Our nomadic trip

[jim d.]

So I want to start off by saying I haven't posted on here except to introduce myself so I'm apologizing for that. Quick back story and onto the trip.
Almost a year ago my girlfriend and I lost our house in a fire. Pretty bummed out by the whole ordeal we made a life decision to quit or jobs and
travel. We needed something new and a change of scenery to move on from our losses. So the journey to find an RV was top priority to make a long story
short we looked at a bunch of Class Cs that didn't do anything for us. Car guy at heart and by trade I was turned onto a 1975 GMC Palm Beach owned by
a friend in the industry. Drove to Massachusetts (from NH) to take a look at her and it was love at first site. I knew I had to have it and would need
to convince my girlfriend that this is what we needed. I brought her a few days later to look at it with me and was worried she wasn't going to like
it. Well that wasn't the case at all. We got back in the car to talk about it on our way home, no sooner did we get our seatbelts on and she asked me
if we could have it. Yes!!!!
Needless to say I couldn't call my buddy back fast enough to tell him we wanted it. We picked it up in March and flash forward 8 months and several
hours of blood sweat and tears later we turned it into our house. We set out on our journey from NH on October 15 and are currently spending the
holiday in Alabama. We've traveled down the east stopping at some awesome places along the way. D.C,Outer Banks,Savannah, New Orleans(on Halloween
which was a bucket list thing for both us), Clearwater beach, Fort Lauderdale and a ton of places in between. So far we had one mishap no fault to
anyone, woke up in Fort Lauderdale and the windshield was cracked. We made a call to Alex Sirum in Okeechobee,FL and set up a day to have the
windshield changed which the carry in stock. So we drove over there the night before our scheduled replacement and stayed in the campground next to
the shop which was great and convenient for us since we're trwveling with zero plans and the flexibility of this shop is second to none. Ive been
around a lot of shops and this place takes the cake. Jeff and the guys over there took such good care of us and our rig. We had spent 2 nights at the
shop we ended up with a brand new windshield, new step and an amazing experience. The second night we were there Don and Bob invited us over for BBQ
and Jeff and his wife joined us as well. Getting to talk shop and about our love for these spaceships we drive around and how my girlfriend and I are
probably the youngest people full timing these rigs they've seen in awhile (30&33yrs). It was a real eye opener on how a business should be run.
Since leaving the Florida area we've enjoyed many more places that I could talk about at length and this has already been pretty long winded. We are
looking forward to continue our journey westward to enjoy what the rest of this country has to offer. I'll try and keep up with posting our travels as
long as cell service permits. Any questions or tips to full time travel is encouraged please. Thanks everyone and have a Merry Christmas

 

[scott nutter1]

Sounds like you guys are having a blast!!
Keep up the reports on your journey. There's a lot of very cool places out here in the good old USA!
One app I use that I Love is called Allstays. It's great for rv Park info and reviews. But especially for the free overnight parking info.
If you don't already have it, download the blacklist. It's all GMC people who can help out in a emergency.
Good luck, and enjoy the view!!
Scott.
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas

 

[Matt Colie]

Jimmy,

Welcome to the group, family, cult, asylum....

If you wrote here to introduce yourself and your consort, I could not find it or I sure did miss it.

While there is no individual that is the official welcomer, I kind of have been regular at this for reasons you will read below. And, it is very rare
that I get to do this twice in a day. While the possibility of doing a copy-and-paste is real, each is enough different that much is different except
the request that you fill in a sigfile.

Follow along:
The regulars here have sigfiles and it is not coincidence. You can do this at and scroll down. Please put in a real
name. We use those here so that when other owners from here meet you and your consort they may have some idea who you are. You should include an short
bit about the coach because there are differences and some matter a whole lot. And in your specific case, a geographic reference will be sort of
useless. You could include that at the end of any posting so we can follow along. Often we have gotten offers of places to at least ONP if not much
more. The strength of this community would be difficult to overstate. When you get done, remember to scroll down to or it will be lost.

You should have a "Black List" (aka GMC Assist list), and that is a great start.

You should be warned that just about everybody here has an agenda. That agenda is that you get to enjoy your coach and the community it makes you a
part of at least as much as we all do and have done. Watermen, I am one, have a welcome for any new vessel or owner that I have sort of cribbed for
us here. So,

May the Good Lord bless this coach and all those that set forth within her.

Welcome Jimmy and constort, (I do wish I had a name.)

