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Decided to do a practice test run this week, no RV- just traveling and site seeing. My husband's daughter's stepchild was drag racing so we went to Bristol. Now I was under the impression Bristol was Tennessee but boy did I receive a geography lesson. Yes Bristol is in Tennessee, but it is also Virginia. Yes I know- I was a bit confused at first also, but then after going to the famous street - I understood. One side of the street Virginia and another side is Tennessee. We started our adventures at the Bristol Dragway which I think is considered Tennessee and after watching all the kids racing we headed to our hotel to check in. We stayed at the Quality Inn which didn't seem appealing at first, but I can confirm that they had the best mattress and bedding that I've had in a long time. We slept straight through the night which was the first in a long time, but it could have been the exhaustion as well we had from the drive and the hot day. The next morning we enjoyed breakfast at The Old Lighthouse Diner. Breakfast was really good and the staff was very friendly. It is a very small diner, but we were lucky to be seated immediately. After breakfast we decided to go to the Birthplace of the Country Music Museum. Who would have known that country music actually started in Bristol, but we were surprised to find out we actually were standing in Virginia. What??? So we were then given a map and shown the Virginia and Tennessee line. So we walked to Tennessee and then back to Virginia to the BlackBird cafe where we enjoyed a cappuccino and cannoli and a peanut butter filled donut. We then went back to our hotel where we enjoyed a nap before hitting the town in Virginia and Tennessee. Dinner began in Virginia at the Bristol Hotel restaurant called Vivian's Table. We enjoyed a great bottle of malbec and for an appetizer, lamb meatballs with gnocchi with sundried tomatoes. It was delicious. We then tried spinach ravioli along with mediterranean salmon. The meal was delicious and our server Liz was fantastic. We definitely will be back. Obviously the night is still young and you all know I can't turn down music and dancing so we head over to Quaker Steak and Lube still in Virginia for a great band and dancing. We met 2 wonderful ladies, Cindy and Donna, who were very friendly and educated us a little on Bristol. This just continues the excitement I have for meeting new people and seeing how there are really so many friendly, kind people in some places. I can not wait to continue meeting people and learning their stories as we travel. They told us about the Bristol Rhythm and Roots Reunion music festival in September and I would love to be back with our RV at that time. If we do, we will definitely meet up with the ladies and enjoy a great weekend. After some drinks and dancing we headed back to the Bristol Hotel to check out their rooftop bar. The rooftop bar is very nice but we were getting tired by then and took in some of the views and decided we were done for the night and headed back to the Quality Inn for the great mattress and bedding. On our last day in Tennessee/Virginia, we headed to Bloom Cafe in Tennessee. Breakfast was OK, not great, so we will probably try another place next time. I had a cortado which wasn't as good as expected but I am in Tennessee, not Miami, so I should have probably not ordered it. We also arrived for a late breakfast and the Quiche was sold out so I just had an egg and cheese on a croissant which was good. Robert had a bowl with eggs and spinach. It was good but not filling at all. We did see a beautiful art shop next to Bloom and definitely plan to go back on our trip with the RV. We really are hoping to be back in September in Bristol but we will see as you all know I can't make plans because something always comes up. So after breakfast in Tennessee we drove back to North Carolina and hustling and bustling packing up and getting our storage unit filled before we leave. I really hope to be on the road in the next 4-6 weeks. I am getting so excited and this trip was great practice for finding out history and learning all about new things. Let me know if I need to see anything else next time I'm in Bristol or in your town? I look forward to seeing where you live and eat and play. You never know you may see Walkersrvadventures in your town next. XOXO, Adele Walker
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What a gift it has been to enjoy a fabulous Father's day weekend with my husband. We are in the middle of the month and are still waiting for our RV to be finished. It is now at a diesel mechanic shop, and my husband has been told that all the air pressure leaks have been fixed. Now, we are waiting for tires to be replaced and after that, it will probably have to go to another mechanic to fix the corrosion on wires for the generator. After that is fixed, it goes back to the remodelers to put the inside together. Of course we are still not done painting cabinets, oh what a job that has been, and I wish I paid someone to do those too, but we wanted to have a little bit of us in the RV and you will notice it's us lol. The cabinets will look as crazy as we are for taking on this crazy adventure. I just can't wait to get on the road. It's all the little things keeping us delayed, but I know it will be Gods timing for us to be on
the road. This past weekend, I spent in North Carolina enjoying tubing on the Neuse River, church, and lunch with my husband with one of his daughters this Fathers Day. I was left to reflect on the children who don't have fathers there for them: Fathers who have passed away, fathers who have disappeared from their children's lives, and fathers who just didn't know how to be a father. My husband has so many regrets in the way he handled fatherhood and how he failed most times, but that is his story to tell one day if he chooses. Personally, I look back at the men who could have been a father to me, but chose not to, the one who didn't know how to, and the man I still call dad today even though he was not my dad by blood. You see, I had the sperm donor who I respect because he didn't know how to be a father and he left immediately. I respect him more for that than a man pretending to be a great man and father while actually being a phony. I will use that word since it's much nicer. I do have to be grateful for a man God placed in my life at the age of thirteen who loves God and showed his love to thousands of children who were picked up in the streets of Brooklyn, New York every Saturday for church. This man showed us all love and I became close to him because I didn't have a father figure at home. He was always there to talk to and I would call him mostly every day for nearly 36 years. He showed me unconditional love no matter what I had done or decisions I made and believe me... I've made many. He may not have told me what I wanted to hear, but he always, in love, told me what was right and wrong and even if I made the wrong decision he would be there calling and checking on me. I can sit back and feel sorry for my life, but I am so grateful for all the men who were or attempted to be my father in my life because in every single one of them I have learned so much. I learned what I didn't want in a man, I learned the type of father I wanted for my children, I learned that God will never leave your side, and that when God is not around, he places people in your life to guide you properly. So, this Fathers Day I give a Happy Fathers Day to the men who shaped all our lives whether that be in a good way or bad way - we are all shaped by the people in our lives. Now hopefully my next blog can include more information and updates on our travel dates and the entire remodeling process of our RV. I am so excited and can not wait for Walker's RV Adventures to begin on the road!! XOXO, Adele Walker ... first post continued.
