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August started off with a fun day at the North Charleston Waterpark with our daughter and grandchildren. What a fun day that is floating around on a tube or the huge wave pool knocking you over. We had a wonderful day enjoying the water and heat.
This month Julia, our 7 year old granddaughter, had a special sleepover with us and then we had a girl's day. We went shopping, out to lunch and then to a movie. It was special and I think she enjoyed it as much as I did. LOL.
One night we went out to dinner at Poogan's Porch in downtown Charleston with friends. What a wonderful dinner we had - the food was out of this world - we all cleared our plates enjoying every bite.
Most of the month was spent on the boat crusing Charleston's waterways, watching the grandchildren tube or just enjoying floating while reading a good book. We also enjoyed the beach at Isle of Palms with warm water and warm sunshine.
On the 24th we were blessed again with our 6th grandchild. Amanda and Tim had a new son whom they named Elijah. He is just darling and was welcomed by his parents and brother Joshua and sister Gracie. We can hardly wait to fly out and meet him in October.
On the 27th we checked into Marriott Surfwatch, our timeshare in Hilton Head, SC, for two wonderful weeks. Most of the time was spent on the beach enjoying the water, sunshine, reading, walking, drinking, and just spending alone time with hubby.
On the 29th I woke with problems seeing. It really scared me but I tried to stay calm - the sunlight really bothered me so spent the day staying inside. By nighttime it still hurt so Tim took me to the emergency room only to learn I had an infection. They gave me some medicine and in a few days I was back to my old self.
Our daughter and family spent Labor Day at the beach with us. Our oldest granddaughter got stung by a jellyfish - they were really bad that weekend.
Our two weeks were just wonderful and feel so lucky to be able to enjoy our stay so much.
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On July 1st we left the Columbia area and headed to Charleston, So Carolina. We got set up in our site and then headed to Lighthouse Church to see our 7 year old granddaughter perform in a musical "Everday Heroes." She went to camp for a week at the church and it was amazing what they accomplished. After the play we went to Sonic and all had an ice cream sundae. Yummy!
What a wonderful idea this distillery has. They open the distillery grounds for free, have lunch trucks come in to sell food, ice cream and soft drinks, hire a band to play all afternoon - everyone brings lawn chairs and enjoys the day. The distillery sells firefly, which is a flavored tea vodka and they do have a tasting room where they charge. It brings lots of people to the property but yet they make lots of money on tours and tastings. It was located on Wadmalaw Island which is about 30 miles from Charleston. We enjoyed the food, company, and wonderful music.
The 4th of July we celebrated in the morning by going boating with our daughter's family and her in-laws. The weather was just perfect and we had fun - even stopped and swam for awhile. Back at the marina we had lunch and the girls went on the waterslides. Back home for showers and rest and at night went to a couples home on Sullivan Island for dinner and then fireworks on the beach. What a wonderful way to celebrate a holiday.
Makenzie, my four year old granddaughter, and I had a nice day out alone. We went to the Children's Museum first and she enjoyed playing and painting. Next we hit Target for a special toy that she picked out and then out for a nice lunch. She is such a job to be with but then again I say that about all my grandchildren. I think they bring out the best in us, don't you?
On the 8th of July we left Charleston with our 12 year old granddaughter Emily for some summer fun. We arrived at the Rutledge Lake Rv Park in Fletcher, North Carolina and had a time getting parked. Nice campground but narrow streets and people park on them so lots of tries before we got parked. Emily and I went over to the swimming pool and as soon as she got in the water it started to pour. She just laughed and smiled as usual.
Our excitement for the trip was going whitewater rafting on the Nantahala River. We checked into the Rolling Thunder River Company in Bryson City and were outfitted for our adventure. I got alittle scared and do not believe I would have done it but Emily really wanted to so chicken grandmom went. Tim, Emily and I all loved it, we were in a raft with 2 other guys and a guide. The water is freezing even in July being only 45, you sure did not want to fall in. It was an adventure and I did something new. Thanks Emily for pushing Grandmom to do something different.
Hiking on the Blue Ridge Parkway on the Craggy Pinnacle Trail was pretty cool also. When you reach the top you are suppose to have a 360 degree view but we saw nothing - the fog was just too thick. It was great exercise and gave Emily a feel for hiking. Our next hike was climbing up Mount Mitchell in the Black Mountains. It has an elevation of 6684 feet which is the highest point east of the Mississippi. The average temp in July is 68 for the high and 53 for the low. The state park covers 1946 acres and was a refreshing stop.
We drove into Hendersonville to check out the Mast General Store. Their original store opened in 1883 and carried everything from cradles to caskets back then. Today they carry alot of different things, lots of old fashioned toys, all kinds of penny candy that we loved as kids, shoes, clothing, tents, sleeping bags etc. It was fun to look around and Emily was delighted to find gifts for her family.
We walked around town checking out different stores and Tim trying to remember where his school was. He went to a private high school back in 1960 - 1962 time frame. We found out the school no longer is here - now a shopping mall sits on the property.
If you ever want to see how the wealthy live stop in at the Biltmore. As a bachelor George Vanderbilt built this 250 room home on 8000 acres. Three years later he married and they had one child. The home has 101 bedrooms and 43 bathrooms. His library had over 23000 volumes - do you think he liked to read? Would you want to clean this house - today they have 1800 employees to keep up all the work. Yikes. My 300 sq foot home sure was small when we went home. LOL.
