Monday, January 13, 2014

Mother Nature's car wash


Nashville, TN – If there was the slightest trace of Ottawa road salt anywhere on our car or motorhome, deeply tucked away in some crevice or groove, today’s drive took care of it totally.  Great swaths of rainwater swept over every surface of both vehicles for all of the 140-odd miles we covered on Interstate 65 between Elizabethtown and Nashville.  Val cranked up the wipers to full speed several times, and back to regular speed, and only a few times to occasional speed when the rain let up a bit. Both vehicles are now gleaming as if they just rolled out of a carwash – and it was free of charge.

In spite of the inclement weather, we’re happy tonight, because for the first time since our departure, we get to sleep in our own bed with our own comfy pillows and cozy duvet inside our little home on wheels!  We’ve set up at the Nashville KOA where we stayed in 2011 on our way to Arizona, so there are some familiar landmarks as well.

Setting up again after putting the RV in cold storage (so to speak) over the winter takes some doing, because the plumbing system is filled with pink antifreeze and every single household item that could freeze (dishwashing liquid, frying pan spray, toothpaste, you name it) has been removed.  Also, we haven’t used any of its amenities for several months, so we have to relearn where everything is and how everything works!

In addition, we had to stock up on everything from bran flakes to salad fixings, and when you’re shopping in a store where all the brand names are different, it takes almost twice as long (do they have white tuna packed in water? Which brand of peanut butter has the least sugar? Where do they keep the raisins?).  However, we managed to find everything on our list and cart it all back and find places for it all, so we’re back in business.

It’s not exactly warm here.  Frederic, the young man who registered us, said there was snow in Nashville a couple of weeks back, and the forecast low overnight for the next few nights is going to dip below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, so we’ll be using the furnace for sure.  Good thing we filled up the propane tank when we pulled in.  Still, it is much milder than we’ve felt in a long time, and when I stepped outside a few minutes ago, I actually heard the chirping of a robin nearby!

After our challenging shopping trip, we decided to treat ourselves to dinner out at Cracker Barrel, a popular restaurant in these parts.  The chain provides down-home food like meatloaf and biscuits in a country home setting, featuring a huge open fireplace and decorated with farm implements and vintage signs.  It was so comforting to enjoy a hot cup of tea and a good dinner after a damp afternoon.

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