July 2024 Newsletter

Hey AATB family!

Happy July, everyone!!!!! In travel terms, we are starting a brand new year since we celebrated our one-year nomad-a-versary in the June newsletter. Duane and I hope each of you are well and enjoying this beautifully hot summer. Take a break from the heat, sit back, and enjoy reading about what All About The Banks has been up to.

To keep you updated with where we have been, let's go back to May.

In early May, we joined our friends Jimmy & Lisa of Find Us Camping YouTube (YT) for a meet-up at Endless Caverns RV Resort and Caverns in New Market, Va. It was such a great weekend with the Find Us Camping Villagers. We took in some sites, toured the cavern, and had fun meeting and making new friends. From there, we headed to Elkhart, IN. You have heard Duane talk about Independent Suspension and Disc Brakes in our videos. Elkhart is MORryde's home, and they fixed Theo up real good. We stayed in the Elkhart/Shipshewana area for about two weeks. Not only did we get some upgrades at MORryde, but we also went to Grand Design and they did the once-over on Theo, our fifth wheel. Theo left with a clean bill of health.

We are returning in August for a few adjustments, but nothing major. Our friends Elise and Brandon of Staying in the RV (YT) joined us, and we all enjoyed several factory tours, a visit to the RV/MH Hall of Fame & Museum, and a whole lot of good eating. We enjoyed our stay in that area and look forward to returning.

From Indiana, we headed to Mackinaw, Michigan, for a week. Many people had suggested that we go to Mackinaw Island. So we boarded Shipley's Ferry and went over the Island. It was such an exciting experience. From the ferry, the Island looks so picturesque with its white homes and buildings.

Once on the Island, we were surprised by all the tourists there, but that's exactly what the Island is: a tourist attraction. We chose to ride the horse-drawn carriage with a tour guide instead of walking or biking, and we loved it. Our guide was very entertaining and knowledgeable. It was a most enjoyable day, even though it was a rainy, cool day, and we shared the Island with thousands of people.

While in Michigan, we also had the opportunity to visit with family and enjoy a day out in Detroit. One of the things on Duane's bucket list has been to visit MOTOWN HITSVILLE.

On this trip, we got to do just that. It was the highlight of our Michigan travels. Motown was the music we grew up on, and it will always be special to us. Seeing memories of our favorite artists and being in the birthplace where it all began was amazing. We found out that they are breaking ground on a new Hitsville museum directly beside the old building, and it should be ready in 2026. We will definitely be back!!!

We zoomed through May, and now we are traveling into June. After a boondocking layover at Cabella's in Dayton, Ohio, we headed to Georgetown, KY, to meet up with our Goldsboro friends. We had a planned week of fun, fellowship, food, and sightseeing. But as the quote goes, "the best-laid plans of mice and men oft' go awry…” and our plans did just that.

Thirty miles or so from our destination of Whispering Hills RV Park, we were involved in a wreck. The wreck happened on June 3, our one-year nomad-a-versary. Thankfully, our Goldsboro friends met us at Whispering Hills. Even being "truckless," we still managed to enjoy our week with them. We visited the Creation Museum and The Ark, along with other sites in the area.

In the second week of June, we secured a rental vehicle and had wheels again to get around town, but not a tow vehicle. One of the June events that we were scheduled to attend was the Adventure Bandits (YT) Glampout. We had attended this event before and definitely didn't want to miss it. So, we reserved a hotel room and headed to Mineral City, OH., to hang out with 600+ of our best friends. Duane's brother, Lydell, and his wife, Mary, who we lovingly call Banks 2.0, were also attending, which made it even more important that we get there. It was a great weekend, from the sponsored meal and entertainment on Wednesday night to the 80s party on Saturday night. The Glampout was fantastic!

So based on how June began, it was a month to remember! We have tried to keep you all updated on our living situation as well as the truck repairs. We are so thankful to RC Smith, Jr, our host and to all of you for your prayers and well wishes as we maneuver through this "bump in the road ".