To all of you fun folks at Racoon Mountain----I thoroughly enjoyed meeting all of you and learning about your interesting lives on the Barth road and in your home towns. Thank you for being so kind to me and Hank----I really got a kick about everyone's devotion to their SEC teams. I'm looking forward to more fun times in the future. Cheers, vicki joiner

So glad we made it and had the chance to see old friends and new!

Made good time heading back today. Said goodbye and took off about 9 AM. Made it through Chattanooga with little traffic, Knoxville about 11AM, no problem. Smooth until Cincinnati… 45 minutes stop and go, barely out of town we got tired of it. Pulled over for 2 hours, hit Dayton about 7PM… Construction from KY to MI on I75 in Ohio.

625 miles, no problems. I am finally getting the new 454 dialed in. Mileage has improved from 6-6.5 mpg to over 7. Last tank, which included LONG hills in Tenn and cruise speeds closer to 70 than 60, was about 7.5.

I forgot to take a picture of the group and my birthday present for Mary Ray, sorry.

Although it's only 440 miles from Raccoon Mtn to home, I stopped overnight at Twin Oaks RV Park in Elko, GA (I-75 exit 127 - a very nice park, and $34/night).

Due to the rain in N FL over the past several days, I parked at the top of the driveway, and walked down to find the river up to the back of the RV pad; not sure if it had crested yet, so I pulled up to unload the Barth, then took it back up the driveway. No doubt I'll have to walk up to retrieve stuff I need -several times...

At least it's downhill one way...and not 6 miles uphill both ways, walking to school and back, barefoot in 4 foot of snow like when we were kids....

Two trips so far - for dog food (feeder was empty) and hot sauce. And only 2 feet of snow...

At least the river appears near crest - only 1" rise in the past 4 hours.

Steve , Look on jegs . com website. type in 454 ho engine , go to the add & scroll down . it states , warning distributor with melonized steel gear MUST be used on the 454 ho engine because of the steel camshaft. Or engine damage will occur.

Summit website say's nothing about using the melonized steel gear.

When i ordered my new 454 ho , the distributor they reccommend on jegs was ordered then.

I hope everything works out for you Steve.

Bob

Worse yet, GM instructions say nothing about this and they were the ones who made the change in camshaft material. (I guess we are supposed to know this) I will check the gears again when I get to Kalkaska. I willpost a thread here soon when I get all the facts straight. Thanks.

Here's a the view of Barth Row. BillyT, Hank Joiner, our trailer, Sky, Rusty and the space where SteveVW would be after his roadside experience.


Then SteveVW wandered in.


Oddly enough, we spent a good bit of time between Tom Johns Foretravel and Marvin and Doris' Beaver.


Then Kenny came and it was a party.


Kenny and Walker played a little.


Mary Ray had to work hard to blow out the forest fire on her birthday cake.


Katie and Sky's granddaughter held down the go cart track.


It was a great weekend and we're already looking forward to Hillsborough in December.

This was one special Birthday

Kazy and I had a fantastic time. Mary, thanks for the wonderful GTG. We are so glad we came.
Kenny

Many thanks to all who came for my Birthday! It was wonderful to see all of you and I hope you had fun.