Nashville to Virginia

For those who read the previous post, you may have wondered about one of the impersonated celebrities we saw on the Showboat: I referred to him as "Blank". When writing that, I drew a blank and could not recall the name "Elton John". The impersonator was excellent in his outrageous costumes and over sized eye glasses.

We were on the road about 8:30 AM Thursday morning. Chuck led the way, and we made good time getting to a Wal-Mart in Dublin, VA about 6:00 PM. We parked easily and settled in for the night. A semi pulled in about 11:00 PM. He parked close to both coaches and ran his generator all night long. At 4:00 AM, he cranked his engine and left. We didn't get much sleep.

Friday was another beautiful travel day. When we left I-81 and turned east on I-64, we were in the final stretch. We took a rest stop at a roadside park just after driving over Afton Mountain. It was time to say so long to Chuck and Donna. They would be turning north for home on US-29; we would continue east on I-64. After being in a caravan for almost three weeks, it was strange to travel alone. Chuck and Larry are excellent "lead-dawgs" and easy to follow.

We made it to King's Dominion Campground in mid-afternoon. Several of our ODC friends were there and helped us find our camp site. Larry and Mem arrived soon after we did. They spent the night at the same Wal-Mart in Charleston, WV that we had used going to Missouri. They had gone to Indianapolis to see grandchildren after Branson. We all were setup by Happy Hour.

Ralph had symptoms of a head cold when he awoke on Saturday. By Saturday evening the cold was developing rapidly, and was full-blown by Sunday. Fortunately, we had no responsibilities for the weekend, and we decided to rest and relax. Good weather made that easy. Saturday night we had a campfire which added to our enjoyment because we didn't have to fix it or tend it.

The only downside of this campground and the weekend was rude and inconsiderate nearby campers. Too many of them traipsed through our sites passing under our windows en route to the bath house or some other destination. More disturbing was the loud noise made Friday night until 4:00 AM Saturday morning, and again Saturday night to 2:00 AM Sunday morning.

This was our last chapter camp out of the year, and it was a good one. We had 15 rigs there and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Many will be together again at the Maryland Samboree in October, and we hope for a large turn out at the Christmas party in December.

Around noon Sunday we headed north on I-95 for home. When we arrived, we realized how very tired we were. We did the minimum work to get the coach ready for storage, we put it away, and then we collapsed. It had been a wonderful trip, and we were happy to be home for two weeks before heading out again.

Touring Nashville

Wednesday was a touring day. We had a leisurely morning around the campground and met "Tommy" at 1:00 PM when he pulled his mini-bus into the campground. To his, and our, surprise he found six passengers waiting to take his tour: we four plus another couple.

Tommy was expecting two: the other couple. Janice reminded him that she had called on Tuesday for the reservation; he remembered. Tommy first asked that we "come back tomorrow at half price"> We said no, we are leaving town tomorrow. He then turned to the people on the bus and asked for four volunteers to take the tour on Thursday FREE. He had an immediate response and four folks who had boarded moments earlier were returned to their motel. We were on the bus.

Nashville is the 24th largest city in the U.S. Tommy took us downtown and showed us many landmarks. We visited the ancient (1900) train station that has been converted into a modern hotel with preserving the station's elegant architecture. We also visited several stores in the shopping district. The second part of the tour was to see homes of country music celebrities that reside in Nashville. Luxury home abound in and around the city. We were impressed by Alan Jackson's 500 acre farm/residence. He has two sections cultivated to qualify for an agricultural tax benefit. He doesn't plant or harvest the crops himself, if you wondered.

We returned to the campground for a short rest before boarding the "General Jackson Showboat" for a dinner cruise down the Cumberland River. The dinner was excellent and the Las Vegas type entertainment was enjoyable. Impersonators performed as "Tina Turner", "Blank", and "Elvis". It was a fun show, and we enjoyed meeting nice folks at our dinner table. We had an impressive night view of city lights and a full moon to cap off a pleasant day in Nashville. We realize we have not seen Nashville. A week would be needed to visit the city properly. We need to return.

Departure is set for 8:30 AM this morning. We will travel about half way to our destination in Doswell, VA. Another beautiful day is here and we look forward to a nice drive.

Music City USA

Chuck and Donna led our two coach caravan as we left America's Best Campground in Branson Monday morning. The weather was perfect for travel. Chuck had scouted out a re-fueling spot about two miles from the campground and we filled our tanks before heading north toward Springfield.

