December 28, 2014 It was too nice here so we decided to head North to Bahia Honda

Yep we decided to head North but only to spend the day at Bahia Honda State Park on Marathon Key. Jeff and Amy cannot camp at the Naval Air Station Key West Campground with us so they have made other reservations. This State Park is really nice and Christina, Brandon and Pat went for a quick dip in the Atlantic. They said the water was a little cool. Jeff and Amy provided hot dogs for lunch.

After we finished our little visit we headed back but since there is only one road in and out of the keys if there is an accident traffic stops, so our 45 minute drive took us 1 1/2 hours. After we arrived back in Key West we decided it was too late to defrost anything for dinner we stopped by the store and the girls bought roast chickens and we added rice and mixed veggies for a nice meal.

We relaxed and watched a little TV and crashed early again.

Tomorrow we will finally get serious about doing some sightseeing.

Oh let me tell you about the strange birds they have here. They run all over the town and the naval base. They are in the store parking lots and walking down the sidewalks. They also start talking to each other every morning at 3:30am and it is hard to go back to sleep. The strange birds are actually CHICKENS. The roosters are loud and not afraid of people. But we are getting used to them.

Mike and Jeff on an Ice Cream break

Some neighbors

Nice painting on the water pipe under the bridge

Sea Urchines (black dots)

Just Chillin'

Not as close as it looked

The houses are very colorful

December 27, 2014 Last day of driving to the Keys

Saturday, December 27, 2014

It wasn't to noisy so we did get some sleep.  We agreed to leave at 10am as this day was to be a short one only 180 miles or so.

Our daughter Christina and our grandson Brandon  left Jacksonville to join us in the Keys but they arrived at the Gaming house before we left so we all traveled together.

As soon as we hit Route 1 in Homestead, FL traffic started to slow down to 20-25 mph.  Needless to say a short trip turned into a 5 1/2 hour drive and then it took us another 2 hours to find out how to get registered at the base, empty and refill tanks and get setup.  We decided that we would try and find someplace to eat.  Wanted to find a local place but unfortunately we didn't know the area and it was getting dark so we just went to Outback.  Another time. What a long and tiring day. Christina kept telling us to see the Iguanas along the road but we never saw them.

Max is ready to travel for the day

Traffic was bumper to bumper most of the way

First Pelican

Seven Mile Bridge

Old Bahia Honda Bridge

Various local residents

Look how clear the water is

Blimp?

Osprey

Houseboat

December 26, 2014 Second day of traveling to Key West

Friday, December 26, 2014

We left Walmart at 8am as planned knowing that we would have a long day ahead of us.  Our destination was the Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Casino on the outskirts of Miami to spend the night and maybe win some money or in our case lose some.

We arrived at 645pm.  Registered and found out that this wasn't a casino but just a gaming place.  Not what anyone wanted.  Mike tried the slots and was back in 20 minutes.  He didn't win!!!!

Jeff and Amy provided dinner of sandwiches. Jeff offered up deer pastrami that was homemade and delicious.  We decided to turn in early as everyone was tired.

This wasn't a bad place to spend the night.

Lake Marion in South Carolina

Bridge going into Jacksonville, FL on I295 East bypass

Bridge over St Johns River

Our traveling friends Jeff and Amy Bohrer

Us parked at the casino for the night

Miccosukee Resort & Gaming Casino

December 25, 2014 Traveling to Key West

Thursday, Thursday December 25, 2014


Merry Christmas Everyone!!!!!!

Hope everyone had a great Christmas.  We received our early phone call at 6am that grand daughters were up.  We packed up and away we went to see our kids open their presents and to have breakfast before we headed south to Key West.  This is going to be a new experience as neither of us has been to the keys.

We were back at the coach and ready to go by 1030.  We called Jeff and Amy who are also traveling with us to see if the were also ready.  Everything is a go and we agreed to meet at the Welcome Center on I95 in NC.  We arrived about 20 minutes after Jeff and Amy and got back on the road at 1pm.

Traffic was light, sun was shining so the driving was enjoyable.  The only interesting thing we saw was a red PT Cruser with a small red enclosed trailer heading south with the license plate of Santa.  The vehicle was registered in NH.   He needed a warm place to rest up.   As we pass him he even looked like him!!!!!!  We are trying out a new toy it is a dash cam so we will see if we can find a picture of it.

We arrived at the Walmart in Walterboro SC around 630 pm. Pat had Christmas dinner all figured out and on the table within 30 minute.  We had ham, steamed green beans and Bob Evans mashed potatoes.  Not too shabby for a quick meal on the road.

We discussed leaving time in the am early but not too early we all agreed to 8am and our next stop for the night was a casino just on the out shirts of Miami.  Wonder how much money the boys are going to lose....LOL.

Until tomorrow. Sorry no pictures from today.

