It's been awhile since I've had an entry, but now it's time to start our grand adventure. We have been busy for about 2 weeks trying to get ready to take our trip. Tom is getting very nervous about forgetting things to take. We have notes all over the place. We have so much of our "stuff" in the motorhome, that we may not have enough clothes at home to get us through the next week. It's a good thing the campground is only about 35 minutes away. It seems strange to close up our campsite so soon after we got everything set for the year.
Tom has been up with Emily since about 10:00 this morning. He wanted to change her oil and greased her good before we start out. We still have a few things to pack, but we have some room left. I'm sure sometime around August we will be looking for something we don't have. We even managed to fit in my sewing machine. I need it for my weaving.
We really have to manage out time left. Our grandson's preschool graduation is Wednesday evening, and he is staying overnight with us. Thursday Connor will be here all day, and in the evening is a family dinner, Saturday we have a wedding, Sunday is church. See what I mean? We have to fit in haircuts, and a doctor appointment. Sunday night we will stay at the campground, and leave early Monday morning.
We plan to stay in western Pa. for a couple of nights to visit our friends Ron and Linda. They are volunteering at a wildlife refuge out there. If anyone happens to be near where we are, give us a headsup, we'll see if we can get together. We'll have our computer and our cell phone. If you need the number or email address, click the word comments at the end of the blog entry. Let us know. Now I have to get going and get ready to slow down. We are very excited. Life is good.
Tuesday, June 5, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
Back Home
Well, we are home. We arrived late afternoon on Tuesday last week. On the trip home, we stopped to meet Linda and Ron from Escapees Class of 2007. They are in a campground in old Fort Picket, in Blackstone Va. What is interesting, is that they are doing a really good job of recycling the old army base. The campground is run by the county, the chapel has a working congregation, and some of the buildings are used for business incubators. Some of the property is still used to train for tanks for the war. It was really nice to see how well the whole thing is coming together, and being used for some good purpose. Better that just deteriorating.
Monday when we left and headed home, we figured we would just get off the road early in Carlise, Pa., spend the night, and get a nice start in the morning. WRONG!!! It should have gone as we planned, but there was a fatal accident around Greencastle, Pa. and they rerouted everyone on to route 11. Well, we got off 81 just where they closed it. Of course, everyone who came up behind was also being rerouted at all the exits behind, and we could not get to route 11. Traffic on route 81 was backed up thru Maryland and into West Va. Anyway, we spent 4 hours is stalled bumper to bumper traffic. So much for an early stop. We drove and set up in the dark, which we never do, and didn't get settled till about 10:00 pm. We are just so thankful we weren't in the accident.
Tuesday we drove to Easton, Pa. where Emily's dealer is, and left her there to get service and inspected. After taking out all the perishables and clothes we thought we might need, we started home. We arrived about 3:00, and by that time were glad we were here. Now we are ready to go again.
Over the week-end of the 20-22, we are headed to a rally with Penn Coachmen. That's the unit of F.M.C.A. we belong to. We have a rally every month from April thru November. We always have a good time. They are really great folks. Then we are hoping to get Emily up to our seasonal site up near Clarks Summit. We will be there till we start our trip, hopefully sometime in June. It will be good to see all of the people we haven't seen all winter. Can't wait.
Monday when we left and headed home, we figured we would just get off the road early in Carlise, Pa., spend the night, and get a nice start in the morning. WRONG!!! It should have gone as we planned, but there was a fatal accident around Greencastle, Pa. and they rerouted everyone on to route 11. Well, we got off 81 just where they closed it. Of course, everyone who came up behind was also being rerouted at all the exits behind, and we could not get to route 11. Traffic on route 81 was backed up thru Maryland and into West Va. Anyway, we spent 4 hours is stalled bumper to bumper traffic. So much for an early stop. We drove and set up in the dark, which we never do, and didn't get settled till about 10:00 pm. We are just so thankful we weren't in the accident.
Tuesday we drove to Easton, Pa. where Emily's dealer is, and left her there to get service and inspected. After taking out all the perishables and clothes we thought we might need, we started home. We arrived about 3:00, and by that time were glad we were here. Now we are ready to go again.
