tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-166648332024-03-13T06:09:07.032-04:00Ramblin' with Chuck and PamThis is our log and writings of interest about our RV trips. We also have a miscellaneous page with other items listed in the links on the left. PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SITE HAS THE POSTINGS LISTED IN ORDER STARTING WITH THE MOST RECENT AT THE TOP AND OLDEST AT THE BOTTOM.Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-70335071933225300612013-10-09T14:17:00.002-04:002013-10-09T14:30:12.058-04:00New England Coast - September 2012I have almost abandoned blogging for several reasons. But I decided to at least put a link to the slide show of some of the pictures taken during our recent trip to New England.<br />
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We left home on September 6 and drove through PA, NY and into western Mass, through southern Vermont and New Hampshire. We stayed at Bar Harbor Campground near the entrance to Acadia National Park for a week. Then we moved to Foxboro Mass, just south of Boston for 4 days before returning home.<br />
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Here are some of the pictures we took along the way.<br />
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Pictures in the slide show include scenes from Acadia National Park, The Down East Lobster Pound in Trenton ME, Boston MA, Provincetown and Orleans on Cape Cod, and Newport RI.Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-70946953547993601842012-10-25T13:56:00.001-04:002012-10-25T13:56:24.735-04:00Go West Young ManMonroe, NC<br />
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Preparations are getting into high gear for our pending trip to Texas. We are looking forward to getting on the road again. We will be leaving sometime early next week for our ultimate destination - <a href="http://www.nps.gov/bibe/index.htm" target="_blank">Big Bend National Park.</a><br />
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Along the way we will be stopping in Austin TX for a long awaited visit with some dear friends of ours that we have not seen in nearly 3 years! Then we plan to stop in Fort Davis Texas at the <a href="http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/state-parks/davis-mountains" target="_blank">Davis Mountains State Park</a> for a few days before making the final journey to BBNP. <br />
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No pictures as of yet, but we do plan to keep the blog up to date while on the road. <br />
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There has been quite a bit of catch up work around the house and the RV to be sure we are happy campers. (For you civic minded readers, this included early voting in the upcoming elections since we will be away on November 6.) A thorough cleaning (inside and out) of the Bounder was done. This included unloading some "non essential" items that had accumulated in the basement storage areas. <br />
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The biggest single item was the replacement of the Bounder's tires. We still had the original Goodyear RV tires that came with the coach. While there was plenty of tread still on them, they were 8 years old. They may look fine, but old tires can be broken down by weather and use causing dry rot and internal cracking. This could lead to possible structural failure and cause a blowout. Not what you want in West Texas, or anywhere else for that matter!<br />
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We replaced the original Goodyears with Hankook truck tires. These tires get very good reviews in the RV community and are used widely by trucking companies too. And the cost is less than the RV tires from Goodyear. So far, on the drive home from the shop, I could tell a difference in that the ride was smoother and tracking seemed to be a little straighter. However, we will see when we get on the interstates headed west.<br />
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-24516704480768391122012-10-23T22:07:00.000-04:002012-10-24T14:43:34.720-04:00Renaissance FestivalConcord NC<br />
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I had never been to a Renaissance Festival. So when my dear daughter asked me if I wanted to join her for a Saturday outing to the local Renaissance Festival I thought; why not?<br />
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Officially known as the <a href="http://www.royalfaires.com/carolina/" target="_blank">Carolina Renaissance Festival and Artisan Marketplace</a>, this event is held every October through Mid November on the weekends. Apparently it is also open for school field trips during some of the week days during that time.<br />
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I had heard of these events before and they are held in numerous locations across the US. I had also heard of this particular site since it has been held annually in the same location for several years. But I still did not know exactly what to expect. Was I in for a surprise!<br />
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As you can see, it was crowded even early in the day. We arrived shortly after the opening time to try to beat some of the crowd. And around mid afternoon, the place was really packed. You can see some of the buildings in the background.<br />
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I have always been a bit of a history enthusiast, so from that perspective, I may have been a little disappointed. Without any preconceived notions, I was kind of expecting something more along the lines of a Colonial Williamsburg, with most of the "characters" in period costume and actually speaking of events and activities as if they were actually there in that period. What I found was a conglomeration of stuff. This is a money making entertainment event though, not necessarily a history lesson. So with that in mind I put away the need to be historically correct and enjoyed the entertainment. <br />
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And entertainment was aplenty! Jugglers, sword swallowers, fire eaters, a sword swallowing fire eater, musicians, pirates, vikings; I guess anything that pop history places in the "olden days" was represented there.<br />
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Take a close look at the "Tree" in the photo above. It's really a person dressed like a tree, you know, like the apple trees in the "Wizard of Oz". I may not have even noticed him if he had not been pointed out.<br />
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Another thing I found very interesting and entertaining. Many of the attendees came dressed in their own costumes. Thats right, I saw people lining up to buy their tickets wearing everything from pirate outfits to kids in fairy costumes and everything in between. </div>
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Here is the sword swallowing fire eater I mentioned earlier. He actually had a pretty entertaining show under one of the big tents stages set up. There were 11 or 12 of these large stages with something scheduled at each one during the entire day.<br />
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There were lots and lots of crafts and items to buy as well. Here is one of the artisans making pottery that he was selling in his booth.<br />
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Here is a display of some very intricate (and expensive) wooden cups made with wood inlays and put together like a parquet floor.<br />
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And one of the entertainers sitting under a tree playing her lyre. She also had a beautiful voice to match. <br />
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Of course there was jousting at one of the shows. It was very hot and dusty at the jousting arena, and also very crowded, so we didn't stay to watch the show.<br />
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Did I mention food? Just like any worthwhile fair, there was plenty of food consessions and many people standing in line to get it. While the price was expensive, it was reasonable given that it was the only game in ye ole town!<br />
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By about 3:00 PM we had had our fill of all the fair had to offer so we headed home to beat the crowds exiting. We didn't need to worry about from the traffic flow. Many many more were making their way in to enjoy the evening. <br />
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All in all, it was a fun and interesting day. <br />
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-76180829526148859292012-10-18T22:00:00.000-04:002012-10-20T18:58:38.235-04:00Asheville & Mt. Mitchell Asheville NC,<br />
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We decided at the last minute to take an all day drive from home to Asheville, NC and Mt. Mitchell. What a gorgeous day it turned out to be for the trip. Beautiful blue sky and great temperatures in the mid 60s to 70s in the lower elevations and much cooler on top of Mt. Mitchell.<br />
