Little by little ...

Yes things are progressing ever so slowly for our next adventure. The coach is in for new paint and some mechanical repairs and by months end it should be ready for the road. Thankfully it has a full load of $3.89/gal fuel so we will cherish every mile of that but then... reality sets in. But never mind that as we'll just eat out less (better for the waistline) and maybe not travel as far until we figure out how we want to manage this extra cost burden. After 40+ plus years of working we're going to enjoy the RV life and if we outlive the money...so what. Sitting on the porch worrying about all the price hikes is not what we have in mind for this time of our lives. So sorry kids, we may be getting into the inheritance.

We're headed out to the Adirondacks in upstate New York the first week of July but will not be taking the coach this time. We're visiting my sister and brother-in-law at their lodge on Upper Saranac Lake, near Lake Placid. A very relaxing venue where they will be hosting the first
annual 'siblings soiree'. That is... getting all the brothers and sisters together...no kids... no grand kids to eat, drink and be merry. Games of mental strength and agility...like Saranac Spades and blindfolded Scrabble are probably on the agenda. But high levels of physical competition should prevail as the group is best known for their athletic prowess. Besides the normal high impact sport of thumb wrestling, the laying still for long periods of time competition will certainly be a crowd pleaser.

Upon our return home we'll pack up and head off to South Haven Michigan for at least a month of soaking up Michigan's 'suncoast' sun. It may stretch on a month longer or so but we've not firmed up anything yet. We've booked a nice site just outside of town where we've been several times before. With friends and family within not more than 2-3 hours away, we expect to have many visitors. During that time we will also be planning our winter trip to somewhere. Any suggestion?

Still 'livin the dream'....... Phil & Sharon

Say it ain't so...

We've been home about two weeks now and several terrible things have happened. First we experienced our first snow of the winter. Though locals called it a 'light dusting', any snow was too much. Oh how a few months down south changes one perspective. Tonight we're supposed to get a hard freeze (mid-20's) so I had to crank up the heaters in the coach so as it didn't get too cold. I hate burning fuel for the furnace now as diesel prices this morning were $4.30 a gallon. Thankfully I have a full tank but conservation is now becoming more of a necessity.

The other terrible thing that happened is we sprung a very small leak in the coaches black water tank. For those not familiar with that term, it's the tank that serves as the motor home's septic tank. It's a part of your motor home you always want in good working order but never have to actually work on yourself. Though the tank is flushed out with some regularity, they all have a residual aroma that is unmistakable, so working around them is best left to someone else. However, with the thought of saving a few bucks, I decided to tackle this little job myself. Since I thought the tank was empty, removing the dump valve (finally understood how it got its name) should be an easy job. Unfortunately I had not figured the incline of my driveway and soon realized that there were still several gallons of 'honey dippers stew' still in the tank. Well not exactly still in the tank but now rushing out the 3 inch hole I had just opened when I removed the valve. Now moving fast is not one of my strong attributes but I did show a little Olympic burst of movement in an attempt to get away. But, as it quickly turned out, not quite fast enough. Ugly might describe it best but I'm sure all my neighbors within 500 yards heard a different description. I'd had the foresight to put a shop towel under the pipe to catch any drops but that soon was floating out the bay door in this tsunami of sludge. As quickly as it started it soon ended but the deed was done. Looking around in hopes that none of the neighbors were watching, I filled up several buckets of water to at least dilute what had streamed down my driveway. I packed up my tools, closed the bay door where I was working and called it a day. Clean clothes and a long hot shower was in order and another lesson was learned. And... aren't you glad that I don't have any pictures to show for this entry? In spite of this little 'dirty job', we're still 'livin the dream', playing the hand we're dealt and planning our next trip. Stay tuned.

Like MacArthur...we did return!

Like the swallows of Capistrano, the buzzards of Hinckley Ohio, and General MacArthur at Corrigidor; we returned to our old home town. No one can deny that Battle Creek isn't the town it once was. No longer can you cruise your 51 Chevy through the Sip-N-Nip, get a hot dog at Hosh's, or buy some luggage at Robinsons. Most residents can no longer say they work for either Kelloggs, Ralstons, or Post. You can't get on a North Central DC3 at Kellogg Airport and go to Chicago or even watch the Central HS band march down Main Street every Friday night when there was a home football game ... but you can see your friends and family who didn't bailout out on the old town and have prospered and thrived there. Though we've not lived here for over 30 years, there is still an almost tangible feeling when driving into town. Maybe it the faint smell of cooked cereal in the air from the remaining cereal factories or distinctive city skyline, I'm not sure, but it something that lets you know you're home.

We had made some hasty reservations at the PG's luxury RV resort and grateful we did. Only one site available and not a full hookup at that. Started with only about 105 volts when we first plugged in but it later rose to 120v as they apparently unscrewed a couple of the bare bulbs draped around the property. We thought we were going to have a lake access site, but as it turned out, we had to go through the owner's house, down through the basement, down a steep hill before getting to the lake. It actually wasn't so bad as they had lots of video games and a slot machine to play with along the way. The site wasn't as level as advertised either. Not that we were standing up when we slept at night but it wasn't hard getting out of bed. They did give us a very reasonable rate and actually invited us in to join them for a meal.

When we first pulled up to the resort we kind of thought this was a small mom and pop operation, it's owners putting in the normal 80 hour work week trying to keep the place afloat but soon realized at the dinner table the first night that this was a big, multi-state operation. The godfather and godmother (our secret nicknames for them) were seated and, as it turned out, the Chicago faction was in town and joined everyone at the table. We were, to say the least, a little more nervous than usual as the couple had, what some could describe as, a pit bull at their side. Better behaved than most, it was still crouched at its owners' feet ready to defend. Also seated was an affiliate of the 'family' who soon will be controlling one of the areas finest bodegas. My guess is that once that bodega is running, others will follow. The competition will not have a chance. We didn't say much at dinner, but was polite and non-threatening. In retrospect, with the food as good as it was we wondered if they had ever thought about getting into the restaurant business. We said our goodbyes and slunk back to our coach. Carefully locking and re-locking the door...just in case.

Just in case any of you actually believed any of the previous rhetoric, let me clear up a thing or two. Paula and George (and their neighbors) graciously allowed us to park our rig in front of their lakeside home for a few days. It saved us from the WalMart parking lot and was very much appreciated. Their collective family, Jason, Geoff, Kim, Scott and Peaches and Adie (Peaches and Adie are dogs), were all there and and we enjoyed seeing them.

We stayed put for a couple of days visiting with Sharon's parents, Cliff & Harriet, and sister, Gay, and my Uncle Frank and Aunt Florence as well as friends Bill and June and generally relaxing. Surprisingly something we haven't done much of lately.

Sharon found these party go'ers hanging out at the local pub. They joined us and before long they were almost like family.

Too soon, our time here had come to an end and it was time to make the last 100 mile- journey to home base. Twenty-three (23) weeks on the road. Approximately 5700 new miles on the coach and over 8000 additional miles on the tow car. The least we payed for diesel fuel was $2.59/gal at the beginning of the trip and $4.19 a gallon somewhere in Kentucky a week or so ago. Our average site charges per night were about $37.00. 'Not too bad', I'd say for the caliber of places where we camped. We had originally planned on several 'free' nights at WalMart or Sam's along the way, but for safety reasons we choose not to. Probably too paranoid but we were more comfortable. We spent more money on eating out than we had planned but looking back at all the good times we had with friends and family, we have no regrets. We travelled around in the tow car far more than I also had planned. Not one regret there either as it gave us the chance to see many new places.

