It was a fun day at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. We left the RV at 9:20 and drove to downtown Atlanta, arriving there just as it opened at 10. We were pretty surprised at the crowd that was there already, but we bought our tickets at the credit card kiosk (much faster than waiting in the cash line) and entered the Aquarium. It is laid out in a pretty convenient way in that one enters into a huge central area from which the various exhibits extended. We went first to the Coldwater Quest area. At the entry one could touch sea anemones, urchins, and starfish. They had an exhibit of Japanese Spider Crabs that was truly impressive. At most of the exhibits they had volunteers or staff members to explain and answer questions. We saw woody dragon seahorses, beluga whales and otters at feeding time.
The next exhibit was Ocean Voyager. This is the big aquarium, 280’ long. The first viewing area is an acrylic tube that one can walk through with the fish overhead and beside us. The big area was like an Imax theater with the whole front viewing glass. They have several whale sharks which are impressive along with hammerhead sharks, a leopard ray, huge groupers. It was mesmerizing. We stopped to have lunch at the aquarium food court. I had a decent mushroom and goat cheese pizza while Bill had a chicken Caesar salad. The Aquarium was beginning to fill up especially with lots of strollers. That was an obstacle course.
Then it was on to the Titanic exhibit. They had lots of relics retrieved from the ship plus many exhibits concerning the ship. We stopped to see the Georgia Explorer which was mainly a kids play area We did the River Scout exhibit which had mainly river fish (not so pretty or impressive) river otters, and some alligators. Finally we went to the Tropical Diver which had lots of coral and reef fish and was quite pretty. We finally gave up at 3 and headed back to the RV.
Bill watched a ballgame and a golf match while I chatted with Mandy and read. We had leftovers out of the refrigerator so that we will have less to haul into the house when we get home. About 10 we drove over to the main area of the park to see the carving lit up at night. There wasn’t any good way to view it, so I wonder why they even have it lit at night.
We leave tomorrow for home and will stop for one night at Concord NC arriving back in Raleigh on Tuesday.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Stone Mountain GA
It was a fun day. We left the RV at 9:30 to do the park. We drove over, got our tickets, and got on the 10:30 cable car up to the top of the mountain. That was kind of interesting. There were some neat exhibits in the building along with a snack shop. There was a fenced off area for some endangered plants, a great view of Atlanta in the distance, and a good view of our campsite. We came back down and went to the Stone Mountain Museum. This area has had a rather dark side with the expulsion of the Indians and Klan rallies. We had lunch at the museum café. I had a really neat BLT with apple smoked bacon and fried green tomatoes which was really yummy. Bill had a Graceland sandwich, a grilled peanut butter, chocolate, banana sandwich. That was good, too.
From there we went to the Granite Exhibit which was really well done, showing the years of granite mining on the mountain. But the best part was the Antebellum Plantation. This was an area of buildings brought here and reconstructed. The buildings were open with wonderful descriptions of the furnishings. Everything was labeled which I truly appreciated. The major exhibit was the Dickey House, a huge 6250 sq foot mansion. That was a lot of fun, and we spent a bit of time there.
Bill stopped to see what was being offered at the antique store that was closing after 40 years. I stayed in the car and snoozed. He came back with a catalog of pretty impressive items. Finally we took the train ride around the mountain which was a 5 mile ride and rather anti-climatic.
We got back to the RV about 5:30 which was a longer day than we had anticipated. Bill grilled steaks for dinner, and we relaxed a bit.
From there we went to the Granite Exhibit which was really well done, showing the years of granite mining on the mountain. But the best part was the Antebellum Plantation. This was an area of buildings brought here and reconstructed. The buildings were open with wonderful descriptions of the furnishings. Everything was labeled which I truly appreciated. The major exhibit was the Dickey House, a huge 6250 sq foot mansion. That was a lot of fun, and we spent a bit of time there.
Bill stopped to see what was being offered at the antique store that was closing after 40 years. I stayed in the car and snoozed. He came back with a catalog of pretty impressive items. Finally we took the train ride around the mountain which was a 5 mile ride and rather anti-climatic.
We got back to the RV about 5:30 which was a longer day than we had anticipated. Bill grilled steaks for dinner, and we relaxed a bit.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Stone Mountain GA
We have gone from a stark parking place in a huge, muddy field to a lovely wooded lakeside campsite with a view of the side of Stone Mountain. The site is a very narrow one with steep sides, but we can put our chairs where we have a lovely view. We packed up this morning and made the weighing appointment Bill had made for 9:30 at the convention. They weighed all four corners of the RV, and we are well within our acceptable weight even with the tanks all loaded. Bill felt really good about that.
We only had a two hour drive to Stone Mountain, so we stopped at a pretty rest area near Macon, and sat in a pretty picnic area taking a break. We got here at 1:30. Setting up in this site was a little tricky because of the steep sides of the site, but we got it done. One RV site in another loop near the laundry has a big motor home on it, but the site is so not level that the owner has put bricks under his front jacks which took the front wheels at least 2 feet off the ground. We have no idea how that can be safe at all!! We took a ride around the mountain, checking out some of the things we want to do tomorrow. It was a lovely sunny day, but in the low 60s. It is supposed to be in the 30s here tonight, so we might beat spring back to Raleigh.