Matt
--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit

 

[thomas phipps]

Where in Alabama?
Tom, in Alabama this week!
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG

 

[LarryW]

Jimmy,
FWIW, if you are in the area of Tucson AZ. during the first and second weeks of April, Please join us at the GMCMI convention. A week of new friends,
GMC information, and fun. See this for details.

http://www.gmcmi.com/upcoming-events/

Hope to see you there.
--
Larry
78 Royale w/500 Caddy
Menomonie, WI.

 

[jim kanomata1]

> Jimmy,
> FWIW, if you are in the area of Tucson AZ. during the first and second
> weeks of April, Please join us at the GMCMI convention. A week of new
> friends,
> GMC information, and fun. See this for details.
>
> http://www.gmcmi.com/upcoming-events/also keep in mind the Clubs are
> holding joint activity at International
>
> Hope to see you there.
> --
> Larry
> 78 Royale w/500 Caddy
> Menomonie, WI.
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Newark,CA
jimk
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502

 

[jim d.]

Thanks everyone for the introductions and I'm sorry I forgot to introduce my girlfriend Jen and our kitten who's name is yet to be determined.Matt
I'll update all of our information once I get a few minutes to spend some time on it. We're currently just outside Mobile in Creola. Spending the
holiday with in laws who made the drive down here from NH. Heading out first thing after Christmas to head west. Thanks again everyone. And Merry
Christmas to everyone

 

[shaun]

Hey Jimmy,

We are doing a similar trip, but in reverse. Maybe we will cross paths somewhere across the South? Here's a link to our blog so you can see what we're
about:

TheSartonShow.com

Shaun

[URL="http://thesartonshow.com"]thesartonshow.com][/url][/url]
--
1977 Palm Beach, 455, mostly stock and original

 

[jim d.]

Hey Shaun that's awesome you're on a journey as well. To catch up where we are now and the goings on. We spent the Christmas holiday in Alabama with
Jens folks who made the drive down from NH to avoid the cold and snow but ended up driving to sub freezing temperatures there whole trip. We headed
west from Alabama and headed towards silver slipper casino on the Louisiana border. It was a great time. Stayed 2 nights at the casino RV park which
offers a free night stay when you sign up for a players card. Campground is directly across from the beach. Nice little spot and reasonably priced.
Then headed to Chicot State Park to spend the new year. Beautiful place. Hiking trails and fishing. Spent the next 2 nights just over night parking to
get us to where we are today. Houston,Texas. Not sure our current plans for adventure around this big place but I'm sure we'll find some fun things to
see and do. We'll keep reporting back as we can. Hope everyone had a fun and safe new year. Look forward to ringing in this new year with big
adventures and safe travel.
Best regards
Jim and Jen.

 

[shaun]

Awesome! I imagine it's been a bit chilly on your end. Are you taking the 10 across Texas? We just got to Tucson but will be crossing NM in the next
few days. Keep in touch and safe travels!
--
1977 Palm Beach, 455, mostly stock and original

 

[jim d.]

So our travels have continued on and we headed thru Houston and onto San Antonio. We are trying to stay off I-10 as much as we can but sometimes it's
unavoidable. We passed thru Houston spending 2 days in the outskirts focusing on art and food. Stopped at some really amazing graffiti and mosaic art
pieces. We ate at Ninfas which is where fajitas were invented and the food did not disappoint. The second day was filled of more art and food. We
tried out Sammy's wild game for some grub and folks if you haven't been here before it's a treat. Serving mostly exotic meets. Both of us got a slider
sampler which consisted of 3 sliders Yak slider, Buffalo and venison all occompanied by a dipping sauce for there respective meats. It was delicious
all of it. Now we are heading towards San Antonio taking a few days to get there. I was thinking of doing an oil change at the campsite, but never
attempted an oil change on the road we'll see if time permits for it. Other than that anyone that has been to San Antonio we're up for suggestions on
things to see. We like weird and strange not nyour typical attractions and any type of delicious food. Thanks everyone and keep traveling safe.

 

[thomas phipps]

San Antonio suggestions. Alamo (not GMC friendly) Drive the Mission Route and be sure and see the 'Rose Window." Walk the River Walk. Eat at 'Dirty
Dick's Last Resort.' Tour Lackland Air Force Base for the static aircraft display. Walk 'La Vita' ( something like that. A run down area of SA that
was restored for the 1968 Hemisfair. Lots of small artisan shops.)
Tom
--
2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
KA4CSG

 

[Rdenney]

Tom is thinking of La Villita, the original settlement in San Antonio that
has been preserved, and is the site of a Night in Old San Antonio during
the annual post-Lenten Fiesta.