October 26, 2014 Final leg of our trip back to Virginia

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Mike and I decided that we would get up when we got up.  We got up around 7 that is what happens when you go to bed early and left an hour later. But we had made sure the Turnpike Service Area we stopped at had a Cinnabon place and guess what we had for breakfast?  Delicious!!! We finished the last leg of our journey going through NJ, then DE, MD and finally VA.

We made it to back to Indian Cove RV Resort at 2pm. This is where we have a membership and spend most of our time while in Virginia Beach. We can stay for 28 days in a row. This is also a Coast to Coast park.

Even though I love to travel it is nice to come home to familiar ground.  I wonder how we are going to feel when we get on the road for 22 months starting April 2015.  Only time will tell.

So everyone check back Dec 25, 2014 as we take another mini trip to Key West.  We will be traveling with another couple Amy & Jeff who we have met at Indian Cove Resort and have become close..

Shot from the Newburgh Beacon Bridge

St Georges Bridge

Our youngest Tonkinese, Tiberius enjoying the dash to himself

Welcome to Virginia!!!!!

We like these prices --keep going down.

SO until the next time remember:
        "LIFE IS SHORT SO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NOW NOT TOMORROW"





Fuel 41.8293 @ 3.369 = $140.92 just before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel Townsend VA

October 25, 2014 Breakfast with family- Travel day

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Family members (25 in all) gathered at Cracker Barrel for breakfast.

It was good to see that everyone showed  for this breakfast and it was sad that we had to say goodbye to half of the group as they would be traveling as soon as breakfast was done.

Pictures were taken of everyone around the table and some of just the 1st and 2nd cousins.

Until the next time.

Mike and I traveled through NH, MA, CT, NY and finally stopped for the night in NJ.  I  for one was exhausted.  I think that I was in bed by 830. We spent the night at one of the NJ Turnpike service areas. It was busy but we were still able to get a good night sleep and even slept in a little.

Look at this closely on the left side of table the only male
at the table is Pat's brother Paul and girlfriend Penny.  He managed
to stay out of the pictures but Pat finally got him!!!

Breakfast at Cracker Barrel

Good picture of Grandma T and Jennifer

First and Second Cousins

Back row Jennifer, Christina, John and Ashley

Front row Haven, Alicia, Michelle, Aubrey and Brandon

Add caption

SO until the next time remember:
        "LIFE IS SHORT SO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NOW NOT TOMORROW"


Fuel 56.673@3.499 = $198.30 Shell Oil Londonderry, NH
Fuel 45.918@3.339 = $153.32 NJ Turnpike Cranbury NJ

October 24, 2014 Falconry Class and Wedding Day

Friday, October 24, 2014

Today I am receiving my birthday present early from Dawn & Carl.  My birthday is October 31. It is a falconry class at NH School of Falconry.  Nancy Cowan is a master falconer.  She was wonderful and taught us a lot about falconry from history about the birds and how they hunt and survive.  Our lessons consisted on how the birds of prey are trained and then she trained our small group on how to handle these wonderful birds.  First we learned about the equipment that is needed.  We then went on to learning how to get the peregrine falcon to perch on our hand and then to get the falcon to go back to his perch. Next we had some lessons outside getting her Harris's hawk to fly to us for a bit of food and to fly back to the tree or some where else to perch until his next snack.  I was so overwhelmed that I could have stayed there all day in awe of these majestic falcons.  This is one birthday present I will never forget.

Nancy Cowan, master falconer

Peregrine Falcon

Pat with Harris's Hawk

Dawn with Harris's Hawk

Harris's Hawk waiting patiently

The rain stopped just before the wedding so the ceremony was outside.  It was a little chilly but we didn't have to be outside for very long.  Ashley was a beautiful bride and Matthew look so handsome. They seemed to be good for one another.  The reception followed inside.  What a nice party.  Everyone seemed to be having a great time,  The party ended somewhere around midnight.  What a nice ending to a long and perfect day.

Everyone's ready for this wedding.  Top row Left to right Pat, Mike, Carlo,  Scott, Carl,
John, Brandon, Beth, Dawn, Jennifer, Michelle, Haven, Christina, Aubrey and Bella

Bride's mom and Pat's sister Debra

Bride's dad, Mark and the beautiful bride, Ashley

Ashley & Matt

Ashley & Matt

Alicia (Bride's sister and  our niece)

Pat & nephew John

Grandma T with Haven, Aubrey and Julianna (flower girl)

Grandma T (Pat's Mom) with Haven and Aubrey

Left to right  Carl, Mike, Jennifer, Beth, Carlo, Pat, John and
Pat's Mom, Louise

Ashley & Brandon--Haven's in the background left

Christina & Brandon (daughter & grandson)

SO until the next time remember:
        "LIFE IS SHORT SO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO NOW NOT TOMORROW"