Below is a picture of our motorhome and campsite at Sunshine RV Resort. Its a little difficult to see but our huge boat (12' inflatable), Marges PT cruiser and our home on wheels. We've really settled in and even had a fish fry with a group of our neighbors and enjoyed the fresh smoked and fresh fried fish that Marvin and Joann from Alabama had caught this week. You absolutely cannot beat fresh caught fish for dinner!!!! We also made the first of our trips to the Big Pine Key Flea Market and Marge stocked up on fresh vegges and we made a few purchases for the up coming visit of our grandson Garrett and his parents. We are excited to see them. Below the picture of our campsite is a picture of my favorite thing at the flea market....the fresh fried donut shop. For $1.50 you get a bag of fried sugared donuts (15) and they are sinfully wonderful! Marge usually tries to head me in another direction when we get there but I usually find a way to have at least a few.
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Sunshine Key RV Resort
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
Sunshine Key
Well, we finally got here after wandering a little bit and it was great coming down highway 1 and following the keys down to Sunshine Key RV Resort. The views as you come down further into the keys with the beautiful aqua marine views along the way are unforgetable. We have made this trip probably close to 25 different times with the earlier years being a rush to get here and set up and then to explore the shallows with the kids as much as we could. Marge and I both think that the reason both kids graduated with Marine Biology degrees is because of the time spent here wandering the shallows at Sunshine Key. Needless to say we are both excited to be here. For years we have talked about spending more that two weeks here and soaking sun and fishing to our hearts content. This is the first year that we are planning on staying 6 weeks.
Once we arrived there is a lot of setup as most RV'ers know and we were greeted by many friends we have met here over the years. We cleaned the coach from top to bottom for the first two days and set up our boat and motor. We bought a new "attached trailer" for our inflatable and it makes it much easier to handle . Oh yes....and we sat on our .......for one day catching up and I did a little business over the internet..... it's so neat to be able to keep contact and do things with a laptop. There is a marina here where we used to rent a spot but it has become somewhat prohibitive and we have always felt a little funny parking our 12' inflatable next to all the "big" boy fishing boats. You know Marge....yes I say Marge woke up one morning a week ago talking about a new boat for us......she hadn't been drinking or anthing. Retirement has done strange things to her....did I say strange....I meant wonderful things to her. Oh, about the boat...things cleared up later and "we" have made a decision to keep what we have for awhile.
Tomorrow is Thursday already and we both are unsure where the time goes. Our friends Ross and Sue arrive Friday in their motorhome, Our daughter who has called daily arrives with Tony and Garrett our grandson Saturday and our friends the Jags and Armstrongs come sometime next week. The weather is cooperating and we are really enjoying all of this. The pictures below show just a little of what is here.
Saturday, January 22, 2005
Yesterday, Friday we left Charleston, South Carolina and drove all day to get to the Fort Myers area and to meet our friends the Harris's. We made pretty good time and arrived at the Up River Campground on the Coloosahatchee River. Nice place with all the amenities on the river although a little on the expensive side for short term staying. We met the Harris's for a pancake breakfast at the Clubhouse here bright and early and then the RV Show at Lee County Convention Center. Good show and fun. Even some good dixieland entertainment.
Later we heard from the kids and about all the snow they were getting. It would seem we left at the right time. Hope your all doing well in that deep snow and cold....we are thinking about you.
Saturday evening we stopped in very briefly to say hi to the Gierharts who have a place down here thats quite nice with access to the river and close to town. They stay the winter down here and enjoy it very much.
Tomorrow we go to our spot in the keys..it will be nice to settle into one spot and clean the coach and relax
Thursday, January 20, 2005
This is just one of the fantastic views that we saw in Charleston today. The weather has turned a little and we were wearing sweatshirts instead of winter coats. What a beautiful place with the architecture of the homes being at the forefront....that along with their cost today, but all in all just really neat to see.
All of these houses as well as the commercial areas are realtively low rise. The city has made it code that no building can be taller than the highest church steeple in town. Commercial enterprise is intermixed with the alot of the area and you really wouldn't know! One other fact was that a great number of houses are just not square and its obvious that they lean...all do to an earthquake some years ago.
We also toured the area and found Folly Beach which is a beautiful area with more of the beach idea....from shag clubs (dance clubs-a beach thing) to vacation rentals and beaches that stretch forever it seems. The attorney's office right downtown says it all about the community! This would be an ideal place to rent a spot for family and friends. A really pretty area
Tomorrow we are heading South again to what we hope will be even warmer weather. Marge is beginning to think the cold is following us where ever we go. We hope to meet the Harris's and do something we just hate ......go to an RV Show. We have owned seven motorhomes and enjoy them thoroughly as you all know and its always fun seeing whats new. On a last note, we also wanted to get out of town before the pigeons as shown on the car found us.