We've met some interesting new people and made a few new friends. We visited dear friends and relatives along the way and had a great time with them as well. We visited old homesteads and ate some really fantastic new foods. We've accumulated a bunch of new travel stories that will occasionally spring into our future conversations if we think of them.

The coach, with the exception of a couple of minor issues, performed like the classic carriage she is and we already miss being on the road with her.

Now we must begin another chapter and that's where you readers can have some input. We enjoyed putting this blog together and I am looking for ideas to keep it going until we start our next trip sooooooooooooo .. if you have any suggestions on subjects you'd like me to talk about, things we've done on past trips, or whatever... please comment below. Stay tuned as we're still 'livin the dream'.

Ohio hospitality...

There's something about the Midwest. I know it's depressed. Lots of snow this winter, plant closings, dreaded low MEAP scores, no fresh vegetables, and people longing for even a few minutes of sunshine. But it's comfortable. People talk like me, they're a little laid back; but not too much, flannel is okay to wear, cars are rusty, and most are friendly. The little tense knot in the back of my neck is gone now so I know I'm getting close to home. It's nice to let your guard down a little after exploring so many unknown places over the past several months.

We decided to leave the coach near Columbus and drive the toad over to Sharon's cousin's home east of Akron. The trees are starting to bud out and an occasional crocus was trying to climb out of its wintry home so the hour and half drive was a pleasant one. Besides, the sun was shining and we hadn't seen much of the area in quite a while so it's always good to nose around a little.

While motoring along, my eyes whirled skyward catching a glimpse of a flying landmark. The circling Goodyear blimp was in view and it was as majestic as ever. I still remember the first time I saw it one dark evening while living at my grandmother's house on Manchester Street in my old home town. I was not much more that five years old I suppose, as the huge orb drifted overhead and was so low it nearly covered the sky. In those days they had lights all over the side of it spelling out the company name, so for such a tender young lad, it was quite a thrill. Since electricity was still a recent invention back then, I wondered how long the the extension cord was. Anyway, it was good to see the old girl and in my mind she's still queen of the skies.

We arrived in the neighborhood where we thought we should be but since I hadn't put the correct address in the GPS, we were a little stumped as to which of the prim, well kept homes were Diana and Craig's (Sharon's cousins). Thankfully we caught sight of Craig standing on the front porch and waved us in.

As they say, apples don't fall too far from the tree and proof is that Diana keeps house just like her mother. Beautifully decorated and not a thing out of place. I even checked under the dining room table for a wad of gum but no luck...clean as a whistle. Our timing for this visit was great as it was also her daughter, Amy's, birthday and we got to meet Chris (Amy's significant other) and also reacquaint ourselves with her son, Tyler (12). Craig handled the outside cooking while Diana readied all the inside goodies. She made an awesome baked beans that could win any contest. As usual, Sharon and I mowed down all the free food and enjoyed the afternoon talking with Craig and Diana about old times. It was good to see them again and hope to see them again soon.

Just in time ...

Left Berea Kentucky this morning in a driving rain storm. As predicted, the rain started early and with gusto. Flood warnings were already posted for most of the state and all's I could think of was getting stranded somewhere I didn't want to be. We could have stayed put but the rain was expected to continue for several days so our best choice was to get out of town and maybe get ahead of most of the storm. Traffic was not too heavy but what was there was mostly big trucks. We succeeded in getting ahead of the weather but it took about 200 miles of Kentucky and Ohio roads to do it. Tense driving for me but we did make it to our next stop by mid-afternoon.

We're about 15 miles north of Columbus and in a nice family owned facility. Since they just opened for the season we had little problem finding a site. Unfortunately they're better set up for 5'ers and trailers as the turning radius' were very tight for me. After we unhooked, I had to jostle the coach around to get it into our assigned spot but made is just fine and we had a chance to look around at our camp. It looks like a 250 site camp with store, pool and lots of stuff for families. Since it's about six miles from the nearby town of Galena, it's quiet and out of the way.

We kicked back and relaxed for a while then decided to head out for dinner. Since we couldn't be home to celebrate our good friends Bill and June's wedding anniversary today we thought we'd just celebrate in their honor. We'd heard there were about 70 resturants near the freeway so we ventured that way.

After driving by most of the eateries in the area we settled on Italian food and a place called Marcella's. We stepped inside to find a bustling bistro with stacks of wine bottles, loaves of bread, and stacks of cheese. The place smelled great. Our waitress stopped over and explained the resturant was a new concept being developed for Italian eating. Like a tapas, they served lots of different things, but small portions of each. This encouraged you to try new things and to share with your table mates. With a little help from our waitress we ordered the following:

Pecorino Di Pienza. A formaggi (cheese) appetizer that was heated in a small iron skillet. Along with the cheese (a sheep's milk variety), we were served thin toast points along with thin slices of apple and some truffle honey. To eat you dip the toast tips into the hot Pecorino cheese, add an apple slice and drizzle with truffle honey. Oh my. Not a combination I could ever have dreamed up, but wish I had. Completely fantastic. Next was a braised veal meatball with a simple tomato sauce. The most delicately flavored meatball on the planet. Next a Caesar salad of Romain hearts with a very mild Parmisan Reggiano dressing and anchovy. Next Lasagna Alla Bolognese with a slow cooked veal ragu and pecorino cheese. The noodles were as thin as baklava crust and without a doubt the finest lasagna we had ever eaten. Next we enjoyed Penna Alla Arrabiatta pasta with a spicey tomato sauce, toasted garlic and sweet basil. We top it all off with a very graceful carafe of ItalianVeronse. Oh my again. We can hardly describe this food. It was one of the finest meals we have ever eaten. You might think how could they eat all that food but since the portions were small and we shared each dish, it was just the right amount. Surprise surprise but we also ordered dessert. A tiramisu that was almost undescribable. Light and oh so delicious. So if you are ever in the Columbus area, stop in and enjoy. Kathy A. at the office...make a point of getting Jim to bring you here.

When we were about finished eating, we noticed a commotion of some sort occuring just across the aisle from us. A rather large, well dressed man was leaning over his table kissing his date. They were surrounded by resturant staff and other diners and the resturant erupted in applause. Seconds before the kiss he had been on one knee proposing marriage to his girl. She was in tears as were several onlookers nearby. It was a nice touch to our evening too.

As a sidebar to this night out dining... the resturant is owned by the same people who owned Mitchell's Fish House located in Lansing at the East Town Center off of Lake Lansing Road. I say owned (past tense) because they recently sold the property and it will be operated as a Ruth Chris Steakhouse. They apparently decided to get out of the fish business and concentrate on Italian. They are considering opening a Marcella's resturant in Michigan so there is hope.