Bill did some laundry. I did some unpacking chores around the RV. We have a weak WiFi connection, but our Verizon card is working well. The satellite isn’t getting a signal, but the antenna is bringing in the major networks, so we can at least watch the news and The Amazing Race on Sunday.
We only had a two hour drive to Stone Mountain, so we stopped at a pretty rest area near Macon, and sat in a pretty picnic area taking a break. We got here at 1:30. Setting up in this site was a little tricky because of the steep sides of the site, but we got it done. One RV site in another loop near the laundry has a big motor home on it, but the site is so not level that the owner has put bricks under his front jacks which took the front wheels at least 2 feet off the ground. We have no idea how that can be safe at all!! We took a ride around the mountain, checking out some of the things we want to do tomorrow. It was a lovely sunny day, but in the low 60s. It is supposed to be in the 30s here tonight, so we might beat spring back to Raleigh.
Bill did some laundry. I did some unpacking chores around the RV. We have a weak WiFi connection, but our Verizon card is working well. The satellite isn’t getting a signal, but the antenna is bringing in the major networks, so we can at least watch the news and The Amazing Race on Sunday.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was our last day at the Family Motor Coaching Convention. Bill left at 7:30 for a seminar on tips for RVing. I went over at 9 to meet him for the Canadian Maritime Province seminar. On the tram, some folks were talking about the convention and stated that the entertainment was worth the price of admission. Can we say Kazoos?!?! Te seminar was kind of a bust since their big screen had so much glare that we couldn’t see the beautiful photos. The first speaker started talking and people in the back (when there were lots of good seats up front) said they couldn’t hear. The speaker turned up her mic, and the lady said she still couldn’t hear, and the speaker told her to move closer to the front. Hee.
After that we went through the building of booths that I hadn’t seen. Bill bought a $5 kneeling pad which I liked since I put the wood under the jacks, and a pad will save my knees on gravel. We split a Philly cheese steak sandwich and wandered through some new motor homes. Some of them were really gaudy. We went back to the Camping World booth and Bill bought a water hose on a reel and a new lawn chair that finally is comfortable for him. We came on back to the RV. The guy next to us just had his 15 year old RV repainted and put new furniture in. The paint job looked great in shades of black, gray, and dark red. He invited us in to see the new leather furniture. I was stunned. He had his pilot/copilot chairs, sofa, and recliner done in a shade of avocado that I haven’t seen since the 1970s! And I know it wasn’t cheap.
We ate leftovers for dinner and then watched some guys working on the RV across from us. They were buffing the exterior, and it really was starting to shine. I talked to the guy who said they were taking off the corroded paint and then were going to wash and wax it. It really was making a difference. Tomorrow Bill signed up to get the RV weighed at 9:30, and then we head out to Stone Mountain.
After that we went through the building of booths that I hadn’t seen. Bill bought a $5 kneeling pad which I liked since I put the wood under the jacks, and a pad will save my knees on gravel. We split a Philly cheese steak sandwich and wandered through some new motor homes. Some of them were really gaudy. We went back to the Camping World booth and Bill bought a water hose on a reel and a new lawn chair that finally is comfortable for him. We came on back to the RV. The guy next to us just had his 15 year old RV repainted and put new furniture in. The paint job looked great in shades of black, gray, and dark red. He invited us in to see the new leather furniture. I was stunned. He had his pilot/copilot chairs, sofa, and recliner done in a shade of avocado that I haven’t seen since the 1970s! And I know it wasn’t cheap.
We ate leftovers for dinner and then watched some guys working on the RV across from us. They were buffing the exterior, and it really was starting to shine. I talked to the guy who said they were taking off the corroded paint and then were going to wash and wax it. It really was making a difference. Tomorrow Bill signed up to get the RV weighed at 9:30, and then we head out to Stone Mountain.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was another sunny day in Perry GA. We both got up early and caught the 7:30 tram over to the South Africa RV seminar. This was presented by a company who sponsors these trips, but it was a rather neat photo presentation of an RV trip in Africa. Bill and I want to go to Africa, but not this way. They are gone for 37 days, and it costs $15,000 per person plus gas. We are looking at a National Geographic tour that is also expensive but is a much more civilized trip.
After the presentation we shared a breakfast at one of the two restaurants. Bill went on to his three hour RVing seminar, and I came back to the RV. We lost power for about 15 minutes. This has been an iffy electrical setup. Our clocks are losing about 10 minutes every 24 hours. Bill went to the ice cream social that was supposed to start at 1pm. They were out of ice cream by the time he got there at 1:15, so he wandered around talking to some vendors before he came back to the RV. I took a nap before we headed into Perry at 5. We went to Walmart and then had dinner at a Chinese buffet. It wasn’t too bad. We did drive around the outskirts of the fairgrounds, and the number of RVs here is mind-boggling. Hopefully we can get an aerial photo of the convention. That would be impressive. Bill also picked up some info on Stone Mountain, our next destination.
