Pass the gravy

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Some pictures of turkeys seem appropriate since the long pause between posts...So busy with the new RV lifestyle that computers and email lost their edge. So I have sharpened some pencils and will have another go.

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My focus will be on our National parks out west in order to plan our Great "out west" adventure coming 2015.  Any suggestions will be great!

Grand Visit

We visited some of our Grandkids in Manchester, Md and here they are getting in the pool for a splash. Pictured are Ava then Sebastion and Kiley

We picked up Peyton and Braydon for a day visit at Jellystone and had a great time. Next week we are getting 3 others and will spend the day at the park...........would love to get all ten at the same time!!!!

Burnside Bridge

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Pictured here is a famous bridge that was under seige during the battle of Antietam near Sharpsburg, Md.
400 Georgians from Gen. Lee's Northern Virginia army stood against thousands of Northern troops commanded by Burnside who assaulted the rebel position on the other side of the bridge...After four attempts, the union army withdrew and crossed  further down the creek.  The rock used to build the bridge was taken from the hill overlooking the creek.  This left depressions in the hillside that created ready made rifle pits (foxholes) which the rebels fired from.
This battle claimed 22,000 lives in one day....everything here lined up to be a perfect storm.

Senior Benefits

We went to the Antietam National Battlefield today to get my Lifetime Senior pass for all National Parks...We love our country's parks and will use this pass to see as many as we can.  There is a lot of civil war history here and the area is still a prime exploration showcase.

Spring in Jellystone

I spelled it right! This park is where we will work camp for the next few months and we are impressed with the focus on the customer and how well the park is cared for.  We are receiving training and helping with spring clean-up with this weekend being the start of a busy season!  Pictured to the right is a view approaching the water park.

You can see the budding trees and one of many walkways through this very large park.  We are enjoying the experience of living here and the staff and other workampers are great.  If you are interested in more info on the area and this park resort, go to:
Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park

Being Grandma Again!

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Maureen is in Heaven!  After 8 months, she gets to hold 3 of our 10 grandchildren.  Their staying for a few days and after we finish some business here in Delaware, we will be in Hagerstown, Md where we can visit with all the kids as much as we want.

Three kids in a tub...
Here comes the suds!

We have arrived!!

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We arrived in Ocean View, Delaware around 1 p.m.
today and will be here 11 days.  I built this house for my good friends who presently live in Florida.  It has turn gables on 4 sides which is the Florida "cracker" style .I designed it this way in order to build the roof by hand and by myself!

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Here is a shot of the interior....Maureen has her Doctors appointment next week and we will
entertain some of the grandkids also.  Our second season begins...

What comes around....

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Pictured is a new found friend looking for a snack as we settled in RVacation RV park in Selma,N.C.  We stopped at this park on the way to Myrtle Beach last July so we have come full circle, so to speak!

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Here we find the pond that borders the campground and is full of fish...it's a catch and release pond, but no license needed.  Will head out early tomorrow.

On The Road

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We traveled 6 hours today and stopped here in Walterboro, S.C. at the New Green Acres park...they have the largest pull in sites I have ever seen...This is a great find for us!!  On towards Delaware in the morning.

 We plan to hang around South of the Border for a few hours...Love that place

Last Ride!

We rode 16 miles today and made our first stop at Chapin Station, a beautiful park near Winter Garden.

This is called the Path of Life and is a beautiful garden at the park...We are leaving for home Monday and have enjoyed the time here in Apopka, Florida.  The bike riding has taken 7 lbs off me and Maureen has lost 5 since we began.  We need to make room for Maryland crab cakes that always appear when we are home...

Riding Florida Trails

We have been riding the West Orange trail and just rode 10 miles today.  Its a beautiful bike path with some small hills to climb but what a ride going downhill!

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I was like Snow White...until I drifted

Here I have my beautiful lady posing for me after the ride...she makes it look easy.

Magnolia Park Visited

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Nice boat ramp to Lake Apopka, just sitting there!
This park is beautiful and has a small campground to boot...Magnolia Park is another great city park.

Found this blue heron near the shore just surveying his domain... The lake is large and we did not see one boat .  It is strange to be at these places during weekdays but we love the solitude!

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Finally I came across this peacock sitting in a large oak.  We also saw some Sandhill Cranes near here but did'nt have the camera.

Homeward Bound

We have arrived at our campground and will be here until March 13th...the photo to the right is from Magnolia Park, Apopka Florida.  We will visit here before we leave and also make Wekiva State park a must see before we go.  Wondering if you can tell if this is a Sunrise or Sunset?

Awning Reminder

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Just a reminder to those who lower their awning...this RV'er had it tied down for wind but not for rain.  After about 3 inches in a few hours, the water gathered to the middle and collapsed under the weight.
Always have fall front to back AND left to right.

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We leave Lakeland tommorrow for Apopka, Florida as we slowly head home for the Maryland  eastern shore spring!
Located beside our campground is the West Orange Trail pictured here...plenty of trail to lose a few pounds before going home.

Pelicans

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On a recent visit to Vero Beach, we stopped by a city marina where we found a fisherman cleaning his day's catch....on hand were several uninvited dinner guests that were waiting in line for the buffet....

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For those who have not met our all-american canine...may we introduce Mr. Pibbs!  He is first 
generation cocker-poo royality .

Where is the Sun?

It has been overcast this morning so we took Mr. Pibbs to Gator Creek Reserve in Lakeland.  Nice paths for hiking and bike riding...
No complaints though...we may have had 5 overcast days in the last 4 months!

We missed our Florida State Park volunteer dinner today because we thought it was next Saturday.  Oh well...always next year

This part of the trail reminds us of fall in Maryland....we do not miss the cold weather!

Roseate Spoonbill

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This a rare sighting in Central Florida....The Spoonbill usually nest in the Keys and travel in pairs.  We were told the mate of this one was seen earlier this morning.
Also that there are only a thousand pairs that exist in Florida...other nesting areas include coastal Texas and Louisiana.  It did not lose a wing.  Their wings are pink........

Maureen saw this and turned around....

Next adventure!

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This is Honeymoon Island near Dunedin, Florida.
Its name was once Hog Island but I don't see a connection...:>). The island is on the Gulf side and is a dog beach, one of a few we have found.  We will soon have a beach day here since we will be in the high eighties this week or next.  I will have a new camera to take alot of pictures.

Lake Parker

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Lake Parker is a city park in Lakeland, Florida with beautiful bike paths and a array of birds and critters always available to share the road...

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Today we saw a gator near this shore but could not get a clear shot....camera shot that is.

Van Fleet Trail

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We visited our favorite bike trail near Polk City.
29 miles of paved road and Florida cow fields and swamp....

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Goodbye George and Gracie

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This post is out of order, but We wanted to have everyone meet George and Gracie....our Sandhill Crane friends from Lake Kissimmee State Park.  We have put up a Youtube video of our goodbye visit....

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We will return to Lake Kissimmee next November to renew our friendship and volunteer another 3 months...

Lakeland Florida

We were here in 2004 and we love the city and all that this city provides.  We needed a place to hang until March, so we will bike the waterfronts and parks that are abundant here in Lakeland.

Just one of the beautiful gardens that exists just a few miles from our campground...

Something new

We have recorded Miss Sandy H. Crane and this is her comments, which we do not necessarily agree with.

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Trails at Lake Kissimmee

The mighty oak

One of the many benefits of volunteering  is the exploring you are able to do.  We are on some of the trails near the lake and having fun.

Some Locals Visit

These Sandhill Cranes dropped by and posed for some pictures... We leave Lake Kissimmee State Park the end of the month and have loved our time here.