We had a nice lunch in the building that used to be the stables. They still have the stalls with tables in them to enjoy lunch. We shopped the shops and then went over to the gardens. Just beautiful but so hot we did not stay too long. I think I would like to go here in the fall or early spring when the temp is cooler to enjoy the grounds. All in all it was a nice day.
It was wonderful spending this alone time with our granddaughter - she is such a delight to be with - so lucky to have her in our lives.
We traveled back to Charleston and bought a 2005 Hurricane boat with Susan and Jerry. We all fell in love with it and it brought us many happy times for the month of July. Between the boat and the beach we enjoyed the remainder of July.
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On June 1st Tim and I left Goose Creek and headed north on the back roads to tour North Carolina for a month. Our first stop would be Onslow Beach Recreation Area on Camp Lejeune for 10 days. What a wonderful 10 days it was. Every morning we walked at least 2 miles on the beach enjoying the fresh air and getting our exercise at the same time.
The campground has full hookups with a large cover over the picnic table but large enough to put chairs and be in the shade. We spent every day at the beach and enjoyed the surf greatly. One day the wind was blowing so hard that sand was blowing everywhere so we left after an hour. That day we went shopping and enjoyed touring the base. The base is huge as it occupies 246 square miles with 14 miles of beach. The only bad part about being here we never toured the area as we enjoyed the water and beach too much. LOL
While at Camp Lejeune we celebrated Tim's birthday. Happy Birthday honey.
Our next stop was Smith Lake Army Travel Campground on Fort Bragg. This is a nice campground with full hookups, showers, cabins, tenting sites, tables, campfire rings, lake, fishing, boating and hiking. A tornado had gone thru here in April and destroyed alot of trees, homes, dropped trees into the lakes so it was not as pretty as it could have been. We did enjoy our stay and the only complaint I had was the laundry is in the office and closes at 5pm. We found a laundry on base though so got all of that done in one afternoon.
Fort Bragg covers 251 square miles and was established in 1918 as a field artillery site. In 1934 the airborne tradition began with the first parachute jump using an artillery observation balloon as a platform. In 1952 it became home to the Army's Special Forces known as the Green Berets. The Golden Knights, the Army's Parachute Team, are also stationed here. It is one of the largest military complexes in the world because of personal stationed here.
We did alot of hiking while here each day early in the morning before it got to hot. It was wonderful walking in the woods listening to the birds chirp and seeing so many pine trees.
One day we toured Cape Fear Botanical Gardens in Fayetteville. They are located on 79 acres where Cross Creek meets the Cape Fear River. They have a beautiful Visitors Complex, children's gardens, butterfly stoll, friendship garden, camellia garden, daylily garden, conifer garden, shade garden, rain garden, and a hosta garden. My favorite part was the hosta garden as I loved hostas - had loads of them in our yard when we owned our home. Another part I loved was they had old buildings with flowers growing in the yards to look like a neighbor. Really cool place.
We toured the Fayetteville Transportation Museum where they had exhibs and artifacts of transporation from days gone by. It was very interesting and all free. While here a lady thanked me for letting my hubby serve in the military. In the last few years alot of people have thanked him for his service but never me. Maybe the next time I see a military spouse I will thank her for her sacrifices.
If you are ever in Fayetteville, North Carolina please stop in at the Airborne and Special Operations Museum. Admission is free - only the movie and simulator cost money. What a wonderful museum as the exhibits start in 1940 and go thru all the wars right up to present day. It is a museum which will not bore anyone as the displays are so interesting and imformative.
They have a wonderful movie called "Descending From the Clouds" which is well worth the time and cost. The motion simulator was wonderful as you felt like you were flying a helicopter, skiing down hills, jumping out of the helicopter etc. It sure gave you a feel for what the special ops training is like.
We totally enjoyed this area and will return again someday. Our next stop was Weston Lake Recreation Area and RV Park located on Fort Jackson in South Carolina. Fort Jackson is the largest and most active inital entry training center for the Army. It sits on 52000 acres which gives the army plenty of room to train. The base was founded in 1917.
The campground was just wonderful, full hookups, tables, campfires, showers, lake, swimming, fishing and boating. This was one of our best stops as we saw so much and enjoyed our selves greatly.
One night we had a nice dinner with fellow campers from Arizona which we totaly enjoyed. Real nice couple and wonderful food and conversation.
We went to South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum one afternoon. It shows the history of the military from the Revolutionary War to present in South Carolina. They had loads of civil war flags which were fun to look at but on a scale of 1 to 10 we would rate this about a 3. Kind of boring but it could be because we have been to so many museums. After we left the museum we stopped at the State Capitol which sits on 18 acres in the heart of Columbia. Construction of the capitol or state house as they call it started in 1855. In 1865 General Sherman's cannons shelled the walls of the unfinished capitol. Today 6 bronze stars mark the impact of the shells. It was finally completed in 1907 and is a beautiful building. We were able to tour the inside but not the chambers as the house was in session. Very impressive.
The grounds are just beautiful with loads of trees, flowers and monuments galore. Wonderful stop.
We drove to Camden to tour the Historic Camden Revolutionary War Site. The battle of Camden was the worst American defeat during the revolutionary war. This site shows how an 18th century town looked like. We paid extra to get a tour of the Kershaw house which is a replica of the original home. This house served as post headquarters during the British occupation in 1780. During the civil war in 1865 it served as a storehouse for the Confederacy. It was burned to the ground in 1865 when Federal troops came thru Camden. It was a very enjoyable day. We had lunch downtown Camden in a restaurant which was very popular with the locals. Wonderful food.
