Planning for the Future...............

This past Sunday we drove down to Homasassa to visit Bill & Betty, friends we met in Del Rio, Texas in 2009. They are staying at the Turtle Creek RV resort year-round while going home to Erie, PA, in the summer (leaving their RV at Turtle Creek). We had a great visit and enjoyed lunch at Cody's Roadhouse in Crystal River. Coconut Shrimp was yummie! Next time I will take pictures! ;-) And next time we will leave Buddy at home so we can tour Homasassa Springs Wildlife State Park. That looked like fun.

We thought about moving to Turtle Creek later in November but decided to stay in Chiefland. We are close to Gainesville and Sam will need to get some treatments there for the next 5 or 6 weeks, as a result of his bladder surgery.

Our new (revised 11/15) 'plan' is to remain here at Chiefland RV Park until about mid-January (which is only 8 weeks - yikes!). Sam has doctor appointments that will continue thru 1/7/11. Then we'll move to Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, AL, where we've had reservations for over a year! It takes that long to get a site in the winter! We'll stay there a couple of months, and hopefully have some of the grands visits while school is out for their winter break, the week of February 21st! :=) In the meantime, we'll go 'home' to Georgia for 2 or 3 weeks around Christmas.

Of course, all of this could change by next week....lol......but this is the new 'plan'.

Now in Florida........

We arrived at Manatee State Park in High Falls, Florida, last Wednesday (10-13). We had planned to stay for 4 or 5 days but changed our minds after one night and moved on to Chiefland RV Park in Chiefland, FL. TV, phone, and computer reception was zero at Manatee and that just wouldn't work for us. We decided to stay in Chiefland for a month and not go to O'Leno State Park for the volunteer position. We visited O'Leno and they understood that after Sam's recent illness, he didn't want to be committed to working in a maintenance position 5 days a week (20 hrs.). They were very nice and let us know we were welcome back any time.

Today we drove out to Cedar Key, about 30 miles southwest of Chiefland. It's a small, fishing village that has become a tourist destination known for it's seafood restaurants. We took a picnic lunch and found some tables at the Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve, a state park with hiking trails through the salt marshes and hardwood forests. We also toured the Cedar Key Museum and got my passport book stamped.

A few permanent residents of Cedar Key:

There was a very cute, small RV & motel on the island. Low-Key Hideaway would be a nice place to stay a few days to explore the island a little more. Here's a shot of a couple of rv's already there.

More exploring left to do another day.

Looking back to Saturday, 10/16/2010

A tragic loss for Rv'ers and the blogging community:

Bruce and Margie

Although we never met in person, we kept up with all their adventures, including this past summer they spent 'babysitting' with their grands. Our hearts go out to all their family and friends.

Susan & Sam

I can't believe it has been so long since I contributed anything to my blog. Sam has completed his 6 months with the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Battlefield Park and we have left Holiday Trav-L Park. We are now at John Tanner Park in Carrollton, GA, We'll be here for about 2 weeks for our grandson's 7th birthday party on 10/9.

Happy Birthday Kyle!!!! (Today, 10/5)

We're leaving here on 10/12, heading to Manatee Springs State Park in Florida. We will arrive there 10/13. We will stop for one night in Georgia at Georgia Veteran's State Park. We'll probably stay at Manatee for a week or so before heading further south to Rainbow Springs State Park. There are a lot of 'day use' state parks in the area that we want to check out and get stamped in my Florida State Parks Passport book.

DS, Scott and DIL, Angelia and grand kids, Mackenzie and Ethan, visited us at the campground near Chattanooga on the last weekend we were there. They all went to the Chattanooga Choo-Choo and the Tennessee Aquarium. The kids really had a ball. My mother even made the trip with them for the weekend. We had a great visit and ate too much, as usual!

Tonight I plan to spend some time catching up on my blog reading. I am wayyyyyyyyy behind!

Angelia with Ethan & Mackenzie at the Choo-Choo.

Mackenzie and Ethan.....so cute!

Mackenzie on new scooter at the campground near Chattanooga.

Friday ramblings........................

One more week for Sam to work. He got a real good review from his boss. They told him they would love to have him come back next year and even offered to give him an easier job. Probably not....but never say never.

Guess we'll be leaving here next Sunday (9/26). Looking back, six months went by pretty fast.

We've taken a volunteer position at O'Leno State Park just north of Gainesville, Fla. for November and December. Due to arrive there 10/27, in time for their Alligator Festival.

A couple of weeks ago, doctor found a tumor on Sam's bladder. He had outpatient surgery and ended up staying one night. Just 4 days later, pathology reports showed no further cancer cells and at his follow up appointment, doctor said the tumor was low grade and non-invasive. We were very happy for that.

