I am sorry for not updating this blog since late April. For those of you that do not know, as Sharon and I were traveling home from Florida, the retina in my left eye decided to detach and I went blind in that eye. We arrived home on Saturday May 1, celebrated Hannah's First Birthday on Sunday May 2 and was in surgery on Monday afternoon May 3. I did not tell Sharon that I was blind in that eye until we arrived at the doctor's office on Monday.
We had a wonderful trip home except for my eye. We stopped in St. Augustine, FL, Savannah, GA, Myrtle Beach, SC, Hilton Head Island, SC, each place for a day or two. We then traveled to Intercourse, PA for four days. We had a wonderful time.
I had the eye surgery and am recovering quite well. We have put the motorhome in a seasonal site at Lake Forest Resort up to Great East Lake in East Wakefield, NH for the summer.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Friend's Week
Following our trip to watch the Space shuttle launch last Monday, we headed back to the campground for a few days of rest and relaxation. We have been sitting by the pool most afternoons, enjoying the constant 80-85 degree days and the 60-65 degree nights.
It's a tough life, but we are surviving.
We have also been checking out a few of the campgrounds in the area for the possibility of wintering down here in the Sebring area next year.
On Friday we took an 1-1/2 hour ride to the west coast, Palmetto, to visit our former neighbor Sandy and her rescued greyhound, Rudy. She has a beautiful home, twice the size of the one she had on Ambush Rock Road. She has started a new business, an Anytime Fitness gym in Parrish. She took us over there for a tour. It is a nice big facility and she has developed a large clientele. She is doing very well.
We then went to Anna Marie Island and had lunch at the Beach House Restaurant, right on the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, we all had fresh fish for lunch. After lunch we took a ride along Bradenton and Sarasota beaches to see how the rich people spent their money.
We went back to Sandy's for a little more visiting before we headed back to the campground.
It was great to see Sandy and see that she is doing very well for herself, not that we had any doubt that she wouldn't be, she is a hard worker and if she sets her mind to doing something, she does it right with 100% of her energy, which seems endless.
Saturday was another 80+ degree pool day so that is where we were.
Sunday we headed about 1 hour 15 minutes north to Poinciana to visit Alex and Marie, friends of ours from Lake Forest Resort in East Wakefield, N.H., where we will be spending the summer. They invited us to stay for Sunday and Monday. They live in a lovely gated community in Poinciana. They have a beautiful home over looking the Grand Canal. We were able to sit in the lanai watching comorants and egrets fishing. We got the grand tour, by golf cart, of their Village area and some of the athletic fields, tennis courts, pools, golf course and you name it, they have it. The place is huge and has anything you could ever want.
Alex and Marie took us out to eat at the Grill at Stone Gate Country Club, part of the Village area. We had Italian, Sharon had chicken parmigiana and I had lasagna. It was excellent. We went back to their house after dinner and played Mexican Train dominoes until we couldn't see straight. We all headed to bed.
Sunday was a leisurely morning, visiting on the lanai, drinking coffee and eating some nice thick bacon Alex had cooked for us. Well come to find out, they do the same thing we have been doing. So we all jumped into our bathing suits and headed to the pool. Another tough afternoon swimming and sitting poolside.
About 5 PM we left their house and headed south back to camp. We can't thank Alex and Marie enough for their hospitality. We had a great couple days with them. I guess Sharon will have to cook them breakfast some morning this summer.
Most of the snow birds have left the campground and headed north in their annual migration, many left early enough to be home for Easter. This past week has seen another 3 or 4 more couples headed north. We will be leaving this Friday with the motorhome for our trip home. First stop is St. Augustine, Florida for a few days and then on to Savannah, Georgia for a few more days and then on to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If we have internet access (limited in state parks and we are staying in state parks in Savannah and Myrtle Beach), I am hoping to update this weekly, be patient, I will do my best.
It's a tough life, but we are surviving.
We have also been checking out a few of the campgrounds in the area for the possibility of wintering down here in the Sebring area next year.
On Friday we took an 1-1/2 hour ride to the west coast, Palmetto, to visit our former neighbor Sandy and her rescued greyhound, Rudy. She has a beautiful home, twice the size of the one she had on Ambush Rock Road. She has started a new business, an Anytime Fitness gym in Parrish. She took us over there for a tour. It is a nice big facility and she has developed a large clientele. She is doing very well.