Sunday we took a ride to Lake Murray which was constructed in the 1930's as a hydro electric generating facility. It is 41 miles long and 14 miles wide and covers an area of 78 square miles with 649 miles of shoreline. As Tim and I found out most of the shoreline is private property so very few places to see the water. We had a wonderful lunch at Rusty Anchor Restaurant at the Lighthouse Marina. This sat right on the water and was very pretty.
Congaree National Park was another wonderful stop. The park is the tallest deciduous forest on the planet and is home to several champion trees. The park was established inn 1976 and is so different from any park we have been too. We hiked 4.4 miles enjoying the wonders of this place. We even got to see barred owls and heard their call which is a series of 8 accented hoots. Worth coming back to this place to enjoy nature. It is home to the largest old growth floodplain forest in North America.
The Governor's Green is a 9 acre comples consisting of the Governor's Mansion built in 1855, the Lace House which was built in 1854 and the Caldwell-Boleston House which was built in 1830. We did not have reservations so we were unable to tour the homes but it is quite a pretty setting.
One of the best museums in the country is located in Columbia and is the State Museum of South Carolina. It is a comprehensive museum with extensive exhibits in the disciplines of art, science and technology, cultural history and natural history. In one stop it encompasses all that South Carolina was, is and can be. We totally spent hours looking at everything. I would go back here in a second.
Columbia also has a beautiful river walk which we did one day. It was neat to see people putting tubes in the water and drifting away. Our only complait was the heat - much too hot to be walking in the sunshine.
A wonderful month
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I have been alful about doing the blog - seems the more time I allow to go bye the harder it is. I will try to capture what we have done that was fun and interesting this summer.
On May 6th we picked up the camper and headed north stopping at Kings Bay Naval Submarine Base for the weekend. We both like this campground as it has everything you need - even a free laundry. We had a nice relaxing weekend and got ready to leave Monday morning and realized something was wrong with the camper. Back to Ocala for repairs and also to get the window installed. On the 12th of May we were finally ready to head north and arrived in Charleston on the same day. Checked into Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek and got set up. We will be here a couple of weeks to visit doctors and children. On the 15th all 3 granddaughters were in a dance recital and must say they all did a wonderful job. I love watching them perform and see how they have improved over the years. It was 2 years ago that we watched them so alot changed in that time period.
While in Charleston area we celebrated Emily's 12th birthday and Julia's 7th birthday. Are they getting older or is it just me - wow I feel old now. I remember my children being that age and all the wonderful memories of them. Time sure flies when your having fun.
During this time frame we also went out on the boat with Susan and family and so enjoyed that. Charleston has so much water with islands galore to explore. What fun that has been.
One day we even had dinner sitting on the beach for a different experience. The weather is just beautiful to enjoy being outside most of the day and evening.
We also got to visit with friends and that wraps up another month in our lives. We stay busy most of the time going places, shopping, laundry, cleaning, taking rides, boat riding, hiking and of course reading. Our lives seem to be filled with all kinds of pleasures and we thank the Lord each day for such a blessed life.
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Well in the last post failed to mention that we were suppose to change our site on March 28th and got everything stowed and realized the slide on the curb side would not come in. After trying several times with lots of people trying to push it in we decided it was not going to budge. We called a mobile repair guy whom came out in the pouring rain and realized that one of the bolts broke off. He said he would find a new one and return the next day. The next day bright and early he showed up - replaced the bolt and the slide moved like a charm. $190 later we were happy campers.
On April 4th we left Charleston and headed south stopping at the rest area in Florida for lunch. We arrived in Ocala, Florida and checked into Santos Campground which is part of the Green Ways Trails in Florida. The campground is small but very neat with water and electric sites. We picked this campground as it is really close to the rv dealer whom will be fixing our camper later this month.
Tueday morning we woke to pouring rain so we just read for awhile and then decided to check out Ocala. This area is known as the Horse Capital of the world with the highest number of horses and virtually every brand of horse. While in this area it is hard to believe you are in Florida as it as rolling hills and so green.
We had the camper checked out on Wednesday morning so they could order what parts we would need to get it fixed. Our camper will finally have the new window plus fixing all the damage from the blow out. We will be back in two weeks to have this work accomplished.
Our next stop was MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. We love this area as we get to see my sister and brother-in-law plus it is on the beach. While here we attended our neice's wedding in Clearwater Beach right on the beach. It was an elegant wedding and then we attended a nice reception right at the beach. The sun was shining and the heat was pretty high but still a beautiful day. Thanks Jen and Howard for letting us share in your special day.
While in the area we enjoyed the beach, walks, rides, shopping and visiting with family. Spent two wonderful weeks there and then headed back to Ocala to drop off the camper. While it is being fixed we checked into Celebration World Resort located in Orlando, Florida. This timeshare had a beautiful pool but nothing else - couldn't even take a long walk as they are putting in pipes along the road which made it quite dangerous. At least it was clean plus we had a washer and dryer which made me a happy mama.
