19 March ‘09 Thursday
It was a little tough leaving the Florida coast, but we had to move on. By 3 on Thursday we were in the parking lot of Costco Montgomery, Alabama and loading our shopping cart. It’s amazing how fast the costs add up…I guess we could just quit eating…bitch, bitch, bitch. Instead of heading off to find a campground or Wal-Mart for the night, I got the approval from the Costco manager to stay in their parking lot for the night. Friday noon we had an appointment for a tour through the Hyundai plant here in Montgomery. It is the most “automated” automobile manufacturing plant in the world. While we were there they had a goal of putting out 3500 cars a WEEK !!! I ask you, “how many Hyundai’s do you see on the road????” It’s amazing, but true and even more amazing is to see them going through the assembly lines prior to heading out to the test track. We really did have a good time there and would highly recommend the tour to anyone that might be in the area. They also told us that Kia was just about ready to open a larger plant a few miles away in Georgia. This plant will be even more modern than the one we visited today. I can’t imagine just what more a “robot” can do but I guess they will soon show us.
After our tour, we headed for the roads again and headed for the FMCA rally in Perry, Georgia. Not having to hurry, we stopped for dinner in a Fort Valley Mexican restaurant which is about 15 miles west of Perry. We pulled into a large parking lot that once was the parking lot of a large grocery store. Unfortunately the store didn’t make it, but for a parking lot we found it to be very comfortable for a nights stay. Not only did we find it comfortable, so did 2 other coaches that were heading to Perry in the morning.
Saturday morning we pulled into the Georgia National Fairgrounds and got ready for a week at the FMCA’s 81st International Convention.
It was a little tough leaving the Florida coast, but we had to move on. By 3 on Thursday we were in the parking lot of Costco Montgomery, Alabama and loading our shopping cart. It’s amazing how fast the costs add up…I guess we could just quit eating…bitch, bitch, bitch. Instead of heading off to find a campground or Wal-Mart for the night, I got the approval from the Costco manager to stay in their parking lot for the night. Friday noon we had an appointment for a tour through the Hyundai plant here in Montgomery. It is the most “automated” automobile manufacturing plant in the world. While we were there they had a goal of putting out 3500 cars a WEEK !!! I ask you, “how many Hyundai’s do you see on the road????” It’s amazing, but true and even more amazing is to see them going through the assembly lines prior to heading out to the test track. We really did have a good time there and would highly recommend the tour to anyone that might be in the area. They also told us that Kia was just about ready to open a larger plant a few miles away in Georgia. This plant will be even more modern than the one we visited today. I can’t imagine just what more a “robot” can do but I guess they will soon show us.
After our tour, we headed for the roads again and headed for the FMCA rally in Perry, Georgia. Not having to hurry, we stopped for dinner in a Fort Valley Mexican restaurant which is about 15 miles west of Perry. We pulled into a large parking lot that once was the parking lot of a large grocery store. Unfortunately the store didn’t make it, but for a parking lot we found it to be very comfortable for a nights stay. Not only did we find it comfortable, so did 2 other coaches that were heading to Perry in the morning.
Saturday morning we pulled into the Georgia National Fairgrounds and got ready for a week at the FMCA’s 81st International Convention.
We are but one coach out of 3500+- motor homes ranging in size from 21’ to 45’. On top of the 3500, there are another 450+- motor homes that are occupied by vendors showing their wares throughout the grounds. Then there are the vendors that have brought their NEW motor homes in…we have heard that there are at least 300 of them. An aerial picture shows quite a site. From Monday morning to late this afternoon (Thursday) we have been able to attend classes, visit vendor booths, and walk through some great motor homes. The evenings have been filled too. They have booked some great entertainment for us over the last 3 nights and we have enjoyed a lot of it. Tomorrow is the day for packing up and heading out…IN MASS… This should be really fun so I think we’ll hang back as much as we can and watch the wheels drive by.