July 18, 2026
After a 5 day stay in Sevierville, it was time to point the coach towards Red Bay, Alabama. We had some mail to retrieve and a few new warranty item repairs appeared during our travels making another stop necessary.
That’s one of the realities of owning a new RV. As you begin traveling and using all of its systems, a few issues are bound to show themselves. We’d much rather have them taken care of now while everything is still under warranty.
We arrived in Red Bay on Saturday afternoon and settled into our campsite in the Tiffin Service Center Campground. Yes, it was raining when we arrived! We were hoping to receive a Monday morning Express Bay assignment so the new repair list could be evaluated and repaired as quickly as possible.
Since there was nothing to do but sit and wait on Monday to arrive, we made a Sunday trip to Florence, AL. During our travels, we realized there were a few things we had accidentally left behind at home, so it was the perfect opportunity to replace those items and pick up a few other necessities.
At the end of the day we were blessed with a beautiful sunset!
On Monday, we learned that we were placed on the wrong service list and that we were number 72 in line. What??? Ken talked to the office and they moved us to the correct list but we still would have to wait.
While we waited, we made a couple of side trips.
A Visit to the Coon Dog Cemetery
One of our more unusual stops while staying in g Red Bay Alabama was the famous Coon Dog Cemetery near Cherokee. We had visited before, but, how often do you come across a cemetery dedicated entirely to hunting dogs? Established in 1937, it is the final resting place for hundreds of beloved coon dogs.
The drive to the cemetery was scenic, winding through the Alabama countryside before ending beneath a canopy of tall trees. This unique destination is certainly off the beaten path, but that’s part of its charm. As we wandered through the rows of graves, It was easy to see that these weren’t “just dogs”—they were faithful companions, and cherished members of the family.
Next, we drove to Florence, again, This time I wanted to find the Frank Lloyd Wright Rosenbaum house. The original house was completed in 1940 with two additional wings added by Wright in 1948. With our trusty GPS we were able to locate the house.
The Rosenbaum House is the only Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home in Alabama and is considered one of the finest examples of his Usonian homes. The home was designed to be both beautiful and practical for a middle-class family. It was located in an beautiful area with other very nice older homes.
I am not an architecture expert, but, home design reminded me of some of the mid century modern architecture in my hometown, Columbus Indiana.
In the same area of Florence, we drove through the University of Northern Alabama campus. As we passed through, we admired the beautiful buildings. The campus houses 3 antebellum structures that are listed on the National Historic Register.
It wasn’t until Tuesday afternoon that we finally received the call for our Ex[ress Bay appointment. We were scheduled for Wednesday morning at 7:00 a.m., so we got up early, packed everything away, and had the coach ready to go.
Our service technician spent the entire day working through our list of warranty items. By 3:00 p.m., everything had been completed, and we were able to pick up the coach and move back to our campsite at the Tiffin Campground.
While we were in Red Bay, we decided to make a slight change to our travel plans. Instead of heading directly to our next planned destination, we decided to spend a week relaxing at Navarre Beach, Florida. After several weeks of traveling, sightseeing, and service appointments, a little beach time sounded like the perfect way to recharge.
On Thursday morning, we checked out of the Tiffin Campground and began our journey south. We can’t wait to spend a week of relaxation along the Gulf Coast.
You must be logged in to post a comment.