For this year's Easter message, we bring you something a little different. Many of you have noticed that we have used as a guideline to our adventure, "Follow Your Internal Compass". We've talked about it in a previous post, but it seems we didn't fully understand it. What if there's another meaning behind this adventure, and perhaps the Internal Compass is not something that we control, nor should control?
Some of you who have delved in Biblical history may know of the Tower of Babel, how the people scared of the effects of a relatively recent global flood started to build a large structure to prepare in case it happened again, all in the same area of what became Babylon. We won't go too much into the details of what was happening; that's mostly covered in this discussion. However, it could be said that they "followed their internal compass", but what they didn't realize was what was the driving force behind this "internal compass". Turns out it wasn't something that good, and who knows what would have happened if it was allowed to continue as one group.
For us, this has been a journey of discovery. For some, the proper morals were already there but a name association was not. For others, the names were known, but didn't exactly act according to the proper morals. Once we started to establish our first few trip locations after going full time, almost in what seemed like a ploy to "fit in" around the Bible Belt, we'd tune to a Christian Rock radio station, maybe pick up a pamphlet or two and thumb through them. It didn't really do much in our minds; they just merely "called out" as an opportunity of sorts. After a few events and realizing that there might be something to these callings, we grabbed good ol' King James with the red text that previously belonged to our ancestors but decided to pack, and started going through it. We were concerned about going through all of it and not skipping over things so as not to miss context. Sadly it proved arduous, and the idea was abandoned. At least, until we made our way back to South Dakota and got in touch with both A Christian Ministry in the National Parks and Crossroads of Custer. The latter gave us a path to go through the whole thing, and despite some turbulence along the way, we were able to get through all of it over the course of a year. In addition, they've given us the chance, even if we're hundreds of miles away, to allow them to help us practice and follow.
It has taken quite a while to realize this, several decades in fact. Maybe it just took a read-through of the Bible, or perhaps it was the multitude of trips and corresponding tribulations. However, we are reminded of when, after Jesus rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven, in Acts 2, that He would send a messenger to each one of us. That is what is imprinted upon all of our hearts. We think of it as "morals" as a way to try to dodge the subject on account of social acceptance, but that is from where it comes. The Lord is our Internal Compass. May He be praised for giving us this greatness. It is now up to us to recognize this, to confess His Glory placed upon all of us, and to share this Good News with the world that we no longer have to be evil. We can choose to follow Him. He can be our Internal Compass.
So this Easter, while some of you may be having fun with egg coloring and hunting, may we more importantly remember that He is our Internal Compass, and that we should Follow.
We're back to finish up this course!
Welcome to Delaware State Park, just north of Delaware, Ohio, this time at the Gordon Holton Memorial Disc Golf Course to finish the course with another match between our two competitors. We've already previously covered this course during the front nine. Again, there will be a two-hole bonus section that will be added to the back nine for the final score. With that out of the way, how did our players do?
Course Result:
His Holes: 1
Halved: 2
Her Holes: 6
Bonus Holes:
His Holes: 0
Halved: 0
Her Holes: 2
Total:
His Holes: 1
Halved: 2
Her Holes: 8
Course Record: Him 9 - 4 - 13 Her
Holes Record: Him 61 - 84 Her
After a typical halved hole 10, some time in the rough cost him, as despite each trading missed putts, she took hole 11. The twelfth hole, otherwise known as "G" on the course, saw another halve. Things started going downhill for him, as on official hole 12, he had two penalties from shots in the out-of-bounds dry stream bed, leading her to take the win despite each having a missed putt. He would miss again on 13, causing him to lose yet another hole to her. Despite misses on 14, some bad tree luck led to her taking yet another win. The shutout would not be, though, as she found herself in the rough on 15, giving him the win. It wouldn't be for long, as a penalty on 16 from another dry river bed cost him the chance to halve, as she took the hole. The 17 saw him make a wild tee shot where he'd never be able to recover, combined with bad tree luck, as despite a missed putt from her, she was able to take it.
The bonus holes start at 18, where he found himself in the rough, allowing her to take the win on the hole. The course has no official "hole 19", as the 20th hole is hole 20, and missed putts from him gave her yet another win. The shot count was 46-54 in her favor on the back nine, and 8-11 in her favor on the bonus holes.
