It's been a few busy days trying to get set up and running. Washed half of the Big Sky, the other half is waiting for a day when there is nothing better to do. That may be a while.

Took the truck to the Ford doctor for a new air filter and on the way back stopped for the annual wash and wax. The black just sparkles and it's pretty hard on the eyes actually. She's a real black beauty.

This morning we headed to the local gym initially to get Kathy set up but before we got out of there I have a membership as well. We plan to head out first thing every morning and try to shed a few of the pounds these all you can eat buffets are adding to the waistline. The afternoon was spent at the beach. What a great swim we had today, the water was beautiful.

When we got home the front yard needed cleaning up. Tomorrow is the day they pick up the pine needles and lawn clippings so we had to get that stuff to the curb.

Tried tonight to load a few pics but they did not turn out well. Camera is acting up.

Today was a busy one getting all set up for our next couple of months. First it was off to Kathy's favourite little fruit store to stock up on fresh oranges and juice. Then off to Winn Dixie to fill the rest of our shelves.

With our tummies looked after nothing would do but getting ourselves to Wal Mart for other things. Thinking we had better hurry before they closed for New Years we rushed to the store. When I quizzed an employee about closing time, she said we never close. Well, except for Christmas Day. She said Wal Mart lets them go home at eight o'clock on Christmas Eve to spend some time with family, Christmas Day off then back to work at 7 am Dec. 26. How generous of Wal Mart. To which I say, what an outfit.

New Year's Eve now and I doubt we will see 2011 until tomorrow morning.

Happy New Year to all.

We finally made it to our home base in Fort Pierce. We layed up a couple of days in a place called Yulee, Fla. Sort of a need to gather our bearings. It didn't do much good as the bearings unwound upon our arrival here and attempting to park the Big Sky. We had an audience of about a half dozen well meaning experts ready to guide us in. Unfortunately I left my saw at home but one of the neighbours brought his along and we were able to trim some low palm tree  branches. They don't seem to want to give us an easy place to get into here but it is otherwise a great spot for the next couple of months. We are backed onto a green row of trees. I'll have to get the pics going soon.

Seems we have great neighbours. Lovely people from Ohio, another American couple, state as yet unknown, and a nice Quebec man.

Will update again soon.

Fourth Day

Long hard grind today. Sunny skies but very windy and several major traffic jams. Thought for a while there I was back in Toronto. Stop and go for miles and miles over nothing more than a fender bender on the other side of the road. Three times no less.

Overnighting in Orangeburgh, South Carolina.

Day 3

We got up bright and early hoping to beat the foot of snow predicted for our resting place last night. We made it far enough West so that all we had to contend with was the odd flurrie from the Western edge of the storm.

Now I'm sick as a dog, first cold in years. I've been whining and crying to solicit a bit of pity from Kathy but she thinks I am just a big baby. I've told her I'm pretty tough but she won't buy it. I'm in that hateful stage of achy bones and fever, I think I may feel better tomorrow.

Tomorrow we will head out and take I81 all the way down to I77 to avoid more of the storm that just won't quit. Saw too many pics on TV tonight of Southern drivers slipping and crashing into each other with just a bit of snow to manouver. They would be into the Big Sky for sure. So if I see much snow accumulation on the roads we will stay here in the Shenandoah Valley for an extra day. Why take the chance?

Gary and Marilyn, we're getting closer. Saw a Home Town today! Ate our first meal at Cracker Barrel today in a long time. Thinking/hoping to be in our first campground tomorrow night so we can get setup for the next 2 months.

Been thinking about going back to work in a couple of weeks. Really missing the guys. Ya right!

Day 2 on the road

Had a great driving day, Christmas Day. Thought about all the folks back home and glad it was a great day. Congrats to you Morgan!

Sleeping in a motel in Waterbury, Conn. Up early tomorrow to try to get West out of the big storm. Where we hope to get will receive maybe a couple of inches whereas here they expect a foot over Sunday and Monday. That would probably leave us here until Tuesday. After todays travel we are about 1/3 of the way to our final destination. Girls are holding up well. Only a few disagreements in the back bunkhouse.

