Starting at Sweetwater TN, which was a lovely KOA site, all the right things for the boys to do, jump pad, swim pool, rec room, games room, plenty of shade – yay we think this will be a success. Must come back again.

So looking at the map we imagined a straight line to Asheville, this took us along route 129. We didn’t think any different. So off we set. We passed Foothill imports – a yard full of air cooled volkswagens which was tempting to stop at but with a late start we were short on time and short on patience.

Route 129, started as a gentle overlook on a lake whereupon a few motorcylces turned up, then a few minutes later a few more, eventually we were surrounded by fast bikes, leather clad fast riders and testosterone – lots of it.

The next 10 miles on 129 was frantic, second gear, hard left, hard right, sweep left hairpin right, its only now that we realised we were on what is nationally known as the Dragons tail. Katie managed to take some pictures and a movie from the back seat but after a while she felt sea sick

Dragon over with, there was the long haul home, we didn’t stop again

As before this is the gallery;

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Well, having needed 2 jump starts last night we lashed up a battery charging method and were sure we had the battery problem licked. Hmm. Also AL changed out the brushes in the generator for added luck. We were gambling. So all packed up in the morning, turn the key and… nothing. The battery was shot. Bugger.

Another jump start and plan B was enacted. Walmart sells batteries, so we limp there knowing that if the engine were to stall then we’re in trouble. Suffice to say we made it, bought 2 batteries and a charger, and we were off again.

Memphis was pretty cool – sitting next to the Mississippi (spelling?) and some cool bridge – pic in the gallery of the state line.

A fairly uneventful and ambitious plan to go to Knoxville (about 400 miles). All is well on the journey, lunch on the run which was AL’s first, sorted all the spares, used the knackered battery to power the fridge for cool beers, and then shot for 65mph top speed despite the 4% downhills.

As an added interest we took some artistic photos inside the bus (gallery). Otherwise fairly uneventful. Spotting tag plates we saw our first North Carolina. We also saw lots of poeple either texting, talking on the phone, wearing beards, listening to ipods, wearing a dog on their lap or.. giving us the thumbs up (some weird guy in a BMW).

Many many hours later we arrived at our turn off, the anticipation was there – would this be a noisy train site – nope, would it be a site next to the interstate – nope, or next to an sirport – nope. In fact the Sweetwater KOA is perhaps the best KOA we have stayed at – well done whoever. We think a return visit in the summer is in order.

Katie saw her first glow bug of the summer, yay. The neighbours had stories – they were from Cambridge (Canada) drove an ancient vehicle that also broke down and had 2 boys at home tearing the place up.

Reminder to charge the battery. So this should be our last night, our last dash back home. See you soon.

As before this is the gallery for today;

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Well we started off well enough in Checotah (OK), the morning chorus this time was the road – not any old road but the I40 – the main east west interstate. So it was trucks and cars etc all night gradually increasing in tempo until we had to join them.

The site here at Checotah was lovely, very friendly poeple and very clean etc. Shame we coundn’t stay or have the boys here for a few days. Oh well. Must be getting home sick.

So the plan was to shoot for the KOA just short of Memphis but still in Arkansas – something about wanting to stay in every state along our trip. Hmm. The plan is for just short of 400 miles.

Everything was off to a flying start, cruising at 65mph full of 91 RON gas (premium to you and me) and so we stopped to change drivers and er use the restrooms. Odd layout of restroom – the mens at the front was very very busy but the ones at the back were literally empty, quite clean too. Curious graffitti as always in these sorts of places.

We were sort of cuatious as I noticed the rear lights of some sort were on – we have about 4 levels of brightness in the lights depending on left and right and with brakes or not. Still couldn’t figure it out but oh well the brake lights worked (sort of).

Then it happened, leaving the exit Kate said the lights on, uh oh, the generator light, so we pulle dover, checked everything and all was ok. But the light was on, and then the voltage was low – about 11.9. Def something wrong. Panic - we’re on batteries and limp home. So we phone ahead to Roseville and the Autozone there (theme here notice) had what we needed.

Spent waay too much, changed the regulator no difference, hooked up all wires this time, no difference. Bugger. Played around with the brushes no difference. Bugger again. Ok into Autozone load up with all the tools necessary to change out a generator – 36mm socket, impact gun (electric) adjustable wrnech for the genny nut, vice grips for something, hand cleaner for the misssus, and some nice screwdrivers. Oh and a mirror on a stick and a magnet on a stick.

So off we set for the lcoal KOA where we would perform the surgery. But then on the way we noticed the volts were not dropping. Confidence boost. Decided to limp all the way to Memphis.

So 4 hours later, the volts still read the same and so we stopped one last time at the KOA checkin at Memphis West – this evidently was the last straw – she wouldn’t start to get to our spot. Tom the handyman had a jump start thing so we go to our site. Wrong site, borrowed the jump thing again and now at the right site. Lashed up a battery charger with all the electronics in the bus and we’ll see where we are in the morning. We”re hoping to limp another 4-6 hours to the next KOA in TN.

As before this is the gallery;

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