She was able to split the series and maintain her course lead. Will she be able to keep it? Find out next time, but until then, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Freedom Rolling once again brings you another set of consumption reviews. Instead of turning to the potent potables this time, we'll be looking at some various pizza establishments and giving our take on them. Pizza is one of America's favorite foods, but not everyone does it very well. We'll see how these folks do.
Our first stop is just north of Chicago, Illinois, in the suburb of Morton Grove for Giordano's. Anyone who experiences pizza in the Chicago area will come to understand the deep dish variety, and this restaurant has been serving the midwest's famous pie for over 50 years across several locations across the country. Deep dish pizza does take a bit longer than your typical pizza to prepare, but is well worth the wait. Even if you don't care for pizza, the chicken carbonara served family style is always a winner. Even if you're 106 miles to Chicago, whether or not you smoke, you might want to fill that fuel tank because you could just find yourself taking a trip to Giordano's for a good bite to eat.
We now take ourselves to Custer, South Dakota for Pizza Mill, the area's local pizzeria. Clearly as the concept of pizza traveled west, something went terribly wrong in the execution. Their attempt at pizza was basically nothing but a mountain of dough with a very small amount of toppings thrown in. The only way to get any sort of semblance of toppings was with one of their offerings where they basically took a side salad and threw it on top after the fact. Coupled with charging ridiculous tourist prices for terrible fare, you're better off going to one of the national chains for anything that would be considered pizza.
Finally heading up to the small community of Campton, New Hampshire, just outside of Franconia Notch, we come across Chesley's Pizza, a small convenience store with pizzas, calzones, and sandwiches to satisfy the New England traveler. Although we've heard from locals that this location declined a bit since the original owner sold the business, it doesn't seem to us that they've lost too much of a beat in their concoctions. This is certainly a good place to go if you're looking for a simple slice or even a whole pizza, but much of the other fare will also be one to try.
So while you Follow Your Internal Compass across this great nation, you may or may not find a good pizza, but there will almost certainly be hiding a diamond in the rough.
Time for another trip to the links!
Welcome to Delaware State Park, just north of Delaware, Ohio, this time at the Gordon Holton Memorial Disc Golf Course for another match between our two competitors. Gordon Holton Memorial is located within the day use area of Delaware State Park, which at the time of playing, does not require an entry fee. The course is named in honor of Gordon Holton, who was an integral member of the Mid-Ohio Organized Disc Golf community before his untimely passing in his early 40's. To commemorate, Delaware State Park had laid a massive 27-hole course, of which 20 holes are generally playable. Our players will be playing the 20 holes using the short tees across two nine-hole matches, with the last two bonus holes listed during the back nine match. Up first, though, is the front nine. How did they do?
Course Result:
His Holes: 3
Halved: 4
Her Holes: 2
Course Record: Him 9 - 4 - 12 Her
Holes Record: Him 60 - 76 Her
Holes 1 and 2 each saw good shot placement from him, allowing him to win both holes. However, hole 3 saw him in the rough, allowing her to win the hole. More bad luck in the rough severely cost him on four, as a potential win for him turned into a win for her, and a tie match. It wouldn't be even for long, as a missed putt from her on the fifth allowed him to take the lead. She could have had a chance to make par on the sixth, but a couple of missed putts meant a halved hole. Hole seven saw what almost became the first lost disc as a shot in the water led to a penalty, but the disc was able to be recovered, along with her ability to scramble for a halved hole. He would be able to hold the last two holes to a halve, each at one over par, giving him the victory. The shot count was even at 45-all, as a result of a two-stroke win on the third for her.
He has come back to win two in a row; can he sweep the course? We'll find out next time, but until then, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Ah, the moment for which we've been waiting is finally here!
Welcome to Powell, Ohio, a northwestern suburb of Columbus, and home to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. Founded in 1927, the Columbus Zoo has always had a reputation for one of the most diverse animal collections in the country, even so far as being top rated by several media outlets. The property is situated on nearly a square mile of land, also including a water park and 18-hole golf course. Notable animal promoter Jack Hanna has done a fair amount of work with the Columbus Zoo, helping with its reputation. Despite some issues in the 2010's stemming from inappropriate uses of zoo funds, the zoo has since been re-accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums and continues to be a popular place for visitors around the world.