We then went to Anna Marie Island and had lunch at the Beach House Restaurant, right on the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, we all had fresh fish for lunch. After lunch we took a ride along Bradenton and Sarasota beaches to see how the rich people spent their money.
We went back to Sandy's for a little more visiting before we headed back to the campground.
It was great to see Sandy and see that she is doing very well for herself, not that we had any doubt that she wouldn't be, she is a hard worker and if she sets her mind to doing something, she does it right with 100% of her energy, which seems endless.
Saturday was another 80+ degree pool day so that is where we were.
Sunday we headed about 1 hour 15 minutes north to Poinciana to visit Alex and Marie, friends of ours from Lake Forest Resort in East Wakefield, N.H., where we will be spending the summer. They invited us to stay for Sunday and Monday. They live in a lovely gated community in Poinciana. They have a beautiful home over looking the Grand Canal. We were able to sit in the lanai watching comorants and egrets fishing. We got the grand tour, by golf cart, of their Village area and some of the athletic fields, tennis courts, pools, golf course and you name it, they have it. The place is huge and has anything you could ever want.
Alex and Marie took us out to eat at the Grill at Stone Gate Country Club, part of the Village area. We had Italian, Sharon had chicken parmigiana and I had lasagna. It was excellent. We went back to their house after dinner and played Mexican Train dominoes until we couldn't see straight. We all headed to bed.
Sunday was a leisurely morning, visiting on the lanai, drinking coffee and eating some nice thick bacon Alex had cooked for us. Well come to find out, they do the same thing we have been doing. So we all jumped into our bathing suits and headed to the pool. Another tough afternoon swimming and sitting poolside.
About 5 PM we left their house and headed south back to camp. We can't thank Alex and Marie enough for their hospitality. We had a great couple days with them. I guess Sharon will have to cook them breakfast some morning this summer.
Most of the snow birds have left the campground and headed north in their annual migration, many left early enough to be home for Easter. This past week has seen another 3 or 4 more couples headed north. We will be leaving this Friday with the motorhome for our trip home. First stop is St. Augustine, Florida for a few days and then on to Savannah, Georgia for a few more days and then on to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. If we have internet access (limited in state parks and we are staying in state parks in Savannah and Myrtle Beach), I am hoping to update this weekly, be patient, I will do my best.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Family Week
This week has been a busy week for us. Sharon's cousin Mark and his wife Susan stopped by in their fifth wheel to visit us on Tuesday. It has been too many years since we have seen them. We had a great afternoon and evening catching up on our lives and the kids lives.
Mark brought us some Bubba Burgers to try, so we had a barbeque with the burgers and all the fixings. As usual, dinner was great. We spent the rest of the evening talking and talking, there are just too many stories to tell. The time flew and before we knew it, it was well after Mark's bedtime.
We shot the breeze some more in the morning before they headed north and west, back towards their home in Colorado. They said they would take their time getting back, probably several weeks. It was a very enjoyable visit.
On Wednesday, we headed north to Winter Haven for the day to get our new sunshades for the front and side windows of the motorhome. We had ordered them last week. The sunshades were done, they gave me a quick lesson in how to install them and we were off to lunch at the Main St. Cafe in Auburndale. We took the scenic ride back through miles and miles of orange groves and past 20 - 30 lakes and ponds. We did not realize there were so many lakes in this area of the state.
Thursday was a day to relax because Friday we were driving 2 hour 45 minutes south to Gary's sister's, Diane, house for the Easter weekend. On Friday we stopped in Clewiston, near the shores of Lake Okeechobee, for lunch at Sonny's barbeque, that is a chain down here. We had a couple sandwiches and we were off again. I have to say the this trip was one of the most boring drives I have ever been on. We traveled down the west side of the lake, but you cannot see any of the lake because there is a 20 foot tall levee all around the lake. Most of the rest of the land is flat and barren, either swamp or cattle grazing land. We went through the eastern edge of the Everglades and nothing to see there either. We arrived at Jake and Diane's about 1:30 Friday afternoon.