We decided to take US 60 east from Springfield to Paducah, KY. It was a good choice. The road was very good most of the way with stretches of two-lane highway connecting the four lane sections. Interestingly, the road from Sikeston, MO to Paducah crosses two rivers at Cairo, IL: the Mississippi and the Ohio. The bridges are the interesting story. They are extremely old and very narrow. It would normally be a white knuckle ride, but when you look up and see an 18-wheeler barreling the other way, tension rises. Chuck observed these should be called the "pucker" bridges.

Chuck had found a Wal-Mart near Paducah, but we agreed to keep going since we were doing well and did not want to stop so early. We reached Clarksville, TN around 5:00 PM. Clarksville is home to Fort Campbell and the Wal-Mart parking lot we chose was a beehive of activity. Chuck spotted an open area on the far side near the Garden Shop and we were able to navigate through many vehicles to find two very comfortable parking sites. An Applebey's Restaurant was in walking distance and we enjoyed dinner before making a shopping trip to Wal-Mart.

Tuesday morning we made a side trip to Fort Campbell. We were stationed there for three years and left in 1976, 32 years ago. We expected to find many changes, and we were not disappointed. There has been much construction of quarters, barracks, PX, Commissary, and new roads. Chuck and Donna went with us and patiently listened to our reminisces and about the people we knew and experiences we had. We couldn't find our way around so we picked up a map at the Visitor's Center, and we still had trouble. We eventually found the duplex we lived in; it looked better when we lived there. We probably looked better then also. The visit was a wonderful time to remember.

Back at Wal-Mart we connected the car to the coach and drove to Nashville. I-24 is the main route now and quite convenient. We are staying at Two Rivers Campground. It is centrally located and near to the attraction we wanted to see. We drove to the Opryland Hotel and toured that amazing facility in the afternoon. We ate dinner at a pub (fish & chips) in the hotel and made our way to the Grand Ole Opry House for the Tuesday show. While waiting, we toured the Opryland Museum. This was a delightful tribute to many legends of country music.

The two-hour show was a mix of eight acts made up of old time and younger members of the Opry. We enjoyed the show with a good crowd for Tuesday night. We were tired by our return to the campground and glad for a good night's sleep.

Morning After

It is Sunday morning; the rain has stopped. What a night! The storm, which began as rain while we were in the Mickey Gilley Theater, increased in intensity by midnight. We went to sleep, but our sleep was short lived. Hurricane “Ike” had arrived. We were awakened by high winds and slashing rain around 1:00 AM. The coach was rocking! This continued through 4:30 AM. Sometime after that we went back to sleep. Around 6:15 AM we awoke; the wind and rain had stopped; all was serene.

There are leaves scattered everywhere on the ground and on the motor home. Tree damage is extensive with many large branches stripped from poplars, maples, and other trees. The park had people cleaning up soon after day light. Many folks awoke to the sound of chain saws. By late morning all large debris was gone. The sun came out and we enjoyed a beautiful day.

This was a down day for us. We said farewell to Jim and Linda who left for Stafford, VA. Next, Larry and Mem left for Indianapolis, IN. Lastly, Mason and Judy departed for Tulsa, OK. Chuck and Donna relocated from Site 63 to Site 62. All sites vacated were re-occupied by new arrivals by noon. The park is very full tonight.

Don and Diane picked us up for dinner at Red Lobster tonight. We had a great last meal in Branson. We have invited D & D to visit us in Virginia next month when they return from Myrtle Beach. If they come, we hope to play tourist with them in Washington and the Virginia area.

The motor home is about ready for the road. The car is hooked up and only water and electric need to be disconnected in the morning. We anticipate another dry day tomorrow and will try to get make it to Kentucky tomorrow night.

So, as we leave Branson, what can we say about our stay here? We had a great time with good friends. Some shows were good and some not so good. Our top shows were Six, Shoji Tabuchi, and Pierce Arrow. We were disappointed in Joe Diffie and Yakov Smirnoff. In the middle we enjoyed Broadway, Mickey Gilley, the Presleys, and 12 Irish Tenors. We also enjoyed the Titanic museum. Branson is a great destination with quality entertainment at reasonable prices. We hope we can return one day.

