Green trees and pink bikes.

The trees around the campground are finally getting very green. It looks much better. We have about the biggest trees in the area and they get watered frequently. One day next week we will be moving the camper to another site. We have been looking at the sites at the end of the rows because they are much bigger and have more grass and Palm Trees. Most of these sites are taken by folks who leave their campers here year-round and probably live within a few hours drive. Some others are reserved years in advance, year after year, by the same people. There is one site we liked and the people are leaving around April 1 and returning in September. They travel around during this away time. We are going to move on their site when they leave and will be able to stay there til we leave in July. I'll get some pictures of it tomorrow. I like it because it is near the pool and across from the park area.

Our site looks better with the green tree and a little green grass...

We like to ride bikes around the park and there are a few hills that were hard to get up easily with my gimpy knees. I found this electric bike on WalMart.com and had been reading the reviews put there by customers who purchased it. The price was reduced by $100 (now it is back up to regular price) so it was a very good deal. We ordered it and it arrived the first week in March. It was easy to assemble but there was a problem with a short in the controller box. We called up the manufacturer, Currie Technologies, and they sent us a new controller for free (it's under warranty). It works fine now and I can ride all over the park with no problem. It will go 15 miles on a charge, at up to 15 mph. I go very slow because I am afraid to go too fast! And Sam has no problem keeping up on his regular bike.

Black and Pink!

Project 365 Day 75 & 76 - One Big Rig

This was one of the biggest rigs we've seen. The bus was huge and they were pulling a trailer with a full size truck and a boat and trailer on top of the truck. There was also a storage area on the trailer at the back of the truck. They were only here for one night. We heard they come here quite often to fish. The black and red colors are for their team at Texas Tech. They must be huge fans!

Couldn't get the entire rig in one picture. This is the trailer they were towing.

Project 365 Day 70 - Palm Trees

Here's a shot of the sign at the entrance to the campground.

Love the palm trees...they remind me of Florida! They're NOT native here...they were planted. They seem to grow well all around this area but they do not grow naturally in the wild. (Only the cacti are native here). All around the shops, stores, etc., they have been grown in a nursery then transplanted.

Project 365 Day 69 - Desserts

Dessert Row from last night's Pot Luck.....yum, yum.

Project 365 Day 65 - Holiday Trav-L-Park

Here's a few pics of the campground. It's almost full.....just a few spots left. A lot of snow birds coming South for the winter.......except every night this week will be in the mid-30's. No snow though, so I guess that is why they come. Some have boats and they go fishing every day at the lake across the street.

No dieting here! Saturday morning was Pancake Breakfast with biscuits and sausage gravy. (That's regular every other Saturday). Tonight was "Campfire" with hot dogs, hamburgers, marshmallows, biscuits on a stick with jam. (That's regular every Monday night). Every other Thursday is a Pot Luck dinner where everybody brings a dish. Tuesday morning is Ladies' Coffee (with sweet rolls of course). And I'm sure there is more we haven't heard about yet!

Of course to offset all of that is weekly Line Dancing, Exercise classes, and water aerobics when the pool opens in March (brrrrr?). Also for your enjoyment is Bingo, Pokeno, Crafts, and plenty of walking and biking, optional....lol!

I have felt a little under the weather for a day or two so we haven't been anywhere since Saturday when we went to Wal-Mart. Maybe tomorrow we'll ride over to the lake and take some pictures. It's very scenic.

That's us on the left, above

Some of the 120-plus sites

SUNDAY, JANUARY 11, 2009

Project 365, Day 64

Saturday was Sam's 66th birthday so last night we went to a local Steak House for dinner. Not very good. We won't go back. Prices were higher than Longhorns' for steak ($20.99 +) so we had chopped sirloin and hamburger steak. I could have made better at home! There was brown gravy poured all over the hamburger steak for some reason. The waiter never once came around to check on us and we even had to go the counter to pay without our ticket because he never brought it. Funny thing is, the place was packed?? I thought Texas was supposed to have good steak/beef. Maybe we're too close to Mexico. There are probably 40 Mexican restaurants in town! No Longhorn's though. We may stick to Applebee's or Chili's.....at least we'll know what we are getting.