Yes we can ... Yes we can

We left Adairsville heading for Berea and even fairly early for us. About 9:30 we left camp only to be reminded that I needed to fuel up before going too far. We knew there was a Flying J stop several miles north and their fueling setup is familiar so we decided to stop there. Making these stops, though necessary, are a little painful. At nearly $4.00/gal you quickly become an expert in controlling fuel consumption. Burning about a gallon every 8 miles forces you to think about your driving techniques. Steady and slow seems to work best for us.

Speaking of slow... since my cracked charged air cooler is only allowing the engine to produce about 50% of its rated horsepower, tackling the hills of Tennessee and Kentucky was not so fun. Conceptually, if you speed up going down the hill you will build up enough momentum to carry you to the top of the next. In practice getting the coach up to 15omph so as I can get up the other side of the long, steep moutain isn't working out. First they say the coaches top end is capped by the factory at 99mph. Second, with weak output, doing 75 is a chore on level land and Third, it's a little too scary for me. So when we started into the mountainous areas we pulled into the far right lane and chanted like the little red engine 'yes we can...yes we can'.

As it turned out a few "yes we can's" was almost not enough. Truck traffic was heavy and three lanes of 18 wheelers late for their next stop made for interesting driving. I kind of got in a groove and was rolling along pretty good but got behind a truck with, I guess, the same turbo problem I was having. As we were both in the right lane and facing a 4 mile uphill grade, we soon began to go slower and slower and slower. Trucks were stacking up behind me as far as I could see. 55 then 45 then 35. How slow can we go I wondered. Can we even make it? Can I start up the tow car and push with it? This hill went on and on but we leveled out at 35mph and I sat back and enjoyed the scenery. Finally reaching the top some minutes later, we now faced the high-speed thrill ride down. Not succumbing to that nonsense, We settled in to enjoy the many flowering plum and dogwood that were laced amongst the woods alongside the freeway and let the blood pressure subside.

We arrived at our camp in Berea Kentucky and found a camp that needed a little sprucing up but the new owners were working on it. Big pull-thru sites which is exactly what we like for these over-night stops. We have another 200 or so mile trip in the morning but heavy rain and thunderstoms are in the forecast so we'll surely be extra careful. We're headed for Delaware Ohio and getting a little closer to home.

Secrets out! ...

I know you've all been waiting to know about our 'other' daughter so I guess it time to fess up.
South of Adairsville Georgia is the town of Acworth where Jeni lives. Jeni is sort of our adopted daughter who has been our own daughter's best friend since grade school. She was at our house so much that we just kind of adopted her. She and her family are dear friends to us and we wanted to stop and say hello as long as we were in the area. We met at a local resturant and she brought her youngest son Jameson. What a handsome young boy. He was a little under the weather and not too excited about seeing anybody but in the loving arms of his mother, he managed to make it through lunch without much fuss.

Adairsville isn't much of a stop-over but the camp was good. We had a large pull-thru with plenty of room and it was just off I75 about 40 north of Atlanta. Great over-nighter for either coming or going to Florida. And an added bonus of free popcorn in the office. One cool thing that we sorrily missed was nearby Barnsley Gardens. Coined 'The most romantic place in Georgia" this high end stop is not only a display of pristine gardens but has a cluster of rentable cottages (rated 5 star) and a first class restuarnt alongside a golf course. We hear it is quite the place but bring your American Express card. Maybe we'll stop here the next time through.

The small town of Acworth near where Jeni lives, is trying to save its past through the restoration of many of the old buildings downtown. Quaint and homey, a neat little town to spend a warm afternoon window shopping or picking up that must-have antique. We drove around through some of the neighborhoods of old, well kept homes and it's the kind of town you'd like to raise a family in. Small, everyone knows everybody, and simple.

We're sorry we missed John, Jeni's husband and oldest son Jonah and good friends Kelly, Ted and their daughters, Zuzu and Isabelle. Seems that time is just flying by and we're unable to fit in all the great people we should see as we pass through an area. Next time out we need to slow down and stay longer at each stop. We both think we're missing too much of the local culture and that's what fun.

We finished our visit and headed for our next stop of Berea Kentucky. Why there you say? Well it about 250 or so miles away and if you've not figured it out by now, that's about all I drive a day with the coach. Still trying to learn how to smell the roses while 'livin' the dream'.

All in the Family

This entry is all about family. Not travel stops and roadside adventure, but family. My family. Ya I know what you're thinking... so I'll save you the trouble. Just hit the Google search engine and find something more tantalizing like 'aardvark mating rituals' or '75 uses for navel lint'. I'll understand. But if you insist, and really do want to know more.... read on.

We settled in at our camp and as camps go, this was one of the best. Part of the Outdoor Resorts of America properties, Hilton Head Island Motorcoach Resort caters only to A and C class rigs. Pool, tennis, walking paths and even has a classical pianist entertaining at the Saturday morning breakfast. Snobberish you might say but not really. We met a number of great folks who purchased their lots years ago (at bargain rates) and now enjoy the fruits of their good investment. Many owners opt to rent out their sites when they are not using it thus defraying the cost of ownership; we took advantage of this as had a number of other snowbirds. Lots of space and privacy and very quite, the camp is located about mid-island. This Hilton Head resort was well situated near lots of shopping and great restaurants. It's also sort of Nirvana for golf addicts too. But remember to bring lots of golf balls and a credit card with a mega limit.

Peter, Austin, Laura, Bob, Petra, Leigh, Chris, Ben, Allison, Judy, Scott and Mark. Wheeeew...
What a crowd. All over to our camp for a little afternoon picnic. In case you don't know..nephew, grandson,niece, brother-in-law, great niece, daughter, nephew, great nephew, granddaughter, sister, son-in-law and another nephew. It's our second sort of family reunion here on the island and we again found many things to reminisce and laugh about. The youngsters in the crowd may have heard things about some of us oldsters that were a little more revealing than usual but what better a venue...among family.

My nephew Mark and his family flew over from Germany and stayed at the Waterside house and were joined by our daughter Leigh and her family who drove in from Michigan. My nephew Peter flew in from New York and my nephew Chris flew in from Vermont. Our family generates lots of frequent flyer miles.

The weather was superb and the pool at our place was heated so Sharon and I invited everyone over for a cookout. Hoping that the weather remained good, as a dozen people in the coach is a bit close even for relatives, I think we lured them over with a menu of steak and roasted corn-on-the-cob but surprised them with hot dogs and sloppy Joe's. When you're old and retired you'll stoop to any means to get people to visit. Anyway they stayed and we had a smashing time. Too bad you can't bottle laughter as we'd of made a case of it. Three generations mixing up a stew of old stories and times gone by.

We spent most of our time at Judy and Bob's spacious home on the river in Beaufort. Overlooking a long bend on the slow moving waterway, and within full view of the city marina and bridge to Lady's Island, the spacious house is a great gathering spot. As usual, Judy and Bob opened their home for all to use and enjoy with plenty of great food and drink.