On Saturday they took us to a place in their town, Pembroke Pines, where an eagle had made a nest and had her young. So we watched the baby eagles for about half an hour and the mother was off during that time. They said the babies had grown quite a bit in the last week or so.
Sunday they had a wonderful ham dinner for Easter with all the fixings. If you got up from the table hungry, it was your own fault, there was more than enough of everything that makes it a great Easter dinner. Thanks Jake and Diane.
Sunday evening we left about 4 PM to head to Melbourne. We had booked a hotel room so the we could watch the Space Shuttle launch on Monday morning at 6:21 AM. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get to Melbourne. We checked into the hotel and headed to the beach to scout out a viewing area. We found a place to view the launch in the morning then we drove north a bit and found another park on the ocean and had a picnic. Diane and Sharon had packed us a leftover ham sandwich for a picnic at the beach.
Monday morning we woke at 5 AM to go view the Shuttle launch. We drove to the beach we had picked out on Sunday night and there were a few people there. By 6 AM the busses were pulling in and there were several hundred people on the beach. It was a beautiful morning, about 65 degrees with just a few clouds in the east. The launch went perfectly on time and was a nice sight to see. The crowd cheered when it started and later when the shuttle disappeared from sight over the Atlantic.
Most of the viewers stayed on the beach to see the sunrise, but Sharon and I headed out to go get breakfast. We have seen the sun rise over the Atlantic many mornings. We beat the crowd to breakfast. After breakfast we headed back to Sebring and the motorhome. We had a busy week, but quite enjoyable.
Mark brought us some Bubba Burgers to try, so we had a barbeque with the burgers and all the fixings. As usual, dinner was great. We spent the rest of the evening talking and talking, there are just too many stories to tell. The time flew and before we knew it, it was well after Mark's bedtime.
We shot the breeze some more in the morning before they headed north and west, back towards their home in Colorado. They said they would take their time getting back, probably several weeks. It was a very enjoyable visit.
On Wednesday, we headed north to Winter Haven for the day to get our new sunshades for the front and side windows of the motorhome. We had ordered them last week. The sunshades were done, they gave me a quick lesson in how to install them and we were off to lunch at the Main St. Cafe in Auburndale. We took the scenic ride back through miles and miles of orange groves and past 20 - 30 lakes and ponds. We did not realize there were so many lakes in this area of the state.
Thursday was a day to relax because Friday we were driving 2 hour 45 minutes south to Gary's sister's, Diane, house for the Easter weekend. On Friday we stopped in Clewiston, near the shores of Lake Okeechobee, for lunch at Sonny's barbeque, that is a chain down here. We had a couple sandwiches and we were off again. I have to say the this trip was one of the most boring drives I have ever been on. We traveled down the west side of the lake, but you cannot see any of the lake because there is a 20 foot tall levee all around the lake. Most of the rest of the land is flat and barren, either swamp or cattle grazing land. We went through the eastern edge of the Everglades and nothing to see there either. We arrived at Jake and Diane's about 1:30 Friday afternoon.
On Saturday they took us to a place in their town, Pembroke Pines, where an eagle had made a nest and had her young. So we watched the baby eagles for about half an hour and the mother was off during that time. They said the babies had grown quite a bit in the last week or so.
Sunday they had a wonderful ham dinner for Easter with all the fixings. If you got up from the table hungry, it was your own fault, there was more than enough of everything that makes it a great Easter dinner. Thanks Jake and Diane.
Sunday evening we left about 4 PM to head to Melbourne. We had booked a hotel room so the we could watch the Space Shuttle launch on Monday morning at 6:21 AM. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get to Melbourne. We checked into the hotel and headed to the beach to scout out a viewing area. We found a place to view the launch in the morning then we drove north a bit and found another park on the ocean and had a picnic. Diane and Sharon had packed us a leftover ham sandwich for a picnic at the beach.
Monday morning we woke at 5 AM to go view the Shuttle launch. We drove to the beach we had picked out on Sunday night and there were a few people there. By 6 AM the busses were pulling in and there were several hundred people on the beach. It was a beautiful morning, about 65 degrees with just a few clouds in the east. The launch went perfectly on time and was a nice sight to see. The crowd cheered when it started and later when the shuttle disappeared from sight over the Atlantic.