(Posting pic of Wright's Steak House tomorrow.)

Project 365 Day 55 - Holbrook Park, LA

We are currently at Lake Charles, Louisiana, staying at Holbrook Park in Calcasieu Parish. This is a small Parish owned/run park on a lake. There are only 12 sites, all with water and electric, mostly used by locals for weekend camping. The good part is the fee is $12 per night but only $6 with Golden Age Passport. The campground host, Chad, and his wife are very nice. All the State Parks in Louisiana also give a 50% discount for Golden Age Passport which is a very good deal. More states should do it! I will definitely get some pictures posted here tomorrow.

Here we are, backed up to the lake.


Our view from the back window

Great Egret

Lake view from rear of camper

We spent most of today in a RV service center. The electric tongue jack on the trailer wouldn't go up or down so we manually hooked up the trailer to the truck and drove about 8 miles to the nearest service center. They could not repair, only replace, the unit for $395. We have the extended warranty which will cover this item but we would have to pay the dealer and get reimbursed from the insurance company. We opted to wait to get this done once we are settled in Texas. In the meantime, the dealer 'gave' us, and installed, a manual jack to use on the tongue and only charged for 1/2 hour of labor. They were very nice. If you are ever in the area of Lake Charles, LA and need RV service, look up Kite RV Sales and Service.

~ Project 365 Day 16 ~

"Bambi" chili. Tasted no different than beef.....just a little milder. I just have a mental block that prevents me from actually eating it.

~ Project 365 Day 15 ~

Out of school for Thanksgiving and camping with Nana & Papa.

~ The Goat Man of John Tanner State Park ~

Our first day as volunteers at John Tanner State Park near Carrollton, Ga., we met the Goat Man. He lives just outside the park and every weekend he brings his two goats (Princess, 17 months and Lil' Mike, 18 months) for a walk through the park and campground. He said he just does it so the kids can see and pet the goats. He told us all about how he gives them baths, grooms them and takes them for rides in his truck. They were very tame and friendly. Princess has tennis balls on her horns because hers are a little sharper than Lil' Mike's and the goat man doesn't want any children to get scratched. Apparently he treats them just like he would treat two dogs.....just part of the family.

The Goat Man with Princess and Lil' Mike

Princess

Lil' Mike

Walking the goats

John Tanner State Park is a beautiful park in northwest Georgia. It is just off Interstate 20, west of Atlanta, and only about 20 miles from the Alabama state line. The city of Carrollton is just 5 minutes away and is home to West Georgia College. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, theatres and golfing in Carrollton.

The park itself is best known for having the largest sand swimming beach of any Georgia State Park. There are two lakes for water lovers to boat, fish, swim and rent pedal boats. There are also hiking trails, volleyball on the beach, miniature golf, horseshoes, playgrounds, and picnicking. To stay overnight or longer there is a full facility campground and even six motel-type units located near the beach with fully equipped kitchens. Events are held monthly in the park such as March's Turkey hunting and safety classes and the Triathlon in April, consisting of a 600 meter swim, 11.2 mile bike ride and 3.1 mile run.

The area is especially beautiful in the late fall when the leaves are turning yellow, orange and red. Many of the county roads have gorgeous trees in full color in November. Also nearby is Pickett's Mill Battlefield State Historical Site, one of the best preserved Civil War battlefields in the nation.

We volunteered as Campground Hosts at Tanner for the month of November, 2008. As hosts, we would greet new arrivals in the campground after the office had closed for the day, take their payments and give receipts and answer any questions they might have. We also sold firewood and ice, after hours, for the rangers. During the day, we would ride through the park in the volunteer's golf cart and pick up any trash left behind. We'd also clean out the fire pits when campers left.