After the presentation we shared a breakfast at one of the two restaurants. Bill went on to his three hour RVing seminar, and I came back to the RV. We lost power for about 15 minutes. This has been an iffy electrical setup. Our clocks are losing about 10 minutes every 24 hours. Bill went to the ice cream social that was supposed to start at 1pm. They were out of ice cream by the time he got there at 1:15, so he wandered around talking to some vendors before he came back to the RV. I took a nap before we headed into Perry at 5. We went to Walmart and then had dinner at a Chinese buffet. It wasn’t too bad. We did drive around the outskirts of the fairgrounds, and the number of RVs here is mind-boggling. Hopefully we can get an aerial photo of the convention. That would be impressive. Bill also picked up some info on Stone Mountain, our next destination.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was a lovely sunny day finally. Bill took off for a seminar on batteries. I had breakfast and took the tram over to the main fairground buildings to meet Bill for lunch. I had an hour to kill so I went into one of the main exhibit buildings. It was typical fair booths with an RV emphasis – brakes, tow bars, campgrounds, cleaning products, and an assortment of jewelry, handbags, bed sheets, Tupperware (my, how it has changed since I bought it!). By the time I made it through this one building, it was time to meet Bill. He only had a half hour, so we went to a Beef Tips and Spuds tent. They had run out of ‘spuds’, so we got a dish of beef tips, onions, and mushrooms. Lord.
Bill went on to his 3 hour RV Driving seminar. I hung around for a half hour because I had to see “Rick Hubbard and the Kazoobie Kazoo Show”. This was a one man, guitar/banjo/kazoo player show. We all got free kazoos. He put on a surprisingly interesting show. It was the audience participation I could have done without. The average age of the audience had to have been 75. He had them up there blowing bubbles for a bubble song he had written, shaking maracas, and playing household objects in an audience band. And through it all, he had the audience playing along with their kazoos. Mr. Hubbard also is owner of the only US manufacturer of plastic kazoos. After the show, I caught the tram back to the RV and sat outside in the shade reading.
Bill showed up at 4:45. He said the seminar wasn’t too bad, but lots of audience members had to insert their own stories into the seminar. He has another 3 hours tomorrow of the same thing. He grilled steaks for dinner, watched Judge Judy, and then we rode his bike back over to see Tony Kenny’s Irish show. He didn’t stay too long. I keep waiting for the chamber music which will never happen.
Bill went on to his 3 hour RV Driving seminar. I hung around for a half hour because I had to see “Rick Hubbard and the Kazoobie Kazoo Show”. This was a one man, guitar/banjo/kazoo player show. We all got free kazoos. He put on a surprisingly interesting show. It was the audience participation I could have done without. The average age of the audience had to have been 75. He had them up there blowing bubbles for a bubble song he had written, shaking maracas, and playing household objects in an audience band. And through it all, he had the audience playing along with their kazoos. Mr. Hubbard also is owner of the only US manufacturer of plastic kazoos. After the show, I caught the tram back to the RV and sat outside in the shade reading.
Bill showed up at 4:45. He said the seminar wasn’t too bad, but lots of audience members had to insert their own stories into the seminar. He has another 3 hours tomorrow of the same thing. He grilled steaks for dinner, watched Judge Judy, and then we rode his bike back over to see Tony Kenny’s Irish show. He didn’t stay too long. I keep waiting for the chamber music which will never happen.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
It was a cold, nasty, rainy day all day! I kept rolling over and going back to sleep as is fitting on a day like today. Bill was up early and over to the info pavilion to sign up for a safe driving seminar tomorrow. He hung around there and went to a seminar on RVing in Atlantic Canada and a towing roundtable. He didn’t learn anything new about towing, but he got some info about Canada. He ate lunch there, went to some exhibits. He spun the wheel at a booth sponsored by Minute Rice and won the ‘big’ prize. He even got his photo taken with his prize – a microwavable brown and wild rice product containing two individual servings. We got a laugh out of that.
I stayed here drinking coffee, chatting with Mandy, and watching the folks try to ford the huge Georgia red mud puddles next to us. They have to get to the road to catch the tram to the main exhibit/seminar buildings. The best thing I saw was a little old couple. The husband had on plastic grocery bags tied around his shoes. His wife had on Zip Loc baggies, and they walked gingerly through the mud. The RV in front of us gave up and left even though the rain should stop late tonight, and the sun should shine the rest of the week.
I stayed here drinking coffee, chatting with Mandy, and watching the folks try to ford the huge Georgia red mud puddles next to us. They have to get to the road to catch the tram to the main exhibit/seminar buildings. The best thing I saw was a little old couple. The husband had on plastic grocery bags tied around his shoes. His wife had on Zip Loc baggies, and they walked gingerly through the mud. The RV in front of us gave up and left even though the rain should stop late tonight, and the sun should shine the rest of the week.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Perry GA FMC Convention
We got packed up, hooked up, and left Kings Bay by 9. The drive to Perry GA was fairly uneventful. It did start to sprinkle just before we arrived at the Georgia State Fairgrounds where this big rally is being held. We are parked in a huge field, but luckily we are at the end of the row next to an asphalt road which gives us a little more room. They have strung electric lines over our section of the field, and we share a box with the RV next to us and the one behind us. We get 30 amp power but no water or sewer. We hadn’t been in our spot very long when it started raining. And it rained, and it rained, and it rained. The area around us was pretty swampy. It has stopped for tonight, but we are supposed to get a bit tomorrow, too.
