Marathon Key

Saturday we left Bushnell heading to Lake Okeechobee Moose Lodge for overnight spot.  We arrived about 3:30 and after analyzing the grounds we found a spot, with electric, in back of the Lodge and in

Moose Lodge Site



front of the Tiki Bar....not a bad place to be. :-).   I think if we had some new batteries we could have spent the night parked in front under some mature pines.  We had a few drinks in the lodge, then ordered dinner (Stromboli), when delivered we headed out to the RV to eat, hung out with Rudy for a while, then back in for one last drink before bed.  Nice way to stop for the night.

 

Sunday morning we had breakfast at the lodge, eggs to order, sausage, hash browns, biscuit and coffee all for five bucks.  We pulled out around 9:30 and headed to Marathon, first stopping for gas, then finding a grocery store to hook up the car and finally hit the road about 10:30.  It was only 200 miles but a lot of 40-50 mph sections.  We arrived at Marathon around 3:30 pm got all situated and had steaks on the grill and enjoyed the warmth. 

Monday we had breakfast on the grill, got cleaned up then headed out.  We stopped for lunch at

Burdine's (great food), then to the visitors center.  Since we were so close we headed into Key Colony and drove around admiring the homes and development.  We stopped at a little park for a stroll, walking out on the pier, just enjoying the sunshine and the water.  On our way out we stopped at Sparky's for a beer or two, then headed out of there about 4:00, stopped at the grocery store then back home to save Rudy.  We had dinner in, walked around the CG (very small) a couple of trips then settled in for the night. 

Tuesday was another breakfast on the grill, and laundry, then off we go to do some more sight-seeing (bike ride was postponed due to wind).  We found a little place called Herbie's and stopped for lunch.  I had a fabulous 'Cajun Mahi Chowder' and Brad had the steamed clams, both of us having micro-brews (Brad - Sea Dog Sunfish and Diane - Golden Monkey), a nice way to top off a great meal.  We stopped and got some Cards, then headed to Sombrero Beach.  We did another stroll, even getting our toes in the water, walked the  beach for a while, then headed in and walked around the park, what a beautiful place. After that back home a couple of walks around the CG with Rudy, Chicken on the grill over salad, staying in out of the wind for the night.  Hopefully tomorrow is a little nicer. 

View from the CG.  They
have fixed up the
Light house and piers

Diane and Brad

Warming up in Bushnell

   Super bowl Sunday we did get over to visit the Lucero's for awhile.  We then watched some of the game here and had hot dogs on the grill nothing to exciting.  Monday we went to camping world looking for a tail pipe extension and then checked out all the new/used RV's on their lot.  Still nothing there we had to have....oh well.  Back home where we gathered up Rudy then headed over to the O'Donnell's for dinner.  It was good to see them all but oh my,  it is a very busy houseful.   Tuesday we headed out to find JC Penny's, Diane needed a bathing suit and refused to go to the Key's w/o one, a stop at Fresh Market, then back home for dinner, steaks on the grill with a nice salad Diane prepared  It rained with a few thunder storms on and off all day but it didn't keep us from running around.   

Wednesday morning we hung out, ordering water filters and checking on new batteries, then headed out about noon.  Off to Odd c'upels for lunch, then to Wally World for supplies......I don't care where you are they are all the same.  We had planned on going out to dinner, but changed our minds, we need to use some of the stuff out of the freezer so we had a wonderful Seafood Chowder(imported from Dillsburg) for dinner. 

 

Thursday it rained on and off until late afternoon.  We went out for breakfast to Licky Spilts yes it is an ice cream place but they have a good breakfast also.  Then over Lake Pan for a look see, nothing much has changed there in a year.  Back to the camper where we spent hours researching which would be best replacement coach batteries until we couldn't take it any more.  Then I called Winnebago and they told us to use a NAPA battery available anywhere.  Diane went to play chili bingo with Shari at the high school.  What is chili bingo you ask, we didn't know either.  Well it is just bingo where they serve chili. Brad had dinner with Len and Ashley.

 

Friday what a nice morning cool but sunny so we decided to have breakfast on the grill.  Today will be cleaning, laundry, packing and grocery shopping for the trip to Marathon Key with a stop over in Okeechobee.  Dinner will  be hog maw sausage on the grill before packing up the  grill. 

Heading south soon

We are ready to head south on Monday the 26th and wouldn't you know it they are calling for snow again.  It is to snow today 2-4 inches and then again on Monday.  I guess we will just have to wait and see if we make out on Monday. We have visited with a lot of friends and family this past couple of weeks.  It is always comforting to visit and share stories with each other.  The weather hasn't been all that bad just cold enough that we have to hook and unhook the water every day.  But, that will end here soon as we head south.  Today we are going to hang out around Dillsburg and see how much snow we get.  This weekend Diane and her sisters will get together again to sort through the household items.  I think we are both ready to go south.  Rudy wears his jacket inside half the time just to stay warm.

 

We ended up leaving on Sunday the 25th trying to beat the big snow storm.  Well I left Sunday around lunch heading to Ashland Va.  Diane stayed and went to help sort things at her dad's.  She meet up with Rudy and I in VA around 10:00 pm.  We were ahead of the cold and decided to keep

Headed to the park to watch
the Sunset! Parris Island

moving.  We made it to South of the Border in SC on Monday and on to Paris Island Marine Base on Tuesday.  Stayed an extra day and visited Beaufort SC and just enjoyed waking up to small arms fire at daylight. Thursday we make the long 189 mile drive to Mayport Naval Base and stayed here two nights.  Now here we noticed the chrome tail pipe piece was missing and we have a few new dents in the hood of the car, not bad.  We enjoyed our stay at Mayport and worked on getting some things organized, warm but windy.

