Nov 20, 2011 SC to FL

We started out this morning about 9:30 am.  We debated last night stopping at St Mary's GA and then after looking at webcams around Jacksonville, decided we would just head south...and that is what we did!

Once again it was oatmeal with blueberries, then about 10:30 we stopped and walked around, had an orange and started down the road again.  By 12:30 we were in Callahan, FL and had missed all the Jacksonville traffic!  The plan then was to stop in Starke FL, have a late lunch/early dinner at Sonny's BBQ (a fantastic chain - where I used to work in Venice FL for a while). 

We got to Starke and pulled into the KOA, which is where the fun began.  First they said - oh no, you can't stay here, because we don't allow chows...we said no problem, we'd go on down the road.  However, they have more than half of their spots empty, and after we went through a song & dance where the man came out to the MH and Cinder wagged her tail at him and did the sit command perfectly, they decided we could stay.  After the usual Keep On Adding fee of $39.00 we parked in a very nice pull through site.  We hooked up the water and elec - oh yeah, we had to turn on the AIR CONDITIONER 'cause it was 86 Degrees!!!  We then unhooked the car and got ready to go into town and get us some BBQ...and wouldn't you know the danged car was DEAD!!!  No lights, no horn, de nada!  Good Sam Emergency Road Service got a call, and I got put on hold - she came back after 8 mins and said that she was trying to locate a provider, could I hold - yes...20 mins later she says she found someone and they would be here in 45 mins...sigh.

We came into the MH and each had a nice icy beer and some cheese and crackers.  The garage guy came and jumped us, and we were off - first to Wal-Mart to have them check the battery, 'cause we bought an expensive one from them last July!  They tested it and said it was fine.  This is the second time it has died on us in 2 months, so we are going to have to get it looked at by a Chevy garage to see why it is draining the battery. 

So...we stopped by a wonderful fruit market, got some fresh huge navel oranges, some fresh tomatoes, a watermelon and a couple banana's.  Yum!  Then we stopped at Wendy's for some dinner...'cause we were not hungry for BBQ any more :( 

Tomorrow we are heading down the road once again...next stop, Bushnell FL - one of the Escapee parks :)  Looking forward to it!

Nov 19, 2011 Hardeeville SC

Last night we stayed in a campground...somewhere after Columbia SC - it was an OK park, but yu only got a discount if you stayed 2 or more nights, was about 15 miles off the interstate...we learned from this experience!  The park we originally were to stay at, which I had researched and knew exactly where it was - David was feeling good so we kept on driving - then we stopped for gas and decided we would use his campground app to find a local campground...huh!  I won't say never again, but it really was out of our way...

This morning we were on the road at 9:45.  We had wonderful oatmeal with blueberries for breakfast, so we had good fuel to travel on :)  We drove until we got to Exit 8 in SC, Hardeeville, where we had called for a spot - and what a gem!!!  David said this was the best place we ever stopped - beautiful long wide spot, no leveling necessary!  It is passport america and we were allowed to use it even if it was a Saturday!!!  Woohoo - $20 for full hook-ups with cable and wifi!!! 

By the time we got set up it was 1:00 - and we were starving!  On the advice of our campground host (and some research on line) we went to THE PINK PIG...OMG, I had bbq chicken, slaw & brunswick stew, David had pulled pork with same sides.  It was so good we asked it we could buy a quart of the stew for dinner, however they were running low because they were slammed...nevertheless, here are some pics of the restaurant and our food (sorry, we were eating when I remembered the camera!)



11/17/2011 Mt Airy NC

After two days driving, David was ready for a day of rest, so we slept in, and by the time we got out of the MH today it was almost 11 o'clock!  We went into Mt Airy and I got a shopping fix in :)  We had a great time walking and browsing - we had lunch at Snappy's Lunch http://www.visitmayberry.com/Snappy_Lunch_.aspx which was the first place from Andy Griffith that had a mention on the show.  They are famous for their pork chop sandwich, but we had hot ham & cheese, recommended by our waitress. 

Don't forget, you can click on any of the pictures and they will come up larger for better views!

We also stopped at Floyd's Barber Shop, Opie's Candy Shoppe, and more that I can't remember - of course we stopped at the T-shirt Souveneir shops :) 

We hit the local Wally World for some groceries (I did buy some wonderful stuff at the local stores to eat, unfortunately nothing very healthy!) and we came home for naps.  The campground manager said we should have dinner at The Depot, http://codycreek.net/index2.php#/home/ and we are SO glad we did!  What a wonderful place, and fantastic food!  I had the special of Bourbon Glazed Steak, Baked potato and corn with hush puppies, David had the shrimp stir fry with rice and baked beans - the food was every bit as good as the pictures :) 

We're now snuggled back in the MH, watching TV and having a cup of tea - it is very cold here right now - yesterday when we got here it was tshirt and shorts weather, now it is see your breath weather!!! 

