Having Fun Full Time RVing
04-14-2015
Author: Blog Editor in RV Full-Time with Us
As a full time Rver/work camper it’s important to take time out and smell the roses. Lately in most of my entries I forget to take a few moments and tell you of our actual adventures. So this week I’m going to focus this entry on our latest adventure.
One thing that will happen while you are traveling is you are going to make friends all over the country and on some occasions not only will you get a chance to drive through and see them you might even bump into them on the road. That is exactly what happed this past weekend.2 years ago while Vicki and I were working a trade show in Lebanon, TN we had the pleasure of meeting Mark Anthony and Dave or as everyone likes to call them “The Cowboys”. At the time that we met Mark and Dave we were recruiting them for Hart-T-Tree farms as work campers for the upcoming tree season. Not only do we get to work with them but they have become very close friends.
Anyways we were wrapping up a campground map in Theodore, AL last week and in speaking with the cowboys realized they were in Guntersville, AL which is directly north and upon completing the job in Theodore we were heading to Gallatin, TN just outside Nashville and wouldn’t you know it with a very small detour we could go right through Guntersville on our way. So we gave them a call and told them that we would like to hang out for the weekend, we left on Friday morning and arrived in the early afternoon.
Upon our arrival Mark Anthony told us he had a very cool surprise in store and that we needed to be ready to head out by 4:00pm. So after getting settled and freshened up we grabbed our beverage of choice, (Captain and Coke) and went over to their camper. They told us that another friend was coming to meet us and we should grab a quick bite at the café before heading out on our adventure. Their friend Dixon showed up via his boat and we headed to the café at the campground. After grabbing a quick bite we went out to the dock and Dixon said that there was a very cool site to see on the river.
Lake Guntersville Bat Cave
We headed out across Lake Guntersville till we crossed over into the Tennessee River. After about a 20 minute boat ride we came to the edge of some very tall cliffs and you could see openings at different places, the water is very deep so we actually pulled up to one of the openings which was not very deep but there were very cool stalactites it smelled very musty and you could see where the water had carved out parts of the rock.The colors were amazing, they were hard to see until after we took a few pictures of them and the flash lit up the cavern. Mind you the cavern was only about 20 feet deep but it was very tall, it was very cool having the opportunity to dock at this opening for a bit. After about a 15 minute photo op at the cavern we got back in the boat and went a little further upstream. At the edge of the water at the base of cliff was a Barbwire fence and a plaque on the wall that read “Gray Bat Sanctuary”.
So it turns out that the cave is home to a large maternity colony of gray bats, and you can view 60,000 or more bats emerging from the caves near dusk. We sat quietly as dusk quickly approached and we watched as the sky turned the most amazing shades of pink and red. Then just as dusk approached you could see 1 bat then 2 and 3 bats then little groups fly from the entrance of the cave.
You could stand there in the boat and they would fly right at you and turn at the last second. After a short time we had bats flying all around us and across the Tennessee River going off for their nightly hunt of insects. It was a really cool experience to share with the Cowboys and our new friend Dixon. After a bit we decided it was time to head back across the lake to the campground and call it a night. For more information on the Bat Cave and its location Google “Bat Cave Guntersville Lake” you will find plenty of information on it and its location.
Saturday, A new day of adventures.
The Unclaimed Baggage Center
Saturday morning started off sitting around catching up and drinking our morning coffee we had no plans but had heard of a store called the “Unclaimed Baggage Store”. Now I have to just put this out there at this point. It’s not so much as unclaimed baggage as LOST baggage. They even did a demonstration on their process of going through the baggage and cleaning items up and evaluating them. She even stated that when baggage is lost, insurance pays you and eventually the baggage could end up here.Now if you fly a lot then you should really think about that, here is a store that get’s all of their merchandise from “Unclaimed baggage” (Lost Luggage) and this is not a small store either, It’s HUGE and there is everything from Cameras and IPods and Laptops to Surf boards and clothes. I mean you can find just about ANYTHING you want here at really cheap prices. Some of the items are brand new, some are used. It was amazing at the pure volume of items that were there! I guarantee if I ever fly again, I’m not checking any baggage! LOL. All in all it was fun shopping there and if you are ever in the area you should stop in and check it out. Here is the address: The Unclaimed Baggage Center 509 W Willow St, Scottsboro, AL 35768 (256) 259-1525.
Excitement for Saturday night
After wandering around the Unclaimed Baggage Center we decided to head to the other side of town where the Poultry and Farm expo was going on. We thought since we had no plan that wandering around there for a bit would be different. Well it was late afternoon and upon our arrival most of the vendors were packing up and closing, but we wandered anyways. Somehow I sort of broke off from our group and was talking to one of the vendors while the gang continued to wander for a bit. Well as I walked back up to our little group Mark Anthony looks at me all excited, “So are you in, are you going? It’s going to be a hoot.”I looked at him puzzled as Vicki looks at me and says, “JUST SAY YES” she was smiling and I was leery of what I was getting myself into however I said, “Sure”. Dixon turns to me and says, “Do you know what is just 2 miles up the road, on a Saturday night?” “Midget Wrestling” Since we did not know any of the particulars we decided to drive up and see what the details were. We turned into a dirt parking lot where a big metal building stood. We went inside and got the low down on the evening events. We purchased our tickets, only $6.00 for ring side seats.
We had some time to kill as it did not start for almost 2 hours so we headed out and got some dinner. After a bite to eat we returned to the Boaz, Alabama ACW Wrestling arena. It was everything I expected it to be, I will admit that the entertainment value for $6.00 was well worth it.
Time to say good bye
Sunday morning we got up and the Cowboys took us out to breakfast. We sat and laughed about the things we had done and seen that weekend. It was a great time hanging out with our friends and having a completely spontaneous kind of weekend, no plans just doing what ever came up. As we ended breakfast we said our good byes. The cowboys headed off to finish up on the lake house they have been working on for Dixon, then they will head off to their next adventure in Chicago and then Colorado. Vicki and I headed out to Lebanon, TN just outside Nashville which is where we will spend the next 3 weeks. I wonder what sort of adventures Vicki and I can find here.Just remember as a full time RVer you get the opportunity to explore different cities and towns as you travel and you will never know what sort of adventures you might find if you look hard enough. Just remember that as you travel don’t forget to take time out and stop to smell the roses.
Till next time, Safe Travels
About the Bloggers: Matt and Vicki Hulbert are full time RVers who decided to begin a life on the road and enjoy the Rving lifestyle while still in their mid-40’s. With no real savings, no retirement to speak of and only a dream they took the plunge into this way of life.They like to consider their selves “21st Century Gypsies”, they figure it out as they go. It has not always been an easy road but they are living proof that with a dream, good work ethic and a little luck you too can achieve this wonderful lifestyle. Follow the adventures of Matt, Vicki and their 3 Pugs, see where their adventure takes them next. If you are one of those individuals or couples that are sitting there right now saying “one day” then maybe Matt and Vicki can help you find out that “ONE DAY” is TODAY and you too can start living the dream!
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