Park on the periphery of downtown (find a surface lot on the east end of
downtown near the convention center, if you can) and walk or take the
downtown trolley--that's the easy way to get to the Alamo, the Riverwalk,
La Villita, the Hemisfair Tower, the Plaza de las Islas (in front of the
Cathedral), the Plaza de Armas (in front of the Spanish Governor's Palace,
and El Mercado (the Mexican Market). All of these are worth doing--you can
easily spend two whole days strolling around downtown and doing stuff. None
of the above is outside a two-mile diameter. These are the typical tourist
activities in downtown San Antonio, but they allow you to organize yourself
in a very non-traditional way (as opposed to amusement parks like Sea World
and Fiesta Texas, also in San Antonio). Drive to the San Antonio
Missions--they are spaced out along the river for about five miles south of
downtown (the Alamo was the northernmost of the missions). The four that
are not the Alamo are a National Historical Park. Mission San Jose is the
main mission and has the best parking. Concepcion, not so much. San Juan
and Espada both have adequate parking, especially off-season. The history
of those locations runs deep.

From the Mexican Market downtown, walk west three blocks to Pico de
Gallo--it's the Mexican Restaurant preferred by the locals, and it's worth
the walk. It's better and more authentic than anything on the Riverwalk, by
far.

My only memory of Dick's Last Resort was a trip to San Antonio during
college, which I'd rather not recall (even if I could). Years later, when I
lived and worked in San Antonio, I still hurried by Dick's with averted,
shameful gaze.

If you thought Ninfa's was good, you should have eaten at Molina's. But I'm
picky, especially on home turf--I've been eating at Molina's my whole life.

If the San Antonio Symphony is performing while you are there, go hear
them. They perform at the Majestic Theater on Houston Street, downtown.
Cheap and excellent.

Rick "who hasn't been back to SA in a year or so, but was in Houston last
week" Denney

> San Antonio suggestions. Alamo (not GMC friendly) Drive the Mission Route
> and be sure and see the 'Rose Window." Walk the River Walk. Eat at 'Dirty
> Dick's Last Resort.' Tour Lackland Air Force Base for the static aircraft
> display. Walk 'La Vita' ( something like that. A run down area of SA that
> was restored for the 1968 Hemisfair. Lots of small artisan shops.)
> Tom
> --
> 2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
> KA4CSG
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

--
'73 X-Glacier 230 "Jaws"
Northern Virginia
Offlist email: rick at rickdenney dot com

 

[Vern and Lenore]

As a fellow Texan living an hour Northwest of San Antonio, I endorse all
the sights that Rick suggests. And if you are still around until the end
of the month, or find yourself circling back our way, there is the GMC
Classics Rally at the Buckhorn Lake RV Resort, January 25-28, on I-10 west
of Kerrville.

Vern (and Lenore)
Currently enjoying the cool breezes of Central Pennsylvania, returning to
the warm Texas Hill County in about a week!
--
Vern Crawford (and Lenore Langsdorf)
155 JJ Lane
Center Point, TX 78010
(618) 203-8296 Vern's cell
(830) 928-5550 Lenore's cell
VernCrawford
LenoreLangsdorf

 

[sandra price]

Jim, when you leave San Antonio, go up and visit Fredericksburg, settled by
Germans. Sounds like you may be interested in history. The Museum of the
Pacific War there is well worth a visit--tickets let you go in two
consecutive days.

Near Stonewall, TX, not too far from Fredericksburg, is the Johnson Ranch,
National Park, home of President Lyndon Johnson and Ladybird.

In addition, President Johnson's childhood home is in Johnson City. Look
at your map.

Closer than Stonewall is Luckenbach--where "Waylon, Willie and the boys"
have been known to play. I know there is a blues festival there the
weekend of January 20. Sounds good to me.

On top of that, you'll be in the middle of Texas wine country, where there
are many wineries, microbreweries and distilleries in the same area.

Ladybird Park is a nice RV park alongside the city airport in
Fredericksburg reasonably priced.

Bob and I live about an hour and a half from Fredericksburg and we like to
get out into our home country often.

Just give us a call and we'll meet you.