 

Saturday morning, 11:00 we headed out for Bushnell, hoping to see the kids.....no luck they are all out running around.  We hang out at the CG, dinner on the grill and a relaxing evening of nothing.  We are into the warm weather,

Getting settled,
Bushnell, Florida

but the breeze is still pretty stiff, but I won't complain too much, we have no snow.  Sunday morning out to breakfast and now Brad is working on getting the TV to work....not much luck with the satellite, it keeps cutting out.  Grocery shopping and visiting the kids is on the list for the rest of the day.  This week will go fast since we are leaving Friday to head to the Keys. 

 

I will miss having Dad critique the blog and complaining about my English/grammar, but I'll try to get back into typing the blog. I sure do miss the ole guy!! 

Diane and Brad

Frozen Tundra of PA

Wed 7 Jan.  No doubt about it.  It is cooooold in PA.  The service for Lowell was on Monday and so many tears were shed.  The weather was cool but the sun was shining and all went well.   There just isn't any magic words that can make the pain go away but we are slowly starting to recover.  The big word for this week is cold.  This morning our water pump was froze.  Luckily nothing broke I put a little heater in the compartment as soon as I got up and the water was on in less than a half hour.  Then I went out to dump the grey water and the valve was froze shut,  so I get the heater out of one compartment and move to the next.  Just got that all hooked up when the propane truck drove by.  Out the door I go flag him down and talk him into filling our tank on the motorhome.  Finally just before lunch we headed out the door.  We returned around 5pm the temperature had dropped to 16

 and is on the way down to 6 tonight.

We need to get to the frost free zone,
Diane and Brad

Dillsburg

I can't believe 2015 is under weigh already.  We still have no idea how long we will be in Dillsburg.  Services for Diane's dad will be Monday 5 Jan.  We are hoping to still make it to the Keys in February.  The weather has not been near as bad as it was last year although a mixture of sleet and freezing rain has started to fall.  But tomorrow the high is to be in the mid 50's.  Things are still hectic as final plans are made. We did manage to get our pork and sauerkraut on New Years day and last evening shared some wings with Lynne and Rick.  Todays job is to find a kennel for Rudy.  Yesterday I went to the storage unit and retrieved the winter clothing we just put away last week.  Things should settle down next week as everyone heads back to work.  We should have a good idea of what we are doing by the end of next week.  Thanks to all for your condolences, thoughts and prayers.

On the road again for just one day

Well, here it is Dec 29 and we just got on the road yesterday and traveled from Dillsburg to Roanoke Rapids, NC.  This morning we packed up in the rain and had just gotten on I95 south when Diane got the call that her Dad had passed away.  So we made a U-turn on I95(well off one ramp and back on) and headed back up thru Richmond and DC we arrived here about 5pm.  Diane went right over to be with her sisters, while I hooked everything up.  We don't know how long we will be here and we will take it one day at a time.
   A lot of good things have happened since our last post and I will try to catch everyone up this week.  We have a tentative job working this summer in Colorado.
  Wish everyone a happy New Year!!

Brad

Fall is here!!

Tue 28 Oct   What a nice day we had sunny and 80 degrees.  We had a fall cleaning day.  I washed the front of the Moho and cleaned the big windows on the passenger's side of the Moho.  Diane cleaned in inside top to bottom,  we even took Rudy's cage outside and scrubbed it.  We worked most of the day around the camp, with a quick trip to Mel's to see her damage, then back home for dinner on the grill and just enjoyed is really nice fall day.

 

Brad thinks Rudy is cold
wraps him is a sweatshirt

Wed 29 Oct     Just when you think it is time to relax something happens.  As we were returning to Dillsburg Mel calls to tell us the toilet overflowed and ran for several hours while she was at Taylor's volleyball game. Bad news a lot of the basement was flooded including the furnace.  Good news is it was all covered by insurance and they sent a quick response team out with BIG dehumidifiers and fans and things are already being replaced.  Diane has been helping Mel, shopping and picking out colors etc. for replacement items. They were out most of the afternoon and made good use of a cold rainy day picking out a vanity, paint for the bathroom and of course they had to have lunch while shopping.

 

Thur. 30 Oct.    Woke up to sunshine, YEA.  Took Rudy for a extra long walk.  We did a little cleaning up, had lunch, and then off to the dentist for Brad while I went to the bank and few other places before picking him up.  In to the Legion for dinner the usual honey ranch grilled chicken sandwich and the weekly drawing, not near as much fun as it use to be.

As the decoration says
'Happy Hollowiener'

Fri 31 Oct.   Happy Halloween to all.  Not much exciting today.  Sorted through hunting clothes getting Brad ready to a week of hunting.  Did a couple loads of laundry and went to the storage unit.  We are going to downsize our storage unit from a 10 x 10 to a 5 x 10 so all you friend and relatives beware as we relocate stuff you may want to keep your garage doors and basements locked.  Dinner on the grill as we talked with a few of our neighbors.

Diane, Brad and Rudy