Paragon Casino Resort

711 Paragon Place
Marksville, LA 71351
800-946-1946





They accepted Good Sam and Passport America, we paid $10 for a FHU, including cable for a 5 night maximum with using PA discount. The laundry room could definitely fit more washers and dryers and even though it was $1 to wash and $1 to dry, it took 2 times to dry. Also, they did not offer free WiFi, there was a $4 per day charge and unfortunately, even Verizon was on extended service which made my connection really slow.



The lighting was low enough to be able to sleep at night, they offered 24/7 shuttle bus service to the casino, and security was always present. Being so far off the beaten path, we would probably not go out of our way again to stay there but it was really one of the nicer places we have stayed.

Warning...Holiday Villages of Livingston

700 Cook Jones Road
Point Blank, TX 77364
936-377-5500

It was a fabulous drive, the roads were perfect, no interstates, only highways with trees lining the way, we thought it was going to be a fabulous day. We got to Lake Livingston, Texas where we passed by so many nice resorts, right on the lake or near to them with great views, our imaginations went wild since we too were going to be staying at the Holiday Villages of Livingston, not only did they have a RV Resort but they boasted about their 5-Star Condos. Not sure exactly where they were hiding all they claimed to have but we never found it. What we did find was a run down area with broken down trailers, trash everywhere, roads that had so many potholes that we were unable to dodge them and dogs running loose. This was not a resort, this was an environment not fit to be called a resort or anything even close to it.

We should of got the first clue when we pulled up to the guard shack and he advised us to make sure to check the electric, water and sewer at the site prior to us settling in because many of them are in need of repair. And, again he was the one upon our departure that when we advised him that we would not be staying, he immediately asked us, “What do you Coast to Coast people expect for $10?”


Unfortunately, we were in so much shock and in such a hurry to get the heck out of there, we didn't take any photos.

Isle of Capri Casino Lula

777 Isle of Capri Parkway
Lula, MS 38644
1-800-THE-ISLE (843-4753)



They did not accept any memberships but they had a special 3 nights for the price of 2 which ended up costing us $10 per night. This was really not a RV Park, but instead was a parking lot with hookups. Very lit up and security was always there which is good and bad, good that we felt safe but bad since it’s hard to sleep with all that light. There were not too many other RV visitors, some chose to stay in the parking lot areas, boondocking since they also allowed that at no charge.



It was really nice to finally be able to play like we love to do. The Casino had plenty of the newer slot machines and many we hadn’t seen before and they were loose. We left with more than we came with and that included paying for all camping and a few buffets, including the freshest tasting snow crab we have eaten! If we are ever in the area again, we would probably stay here again.

Talladega Superspeedway

Talladega Superspeedway
3366 Speedway Blvd.
Talladega, AL 35160
877-462-3342



This track was awesomely huge!



We could imagine that during an event, the surrounding area has to be jammed packed with fans but for our time there it was quiet.



We found the main entrance where the gift shop, ticket office and museum was located and began our adventure. We paid under $30 for the both of us to take a personal tour of the track and admission into the Hall of Fame and Museum.





Our tour guide was an elderly gentleman who loved his job and shared with us some insights about the track. Due to some contract in effect with Harley Davidson, he was unable to take us on the track itself but he did take us on pit road and took some photos of us on Victory Lane.





The Hall of Fame and Museum was very interesting, seeing all the retired cars, photos and reading the history of many races was well worth the cost.

Paradise Island RV Park

After a day at Talladega Motor Speedway and not finding any nearby campgrounds that felt right, we landed here for the night.

735 Honda Drive
Lincoln, AL 35096
770-841-2102

Even though this park is not a normal overnighter, the owners were very welcoming and accommodating. The only amenitie we could see was that it was on an island and the fishing was great. Otherwise, no showers, no pool, no type of facilities at all, for the most part it seemed as if the sites were mostly for seasonals. We paid $35, a bit overpriced for just a hookup and we probably would not return unless we planned to stay and fish.

Cunningham RV Park

Just wanted to find a close enough campground where we could do our laundry and put a few miles on our next adventure, we found it here.