Easter Sunday fell on April 24th and we attended a sunrise service at Sea World. It was a beautiful service with a spectular sunrise as we were listening to the sermon. What a wonderful crowd to celebrate Easter with Chris Sligh from season 6 of American Idol leading us in song . We went to Panera Bread for a bagel and a good cup of coffee after the service. Later in the day we took a ride downtown Kissimmee and then around the lake - stopped for pizza as Tim was having the urge for it. It was very good and filled our bellies.
One day we took a ride to the town of Mount Dora. My sister and brother-in-law had told us about this town and we decided to check it out. Whatat a fablous little town. We walked around peeking into many shops and then had a wonderful lunch where the locals eat at a place called One Flight Up. You actually had to walk up a flight of stairs to the second floor. What wonderful food and got to sit outside on the porch. We walked down to the lake and enjoyed the quiet and beauty of the water. On the way back to the condo we stopped at Lake Louisa State Park located in Clermont, Florida. This is a wonderful park with a nice campground, swimming, fishing, boating, 6 lakes, 2 streams, 4500 acres and 23 miles of trails. It is a fairly new state park being purchased in 1973 and opened in 1977. We enjoyed our stop and hope to return some day.
Another day we visited the Ochid Place which was up the street from the condo. Some of the flowers were just beautiful but on a whole quite run down. The visit was free and Tim and I both agreed if they charged they could fix up the building. It could turn into a gold mine. They ship all over the world so alot must happen behind the scenes.
We also took a ride to Largo to visit with my sister Ann and her hubby. We went out to lunch and really enjoyed being with them again.
On the 29th we checked out of the condo and checked into Vacation Village at Parkway. We had a wonderful condo on the 6th floor with a nice balcony which we love. This timeshare had a beautiful pool, nature walk, activities, basketball, shuffleboard, playgrounds, horseshoes, fitness center, shuttle bus, grills and a place that sold food at the pool. We were very pleased with the timeshare. Again our own washer and dryer - see how little things thrill me. LOL
We took a ride to Disney World Fort Wilderness Campground to check out the place for our visit in September. Makenzie, our granddaughter, will turn 5 and we do something special with our grandchildren on their 5th birthday. We just fell in love with the place. So looking forward to our visit.
A visit to Celebration was another experience. This is a planned community developed by Walt Disney Company in 1996. It has schools, parks, housing, shops, offices, restaurants, etc. We enjoyed walking around and even checked out a few stores. It really is a very pretty town and well kept. The stores were alittle pricey so we just looked but totally enjoyed our day.
Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales was another stop. In the early 1920's Author Edward W Bok commissioned artisans to create a stunning landscape garden with a 205 foot 60 bell carillon tower. The carillon tower plays beautiful music so we sat on a bench and closed our eyes and just listened to the wonderful sounds. They play a different song every 30 minutes. We walked on the trails, visited the visitor center and historical museum and really enjoyed this visit. We had a wonderful lunch at the Blue Palmetto Cafe. Another wonderful day.
We found the following card which I really liked. It said
"The Gift of God is Eternal - The Wages of Sin is Death - You may tie your shoestrings in the morning, but the undertaker may untie them before night. Are you ready to meet your maker?" This really gets you thinking, doesn't it?
On May 4th was our daughter Susan's Birthday so we called and wished her a happy birthday. No matter how many years pass you remember the day you delivered your baby. I have such fond memories of that day etched in my mind. I have been so blessed with two beautiful daughters, 2 wonderful son-in-laws and 5 wonderful grandchildren. Thank you Lord.
One night we went to Landry's Seafood Restaurant and I had a wonderful dinner of lobster and Tim had scallops. What wonderful food - yummy. Think this is my favorite restaurant in the Orlando area.
On the 6th we checked out of the timeshare and headed to Ocala to pick up our camper. More to come in next blog.
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The month of March was spent at Goose Creek Naval Weapons Station, Goose Creek, SC to visit with family, friends and visit doctors.
One day we took Makenzie, our 4 year old granddaughter, to the Children's Museum in downtown Charleston. What a wonderful idea - they have things to do art projects, play on boats, grocery shop and actually pick out food and ring it up, water games etc. Makenzie really enjoyed herself. We then went for lunch and then Makenzie and I had our nails done. Grandpa passed on this part of our day - wonder why?
One weekend we had both Makenzie and Julia spend the night - they were so good. Grandpa slept on the blow up mattress while we all slept in our bed. Such good girls - in the morning we went for a nice hike in the woods which they loved. So enjoyed being with them.
One day we went to the Aquarium in downtown Charleston and enjoyed watching the fish, played in the playroom, watched the movie, had lunch and just had lots of fun with Makenzie. Her sisters are in school during the day so time alone with her which is nice for us all.
Julia had a special day with grandmom also - we went shopping at the mall - had lunch and just enjoyed being together. She fell in love with the Body And Bath Shop and had to have a bunch of things from there. She also found a book that se wanted - forget what else but we enjoyed ourselves.
We had a nice cookout at the campground with a bunch of people which was very enjoyable. Thanks so much to Darcy and Rich for inviting us to join them.
Tim went to the regular doctor, heart doctor and gastro doctor while here and good reports from them all. We even had bone density tests which went off well also.
One day Emily and I had a shopping trip - first we did lunch at Faz which she loves and then to the outlet mall. She got a bunch of tops and shorts which made her so happy - then we went for ice cream - had a wonderful day with a special young lady.
Watching Julia play soccer was another highlight of our time in Charleston. She is a very good player - really does well - guess she will take after her dad playing.