Most of the viewers stayed on the beach to see the sunrise, but Sharon and I headed out to go get breakfast. We have seen the sun rise over the Atlantic many mornings. We beat the crowd to breakfast. After breakfast we headed back to Sebring and the motorhome. We had a busy week, but quite enjoyable.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Enjoying the Sebring Area
We are having a wonderful time in the Sebring, Fl. area. We took a ride over to the Sebring race track to see if they had any track tours. The Audi team has rented the track for the remainder of the month so no track tours until some time in April. I got a few pictures of this year's pace car, a Jaguar, that was out front of the main office building. Right beside the office is the Skip Barber racing school, with about 20 cars, all Jaguars, race ready.
The race track is right beside the local airport. We had read somewhere that the airport has a restaurant so we took a ride out the back side of the track to have lunch at the airport and watch the planes come and go. As I turn into the restaurant parking lot a P1 prototype race car goes flying by on the track, right beside Sharon's door. Well so much for lunch, I have to watch the cars go around the track for a while. There were Corvette's Audi's, Jaguar's, P1 & P2 class cars flying by.
We had a wonderful lunch at the airport, eventually. There were about 10 planes that landed and about 20 people came into the restaurant for lunch. They had flown in from all around the state for lunch. They were all talking flying.
Today we took a tour of the Highlands Hammock State Park. It is 3 miles down the road from the campground. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) after the Great Depression. They have an excellent guided tram tour that takes you out through the back country to see all kinds of wildlife and the different eco systems of central Florida. Of course there were gators all over the place, including one old grand daddy that was about 13 feet long. The park has 9 walking trail systems that take you out into the wilderness to see a Cyprus swamp, a 1000 year old oak tree, and other unique items of the south Florida flora and fauna. It was a beautiful 78 degree day with plenty of sunshine and just enough breeze to keep the bugs away.
We are having a wonderful time in the Sebring, Fl. area. We took a ride over to the Sebring race track to see if they had any track tours. The Audi team has rented the track for the remainder of the month so no track tours until some time in April. I got a few pictures of this year's pace car, a Jaguar, that was out front of the main office building. Right beside the office is the Skip Barber racing school, with about 20 cars, all Jaguars, race ready.
The race track is right beside the local airport. We had read somewhere that the airport has a restaurant so we took a ride out the back side of the track to have lunch at the airport and watch the planes come and go. As I turn into the restaurant parking lot a P1 prototype race car goes flying by on the track, right beside Sharon's door. Well so much for lunch, I have to watch the cars go around the track for a while. There were Corvette's Audi's, Jaguar's, P1 & P2 class cars flying by.
We had a wonderful lunch at the airport, eventually. There were about 10 planes that landed and about 20 people came into the restaurant for lunch. They had flown in from all around the state for lunch. They were all talking flying.
Today we took a tour of the Highlands Hammock State Park. It is 3 miles down the road from the campground. It was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) after the Great Depression. They have an excellent guided tram tour that takes you out through the back country to see all kinds of wildlife and the different eco systems of central Florida. Of course there were gators all over the place, including one old grand daddy that was about 13 feet long. The park has 9 walking trail systems that take you out into the wilderness to see a Cyprus swamp, a 1000 year old oak tree, and other unique items of the south Florida flora and fauna. It was a beautiful 78 degree day with plenty of sunshine and just enough breeze to keep the bugs away.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Florida Finally !!!
We had to get the motorhome serviced in Moultrie, Ga. on Monday, March 15. The axle seal that was leaking had to be ordered and overnight shipped to the repair shop. We were told the part should be there about noon on Tuesday and should take about 45 minutes to install. They usually take lunch from 12-1 so we figured it should be done about 2. We stayed at a local hotel for the night rather than sleep in the motorhome in their parking lot right off the highway.
The southern way of life then kicked in. We got to the shop about 2 PM and the motorhome was still sitting in the same spot we left it Monday afternoon. I went into the service desk and asked what was going on. The seal arrived about 10 AM Tuesday morning and no one was working on it. We sat in the waiting room for about an hour before they finally took in to the shop. Two hours later the repair ws done and we were headed south about 5: 30 PM.