It was good to see the cousins get together and share experiences from each others country. My daughter Leigh's daughter Allison and my nephew Mark's daughter Laura are about the same age and are typical young teenagers. Giddy and silly at times but learned beyond their years at others. Such precious young women. Ben, soon to be eighteen, is an engaging and quick to laugh young man. He's about to graduate and move on to study engineering in Germany. His cell phone is his constant companion while here in the states. It seems beside soccer and school, his main interest, Vanessa, have kept regular company via AT&T. ..Oh to be young again... My grandson Austin, whose vocabulary belies someone of more advanced years, found Emma (an energetic spaniel who likes everyone)and Millie (a long haired cat who likes the dog more than people) a pair that could entertain for hours on end. His natural affinity for animals is reciprocal and Emma found someone who could keep up with her boundless energy. I've always felt that anyone who could get along with animals would certainly be more successful when dealing with humans than those who couldn't. He'll do well.

Our daughter Leigh and husband Scott (with kids Austin and Allison) made the long weekend drive south. We were so happy to see them again as we've been away from home for over 22 weeks.
They're a couple that seems so natural together and fun to be around.

My nephew Mark, my sister's oldest, shares many of my interests (cars and gadgets) so we always have much to talk about. Petra, Mark's wife of some 22 years, is a real family treasure. Her gentle nature and quick smile adds to any gathering. In many ways they personify the old adage 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'. We don't get to see them as much as we'd like to.

Peter, my sister's youngest, remains the family spark plug. Ready to ignite any stuffiness in the room with his infectious laughter, he's held on to the 'kid' in him that most of us have lost.

My 'middle' nephew Chris continues to broaden his horizons. His travels to seek out people that need help through education has taken him to places most of use would quickly avoid. Be it remote India or New Orleans in aftermath of hurricane Katrina, he's been there to provide help. A rare counterpoint to a generation of 'me first' contemporaries.

New relationships begin to unfold as we all get better acquainted. As so many families get scattered around the country, getting together becomes more and more a logistical challenge. And before long, months become years before we see each other. Bob and Judy's wisdom of orchestrating these reunions has begun to bring our far-flung families closer together. A worthy legacy I'd say. Now if we could only get my son Steve and his lovely wife Jenny to get the time off to join us next time.

This last image is one of those line em' up against the tree and shoot em' kind of shot. Not too creative but getting this group to stand still in one place is quite an achievement. Judy, Bob, Peter, Chris, Mark, Petra, Laura, Ben and of course...Emma.

So there you have it. A slight deviation from my normal travelogue. We have since left Hilton Head and moved on to a little town north of Atlanta, Georgia. Careful planning on my part figuring that no one would be on the road when we were going through Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. Wouldn't most be in church or watching the b-ball game, I told myself. Au contra re. Wall-to-all cars, trucks, and motorhomes. I suspect snowbirds heading north clogged every inch of the eight northbound lanes. Talk about white knuckles. Keeping the rig between the white lines was more than a challenge... it was a necessity. Anyway we made it to Adairsville for a couple of days with the mission of seeing our 'other' daughter. More about that next time.

Treasure Island...

Well not exactly... but I think I might need a little more 'treasure' while staying at our new location on Hilton Head. Not exactly the WalMart of tourist stops, it is however a nice place to vacation. We've had the opportunity to visit the island several times before but this was the first time we've had our coach here.

We'd planned on arriving here in mid-afternoon after a 300 mile ride north from Titusville but as things tend to go, we did have a little hiccup along the way. I'd noticed on the trip from Alabama to northern Florida, a couple of weeks ago, that I didn't seem to have quite as much power in the coach as I thought I should have. It was a little sluggish as I started to find the terrain a little more hilly than previous legs of our trip. I suspected something was up so I called Cummins engine people to talk over the situation. Several causes were offered up. Having had work done on the engine before, I knew that nothing is free (except their advice) and I had better brace for the worse so as anything less would seem good. I made an appointment at the Jacksonville Coach Care shop and pulled in around 10:00am. After a tense moment watching the technician wedge the coach into an extremely small bay, we settled in to find out what was wrong. I'm here now to formally ask my readership for donations. Anything will do as this whole ordeal turned instantly ugly as the technician reviewed the quote with us. What I had fixed about two years ago has once again failed. My charged air cooler (sorta like a radiator for the turbo charger) had again split a seam and I was loosing half my turbo output. So instead of 400 horsepower I had probably 150 less. Probably doesn't sound like a big deal to non-diesel motor home users but let me tell you this is a doosey. So I called Monaco and they said the part was no longer in stock (ugh) and to expect a 10-12 week wait until they could get the supplier to make one and ship it. The price plus installation was sort of like making a down payment on a house. The good news is I can still drive it and get home so it doesn't mess up our travel plans. Anyway it's something that is fixable and things like this happen regardless whether its a motor home or a summer house that needs a new roof or new furnace or.... You don't wish these things to happen but they do, so get over it.

Anyway we cruised on up to the island, got parked just before dark and then discovered they put us in the wrong site. Not a big deal but it did require us to relocate this morning. The park is tucked into heavily wooded parcels of land near the round-about (for those who know the island).
The gnarly live-oaks are draped with Spanish moss, the many azaleas are in full bloom, the flowering plum are vivid pink and tall palms are everywhere. The place is easily at the same level of luxury as the last place we were at but within elbow-reach of the all the neat places on the island. I'd like to take credit for picking this place but I actually had picked a KOA about 20 miles from here. Thinking a little cheaper I suppose, and a little closer to my sister's place in Beaufort. Sharon, on the other hand, did a little more research on the web and began to develop a bad feeling about the place and began to look elsewhere. You know... women's intuition or ... there are no malls nearby so it must be a bad feeling. Being so persuasive, I lost my control and gave in. Sorry you guys out there. But you know how it goes.

We both knew the island had RV parks but considering that it was near Easter weekend and spring break, I would never have thought that we could find a spot to camp. As luck would have it, she did find an opening (actually there were a few) so we took it. Along with all the pretty scenery and proximity to shopping there is the pool, tennis, golf (of course), and more than a few nice restaurants. As it turned out, the place was the same price as the other place (so there went my lame argument) so maybe fuel costs really have put a damper on travel. So we're here, Sharon made a great decision and we're looking forward to re-assume relaxing.

I've been hearing from a few of you lately and really appreciate the feedback. If you notice the small world map, with the red dots, beside my column you will see that we have readership from many places around the world. This has been quite a surprise to me and find it very interesting. I would really be interested to learn more of who is reading this blog: how they learned of the blog and what cities and countries they are located in. If you could return a short one-liner with this information it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Gotta leave...too bad

We're packing up today...heading out early in the morning. We've been here only one week but a very relaxing one. Well maybe watching the space shuttle launch and another rocket launch last Friday was not all that relaxing, but we made up for it by just goofing off. No real plans but sleeping in and doing whatever. This camp (whoops..definitely not a camp but closer to a real resort) http://www.tgoresort.com/ has all the amenities one could want. Plus it is real easy on the eyes. Like a pretty woman, this place is pretty too. Lush landscaping, immaculate buildings, more concrete and brick paving than your local mall, and management and owners who intend to keep it that way. Normally I'm a little critical of the claims many RV resorts advertise but this place is right on the mark. I know you're beginning to think I'm on the payroll or a site owner, but I'm not.