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The toughest part of getting to the mountains from Monroe NC is getting through Charlotte. Once we get to Kings Mountain and off of I-85, it is pretty much smooth sailing. We decided to go the old route; westbound on US-74 and Alt 74. This route takes you through the beautiful town of Lake Lure, past Chimney Rock, Bat Cave and finally into Asheville. This is the route we used to take as a child with my father driving the Dodge.<br />
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Lunch time rolled around and found us in downtown Asheville on Wall Street near Pack Square and the Grove Arcade. Many of the trees were beginning to show their fall colors, depending on the elevation.<br />
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Wall Street is home to our favorite vegetarian restaurant, <a href="http://laughingseed.jackofthewood.com/" target="_blank">The Laughing Seed Cafe</a>. They specialize in vegetarian and pure vegan dishes. Much better than anything in Charlotte, and you NEVER have to ask if your choice includes any meat products. <br />
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I had a delicious Ruben made with tempeh instead of meat, and their soup of the day special. Pam had their special lentil soup and a vegan Sloppy Joe made with barbequed tofu instead of meat. Both were very tasty and filling. (Sorry, I left the camera in the car so no pictures of the food.)<br />
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The Laughing Seed main entry faces the Wall Street side, but for those carnivores, it is actually upstairs from the Jack-O-The-Woods pub that serves great burgers and other good dishes. It is entered from the Patton Ave, or simply go down the stairs inside The Laughing Seed.<br />
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By the way, there is a public parking garage on Wall Street that can be entered off of Otis Street around the corner from Wall Street. It is very convenient to all of the Grove Arcade, Wall Street, Patton Avenue including Early Girl Eatery, Tupelo Honey, and many many more. This has to be one of the more scenic views from any parking garage I have ever visited.<br />
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After a short walk around the area we were back in the car and headed toward the Blue Ridge Parkway (BRP.) We soon found ourselves at the Craggy Gardens Visitor Center. <br />
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It was noticeably cooler at this elevation, and only a few miles from Mt. Mitchell. The visitor center is very nice with a scenic overlook, gift shop, and restrooms. <br />
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The view in the picture above is toward the east. I think that is Burnett Reservoir in the distance.<br />
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Below is a a northward view of the BRP and one of it's tunnels. We did see a couple of RV's on the parkway, and it is certainly not all that intimidating with the easy sweeping curves and the wide shoulders. Speeds are limited to 45 in most areas (35 in some areas) and no commercial traffic is allowed. However, if driving a big rig, you would need to be cautious with the tunnels that are arched. And if driving an RV, one must be very selective about which road is used to access the parkway as some of the roads are very steep and curvy<br />
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It was getting a little late in the day and our drive home from here was about 2 or 3 hours. But what a beautiful day! And how many times have we been to Mt. Mitchell only to be disappointed by the fog, clouds or even sleet at the peak? So we decided to try it again. What an awesome surprise.<br />
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Mt. Mitchell is the highest peak in Eastern North America at 6,684 feet above sea level. It seems to have it's own weather system. So what a nice surprise when we arrived at the peak and found a beautiful view and bright sunshine.<br />
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Here is Pam in the obligatory "standing behind the sign" pose. <br />
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Since the last time we were here, they completed a brand new observation deck on the peak. It provides a great view of the entire area and more. It is only a short 200 yard walk up from the visitor center.<br />
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After the balmy 70 degree temperature in downtown Asheville, 48 degrees felt a bit cold. But what a view. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chuck on the Mt. Mitchell Observation Platform.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Mt. Mitchell toward the Southwest - BRP is seen across the peaks toward Craggy Gardens.</td></tr>
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Soon we were finally ready to head home. We went north on the BRP and then on Hwy 80, a very tight, steep, curvy road (not to be attempted in a large RV!) Soon we were past Buck Creek Campground and in Marion NC, back on the concrete ribbon (I-40) eastbound and finally back home.<br />
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What a pleasant day trip.Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-33899400509905855882012-10-11T23:00:00.000-04:002012-10-11T23:00:07.887-04:00New Latches for the Spare TireMonroe, NC<br />
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Yesterday I mentioned that I went to Tom Johnson Camping Center's parts department to get a couple of new latches for the spare tire cover hatch on the rear end of the Bounder. As usual I found that those little things are more expensive than you would think, but was able to get them for $17 each. I likely could have gotten them for less by researching the internet but wanted to get it done.<br />
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Here is the old latch installed. <br />
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One would not think that something so small, made mostly from plastic would cost quite that much.<br />
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First step was to get the hatch cover off. Since the latches were frozen in place and the key would not open them, I had to crawl under the Bounder and remove them from the back of the hatch panel. It's dirty in there!<br />
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Then a good wash job to thoroughly clean the panel front and back.<br />
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Next came attaching the new latches. The metal bracket simply holds the latch in place with its front flange against the hatch panel. <br />
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And the screw is adjusted to hold the screw head against the bracket (not shown) on the upper part of the hatch opening.<br />
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Here you can see the bracket on the upper left side of the opening.<br />
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All done, and they work too! In the 8 years we have had the Bounder we have never needed to access the spare tire. But you never know! <br />
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-81709709054985645132012-10-10T21:33:00.000-04:002012-10-10T21:38:05.955-04:00Instant RV CityMonroe, NC.<br />
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Most of the morning was spent at our auto mechanic of choice in the area. The Chevy Tracker needed a little TLC and some maintenance. The guys at Doc Imports in Monroe came through again as usual. They found what turned out to be a simple problem and didn't charge much to correct it so I was back on the road.<br />
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The owner of the place is also an RVer. He has a big toy hauler fiver and we chatted about the places we had been over the past couple of months.<br />
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Next on the agenda was a trip to my RV dealer, Tom Johnson Camping Center in Concord. I need to replace the little latches that keep the Bounder's spare tire cover on. I didn't call first assuming that they would either have the exact replacement part, or they would be able to point me to a suitable replacement for the latches.<br />
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I need to pay more attention to current events! I had totally overlooked the fact that the second big NASCAR race of the year is at Charlotte Motor Speedway this weekend.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome Race Fans... so says the signs!</td></tr>
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And Tom Johnson Camping Center is right across the street from the speedway. In fact when the race is being held, they move all of their inventory to another lot nearby. I was surprised to see that the area that was their inventory lot, has apparently been converted to permanent campsites. So I don't know what that means for them long term, but it sure looks like the speedway is pushing them to a smaller and smaller space.<br />
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But the race fans are arriving in force, but it doesn't seem that the event is as big as it once was. Years ago I went to several NASCAR races each year, including the October race at Charlotte. Areas that once held souvenir vendor shops shoulder to shoulder are now mostly empty. Maybe they moved them to a different area that I didn't see, but it just didn't seem to have the crowd that it once did.<br />