We enjoyed our experience at this park so much that we have already signed up for November and December of 2009 and 2010!

~ More Pics ~

2006 Coachmen Chaparral 275RLS

These aren't very good pics............but best I could do for now. These were taken during our walk-through. We'll probably pick it up on Monday. We had to get weight distribution hitch, sway bars, electric brakes and mirror extensions added to the truck.

~ A look back….. ~

Walkway to beach.

Our first volunteer position was October, 2007, through January of 2008, at St Joseph Peninsula State Park, Cape San Blas, Florida. The park is directly on the Gulf of Mexico with St. Joseph Bay on the back side. It’s a beautiful park with 119 sites, all with water and electric. We love St. Joe and have plans to return next year.

The most beautiful beaches!

As volunteers, we worked 20 hours a week, or 5 mornings for 4 hours each. Duties included clearing underbrush near sites to get ready for the burn, walking through the campground to pick up trash, occasionally cleaning restrooms, and a few scattered days filling in at the museum in Port St. Joe. This park had the most structured work schedule of the 3 parks we’ve volunteered for, so far. The months we were there were very slow. Some weeks there were less than 10 sites occupied. Of course, the park was full around Thanksgiving and the week between Christmas and New Year's.



Us working.

Fires burning.

After the burn.

The rangers were friendly and very laid back. Park Manager, Brian Addison, was friendly and accessible. One month he and his wife hosted a Pasta Dinner at their home in the park. At Thanksgiving they supplied the turkey, and the volunteers (there were 6 couples and 1 single) brought the side dishes for a fun gathering. Ranger LeeAnn Hinson was volunteer coordinator and worked with all of us for special needs. We were able to go home for Christmas and be with family over the holidays. Our oldest grandson, Kyle, returned with us and his whole family followed for a short beach vacation.

Kyle, Logan, & Tyler

Tyler's first beach!

Kyle & Dad Nate caught fish!

Had to do Some'mors!

The only down side to this park is it's isolation.....which could be it's saving grace. If it were more accessible and better known, I'm afraid it would be overrun by locals and tourists alike, similar to St. Andrews where we are now. We love St. Andrews also, but the two are as different as day and night. St Joe State Park is 20 miles from Port St. Joe, the nearest town with groceries (Piggly Wiggly), and a whopping 55 miles to Winn Dixie & Wal-Mart. Being from Atlanta, I am used to having 5 Wal-Marts in a 12-mile radius and Kroger, Publix, & CVS on every corner! But there is a great Mexican restaurant in Port St Joe - Pepper's - the best one we've found in Florida. (Happy Hour on Wednesday's, 6 to 9 pm!). Makes the 20 mile drive worth it!

Nate, Kyle & Logan @ Pepper's

There is a nice lighthouse just outside the park. The houses are currently being renovated.

Cape San Blas Lighthouse and the lighthouse keeper's house.

Here's a few of my beach buddies...

And some glorious sunsets just outside our motorhome...

And we met one courageous German Shepard!

We also took a trip over to Appalachacola to see what the fuss was about regarding the lack of fresh water for the scallops and mussels over there. They are wanting more water to be released in Georgia to allow more fresh water in the mouth of the Appalachacola Bay. All I can say is looks like there is plenty of water coming into the bay from the river down there and our lake back home, Lake Lanier, is still 16 feet below full pool. 'Nuff said. We did find a great little diner with great food - The Hut. And it is only 30 miles from St. Joe. We visited The Hut three times.

Yum-yum.

Beach houses along Hwy. 30E. Fishing boats on the river in Appalachacola.

The Gorrie House in Appalachacola. He invented the Ice Machine (maybe where the fresh water went?).

This turned out to be a long blog, but there was a lot of catching up to do. I want to remember how beautiful this park is. We look forward to returning next year and to enjoying a little solitude for just a month or two.

(Click on any pic for bigger view)