Sandra Price
Seven one 3 two zero five 3 one six one

> San Antonio suggestions. Alamo (not GMC friendly) Drive the Mission Route
> and be sure and see the 'Rose Window." Walk the River Walk. Eat at 'Dirty
> Dick's Last Resort.' Tour Lackland Air Force Base for the static aircraft
> display. Walk 'La Vita' ( something like that. A run down area of SA that
> was restored for the 1968 Hemisfair. Lots of small artisan shops.)
> Tom
> --
> 2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
> KA4CSG
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>

 

[scott nutter1]

Rick actually made the visit to San Antonio sound incredibility romantic and adventuristic! Sydney wants me to take her back there (thanks a lot
Rick....).
But what a description!
There are so many cool places to see in Texas. We prefer the lesser known sights.. crazy water in mineral springs, the goat that drinks too much in
Alpine, Dr Pepper museum in Waco , coopers bbq in llano, lights of Marfa, Lukenback, Gruene hall for a real old school band with twin fiddles, the
cowboy bar in bandera on Wednesday for the cook your own steak night, just to name a few. And that's not even scratching The surface!!

Come and enjoy!! No state taxes and & $2.00 a gallon gas!!!!

Yippee kai oh!!

--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas

 

[Vern and Lenore]

I can highly recommend any of the many Texas State Parks as worthy of a
visit, including Enchanted Rock, just north of Fredericksburg.

We plan on being back at our place on the beautiful Guadalupe River, in
Center Point, Texas, on the afternoon of the 14th. We have power and a
level place for you to “settle” for a few days if you desire.

Hugs,
Vern
--
Vern Crawford (and Lenore Langsdorf)
155 JJ Lane
Center Point, TX 78010
(618) 203-8296 Vern's cell
(830) 928-5550 Lenore's cell
VernCrawford
LenoreLangsdorf

 

[scott nutter1]

And almost forgot,

The very best thing about Texas?????

Every single member of the GMC Classics.... what a great group of fun loving people!!

If Bob Wills was still alive, he would be a member!!
--
Scott Nutter
1978 Royale Center Kitchen, Patterson 455, switch pitch tranny, 3.21 final drive, Quad bags, tankless water heater, everything Lenzi.
Houston, Texas

 

[sandra price]

Jim, like Vern said, you should join the GMC Classics at our rally at
Buckhorn Lakes RV park 1-25 to 1-28. RV park is one of the best, just off
I10 in Kerrville. And the GMCers are some of the best you'll ever meet
(although I am a little partial).

Sandra Price

> Jim, when you leave San Antonio, go up and visit Fredericksburg, settled
> by Germans. Sounds like you may be interested in history. The Museum of
> the Pacific War there is well worth a visit--tickets let you go in two
> consecutive days.
>
> Near Stonewall, TX, not too far from Fredericksburg, is the Johnson Ranch,
> National Park, home of President Lyndon Johnson and Ladybird.
>
> In addition, President Johnson's childhood home is in Johnson City. Look
> at your map.
>
> Closer than Stonewall is Luckenbach--where "Waylon, Willie and the boys"
> have been known to play. I know there is a blues festival there the
> weekend of January 20. Sounds good to me.
>
> On top of that, you'll be in the middle of Texas wine country, where there
> are many wineries, microbreweries and distilleries in the same area.
>
> Ladybird Park is a nice RV park alongside the city airport in
> Fredericksburg reasonably priced.
>
> Bob and I live about an hour and a half from Fredericksburg and we like to
> get out into our home country often.
>
> Just give us a call and we'll meet you.
>
> Sandra Price
> Seven one 3 two zero five 3 one six one
>
>
>
>

>
>> San Antonio suggestions. Alamo (not GMC friendly) Drive the Mission Route
>> and be sure and see the 'Rose Window." Walk the River Walk. Eat at 'Dirty
>> Dick's Last Resort.' Tour Lackland Air Force Base for the static aircraft
>> display. Walk 'La Vita' ( something like that. A run down area of SA that
>> was restored for the 1968 Hemisfair. Lots of small artisan shops.)
>> Tom
>> --
>> 2012 Phoenix Cruiser model 2552
>> KA4CSG
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
>> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>>
>

 

[jim d.]

Wow. Thank you everyone so much for the suggestions. That was beyond what I could imagined. We're probaly going to stop at all those suggestions
because they all sound great. Verne and Sandra thank you so much for the invitations. I'll keep in touch and everyone apprised to our plans. We have
plans with friends in Austin next week and plans again with friends in Fort Worth the following week I believe I'll have to check with the boss and
see where we are supposed to be at any given time. Once again thank you everyone for the hospitality. All the southern charm and kindness have been
true thus far for us.
Jim and Jen
--
Jim DeMellia and Jen Radefeld and our cat Ickis
NH natives
1975 GMC “Palm Beach” ,455, her names Linda
Full time RVers exploring the beautiful and unusual parts of the country.