A visit with Lucille and Vinny and a wonderful dinner at a restaurant on the beach. I had lobster and it was out of this world - yummy. Enjoyed seeing you guys again and hope it will not be to long before we get together again.
On April 1st we drove to Columbia on Friday night and spent the night at the Marriott. We went out for a nice Italian dinner with Sue, Jerry, Julia and Makenzie. Saturday morning we attended Julia's gymnastics competion. She did really well and we were so proud of her. We then went to Charlotte to IKEA. Susan and Jerry bought a new desk for their office and we needed to put it in our truck for the ride home. I love that store and we had a wonderful lunch of Swedish Meatballs. They are pretty good, not as good as mom used to make though.
Sunday April 3rd we celebrated Jerry's birthday and said our goodbyes. Tommorow morning we leave for Flordia - stay tuned. |
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On February 1st we left Alameda Fairgrounds around 9:15 am and headed east. The ride was so much prettier as all the hills are green - not that dead looking brown. I just love seeing the cows on the sides of those huge hills chewing their cuds. Being on the road again gives us the opportunties to see new places, meet new people and discover new things. The night before we had said our goodbyes to our family in Pleasanton which is always hard to do We enjoyed our time here but so ready to move on.
Once we exited off I-575 we were in new territory which made the ride very enjoyable. On the way we saw where so much of our fruit, vegetables and nuts are grown. This area is known for grapes, pomegranates, pistachios, and figs. We stopped around 1 at "High Sierra Rv and Mobile Park in Oakhurst, California. They offer full hookups, clubhouse, cable, wi-fi, tables, fire rings, dump station, and a river for swimming and fishing. Our site was on the Fresno River with a waterfall which was so pretty. We received a nice discounts because we are Escapees Members. This campground is really close to Yosemite National Park which we will explore tommorow.
The next morning we had to go to the auto parts store and buy chains for the truck before entering Yosemite National Park. $85 later we had the chains in the back seat and headed towards the park. Because we have a senior pass for National Parks we got in for free - sometimes it pays to be old. LOL. Alot of the roads in the park are closed due to snow during the winter so this will have to be a mini view of the park and then revisit sometime in warmer weather. We were able to see the beautiful falls - Yosemite Falls which is 2425 foot drop, the Bridalveil Falls which is 620 feet but often the wind blows the falls sideways giving it the appearance of a brides veil. The Ribbon falls is the tallest single falls in North America. Looking at all the beautiful rock formations and seeing snow was the highlight of our day. Not one animal was seen - guess wrong time of the year. We had a nice lunch at the Lodge and rode the bus around the loop. We watched a movie and hiked to one of the falls thru ice and snow. It was a wonderful day and we enjoyed it greatly.
On the 3rd we took a ride to Bass Lake which is located in the Sierra National Forest. Drove all around the lake and enjoyed seeing the homes right on the water. We got a real good feel of the area and another enjoyable day.
Our next stop was Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station in Seal Beach, California. We have stayed at this nice campground before and again enjoyed our visit. While here we had trouble with our airbags on the hitch so had to wait until a new set was shipped and installed by Tim. We got to do laundry and also took a ride to Barstow, California to visit with Lamar, Tim's oldest brother. We took him to lunch at Coco's which was not every good and enjoyed our visit with him at the Veteran's Home.
Another two days we hit Disneyland. Disneyland opened in 1955 and I think I have wanted to see it since the Mickey Mouse Club back in the 1950's. It was quite an experience but I must admit that I like Disney World much better - bigger and more options. The first day we did the Disneyland Park and rode the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Disneyland Railroad, Haunted Mansion, Innoventions, Pinocchio's Daring Journey and the Sailing Ship Columnbia. We had lunch at the Carnation Cafe which had excellent food. We then treated ourselves to an afternoon snack at the Blue Ribbon Bakery. Fun day.
The next day we went back to Disneyland and did The California Adventure Park. We had fun doing so many enjoyable rides including California Screamin, Animation Academy, Disney Aladdin, Games of the Boardwalk, Golden Zephyr, Its Tough To Be a Bug, Monsters Inc, Soarin Over California and Toy Story Mania. We enjoyed lunch at Wine Country Trattoria enjoying Italian food. Another beautiful day.
We went to the South Coast Plaza Mall in Costa Mesa, California. Oh my what a wonderful mall. Has every store you can imagine especially the high end stores. A few of them even had guards at the doors. We enjoyed walking around and looking but the only things we bought were in the Kitchen Store. Nice to live in a small house - cannot be tempted to buy alot.
Our youngest daughter had a birthday on the 8th of February - I cannot believe my baby is 35 - wow that makes me old. We did receive good news that they are having another child in August. So happy for them.
On the 11th we pulled out of the Navy Weapons Station in Seal Beach at 8 am to start our journey east. As we started our journey we hit quite abit of traffic - this is norm for California as they have alot of traffic during the day and night.
Off in the distance you could see snow on the mountain tops while we were in 55 degree weather. Also as you look at the mountains you can begin to understand mud slides in this area. Some of those homes just don't belong on the sides of the mountains. Another thing that amazes me about California is the old school buses. They look like the ones we had back in the 1950's - I remember my dad driving one in the afternoons back then. Back then if the kids misbehaved you could throw them off the bus. Imagine doing that today????
The speed limit most places is 65 except for trucks and behicles towing it is 55. I must say you get to see much more when going slower.