We travelled about 1 hour south and we found a campground, Eagle's Roost, in Georgia about 5 miles from the Florida border. Very nice place. On Wednesday morning we called the campground that we wanted to stay in Avon Park, Florida,but they had no sites available. We called Highland Wheel RV Park in Sebring, one town further south of Avon Park and they had several sites available. We arrived in Sebring, Florida on St.Patty's Day evening to 75 degrees and sunny weather. We were very impressed with the campground, very clean, units are well maintained and the people are extremely friendly. They have a heated pool, which is good because Mother Nature has not been helpful in heating the water lately.
The car race, 12 hours of Sebring, ran here on Saturday, it started on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM and finished last night at 10:30 PM. I watched the end of the race on TV and then stepped outside and we could heare the fireworks.
We went to a local winery/farm called Henscratch Farms on Saturday. A neat little farm that makes their own wine, has fresh veggies to pick and chickens all over the place. Sharon picked Strawberries from these hydroponic grown plants. Easy picking, no bending or kneeling. we had fresh strawberry shortcake for desert Saturday night.
We then went south to a little town called Lake Placid, which is somewhat famous for it's murals on 33 different buildings around town. Each mural has hidden items you are supposed to find in the picture. Some of them actually have sound, like the cattle drive and the train.
Saturday night at the campground was Karaoke night at the Rec hall. There were some real good entertainers and, of course, the occasional one who couldn't sing at all. One guy did a great Elvis. When he speaks he sounds just like him too. We had a French Canadian singing Irish and Italian songs. He did a good job, but it was just strange hearing it done with a French accent, just like sitting by Bob Moulin and Marc.
We had to get the motorhome serviced in Moultrie, Ga. on Monday, March 15. The axle seal that was leaking had to be ordered and overnight shipped to the repair shop. We were told the part should be there about noon on Tuesday and should take about 45 minutes to install. They usually take lunch from 12-1 so we figured it should be done about 2. We stayed at a local hotel for the night rather than sleep in the motorhome in their parking lot right off the highway.
The southern way of life then kicked in. We got to the shop about 2 PM and the motorhome was still sitting in the same spot we left it Monday afternoon. I went into the service desk and asked what was going on. The seal arrived about 10 AM Tuesday morning and no one was working on it. We sat in the waiting room for about an hour before they finally took in to the shop. Two hours later the repair ws done and we were headed south about 5: 30 PM.
We travelled about 1 hour south and we found a campground, Eagle's Roost, in Georgia about 5 miles from the Florida border. Very nice place. On Wednesday morning we called the campground that we wanted to stay in Avon Park, Florida,but they had no sites available. We called Highland Wheel RV Park in Sebring, one town further south of Avon Park and they had several sites available. We arrived in Sebring, Florida on St.Patty's Day evening to 75 degrees and sunny weather. We were very impressed with the campground, very clean, units are well maintained and the people are extremely friendly. They have a heated pool, which is good because Mother Nature has not been helpful in heating the water lately.
The car race, 12 hours of Sebring, ran here on Saturday, it started on Saturday morning at 10:30 AM and finished last night at 10:30 PM. I watched the end of the race on TV and then stepped outside and we could heare the fireworks.
We went to a local winery/farm called Henscratch Farms on Saturday. A neat little farm that makes their own wine, has fresh veggies to pick and chickens all over the place. Sharon picked Strawberries from these hydroponic grown plants. Easy picking, no bending or kneeling. we had fresh strawberry shortcake for desert Saturday night.
We then went south to a little town called Lake Placid, which is somewhat famous for it's murals on 33 different buildings around town. Each mural has hidden items you are supposed to find in the picture. Some of them actually have sound, like the cattle drive and the train.
Saturday night at the campground was Karaoke night at the Rec hall. There were some real good entertainers and, of course, the occasional one who couldn't sing at all. One guy did a great Elvis. When he speaks he sounds just like him too. We had a French Canadian singing Irish and Italian songs. He did a good job, but it was just strange hearing it done with a French accent, just like sitting by Bob Moulin and Marc.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Georgia Veterans State Park
Our week at Georgia Veterans State Park was wonderful. Ron and Karen were great hosts and showed us the farmlands of Southwest Georgia. Peanut, Pecan and Cotton fields in every direction you look. On Wednesday we took a ride to the Workhorse service center in Moultrie, about 1 hour south of the campground, to talk to the people about repairing the oil leak on the rear axle that we have on the motorhome. The appointment was set up for next Monday. We took the scenic tour back toward town, passing thousands of acres of more fields.
