Two Lane Adventure to Gulf Shores - Day Three

Spent the day yesterday with our friends, Pat & Kathy. Started out the morning with some Beignets, that Kathy came to the camper with. They are a French pastry made from deep-fried choux paste, served with powdered sugar on top. They are prepared right before you purchase them and are best when eaten fresh and hot. We visited for a while over the beignets and coffee and then took a drive around the area. Our final destination was Fairhope for Earth Day. On the way, along US 98, we saw many pecan orchards, starting to sprout their buds. Along the road side there was the most beautiful red wild flowers, come to find out it is red clover. We stopped at a strawberry field, where they were picking fresh strawberries, $10 for half a flat! We made it to Fairhope, nestled along the banks of Mobile Bay, where we enjoyed touring the downtown shops, especially the quaint antique shops! Some interesting facts about the City of Fairhope. It began as a dream of a group of people looking for their own special utopia. It was established in 1908. Fairhope's greatest assets are the beachfront park, the park lands on the bluff above the beach, Henry George Park, Knoll Park, and the quarter-mile long pier. It offers you pleasant, peaceful surroundings, inspiring scenery, a vibrant downtown filled with cozy cafés, gourmet restaurants, unique shops and galleries. It is something like a quaint European village or Seneca Falls, for those of you from New York. We ate lunch at Sandra's Place. The guys had Ruebens, Kathy and I went for the salads. She went for the trio of salads and I went for the strawberry spinach salad. All of it was delicious! On the way back to Gulf Shores, we saw huge turf farms and Pat took us to see Billy's Seafood Market in Bon Secour. The name "Bon Secour" comes from the French phrase for "safe harbor." It is considered a safe harbor due to the secluded location on the inside coast of the Fort Morgan peninsula of southern Alabama. Since it was Saturday of a holiday weekend, there were no shrimp boats coming in. We big farewell to our friends and relaxed at the camper. Thanks Pat & Kathy for a great time in the Gulf Shores. After our rest, we headed out to walk the beach and wait for the sunset. There is just something special about walking hand in hand with the one you love on the beach at sunset!

Two Lane Adventure to Gulf Shores - Day Two

Lots of rain overnight and into the morning, so we took our time getting around. We headed out from Falling Waters SP traveling south on 77 into Wauasu, the "Possum Capital of the World" they even had a statue with a possum in a tree! To bad it was pouring down rain, so no picture! Sand Mountain is located near the town of Wausau. At 250 feet above sea level, Sand Mountain is one of the highest points in the state of Florida. We continued down 77 through Sunny Hills, to Crystal Lake. There we turned west on 20 into Ebro. Ebro has the two things every town needs a cafe and gas station! In Freeport 20W intersects with 331S. 331S was under construction, they are creating a new divided highway. Along this road was an RV park, Calypso Cove RV, it had some brightly colored park models, even a purple one!  We crossed over Choctawhatchee Bay to arrive on the Emerald Coast and all it's beaches ... Santa Rosa, Miramar, Grayton, Henderson and Fort Walton Beach. We traveled along 98 and all the beautiful beaches all the way to Okoloosa Island. Okoloosa Island is considered the best overall beach experience in the Destin area. We were not able to walk this great beach, because the rain was still coming down in buckets! We passed through Navarre, Florosa, Gulf Breeze and over the bridge into Pensacola. Pensacola is known as "The City of Five Flags." Do you know why and what the five flags are? It is for the five governments that have flown flags over Pensacola during its history: the flags of Spain (Castile), France, Great Britain, the Confederate States of America, and the United States. We followed FL 292 out of Pensacola and onto Peridodo Key Island. FL 292 changed to AL 182 as we entered Gulf State Park. Just a few miles from Gulf State Park we arrived at our destination, Island Retreat RV. We are less than a mile from our friends, Patrick & Kathy Hadley in Gulf Shores Alabama.