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But the RVs and campers are arriving. This is only Wednesday but many were settling in already and there was plenty of room for the many more that will show up in the next few days. <br />
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These first two pictures are directly across the road from the speedway.<br />
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These next two are down Morehead Road past the speedway.. about a mile away. <br />
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By Saturday, all these will be packed unless the crowds are really off. Again, it's been 10 years or so since I last attended one of them.<br />
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In a way it kind of makes me miss the events a little. They were exciting, particularly in the RV. Lots of people watching, and lots of RV watching. Believe me, at a NASCAR event you see all kinds. You can see a multi-million dollar Prevost conversion sitting right next to a 1960's School Bus conversion... with every one partying and having a great time.<br />
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But there is just not much interest for me in NASCAR anymore. I don't think the characters are allowed in the racing world now. Every driver has to be a driver second, and a product salesman first. It doesn't seem to matter if you can drive a race car as long as you can sell the sponsor's products. Maybe Dale Earnhardt moved on just in time.<br />
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I returned home to another beautiful sunset.<br />
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-34921385848057255002012-10-08T10:45:00.001-04:002012-10-08T10:46:52.872-04:00Wash DayMonroe, NC<br />
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With the prediction of some cooler and possibly bad weather, it felt like I needed to do a complete job of cleaning the Bounder and get it in the barn before the rain sets in. Saturday seemed like the right time. I thought about breaking the job up into a couple of days but as I checked the weather forecast, I wanted to go ahead and get-er-done before it rains.<br />
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I wanted to do a full detail type job (but hold off on the wax part) while I could. I started by taking the 8 foot step ladder, the bristle brush, and a bucket of Spic-and-Span around the complete upper edge where the rubber roof meets the fiberglass sidewall. This included pulling down the awning and scrubbing the awning rail and the top part of the awning really really good. That task took a couple of hours; up the ladder, scrub within arms reach, rinse with plenty of water, down the ladder, move the ladder, start again.<br />
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Then on top of the coach with the long handle brush, more Spic-and-Span, and plenty of scrubbing. I also cleaned the A/C covers, vent covers, and the other things on the roof that collect dirt. There's really a lot of stuff up there around which one must maneuver.<br />
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After a lunch break, it was on to the remainder of the job; giving the rest of the coach a good washing and rinse. I wanted to be sure that all of the runoff from the top was washed away. For this part I used what I always use, Blue Coral Car Wash with Wax. This has always done a great job and keeps the gelcoat on the fiberglass sidewalls shiny and spot free. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Washing the FMCA "Goose Egg"</td></tr>
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With the job finally completed and the Bounder dried, its back in the barn to stay out of the impending bad weather. Good thing too, Sunday morning arrived with a bang with a strong thunderstorm, some heavy rain, and much cooler temperatures. Fall is finally here for real.<br />
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The Florida Keys don't have a lock on beautiful sunsets:<br />
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Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-78264760203844902632012-10-04T23:00:00.000-04:002012-10-05T10:29:29.335-04:00A New FloorMonroe, NC<br />
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No, not it the RV, but in the house. Our house is 65 years old so there are always surprises whenever you try to do any type of repair or remodeling. Even putting new blinds on the windows is an adventure. The wide 4 inch window frames that were soft pine 65 years ago when my Grandfather and one of his brothers-in-law built this house are now the consistency of granite.<br />
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And nothing is standard, according to today's standards that is. The kitchen cabinets for example were simply built in to fit the spaces after the kitchen was completed. So something like a simple cabinet or counter top replacement using the "standard" sized stuff from Lowe's or Home Depot would require a major overhaul.<br />
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So we decided to replace the old carpet that we put in our bedroom when we remodeled years ago with a wood like laminate. We choose the Quick Step brand and had it installed by a local flooring company. I know, a lot of people including my brother have a handyman streak in them. And this type of job is labeled as a "weekend job" by folks that have that talent, but for me I'm not so sure. And since it is in our bedroom we didn't want to be displaced any longer than a day.<br />
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The installer showed up right on time and before long he had ripped out all the existing carpet and had the sub-floor cleaned and ready to install the new pad and laminate planks.<br />
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Speaking of the surprises of an older house, notice that the flooring is not the standard plywood subflooring used these days, but they are actually 3 inch pine planks. After this discovery (I should have remembered that from when we remodeled 17 years ago,) there was a brief discussion about refinishing that floor instead of using the laminate.<br />
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But see the white plank in the upper center of the picture? Thats were we placed a spare plank after removing a wall that once existed there when we remodeled. So realizing that, we kept with the original plan.<br />
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By mid-afternoon the job was done. New laminate flooring that looks remarkably like real oak flooring in the adjoining room. New quarter round molding the same color as the floor. All in all, a pretty good job by the installer.<br />
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Now to the not so pleasant task of getting all the stuff that we have accumulated placed where it belongs. Or more importantly, getting rid of some of it! <br />
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Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-75579384882651153552012-10-03T12:49:00.000-04:002012-10-03T12:50:03.208-04:00Back to the BarnMonroe, NC<br />
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Our trip back north on I-95 continued to be uneventful and we are back home. We arrived to some nice fall-like weather with a little cooler temperatures and even cooler predicted over the next week or two.<br />
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During August we had a barn built that will be the new home for our Bounder. This is the first time we were actually able to get home, unpack the items we needed to unpack, and move the Bounder into it's new "stable".<br />
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We had decided back in the spring that we really needed to have a larger storage building, since the old one was full of junk and falling down. After all, it was nearly 70 years old. And believe it or not, our Bounder had been sitting outside in the sun, rain, and wind all these years. It needed to have a home under roof.<br />
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I had looked at all these pre-fab metal buildings; I even had one guy come out and measure with the promise to get back to me with a final quote, which he never did. (I guess business is not so bad after all.) Then after a severe thunderstorm outbreak in the area back in May, I saw one of those buildings sitting in the top of a big Oak tree not too far from here.<br />
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It was then that I got serious about having a pole type barn built. Thats when I also discovered that I could have a substantial barn built, with support poles 3 feet in the ground in concrete instead of metal railings sitting on top of the ground. All for not much more than the metal barn would have cost.<br />
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The construction began around the first week of August with the layout and deciding exactly what I wanted and how it would be positioned on our property. Once the poles were set, the trusses were ordered. A week or so later they arrived and a crane was brought in to set the trusses in place:<br />