We stopped in Chiriaco Summit to fuel up the truck and total shock with the price at $4.269. Yikes. They also had a General Paton Museum - we had toured one at Fort Knox so not sure what this one was.
We stopped at a nice rest area and enjoyed our lunch. We were both totally amazed going thru Quartsite, Arizonia and seeing all the rv's just parked out in the desert. They can park out here with no hookups for free and so many stay all winter. This is really not for us as we enjoy our comforts much to much.
We stopped in Tonopah, Arizonia and fueled up for $3.549 which was much better. Down the road was the campground Saddle Mountain RV Park. It is an Escapee Park so we got a nice discount. This campground is in the Sonora Desert and has 342 full hookups, pull thrus, Laundry, activities, tennis, basketball, shuffleboard, horseshoes, putting green and a pool. We spent only one night here - would stop again.
As we were driving down I-10 we saw a sign for Chiricahua National Monument in Willcox, Arizonia. We both looked at each other and said lets go see. It was 37 miles off I-10 but well worth the ride. When we reached the park the ranger told us we could not take the camper any further - but to drop it and take a ride up the mountain. We decided to go for it and so happy we did.
It is an 8 mile scenic drive. the Chiricahua Mountain Range is an inactive volcanic range 20 miles wide and 40 miles long. The park covers over 11,985 acres and the Apaches called this place "The Land of Standing Up Rocks". The monument was created in 1924 to preserve this beautiful area. It truly is a wonderland of rocks. There is also a ranch called the Faraway Ranch built by Swedish Immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson in 1888. It remained a guest ranch until 1973 when it became part of the national monument. It was a very interesting stop and so different than most places we see.
We stayed at the Fort Willcox Rv Park in Willcox Arizonia for the night. Full hookups, discount for passport america so we were pleased.
Sunday morning we hit the road again around 8 am and headed east. We crossed the Continental Divide around 10 am. Driving thru New Mexico they have signs all over the highway saying Desert Storms may exist - do not stop in travel lanes. Guess people need to be reminded about common sense. LOL. Just outside Deming, New Mexico we had a tire blow out on the drivers side of the camper. Yikes it took out alot of the trim work. Thank Goodness for the road service we have as they came out and changed the tire for us. We then followed him back to the garage and had to buy another tire for over $200. We stopped for lunch and headed towards Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas. Today was a hard day - we had the blow out - our oldest daughter is having problems with her feet and could not race in the New Orleans event and our youngest is pregant and was bleeding and had to go to the hospital. Very stressful day.
Our stay at Fort Bliss in El Paso was pretty relaxing. We did go to Home Depot and buy some tape to patch up the damaged area of the camper from the blowout. A repair man was in the park and looked at it but it will take over 2 weeks to get the parts so we will have it fixed at a later date. Fort Bliss has a beautiful mall right on base - while here I had my hair cut, stocked up on wine and got laundry done. We have been to this area before so no sightseeing this time.
On Feb 16th we pulled out of Fort Bliss at 8 am and headed south stopping for the night in Ozona, Texas at the Circle Bar Rv Park for $27 a night. Okay stop but as we have said before once we go inside and close the door we can forget about the outside world - our own bed, chairs, tv and of course computers.
Driving all day our next stop was Corpus Christi Naval Air Station at the Shields Park Naval Air Station Recreation Area. This campground sits right on the bay with beautiful views. Full hookup site for $15 a nite but we could only stay one night. The wind was whipping so we did not get our walk in today but did enjoy looking out the window at the water. The military sure has some of the best real estate in this country and we are so thankful that we are able to use these benefits now.
We took the toll road around Houston which cost us $18 which we thought was pretty pricey but we avoided alot of traffic.
The campground we ad picked for the night looked horrid from the road but luck was on our side. About a block away was Gulf Coast Rv Resort in Beaumont Texas for $17 a night for full hookups. This campground was so reasonable because it was in the Passport America Family which we belong too. Passport America parks are membership parks so you pay 1/2 price for a site which is quite a deal. Real nice campground and we really enjoyed our stay. Our only complaint was we sunk into mud 1/2 way up our tires as the ground was so soft because of all the rain. Of course this is not the campgrounds fault - mother nature is to blame. LOL. We stayed two nights and were able to see alot that Beaumont had to offer.
Saturday morning we headed to Beaumont Botanical Gardens. What a wonderful place to visit - the Horticultural Center had a collection of botanical artwork and the Warren Loose Conservatory had a collection of lush tropical plants from around the world. They also ad a native plant center, Japanese Gardens, Rose Gardens and a 9/11 Memorial Garden. This was just beautiful and they only ask for a donation.
Our next stop was downtown Beaumont to see the Fire Museum. Well downtown Beaumont is closed up on the weekends so we got to see only the Dalmatian spotted Fire Hydrant which is 24 feet tall and weights over 4500 lbs. It is made out of fiberglass and reinforced with steel. Kind of cool.
Next stop was St Anthony Cathedral Basilica which was built over 100 years ago. Also locked up as tight as a drum. Kind of sad that even churches keep their doors locked - I used to love to stop into the church
and just say alittle prayer or have a chat with our Lord - this world sure has changed.
As we were riding around we came across Spindletop Gladys City Boomtown Museum located on Lamar University campus. They started drilling here in 1893 and finally it oil in 1901. It was a small community with a derrick, barber shop, log cabin, saloon, post office, dry goods store, oil exchange, print shop, drugstore, carriage works etc. It was very interesting but I think they forget how to dust - the dust was a few inches thick and smelt dirty. It was something completly different though so we enjoyed it.