Two Lane Adventure to Gulf Shores Alabama - Day1

Another two lane adventure has begun. It was originally slated to begin today, but Charlie got a bit antsy and we headed out yesterday after work, just together a head start. Wednesday night we traveled for a few hours along 301, 98 and 19. Zephyrhills, Dade City, Brooksville, Homosassa, Crystal River, Inglis, and Otter Creek. We passed the Dakotah Winery. It was closed, but you can stop in for a wine tasting. Stopping for the night in Chiefland Florida. Did you know that there are three RV parks there? West of Chiefland is what I’d say is a big draw, when the time is right. The Manatee Springs State Park, which is also a National Natural Landmarks. Starting out Thursday morning we followed 19 and 27. Leaving Chiefland it is barely 4 miles until you get to Fanning Springs, on the banks of the Suwannee River. There used to be a military post here, Fort Fanning, it has been made into a park. Just beyond that is Fanning Springs State Park. Next came Old Town. How old is Old Town, anyway? The first school there was built around 1909, so there’s a clue. Cross City features Putnam Lodge. It reopened just a few months ago, but originally built in 1927 by the Putnam Lumber Company. It was located beside the old Dixie Highway, now known as 19. Driving through the forty or so miles of wilderness from Cross City through Salem to Perry, you can see the reality of days gone by in the empty and run down motels. On the bright side, there were huge patches of wild flowers, beautiful purples, bright reds, vibrant pinks and whites. (Karen - you would love them!) In Perry you can see 520 acres of prime swamp land that was turned into “IRON HORSE MUD RANCH." They offer the best mild to wild trails and bogs in Florida. (Tammy - this place is for you!) In Monticello we picked up 90 and started to head west. We skirted along the northern edge of Tallahassee and saw parts of Florida State University. Go Seminoles! (Jack - that is for you!)  We continued along the Florida Arts Trail. Where there are authentic little towns full of art and antiques to explore in Quincy, Gretna, Mt Pleasant and Chattahoochee. Sneads holds tons of old Florida charm, and just outside of town is the Apalachee Correctional Institution which had acres and acres of crops being planted, growing and harvested. It was a very welcome sight. Marianna, is known as the "City of Southern Charm" it is also home of Florida Caverns State Park. This park has dry caves and offers tours. It is a place we will stay on another trip! It reminds me of the caverns in Pennsylvania!  We quickly headed through Cottondale into Chipley and turned south onto 77. In just a few miles we came to Falling Waters State Park our destination for the night. Huge trees and fern-covered sinkholes line the trails and boardwalk that leads you to Florida's highest waterfall. Falling Waters Sink is a 100-foot deep, 20-foot wide cylindrical pit into which flows a small stream that drops 73 feet to the bottom of the sink. The water's final destination remains unknown. The park is also home to beautiful native and migrating butterflies in their butterfly garden. We experienced the verdant, gently sloping landscape and some serious hills of the park on our bikes! Resting up tonight for our drive into Alabama tomorrow.

Day One 2014

Day One of 2014. What does it mean? Why is it special? People stay up late, they party, they ring in the New Year, but what makes today different than yesterday? We all have made resolutions that we will keep for a week or less. Then what happens ... Life goes right back to where it was the previous year. And really, what has changed? Nothing! Well this year, I am changing! I am going to try and pay it forward, with just one action every day ... It does not have to be big, it can be something small. Think about it and see what you can do. We all complain about the shape our world is in, but yet we don't do anything, that changes for me today! I will Blog about my progress, will you!?

Time Moves On

Okay, think about this ...

High school graduation was just the other day, right?

Yeah right! It was over 30 years ago!

So, let's take stock and answer these questions:
Name your five best friends from high school?
Do you still talk to them on a regular basis?
What changed? Was it you? Was It them.

Most likely it was nether of you, time moved on. You both found jobs, went to college, discovered  new love, started families and life got busy. You meant to call or write, but you never did. When you did all the number had changes or the mail was returned. You started to wonder did she marry? Have any kids? Then the digital age came around and you searched the internet for a My Space or Facbook account, you used the white pegs to try and locate them.

If you were successful, you found them and reconnected. If you were not successful, it left you wondering why.  You had ever lost touch in the first place. Then a notice appears in social media, the 30 year reunion is planned. Do you go? Will you travel back in time to face all of them? Will the best friend that you lost touch with be there?

I'll let you know later, my reunion s this weekend!

Ice Cream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream!