We spent Labor Day weekend at my Mother's house on Lake Lanier. Also there: daughter Samantha & family (Nathan and kids Kyle, Logan & Tyler), brother Jim & Helen w/pup Lacey, son Scott & family (Angelia and kids Mackenzie & Ethan). And we had our pup, Buddy!

My mother with Buddy

Kyle at Lake Lanier, Labor Day

Logan taking his turn. Tyler wouldn't try it!

Kyle, Tyler & Logan on the dock


Papa with all 5 grands: Mackenzie, Ethan, Kyle, Logan and Tyler

More mods........

We reworked the dinette area for a design we like much better. It allows more room for a larger sofa, to be purchased in the future.

Before, with one bench removed and the new pedestal on the table top.

After, with both benches removed and new chairs in place.

We decided to go with three chairs instead of two, in case of company. We also have TV trays that will go in front of the lounge chairs, if necessary. 98% of the time, there is only the two of us eating at the table. Usually, with company, we would eat outside anyway.

Looks like we'll be leaving here (Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Battlefield Park) by the end of September, about 9/27 or so. Sam's last day to work is Friday 9/24, just 3 more weeks.

We're going down to John Tanner State Park for a couple of weeks to visit and get doctor appointments done. We'll probably leave there on 10/13, after grandson Kyle's birthday, and head south. We may stop in south Georgia for a day or two on the way to Florida. We haven't decided exactly where in Florida...........just around the general area of Chiefland (Manatee Springs S.P.) and Cedar Key. We're looking forward to some down time, just goofing around in Florida. We may take a campground host position at O'Leno State Park, just north of Gainesville (FL) for November and December.


Manatee Springs

View from my dining room window.....

Panoramic picture of view from the "dinning room" window.

Our site is on the end of a row looking across at the by-the-night area. Most of these guys are traveling and arrive in the afternoon, set up, walk the dogs, go eat somewhere, then leave the next morning. A few will stay a couple of nights. Some have children, mostly grand kids from the looks of them, and they might stay 2 or 3 days to enjoy the pool and go to Ruby Falls.



Occasionally there will be a club meeting. This weekend was a group from "Good Sam" camping club. They meet and eat potluck dinners in the conference room.

Got a new book from Amazon this week. _Best Backroads of Florida_, The Heartland Volume 1, by Douglas Waitley. It's copyright year 2000 but has good interesting history. Hopefully most of the roads will still be passable when we visit this fall/winter.

Who's been here?

My wish is that everyone who clicks on my blog would leave a comment. I know this is impossible but I'd really like to know who is reading and what you think. And it's a good way to keep in touch with everyone.

In over two years, there has been over 7500 'visitors' to my blog but I only know a few of you. Bloggers really love to get comments.......good, bad, or indifferent. I always try to leave a little note when I read blogs to let them know I was there and enjoyed (or not) their thoughts, opinions, etc. Speak up and let me know! Thanks in advance. :-)

That said, here are 4 wallpaper borders I'm considering for the camper to replace the ugly factory installed grape (?) motif. Keep in mind I am looking for the old-world, slightly worn, 50's-60's Florida look. The curtain, valances, cornice boards, furniture, etc., will eventually be changed with matching colors, prints, etc. The basic wall color will remain the same.

Here are a couple of pics of the original wallpaper border and the cornice covering and swag curtain. Very dull and boring. This border is 5 and 7/8" wide.

The first two borders are 8" wide and the second two are 6" wide. Either size will work.

#1

#2

#3

#4

I've already decided on which one I like but would love to hear your opinions.

9 Weeks to go (on Friday).....

Just 9 more weeks to go before we leave this area and head south. Time has gone pretty fast, so far. Looking forward to moving on. Not planning on staying so long in one place any more - unless we want to. Not planning on any more government jobs. Just a few volunteer positions at places we want to be. We're looking at St. Andrews SP in PC Beach or Big Lagoon SP, near Pensacola, for volunteer spots next summer (2011). We're already scheduled for John Tanner SP (GA) as campground host for Nov/Dec. 2011.

The next couple of months, we're planning a few mods to the camper. We've already replaced the solid white screen door slide with a clear one and added clear Lexan over the screens in order to leave the solid door open and keep the a/c or heat inside. I like being able to see out. This is much better. It's hard to tell the difference in the picture except for the slide opening, which is now clear instead of white. There are two Lexan (similar to Plexiglas) panels covering the screen, attached with white, industrial strength Velcro. Lowes cut the panels to fit and Sam rounded the top corners with the jigsaw and sanded smooth. The Velcro allows them to be removed, if necessary, for cleaning or if we just want screens in the fall or spring.
(Also added the handle. Something to grab instead of the slider),

Also added a shampoo/soap dispenser to the shower. Love the convenience of no bottles. Works great!