On Saturday we were hosted on the Sam Shortline Scenic Rail by Ron and Karen.
The train leaves Cordele and heads west to the GA Vets State Park, where we got on. It continues west to Americus, GA, home of Habitat for Humanity and the Windsor Hotel.
A trip to Plains wouldn't be complete without seeing Billy Carter's Gas Station and the home of Billy Beer.
We then continued out of Plains to Jimmy's boyhood home in Archery, about 3 miles west of Plains. His family sold the farm in the 60's and the government bought it back after he was elected President. When Jimmy was growing up, the town had 5 families, Jimmy's family was the only white family. His family also ran the only store in town, which was right beside their house.
We left Ga Vets State Park on Monday morning at 8 AM so we could get the motorhome to the repair center. The parts won't be in until Tuesday noon so we got a room in Moultrie at the Holiday Inn Express. Boy will I be smart in the morning.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Our trip started later than expected when a “Wintercane” hit on Thursday night, February 25. We had winds of 75 mph and gusts over 90 mph. Most of the seacoast area had lost power, there were trees down everywhere on Friday morning. Sharon and I went to Harvey’s Bakery in Dover Friday morning for breakfast. We had four different roads closed when we tried to get to Dover. The usual 15 minute ride took us 40 minutes. We finally got the power turned back on at home on Sunday, just before noon, about 60 hours without power. We were the lucky ones, several in town didn’t get their power back on until Monday evening.
Watching the long range weather forecast showed another storm coming up the Atlantic coast, with snow expected through Pennsylvania and New York, right where we need to travel through to go south. It looked like we would get out of Eliot until Thursday, March 4. Watching the local weather on Wednesday night it called for 35 mph winds on Thursday, another day to stay off the road. Finally Friday, March 5 came and we had a clear window of several nice days to travel south.
We left Friday morning about 7:30 AM and travelled all day. There was no snow on the ground through all of New England until we got to Nyack, New York. There was the new snow that came in on the last storm. We arrived at Western Village RV park in Carlisle, PA. about 5 PM. A very nice campground with about 8 transient RV’s in for the night and about 25 seasonal’s enjoying the 25 degree over night temperatures. There were four RVers travelling together and we said Hi to them as we were on our evening walk around the campground to stretch our legs.
We left Saturday morning about 7:30 AM and travelled all day. There was snow on the ground until we were south of Washington, D.C. As we were travelling down the highway, the 4 RVers that were at the last campground passed us. They had left the campground at 6 AM that morning, about 1 ½ hours before we left. We arrived at South of the Border in Dillon, SC about 5 PM.It was about 65 degrees outside. We were sitting down to supper about 6 PM when the four campers pulled into South of the Border campground. We spoke to them a little later when we were out for our evening walk. They were from Ontario, 2 were retired from Canadian Bell phone company. They spoke very little English (French was their native language) so our chat was short. They were headed to Cocoa Beach for 2 weeks. We called our friends Ron and Karen, who are hosting in Georgia Veterans State Park in Cordele, GA to let them know we would be there late Sunday afternoon.
We left Sunday morning about 7:30 AM and travelled all day. We stopped for lunch at the Georgia Welcome Center. Just as we were finishing, Ron called to say he had a special spot all picked out for us at the campground and was wondering what time we might get there. We made arrangements to give Ron and Karen a call when we checked in at the office. Ron met us at the campground gate and escorted us to a very nice site, right next to them in the campground. Looking out our front window, we can watch the sunrise over the lake. Looking out the door or the kitchen window, we get to watch the sunset over the lake. Not only did they get us a beautiful campsite, Karen and Ron cooked supper for us. We were treated like royalty. We decided to stay here at this beautiful State Park for a week, until Sunday, March 14. Then we will head for Florida.
Monday we took a ride with Ron and Karen to Andersonville Prison and National Cemetary. It was a Civil War prison for Union soldiers. 12,900 Union soldiers died in this prison (of the 45,000 prisoners) in the 14 months that it operated in 1864 & 1865. It was very moving experience watching the informational movies about the prison. The cemetary was beautiful. One of the best parts is the Maine monument for the fallen Maine soldiers. The soldier on the top of the monument faces North, with his back to the South.
