The mileage today would take the upward side of 5 hours, which called for an early departure of 9 AM. All proper departure tasks had been completed by 8:40 am and the team was set to meet the 9 AM departure goal. Kevin pulled the Smitanic into a empty pull thru site so the Toad could be attached and breaking system (Break Buddy) properly configured. It had taken only 20 min to disassemble the RV and all it's systems, but another 1 hour past to get a successful test on the Break Buddy. Why so long you ask?? The BB is a device that hooks onto the break pedal of the car and then is wedged on the floor of the front seat. When engaged, the BB will protrude the arm that is attached to the break pedal while using the front drivers seat for leverage. This must be a fail-safe motion, all moon and stars must be aligned properly so that when needed on down hills or extreme breaking situations the tow vehicle will break as well as the RV, making less strain and effort for the RV thus reducing the total breaking distance for the Smitanic and its Toad.
The BB set up is all about precision! The unit must be precisely aligned so the breaking is ensured in 3 modes, soft, medium and OMG! A test is preformed to ensure proper alignment in all 3 modes. The first day it took only 1 try (about 10 min), day 2 took 45 minutes, day 3 no driving and today 1 hour to get a 'Ready' on the BB 3 cycle test. Not a good way to start a very long day. Both Kevin and Theresa were totally drenched in sweat by the end of the BB challenge.
The course for the day initially took the Smitanic and it crew on a back track thru the Pigeon Forge fair grounds for about 1 hour (18 miles) and back on to I-40 West. Construction was underway in 4-5 spots and there were sudden jolts each time a bridge was entered and exited. Pans crashed and glasses tinked as well as several items fell from their stowage. Theresa would investigate and report damage back to the helm. With each pot hole and bridge bump the Break Buddy System interpreted the jolts as the Smitanic breaking and would apply the breaks on the Toad. Kevin wondered why he ever invested in new shocks and a front-end alignment on the Smitanic! It would undoubtedly need to be redone. The bumps and jolts, and dodging of potholes reminded the two of a bolder infested mountain biking trail named 'The Rubicon Trail' in Lake Taos. That too jolted every bone in ones frantic body as each bolder field was survived. The team is expecting a smoother road is part of the I-40 ongoing repairs, with Congress holding up the Transportation bill, trips on our nations highways may get worse not better.
The jolts continued to send articles flying about the RV thru Knoxville and then Nashville, TN. Kevin was warn to a frazzle as Nora (name for the voice of the RV GPS, doesn't everyone name the voice?) announced a route up and around then back east to find the entrance to the state park. The route took the Smitanic 15 miles off of I-40 and onto two lane country roads. These roads were smooth and well maintained.
As the Smitanic slowed to make the entrance to the park, Theresa misjudged the entrance to the park office, and soon the Smitanic was faced the wrong direction in the welcome center parking. After visiting with the park staff in the office, the Toad was unhooked so there would be more maneuverability out of the parking lot going against the traffic flow. Theresa drove the Toad and led Kevin to the camp ground entrance. The campground was a labyrinth of trees and other non-RV friendly obstacles that Kevin navigated like a true captain in one with his vehicle.
The temps were at the 95 degree mark with extreme humidity and no breeze allowing the insect population free reign on any exposed skin. The temp inside the RV had risen to the 90+ mark as the dash AC just could not keep up. Finally the Smitanic was docked next to a stream that resembled the Swamps of the south complete with the foliage and stagnate water pools. Theresa did see a school of small rainbow colored fish in the river seemingly waiting for a handout or maybe just a hand...Piranha?The AC was started and with in 30 min there was some relief to the over heated day. A few libations and munchies were served to keep the appetites at bay until a time-zone delayed dinner. Leftovers are on tap to reduce clean up and deplete the refrigerator congestion.
Tomorrows trek will be shorter only 194 miles to Tom Sawyer's RV Park in West Memphis, AR, for a 2 night stay.
A new state has been added, to the 'Been There' map on the driver side slide out of the RV, for TN, yeah!
Please also note, Theresa will be marking the BB positioning with tape in hopes to reduce future set up time... hopeful that it works!
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