Florida Trip 2010/11

First day out went very well. Left Bayswater at 7:30 am this Friday morning, Christmas Eve 2010. Very windy day which means the oil refineries were very happy with my travel plans. Then there was the snow and freezing rain thru the Cobequid Pass. Oh well, 600+ kms closer to the sunshine. The weather doesn't plan to get much better. Tomorrow should be a good day but a day or two of snow after that. We shall see.

Tonight it's Houlton Maine. Nice little motel on the edge of town, just a couple of kms inside the US. Very smooth border crossing.


We are thinking of our families tonight and wishing all a very happy day tomorrow. Glad you made it home Morgan!

It' hard to believe we have no obligations until March of next year. I know that somehow we will cope.

Until tomorrow.

Thomas Raddall Park

Another new experience, our first weekend at Thomas Raddall Provincial Park. What a great time. Our friends Ed and Liz joined us for a fabulous weekend of camping and walking the trails and beaches. We arrived Friday, late afternoon, as is our custom. Ed had arranged a rather unusual gift, my very own jackknife. He is never without his and suggested I should follow the same rule. Apparently I will discover a thousand and one uses for it now that I have it. I will carry it for a while to see how it works out. I did find it handy today to carve up a tick that had invaded my body.

After a good nights sleep we got up Saturday morning ready to hit the trails. My knee felt to be in good shape so out we went. The beaches are rugged in places, sandy and calm in others. Below we see Gabby retrieving a big stick from the depths of the Atlantic ocean. She was quite proud of herself.


















On Saturday Ed came up with another of his surprises, a jacknife for Kathy. A real beauty too and with the same instructions, to carry it at all times. Kathy seems to think she will use her knife a lot at work. Our beach walk ended just before the afternoon rain. This gave us the opportunity for a well deserved nap. By the time that was over we had another short beach walk before getting supper underway. The topper was a delicious strawberry shortcake that Kathy made with fresh Valley berries and real whipped cream. Yum.

Sunday Morning we headed out for our final walk of the weekend. We trudged thru the hardwoods ending up on the beach again where we saw seals and a mink in full retreat. I should mention the fresh bear poop we saw in the woods. That kept us on our toes for a while. Deer tracks too but no deer observed. The morning ended with a shared lunch with Ed and Liz followed by our goodbyes and departure from the park. We had a great time and look forward to returning to this wonderful place.

Rissers Beach

This was our spot at Rissers Beach the past weekend.








This is the view from our rear window. Pretty nice. The weather was great and the sand warm to the touch. I won't lie and tell you I went in the water. It was COLD!






Of course we had the girls for walks on the beach. Their first beach walk since those Florida days of January.







Unusual for a Pom but Gabby likes to wander right out into the water. She will even swim a bit for a stick.







This is my sister Wendy and her husband Lee. They joined us for supper on Saturday and then we all enjoyed a walk along the beach and then the boardwalk. We finished off the evening with a nice campfire on the beach.

First Camping Weekend of 2010

The first long weekend of the 2010 camping season saw us head out to try a new Provincial Park, Graves Island. Well, new to us. It is only 28 km from home and we've never camped here because it is so close. Joining us was my sister Wendy and her husband Lee, our good friends Ed and his wife Elizabeth. We had a great time with lots of good food and good times.

We didn't see anything special about the campground. We stayed in the new section over looking Mahone Bay in the background. It was a nice view but the campground itself looks more like a moonscape. Almost all the trees were cut down and it will be many years before the new ones take hold. I will most surely not be around to see the mature trees. Doubtful we will be in any hurry to return.

The weather was beautiful and sunny although too hot on our last day. The nice ocean breeze did it's job keeping the flies at bay.

Wendy and Lee have this fondness for morning campfires and over the years Kathy and I have picked up on this and enjoy the morning fires even more than the night fire. Kathy added to the tradition by having roasted hot dogs cooked to perfection over the fire. This has grown to be quite the custom and this weekend was no exception. I must say I try to limit myself to one or two at the most. I'm fat enough as it is. Ed and Liz have joined the parade and low and behold so didn't Gary Meade when he and Marilyn dropped by this morning.

It was great to get another camping season underway. Next up is Rissers Beach next weekend. I will promise to get some pics for the next report.