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Once the work of setting the trusses in place began, it didn't take long for them to complete that part of the job. With a couple of workers on each side and a couple in the middle on the scaffold, it went like clockwork.<br />
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Before long, that part of the job was done. Then it was time to start the longer job of framing.<br />
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With the framing pretty much completed, it was time to start adding the metal, with the trim going on first.<br />
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To be big enough to get the RV in and out as painlessly as possible, I needed a door with at least 14 feet vertical height and at least 12 feet wide. So we decided to put the main door in the center with a personnel entry door on the side. The main door will be a roll up garage door and the personnel door will be a steel double dead bolt lock.<br />
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Metal on the roof will be galvanized aluminum and the sides will be gray to match the siding on our house with white trim.<br />
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Notice the smile on it's face?<br />
<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-43666275897293674712012-09-28T23:30:00.000-04:002012-09-29T10:55:24.039-04:00The Sting of Leaving FloridaSt. Augustine, Florida<br />
Stagecoach RV Park<br />
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After a nice dinner last night at The Reef on the beach, we prepared for our final leg home this morning. We were in no big hurry as it is only about 7 or 8 hours north to Monroe.<br />
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Our two cats are just really into the travel routine and I think would be up to staying on the road as long as we want to.<br />
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While we were packing up to go, we saw two of our camp neighbors out walking their cats, each cat with a leash. I didn't get to the camera in time to make a picture. We talked about how our cats may respond to a leash! Nikki may do ok, but princess Bobbi would never stand for it.<br />
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With the utilities unhooked, Pam turned the a/c off so I could unplug from the shore power connection. I flipped open the power pedestal lid to turn the switch off before unplugging. As I put my hand in to turn the breaker off I touched the bottom edge of the pedestal lid and was immediately shocked! My initial thought was there was a short in the pedestal wiring and I would need to report that to the office. But then I saw two wasps flying out of the box. I had been stung by a wasp and it did sting!<br />
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In 2005 I had an incident with a yellow jacket nest near our home. I stepped on the nest without knowing it was there and was stung approximately 65 times. Yellow Jackets are aggressive little buggers. I passed out in the ambulance on the way to the emergency room and had to be given adrenalin to keep me going. Since then Pam the nurse, has insisted that I need to keep an Epipen and Benadryl handy just in case. She says that I may be much more sensitive to wasp stings since that incident.<br />
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I kind of played that down and thought she was over reacting, but after about 15 minutes, my hand began to swell and my arm ached. And this from just ONE sting. We went ahead and got on the road, and by the time we stopped for fuel in Brunswick GA - about an hour and a half - my right hand and lower arm were swollen to the point i couldn't make a fist. And, I had hives all over my arms and part of my torso. Wow... I know now she is right about the super sensitivity.<br />
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After a couple more hours the swelling stopped and the itching subsided and we continued north bound on I-95.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I-95 Northbound</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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We arrived back at home around 7:00 PM, just in time to unload the essentials before dark and get the cats situated. <br />
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PS. My hand remained itchy all night but the swelling began to go away Friday afternoon. I will certainly keep the Epipen and Benadryl with me every where I go from now on.<br />
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Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-74510390904361834612012-09-26T22:23:00.002-04:002012-09-26T22:23:46.920-04:00Going NorthIt's time to pack up from Bluewater Key and head back to North Carolina. We had a beautiful sunrise this morning. Then after getting everything picked up, packed up, and getting the cats ready for a day of travel, we are off and headed up US-1 back to the mainland. It's time to put the Conch Republic behind us for this year.<br />
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We encountered very little rain as we made our way north on the Florida's Turnpike, then after Ft. Pierce, I-95. <br />
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I do have a question for any Floridian's living in the Keys: Are tourist the only ones expected to obey the traffic laws on US-1 in the Keys? We had several rude and nearly dangerous experiences with drivers on the Overseas Highway, both while driving the RV and while driving the Chevy Tracker during our stay. Most of the incidences were relating to dangerous passing while I was driving the posted speed limit or even 5 MPH or so above the limit. Do people think if they intimidate you, you will will break the law so they can get someplace a few seconds quicker? I really don't get it. Furthermore, in most of the cases, we pulled up next to them or right behind them again at the next stop light.<br />
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We stopped for the night in St. Augustine Florida, at the Stagecoach RV park. It is very near the interstate and is relatively easy to get in and out. We unhooked the Chevy and decided to eat a meal out at a St. Augustine restaurant. We drove over to the beach just as the sun was going down and made a couple of pictures. All the surf and sand is quite a bit different from the calm, clear waters to which we became accustomed in the Keys.<br />
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With the clear skys, the moon was perfectly visible in the early evening sky.<br />
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There was another couple on the beach that was able to take our picture for us.<br />
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So tomorrow we head home after a full two weeks. Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-57786762130062573502012-09-25T10:39:00.001-04:002012-09-25T10:39:32.490-04:00UpgradeSaddle Bunch Keys, Florida<br />
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We did a little swimming, snorkeling, and kayaking today. We had a brief shower and accompanying thunderstorm in the morning, but the afternoon was beautiful.<br />
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We drove over to the seafood market on Summerland Key and while we were there we looked at a few houses for sale. Wow is all I can say. The prices of even very modest houses here anywhere close to the water are very high!<br />
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My last picture was of the fresh shrimp we grilled. Tonight we upgraded to fresh Keys Lobster. I had not grilled lobster before so I was asking a couple of people including the lady at the seafood market for some tips. Its really pretty simple...cut the shell of the tail down the middle and grill using the shell as the holder.<br />
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We seasoned them with just a small amount of melted butter and lime juice, and a little pepper. As you can see, the results were very tasty, and didn't last long!<br />
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The evening was mild with a little breeze from the south. The Moon has been rising very early in the day and we could not see it, but last night it was visible and I tried (with not so good results) to get a picture or two.<br />
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One more day in Paradise then we have to head back to North Carolina!<br />
<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-34608331834465506072012-09-23T20:27:00.000-04:002012-09-23T20:27:13.282-04:00Pink Shrimp on the BarbySaddle Bunch Keys, Florida<br />
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We had another lazy day in the Keys. We spend most of the day at the RV park swimming and kayaking. <br />
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The wildlife here is amazing. I mentioned earlier the number of birds we see daily. Lower Sugarloaf Key also has a lot of fish. Earlier today we heard a noise that sounded like a boat blasting through the water. It turned out to be a shoal of mullet escaping from some other predatory fish. About 4 or 5 waves of the mullet looking like ocean waves breaking on a shoreline continuing for 30 seconds or so until they were in deeper water. Of course I didn't have the camera so no shot of that.<br />