Upon first entry after paying for parking and dealing with their over-the-top security forces, many choices abound for where to go. Heading under the tunnel, the Congo Expedition give view of the zoo's prized gorillas, including a baby recently born as of the time of our visit. Also in the area are Australia and the Islands with several interesting views, along with the seemingly underwhelming Shores and Aquarium, although being one of the few zoos outside of Florida permitted to help with the development of the manatee. Heading back under to the main area, Asia Quest gives a lovely view of tigers, red pandas, and Asian elephants. The North America section had most of it under construction with hardly anything available for exhibit, although if the majestic moose has eluded you, this is the place to find it. The zoo does offer a shuttle between the entrance area and Africa to at least help people get around the construction zone. Africa did not seem all that well laid out, as many of the animals were in the open prairie and difficult to view. The one saving grace to this zoo was Adventure Cove, being able to see the playful sea lions and harbor seals, along with other marine life and a tribute to the work of Jack Hanna.
At the end of the day, although we were very much looking forward to this place, the Columbus Zoo did not live up to the reputation it has garnered in years past. One full day is all you really need to get through the entire menagerie, though be sure you're ready to walk around because it is expansive. Make sure to bring food and drink with you, as the concessions are over-priced well beyond even most of the tourist traps we've visited across the country. Sure, the variety is nice, and it is clear that the staff does well with upkeep, but with a large chunk of the exhibits closed down for one reason or another, and especially at the price customers pay, you'd expect a better value.
Sometimes, your Internal Compass will really push you to go to certain places. Just make sure that expectations aren't set incredibly high, lest you be disappointed in what you find.
Since we started RVing, we've done quite a bit of experimentation with different setups with not only indoor and outdoor living areas, but also with the rig itself, both in motion and stationary. You may have seen some of our short life-hack videos on the topic, but here's a little more information on what we're doing to make our lives easier.
First thing's first: Stabilizing the RV. You don't want that thing rocking around on the wheels when you're parked, but what could you use? Sure, the camping stores are going to get you to purchase those plastic leveling blocks. They aren't that bad of a product to help with getting the jack contacts to a higher point for better stability, but they do fall apart somewhat easily from being plastic, and looking at various outlets, can be quite expensive. One of the better choices that we've found are step stones that you'll find in a hardware store. Not only are they relatively inexpensive, but much more sturdy. Even with the rounded top edge, they'll still stack comfortably which was one of our original worries that has been alleviated. The one square foot size is what works the best for our jacks, and when we travel, they fit between the rungs of our ladder and provide some ballast to offset the weight of the trailer. They are a little on the heavy side, so if you're averse to picking up one of these, you can always cut down a pressure treated 2x12 into squares, but be aware that they aren't going to last as long, as we've had some of them split on us.
Now that everything's set up, let's look at that outdoor kitchen. We've tried those grills with the foldable legs before, but they are incredibly flimsy. Sure, you could detach and re-attach more sturdy legs like we do with a smoker, but it's not always the easiest to do that, not to mention a larger amount of room would be needed for storage when traveling. Enter the tabletop grill. This one could have turned into a bit of an issue as less and less RV parks are including picnic tables with their sites. Coincidentally, one of the parks actually requested that a board be placed between the grill and the picnic table to prevent damage. Upon further investigation, it was simple plywood, and was able to be found inexpensively. Couple this with the difficulty of finding metal fold-up tables at a reasonable price, and two and two came together to simply use the folding card tables with some pressure treated plywood.
Heading back inside, one of the most important things for all of us is drinking water. Sure, many people think to drink from the tap, but this isn't always a good option. We've come across moldy water pipes in one location, along with tap water in another that was so rich in iron that it turned our shower orange. These aren't exactly things you want to drink, and those filters that you put into a water pitcher or similar small dispenser just weren't doing the trick. So we started turning to water bottles, but not only was this getting expensive (especially in states that charge bottle deposits), but the amount of trash dramatically increased, despite the pup having a "ten second toy". The solution ended up being a water pump that we would attach to refillable water cooler bottles. The good news is that there are caps you can get so you can simply refill instead of exchange, saving even more money to make the system pay for itself. How many bottles you get would depend on how close you intend to be to a refill station or a spot you know to have clean water. It can also fit in the truck if you're traveling and don't want to spend an arm and a leg on convenience store drinks.