Tomorrow...well, let's see, we're going on down the road.  David, Darling, thanks for the memories!

Nov 15, 2011 On the road again!

So...a quick update on what we've been doing!  I've dealt with financial planners, insurance agents, bank reps, until I am very sick of it all!!! 

We finished the kitchen, with the back splash being finished on Friday, Nov 12 - just in time!

I had wonderful lunches with Debbie & Donna, both good friends in school with me, and also both Hospice ee's...you don't get better than that.  I had a terrific lunch with my friend Marsha - the food was so so but the company was fantastic!  We went to Oakhurst for Smorgasbord on Friday night with Nancy & Harry - hoorah!  I took my cousin Donna to Italian Oven for dinner, then to bereavement group at Hospice house.

We cleaned, packed the motorhome, cleaned, and continued to say goodbye to wonderful neighbors - Jim & Carol, Georgia and Eddy, Larue and Ron! 

We finally got out of town at 11 am and headed to Sutton WV, which is about 168 miles.  Well, by the time we arrived at the campground, we were both SO exhausted!  David has not been feeling well, and he has been coughing his head off.  Needless to say, it was a very uncomfortable first day of our trip.  However, we got up this morning to rain - heavy rain, so we got around and had a decent buffet breakfast, then hit the road. 

We stopped at Mayberry Campground in Mt Airy, NC the home of Andy Griffith.  We parked, walked Cinder, got showers and headed out to a wine/beer tasting place.  Hhhmmmm, I sampled 6 wines, and David sampled 4 beers...we bought 3 bottles of very nice wine!  Have to have a glass of wine now and then right?

We had an amazing dinner at a place called "GOOBERS' where the food was amazing - and I forgot to take pictures!!!  I promise food pics will be in future postings!

That brings us up to date - I'll post a couple of pics to bring us up to date as well.

Kitchen Dining Bath floors



Countertops and backsplash

 Yep, this is our Halloween snow storm!

 The cousins - Donna, Jill, and me :)

Oct 23 2011 Tribute to Dad

On October 23, 2011, Dad passed away peacefully at home.  We were very fortunate to have had 10 pain free weeks with this wonderful man, doing everything he wanted in that time.  We went to orchards, rides, restaurants, picnics, and mostly had a lot of porch sitting time!

We could not have done this without the help of Hospice,who I am convinced are Angels on earth.  They made it possible for me to be able to keep Dad pain free and comfortable even at the end.

Dad - miss and love you every day - and Mom, you too!  Here are some pics of my wonderful parents.

Sept 20, 2011 Jubilee, Fall begins

Been awhile since I updated, so here goes :) 

Went to a Labor Day picnic at my cousin Tim's house - lots of fun :) 

Went to Farmers & Thresherman's Jubilee in New Centerville, a festival that has been going on for many years.  Last time I went was probably 30 something years ago - it was very nice...here are a couple pictures of big old time tractors - coal & wood fired!

Remember, just click on the picture and it will get bigger for better detail!

We've gone looking at fall mum's, and bought two beautiful baskets for the front of the house - we met some friends at a restaurant called 'Traditions' and had a great fish dinner, we've been to Chinese food TWICE in the past two weeks, David got his flu shot last week at the VA clinic in Johnstown - we've eaten lots of good fresh corn, much fresh produce, and now the weather has turned chilly and rainy, so last night was a pot of Chili and a pan of cornbread - yum!

This morning I made a corn shock (Thanks for the stalks Len N Shirley), and here are some pics of the house...oh and Cinder went to the groomer yesterday and got a fall bandana and ribbon in her hair!

Sept 5, 2011 Labor Day picnic

Have not posted much - it is hard to find stuff to write about when we aren't doing much, and Dad is doing wonderfully well right now - no pain and that is a good thing!

Cousin Tim had a Labor Day picnic yesterday and I made baked beans, and the cream cheese with chipotle raspberry sauce - there was so much food there it was incredible!  Ham BBQ, Sloppy Joe's, Kielbassa & saurkraut, hot dogs, meatloaf, stuffed peppers, potato salad, scalloped potatoes, rigatoni casserole, asian slaw, vegetable salads, and the desserts...cherry delight, gob cake, peanut butter pie, strawberry cheesecake, fruit salad, cherry pie, zuchini cake, texas sheet cake...holy moley, anybody that went away hungry was just crazy! 

No pics of the food (David had the camera) but here are a couple of the people, with special emphasis on a couple pics of Dad...and the little ones :)

If the weather cooperates we will be going to the Farmers & Threshermans Jubilee in New Centerville this week - and Mountain Craft Days on Friday in Somerset.  Hopefully we'll remember to take some pictures!

I hope everyone has a great holiday - although it is pouring down rain here at the moment.  Thanks for reading the blog...and leaving comments!