Cunningham RV Park
600 Campground Road
Spartanburg, SC 29303
864-576-1973

This was a good overnight stop, paying $15 with Camp Club USA. The park is a little run down but extra clean showers and restrooms. The laundry room was a bit outdated and the game room was in total shambles. Most of the sites were occupied by long term tenants, the pool was clean, the playground was nice and the host was accommodating. We would probably not go out of our way to get there again, we would recommend it as an overnight stop.

Check out more photos!

Lancaster’s Bar-B-Que & Wings

Lancaster’s Bar-B-Que & Wings
515 Rinehardt Road
Mooresville, NC 28115
704-663-5807

The food was priced very reasonably and the taste was yummy. We ordered the “Special” which came with two sides, we each got a different one and we shared. The fries and onion rings were crisp, the potato salad and coleslaw was cold and fresh, the hushpuppies were also good, not great but they were good.





Many of the teams, including drivers dine here and we understand why. The ambiance was exactly what we expected being in the “Official Stock Car Capital of the World”, the memorabilia all over the walls, but most importantly and very strictly enforced, "No Autographs from drivers & crew members while dining.” We did not have to be enforced since we did not see any during our visit.



We spent around $20 including tip and we would positively return if ever in the area.

Check out more photos at our Picasa Web Album!

NASCAR Garage Shop Tours

Garage Pass Shop Tours, Inc
704-455-2819

There were several companies that offered tours and after researching each one, we opted to go with this one because they responded to our call quickly, they had availability for the day we wanted to go, the guide was informative and the price was the best.

We have made a separate photo album for each of the shops we visited, be sure to check them out at our Picasa Web Album page.




Hendrick Motorsports Museum & Team Store
4411 Papa Joe Hendrick Blvd
Charlotte, NC 28262
704-455-0342

Hendrick was the first on our list for visiting while touring with Garage Pass Shop Tours, Inc. It was really nice to see the cars, and the garage but we missed the chance to talk with Jimmie Johnson, he was there but was busy with the media. We couldn't even get close enough to get a good photo, just a blurry one.




RaceWorld USA
Michael Waltrip Racing (MWR)
20310 Chartwell Center Drive
Cornelius, NC 28031
704-897-0442

This shop was the only one that was an extra entry charge of $10, but with the tour, you receive a $3 discount, so it only costs $7 and it was worth it. We were able to walk on the garage floor, where all the gritty work is done and to see the semi’s up close and personal. While touring the museum, do not miss the movie in the theater. The entire building was a movie theater and they left one of them in tact and they use it for showing a very profound movie about the business. This part of the tour was one of our favorites.

Penske Racing
200 Penske Way
Mooresville, NC 28115
704-664-2300

Even though none of our favorite drivers drive for this team we still enjoyed visiting this shop. Just as all the others, they too kept the garage area sparkly clean, it is the one thing that stands out with all the garages. We were advised that they drain all fluids prior to coming into the garage area...makes sense. Watching them work on the cars that we will be seeing at future tracks was exciting too.





Stewart-Haas Racing
6001 Haas Way
Kannapolis, NC 28081
704-652-4227

With Tony Stewart being my all time favorite driver and Ryan Newman being up there as another of my favorites, this was the best shop on the tour. The only thing that could have made it the better would have been a Tony sighting but instead we bought extra souvenirs. As you walk in, the cars are all lined up and immediately you can see the wall to wall window viewing the garage area, kept clean and sparkly.




Roush Fenway Racing & Museum
4600 Roush Place NW
Concord, NC 28027

The garage area was cluttered and very difficult to see anything since there were vehicles right up against the viewing windows and was not really welcoming. The museum was great to look through, the people there were very helpful and the souvenirs were plentiful. The sign area outside the museum was pretty neat with the bricks that you can purchase and include a quote you want printed.

Lowe's Motor Speedway

This is where we feel most at home, at the track and work that allows us to travel all over this country.