Closing the Week

The hot topic here is weather, especially hurricane Ike. We decided not to leave until Monday. The park was happy to extend us on the same site. Chuck and Donna will also stay an extra day, but they have to relocate to Jim and Linda's site. J & L will leave Sunday in the rain, if necessary.

Most of Saturday was cloudy but dry. We went to see Yakov Smirnoff this afternoon. He is a legend in Branson and has one of its finest theaters. His show included many references to his youth in Russia, his journey to America and his remarkable career as a comedian and actor. His monologues seem tired. There were many funny jokes, but too much non-comedy. He is obviously a patriot and a proud citizen of the USA. We enjoyed his Russian dancers and their routines. It is a classy show, but we would have liked more comedy and less philosophy.

Dinner was at McFarlain's Restaurant. This is the place we visited earlier for dessert and it was closed. This time it was open and all fourteen in our group enjoyed a fine dinner. The fourteen was seven less than the number for dinner Friday night.

Our final show was "The Mickey Gilley Show". It was a good show to close the week. Gilley is a veteran entertainer who has surrounded himself with talent. He sang his hit songs of yesteryear and allowed his support players full opportunity to display their talents. There was enough Gilley to satisfy his fans, but not too much. Joey Riley is the comedian of the show and an accomplished musician. He and Gilley played off each other very well, and the humor was infectious. Gilley's show needs Riley. We had a great time.

Rain was falling when we came out of the Gilley show. We got wet, but dried out alright. It was good to get into the comfort of the coach and know that we do not have to drive away tomorrow.
We expect rain all day tomorrow and will likely sit tight. Hopefully, the storm will pass before we leave on Monday.

"Broadway" and "Pierce Arrow"

It is getting very hard to describe these shows we are seeing this week. Words like "good" and "bad" are inadequate. A few days ago, we wrote that "The Shoji Tabuchi Show" was "spectacular", and it was. Then we wrote that "Six" may be the "highlight" of the week, and maybe it was. Now we will tell you about a comedic and musical experience named "Pierce Arrow" which maybe impossible to describe; it left us wordless.

Friday morning was "down time" for us. We slept late, ate breakfast late, and hung loose. We kept one eye on TV news and hurricane "Ike" which is coming here sometime this weekend. We expect heavy rain and perhaps some wind. We have extended our stay here one day and to let the storm pass before heading to Nashville, TN. Janice made and received several phone calls to make dinner reservations for the group Friday evening, but mostly we did nothing substantive.

Don and Diane picked us up around 2:00 PM to go to a 3:00 PM performance of "Broadway!". Linda and Judy met us at the theater. Jim sacrificed and gave his ticket to Judy so he could take a nap. This show features music of current and past Broadway shows. The cast of dancers and singers was excellent in presenting selections from familiar titles like Phantom of the Opera, Chorus Line, Chicago, Cats, etc. The male and female leads were very good. This was an very enjoyable afternoon show.

Dinner was at the Plaza View Restaurant located in the Grand Plaza Hotel. Flo recommended this restaurant on the hotel's ninth floor, and she and Mason were there when we arrived. Our group had grown: Flo and Mason brought two friends from their neighborhood, Mason and Judy are now part of the group, and they brought their daughter and her two children. In all, we had nineteen for dinner. Three things were special about this dinner, other than the number of folks: the food and service were excellent, the entertainment was excellent, and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.

Pierce Arrow is the name of a car that was made in America 1901 - 1938. It was an expensive luxury automobile. We are not clear how or why this group of entertainers adopted this name. However, the group has its own theater and a terrific show. The music is a combination of traditional and contemporary, gospel and patriotic.

Pierce Arrow is a group of five very talented vocalists who keep up a rapid high energy pace. The back up band and entire production are very high quality. Jerrett Dougherty must the best comedian in Branson. He is the best we have ever seen in person. He opened the show with a "Floyd the Plummer" routine that had us gasping for breath from laughing so hard. His appearances throughout the show were equally hysterical, and evoked side-splitting laughter. Additional vocals were provided by two very competent female singers: Desta and Kim Boyce. The entire show was great, but the comedy is what we will remember most.

Two more shows are scheduled for Saturday: Yakov Smirnoff and Mickey Gilley. We'll tell you about it later.

