Sunday, December 30, 2012

2012-12-30

Today was another driving day, but without the wind of yesterday.  We crossed in to Texas east of Beaumont on I-10 at milepost 880.5.IMG_20121230_111555_196  We ended the day at River Shade RV Park in Seguin, TX, milepost 610.  Our total miles in LA and TX were 366.

Other than driving and buying fuel, the day was normal.  Marilyn did make us a delicious soup from the prime rib bones left over from our Christmas dinner.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

2012-12-29

The last time I wrote was on the 19th, on our way to Columbus, GA for Christmas  Marilyn had decorated a tree for the motorhome before we left Florida.   After arrival on the 20th, we went to Doug’s for dinner, and a great visit.  Then, on the 21st, we drove to the Atlanta airport to pick up our daughter, Beverly.  On the 21st, we all went out for Japanese food, so Bev, Doug and Marilyn could have sushi while I had chicken tempura – delicious food.  We all finished our shopping, and, then, Marilyn and Beverly baked cookies on Sunday, along with decorating Doug’s tree (Doug and Laila had done a great job of decorating Doug’s house before we arrived). DSC02181DSC02183  This is a picture of the baking results.  DSC02184  Of course the stockings were hung by the chimney with care. DSC02193  We opened our presents on Christmas day, and alas all good visits must come to an end.  We had to take Beverly back to the airport in the afternoon for a 5:30pm flight back to Dayton, OH.

We said goodbye to Doug the day after Christmas (Wednesday), and left Columbus on Thursday morning.  We drove to Summerdale, AL to visit Joan and Richard Micelli at their home in Plantation, the Escapees RV Park. 

After a wonderful visit with Joan and Richard, we left this morning (Saturday) to continue our trek West.  We are parked for the night at Frog City RV Park just west of Lafayette, LA.

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

Wednesday, December 19, 2012

On Sunday, the 16th, I checked our house batteries, and the air in the tires.  We went to the Ice Cream Social, and Marilyn made a delicious pot roast.  On Monday, the 20th, we went to Paul and Peg Gifford’s home in Lakeland, FL.  They took us to a delicious lunch at Tapatillo’s.  Tuesday was our final shopping in the Leesburg area, plus we checked to see if my new glasses were in – not.  Marilyn left her new glasses to be adjusted.  Both will end up having to be mailed to us while we are on the road.

This morning, the 19th, we left Sumter Oaks RV Park.  I left about 11:15AM with the motorhome.  I stopped at the Wildwood Truck Wash to get the house washed.  It was $60 plus $30 for the roof (I wrote a check before he changed the price).  Marilyn joined be about noon, and, with the Jeep attached, we drove to the Ocala rest area for lunch. 

We are now parked at the Tifton, GA Wal-Mart for the night.

Earlier this year, our towed’s US Gear auxiliary brake system died.  Southeast Power diagnosed the problem as the power unit.  Two hundred later we went on our way.  Hitched once, the system seemed to work.  This morning when we hitched, it did not work.  It is almost 10 years old, just like our Blue Ox hitch.  Blue Ox said they would not service this unit again.  We will be looking for a new towed brake system at Quartsite along with a new tow bar.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Well, we woke up on the 13th of December, so those folks who said the world would end on the 12th were wrong, and now they say we have to worry all over again on the 21st.  Oh well, today was a good day for a trip to Busch Gardens to see their Christmas shows.  DSC02158

The day was a little on the cool side with a high of 70, cloudy, and misty as we started the drive to Tampa.  Here is the train decked out for Xmas.  DSC02144

The three stage shows we went to had too much action (blurry) for the camera, but here is one that was not too bad.  DSC02150

We did get to see some of the animals, including, as the song goes, some rhinoceroses and hippopotamuses.   DSC02145DSC02155

We also saw some flamingos and topiaries.  DSC02146DSC02156

Oh, and I recognize, or should I say I resemble, the ambition of this gorilla.  DSC02157

Type at you later.

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Last month I received a Jury Summons to appear at the Okaloosa County Courthouse on the 26th of November.  I was able to postpone it until the 10th of December, which required that we not be able to finish our $200 month at the Daytona Beach RV Resort by  4 days. Then yesterday, I received an email from the Clerk of the Okaloosa County Courts stating that anyone who was required to report for jury duty on the 10th of December was relieved.  They did not have to report.

Larry & Carolyn Jarvis, and Marilyn and I decided to still leave today on the 8th, but instead of driving 420 miles to Crestview (near Pensacola, FL) for my cancelled jury duty, we all returned to Sumter Oaks, the Escapees RV Park in Bushnell, FL.  We will leave again on the 19th of FL to head to Columbus, GA to spend Christmas with our two children.  The next few days will give us a chance to spend more time with friends and relatives before heading West for the winter.

Type at you later.

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Today was a wonderful day.  Marilyn,I, and Larry & Carolyn Jarvis left Port Orange, FL at 9:00am, and drove to Clermont, FL to attend the Escapees lunch at the Golden Corral.  We had 51 people at the lunch – a great group of friends.  This is our last lunch of 2012, and for Marilyn and I, it is the last Florida lunch with Escapees until November 2013.

On the way back, Marilyn and I stopped in Eustis to pick up our new glasses, then a bag of oranges, fuel for the Jeep at WalMart.  Then we stopped at Target for a 4’X5’6” chocolate colored rug to cover the rug in our motorhome.  It looks very nice.