Tom Johnson Camping Center Racing Resort at
Lowe’s Motor Speedway (LMS)
5555 Concord Pkwy S
Concord, NC 28027
704-455-4445

Located across the street from Lowe’s Motor Speedway, all with water, sewer and electric and flat, graveled sites. During non-events they have camping at a lower price tag, about $30 a night but during events, a much bigger price tag. Our site was located just feet from the newly opened ZMAX Dragway, where several times the dragsters were testing and the noise level was exhilarating. They have clean, updated shower houses and a Camping Center for all your camping needs, including RV repairs.


Banking on the track was awesome, climbing it felt as if there was no way a vehicle would be able to stick to it but they do.

Lowe's Motor Speedway 1st Day Collage

Just love playing around with photos, making collages, movies, and so much more...just wish there was some way of making some extra cash doing it. Anyway, we hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy creating new things.

Arriving at Lowe’s Motor Speedway

Our first sign, we were near our destination!


What a first day here, proving to be a great ride and there are FHU camp sites everywhere that are not too overly priced for this event at least.

There are also many other exciting things to see besides the track but all of that will wait until after we are done with the Auto Fair. For now, we are enjoying the immediate area and the track, sharing of course all of our stories and photos. This is where we feel most at home, at the track and work that allows us to travel all over this country.

Here are just a few photos for now…

They just come and pull over for a short time, then they move on.


Our view of Lowe's Motor Speedway.



We are just a few short feet away from the front door of the newly built ZMAX Dragway, here at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Trains, Planes, Trees, & More

Our last morning sunrise on the Atlantic and it was a spectacular send off...

“Red skies at night…sailors delight…red skies in morning…sailors take warning.”



Wasn't sure just how true that phrase is until we were sent these photos taken later after we left, explains it very well. It's times like these that re-emphasizes exactly how lucky we certainly are...never to doubt that again.


THIS WAS OUR SITE!


For the past 5 months, there are things that we have not experienced and all in one day that changed. Being on the Outer Banks, there were no train noises, hardly ever a plane low enough to hear and trees, well non existent at Camp Hatteras.

Tonight we are at Cross Winds Family Campground that has so many trees you can’t see the next site and the first thing we heard was a plane passing by, then a train whistle.

Funny how you don’t even realize something was missing until you hear it again and then you can see or hear the void. Like the day, all plane traffic ended because of the attack on the USA. In just a few days, the anniversary of that event will be here, we wish you all well and pray for a day of peace.

Cross Winds Family Campground

Cross Winds Family Campground
160 Campground Lane
Linwood, NC 27299
336-853-4567



This one is hard to rate, since it is more of a campground then an RV Park. It is clean, rustic and the new owners are exceptionally nice. The sites are fairly level, gravel roads and surrounded by trees. Because it was Labor Day Sunday, they did not accept any CCUSA discounts, so we paid full price of $32. They also had a late check-out of 4pm so we had to wait to get to our site because they were full. They were very accommodating and had us pull beside another camper for a few hours to plug into electricity while we waited for them to vacate.

We recommend others to check this camground out if you are ever in the area.

On The Road Again…

NO more salt…NO more watching everything rust…NO more wind…NO more threats of hurricanes…NO more outrageously high cost of living…NO more living on a sand bar, instead back to the mainland.

Now with that being said, there are things we will miss, a great boss…fabulous working environment…food bank…free rent…free laundry…ice cream socials…tie dye shirts…campfires with pudgy pies, and most importantly, the very good friends we made.

Our plans took an unexpected turn and this time, like so many other times, it all worked out. We had a blast on the OBX (Outer Banks) in North Carolina, working at Camp Hatteras and being able to cross yet another item off of our “Bucket List”. We take with us, many memories, stories and photos to share from our time there.

We can honestly say that it had been an excellent experience. We learned so much about ourselves, we learned tolerance, patience, joy in the midst of changing circumstances. We learned, a new phrase we intend to continue using, “It’s not our dog fight”. That is to say, when things happen around us, it isn’t ours to hold onto or ours to change. We learned how to accept people as they are and not try to change others, after all we are all in different places in our own lives and everyone needs to have their own time to learn their own lessons.

We learned to grow and expand our horizons so to take on even more new and exciting adventures. We learned to go with the flow of life and allow things to be as they are and not try to control every moment or change it to what we think it should be. And, most importantly, we learned to laugh, love and enjoy each other more than we knew we ever could.