"Six" (aka the Knudsen Brothers)

Easily the highlight of Thursday, and possible of the whole trip, this spectacular show is one of a kind and a must see if you like musical entertainment. These six brothers have created "An Orchestra of Human Voices" like nothing we have ever heard. Their advertising includes "Your Eyes Won't Believe Your Ears"; it is true. Six brothers create a full orchestra vocally as they perform a wide range of music. We were fascinated by their skills, especially Owen who 'played' the drums and cymbals. Jak provided side splitting comedy, and Curtis, the youngest, demonstrated a phenomenal vocal range. Curtis was also the impish flirt who engaged many of the ladies in the first two rows of the audience. Kevin, Lynn, and Barry complete the group and each makes a major contribution to the show.

A moving part of the show was a tribute to the brothers' mother who died in 1992 of cancer. We learned that she had birthed ten children, all boys. At the end of the tribute the brothers introduced their father who was in the audience. Each of the brothers was born in a different place because the father relocated many times to find work. There is obviously more to their story than we learned, but it is an intriguing story nonetheless.

The finale to the show was a tribute to America, America's veterans, military service members, and the memories of those lost in the 9/11 attack. Six's rendition of the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" was emotionally inspiring and left the audience in awe. What a show!

The afternoon show ended in time for us to get to Landry's restaurant for a group dinner. Mason and Flo could not attend due to illness, but we added another Mason and his wife Judy. Mason II is Jim's brother. They arrived yesterday from Tulsa and will be here until Sunday. With two Masons there is bound to be confusion. So, what's new?

The evening show was the Joe Diffie Show at the Yakov Smirnoff Theater. The theater was nice, the show was disappointing. We have seen many high quality performances, and this show did not measure up. Win some, lose some!

Today is Friday, and two more shows are scheduled. The sun is out , the skies are blue, and we are in Branson. Who could ask for anything more?

British Ship & Japanese Entertainer

Did you see the movie "Titanic"? We didn't see the movie, but when given the chance to visit "Titanic the World's Largest Museum Attraction" in Branson, we took it. Linda and Jim went with us, and we spent nearly three hours listening to recorded narrations about the ship, crew, passengers, and the disaster. We viewed records, photos, memorabilia, and artifacts of the event. It was a great experience; we know much more than we did. There was a room devoted to the movie explaining some of how it was made. Guess we will rent the movie soon.

Several months ago Janice ordered tickets for The Shoji Tabuchi Show touted as one of, if not the best show in Branson. Our traveling group was all seated in the center section, second row. This was non-stop, high quality, up beat entertainment. Shoji is the show. He is backed by an excellent orchestra and some singers and dancers, but they are only support. Shoji is the show, and a terrific entertainer. If you come to Branson, this is must see.

After tonight's show we all wanted dessert. The possibility of blackberry cobbler, ice cream or a choice of pies had us salivating. MacFarlain's was closed when we arrived. We took that in stride and headed for Culver's, a second choice. When we arrived there, it was closed. We accepted defeat and came back to the campground.

Tomorrow we will attend two shows and have a group dinner at Landry's. It will be a busy day.

Branson, MO II

Don had his coach at the repair shop at 7:00 AM this morning; he was back at the campground by 9:00 AM. The damage caused by the fire in his coach was evaluated, parts were ordered, and he was told to come back tomorrow at 7:00 AM. The parts should be in by 9:00 AM. More on this later.

Today we had planned to attend an afternoon show and take the evening off. Don and Diane, Jim and Linda, and we had lunch at the Chateau on the Lake. This is a upscale hotel restaurant on Table Rock Lake. The view was terrific; the food was okay; and, the service was terrible. We had a nice time just chatting, and Don and Diane were able to get to know Jim and Linda.

The afternoon show was Twelve Irish Tenors. The curtain went up at 3:00 PM, and we enjoyed a wide variety of music for the next two hours. It was a lot of good entertainment. Jim received a call from Mason while we were driving to the theater. Mason and Flo wanted us to go to a variety show with them tonight called Presleys' Country Jamboree. We didn't know until later that they would not accept payment for our tickets. It was a great show and a wonderful gift by two special friends.

Tomorrow will be a fun day. We will visit the Titanic during the day, and we will see the Shoji Tabuchi Show tomorrow night. The days are flying by. We must be having fun.