So while you're out there Following Your Internal Compass, take a look at some of the hassles in your life and see if you can make things easier for you.
Once again into another match!
Welcome to Delaware State Park, just north of Delaware, Ohio, for today's disc golf match at the campground course. This is one of two courses available at Delaware State Park, and is in the area reserved for camping guests. It is a nine-hole course with short, technical holes, which should give our players a break from the rough times they've had recently. There is no map available at the park itself, but the signage makes it fairly easy to follow your way through the course. She has been on an incredible streak; can she keep it up, or will he be able to right the ship? Let's see how they fare:
Course Result:
His Holes: 3
Halved: 6
Her Holes: 0
Course Record: Him 8 - 4 - 12 Her
Holes Record: Him 57 - 74 Her
After a straight forward halved first hole, a missed putt by her allowed him to take hole number two. After trading missed putts on hole 3, she had a chance to tie the score with him having bad tree luck, but a missed putt led to the hole being halved. After trading missed putts on what could have been a par on the 5th, she had another missed putt on the six with cost her another hole. She had a little bad tree and rough luck on the seven while he was able to make par, winning him a third hole. She had a chance to get back in it with him ending up in the rough, but a missed putt for par halved the hole. One final halve brought him a shutout. The shot count was a decent 39-42 in his favor.
He has found a good course to be able to get back in the win column, but can he keep it up? We'll find out next time, but until then, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
Freedom Rolling is once again proud to present a brew review! Today, we'll be heading the coast of northern New England to see what's on tap, and if something good can be found. As with this and all the other brew reviews, please ensure that these, or any brews, are enjoyed in accordance with local laws wherever you may be.
Down east in Portland, Maine, we find the Definitive Brewing Company and their Particles Double India Pale Ale. With no surprise to the drinker, hops are the name of the game when giving a taste. What sets this particular brew apart is not only the translucent yellow presentation, but the initial scent of the blend of three different hops used. It's almost as if you're going to having a fruit salad, and not a beer. Although the taste is more of your average hoppy brew, drinkers will find it intriguing when part of a flight.
South we head along US Route 202 into New Hampshire and the Northwoods Brewing Company in Northwood for their Northwoods Life Golden Ale. Northwoods is particularly proud of their New England grains and malts with Vermont hops, and is a tribute to the outdoors. Aside from the beautiful golden color that is presented, just a light hop scent comes to the drinker without being overpowered. One sip, and this light yet basic brew has a balanced, smooth texture with only a small aftertaste that isn't too disturbing to the palette. Northwoods loves the outdoors, and if you're looking to take a leaf peeping tour through New England, this beer may just be for you.
Back up along the coast of Maine, this time to the city of Freeport and the Maine Beer Company for their Lunch India Pale Ale. The name of this particular brew comes not from the actual meal, but a finback whale with a distinctively shaped dorsal fin that very commonly visited the area in the 1980's. The control of the moderate hops is very evident in this golden colored brew, as they will wait to hit until at the top of your palette. A hint of citrus in the after-taste will complete the journey, making this a decent summer choice when looking for Lunch or one of its offspring in the waters of the Atlantic.
If your Internal Compass takes you traveling, coastal New England is certainly not a place to miss for both the views and the brews, so you may want to give it a go.
Trip number 23 saw us going to Indiana, where we stayed at the Follow the River RV Resort in Florence, Indiana. This is a privately owned park near the shores of the Ohio River. Our stay at this place was for one month.
Grounds: The park is along the Ohio River, barely a half mile from the Markland Dam. This allows for quick and easy access to most anywhere in the area. In fact, unless you don't mind the long trip along the river, you're almost assuredly going to be driving into Kentucky for most of your resupply, as well as many of the attractions you might wish to visit. The actual grounds itself are on what looks to be converted farmland, so be ready to be surrounded by rolling corn fields. The place can be easy to miss if coming from the nearby city of Vevay, but it can't be missed from the bridge side with their sign that sometimes contain funny sayings. There is a casino nearby if that attraction tickles your fancy, and is a doable day trip drive to both the larger cities of Cincinnati and Louisville.
