Oct 28 to Nov 4 Summerdale Plantation Blue Angels

Sunday, October 28, 2012

We drove about 90 miles and arrived here at Rainbow Plantation in Summerdale, AL.  This is our second year at this park, and we really like it.  We like the lots (HUGE, LEVEL and TREES IF YOU WANT’EM), very nice folks, and best of all about 10 miles away is Foley, which is a very nice sized town with all the amenities you’d want.  Super Walmart, plus many other grocery stores, clothing stores, outlet mall, etc…at least 100 restaurants, including Lambert’s, home of the throwed roll. 

After setting up we got in the car and went to Lambert’s for lunner, then stopped at WalMart where I got some much needed groceries, and now we are back home, and will be going to the Ice Cream Social at 6 this evening.  Doesn’t get much better than this!  It is a balmy 75 outside with touch of a breeze, so no need for AC  or heat, although that will change tonight I’m sure J

It is so nice to be settled in for a week!

Monday, October 29,2012

This was a working day – we had to have Cinder to the groomers by 9 am in Spanish Fort, AL.  We got there about 10 minutes early, and we then had breakfast at Cracker Barrel, followed by shopping at Best Buy, World Market, and Bed Bath & Beyond. 
 
One of the things we did when we went full time was take out the heavy old TV in the bedroom, and found a Rubbermaid box that fit the opening that I use as a ‘baking box’.  However, now we have lightened the bays up, I have room underneath for this box.  SO we got a TV for the bedroom.  It is crazy, we got a 19 inch LED TV that weighs 5.6 lbs for $100…that is amazing! 

We came home and I gathered laundry, got that all done, then we had leftovers for dinner and after walking Cinder, we just hunkered in because although Sandy was wreaking havoc on the East coast, here it is very chilly.  About 38 degrees….brrrr!  However, it will be 70’s by lunch time tomorrow!

Tuesday, October 30, 2012

It was a lazy morning, we slept in until almost 9, futzed around a while, I went next door and visited with Ellie Meacham – her hubby Jim was grocery shopping, so we chatted a couple hours.  We made a date for lunch tomorrow.
I came home and then went into Robertsdale where I got a wonderful pedicure and manicure, and picked up Mexican for dinner. 

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

This was a ‘working’ morning, we got the entire cockpit area of the motorhome cleaned, all the rubber on the windows conditioned, windows washed and the little vacuum came out and got under the seats and along the walls.  It always feels so good when that area is done, David helps because I can’t get the part in front of the steering wheel done unless I put a pillow on the steering wheel and lay on it! 

The weather is gorgeous, it is to be 75 degrees, the sun is shining and all is well!  Oh yes, remember last year when we got ‘satsumas’ the orange/tangerines that peel easily and are like eating liquid sugar…well, here at the park a lady has a tree and they are ready, she said help yourself…so we did!  I got a bag for us to eat now, and I’ll get some on Saturday for the trip J  Boy, we love them!

We went into Robertsdale and had lunch with Ellie & Jim, nice time chatting and doing some more catch up :)  I had an open faced roast beef sandwich, fries with gravy (haven’t had any of those for at least a year), and a nice salad.  We didn’t see anyone dressed for Halloween, and I missed seeing the little ones!  Maybe next fall we will stay in PA for Halloween – all plans are in jello ya know!

Thursday, November 01, 2012

We got up and around and finally headed to Gulf Shores to the beach about 11.  They have a very nice public beach with FREE parking about ½ hour from here in the park.  We carted our chairs out to the hard packed sand, got into the water about thigh high – it was COLD – 67 degrees….bbbrrrr.  We sat and watched the waves and the people for a couple hours, then we took a drive through Gulf Shores and toured the state park. 

They have 408 sites, all with full hookups!  That is all well and good, but they were less than ¼ full, and I think it is because of the price.  $31 to $44 per night.  The sites were nice, paved, roomy, picnic tables and fire rings, not too close together but for sure not ‘isolated’, and I would hesitate to pay that.  The sites that are lakefront – you couldn’t even see much because of the tall grasses, and there are alligators, so who would want that?  There is no ‘beach access parking’ and it is a good mile from the closest site to the beach.  I just think that is why they are not too busy!

We had a very late lunch at Papa Roccas and it was very good – we then came home and went next door to Jim and Ellie’s for happy hour – which stretched to 3…gotta love those! 

Friday, November 02, 2012

Happy Birthday Dawn!  We had a full day planned, so at 6:15 we called and sang Happy Birthday to dear daughter – didn’t get to talk to her, but knew she would have a good day!

We left home at 7 am, and pulled up to the gate at the Pensacola Naval Station at 8…got waived through and went to handicap parking, got a wonderful spot to set up our chairs and settled in for a LONG day filled with aerial delights.  We had never seen the Blue Angels perform, and I must say they did an outstanding job….but from 9:30 until they performed at 2, there were helicopters, migs, all manner of jumpers, funky looking airplanes, walls of fire, you name it and it was out there! 

I did get a little more sun on the back of my neck than I wanted, but as soon as I realized it I went back to the car and got my umbrella…at least I didn’t COOK.  David’s monk spot is very red and so are his shoulders!  After the beach yesterday and today on the flight line, I’m as brown as I was in July! 

Of course they had all the carny food there, I had a corndog for breakfast and David was good and had a protein bar I had taken along – we had hamburgers for lunch and then about 2 we had a big pretzel…so on our way home at 4:30, we stopped for some dinner – and lucked into a Friday night seafood buffet that was $11 each including our drinks.  It was actually pretty good, with fish, chicken, shrimp, gumbo, deviled crab and all the usual veggie and salad offerings.  The shrimp and hushpuppies were outstanding! 

We got home around 6, and can’t remember the last time we were this tired.  I took Cinder out for her evening stroll and David was napping when we got back – I expect we will be in bed early tonight!

Saturday, November 03, 2012
This was a get ready to go day – we cleaned, dumped tanks, and just did stuff that needed to be done.  Went to the flea market and got some fresh lettuce, garden tomatoes and nice strawberries, so we had wonderful salad for dinner, along with leftover Italian :)