Not that I wouldn't love to buy a site here but just a little out of our reach. One of the neat things about this place is that once you buy a site for your RV you can do just about what you want with it. As an example my neighbor Dave from Massachusetts, owns a company that specializes in water ponds, waterfalls and the like. Like many snowbirds, he found he had a little spare time on his hands so he decided to create several small ponds connected by a babbling brook. It runs along his driveway and between where I was parked and his RV. Surrounded by lush, carefully selected vegetation, the little stream was so realistic. Frogs and hundreds of small fish inhabited the waters and took care of any bugs that may hatch there. I never gave much thought as to what it took to create one of these small water projects but this takes not only some physical ability, but mostly creative talent and a solid understanding of what plant materials work together. Dave has certainly created something special and I appreciated that he spent the time with me explaining his craft. I also owe him a big thanks for letting us borrow his WIFI signal. The service at the camp was a little weak at our location so Dave let us share his signal.

On many of the sites the owners have added RV ports to parks their rigs under or have fully enclosed garages. Some have small add-on rooms for visiting guests while some have $500k full size homes next to their $million+ coaches. A little something for everyone.

One of the attraction nearby was the Warbird Museum. A museum dedicated to preserving old fighter planes from the past. There was a scheduled air show this past weekend and rather than attend and fight the crowds, I pulled up a lawn chair on the driveway, got out my long telephoto lens and shot a few images. As usual there was one shot I missed and it was pretty neat. A very tight three fighter plane formation flew over: a current F18, a Vietnam era F4, and a WWII P51. Quite a sight. The image I did get was a stack formation of four Avenger (I think) WWII fighters/bombers. Anyway, the roar of old radial engines and scream of the jets made for very cool overhead sightseeing.

I did do something I seldom do, but thought it would be fun. The camp has a nature center and a standing group of regulars who manage the service and provide information to anyone interested and the flora and fauna in camp. This past Saturday they were holding a photo exhibition and I submitted three images for review. They had about 120 visitors to the showing and served wine and cheese and it was sort of neat. They had all the visitors vote on their favorite image and apparently the winner will be announced next month. There were some interesting work represented and it will be fun to find out what won. Sharon, of course is rooting for me. The grand prize is somebodies undying gratitude that a bunch of us brought our photos over so that the organizers could get together and drink wine and eat cheese, I think.

Speaking of flora and fauna...did I mention alligators, diamond back rattlesnakes, armadillos, raccoons, deer and who knows what else lives around and in the camp! I saw pictures of some mighty big rattlers but apparently not seen too often right in camp. What is pretty common are the alligators around the big ponds at the golf course and the nightly foraging of the armadillos. I saw neither but most regulars have.

No doubt about it but we could have stayed here longer. The great camp and the great weather is what we're getting used to in ...livin' the dream.

Space travellers...

Okay so call me a kid...or.. Just haven't quite grown up yet?...or.. What a waste of time...or.. At 2:28:12 in the morning...are you kidding! ...or ...it doesn't even make page 6 news. I don't care. My childhood memories of camping out in the backyard of our Meachem street apartment with my friend Larry. Laying there on our backs on an old blanket looking skyward. Waiting for that moment when the first Sputnik flew overhead hundreds of miles above. Or... at the school auditorium when everyone was gathered around a couple of black and white tv's waiting to see that first step on the moon. The excitement is still real and this will be my first live, standing right there, feeling, hearing , and seeing a Space Shuttle blast off into space. I've got the viewing site all picked out, plenty of warm clothes, cameras, tripods, and faithful wife in tow. We're getting there about 4 hours early; not knowing what to expect concerning parking or the size of the crowd. Maybe the public has been dulled by about 50 years of space launches and strained necks looking into the heavens for a tiny moving thingamajig and no one will be there...we'll soon see. For sure I will be there.

As it turned out, 4 hours early was none too soon. Parking was tough to come by but we found a spot and set up our position near water's edge 12.1 miles from the launch pad 39a. We could easily see the giant flood lights illuminating the pad as they produced a strange skyward fan of light that was beginning to bounce off the incoming cloud deck. To the right of the pad is the huge vehicle assembly building where they attach the shuttle to the fuel tanks.

I took two cameras. One on a tripod to capture a long exposure of the entire launch sequence and the other to grab sequential images during the lift-off. As I had plenty of time to get setup, there was lots of time to check out the other folks wandering in to see the fireworks. One guy stopped by and was a little over-awed at the equipment I had and wanted to ask a bunch of questions. No problem as it's always fun to talk of one of my passions. I also had a ham radio with me that was re-transmitting the play-by-play of the count-down activity on the launch pad. He said "you must be pretty well connected to have such access to the pad". I told him, with a smile, " if I was so well connected how come I was 12 miles away like everyone else?" We both had a little laugh but I'm not so sure he thought the comment that funny.

After a bit, two young men in their mid-twenties came by and made camp right next to me. One, a throw-back of the 70's' was sort of a hippie type; long hair, full beard, army fatigue jacket and a beret. With a small digital camera and tripod he went through quite an elaborate setup. He was trying to figure out how to hold a large pair of binoculars in front of his tiny digital camera so as to get a magnified image of the upcoming blast. It was fun to watch him as his desire to get a picture was high but his equipment just wasn't up to the task. His friend was on his way to getting drunk rather than take a picture. With a screw top bottle of wine hidden in a plastic bag he decided that I was the person he wanted to spend the next several hours talking at. These young men had driven down from upstate New York over the past 16 hours and apparently someone told them a rocket was going off so somehow they found me to share the moment. My luck was changing from bad to worse.

As the time ticked by before launch, Sharon began thinking out loud why she had agreed to accompany me. It kind of reminded me of my kids when travelling years ago...'are we there yet Dad?'. About every 5 minutes she reminded me that only 5 minutes had gone by and it was still 3 hours until launch. To make matter worse, I told her the rocket may not go on time and the night was young. My error. Luckily, I overheard someone nearby talking about Battle Creek ,(our old home town) so I not so politely, hollered over to them asking if they were from there. The one guy said yes and we quickly asked about what high school he attended (Lakeview 1961) and other goofy stuff. Before too long, the guy wandered over and he a Sharon began talking. I continued my intense, almost Zen-like, preparation for the launch and turned to ask her something, but she was gone. A short distance away, she was now chatting it up with the home town contingent: in her element again and not counting the minutes till we leave.

Keep in mind there are now several thousand people packed into this little 4 acre park so there are folks of all types. Just after midnight someone in the back pulled out a trumpet and played a course of "America the Beautiful". One of those impromptu patriotic moments that drew a nice round of applause. It would have been nice if the astronauts could have heard it.

As launch timed neared, I mentally went through all the stuff I wanted to do with my cameras. I then tried to control the now drunk guy next to me and the 6 foot 6 inch giant who thought the best spot to view the launch was in front of my cameras. All I could think was 50 years of waiting to see a big space ship blast off now ruined by Attilla the Hun and the new town drunk. Attilla was the easy one as I just asked him to stand still and not move during the launch (he agreed), drunk guy was urged to get closer to the water to get a better photo with his digital camera (he stumbled off and out of view just in time). All was clear and the time had arrived. Listening to the countdown, the crowd hearing my radio transmission and several others in the crowd, began the cadence ...9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1...ignition.