Branson, MO

America's Best Campground is our home for a week. This hilly campground makes coach leveling a challenge. We are parked next to Jim and Linda. Their Vectra has both front wheels off the ground. We have stretched the auto leveling system to its maximum, and we sure need the extra step to get in and out. We had to position the coach well forward on the site to avoid the trees and provide room to open the slides. Some sites are better than others, and we will make out okay.

After setting up the coach, we had a mini meeting about shows to see and who wanted to do what. Clearly, there were differences in preferences. It worked out well Monday morning. Mem and Larry and Donna and Chuck paired off as did we and Jim and Linda. We had a fantastic time riding the Duck. This converted WW II amphibious troop carrier was a perfect way to tour to learn about Branson and much of the surrounding area. The driver/guide provided information with humor and flair. We went from mountain top to Table Top Lake level. We learned about the construction of the dam and then cruised the lake that the dam created. Jim's buddy Mason came along with us for the ride. He is a great guy who we met two years ago in Cordele, GA. We followed the tour with a bar-b-que lunch.

Our afternoon was spent shopping and buying tickets for shows to see during the week. Late in the afternoon our friends Don and Diane called. They had coach problems on their way to Branson. The battery equalizer caught fire while they were parked at a Wal-Mart. Don was able to extinguish the flames and followed factory instruction to prepare the coach for travel. Don also made arrangements to get the coach repaired tomorrow morning in Branson. They accelerated their trip and arrived tonight rather than tomorrow.

Tonight Flo and Mason invited our four couples to their home here in Branson for dinner. They were gracious hosts, and we had a delightful evening with excellent food. We managed to get lost driving home. Everything looks different at night, and we were talking and having too much fun to see the campground entrance. That is why we have U turns at the ready. We used one.

St. Charles, MO

If you like history, especially American history, you must enjoy St. Charles, MO. In 1821, Missouri became the 24th state admitted to the Union. The statehood proclamation was signed by President James Monroe. Until that time Missouri was part of the Louisiana Territory purchased from France by President Thomas Jefferson in 1804. The capitol for this new state would be in the City of Jefferson located in the center of the state along the Missouri River. There was a temporary problem: in 1820 the central area of the state was a wilderness. A temporary state capitol was needed until Jefferson City could be constructed and a place for government established.

A competition was held among nine locales that submitted bids to be the capitol city. St. Charles was selected, perhaps because the town promised rent free facilities would be provided. The new state government took up residence on the second floors in two brick buildings along the banks of the Missouri River in a town that already had a fascinating history. These government buildings have been restored, and we were able to tour them. That early legislature was composed of a mix of gentry and frontiersmen, some educated and some illiterate. The debates must have been rough and tumble as these men took on the challenges of organizing a state and dealing with issues of economy, slavery, lawlessness, trade, and safety.

Today St. Charles is a tourist destination. The restored main street and riverfront area are filled with curio shops, restaurants, antique stores, and an assortment of commercial offerings. Friday morning we walked the uneven bricked sidewalks and roadways of Main Street to explore the shops. We lunched at Lewis and Clark's Restaurant and rested our feet before touring the State House. A quilt festival was in progress Friday and Saturday and drew many visitors. The town seemed prosperous, but, in a way, the downtown area seem like a tourist facade that did not reveal the "real" St. Charles. We did not have opportunity to get beyond this surface.

Friday night was special. We were joined by friends of Donna and Chuck: Bob and Nance and Larry and Pat. Bob and Nance brought their motor home and stayed the weekend. Larry and Pat came from Alton, IL and joined the group for dinner. Larry and Mem also had friends Dallas and Shirley visiting and they too joined us for dinner. The Sundermeier Park has a Beef Eaters Restaurant that is superb. We had steak and prime rib dinners that were too good to describe. The food was wonderful and the group of fourteen made for a highly entertaining and enjoyable evening. We rolled out of the restaurant right into our coaches.

A less historic enterprise in St. Charles is the Ameristar Casino. This was our destination Saturday. Some played the penny slots, others played the quarter slots; some won, some did not. We had a great lunch at one of the several casino restaurants, and everyone had a good time. We capped off the day with an Italian restaurant named Fratello's. Bob and Nance took us there and the food was excellent.

We left St. Charles on Sunday morning to drive on to Branson. Bob and Nance bid us farewell. Many of us will see them in Florida at Crystal Lake sometime in early 2009. Larry and Pat will also be at Crystal Lake. We are talking to Mem and Larry and Jim and Linda about coming to Crystal Lake so that we can continue the party.