The lady in the campground recommended a good seafood restaurant so we thought we would try it out. It was called the Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen. As you entered they gave you a number and you sat out on the patio and listed to a live band play music. Then your number blinked on the screen and you were seated for the best seafood dinner ever. Highly recommend this place - our meals were outstanding. It is a good thing we are leaving the area tommorow or I would be tempted to go back - lol.
We left Beaumont, Texas around 9:15 am and headed east on I-10. If you follow I-10 across the state of Texas it is 880 miles long in just one state. Being from little Connecticut this blows my mind. We could cross our state back and forth in one day easy - even stop along the way.
We stopped along the way at a Target parking lot and had lunch - nice to have your kitchen with you. We took a bridge over the swamp in La which was 18 miles long - it amazes me how they build these things. We stopped for one night at Jellystone Park in Robert, La and paid only $16.65 for a night with full hookups. It is off season still so low prices. Really nice campground with lots of things to do - had a nice walk around the grounds and a wonderful chat with the girl in the store about camping.
On the 21st of Feb we arrived in Panama Beach, Florida and pulled into a site next to Jeff, Tim's younger brother. It was great seeing him again and that night we had dinner with Jim, Annie and Jeff. Very enjoyable food and company.
While here I saw a road called MOYLAN Road - had to laugh as this was my maiden name - wonder where that came from?????
We spent 3 nights here relaxing, stocking up on food, enjoying our company and best of all our free campsite. Thanks Jeff.
Hitting the road again we took the back roads to be able to enjoy what this country has to offer. The interstates are nice for a quick trip but you see nothing that each state has to offer - they all look the same from the highways. Highway 98 east thru Tydell Air Force Base, Mexico Beach, Port St Joe, etc. We saw a sign that said "Fish at Social Security Prices". We ran into a minor problem with the truck - said we needed to add water to the battery - kind of weird but thankfully we had water - nice to have everything you need right with you at all times.
We stopped for the night at Southern Comfort Campground somewhere in Florida - little pricey for what you got but good overnight stop.
Left the next morning and headed south into Largo Florida to Lee's Travel Park. Pretty nice campground but our main reason for stopping here was to spend sometime with my sister Ann and brother-in-law Rich. This worked out perfect as they are about 5 minutes away so we were able to be together for dinner each night but still have our own time. We spent a week here and truly enjoyed every minute. One day we went down to Clearwater Beach and sat at a beach bar for a few drinks enjoying the sunshine and warm weather. Another day we hit the Flea Market, girls shopping day, tour of the area and just sitting around talking.
The last night I got so sick - spent half the night in the bathroom so the next day traveling was not to enjoyable - I was dead tired. Slept alot. We stopped for the night at Pecan Park Rv Resort in Jacksonville.
On March 5th we pulled into the Naval Weapons Station in Goose Creek, South Carolina. Stayed tuned
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This has been a very hard time trying to do a blog when you really do not do anything different each day. When you travel and see different things it is quite easy so that shall start in Feb.
The highlight this month was I flew to South Carolina for a week to see our daughter Susan, son-in-law Jerry and our beautiful 3 granddaughters. It was a wonderful trip and I enjoyed shopping with all 3 girls alone. It gave me great grandmom time which I love so. How I wish our children lived closer so I could see all the grandchildren more often. While in South Carolina we were able to do more Christmas shopping, play, enjoyed just spending time with them and enjoyed great dinner times. At dinner time they all tell about their day and it was interesting to hear school tales etc. Thanks Shallo's for a wonderful time.
Christmas was a special time for us also. We went to Amanda's (our daughter) and Tim's home on Christmas Eve. We attended a church service first then came back to their home for a great dinner. We enjoyed talking and spent the nite. Christmas morning we were up early to watch Gracie open her presents. She is just 15 months old so it was fun - she went from one thing to another. Santa was really good to her. Joshua enjoyed all his gifts also especially his paintball stuff. We had a wonderful dinner and really enjoyed our day. Thanks to the Vogels for a wonderful time.
New Year's Eve we were suppose to go back to the Vogel's but Amanda was not feeling well so we just stayed home and enjoyed time alone with Josh. We watched the ball drop in New York and enjoyed all the excitement.
Santa was also very good to me this year as he is most years. Gift certificates to Nordstrom's, Barnes and Noble, clothes, perfume, jewelry and new silverware. Thanks to my family for being so good.
Josh has continued to do really good with his school work and will be going back to school on the 24th of Jan. Home schooling is hard especially for a teenager - I think they need the interaction with other kids. He has impressed us with his cooking skills and we enjoyed sampling each item.
January was a cold month even here in California - I still wore a winter jacket but no snow. We did take a ride one day to Lake Tahoe to see the snow and just enjoyed the beauty of it all. The lake is huge and so pretty - now I need to see it in summer time. We also went to Squaw Valley - had lunch at the inn and watched the people come down those huge hills on skis. Wished I had learned to ski so many years ago as it looked like fun. I am too old now to try that - old bones would not like falling even in the snow.
We moved from Travis Air Force Base back to Pleasanton for our last two weeks in this area. This way we can spend more time with the kids before heading out.
Promise that starting Feb 1st our blogs will be more interesting as we travel across this wonderful coutry. Our first stop will be Yosemite National Park so stay tuned.
