted till 10:00, then went to bed.

Day 42 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we went to a Presbyterian church, right near our campground. We had a really nice time, although the pastor was just a little too goofy. After church, we stayed for a brisket dinner, and stuffed ourselves. When we left, we took a rest at the campground. Then, after that, we went for another walk in the woods. Lori brought Banana pudding over and watched our movie with us. Then, after she left, we went to bed.

Day 43 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we drove about two hours to the Space and Rocket Museum in Huntsville, Alabama. Only Mama, the boys, and I went in, because it was pretty pricy. When we got in there, we went to look at and read about rockets. Next, we went on Space Shot, one of those rides where they push you really fast up into the air, and then drop you really fast. At the top, it felt like you couldn't breath! I thought that it might be the feeling you get throwing up on a roller coaster at first (I don't know what that feels like; fortunately), but then when we dropped, I knew I was fine. It was way higher than the one we went on in Busch Gardens, and I have NEVER felt that queasy before! After that, we went inside the museum to look and learn (blah). We finally found Mars Mission, one of those rides where you sit in a car and it feels like you are on a roller coaster. I liked that a lot. Then, we got drinks and Nachos at the oh-so-expensive cafeteria. We looked around a little more, and then Mama and the boys went on Space Shot again. I a) didn't like it that much and b) wanted to film it. It's posted already. Comment on my good taping please! Well, it might not be good, but that will make me feel good anyway! Next, we went to see Dada at the campsite on the property. We hung around that night, and then went to bed.

Day 44 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we drove to Mammoth Caves, Tennessee. When we got there, we took a 3:00 tour of the Historic Entrance in Mammoth Cave, the biggest cave in the world. We hiked a little ways, and then the ranger showed us how the miners saw the cave, by lamplight. Then, he showed us how the bats would see the cave; complete darkness. I literally couldn't see my hands. It was as if my instincts saw them, but I couldn't. It was really cool. Our tour ended up being 2 hours long. 2 miles. My favorite part was Fat Mans Misery, a really skinny part; so skinny that the smooth rock touched my sides! When we finally got out of the cave, we went back to the camper and had dinner. Then, after a game of UNO, we went to bed.

Day 45 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we went on a 4 hour tour of the New Entrance of Mammoth caves. This time, we got to EAT LUNCH UNDERGROUND! Now, that was cool. We also saw a bat (asleep obviously). He was VERY cute. We saw stalactites and stalagmites, columns, and flow stone in beautiful patterns near the end, called the Frozen Niagara. When we got out of the cave, the light was blinding. Then, we just hung around, eating dinner, roasting Marshmallows, and playing UNO again. Then, we went to bed.

Day 46 in Robson's Runabout
Today, we went on a hike above ground, in and out of Mammoth Caves property. Our hike was five miles long, going up and down hills, around corners, and over rivers and streams. I was out first. My feet were killing me. Then, we got Frosties, in celebration of our first 5 mile hike. That night, we had Cheeseburgers and very crunchy fries for dinner. Then, we watched Dada's favorite movie EVER, The Incredibles, all in Mama and Dada's little bed.

Day 47 in Robson's Runabout
Today, Dada started teaching the boys how to ride bikes without training wheels. Then, after that, I played around on the little tiny bike. Then, the boys and I went to trade our junior ranger booklets for our junior ranger badges. Jonah started bawling half way there and ran back to the RV. Then, Isey and I proceeded and got ours. Then, when we got back, we left for Kentucky, horse country. When we got there, we kind of just hung around for the rest of the evening, playing at the playground, eating dinner, and playing UNO.