Good roads and fair winds brought us to Branson and the America's Best Campground in early afternoon. It was a comfortable trip and Chuck was an excellent lead dog.

On the Way to Branson

This motor home adventure began September 1 when four couples gathered at the Halstead Hacienda. Larry parked each coach close to his workshop (barn) as it arrived. Jim and Linda were first in and were tucked away on the east side. Chuck and Donna were next, and they were in front of Jim and Linda. We came in last (missed a turn en route) getting a spot next to the large barn door. Larry had moved his coach out of the barn to the grass by the driveway, and provided each coach with electricity. What a guy! It was a very nice overnight.

Mem organized the dinner Monday evening with chef Larry providing burgers. The other ladies provided accompanying dishes and no one went away hungry. Larry took the guys on a jeep ride around the acreage and to meet his neighbor Baxter. Baxter has a restored 1896 Ford in his barn which he proudly showed us. He found the pieces years ago in another barn in Indiana I think. He has not yet got the engine operating. It is in a barrel submersed in oil. He has an Briggs & Stratton in the car which does fine when he takes it to antique car shows. Baxter has an extensive workshop where he makes fascinating products and tinkers with pumps, among other items. Engineers Jim and Chuck were enthralled and a bit envious. We also went with Larry to feed his fish in the pond, and to see "Walter" the giant catfish.

Tuesday morning Larry lined up the wagons, and we headed west along I-64. The weather was sunny, warm and perfect for traveling. Larry took the lead and Jim was our tail gunner. The destination was a Wal-Mart store vicinity of Charleston, WV. We made a fueling stop in Raphine, VA to take advantage of a lower price than in WV. We also had a lunch stop at a roadside rest area. Chuck took the lead about midday; he had scouted out the Wal-Mart. Chuck had called every Wal-Mart that we were likely to visit and had obtained permission and parking instructions. The trip was a little over 300 miles, and we settled into Wal-Mart's lot around
4:00 PM.

The Wal-Mart routine is usually the same. We find a parking spot away from the store front that is easy to get out of in the morning. Next we level the coach and secure the tow car by removing the ignition key. When everyone is settled we go in the store and spend some money on things forgotten during packing and/or something for dinner that evening. Then, it is back to the coach for dinner, TV and sleep. During the night, things happen. Street sweepers may clean the asphalt and see how close they can get to your coach. Delivery trucks come and go most of the night. There is traffic in and out all night, probably customers and employees. Sleep is possible, but not fully restful.

Wednesday was another perfect travel day, and we were underway at 8:00 AM. This proved to be a big advantage: the group decided to push on to Mt. Vernon, IL, a little over 400 miles. Chuck had found Wal-Mart in Mt. Vernon that was about 150 miles from our campground in St. Charles, MO. Watching the weather became more than a curious exercise. Hurricane Gustav was no longer a hurricane, but its storm was heading north toward St. Louis. We wanted to get as close to St. Louis as possible before the rains came. Actually, a light rain began after dinner around 7:00 PM ET. We should have been happy to gain an hour in the Central Time Zone, but it served to add another hour to a long evening in a parking lot.

By morning, rain had arrived in force. We delayed departing to miss rush hour in St Louis,but the rain did not stop. Visibility was poor most of the trip and there were traffic tie-ups, but we made it without incident. For reasons unknown, we made a fuel stop in the rain to top-off before entering Missouri. We did get wet. We frequently congratulated ourselves for driving as far as we did yesterday.

Sundermeier RV Park is near the Missouri River in St Charles. The park has concrete pull-through pads with full hookups. The neighborhood we passed through to get here was ratty, but the park is nice. There is a restaurant and conference center here at the park. Uniquely, the park has a trolley that takes campers into St Charles on a regular schedule all day long. We hope to take that trip weather permitting.

We will be here through Saturday leaving Sunday morning for Branson. Tomorrow night we will have a group dinner (two couples will join us) at Beef Eaters Pub & Grill, directly across (about 30-feet) from our coach site. Rain continues. We have connected water and electric, but nothing else. The car is still connected to the coach and the cable TV and sewer can wait for dryer weather. It is dry inside and we will stay here napping and watching the U.S. Open. More later.