Bill took the tram over to the main exhibit buildings to look around. I didn’t want to traipse around in the rain, so I stayed here. The seminars and exhibits start tomorrow. There are only a couple of seminars that I want to attend, so I will stay home with my books. We do have what appear to be fire ants in the area, so we will have to be careful. I do have ant bait, so I am prepared if they try and invade the RV. Bill says there are fair food booths over in the exhibit area, but I can check those out after the rain stops.
Bill took the tram over to the main exhibit buildings to look around. I didn’t want to traipse around in the rain, so I stayed here. The seminars and exhibits start tomorrow. There are only a couple of seminars that I want to attend, so I will stay home with my books. We do have what appear to be fire ants in the area, so we will have to be careful. I do have ant bait, so I am prepared if they try and invade the RV. Bill says there are fair food booths over in the exhibit area, but I can check those out after the rain stops.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was a cool, foggy morning. Everything outside under the awning was wet even though it hadn’t rained. After lunch, the sun finally came out, but it didn’t warm up too much. We went to the commissary to stock up on food for the coming week. Bill is really looking forward to the seminars at the Family Motor Coaching rally in Perry GA. Me, not so much. There is one seminar about RVing in southern Africa that sounds interesting even if it is at 8am on Wednesday morning. We will be there until Friday.
We got gas for the Tracker, some cigars and scotch for Bill, and came back to the RV. We put the food away, and I cleaned up the coffee pot and got it packed away. We did a few other items that needed to be done and then sat outside and read. Tomorrow we hope to be out of here by 9, so it will be an early wake-up to shower since we won’t have water hook-ups all week. We do have a water tank, but we will have to be frugal. It should be an interesting week.
We got gas for the Tracker, some cigars and scotch for Bill, and came back to the RV. We put the food away, and I cleaned up the coffee pot and got it packed away. We did a few other items that needed to be done and then sat outside and read. Tomorrow we hope to be out of here by 9, so it will be an early wake-up to shower since we won’t have water hook-ups all week. We do have a water tank, but we will have to be frugal. It should be an interesting week.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was a much cooler day at Kings Bay. We slept in which is always nice on cool mornings. Last night there was a great blue heron out front. We hung around here in the morning. At 12:30 Bill drove down to Amelia Island for the Concours d’Elegance. This is a high end classic car show and sales. Bill wanted to look at the cars and meet David Hobbs, a Formula 1 race who now announces races on the Speed Channel. He called a couple of times and was having a pretty good time. He got back here about 4.
While Bill was gone, I chatted with Mandy while I worked on labeling photos. I got those all caught up. Mandy and Cynthia are going to Boston in the morning for the weekend. Saturday night they are going to see the musical Dirty Dancing. At 6 we left to drive back down to Amelia Island to meet Nancy Van Tyle and her friend Candy for dinner. They had found a place called Brett’s Waterway Restaurant and were waiting in the bar for us. It was a really nice restaurant. I had fried green tomatoes, shrimp bisque, and red pepper polenta, all of which were quite good. Nancy and Candy shared some fried green tomatoes and had salads. It was a fun evening chatting. Nancy and Candy met a lifetime ago when both were working in Alaska, so it was fun to hear their stories.
While Bill was gone, I chatted with Mandy while I worked on labeling photos. I got those all caught up. Mandy and Cynthia are going to Boston in the morning for the weekend. Saturday night they are going to see the musical Dirty Dancing. At 6 we left to drive back down to Amelia Island to meet Nancy Van Tyle and her friend Candy for dinner. They had found a place called Brett’s Waterway Restaurant and were waiting in the bar for us. It was a really nice restaurant. I had fried green tomatoes, shrimp bisque, and red pepper polenta, all of which were quite good. Nancy and Candy shared some fried green tomatoes and had salads. It was a fun evening chatting. Nancy and Candy met a lifetime ago when both were working in Alaska, so it was fun to hear their stories.
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was a lovely down day! I slept in, had coffee outside looking at the lake, had breakfast. Bill went to get gas and a paper. It was almost too windy out to read outside, but he managed. I worked on cleaning up photos. I got all 150 of them done and posted the best ones online. We did a few chores around here and cleaned up some things. A nice relaxing day.
I did post photos from Okefenokee Swamp Park and the Jacksonville Zoo. The link can be found on the left.
I did post photos from Okefenokee Swamp Park and the Jacksonville Zoo. The link can be found on the left.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Jacksonville FL Zoo
We had a lovely day at the Jacksonville Zoo, arriving at 11:15. It is not a large zoo, but it is well laid out and well-kept. The birds here were amazing. In the first aviary we saw magpies, storks, rollers, and flamingos. Then we took the train (an extra $4) around the park. Next came the big treat: an aviary full of lories. We bought a small cup of nectar for $1 and went in. There were at least 15 lories flying free. Most were rainbow lorikeets with one beautiful black-capped lory. I got one to rest on my hand and drink the nectar while Bill took some photos. Then Bill took the nectar. He got three lorikeets on his arm and the black-capped one on his head. I got some neat photos of that. These are amazingly beautiful birds.