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Anything watersports oriented is available and done here in the Keys. Seems that every house has a boat or two in the yard or in the carport. Paddle boarding is popular here as well. We saw this guy coming across the sound with his dog on the board with him.<br />
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I have not tried paddle boarding but my sense of balance is not all that great. I think I would have a hard time standing upright and paddling by myself, much less with a dog on board!<br />
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Mid afternoon we drove up to Ramrod Key to a fresh seafood market and bought a pound of Key West Pink Shrimp. We grilled those for our dinner. We had a bag of broccoli slaw (just add mayo) and some whole wheat tortillas. This combination made some very good fresh shrimp tacos.<br />
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We are headed back to that same seafood store tomorrow go pick up a couple of Florida Keys fresh Lobster for the grill.<br />
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-25114888990473704162012-09-21T23:22:00.001-04:002012-09-21T23:22:14.201-04:00Sightseeing DayToday was the first day in a week that the clouds didn't move out with the arrival of the sun. It rained pretty hard during the night, and when we awoke this morning, the wind was blowing from the southeast and there were heavy clouds.<br />
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We decided to tie things down and take a day trip. First over to Key West to see what was going on there. As usual, lots of traffic and lots of people. We drove out to the Truman Annex and Fort Zachery Taylor to see the beach. At the gate we were informed by the nice security guard that we would have to pay the $7 entry fee to drive in and look at the beach. We decided we didn't really need to see it that bad, but here is an aerial view according to their web site.<br />
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We continued back to Duval Street and wound our way around some of the other more scenic streets in Old Town. <br />
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After that we decided to head back up US-1 toward Marathon. There were a couple of shops there that we wanted to check out. And I always enjoy crossing the Seven Mile Bridge. My question is: Why do people think the MUST pass on that bridge? I was actually going 60 MPH...5MPH over the posted speed limit. There was a line of cars in front and plenty behind. Three different cars felt the need to get in front of me. Of course they couldn't get any further ahead than the few cars in front of me, so at the first traffic signal in Marathon, I pulled up right behind them. I guess I just don't understand.<br />
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Just north of Seven Mile Bridge is a quirky gift shop with a nautical islandy theme. A lot of pottery, Sun art, and yes, PINK FLAMINGOS! We have been looking for a pair to decorate our RV space wherever we are, so we stopped and bought a pair.<br />
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These are the cheap kind, pink plastic with metal rods for legs. Very tacky and just what we had been looking for.<br />
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On the way back we took a right off of US-1 at Middle Torch Key. This leads to a short causeway on Dorn Road that goes north for several miles on Big Torch Key. This has to be one of the most isolated Keys in Florida with a paved road on it. Very few houses in this area. I'm not sure but it looks like the ones that are there are self sufficient with their own power and water cisterns. <br />
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Not too far from the end of the road we pass a "compound" carved into the mangroves and Live Oaks. It contains a building that looks a bit like a Buddhist shrine, and a very interesting sign on a pole near the road.<br />
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In case you can't read it, it says "Watch for Children" "They Taste Like Chicken"!<br />
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-66832236229350748652012-09-20T21:53:00.000-04:002012-09-20T21:53:54.183-04:00The Daily Air ShowSaddle Bunch Keys, Florida<br />
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A very lazy day in the lower Keys for us today. We really took it easy. I mean the easiest of the take it easy kind. Well I take that back, we did wash a load of clothes in the laundry room here at Bluewater Key, and we took a short ride over to the Atlantic side of Sugarloaf Key. <br />
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There is a small park with a boat launch and a parking area where Sugarloaf Creek runs into the Ocean. Sugarloaf Creek is the way to get from Lower Sugarloaf Sound to the Atlantic Ocean. Just offshore is the reef and a light tower. There are a couple of picnic shelters at the parking area. Here is a picture of Pam in one of the shelters with the Atlantic Ocean beyond.<br />
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We talked to a couple of guys unloading their kayak for a trip out to the reef for some diving. There is alot of wildlife in the area.<br />
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Here is a picture of the coast looking NorthEast:<br />
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And from the same spot looking in the opposite direction out toward the reef. That is Sugarloaf Creek in the foreground.<br />
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Back at the RV park, we did some of our own swimming. Here is Pam doing some Keys Noodling.<br />
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I mentioned the daily "Air Show". There are always plenty of birds in the keys. This fellow spent the afternoon watching us from the dock next door:<br />
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And of course, there is always Fat Albert, a tethered blimp with a somewhat mysterious background. Stationed at Cudjoe Key, we can easily see the blimp from our RV site. Pictures are very difficult to get due to the distance and the fact that he blends in with the sky. Here is Fat Albert almost down from his fully tethered position. Look hard and you can see him:<br />
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It is very hard to get the proper scale on a shot like this, but that blimp is about 7 or 8 miles away, and is only about 20% of his normal flying altitude!<br />
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The "air show" also includes the fascinating buildup of those big puffy clouds as the wind brings the moisture from the ocean.<br />
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We also watched an Osprey fishing in the sound today. After several dives he brought up a pretty large fish in his talons. Of course, I didn't have the camera ready for that one. <br />
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Another part of the air show is watching the occasional flight of jets based out of Boca Chica Airbase. Those pilots are awesome and to see their speed and the way they fly in such close formation is amazing.<br />
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Oh well, as I said, another lazy day in the keys. Goodnight Bobbi.<br />
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Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-9626226544086961982012-09-18T23:27:00.000-04:002012-09-18T23:27:14.655-04:00Fire in the Cuban SkySaddle Bunch Keys, Florida <br />
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Another beautiful day in the Florida Keys. I cannot imagine anything more boring than being a weather forecaster in this part of the country. If you pull up the Accuweather Forecast for the Florida Lower Keys, it's the same every day. With a rare exception of course; as in Tropical Storm Isaac a few weeks ago.<br />
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We pretty much hung out at Bluewater Key all day swimming and kayaking around Lower Sugarloaf Sound.<br />
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Tonight again there were storm clouds building many many miles out over the Atlantic south of the Keys. Last night the same thing happened. The clouds are so far away that you can see the lightning but never hear any thunder. So far away that you can see several complete thunderstorms. The lightning inside and around the huge clouds puts on quite a show. Monday night, I commented to Pam that they are so far away that they are probably over Cuba. And when I pulled up the weather radar online, sure enough, they were over the north coast of Cuba.<br />
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Tonight we saw some of the same type of storms. Again so far away over the Atlantic that no thunder could be heard. I decided to try to get a few pictures. They are a bit grainy, but the best I can offer under the circumstances.<br />
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The first few are shots toward the East. <br />
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This shot is due South:<br />
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For anyone that is interested, the first 3 shots were taken at f2.8, ASA1600, with a shutter speed of 15 seconds. The last two were f2.8, ASA800, shutter speed of 15 seconds.Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-276262998161706392012-09-17T23:00:00.000-04:002012-09-18T16:52:50.457-04:00Quick Trip to Big Pine and MarathonSaddle Bunch Keys, Florida <br />
