Thursday, October 28, 2010

The Escapees Chapter 26 rally started yesterday.  First there was a happy hour at 4:00, followed by an interesting dinner – everyone brought their own meat to cook on grills along with potluck sides.  After dinner, we all sat around a nice big campfire.

Today, started with a pancake and sausage breakfast.  The ladies did some line dancing; one of the members gave a photography class on basic composition; some competed in Mexican train in the afternoon; at 3:00 one of the members (sheriff) entertained with jokes and country music; adoptions and door prizes followed; a barbeque dinner was provided by the Farmer’s Opry; and we ended with another campfire.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Back again.  We had a wonderful visit with Doug.  His friend Sean came over Saturday night for a cookout of burritos with carne asada and chicken.  They were so good, we had them again Sunday night.  Doug gave me a 32 gig iPod Touch for my birthday.  I love it.  Monday night we cooked a beer can chicken for dinner with grilled vegetables – another great dinner.  Of course, Tuesday morning came and we had to leave Columbus to continue our way south.  This afternoon, we arrived at the Farmers Opry and Campground in Chumuckla, FL.  Tomorrow starts the fall Escapees Chapter 26 rally – should be fun.

Friday, October 22, 2010

Today, we drove from Fort Chiswell, VA to Pendleton, SC, a nice Corps of Engineers Park – Twin Lakes Campground.  It is a beautiful park.  Had Coach Net come out and change the passenger side tire on the jeep – a screw.  The driver’s side wheel is making noise on the Phaeton.  I called Frank Hinman for a discussion.  He thinks it might be brake related, but not dangerous.  We have an appointment with Freightliner in Ocala for 11/2 to get it fixed.  Tomorrow we head for Doug’s in Columbus, GA.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

We moved over 200 miles down I-81 from Front Royal, VA to Fort Chiswell, VA.

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Yesterday was our last day of touring Washington DC.  Some went to the Smithsonian museums for the day, and others of us toured some of the monuments as well as one of the Smithsonian’s.  Marilyn and I saw, in the daylight this time, the World War II, Lincoln, Korean and Viet Nam memorial.  We also spent two hours in the American History Museum.  Viet Nam was still too depressing, so I only took pictures from the ends.

Today, we had a great Continental breakfast, said our goodbye’s and drove to Front Royal, VA where I took a nap, and we started on paperwork, etc.

This one was taken out the windshield of the bus.

The Washington Monument taken from the World War II memorial.

The Jefferson Memorial as taken from World War II.

This is he Pacific entrance to the World War II memorial followed by one from inside,

Next we went to the Korean War Memorial

This is the Lincoln Memorial

And of course the Viet Nam Memorial

Monday, October 18, 2010

We toured Mount Vernon.  George Washington’s home is still impressive today.  Lunch was at Martha’s place at Mount Vernon, where we had wonderful chicken pot pie along with cherry pie for dessert.  After lunch we went to Arlington Cemetery, where we saw the Kennedy graves, the changing of  the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier, and the RE Lee mansion before heading back to Cherry Hill.

Monday Morning, October 18, 2010

It isn’t even 7:00 AM and we are getting ready to catch our bus to Mount Vernon today.  Last night we joined 19 of our DC HOP members on a GreyLine tour of DC at night.  The bus left Cherry Hill at 5:40 and returned after our bedtime at about 11:00.  They did a nice job of showing DC with its lights on the monuments and buildings.

Marilyn and I, and our friends Ray & Sharon Powell in front of the Jefferson Memorial

Of course we needed a picture of the Lincoln Memorial

The White House looked great with the Washington Monument behind it.

October 16, 2010

The DC HOP is going well. Good weather for Friday's Capitol tour and Ford's Theater presentation. Saturday we had another great tour guide for Gettysburg.  Topped off the evening with ice cream at the Cherry Hill Cafe.

A view of the DC Capitol building

Marilyn and I in front of the White House

Learning how to fire a canon at Gettysburg

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Received final changes fore DC tour from bus company.  Delivered final goody bags to attendees in the rain.  Social hour at 4:00, with announcements, schedule changes, VCR report and a wonderful Salisbury steak dinner put on by the park.

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

Today Marilyn filled the HOP bags to give out to the attendees with the welcome letters, etc. Then we shopped at Sam's and WalMart. When we returned, we had a happy hour before cooking porkchops on the grill for dinner.

October 12, 2010

We left the New Jersey shore, and drove to College Park, MD (Cherry Hill Park). Some of the others who will be on the Washington DC Escapees HOP gathered for a social hour.

Monday, October 11, 2010

Today was a good sightseeing day.  We started by driving to the Absecon Lighthouse in Atlantic City.

As we were arriving in Atlantic City, we saw that they were getting some of their electricity from wind power.  (Marilyn took the picture through the windshield as I was driving.

Of course, after visiting the lighthouse museum, we walked along the Atlantic City Boardwalk.  The boardwalk is actually made of wood, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean, Casinos, junk shops, food concessions, and restaurants.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Today, our friends, Lynn & Bill, headed back to Long Island about noon.  After lunch, Marilyn and I drove down to Tuckerton Island Seaport.  It is a recreation of a village, and the Tuckerton Island Lighthouse.  Both the island, and the light were washed away.

Last night we enjoyed our cocktail hour around the fire pit.

Saturday, October 9, 2010

On Thursday, the 7th, we worked at getting paperwork together for our DC Tour.  In the afternoon we found a Post Office, and drove out to get a picture of the Barnegat Lighthouse.

Friday the 8th was a nice quiet day here in Barnegat, NJ. In the morning Marilyn did laundry, and we found a Bank of America for a notarized signature. Then our friends Lynn & Bill arrived for the weekend to stay in a cabin. Relaxed all afternoon, campfire with cocktails and steak for dinner. It doesn't get any better.

Of course they brought Toby and Pepper with them.

October 6, 2010

Well, it has taken a while for me to get around to writing again. 
That is because we have been busy hosting he NYC HOP (tour) for the Escapees RV club.  On Monday, September 27 we left Pier-Lon and headed East to Godeffroy, NY with an overnight stop in Milton, PA.  Wednesday and Thursday, we checked in all of the people attending the HOP – 50 rigs, and 98 people.  Friday was the first day of the tour, and, after a 2.5 hour bus ride, we drove through the Lincoln Tunnel, and picked up our tour guide in the Battery.  We took the boat out to Liberty Island to view the statue.

We also went to Ellis Island, ate lunch where we could see Ground Zero, then went to the top of the Rockefeller Center for the view.

 

On Saturday, we drove around upper Manhattan, stopped at St John the Divine Cathedral, and went to see the Lion King.  Sunday was a free day, and we went to an apple orchard for cider and some MacIntosh apples.  Monday found us with more rain, but we persevered.  Our tour took us to Greenwich Village, Wall Street, Trinity Church, a ride through Brooklyn, lunch choices were China town or Little Italy, Tuesday we toured West Point Military Academy and had a boat ride on the Hudson.  Awesome.  The West Point chapel was most impressive:

Today, Wednesday, the 6th, we left our friends at the NYC HOP, and moved on to Barnegat, NJ to relax, meet Marilyn’s high school friend and get ready for the Washington DC HOP.