We had a hamburger that wasn’t too bad and continued on our tour. We wandered though the new bamboo gardens and saw the two komodo dragons they have there. We saw red kangaroos, wallabies, spider monkeys, river otters, giant otters, poison dart frogs (I love these guys because they are so colorful), two-toed sloth, a beautiful ant-eater, capybaras.
Then we entered another aviary where we saw some really unique and very beautiful birds: white-headed piping guan, an awesome pair of Inca terns, a chestnut mandible toucan, a totally amazing black-throated magpie jay, scarlet ibis, and just a whole host of amazing birds. I got some really awesome photos which I will get posted soon. It truly was awesome.
We then saw gorillas and bonobos. They have a special platform to look at the giraffes. Bill bought some lettuce, and we got to feed one. The giraffe was very gentle and just curled her tongue around the lettuce to take it from us. Being above the giraffes was certainly a unique way to view them. We saw lions, tigers, elephants, cheetahs, cape buffalo, zebra before we wandered into a reptile building to cool off. We saw the neatest snake ever, a gaboon viper. It had beautiful gray and light blue markings plus rectangular markings on its back that looked like stubby pencils sharpened at both ends.
As we came to the last open viewing area, we could see lots of white birds in the trees. Turns out they are nesting wood stork (endangered and not part of the zoo collection). There were tons of them up close and personal. It was kind of funny that we searched high and low at Six Mile Slough and Corkscrew Swamp preserves to catch a glimpse of just one, and her there were at least 50. They were building nests in the trees next to the zoo boardwalk. And we also saw a new kind of heron for us, a goliath heron. There was a nesting pair down below the boardwalk, and they are also magnificent birds. I love the African crowned crane, but it paled in comparison to these other birds.
We saw kudu, bongos, warthogs, finally a red wolf, sandhill cranes. We took the train around the park one last time before the zoo closed. I took way too many photos, but many of them turned out quite well, and once I process them, I hope to get them uploaded.
We got back to the RV at 6. At 7 we went to the Irish Pub at the bowling alley (this was Bill’s idea) for a light dinner. There wasn’t much of a selection, so I got a Rueben, and Bill got fish and chips. It was a long, hot day, but a really fun one. We can recommend the Jacksonville zoo to anyone if they get in the area!
We had a hamburger that wasn’t too bad and continued on our tour. We wandered though the new bamboo gardens and saw the two komodo dragons they have there. We saw red kangaroos, wallabies, spider monkeys, river otters, giant otters, poison dart frogs (I love these guys because they are so colorful), two-toed sloth, a beautiful ant-eater, capybaras.
Then we entered another aviary where we saw some really unique and very beautiful birds: white-headed piping guan, an awesome pair of Inca terns, a chestnut mandible toucan, a totally amazing black-throated magpie jay, scarlet ibis, and just a whole host of amazing birds. I got some really awesome photos which I will get posted soon. It truly was awesome.
We then saw gorillas and bonobos. They have a special platform to look at the giraffes. Bill bought some lettuce, and we got to feed one. The giraffe was very gentle and just curled her tongue around the lettuce to take it from us. Being above the giraffes was certainly a unique way to view them. We saw lions, tigers, elephants, cheetahs, cape buffalo, zebra before we wandered into a reptile building to cool off. We saw the neatest snake ever, a gaboon viper. It had beautiful gray and light blue markings plus rectangular markings on its back that looked like stubby pencils sharpened at both ends.
As we came to the last open viewing area, we could see lots of white birds in the trees. Turns out they are nesting wood stork (endangered and not part of the zoo collection). There were tons of them up close and personal. It was kind of funny that we searched high and low at Six Mile Slough and Corkscrew Swamp preserves to catch a glimpse of just one, and her there were at least 50. They were building nests in the trees next to the zoo boardwalk. And we also saw a new kind of heron for us, a goliath heron. There was a nesting pair down below the boardwalk, and they are also magnificent birds. I love the African crowned crane, but it paled in comparison to these other birds.
We saw kudu, bongos, warthogs, finally a red wolf, sandhill cranes. We took the train around the park one last time before the zoo closed. I took way too many photos, but many of them turned out quite well, and once I process them, I hope to get them uploaded.
We got back to the RV at 6. At 7 we went to the Irish Pub at the bowling alley (this was Bill’s idea) for a light dinner. There wasn’t much of a selection, so I got a Rueben, and Bill got fish and chips. It was a long, hot day, but a really fun one. We can recommend the Jacksonville zoo to anyone if they get in the area!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Okefenokee Swamp GA
It was a lovely day today, sunny and in the 80s. We left the RV and headed for Okefenokee Swamp Park. This is the north entrance and is a contract, non-profit run park. At first glance, it seems to be showing its age, created in 1945. The entrance building is newer and more modern, but some of the buildings and boardwalks are not as well-kept as they might be. Our first disappointment was that the little café promised on the website was closed, so we went without lunch. We did buy some crackers and survived on that.