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We were awakened at about 4:00 AM with a loud clap of thunder followed by a torrential downpour. But by 8:00 AM when we actually got up, the sun was out. But there were big rain clouds around and it was a bit windy.<br />
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So mid morning we decided to ride up to Marathon.<br />
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As we approached Big Pine Key we could see a big blue cloud ahead, and as we passed Bahia Honda up to Seven Mile Bridge the bottom fell out. Its a strange feeling being on such a long bridge and only able to see a few feet around you due to the rain.<br />
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Once in Marathon we went out to Sombrero Beach. This is a nice little city park, but on a rainy Monday during school season, the place was deserted except for a couple of guys fishing on the nearby pier.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sombrero Beach, Marathon, Florida</td></tr>
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Time for lunch! (Srini if you read this, please keep in mind that one of the key things I learned from you is that you cannot plan for lunch too early!) There is a very cool place on the bay side of Marathon called Keys Fisheries. It is a retail seafood market with a kitchen and a bunch of picnic tables around the dock area. The grouper sandwich was good!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pam at Keys Fisheries</td></tr>
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<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-75610435307963606172012-09-16T23:00:00.000-04:002012-09-18T16:30:32.507-04:00Sunday in the lower KeysSaddle Bunch Keys, Florida<br />
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After a very early morning rain, we awoke to a beautiful day in the Keys. The southerly breeze keeps the bugs away and it was beautiful all day. A passing thunderstorm or two interrupted the otherwise peaceful day. <br />
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We stopped yesterday at the local Publix in Marathon to get some fresh Florida fruit. That was very good with coffee for breakfast under the Tiki Hut overlooking Lower Sugarloaf Sound.<br />
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I discovered I had a blown bicycle tire. The tube and tire need to be replaced. This is a must as part of our daily routine here includes an evening bike ride over to the next Key and around the neighborhood there. So, a trip to the Key West K-Mart is in the cards for today.<br />
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After seeing thousands of motorcycles headed north this morning, we thought there would be not too many more, but they just kept coming out of Key West headed back home. We got to the K-Mart and got the tire and were ready to head back to the RV. Thats when we realized that the road construction project on the main road along the waterfront in Key West caused them to make it one way.<br />
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After driving through some of the back streets in Old Town we finally found our way back north. Its always interesting to see the houses, and characters of Key West. Sorry I dont have any pictures, I was too busy trying to navigate through the tiny narrow streets.<br />
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Bike tire fixed, dinner eaten, then our ride through the neighborhood watching the sun go down.<br />
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And as I mentioned earlier, the cats enjoy the view too! Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-8622459689718572362012-09-15T22:00:00.000-04:002012-09-17T10:46:02.387-04:00Welcome to Paradise!Saddle Bunch Keys, Florida<br />
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There is really nothing quite like the Keys! Particularly when you stay at a waterfront site in Bluewater Key RV Resort. <br />
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We left the Miami/Homestead area at about 10:00 this morning. However, I am never surprised at what we find on the trip down US-1 to Key West.<br />
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Traffic is always bad, particularly on the weekends. The first part of the route takes you from the end of the Florida's Turnpike down to Key Largo over the new high rise bridge. The road is still mostly 2 lanes wide with a couple of spots for passing where it widens with an additional passing lane. It has a concrete barrier wall in the middle. There is always some fool that thinks that by getting by another car or two and selfishly putting others at jeopardy, he can get there a few seconds quicker. I just dont understand that mentality at all.<br />
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As soon as you cross the bridge over to Largo you begin to see that turquoise aquamarine water color. You know then you are really in the Keys.<br />
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This time the drive wasn't really so bad. There was a motorcycle rally poker run happening. There must have been 10,000 motorcycles headed to Key West, the last stop for their run. But all in all we made pretty good time.<br />
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The farther south you go, the slower the pace seems to be, and the more laid back the attitude. Changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes? Through Islamorada and on to Marathon. Then you cross the Seven Mile Bridge and you feel like you have arrived.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven Mile Bridge southbound.</td></tr>
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There is no place like the Lower Keys. Bahia Honda, Big Pine, the Torches, Sugarloaf, Cudjoe (home to Fat Albert), and the others, too many to name.<br />
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Watching the mile markers count down, mm 24 passes the Sugarloaf KOA, the Sugarloaf Lodge and the interesting Perky Bat Tower, mm 20: Mangrove Mama's Cafe, and finally mm 15 and Bluewater Key RV Resort.<br />
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At Bluewater Key there are waterfront sites, each with their own Tiki Hut and boat dock. The resort is actually on Lower Sugarloaf Sound on a series of Keys called the Saddle Bunch Keys. Here is the view right out the front window of our RV.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bluewater Key RV Resort</td></tr>
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The weather is supposed to be isolated showers and a thunderstorm or two, but it seems like it rains hard for a few minutes, then the sun is back out. The cats enjoy the view too!<br />
<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-5813143537322910432012-09-14T22:37:00.002-04:002012-09-14T22:52:18.215-04:00Redlands FloridaHomestead Florida.<br />
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We left the Crystal Lake Campground around 9:30 this morning. I-95 south again brought us through on and off showers. Light showers for the most part, then bright sunshine.<br />
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Most of you know that I like to stop at Flying J when they are available to gas up. The Flying J at Fort Pierce is my usual stop before getting on the Florida's Turnpike. The Ft. Pierce Flying J is not as good as most but it is the last J headed south. Its problem is that it doesn't have a good RV parking area like most of the others. These stores have dedicated RV lanes for fuel, a 2 cent per gallon discount for using their loyalty card, and (normally) a parking area for RVs. We typically fuel up, pull over to the RV area and have lunch or a break. But this one has no place for RVs to park; and it was very busy. We had to get our fuel, then go 20 miles south to the next rest area for lunch. Next time I will stop at the one at St. Augustine instead.<br />
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By the way, there is a brand new Flying J in St. George SC on I-95 and it has no RV parking either. But at least they do direct RVs around to the very large truck parking area. You do have to share with the commercial truckers, but the parking area is so big that it doesn't seem to be an issue.<br />
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By 3:00 PM we were in the Redlands agricultural area just north of Homestead Florida. We dropped by Miami Everglades RV Resort. This is the RV park where we spent a couple of weeks last February. Wow, what a difference between then (peak of peak season,) and now (very off season.) In February this place was packed choc-a-block with all types of RVs and campers. Now it is almost empty.<br />
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This place is in the middle of a huge agricultural area where I think you can find almost any type of plant being grown on very large farms. Flowers, palms, vegetables, fruit; its all there. Here is a picture of a large field of ferns in those plastic pots just like you buy them at Walmart or Lowe's.<br />