Holy Toledo...this fiery beast was magnificent. Rising slowing into the Eastern sky, it quickly accelerates and arcs into the lowering cloud cover. Not until it reaches the clouds does the sound reach our location 12 miles away. The low rumble builds to continuous roar as it moves out. While the cloud cover masked about 8 minutes of the flight, the first two minutes made up for the loss. The launch was all it's cracked up to be. If you're in the area, find your way to see it.

STS-123 Endeavour made the journey tonight to link with the International Space Station. All five astronauts are safe and well into their mission. It was an honor for me to have witnessed their launch and will remain a life-long memory.

Sun Coast Adventures


New Port Richey


We had planned on visiting this area of Florida for several reasons. Mostly to visit friends and family but also to experience the climate and see some of the sites. Near mid-state, Wesley Chapel was not exactly a tourist destination but more of a stop-over to some place else. About 25 miles from the coast, the farming area was much like mid-Michigan.

Our first call was to our friends Ron and Jan. They stopped over to our camp after a family reunion and we made plans for the next day's activities. The following day we made our way to their condo. A second floor beauty overlooking a boat lined channel. I could imagine relaxing in their glassed in Florida room, glass of Merlot in hand and watching the day go by. Not so sure they ever find time to do that, as they lead a very active life, but for my lazy life style it looked about right. They wanted to show us the area so we hopped in their car and took a spin through the nearby area. We didn't venture too far as they had arranged for us to take a boat ride and departure time was near. The day was overcast and threatening rain but we're not ones to pass up a boat ride so we were anxious to go. We arrived at the dock and boarded the over sized, covered pontoon boat the "Miss Daisey II".
About twenty other folks got on board and we headed off on our journey. The captain and owner was a retired railroad engineer who, along with his wife, have owned the boat for four years. Well versed in the history of the area, the captain ventured slowly out the Pithlachascotee (Cotee) river into the Gulf. Low tide with a slight chop on the water made the trip smooth. As we made our way out, we passed house after house (better would be mansion after mansion) at water's edge. The captain knew of who lived in many of them and what real estate prices were. Not for the faint hearted, these fantastic mega homes were spectacular. A few were for sale; probably victims of recalculated ARM's or some sub-prime deal gone south, but for sure way out of our price range. Not that we were looking, but we're all a little curious what people pay for these huge homes. Anyway, we headed further out into the Gulf to a point where there were fishing shanties (complete with SAT tv) on stilts. Weird place to own or rent a place, but it saves a long boat ride from shore to get to the fishing grounds. And I guess you don't have to worry about peddlers ringing your doorbell... only cormorants and seagulls.

We made the turn at the fishing shacks to return to the river system. The captain began to tell of us the famous celebrities that once lived along the river and where they lived. Shirley Temple, golfer Gene Sarazen, Babe Ruth, Gloria Swanson, Charlie Chaplin plus a host of others once lived on the river. Far more history in this area than we had ever thought. By now the wind had freshened and we were engulfed in another downpour. Thankfully the boat was covered but we quickly wished we had brought along warmer, more waterproof clothes. Arriving back at the dock it was now a torrential downpour and we all got soaked getting back to the car. None-the-less it was a great trip and we thank our hosts Ron and Jan.

Having worked up an appetite while traversing the mighty oceans, we headed to downtown New Port Richey to the quaint little bistro called The Grand Cafe. After a scrumptious lunch we returned to their condo to continue our chat. The heavy rain continued on our return to camp but did not dampen our appreciation of the great day that Ron and Jan provided.

The downpour continued and we managed to receive over 5 inches of rain within a 24 hour period. This is getting to be a habit with us whenever we visit friends it seems. Accompanied with tornado warnings, the weather that follows us along these past few stops is getting us to wonder a bit.

Hudson

Our next trip was to make a visit the the Tullamore Dew gang in Hudson the following day. Mary and Barc had invited us to pay them a visit while in the area so we gave them a call and set a time. My trusty GPS got the 30 or so miles to their place only to deposit us at the back gate of this enclave of new homes. After getting Barc on the phone we stumbled through the process of getting the gate open. Unsuccessful, I pulled aside to let an impatient party balloon delivery man get through and quickly tailgated him in by the swinging iron gate. Recent memories of my episode with the motor coach put a little extra zest into my accelerator. Barc greeted us as we drove up to their beautiful new home. A stylish modern home with an inviting front entrance. Mary was waiting at the door as we stepped inside.

The house looked as if the 'Extreme Makeover' people or Bob Vila had just left. Mary's touch was professional with bold color schemes and personal touches that projected their many interests. Barc stirred up a couple of mean vodka tonics and we settled in for an afternoon of reminiscing about places we've travelled around the world and of course, just a little ISD chatter. As the afternoon wore on I began thinking about what to do for dinner but Mary had a surprise. Some of their thoughtful friends had brought some Kogel Vienna hot dogs and chili sauce from Flint and they wanted to share them with us. Hot dogs you say! Hot dog for out-of-town guests who have travelled thousands of miles and you're serving them hot dogs? Oh my. Well friends... let me tell you something. We've been away from home since November 1st and I can almost count the days since I last had a Kogel. Only Flint people will understand what I'm talking about so I won't go on about it. But it is an institution in Flint and for many of us it is almost a weekly treat. Hats off to Mary and Barc for bringing a little 'back home' into our life. And to top it off, Mary had whipped up a home made lemon merguine pie that was 'blue ribbon' quality. It was good to see them and see how happy they are in their new home and surroundings.

Sarasota

My family tree is a little sparse compared to many but I do have a cousin who lives in Sarasota who I haven't seen is many years. My Aunt Irene's daughter, Janet, has lived in Florida for almost 10 years, leaving the unpredictable weather of Virgina and settling here, her husband Rick's home state. We called and set up a time and as usual plugged in their address into my trusty Garmin GPS and headed out from our camp on our two hour journey south. As luck would have it the little gadget took us right to their front door. And what a door it was. Rick came out to greet us and he looked as fit as ever. Their spacious home, as he puts it, is a work in progress. A point that certainly fooled us. Janet greeted once inside and made us right at home. Though we have not spent much time together over the past 50 years, it was just like old times, reliving some of the experiences we had as youngsters. I felt a little ashamed that I had not been a better family member by keeping in touch over the years. Time has a way of robbing you of things that really matter. We met a number of the other members of the household: Big Dog, Victoria, Sugar Dee, Doodles and several more. Mostly rescued critters that needed a home. And there home was quite a place. Rick says work in progress but it is a beautiful waterfront home. A large lanai enclosed a beautiful tile pool and fountain. A dream kitchen with panoramic views of the pool and outdoors and gorgeous custom cabinets and granite counter tops. As it turns out Rick was the architect and builder of most everything in the kitchen. A former small arms salesman, turned tile layer, turned cabinet maker; he's an accomplished artist in cabinetry. Janet, as is turns out, played a vital role in the construction of the house working daily on the job site with the various trades to keep the house on schedule and to make sure they followed the plans. And here I thought I was one of the smart members of the family. They insisted on taking us out to dinner so we dined at a local family owned Italian restaurant. The food was outstanding as was the conversation. Anyway our time was way too short for this visit and we vowed not to let another decade or two pass before getting together again.

Friends and Family are what have made this trip a success. There would be no 'Livin' the dream' without them.