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
Brick Forum Time
Marge was introduced for the first time to the Brick Forum and a little over 1000 brick salespeople in one place. Past friendships were renewed and new ones made which was great fun. This meeting has been a forum for networking since its inception and this 20th year of getting together was no exception. All the latest gossip was exchanged and the sharing around the displays along with a tad bit of libation proved fun for all. We ate dinner at an excellent returant (George K's of Greensboro) and enjoyed the company of some people we have known for a long time.
On another note, its supposed to be warm in Greensboro....this is the south right? Marge and I have been at the motorhome mostly just to sleep, however with the temperatures hovering between 10 and 20 degrees at night, it has been a little nippy!!!! We finally after about two seconds of discussion and the threat of more cold and snow to boot, have decided to move on further south. We set up our GPS and followed its directions St James County Park in Charleston, South Carolina. Its warmer here (45 degrees) but much better than before.
Tomorrow we will pursue exploring the area and let you know what we find. I aslo hope to work with the photos and their insertion in the blog. Learning how to do all the different things has been a challenge.
Monday, January 17, 2005
Spencer, North Carolina
The pictures above are from a little town called Spencer, North Carolina that now houses North Carolina's Transportation Museum but was also the original Spencer Railroad Locomotive manufacturing facility and later Southern Railroads shop for various rail repair. Unfortunately, they were closed but we were still able to "sneak" a peek at some of the equipment, the roundhouse, the old station, and some older cars and equipment. I had been there before and will stop back again as we are in this area every year but to the railroad buff its quite a place. I would recommend anyone with an interest in rail history to stop and see it if given the opportunity.
Tomorrow starts the reason we are here...The Carolina Brick Forum... a collection of almost all of the brick salesmen in the US and as the manufacturing facilities are substantially foreign owned its almost international. Having been in the business many years it will be interesting to hear this years tall tales (Have I worded that delicately enough?) I will be sure to keep everyone up todate on the latest in the brick world....world of brick? Maybe I've been in the business too long!
Sunday, January 16, 2005
Auspicious Beginnings?
Well as you can see we woke up to snow and more cold. We thought we would take a little tour around the Horse Park but drove a few feet an realized we had a front flat tire. I can't tell you my first thought, but was pleased in the long run that we didn't have a problem while we were rolling down the road. Apparently, it was a slow leak as we were able to put enough air in and get to a Walmart (the only thing open on Sunday) where we decided that it would be smart to put two new tires on the front considering everything with towing the vehicle. Nice start Huh? Lets see, first visit ever to a walmart for me and I was impressed ....althought no one was camped in the parking lot. Prices were reasonable and I even got a free coffee at "seniors discount" although I am not sure about that yet. Further pictures will have to wait. Once we finally got on the road the snow was so bad that there were accidents at most bridges when people for whatever reason put their brakes on as soon as they saw snow and lost control...no major injuries from the looks of things. Be glad they don't live in Michigan. We arrived two minutes past closing at our campground in Greensboro but someone waited for us and the temperature is above freezing ....first time since leaving. As above, Auspicious beginnings!
Saturday, January 15, 2005
On the road!
Today, Saturday January 15th we are finally on the road south and not really soon enough. The weather while sunny is hovering in the high teens as we leave and while the coach is built for inclement weather it still gets chilly as the furnace cycles. Our first stop, is Kentucky Horse Park where we have stayed on winter sojournes before and it is quite comfortable. We arrrived as the sun was just setting and the bright setting sun on believe it or slightly green grass with the picturesque fields and horses was beautiful. We went to dinnner at Sams, a local small resturant that caters to locals and has excellent food. We found it some years ago and its one of our favorit spots to stop. Tomorrow we will take some pictures of the park here for you all to see.....that on the assumption it doesn't snow too much.
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
First picture post
I mentioned yesterday about "Big Al" being fond of his grandchildren and great grandchildren and thought I would try posting a picture for the first time. He is awfully proud of them as are we. He continues to improve and looks like a go for Saturday. Will post again after our day on the road.
"Big Al" with grandchildren and greatgrandchildren
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Murphys Law
Once again while we plan our dreams, things seem to happen. My last post mentioned the loss of our friend Jim Taylor and needless to say we have become more sensitive to those around us. True to form, Murphys Law has reared up again and now Marge's Dad affectionately referred to as Big Al (behind his back!) has had a setback and has been hospitalized. He is going to be 90 this next year and is as independent as anyone....still driving his neighbors around and running errands for everyone. Truly a generous and kind man. He is in good spirits and will be going to rehab tomorrow to continue improving as he has done this past week.
Our planned start of this adventure was to be this weekend and he wants us to go. With his improving, we are still hoping to start our trip ......We'll see!
On another note the beast, or motorhome ( ah yes, the beautiful beast.... I, we are almost ready) is fueled, no water yet (we decided on waiting to get to a little warmer area before we fill) clothing is almost in and Marge and I are both making lists of things yet to go. I have the last of the antenna connections for the computer and phone in and ready to go. The toad is being checked tomorrow. Thursday is updating of legal things should anything happen and that should about cap things off the todo list. But Murphy is still out there!