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There is an excellent produce stand that we were looking forward to stopping. "Robert is Here" is the name of the place but to our disappointment, it was closed September and October. <br />
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We pulled onto our site in the Miami Everglades RV Resort and settled in for the night, feeling like we were parked in the middle of a large farm. Nice and quiet. Quite different from the little stop last night on the side of I-95.<br />
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Here we are settled on our site at Miami Everglades RV Resort. <br />
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<span id="goog_1793104135"></span><span id="goog_1793104136"></span>Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-752283566315348642012-09-13T21:42:00.000-04:002012-09-14T21:53:02.051-04:00Back to the KeysScottsmoor, Florida.<br />
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We are finally headed back to our all time favorite RV Resort: Bluewater RV Resort, MM 14.5, Key West, Florida. It is really in the Saddlebunch Keys about 9 or 10 miles north of Key West, with waterfront sites on Lower Sugarloaf Sound.<br />
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It is the first time we have been in the fall. Earnest Hemingway says autumn is the best time to visit the Keys if you can avoid the storms. Of course this year the hurricanes are giving us a bit of a break so off we go.<br />
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Being "retired" means we are not required to conform to a work schedule, so we left on Thursday morning and planned to go as far as the Daytona area to spend the night.<br />
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We followed the usual route out of the Charlotte area and picked up I-95 near Darlington SC. other than a few showers between Savannah and Brunswick GA, the trip was exactly what we wanted: uneventful.<br />
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The only event, if you will, was in Jacksonville, Florida. I like to take route 9A to the east of JAX instead of staying on I-95. However the road names have changed; and my Garmin tried to make me take a short cut. That resulted in me taking a wrong turn off of what was 9A (now I-295 most of the way.) No worries, we were still on major highways and soon we found our way back onto I-95 south.<br />
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The good part is the drive over the new bridge east of JAX. Its beautiful and looks a bit like the new Ravenell Bridge in Charleston.<br />
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By 7:00 PM we were near Scottsmoor Florida just south of Daytona. We pulled into the Crystal Lake Campground. It is a vary small, kind of old campground situated on the side of a little "lake" just (barely) off I-95. We were the only transient campers there. There were several long term residents, but they are in the back part of the campground. It is a Passport America campground and seems to be a good overnight stop.<br />
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Tomorrow: On to Homestead and hopefully a stop at Miami-Everglades Campground.<br />
<br />Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-13062674817574133522012-05-11T16:43:00.001-04:002012-05-11T16:51:40.294-04:00Getting Ready for our Spring Trip!<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We are counting down the days until we get back on the road again. Time for our spring trip to St. Joe Peninsula State Park on Cape San Blas Florida. We have been there before and are really looking forward to it again.</span><a class="GHJ45FFBP3B" href="javascript:void(0);" kind="click"> </a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">There is still alot to do to get ready. Due to a very busy work schedule the last couple of weeks, I am behind schedule. Will it not be nice when I'm retired and dont have to worry so much about a work schedule?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This weekend we are going up to Raleigh to see our youngest niece graduate from NC State. Thats an all day trip up and back Saturday, so maybe I can get a little done on Sunday. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I still have to wash the RV, re-sanitize the water system, check the tires, did I say wash the RV. I spent two days scrubbing the roof back to white week before last. What a job. We had an overabundance, more than I have EVER seen, of tree sap and pollen from our water oaks that surround our house. Unfortunately, I had left the Bounder parked under one of them too long, and the top was almost a blackish green before I knew it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I tried to find something that would clean it appropriately, including 409 and some kind of Rubber Roof Cleaner that I paid way too much for at Tom Johnson Camping Center. Neither did much good. Then I read that Dawn dish detergent is the best... but not so. Finally I tried Spic and Span. Yep, old timey Spic and Span mixed in a couple of gallons of water with a strong bristle brush and if finally came white again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now I just need to wash the exterior one more time and we'll be ready to roll.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Gas prices have fallen, so i think i'll wait as long as possible to fill up. I have about a quarter of a tank left, so i'll go stop in SC on the way to Florida. SC gas is about 20 cents per gallon less than here in NC.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I </span>Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0Cape San Blas, FL 32456, USA29.6675478 -85.352477629.6123593 -85.4314416 29.7227363 -85.2735136tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-9366275804842964742012-04-10T20:56:00.058-04:002012-04-10T21:27:16.696-04:00The Keys - again!!!<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
It seems like forever, but it was only last may since we were last in the Florida Keys. What a beautiful place, even with the crowds of the winter "Snowbirds".</div>
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Unfortunately, we are only able to be here for two weeks due to work schedules and family commitments. Let me rephrase that as a glass half FULL statement. <b>Fortunately we are able to spend two wonderful weeks here in spite of work schedules and family commitments!</b> </div>
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As you have probably observed, I am not a daily blogger, so I will hit the highlights of this trip and post some of the better pictures and stories.<br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Week 1 - Miami Everglades RV Park - Homestead Florida.</span></b></div>
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We left home in NC late Friday afternoon and headed south. Nothing special, just the usual trip southeast then on I-95 (home for the next 2 days) southbound. We pulled into the Brunswick GA Walmart parking lot just before midnight for a very quiet night and a late 8:00 AM start Saturday morning.</div>
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I-95 was the usual trek and thankfully without any excitement we pulled into the Miami-Everglades RV Resort just north of Homestead at about 4:00 that afternoon.</div>
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The RV parked was completely full; much different from our last trip here a couple of years ago in the summer months. Then it was almost completely empty, but this time we were in the company of many snowbirds from Jersey, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada eh?</div>
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Here we are parked on site #24 8 at Miami Everglades RV Resort.</div>
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This is really a nice RV park with lots of open space and plenty of activities for the snowbirds. There was even a wedding one evening while we were there.</div>
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This GIANT Chikee Hut was the center of many of the activities during the week.<br />
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Monday Feb 20 was the Presidents Day holiday. We toured the Everglades National Park taking the road all the way to the end at Flamingo. This was on the "Ahinga Trail".<br />
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The RV Park is in the middle of a very large farm/agriculture area called Redland Farm area. These fields of ferns surrounded the campground where we were.<br />
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As usual, Bobbi doesn't really care where we are as long as she gets her daily ration of chicken or tuna!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Week 2: Sunshine Key - MM 39 Overseas Highway.</b></span><br />
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This was our view from under our RV awning for the next week. Looking west toward Bahia Honda and No Name Key with Fat Albert watching us?<br />
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On Saturday we packed up camp from Homestead and moved 3 hours south to Sunshine Key RV Resort. It is the first real key going south on Seven Mile Bridge out of Marathon; just before Bahia Honda State Park, then Big PIne Key another mile or two beyond that. The lower keys have a life and speed all their own.<br />