Over the week-end of the 20-22, we are headed to a rally with Penn Coachmen. That's the unit of F.M.C.A. we belong to. We have a rally every month from April thru November. We always have a good time. They are really great folks. Then we are hoping to get Emily up to our seasonal site up near Clarks Summit. We will be there till we start our trip, hopefully sometime in June. It will be good to see all of the people we haven't seen all winter. Can't wait.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Leaving Florida
For several days we have been doing things to get ready to return to Pa. Emily is cleaned and shiny inside and out. We have taken time in the afternoons to listen to or watch the Mets games. I wish they had done better during spring training, but nothing counts till opening day.
Tonight we took our final bike ride around the park. Then we put the bikes on the back of the Tracker and made sure they were secured for our trip. We sat outside wondering where the month went. At about 7:30 we stowed away the chairs and came inside. The weather here has been so beautiful. The whole time we've been here it rained only one day. They really need rain badly. Needless to say, we both are very tanned and healthy looking. But we are in need of a grandson fix. We are hoping to be home by Wednesday so he can stay overnight. We told Connor we would be home for Easter. If we are early, he will get a surprize.
The campgound is emptying out quickly. Every day more and more sites are empty. Some won't leave till the middle of April. They will be lonesome here. I know there will be quite a few leaving tomorrow. Some are already hitched up and ready to go. We want to be out by 8:oo. If we get in to Georgia we will be happy. We have to drop Emily off at the dealer to get some work done and be inspected before we take off on our great adventure. It will be time to leave before we know it.
The third week in April we have a rally with a club we belong to. The same club is having a rally over Memorial Day, and Tom and I are one of the hosting couples. We will have to be there on Thursday to make sure we are there in time for registration. Around May 1st we will get up to our seasonal site. We will keep Emily there till our trip. It will be nice to see all the folks again.
For now we will be on our way home. Maybe no WIFI, so I probably won't have an entry till then. For tonight, one more time to sleep with the windows open, and waking up to singing birds.
Tonight we took our final bike ride around the park. Then we put the bikes on the back of the Tracker and made sure they were secured for our trip. We sat outside wondering where the month went. At about 7:30 we stowed away the chairs and came inside. The weather here has been so beautiful. The whole time we've been here it rained only one day. They really need rain badly. Needless to say, we both are very tanned and healthy looking. But we are in need of a grandson fix. We are hoping to be home by Wednesday so he can stay overnight. We told Connor we would be home for Easter. If we are early, he will get a surprize.
The campgound is emptying out quickly. Every day more and more sites are empty. Some won't leave till the middle of April. They will be lonesome here. I know there will be quite a few leaving tomorrow. Some are already hitched up and ready to go. We want to be out by 8:oo. If we get in to Georgia we will be happy. We have to drop Emily off at the dealer to get some work done and be inspected before we take off on our great adventure. It will be time to leave before we know it.
The third week in April we have a rally with a club we belong to. The same club is having a rally over Memorial Day, and Tom and I are one of the hosting couples. We will have to be there on Thursday to make sure we are there in time for registration. Around May 1st we will get up to our seasonal site. We will keep Emily there till our trip. It will be nice to see all the folks again.
For now we will be on our way home. Maybe no WIFI, so I probably won't have an entry till then. For tonight, one more time to sleep with the windows open, and waking up to singing birds.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Myakka State Park
We really haven't done much for a few days. It has been cloudy and pretty windy. Day before yesterday we had some sprinkles on and off. We had planned to go to the state park, but held off till yesterday. I'm glad we did. It was a beautiful day. We were a little dissappointed with the 40 minute nature walk. We didn't see any thing special. About all we saw were some salamanders. We did walk the Canopy Walkway. It is a suspended walkway about treetop level. It comes up to the tower. You can climb up and see for miles. It was neat to be right up in the trees. We will add pictures when we get home. After the walk we went over to the lake. There are lots of alligators in the park. It is kept in it's natural state. What was really interesting was to see vultures circling. Just like in the old western movies. The reason they were circling was a dying alligator. He had crawled out of the water and was just lying there on the shore. There were two of his buddies with him. They must have been protecting him till he passed, because the birds didn't bother him. They just waited. It seemed so sad, but that's the way of nature.