At home in Port Orange, we had a couple of Manhattans for happy hour.  Dinner consisted of Nathan’s Chili Dogs at Ritter’s along with Hot Fudge Sundae’s. 

All in all, it was a great day for eating.

Type at you later.

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

Tuesday, November 4, 2012

For lunch, I got to do another Chick-fil-A stop.  Once again, it was delicious, and we were able to share it with Larry & Carolyn.

Marilyn and I went our own way after lunch.  She has not had a lighthouse fix in quite a while, so we drove to see Ponce de Leon Lighthouse on Ponce Inlet.  It is Florida’s tallest lighthouse, and one of the tallest in the USA.  Before we went on to the lighthouse grounds, we took a picture, and watched as this boat was moved.  They drove the boat across the road and in to the parking lot where we parked.  Then they backed the boat down the road and in to a parking space next to the marina.DSC05801DSC05802

We then drove to the lighthouse parking lot.  DSC05804DSC05805  With a coupon, we were able to tour the lighthouse grounds and museum for $4.50 each (regular price is only $5).  There are several artifact buildings, with the oil storage tanks, the Fresnel lenses, furniture, clothing, descriptions, anchors, etc.  All in all, it made for a nice afternoon.  DSC05808DSC05809DSC05812  Here is Marilyn reading a brochure, and even the Jeep contained a reflection of Ponce Light.  DSC05811DSC05813

On the way back to the house, we made brief shopping stops at Lowe’s and Target.

Carolyn has made Pea Soup for dinner.  Yum, Yum!!!

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Sunday, December 2, 2012

This morning we walked, and picked up a newspaper so Marilyn could get some actual coupons instead of printing them from the internet.  There was not much information I can’t get from online headlines.

Then, after noon, we drove back to the Canaveral National Seashore to take their boat ride on Mosquito Lagoon, which used to be part of the Intra-Coastal Waterway.  The boat was a pontoon boat, and the volunteers drove it slowly so we could see the Mangroves, birds, and bottlenose dolphins.  DSC05771DSC05773DSC05774DSC05776DSC05780DSC05783DSC05788DSC05797DSC05798

After the boat ride, we had dinner at Boston’s Fish House around 4pm.2012-12-02 _170202

Type at you later.

Friday, November 30, 2012

Friday, November 30, 2012

Frank and Maureen Hallday came to Daytona Beach RV Resort on Tuesday, the 27th.  We enjoyed being able to sit around and talk with them and Larry & Carolyn Jarvis.  For dinner, we headed back to Martin’s Restaurant & Lounge for more prime rib.  Here are some pictures of the beach, and dinner.  20121127_17224320121127_18001320121127_18002520121127_180051

On Wednesday, we on the shore at Daytona Beach.  Since Larry Jarvis had a handicap licard, we didn’t even have to pay the $5 to drive on the beach.  The beach is public, but the hotels limit the number of places where you can actually get on to the beach. 20121128_131859

Thursday, the 29th we had to say goodbye to Frank and Maureen as they headed back to Sumter Oaks in Bushnell, FL.  For dinner, we heated a ham steak on the grill, and used more of our leftovers from Thanksgiving.

Today is Red Shirt Friday.  We walked, breakfast, and around 11 we headed to Titusville so we could have lunch at Dixie Crossroads where they are famous for their Rock Shrimp.  20121130_12012120121130_120221

I, along with Marilyn and Larry Jarvis had the rock shrimp.  Carolyn had a Maine lobster.  Here is a picture of the rock shrimp and fries.  20121130_124657

On the way back to Daytona Beach, we drove along the Black Point Wildlife Drive where we saw many different kinds of birds (Roseate Spoonbills, herons, coots, etc.) and a couple of alligators.  It was a nice drive.

Type at you later.

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Thursday, November 22 to Sunday, November 25, 2012

We had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  Marilyn and Carolyn Jarvis spent the day getting dinner ready.  Carolyn roasted the turkey between our two rigs.  20121122_133358  Here they have all of the dishes set out so we can start “dipping” (as they say in South Carolina) our plates for all of the fixin’s.  20121122_153052  Next, we start actually filling our plates.  20121122_15315920121122_153238  There was definitely more than we could eat at that meal.  In addition to the turkey, mashed sweet potatoes, mashed white potatoes, string beans, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, etc., Marilyn made a delicious Pumpkin Cheese Cake Pie.

Friday, we drove up to Marineland.  20121123_160652  For our admission of $15.50 for two, we got a tour of the current dolphin tanks plus some historical information.  Marineland’s focus is educating people about the Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin.  The place is under construction (rebuilding).  It does have  nice  views of the Atlantic Ocean.  20121123_143433   Since we had had a big BBQ lunch out, we had turkey sandwiches for dinner. 

Saturday, the ladies went shopping while Larry and I did some work around the house.  Dinner was leftovers, and they were still a great feast. 20121124_183634

Sunday, after ordering some Rx’s and having our mail sent once more to the campground here in Daytona Beach, we drove to the Canaveral National Sea Shore where we toured the Historic Eldora House.  It has been rebuilt as a reminder of a little village that grew in the 1890s and died in the early 1900s.  20121125_15362620121125_154450  Lunch was at JB’s Fish House with fried oysters, fried grouper sandwiches, and a scallop basket.  All were wonderful.

One last picture.  It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas in the Forbes’ house.  20121125_180236

Now it is cocktails and blog, and neither of us is hungry for dinner after that big lunch.

Type at you later.