In January of 2021, I heard the lyrics, "You gave me my vision." In that moment, I knew that the Lord gave me the vision and the courage to be unapologetically me. "I am so far from perfect but so perfectly made by you" "I want to be different- You made me different and I thank you Lord" "He has put hunger in your heart, fire in your soul, He is the reason" "Success is a decision-Let them say what they want" " I am meant to be amazing" Wow ... the above words hit me like a ton of bricks. So here's a little background of my life (Adele). My entire life growing up, I was made to feel less than. I felt I did not belong in the family I was in, and was even told that I thought that I was better than my family even to the point were I was ridiculed and never supported in anything that I did. You see, I grew up in a home to a 21 year old single mom who after sitting in an abortion clinic for the second time that year felt led by the Lord to get up and walk out of that clinic and have me. For that I am always grateful, because I know now I was meant for great things. Ok so back to my songs: "God woke me up today and said he is not done with me" "He is not done writing my story" I am "fearfully and wonderfully made." I can say that this is the beginning of a new Chapter in my life, and I am going to enjoy writing the rest of my story: My way! So my "why" for my adventures is not only healing, but also to experience and explore all that God has made in this Country. We are so blessed to live in the United States of America. I look forward to meeting new people and experiencing all that comes with living here. I can not wait to see the mountains, beaches, restaurants (because I love to eat), and meeting all the people who are open to sharing their story with me. I look forward to sharing stories of pain and triumph everywhere that I go. And this blog would not be possible without the support of my amazing husband, Robert Walker. Honestly, if you ask him his “why” for this trip he will state "because my wife said so" but honestly he was placed in my life so we can help each other heal and support each other. He is the most amazing man and he has made many mistakes in his life, as have I, but we are now enjoying our life together knowing that we are forgiven. This new journey is about healing: FULLY healing! I decided to give myself Grace the way God has given myself and so many others. Grace is what has gotten me here, and that is why my RV is called Southern Grace because I love the south and I love God's Grace! Xoxo, Adele Walker Hello and Welcome to my my first blog post!
My name is Adele Walker and welcome to my life. Today I did what others could only dream of- I made a decision to live for me and I decided to do it for me. Not because others told me, and not because I wanted to make someone else happy, but to make myself happy! Today, I decided to leave everything behind (except for my husband haha), buy an RV, and travel the United States (full time). While out searching for a RV today God played many songs on the radio that were just what I needed. Was it a coincidence that those songs played? Well those that don't believe will say it was, but I know it was God showing me I am doing the right thing and that he is right there for me. Some of the song lyrics from all the songs were what I needed to hear, and I don't know the songs that they came from but I wrote down the words I felt the Lord speaking to me. "Why are you running? I am already here" and as I write these words the tears start streaming from my eyes that have been streaming for nearly 5 years the day when I felt the most ultimate loss in my life. I am continually running and trying to forget that pain. I need to learn to "let go of what I can not change" and "In pain I will find the healing" because "battles are won once you enter the fight" "I have not been given a spirit of fear" ... WOW, that basically sums it all up. Those words that are in a song just explained what I needed to hear. I can not change what has happened in the past. I can only learn from it and learn to accept that not everyone will forgive no matter how much you apologize and find your forgiveness and hope in Jesus Christ. My healing can only come from seeing God's Grace but you have to be willing to face your fears and admit when you did wrong even if it was not intentional. I was never fearful in my life, and obviously because of what I am doing now I know I was not given a spirit of fear but fear can come in so many ways and show itself in so many behaviors. I was so fearful of losing my children for life that I overcompensated in so many ways that ended up hurting my children when that wasn't what I meant to do. This realization has finally helped me find comfort in my pain. This realization has lead me on this beautiful new self-actualization and spiritual journey, and I cannot wait to share more of my background and dig deep to fully heal on this road trip. I hope you follow along, and see that ultimate happiness is possible through God's love and grace... and a little bit of crazy adventure. Enjoy part two of my introduction. Xoxo, Adele Walker |