I wish we could have taken better pictures of all the types of birds we saw, but you just don't go near the water there. And as they were mostly wading, the pictures were from a distance. They have an airboat ride for about 10 bucks, and a tram ride for about the same. We were there in the early afternoon, and the folks said it was better to book your tours in the morning or late afternoon because there is more activity then. We past on both tours. We figured we had seen about as much as we would see on the boat, and the tram.
There are a couple of camping areas in the park. Next time we are in Florida we are planning to stay there for awhile. But that won't be for a couple of years.
Today we will probably stick around here and take a bike ride and a walk. It's kind of cloudy and windy again. But who can argue with 80 degrees and a nice breeze. Not me.
I wish we could have taken better pictures of all the types of birds we saw, but you just don't go near the water there. And as they were mostly wading, the pictures were from a distance. They have an airboat ride for about 10 bucks, and a tram ride for about the same. We were there in the early afternoon, and the folks said it was better to book your tours in the morning or late afternoon because there is more activity then. We past on both tours. We figured we had seen about as much as we would see on the boat, and the tram.
There are a couple of camping areas in the park. Next time we are in Florida we are planning to stay there for awhile. But that won't be for a couple of years.
Today we will probably stick around here and take a bike ride and a walk. It's kind of cloudy and windy again. But who can argue with 80 degrees and a nice breeze. Not me.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Arcadia Pioneer Days.
Well, first of all, it rained most of the day yesterday. We were out for a bike ride when the sky opened up. Needless to say we got dampish. We got the bike seats covered and got in. The rest of the day I read a book, and Tom just vegged.
Today we went into Arcadia for their Pioneer Days. It was like a nice small town festival. Many of the people were dressed in period clothes. There was a shoot-out between the bad guys and the good guys. There were lots of six guns and shotguns. Lots of noise! Of course, the good guys won. What I couldn't figure out was why the good guys all had black hats and half of the bad guys had white hats. There was a blacksmith who was making items to buy; like coat hooks, candle stick holders, and fire irons. A couple of wood workers were whitteling, and a man and lady were helping kids to make jump ropes by using twine and this little hand crank machine that twisted the twine into rope. He made the kids turn the crank, then he put on the handles and gave it to the one who turned the crank. I thought he would be asking for a donation or something, and surprized me buy just giving them away. Like I said, Small town. Many little tables were set up by local churches that sold home-made goodies. Even the elementary school sold popcorn and soda. I had a pulled pork sandwich and Tom had 2 chili dogs. Then we went over to the Womens' Club table, and what do you think we got there? You guessed it. Strawberry Shortcake. It was made with sponge cake. Yummy! We came home and watch some March Madness. I did some swedish weaving.
It' s been cold here today, in the low 60's. Tonight will be colder than usual, and tommorrow will be cool again. Then it should start to warm up by Monday. We'll take it. It's better than the 12 to 14 inches of snow they got at home.
Today we went into Arcadia for their Pioneer Days. It was like a nice small town festival. Many of the people were dressed in period clothes. There was a shoot-out between the bad guys and the good guys. There were lots of six guns and shotguns. Lots of noise! Of course, the good guys won. What I couldn't figure out was why the good guys all had black hats and half of the bad guys had white hats. There was a blacksmith who was making items to buy; like coat hooks, candle stick holders, and fire irons. A couple of wood workers were whitteling, and a man and lady were helping kids to make jump ropes by using twine and this little hand crank machine that twisted the twine into rope. He made the kids turn the crank, then he put on the handles and gave it to the one who turned the crank. I thought he would be asking for a donation or something, and surprized me buy just giving them away. Like I said, Small town. Many little tables were set up by local churches that sold home-made goodies. Even the elementary school sold popcorn and soda. I had a pulled pork sandwich and Tom had 2 chili dogs. Then we went over to the Womens' Club table, and what do you think we got there? You guessed it. Strawberry Shortcake. It was made with sponge cake. Yummy! We came home and watch some March Madness. I did some swedish weaving.