Sites: Follow the River has over 150 RV sites, along with a half-dozen "tiny house" cabin rentals. About a third of the sites are pull-thru, while most are of the back-in variety. Each has 50-amp full hook-up electric, water, and sewer. The water is a little odd to reach because it's so close to the ground, and the valve will drag along the gravel. The electric also seems to have some issues, as we found an open ground on our site, while guests near us had to completely change sites because their electric box wasn't working at all. In addition, the site we were given was not level, and we had difficulty finding a proper spot, even to the point where a neighbor admitted the same with his rig. There may be intentions to remedy the leveling given a pile of gravel near the row entrance, but it remained as is through the entire stay.
Staff: This park claimed to have recently changed ownership prior to our arrival, and although we experienced some site issues, the staff was receptive and prompt when it came to fixing these anomalies. However, the cleaning crew could use some improvement, as the bathrooms were found to be in a dirty state on several occasions.
Amenities: The campground has a good number of amenities available to the guests, including trash pickup, a heated pool, an arcade-style recreation room, laundry facilities, a nature trail, playground, and an airbag trampoline. The pool has seen better days with some wear and tear, but is otherwise functioning properly. The dryers in the laundry barely function and seem to be even more of "quarter eaters" than the arcade games. The bathhouse does contain showers suitable for Mickey Rooney, with broken hooks in the handicapped stall that has the only head set to a suitable height, and the shower is only able to run at one barely-warm-enough temperature. Cornhole inside the recreation room was a bit of a plus, especially given the incredibly humid days during this stay.
Atmosphere: This is definitely a family-friendly park, as we saw a number of younger campers during the stay. Although there were a couple of rowdy activities, it wasn't a "party-going" location, and most everyone was generally respectful of their surroundings. Fun does seem to be the name of the game, as the marquee is usually equipped with funny sayings on either side, giving the camper a smile on their face as they stay.
Overall, Follow the River RV Resort receives a 7 out of a possible 10 rating. The price is a better point compared our previous stints in New England, although a little higher than some of the competition across the river in Kentucky. They do charge a service fee for credit cards, and although this is unavoidable for a deposit, the remainder of the fees are best to be paid with cash or money order. The location is probably the best selling point of this campground, and the issues mentioned are ones that could easily be fixed. As their marquee said at one point, "I'm Sexy And I Tow It", and we'd be more than happy to tow our rig back to this location should our Internal Compass bring us to the area once again.
Welcome back to Boone Woods Park in Burlington, Kentucky for the back nine. We've previously covered this course as part of the front nine. The course is a bit interesting as there seems to be a sort of "old course" that has 11 holes, while you go to the other side of the grounds to complete the remaining seven. If you like the nine-hole variety, it is recommended to extend this to 11 and play the entirety of that section. Our players did modify hole 12, skipping a gap that would almost certainly result in lost discs and dropping a marker for the second shot. How did our players do this time around?
Course Result:
Halved: 4
His Holes: 1
Her Holes: 4
Course Record: Him 7 - 4 - 12 Her
Holes Record: Him 54 - 74 Her
Hole 10 saw her continue her dominance, as she was able to make par and win the hole. His short game continues to suffer, as a missed putt on 11 cost him yet another chance to halve, as she took it. Although both players traded misses on the 12, he had to three-putt from close range to make the hole halved and lose an opportunity to catch up. Hole 13 saw her once again make par and win the hole. And although she missed a putt on 14, his unlucky shot placement gave her another win. She could have extended it further on 15, but a missed putt led to a halved hole. After another halve, he had a wonderful opportunity to make par on the 17, but missed two putts to end up halving the hole. The 18 was very difficult, as she had to take a penalty from an out-of-bounds shot, leading to him picking up his only hole win on the match. The shot count was a little more respectable at 48-50 in her favor.
This impressive swing in course record, may not be able to be overcome, or will it? Find out at the next course, but until then, be sure to Follow Your Internal Compass.
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