We wandered around and saw a river otter and some alligators. They had some exhibit buildings including one about Walt Kelly and his cartoon character Pogo. At noon we went to a nature show in an old amphitheater. The young woman who gave the talk was personable and mainly talked about local snakes. She had some non-venomous snakes and a couple of baby alligators. At one, we took a 30 minute boat ride through part of the swamp. That was lovely, and we saw some more alligators.
The train ride that comes with admission was not going to run for another hour, so we walked to the Pioneer Island and looked at some old settler buildings and then left. We got home about 4 after 120 mile round trip. We were glad we had gone, but I doubt we would go back. At 5:30 we went to the Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, Osaka, that we like so much. We had some sake and a great sushi called Dynamite. It was a salmon, tuna, crab, and cream cheese rolled in nori, battered with tempura batter and fried. It was quite tasty. Then we had the teppanyaki – two shrimp appetizers, soup, salad, grilled veggies, fried rice. I got a rib eye, and Bill got a filet, shrimp, and chicken. It was all delicious and inexpensive. We were quite full when we came on home. Bill did a load of towels, and then we settled in for the night.
We wandered around and saw a river otter and some alligators. They had some exhibit buildings including one about Walt Kelly and his cartoon character Pogo. At noon we went to a nature show in an old amphitheater. The young woman who gave the talk was personable and mainly talked about local snakes. She had some non-venomous snakes and a couple of baby alligators. At one, we took a 30 minute boat ride through part of the swamp. That was lovely, and we saw some more alligators.
The train ride that comes with admission was not going to run for another hour, so we walked to the Pioneer Island and looked at some old settler buildings and then left. We got home about 4 after 120 mile round trip. We were glad we had gone, but I doubt we would go back. At 5:30 we went to the Japanese teppanyaki restaurant, Osaka, that we like so much. We had some sake and a great sushi called Dynamite. It was a salmon, tuna, crab, and cream cheese rolled in nori, battered with tempura batter and fried. It was quite tasty. Then we had the teppanyaki – two shrimp appetizers, soup, salad, grilled veggies, fried rice. I got a rib eye, and Bill got a filet, shrimp, and chicken. It was all delicious and inexpensive. We were quite full when we came on home. Bill did a load of towels, and then we settled in for the night.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It is getting really warm now, so we went off doing chores. After lunch we went to the BX to get our hair cut. I went into the beauty shop, and Bill went next door to the barber shop. I got a decent hair cut, but Bill got the ‘active duty military’ cut, really short! He likes it, but it will take me time to get used to it.
We went off base, and right outside the gate are the ruins of an old tabby sugar mill built by a man named John McIntosh in 1825. The ruins are in pretty good shape considering they are almost 200 years old. Tabby must last a long time! Then we drove on down the road 3 mils to Crooked River State Park. It is a small but rather pretty park on the Crooked River. We just drove through the park and enjoyed it. Then we came on home to the RV. Bill worked a little on the Tracker, redoing some wiring on the battery. It had died again on us today, and we hope this was the short and it is fixed.
At 5:30 we went to dinner at Sonny’s Barbecue. We had eaten in one before and enjoyed it, but this one was crowded and the food rather sub-par but edible. We got home about 7:30, just in time to watch the coots come in to sleep. We weren’t out more than a couple of minutes talking to the neighbors when the biting midges descended upon us. I went in and got my face net which I got for Alaska and never used. It protected me, and Bill’s cigar smoke took care of him. Watching the coots come in adds new meaning to the phrase chickens coming home to roost.
We went off base, and right outside the gate are the ruins of an old tabby sugar mill built by a man named John McIntosh in 1825. The ruins are in pretty good shape considering they are almost 200 years old. Tabby must last a long time! Then we drove on down the road 3 mils to Crooked River State Park. It is a small but rather pretty park on the Crooked River. We just drove through the park and enjoyed it. Then we came on home to the RV. Bill worked a little on the Tracker, redoing some wiring on the battery. It had died again on us today, and we hope this was the short and it is fixed.
At 5:30 we went to dinner at Sonny’s Barbecue. We had eaten in one before and enjoyed it, but this one was crowded and the food rather sub-par but edible. We got home about 7:30, just in time to watch the coots come in to sleep. We weren’t out more than a couple of minutes talking to the neighbors when the biting midges descended upon us. I went in and got my face net which I got for Alaska and never used. It protected me, and Bill’s cigar smoke took care of him. Watching the coots come in adds new meaning to the phrase chickens coming home to roost.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was a gorgeous day today. Bill was up early and went out for a drive and a stop at Wal-Mart to get a new crock pot. I slept in since I had stayed up too late watching TV last night. We hung out around the RV this afternoon. Bill watched some race, and I worked on finishing the labels on the photos. I got that done, and some back-up CDs burned. We also spent some time outside reading. This is a lovely place to just relax.
Bill grilled steaks for dinner, and we watched another good episode of The Amazing Race.
After dinner, about dusk, we watched the coots come in to roost. It was awesome. There are many more than 200 coots, probably closer to 1000. It looked like an ant colony coming in. They split into two groups, a smaller one in front of us and a much larger group across the lake. They floated in a very orderly manner, mostly single file. I got a few photos, and I will see if they come out. Now we have something to look forward to every night.
Bill grilled steaks for dinner, and we watched another good episode of The Amazing Race.
