Fairly mundane day. Rain and thunderstorms started about 1:00 am and lasted until 1:00 pm. Gabby does not like thunder so we were up half the night with her barking at every roll of thunder.

Got up a bit late since the weather wasn't not inspiring at all. Took the girls for a nice walk and then headed to the gym. Although I consider myself to be on the LITE menu I think I overdid it a bit today. Kinda sore tonight. After the workout we headed for Dunkin Donuts to enjoy a coffee and donut. Made up for a few of those calories we lost at the gym. Had quite an experience at the donut shop. One of the employees who seemed to be on table cleanup engaged us in conversation. He thought we were Canadians by our accent and informed us he is a Jersey boy. Turns out this guy is about 99% there, if you know what I mean. He wanted to talk mostly hockey and baseball which was ok. He turned the conversation to politics and I unwisely gave him my opinion on one of his heros, Glenn Beck. I told him the best place for that guy (Beck) was a mental institution whereupon our friend became visibly upset, got loud and started kicking cases of soda on the floor. Said he couldn't believe I would say that about one of his heros. Wow, I was thinking next he's gonna pull out a gun and that's it. I quickly back tracked and got him back to sports without further incident although he was none too happy when I predicted no pennant for his beloved Yankees next year. Thankfully his anger and passion doesn't carry over from politics to sports in the same violent fashion. Lesson learned, never discuss politics down here. The whole time this was going on the girl who seemed to be in charge of the two person operation was trying to get the guy to do a bit of work. He would clean a table then return to our conversation. Might avoid that place in the future.

From the coffee shop it was off to a town called Tradition where Kathy has a favourite shoe store. She forgot her walking shoes at home and so she bought a new pair of New Balance. Maybe with these she will be able to keep up with Connie on their morning walks once back in NS.

By the way, no pics today. Have a new camera but it doesn't work unless you take it with you. Maybe tomorrow as I think we have figured out how to take a pic with it.

Up bright and early for our first official workout at the gym. Now remember I am on the LITE regime for a while as these old bones need time to adjust. I figure to be fully in tune at just about the time of our return to the Great White North. Anyway I dropped over 200 calories today. Kathy felt somewhat sluggish as perhaps she over did it yesterday trying to show me her superior conditioning.

Then we dined at Bob Evans in Vero Beach before heading to Best Buy around the corner for a new camera. We have a lovely Nikon aim and shoot for less than $200. I figure to be up and running in less than a couple of weeks as it will probably take that long to figure out how to take a pic. Or it may be tomorrow, who knows.

The afternoon was spent at South Beach and oh what a time. It was 26C and the water was beautiful. We played around like a couple of kids and had a great day. We wisely left the dogs home and saved Kathy the hard job of washing them. On the way home we stopped by a marina and watched the fishing boats return from the days activities. Some of them are just magnificent.

We had a light wrap for supper followed by a walk around the park with the dogs. A great day and I'm sure we will enjoy our sleep tonight.

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.