Watching the long range weather forecast showed another storm coming up the Atlantic coast, with snow expected through Pennsylvania and New York, right where we need to travel through to go south. It looked like we would get out of Eliot until Thursday, March 4. Watching the local weather on Wednesday night it called for 35 mph winds on Thursday, another day to stay off the road. Finally Friday, March 5 came and we had a clear window of several nice days to travel south.
We left Friday morning about 7:30 AM and travelled all day. There was no snow on the ground through all of New England until we got to Nyack, New York. There was the new snow that came in on the last storm. We arrived at Western Village RV park in Carlisle, PA. about 5 PM. A very nice campground with about 8 transient RV’s in for the night and about 25 seasonal’s enjoying the 25 degree over night temperatures. There were four RVers travelling together and we said Hi to them as we were on our evening walk around the campground to stretch our legs.
We left Saturday morning about 7:30 AM and travelled all day. There was snow on the ground until we were south of Washington, D.C. As we were travelling down the highway, the 4 RVers that were at the last campground passed us. They had left the campground at 6 AM that morning, about 1 ½ hours before we left. We arrived at South of the Border in Dillon, SC about 5 PM.It was about 65 degrees outside. We were sitting down to supper about 6 PM when the four campers pulled into South of the Border campground. We spoke to them a little later when we were out for our evening walk. They were from Ontario, 2 were retired from Canadian Bell phone company. They spoke very little English (French was their native language) so our chat was short. They were headed to Cocoa Beach for 2 weeks. We called our friends Ron and Karen, who are hosting in Georgia Veterans State Park in Cordele, GA to let them know we would be there late Sunday afternoon.
We left Sunday morning about 7:30 AM and travelled all day. We stopped for lunch at the Georgia Welcome Center. Just as we were finishing, Ron called to say he had a special spot all picked out for us at the campground and was wondering what time we might get there. We made arrangements to give Ron and Karen a call when we checked in at the office. Ron met us at the campground gate and escorted us to a very nice site, right next to them in the campground. Looking out our front window, we can watch the sunrise over the lake. Looking out the door or the kitchen window, we get to watch the sunset over the lake. Not only did they get us a beautiful campsite, Karen and Ron cooked supper for us. We were treated like royalty. We decided to stay here at this beautiful State Park for a week, until Sunday, March 14. Then we will head for Florida.
Monday we took a ride with Ron and Karen to Andersonville Prison and National Cemetary. It was a Civil War prison for Union soldiers. 12,900 Union soldiers died in this prison (of the 45,000 prisoners) in the 14 months that it operated in 1864 & 1865. It was very moving experience watching the informational movies about the prison. The cemetary was beautiful. One of the best parts is the Maine monument for the fallen Maine soldiers. The soldier on the top of the monument faces North, with his back to the South.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Retirement has finally arrived.
Our plans are to travel in the motorhome for the next two months, throughout the Southeast US, visiting friends and family as we go. Our trip will have about 18 stops through South Carolina, western Georgia, down the west coast of Florida, across Alligator alley to eastern Florida, up the east coast of Florida, eastern Georgia and coastal South and North Carolina.
Mother Nature will decide when we depart Maine, but it looks like Thursday, the 4th of March.
We will try to keep this blog updated as much as we can. I would like to say that I will do it once a week, at least, but that may be too much, considering our schedule. We welcome the comments, it is good to hear from friends and family as we travel.
Gary and Sharon
Our plans are to travel in the motorhome for the next two months, throughout the Southeast US, visiting friends and family as we go. Our trip will have about 18 stops through South Carolina, western Georgia, down the west coast of Florida, across Alligator alley to eastern Florida, up the east coast of Florida, eastern Georgia and coastal South and North Carolina.
Mother Nature will decide when we depart Maine, but it looks like Thursday, the 4th of March.
We will try to keep this blog updated as much as we can. I would like to say that I will do it once a week, at least, but that may be too much, considering our schedule. We welcome the comments, it is good to hear from friends and family as we travel.
Gary and Sharon
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