There are those rare moments when you are somewhere incredible, and this was one of them. On a recent Harvest Host stay at Ratchford Buffalo Farm, that’s exactly what we felt.
Buffalos at Ratchford Farm
A Rare Experience
Late afternoon in Marshall, Arkansas, we arrived at the dirt road to the farm. “LC”met us at the top of the hill and we followed him down the road to his farm.
It wasn’t any normal farm. He had a menagerie of animals from an emu to a herd of buffalo.
Not only were we in for a treat staying as a Harvest Host guest on at an unusual farm with a phenominal view, but the opportunity to experience what most people never have – why farming animals and crops and respecting the land is a priceless lifestyle.
One of many spectacular views
Try Feeding a Cow or Buffalo
When have you fed a cow or a buffalo. That’s exeactly what we did.
Cathy feeding cowCurious Cow Checking Us OutLC Feeding His Buffalo
We had a wonderful time. Have you seen buffalos? Where? We would like to hear about your experience with these fantastic animals. Share your story!
At the end of a good day of RVing, we arrived at our destination – a wonderful, beautiful Harvest Host location, General Burnside Island State Park – looking for a good’s night sleep. But suddenly, while setting up, we discovered we had a major problem with our RV. The slider would not go out. One side wasn’t moving. Several attempts were futile and we knew if we continued to try, something would be broken and we would be stuck with the sliders out and no way to get them closed again. What could we do? Certainly nothing that night. But how were we going to remedy this situation to get on with our travels?
Trouble in Paradise
This was one of those times when things happen and you wonder, how am I going to get out of this mess? it just ruins the fun you’ve been having on your RV journey.
So, I tried calling Customer Service for our RV, an Entegra Odyssey. Of course, it was after 5PM EST, so offices were closed. BUMMER! We were out of luck. Well, we had to hunker down for the night with different sleeping arrangements. Of course, we survived, but the next morning we launched into finding out how to remedy the sitation.
We called Entegra when Customer Support was available and tried what they suggested. They also gave us the number of the manufacture of the slides – Lippert or LCD. And we called them, everything we tried, including resynching the controller (which we couldn’t find until talking to these folks), didn’t solve the problem. The end analysis was to get the RV to a Lippert distributor.
The closest distributor was Keller RV and Auto in nearby Science Hill, KY. We called them, and they graciously said they would make time to see the RV and assess the situation that morning. However, they warned us that if parts were needed it might take a few days. So off we went to the dealer, trusting their ability to help us.
Keller RV and Auto
On our arrival at Keller, everybody was gracious and ready to help us. Immediately, our rig was directed to one of their garage bays. We knew we were in good hands when the boss, Bill, stopped by to let us know what he was going to do, and that he was excited to see our dog Bella. Within the first half our, most of the shop people had stopped by to visit with us and pat the dog. People who love dogs are truly good folks.
As the time went by, Bill would stop by periodically to describe how things were progressing, show us the damaged part, and share information about his staff and business. In fact, one of his mechanics had turned out to be top-notch in dealing with these types of RV problems and brilliantly started collecting parts from various similar jobs so he had a stockpile of useful parts that possibly help our situation. His ingenuity proved worthwhile it solving our slider dilemma. After only a few hours, Bill and staff were able to replace the slider’s damaged parts so we could continue on our trip across America.
Besides his staff of mechanics, we also met Bill’s wife Debbie and son Travis who are in the business. Bill has had his business since 1976, survived COVID economy, and continues to run his successful business. Without them, who knows how many days it would’ve taken to find somebody who could get the parts and fix our slider.
We owe a true huge debt of gratitude to Bill, Debbie, and Travis Keller and their staff of wonderful mechanics for their expertise, and friendliness in resolving our travel problem and get us back on the road again. Thank you to our new friends. We will remember your kindness and assistance at a time of our need!
If you are ever in need of auto or RV mechanical help, give Keller a call, I am sure they will help you remedy your situation!
What breakdowns have you experienced? How did you get things fixed and back on the road? Share your story with us.
The Bourbon Trail in Kentucky includes several revered bourbon distillers, from Jim Beam to Makers Mark. However, these aren’t the only makers of fine bourbon in Kentucky. Some startups are attracting attention, such as the 10-year old Whiskey Thief Distillery.
Putting in Your Dues to Get on the Bourbon Trail
Whiskey Thief just came out with their 10-year bourbon release. Originally named 3 Boys Distillery, this single-barrel bourbon maker has been putting in its time to make delicious products. They have a following of single-pot aficionados and are hoping to be soon added to the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.
Stayed tuned to hear more about our recent visit to this distillery.
First stop for us on visiting the Kentucky Bourbon Trail was the Woodford Distillery.
RV parking signs led us to parking next to a fancy building where you could have a cocktail and pair it with food, not exactly what we were interested in at the time. Looking for a tasting which was in a separate building on the grounds (had to ask where). Although we had not set up a reservation, they included us in the next tasting.
5 samples were arranged at each seat, with coasters identifying key ingredient ratios: grains, wood, fruits and floral, spice, and sweet aromatics.
SamplesWoodford Reserve Barrel Horses
Certainly tasty! I would give it 4 stars. Classy, good presentation, beautiful grounds, and great product. Signage for location of tastings and tours could be improved.
RVing isn’t just about driving and viewing the sites. If you enjoy a round of golf, why not incorporate it into your travels.
Take a Break from Driving and Hit the Small Ball
During a recent Fall trip across the country we arranged to arrive at Harvest Host member Waubekka Golf Course in Williamtown, MA to play 9 holes at 4 PM and stay that night in our RV in their designated parking area. Unfortunately, on that day our journey was delayed so we couldn’t play. Although the weather report was not promising for the next day, we booked a next morning tee-time to play 9 holes before continuing on our journey.
Although, we woke to black clouds and wind, the 60-degree weather enticed us to play. We got out there and beat the storm. We played the back 9, which Eric, the resident pro, said had the best Fall seasonal views. We weren’t disappointed.
The course was in top shape with fantastic Fall colors. It was well worth it, and it was a good way to break up the long drive we would be on over the next several days.