In Pursuit of Trivia

Every now and again we stumble across some interesting trivia that's of little use but I'm duty bound to fill this blog with something, so I share it with you. Being from southeast Michigan there is a highway that runs near our home that most everyone refers to as the "The Dixie".

Using this generally north-south running road is sort of like taking a ride through any town in the midwest. A good deal of mom and pop commerce and a smattering of urban decay and used-to-be farmland. I never gave the name much thought assuming it had something to do with the route locals use to take south (duh) before I-75 was built. Possibly nicknamed as the path many displaced autoworkers used to return to their former homes in the south. After arriving in central Florida I began looking at the maps a little closer and discovered the "Old Dixie Highway" that runs along some of the western coastline.

Wondering if there was any connection, I did a little 'Googling' and soon discovered that these two road are linked in what was initially part of the 'National Auto Trail'. Developed in 1914 and an offshoot of a plan to connect Montreal and Miami with a series of paved roads, the old asphalt/concrete relic probably doesn't get the respect it once had. The 'Dixie' probably didn't get the notarity as Route 66 did but I suppose if roads could talk this old road would have a story or two to tell. As we have found out, a number of the coastal towns (New Port Richey, Tarpon Springs, etc.) were meccas for some of the entertainment world's greats. Charlie Chaplin, Shirley Temple, Gene Sarazen (golfer), Gloria Swanson, Ester William and Babe Ruth were all frequent visitors and property owners who found this area appealing. Anyway the old 'Dixie' is still working at bringing in vacationers to enjoy this areas beautiful beaches and great weather.

Kicking back ...

The dust is almost settled. Insurance adjusters, body shop estimators, and what to do next is almost over. I've decided this whole ordeal with the damage to the coach has got to stop. Gee whiz ... we're on vacation and who needs this stress. So back burner it goes. We'll worry about fixing the coach when we get back. Anyway... we've grilled out some excellent steaks, drank some very nice wine and have got to know our neighbors a little better. The weather has been great so all is good and wonderful these past two days. Today we even had a visit from our old friends Ron and Jan from Fenton. We'll continue our visit when we call on them at their condo in New Port Richey tomorrow.

Not that I needed any more distractions this week but I could not get the %#@* satellite dish pointed to the correct satellites in the sky. It's usually an easy exercise but for whatever reason I couldn't get the job done. We're parked in a oak orchard (new term I invented) with all the branches covered with spooky Spanish moss. At night this would be a great setting for a Stephen King novel especially with all the oldsters who can't sleep roaming around the place. Anyway, I'd fooled around with this for two days with little success when a neighbor across the street came over. He said he'd been watching me for those same two days and couldn't stand it any longer and decided to help out. Setting aside my ego for a few minutes, I succumbed to his offer as I had already missed three days of the Imus show and enough is enough. Like most things in life, there is usually a simple answer even to the most complex problem and this was no exception. For whatever reason I had set aside a crucial alignment step, apparently thinking too trivial, and unless the satellite was sitting atop the rv next to me, I would have never linked up. Prest-o-change-o and he had it aligned and we were in business. Whew. I swallowed a little pride while he swallowed one of my beers. Not an even trade but I can always buy more beer.
Another day...another lesson...just livin' the dream.

What a Day

What could possible wrong with a day like this. A bright sun greeted us this morning as we prepared for our next leg of the trip. We pulled out of camp onto I-10 headed east to I-75 then south. Traffic a little more dense than days past as this was Bike Week in Daytona and lots of folks were either dragging or driving their bikes there. But the roads were in good shape and we managed to find our destination on the north side of Tampa by mid afternoon. Located near a new mall was a plus for Sharon so things were looking up. We pulled into the staging area at the camp to get our site assignment. The park owner was summoned to show us in as it was a gated park and he had to let us in. I started up the coach and begin to follow him through the wide metal gate. I was about 20 feet behind his golf cart and he continued to motion me forward. Also in his waving hand was the gate electronic controller. The gate opening is about 20 feet wide and hinged on one side, plenty wide to get my 9 foot coach through. So I get center in the opening and he motions me forward. About 10 feet of coach made it through when I heard something hit the coach. Looking forward I could see he is still waving me forward and coach is still moving. I quickly glanced to my right and saw nothing unusual but another look to the left discovered something ugly was going on. The large white metal gate had slammed against the coach and continued to heavily press on the side for the next 25 feet. Some gouging and scraping all the way through to the base fiberglass and generally screwing up the paint almost the entire length below the belt line. I got it stopped and the owner turned around to survey the damage. He said he had the button on the remote controller on all the time but the unit somehow decided to close. I didn't get out to look until I got parked but I could tell on Sharon's face (who was following in the tow car) it wasn't good. And not good it was. The owner said to get it fix and send him the bill. I said fine but I'm guessing he may not know what it takes to paint these behemoths. So it looks like I have something more on my plate to take care of. Good thing is no one was hurt and it is fixable. Another day livin' the dream.

Tallahassee Overnighter...

Keeping with my 250 miles/day (or less) driving regimen, we settled in for the remainder of the day. A very comfortable park just off I-10 east of Tallahassee (www.tallahasseervpark.com).
Owned, or at least managed by a New Zelander (love that accent), he escorted us to our large pull thru lot. All parks should do this, I might add. We plugged in, Sharon mixed up a couple of big vodka tonics, I got out the lawn chairs and before long we were enjoying the warm late afternoon sun with neighbors on each side of us. Next came the snacks, more drinks and if it hadn't started to get a little dark and chilly, we'd all still be outside into the night. One couple was headed for Bike Week in Daytona, and the other were full-timers headed who knows where; maybe Destin after Sharon finished with her Destin Chamber of Commerce speech. They were well travelled including four trips to Alaska. Say what you wish about rv-ers but I can't think of a better way to have a continuous stream of interesting people and places at your doorstep. On to Quail Run rv resort in Wesley Chapel tomorrow morning.

ps... for those keeping track of prices: gas is around $3.19 and diesel $3.73 (ouch!). Thankfully I don't need any for another 500 miles or so.

National Naval Air Museum

Not one to pass up a collection of old war planes, a stop at the Naval Air Museum at the Pensacola Naval Air Station, was something we didn't want to miss. This, like the Air Force museum in Dayton Ohio, are true national treasures. With immaculate buildings and grounds, this fantastic collection of naval aviation is certainly worthy of a visit.

One of my highlights was listening to one of the visitors relive his Navy experiences to a small group of youngsters. The visitor was a WWII fighter pilot who had earned his wings at PNAS and fought in the Pacific. The youngsters, to whom the very sprightly 81 year old was telling his story to, were Naval and Air Force pilots who served in Vietnam. What a moment. The 'youngsters', seasoned combat veterans in their own right, were in rapt attention of the old warrior. I could have listened all day.

I took a few images of this neat place and I'd like to share them with you.





Make a point to stop here next time you're in the area.

Not Lulu's again!

Back in Gulf Shores, we got a call from John and Linda who had recently returned from a trip to central Florida. They suggested we head back to Lulu's for drinks and a little live entertainment.

Seems like I had been to a Lulu's when I was in the Army on the island of Okinawa but I suspect the live entertainment there was a little different.