After dinner, about dusk, we watched the coots come in to roost. It was awesome. There are many more than 200 coots, probably closer to 1000. It looked like an ant colony coming in. They split into two groups, a smaller one in front of us and a much larger group across the lake. They floated in a very orderly manner, mostly single file. I got a few photos, and I will see if they come out. Now we have something to look forward to every night.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Kings Bay GA
I have to tell about last night. We were outside about 11, just looking at the stars. There was really strange noises coming from the lake. It sounded like a small tidal wave. We walked to the edge of the lake, and there were some waves coming on shore. We finally figured out that it must have been the 150-200 coots flapping their wings in the grassy reeds at our end of the lake. This must be where they come to sleep at night. Tonight at dusk we saw them head in from the deeper parts of the lake coming in to the grassy area. And just a little bit ago, I went out, and they were just chattering out there. It was an interesting event.
Today was another beautiful day. We are both enjoying the time to rest and relax. We both sat outside and read. I also worked on labeling photos. I did about 400 and only have 150 left to do before I am caught up. I also got my hair colored which really needed it. I get it colored in the RV and then went down to the shower to rinse it out. We both need to get haircuts some time next week. And we are looking at going to another area of the Okefenokee Swamp next week.
Today was another beautiful day. We are both enjoying the time to rest and relax. We both sat outside and read. I also worked on labeling photos. I did about 400 and only have 150 left to do before I am caught up. I also got my hair colored which really needed it. I get it colored in the RV and then went down to the shower to rinse it out. We both need to get haircuts some time next week. And we are looking at going to another area of the Okefenokee Swamp next week.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was a beautiful day in Kings Bay. We didn’t do much at all today except sit outside and read. I finished one book and started another. It is really nice to just relax. This afternoon Bill started on his crock pot bread pudding. It smelled great all afternoon, but by 6:30, it wasn’t quite done, but we packed up to go to the rec center for the dessert pot luck at 7. We got down there to find that Bill had misread the calendar, and the pot luck is next Friday. So we came home and had bread pudding for dessert. And watched some TV. It should be much warmer next week, so maybe we will get out for some adventures then.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was another chilly day (but sunny) at Kings Bay. We were a little more productive today. I continued to work on photos. After lunch, we unhooked the RV and drove to the campground propane tank and filled up. We have gone through lots of propane since January because of the cold and our use of the furnace. But the propane was cheaper here on base. We came back, parked, and hooked back up. Bill went to the commissary, and I vacuumed.
We had BLTs for dinner, and the tomato I had bought at the produce store in Plant City was great. We watched some TV, and I uploaded photos finally for St Augustine, Ft Myers, and Tampa.
It continues to get warmer, so maybe we can start venturing out without freezing our okoles off!
I added links to the photos in the column on the left.
We had BLTs for dinner, and the tomato I had bought at the produce store in Plant City was great. We watched some TV, and I uploaded photos finally for St Augustine, Ft Myers, and Tampa.
It continues to get warmer, so maybe we can start venturing out without freezing our okoles off!
I added links to the photos in the column on the left.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was a really cold day at Kings Bay. We both slept in, reveling in the warm covers. It stayed in the 40s, was quite windy, but the sun was shining. We are staying close to the RV while it is this cold. I alternated between working on labeling the photos (250 of them!), watching what birds ventured on the lake, and chatting with Mandy. Bill worked on taxes, went to the Carry Out for a few items, and watched a ballgame.
Some of the birds I saw were the coots, a red-winged black bird, and lots of birds skimming the surface of the lake which I later found out were tree swallows. Mandy made it in to work after a really cold commute. Like her, we all are waiting for warmer weather later this week. I got 100 photos labeled, but I still have 150 to go. I need to get them done before I forget what they are! I saved brochures to help me with the process, but it still can be time-consuming.
The campground had a “order a pizza” night. We ordered by 4 and picked up the pizza at 5:30 here at the campground rec center. We got a $15 pizza for only $10. Bill picked it up, and we ate in the RV. The furnace is working beautifully, and we are staying warm.
Some of the birds I saw were the coots, a red-winged black bird, and lots of birds skimming the surface of the lake which I later found out were tree swallows. Mandy made it in to work after a really cold commute. Like her, we all are waiting for warmer weather later this week. I got 100 photos labeled, but I still have 150 to go. I need to get them done before I forget what they are! I saved brochures to help me with the process, but it still can be time-consuming.
The campground had a “order a pizza” night. We ordered by 4 and picked up the pizza at 5:30 here at the campground rec center. We got a $15 pizza for only $10. Bill picked it up, and we ate in the RV. The furnace is working beautifully, and we are staying warm.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Kings Bay GA
It was cold packing up this morning, but it was sunny. We have gotten so we can unhook and get ready in half an hour. We said goodbye to our new friends and headed out at 10. We made good time going back roads instead of the interstates and arrived here before 3 at Kings Bay Sub Base. We got the site Bill had reserved facing the lake. We have satellite, cable, WiFi, a huge concrete pad, nice picnic table, and no sites next to us, just a lovely big old tree.
When Bill was checking in some lady said that the security police had stopped her and her husband at the commissary for not wearing helmets with their bikes. The SPs said they had to walk their bikes back here and followed them all the way back here. So it looks like we may have to get some helmets if we want to ride on base.