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The month of November started with us volunteering again at the Senior Housing here in Pleasanton, California. I spent most of the days serving up food while Tim did dishes. He became a real master at dishwashing - said it brought back lots of memories from high school when he washed dishes to pay for schooling. I have really enjoyed the volunteering and meeting so many nice kids and adults.
We took a ride one day to Fry's Electronics which is a fun store to shop in. I believe it has everything you need for computers, tv's etc. I enjoy just looking around at that different things and watching the people. Some really serious computer geeks shop here! LOL
On the 9th of November we moved about 50 miles north to Travis Air Force Base which is in Fairfield, California. The Fam Camp is really nice with full hookups, table, patio, showers, and a nice laundry. The cost of $17 per nite is another wonderful benefit which we love. It surly helps the budget for the months we stay there. The fam camp has 72 sites and is across the street from the post office, exchange and commissary. I love this base because I can walk to so many things - shop plus get in some exercise.
One day we went to Ikea in West Sacramento and enjoyed our time just walking around and looking. Anyone that needs furniture on a budget would be luck in this store. We like to look as it has setups for small houses and gives us ideas to make our home more liveable.
Thanksgiving was a wonderful day spent with Amanda, Tim, Josh, and Gracie. Amanda and Tim made a delicious dinner with turkey, dressing, potatoes, yummy sweet potatoes, corn and all the other dishes we love for the holidays. We even had Clam dip which brings back so many memories of my parents. Thanks guys for a wonderful day.
The day after Thanksgiving Tim and I took a ride to Napa and enjoyed looking around. We are the only ones I think that go to Napa and not drink abit of wine - lol. We stopped and had a really nice lunch and just enjoyed the scenery. Great day.
Josh spent alot of time with us this month but has been doing really well with school. He is able to maintain all A's and B's which makes us very pleased. He spends most weekends paintballing which he loves. We took him a few weeks and we enjoyed the different towns we went too. One day we were in Sacramento and another in Davis which turned out to be a very interesting town.
All in all the month went quickly - lots of shopping and walks - did lots of Christmas shopping and enjoyed that. Stay tuned for December. |
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This has definitly been a different month for us - we have volunteered and really enjoyed that experience.
The month started off with us volunteering at the "Panama Red Coffee Company Block Party which benefitied the Tri-Valley Haven. This organization helps domestic violence cases, sexual assaults victims and the homeless. They had a 5K race, kids activities, vendors, music, auctions, food, wine and beer. It was happening in Livermore, Calif and we became a part of this. At first we were part of the 5K race sponors. We stood at different locations directing trafffic while the race was run. after the race we found a job for Josh but nothing for us so we walked around Livermore enjoying the scenery and looking in stores. Josh was able to get 10 hours for this work towards his community service which made us all very happy. Tim and I enjoyed the experience and enjoyed working with Josh also.
On the 4th of October we started volunteering at the Open Heart Kitchen in Pleasanton, California three days a week. We were assigned different duties but mostly Tim doing dishes, Josh doing the salad bar, dishes and being a waiter and myself as a server which made we serve up plates for the seniors dinners. It become a wonderful experience for all of us - we felt we finally gave back to the community in someway and were really appreciated. It made us feel good plus very easy work. I think going forward we will find places to voluteer and help the comminity we are staying at plus help us feel useful. Being retired at times makes you lazy and forget how important others are - love volunteering opportunities.
On the 9th we walked the Alameda Fairgrounds and took a walk to Pleasanton which made a 3 miles walk. We stopped at Tully's Coffeee Shop and had a nice frozen drink, bought a little sign at the Berry Patch which is a store that supports local artists. We also went in Kasasia Jewelers and had my rings cut off and resized as I have gained alot of weight in the last 40+ years of wearing them. We also stopped at the Museum on Main to explore the changes that impacted the town. It was a really cool musuem and I love the town as they brought it back to life -so many people walking around and enjoying dinner, etc. I wish you could see this happen in other towns so that they also would thrive.
Anothher day we toured he Alviso Adobe Community Park in Pleasanton. This park has an adobe house constructed in 1854 and became a park in 2008. In 1919 it was purchased by Walter Briggs to house his workers when he started the Meadowlark Diary. This was the first certified dairy in California and was used as a dairy until 1969. This was a very interesting park and we totaly enjoyed the experience.
On the 14th we went to Panera Bread for lunch. I had the Napa Almond Chicken Salad Sandwich which was out of this world. Tim had the Fontego Chicken Panini which he really enjoyed. We then went shopping at Target as they now carry food and have great buys.
On the 16th we stopped and realized my Dad died 7 years ago. How I miss my parents as they tried their hardest to provide us with a wonderful life. As you grow older you realize the sacarifices that they made for us. Mom and Dad I truly miss you both greatly.
Another Saturday we walked downtown and did the farmers market as they have the best tomatoes around. We also went to "Amarone Cucina Italian Restaurant and sat outside and enjoyed a wonderful lunch. I haed a Meatball Panini and Tim had a Chicken Pesto PaniniThi which really topped our reviews. Great food and enough to take home and have the reminder for dinner. Great day.
This month has been a hard one for me - I feel alittle depressed but try to remind myself that better days are ahead. A few more weeks and we will move to Travis Air Force Base which should help me as alot of walking, gym, stores, beauty salon and just different opportunities to keep busy.
Until next time keep me in your prayers - love ya all. |
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