Everyone has their thing ... I guess mine is ice cream. Not sweets, I am not into chocolate, cookies or cakes, but give me quality ice cream and I am in heaven!

Every week there is a shop in our town that serves $1 cones on Wednesday nights. Families head over after dinner before homework is finished at sit outside and enjoy a cone. The older generation get a cone and share it. The young kids in love lick off each other's cones, and the feisty ones try and put a dab on their friends noses. Our group goes to the shop in several cars, because there are too many of us for one or two cars. We go to the drive up, get our cones, sit in the parking lot with our windows open talking from car to car.

The real question I want answered is ... What does it say when a group of adults can go to a local ice cream shop and the lady working the window knows your order? Are you just creatures of habit or do you go there too often?

The Rally at the Atlanta Motor Speedway 14-20 October 2013

We started our adventure by heading north on 98 to I-75. Which is a real adventure for us, since we rarely travel four lanes! We saw the fabulous horse country in Ocala, FL and the beautiful Payne's Prairie State Park. We wanted to stop at the King Frog shop Adel GA (since our journey has been filled with them!) We also bookmarked the Tococca River, we might want to tube on that on a warmer day. We ended our day with good friends and pizza at Southern Gates RV Park & Campground in Arabi, Georgia with our hosts Bob & Cheryl. Let me apologize to all the Maynard & Maudine fans, we left them at the Ponderosa for this trip!

Day 2 - Departed our overnight stop and headed into Corelle GA, which is the watermelon capital! Naturally,  we all had to stop there to go into Walmart! Everyone had to get a thing or two! Why is it that everyone can never seem to pass by a Walmart? What has this world come to? We headed further north, passing plenty of pecan orchards. They are so amazing, remind me so much of apple orchards! High Falls State Park in Georgia is named for tumbling cascades on the Towaliga River. Will definitely have to camp and explore there someday! Arrived at our final destination for the week, Atlanta Motor Speedway, in Hampton GA. We are settled into a great site, on the end of a row with lots of space for entertaining. Spent some time today getting the Carefree RV Resorts booth set up, will do more tomorrow.

Day 3 - Started the day with coffee with our friends, just like a day in the park! Wayne cooked us breakfast, it was delicious! But, boy can he dirty dishes! LOL! We finished setting up the booth and made sure everything was set for my seminar. Later in the afternoon we hooked up with most of the rest of our booth volunteers, Richard & Vera, Jack & Jackie, and Tom & Bev ... Mary and Jerry will arrive tomorrow! Tonight we enjoyed a true pot luck dinner at our spot. It was a great night of food and fellowship with friends! We all are ready for 9am tomorrow when the Carefree RV resorts booth opens!

Day 4 - Opening day of the rally is always a great day! The crowds were steady all day at the Carefree RV Resorts booth! All of our volunteer ambassadors did great! They were all very informative and helpful! Our last two sets of volunteers, Mary & Jerry, and Paul & Sandra, arrived today. The rain damped the area in the afternoon and evening, but not the spirits of the rally attendees! We are ready for a busy day today and a great concert with the Beach Boys tonight!

Day 5 - The Beach Boys were excellent! It was a great concert! The first day of the Rally was a busy one! All of the volunteers were excellent to work with! We are located next to the Passport America booth. It is amazing, how you don't see someone for 6 months and it's like it has only been a few days! Great to see and work with Jim and Dale again! Tonight it is Vince Gill in concert!

Day 6 - The a Rally is in full swing! There are so many activities and seminars! Today is my seminar ... Purchasing a Park Model and Maintaing the RV Lifestyle You Love! It is at 1pm today in seminar room A! If it is time to stop RVing full time, stop in, you will be surprised! Checking back in! The seminar was great! I would say it was a success! I even had a representative from a Georgia park model manufacturer in the seminar! He was very helpful! There was also a guy who pimped Carefree, don't know who he was, but he certainly knew about our company!

Day 7 - Great Rally! Sad that today was the last day! There was a great Salute to Veterans this morning! The group of residents that came from Majestic Oaks worked hard, but we had some great fun! Charlie and I, as well as the Carefree RV Resorts marketing department, truly appreciate all the extra efforts you all made!