It' s been cold here today, in the low 60's. Tonight will be colder than usual, and tommorrow will be cool again. Then it should start to warm up by Monday. We'll take it. It's better than the 12 to 14 inches of snow they got at home.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
New Friends and the Beach
On Monday we went to meet Rick and Orinda for lunch. They are up in Sebring for the winter months. We have made some new friends. They have 2 dogs with them. A fox terrier and a Golden named Cody. I fell in love with him. He brought me a shoe before we even met. A wonderful dog. They are from South Dakoda, and we will probably meet up again during our adventure this summer.
Yesterday I did the laundry thing. Not all of the washers and dryers work, so you have to wait your turn. In this park they have an area where you can hang out your laundry. There is a privacy fence around it so no one can see it in the park. Of course, I don't have any clothes pins so that is not an option for me. Anyway, it took me about 2 and a half hours to get it done. Tom finished waxing Emily with the help of his new ladder. We have been looking for one that would fit in our compartment. We found one on Monday at Home Depot while we were in Sebring.
Today we went to the beach. We had to go about 45 miles. Our destination was Siesta Key. The first place we stopped was right in town. We couldn't find a place to park. We drove around for awhile, and just didn't get a place. I don't know if it is because of Spring Break or what, but there are alot of kids there. We decided to go on up the road. We found a really nice place with lots of parking, restrooms, and a not so crowded beach. There wasn't much sun, but I did get a little sunburn. It really can fool you here in Florida. When we left, we went down the road to Sonny's. It's a great place for BBQ ribs. I suppose the other food is good, too, but we always get the ribs. Sonny's doesn't go very far north. Only up as far as the Carolinas. It is one place we like to make plans to visit. All you can eat ribs with 2 sides (you can chose from quite a list) chioce of garlic bread or corn bread, all for $ 9.99. Then we even got a senior discount of 25%. You have to be at least 55. What a deal. It's a good thing we don't have any strawberries left. We're too full to eat any.
The beach, a tummy full of ribs, and a night to leave the windows open. I love it.
Yesterday I did the laundry thing. Not all of the washers and dryers work, so you have to wait your turn. In this park they have an area where you can hang out your laundry. There is a privacy fence around it so no one can see it in the park. Of course, I don't have any clothes pins so that is not an option for me. Anyway, it took me about 2 and a half hours to get it done. Tom finished waxing Emily with the help of his new ladder. We have been looking for one that would fit in our compartment. We found one on Monday at Home Depot while we were in Sebring.
Today we went to the beach. We had to go about 45 miles. Our destination was Siesta Key. The first place we stopped was right in town. We couldn't find a place to park. We drove around for awhile, and just didn't get a place. I don't know if it is because of Spring Break or what, but there are alot of kids there. We decided to go on up the road. We found a really nice place with lots of parking, restrooms, and a not so crowded beach. There wasn't much sun, but I did get a little sunburn. It really can fool you here in Florida. When we left, we went down the road to Sonny's. It's a great place for BBQ ribs. I suppose the other food is good, too, but we always get the ribs. Sonny's doesn't go very far north. Only up as far as the Carolinas. It is one place we like to make plans to visit. All you can eat ribs with 2 sides (you can chose from quite a list) chioce of garlic bread or corn bread, all for $ 9.99. Then we even got a senior discount of 25%. You have to be at least 55. What a deal. It's a good thing we don't have any strawberries left. We're too full to eat any.
The beach, a tummy full of ribs, and a night to leave the windows open. I love it.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Yesterday was another beautiful day in sunny Florida. We got up and went to church for 9:00. They have quite a large congregaton here at the campground. After church we went for groceries. On the way is the little man who sells those great strawberries. Of course we had to get some more of those. We also got some fresh tomatoes. Yummy! They are so much better than hot house.
Today we are off to meet more members of Escapees Class of 2007. They are up in Sebring, about 45 miles away. It's always nice to meet folks that are doing the same thing as you. They also plan to go fulltiming this year. I still have a hard time believing all the people out there that have been doing it for years. We can't wait to be like them.
Today we are off to meet more members of Escapees Class of 2007. They are up in Sebring, about 45 miles away. It's always nice to meet folks that are doing the same thing as you. They also plan to go fulltiming this year. I still have a hard time believing all the people out there that have been doing it for years. We can't wait to be like them.
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