John said we needed to get there early as the headliner was a popular attraction and the Geritol crowd would be taking all the good seats. Sharon and I did get there early and got a table right up front near the stage. As predicted, the blue hairs and bald pates soon began to trickle in. Well not actually a trickle but, by the bus load. Must be passing out free Depends tonight I thought. Here it is, 5 in the afternoon and shouldn't these people be napping somewhere or getting ready to listen to the 'Amos and Andy' reruns on AM radio tonight? I'd not thought to asked John what kind of entertainment we were having but was getting an idea. Myron Florine or maybe one of the Mills Brothers grandsons? It was shaping up to be a long evening.

John and Linda soon arrived and we ordered some beers. Drinking can make one forget so this was an easy task. There was some activity on stage as the headliner began getting his sound equipment setup. I looked around and this trendy, parrot head style party stop was nearly filled. I figured that there wasn't a nursing home within 20 miles that wasn't represented. Wait a minute... these weren't patients but folks from Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Ohio. Oh I get it... these aren't just oldsters but people just like me. They're snowbird retirees! Within just a few weeks of heading north, these folks were getting their entertainment fix with one of the more season acts around.

Brent Burns (www.brentburns.com), as it turns out, knows how to entertain. With an eclectic repertoire of ballads, blues, and country, this guy can put on a show. From a wide range of original songs that lyrics had the audience in stitches, to some old Beatles tunes... this was a fun evening. We sat through three sets until close and had a chance to chat with him a bit after the show. He's on the road most of the time in the summer and will be in Caseville (in Michigan's thumb) this coming August. Check out his website and plan to catch his act... you'll have fun.

Thanks again to Linda and John for setting up another great evening.

Animals are pairing up...

Not that we mind a little sprinkle now and again but the last few days at Miramar Beach and Destin has got us looking for a place to take scuba lessons. More like the typhoon I was in back in 66', this was some serious, and dangerous weather. I bet if Noah had it this bad we wouldn't have near as many species as we do now. Visibility was near zero, high winds, and Sharon's favorite, lightening was ongoing for three days. Just short of 7 inches of rain fell within 48 hours. Locals said this was really unusual but probably say that to all the tourist so as not to scare them away. But driving rain and Charlton Heston sized lightening bolts aside, we had a great time with our friends J and K and Denny and Marilyn. Miramar Beach, our first stop, with J and K, is about 70 miles east of us and the drive over was scenic as it follows the gulf coastline. Through Gulf Breeze, Pensacola, Mary Ester, and Destin we arrive in mid-afternoon. The closer we got to Destin the bigger the condo complexes became and the density of shopping malls increased. Foolish me had never given a thought that this stretch of the country has so catered to the vacationing public. We're not talking about a row of double-wides here folks but real estate that can easily be in the seven figures. We located their complex and wheeled in like we owned the place; hoping that security would look the other way. They did but we'd forgot one small detail. Which of the four buildings were their's and ...what floor did they live on? A quick cell call to Kathy got us pointed in the right direction and before long two people were waving at us from the second floor balcony. They came down to help us with our luggage (two Hamady sacks and an Avon duffel bag) and took us up to their condo. Pretty nice place I'd say. Someone must have been a lottery winner somewhere along the line. Didn't even have to share the bedroom or bathroom and the pool was the size of Uncle Otis's pond next to the hog pen. They wanted to show us around town so we headed off to see the sights and later catch dinner at Callahan's Island restaurant. At the time the weather was nice with sunny skies and little on the cool side but better than snow (if you know what I mean).

We soon got caught up on all the friends and family news then continued our little sightseeing trip. It was a treat for me as I didn't have to drive. Gawking around is one of my passions and I can never (seldom) succumb to that urge while driving the motor home (not safe with a 19 ton rig); therefore getting someone else to chauffeur me around is 'a-okay'.

On this particular day I had a special agenda. Maybe not since stone henge, was the notion of watching a full eclipse of the moon deemed exciting. I however, get charged up as I wanted to get some photographs of the event. Everyone acquiesced and we returned to the condo before 7:30pm when the event was supposed to start. J agreed to go along with me and we headed out. We didn't venture far as the eastern end of the parking lot seemed to be a good dark spot so I got set up and began the wait. The evening was a little cool with the wind blowing but the sky was mostly clear except when I wanted to take a photo. The leading edge of the monsoon storm was starting to work its way into view so I had work around that obstacle when wispy cloud fragments passed by. The wonders of the universe seldom disappoint as the eclipse began. The earth's shadow slowly crept across the face of our lunar neighbor until it was fully covered. Coincidentally it was also the same time as the lawn sprinklers were timed to go on. Call it Divine intervention or bad luck but I got the message, and we headed in. The hour and a half adventure had served it purpose. I got the images I wanted and had the chance to visit with J. It had been a few years since we had had that opportunity, it was a perfect time to get caught up.

We slept in a little the next morning and when we finally did get up, J and K had prepared a super breakfast for all of us. During breakfast we were entertained by mother nature's orchestra playing a medley of thunder claps, lightening bolts, howling wind and pounding rain. We needed to move on to our next stop so we said our farewells and planned on getting together again when we all got home in the spring.

As Sharon and I continue on with our trip, we often remark that what has made this trip really special is the wonderful people we've seen along the way. K and J are no exception. We thank them for their hospitality and friendship.


Feeling like soggy Bedouins, we headed back to Destin to see Denny and Marilyn. As it turned out, only a 7-mile trip and that was welcomed as the weather had not gotten any better. Denny and I both retired from the same company and had known each other for over 20 years so we were looking forward to getting caught up. Sharon and Marilyn were both in education in the Flint area and also had much to talk about as well.


Denny and Marilyn have not been in the south all that long but certainly have learned the finer points of 'southern hospitality'. We settled in at their 4th floor condo and enjoyed watching the fearsome weather continue to ferment out the patio window. Marilyn served up a plate of goodies to ward off any afternoon fainting spells prior to all of us wading out in our Coast Guard Humvee to find a place to have dinner. When we finally stopped gabbing, we finally headed out into the driving wind and rain. They suggested Fisherman's Wharf http://www.fishermanswharfdestin.com/. A picturesque eatery located at the fishing docks in Destin. This 5 star restaurant had the character you'd expect with seaside dining. Big exotic fish tanks, great views of the marina and great seafood. After a plate of amber jack and grouper we waddled home only to be served some illegal ice cream called 'carmel coyote'. I say illegal because Sharon and I should be jailed for eating it but when teamed with some cinnamon cake (of lesser caloric count) it all balanced out. (didn't it?)

We had a good night's sleep and were greeted by a scrumptious breakfast Marilyn whipped up. We decided to finished off the morning with a little shopping in the rain. We visited a nice little wine shop that allowed lots of sampling and continued on to the Bad Ass Coffee Company (next door) http://www.badasscoffeedestin.com/ to see what they had to offer. Sharon and I had been to their main store in Hawaii some years ago and we were surprised to find another one on the mainland. The rain continued but we pressed on to the Stein Mart store at one of the big malls nearby. I luckily got out without spending any money but it wasn't easy. Meeting up with old friends is one of life's more comfortable and rewarding times. No matter where we meet them, Denny and Marilyn are a first class couple who have always treated us so well and we're thankful for their friendship.