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Each evening brought a fabulous sunset just like this one.<br />
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Sunshine Key is a great place for a winter stay in the lower keys. I heard mixed reviews about the place as if it had 2 personalities so to speak. But we arrived only to find it full of snowbirds, warm breezes, and clear water. Just what you'd want in a winter time getaway. However we have heard that it really changes to a totally different kind of place in the summer months.<br />
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Our site was a waterfront site on the north side of the Key, as far away from the noise of US 1 as you can get and still be on this little piece of paradise. We were backed up right to the beach <br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H1CIJSUlyx8/T1VBkmh2nlI/AAAAAAAAAxk/Ra4MebxDEz0/s1600/IMG_2217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H1CIJSUlyx8/T1VBkmh2nlI/AAAAAAAAAxk/Ra4MebxDEz0/s320/IMG_2217.JPG" width="320" /></a>We spent our days lounging around the RV, taking day trips to the lower keys, and to Marathon....<br />
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...and down to Key West one day. All the way to the very end of US 1.<br />
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Ummm...where is the other end? We'll have to take a trip the other direction someday to find out. I'll post that picture too!<br />
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The entire week we never tired of those awesome sunsets<br />
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So.. when we went to Key West, we had to make the sunset pilgrimage to Mallory Square. The sun was setting and the place was packed. Pam tells me to start taking pictures. All I could think of was all those sunsets we had seen in piece and quiet from right behind our RV. So I took a few pictures of the sunset at Mallory Square for comparison:<br />
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What a mob scene. Its one of those things that you say you had to do, but I was glad to get out of that crowd and get back to the quiet of Sunshine Key!<br />
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<br /></div>Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-51654977155301008662011-04-05T20:54:00.000-04:002011-04-05T20:54:38.578-04:00Edisto Beach Spring Trip<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We just returned from our early spring trip to Edisto. It is the kind of place you can enjoy over and over. The beach campground is our favorite. Actually we have never stayed in the Pines campground; if you are going to the beach then we want to be on the beach.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thursday was rather cold and rainy. It was raining and in the mid 50s when we left home, and although the rain cleared up a bit, it was very windy at the beach. We were on site #22 in the beach campground with a view out the door at the ocean and a view of the salt marsh out the front window. Nice!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Friday saw a beautiful sunrise and a clear blue sky, with lots of wind. We spend some time on the beach but it was a bit chilly. During the afternoon we decided to explore the island. Edisto Island has a very interesting history. It was originally settled by very independent and wealthy planters. After the Civil War, many of the freed slaves stayed on the island. Families of both are still in the area today. Many of he descendants of the enslaved Africans still maintain their Gullah culture.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We had dinner out Friday night at the Dockside Seafood Restaurant. This place overlooking the waterfront at Edisto where the shrimp and fishing boats dock, is in its 4th generation of operation by the same local family. And they also operate the fishing boats so the food is absolutely fresh.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Saturday was a beach day. Warm and sunny, temps in the 80s made for a lazy day, and pink faces and legs! We stayed at the campground Saturday night, strolling around, watching the stars and listening to the ocean waves a few feet from our RV. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We did have to move to another campsite Saturday. SC uses Reserve America as their reservations system and sites can be booked 11 mos in advance. This sometimes leaves various sites unbooked for a day or two as people book for a week or two at the time. We were able to get the nice beachfront sites by booking one site for two nights, and the third night on another site. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I didn't even take any pictures this trip. If you want to see some pictures of Edisto Beach State Park look at our dotphoto.com link in the menu on the right side of this page and see the Edisto pictures from 2 years ago.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Back home, RV cleaned up (almost), back to work on Monday. And thinking about Key West in May. </span>Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16664833.post-86167851041336261292011-03-13T22:37:00.001-04:002011-03-15T19:08:57.349-04:00Spring 2011<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #b45f06;"></span><b style="color: #b45f06;">Spring is almost here!</b></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Wow, spring is right around the corner. I cannot believe it has been nearly 7 months since I last posted something on this site! Last year seems like a blur at this point. But hopefully things are going to be a bit different this year.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As you can tell from the lack of writing we did not do much traveling last year at all. Due to a lot of reasons, most of our travels were very close to home. We did make it to Edisto Beach last spring for a long weekend, and we have plans to be there again this spring. In fact, in only a couple of weeks. We are looking forward to that. </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Another trip back on the books for this year is a return to our all time favorite spot, Bluewater Key near Key West, Florida. We currently have that little trip planned for mid May of this year.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">About the most exciting thing travel wise that has happened this year, is not with us, but with my cousin Debbie and her husband Herman. They were able to take a Trip Around the World by Private Jet. This trip sponsored by National Geographic Expeditions, was a 24 day whirlwind trip to some of the most exotic and ancient of locations on the planet. You can read their story and see some of their pictures at this link: </span><a href="http://hermangaskins.blogspot.com/" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Around the World in 24 Days.</a><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b style="color: #b45f06;">Charlotte RV Show 2011 </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We did manage to make it to the Charlotte RV show a couple of weekends ago. Not much has changed in the past year, other than even fewer motorhomes to walk through and oggle over. Most of the dealer inventory seemed to be focused on younger families. Many light weight trailers that can be towed behind an SUV.. all with bunk beds or plenty of sleeping accommodations for the youngsters. The toy hauler category seemed to be much more substantial that last year as well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our favorite quote was from a retired couple that we were talking to in one of the newer design motorhomes that had a set of bunks for additional children. He said "My requirement is that an RV can entertain 6, feed 4 and sleep 2!" I couldn't have said it better myself. </span><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our show favorite was the <a href="http://www.tiffinmotorhomes.com/allegroRed/">Tiffin Allegro RED</a>. (RED short for Rear Engine Diesel.) Kind of an odd name I suppose, but we really liked the layout options. We will likely go to a diesel pusher at some point when we can be assured of using it much more than we use our gas powered Bounder now. However as much as we like it, now is not the time. But I think we are hooked!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Tiffin we like is the 36 foot model. Not too big - we do like the state parks and some of the smaller campsites we have visited - yet it is big enough. And the ride is awesome. Folks have told us how much quieter the diesel pusher is than a front engine gas RV. And now I believe it. The Tiffin is the first diesel pusher we have ever driven. And it was like driving a golf cart! Push the accelerator and off you go. No noise, no groaning, no racket of any kind. Simply moving forward. As I said, I think we are both hooked.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I hope everyone is looking forward to the spring and the new RV season. Or I guess it is maybe the season for us folks that are still working for a living. Anyway, I will try to be more diligent about posting on this site.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Hope to see you on the road!</span>Chuck and Pamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477838370978907887noreply@blogger.com1