Nashville Vacation

     Much to Kaysha's chagrin, we were packed, loaded and down the drive (without her) by 9am Friday morning.  We were headed for Nashville TN (to look at houses at Fairfield Glade) and then would be going to Nashville IN.

      The long (nearly 8 hour) drive went quickly with just two 15 minute stops and we were at our hotel on the east side of Nashville by 5pm.  It had started raining when we hit Tennessee, and continued nearly the whole 3 days we were there.  Britney looks from our hotel balcony at the rain.

      After a late dinner, the rains had stopped, so we sneaked into the Lake Providence Del Webb Retirement Village through the un-gated construction entrance.  While driving around, we noticed a house on the market we had not yet seen.  I made a note of it and then we went for a nice long 45 minute walk around the lake and Club house, seeing what the grounds looked like after nightfall.

     Up and out of the hotel fairly early, we drove 90 minutes to Fairfield Glade, where it had been raining a lot.  We looked at 8 houses all morning long, shlepping through the rain and trying not to dirty the floors.  Britney was a great trooper and took wonderful notes for us.  We did not see anything we absolutely loved.  If it was a great house, the location wasn't the best.  If it was an ideal location, the house was less than ideal.

     Back at the hotel to dry off, eat lunch and re-group, we found a few more houses (on line) that we wanted to look at.  We also lined up an appointment for the following morning, to look at the house in the Lake Providence Del Webb (that was 90 minutes away).

     After Bob showed us four more houses in the afternoon, we darted back through the rain to our car and drove to the fitness center.  It was full of lots of people because outdoor activity had been abandoned by most.

     The rain had stopped, so Britney went for a run and Joe and I walked part of this
paved path through the woods.  (photo from internet)  It wasn't long and it started raining again.  The creek next to the path was flowing fast.  We were all wet by the time we finished our "workout," so went for a dip in the pool and relaxed in the hot tub. 

     Sunday morning we were on the road in a light drizzle and driving back west towards Nashville TN and the Lake Providence Del Webb.  The sun came out by the time we arrived for our 9:00 appointment to view the house we had spotted on Friday.  We were quite impressed with the house that was only 8 months old, and loved the location.  But it was overpriced, and there were a few things it lacked.

     Shortly after we left the Del Webb house to go to Nashville IN, we decided to make a low offer on it and see what the sellers would counter with.  Joe made the call while driving and we "filled out the papers" with realtor Jessica, over the phone.

     We were an hour late reaching our family cabin, by the Abe Martin Lodge, which is located in Brown County State Park, near Nashville IN.  It is a 16,000 acre wooded preserve on rolling hills. 

     Dan, Valencia and Alexsys had arrived, in my Vibe, just ahead of us.








     Carol, the Baker boys, and Dave's family were in the process of unloading the three cars they came in.

     Cathy, Ralph and Ben showed up a little later.  We needed to make a few adjustments to our cabin assignments, and then everyone got settled in.








     To the left is one of the three family cabins we stayed in.


     There were little paths between the cabins and a 2 mile hiking trail (seen to the right) that made a large loop through the woods behind all the cabins and went past the Lodge.

     The Abe Martin Lodge is a rustic feeling dwelling, built in 1932 of hand cut native stone and oak timbers from the park.  The lodge has two spacious lobbies, each with a huge fireplace.
 




     We used one of the lounges as our designated internet cafe, since the cabins had little or no signal for computer, phone, or TV.  It made communicating back and forth between Joe and the realtor quite difficult.




 


     Since we weren't well connected with the outside world at our cabins, computer gaming and worthwhile TV show watching were basically not possible.  Therefore, gaming of the card nature, among other things, was a choice form of entertainment.
 

     JJ of course, was a big instigator
in getting the poker game going.

    










   

          Michael reading a good book.



Alexsys and Valencia working Sudoku.





Britney and I goofing around.












     We had a good time sitting around talking and joking with each other, and catching up with what was going on in each of our lives. 











     I think this shot caught Dan and Valencia off guard, or uncooperative.

     This cool looking deer hide, that had been shaved and painted, hung on the wall of our cabin.

     The Abe Martin Lodge had an indoor aquatic center with a zero entry pool, water slide, lazy river and whirlpool.  We spent quite a bit of time enjoying this water park. 





     We actually stayed until the 10pm closing on our first night (Sunday) playing water volleyball.

     We also engaged in outdoor activities during our five day stay.

     There was sunning, fishing, and walking around the lake.












     We hiked on the various trails in the park.
Alexsys and I took this loop past the riding stable.












     We usually walked the road or trail to get to the Abe Martin Lodge...  Carol and Britney heading there to swim.











     Some of our outdoor time was spent sitting on the back cabin deck watching hikers and bridle trail riders go by. 



     We watched birds and squirrels, and even saw an occasional deer.

     And there was a family of racoons living in a tree right near our deck that we especially enjoyed watching.









     We had a great vacation, aside from the fact that we (mostly Joe) were dealing with the realtor and offers on the Del Webb house.  Finally Tuesday evening, after making a few counter offers, we gave our third and final counteroffer, ("take it or leave it") and the sellers had the audacity to come back
with yet another counteroffer.  We declined at that point and would continue house hunting after vacation.  This is a stall in the barn which I joked about, saying that I had found Joe's retirement home.  Ha ha ha.

     The Sidenstick's checked out at noon Tuesday and Joe had to leave at noon Wednesday because he had a Thursday morning meeting at work.

     I treated the remainder of the "party" to dinner at the Lodge, using some of Joe's poker winnings.






      Britney had an on-line class Wednesday night that she "attended" from the lodge lounge.

     Thursday morning we three sisters and Britney went on a bird watching hike.  We were all packed and checked out of the last two cabins by noon Thursday.  Everyone made it safely home.  For this, and vacation time together, I am so thankful.