It is really cold here and supposed to get down to 30 tonight. But I can’t complain. Mandy got an email saying she could work from home today because of the nasty snow they got in NYC. She did stay home, but it is supposed to feel like 6 degrees when she heads off to work tomorrow.
Bill grilled some steaks for dinner and then he went down to the social center for an ice cream sundae. It was too cold for me. We will be here for two weeks, and it is supposed to warm up by Thursday. We are both pleased to be at a great site and have nothing to do. I am sure we will find some adventures.
When Bill was checking in some lady said that the security police had stopped her and her husband at the commissary for not wearing helmets with their bikes. The SPs said they had to walk their bikes back here and followed them all the way back here. So it looks like we may have to get some helmets if we want to ride on base.
It is really cold here and supposed to get down to 30 tonight. But I can’t complain. Mandy got an email saying she could work from home today because of the nasty snow they got in NYC. She did stay home, but it is supposed to feel like 6 degrees when she heads off to work tomorrow.
Bill grilled some steaks for dinner and then he went down to the social center for an ice cream sundae. It was too cold for me. We will be here for two weeks, and it is supposed to warm up by Thursday. We are both pleased to be at a great site and have nothing to do. I am sure we will find some adventures.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Seffner FL Strawberry Festival
March sure came in like a lion here. We had some big storms, lots of rain and wind, come through here this morning. By 11 it was clearing, so we headed to the Strawberry Festival about 10 miles away. This was a strange conglomeration of many things: cheap fair rides, cows, bunnies, roosters, lots of crafts, a few bands, lots of cheap fair food, and all things strawberry. They were having a “dairy costume ball” when we arrived. That was pretty awesome, cows in a variety of costumes.
Bill got a gyro for lunch. I held out for a breaded tenderloin just like we had back when I was a kid in Indiana. There were several booths to make your own strawberry shortcake. The bowl of ‘whipped cream’ was enormous and looked like Crisco. The strawberries were not just strawberry halves (which would have been great) but a slightly pureed version. The biscuit it was served on was not too great. Bill ate most of it. We also got a strawberry dipped in chocolate for $1, and I bought a sweatshirt and t-shirt. How could one resist a strawberry festival sweatshirt? I did resist the strawberry rings, necklaces, duffle bags, hats, jam, cookies, bread. We wandered around the grounds and heard a neat group called Runa Pacha, a group playing folk music from the Andes mountains. They had an male Indian dancer to go with the music.
I did see a couple of neat crafters One man had made dulcimers which were gorgeous. The other was a woman who made dried flower jewelry. On the way out, I saw the grossest thing at the fair: chocolate dipped bacon. I couldn’t believe the sign. A girl walked by, and I asked her to see. It was bacon in a box with a little side container of what looked like chocolate pudding. My brain just wouldn’t go there!
We got home at 3:30. The ham and beans that we had put in the crock pot this morning were not quite done, so we boiled them some more on the stove. I called Tommy, and then it was time to go to the Coachmen Caravan pot luck at the Rally Center here. We ate with the same two couples that we did at our welcoming dinner. One is from NY state, and the other from Georgia. Pleasant dinner companions. The food was excellent and made me wonder why at all pot lucks, the food seems to balance out with enough salads, veggies, entrees. Strange. The hosts provided strawberry shortcake for dessert which was excellent. They had only sliced the strawberries, provided real cake, ice cream and chocolate syrup. They we gathered for a group photo. They took one with my camera.
It was really windy today, and when we got back to our campsite, the row behind us had lost electricity. Poor folks. All of the electricians on standby were out at the Strawberry Festival, so those folks may have to do without for tonight. The Class A’s should be okay, but those without generators are up the creek.
Tomorrow we head off for the Navy Sub base at Kings Bay, St Mary’s GA for two weeks.
Bill got a gyro for lunch. I held out for a breaded tenderloin just like we had back when I was a kid in Indiana. There were several booths to make your own strawberry shortcake. The bowl of ‘whipped cream’ was enormous and looked like Crisco. The strawberries were not just strawberry halves (which would have been great) but a slightly pureed version. The biscuit it was served on was not too great. Bill ate most of it. We also got a strawberry dipped in chocolate for $1, and I bought a sweatshirt and t-shirt. How could one resist a strawberry festival sweatshirt? I did resist the strawberry rings, necklaces, duffle bags, hats, jam, cookies, bread. We wandered around the grounds and heard a neat group called Runa Pacha, a group playing folk music from the Andes mountains. They had an male Indian dancer to go with the music.
I did see a couple of neat crafters One man had made dulcimers which were gorgeous. The other was a woman who made dried flower jewelry. On the way out, I saw the grossest thing at the fair: chocolate dipped bacon. I couldn’t believe the sign. A girl walked by, and I asked her to see. It was bacon in a box with a little side container of what looked like chocolate pudding. My brain just wouldn’t go there!
We got home at 3:30. The ham and beans that we had put in the crock pot this morning were not quite done, so we boiled them some more on the stove. I called Tommy, and then it was time to go to the Coachmen Caravan pot luck at the Rally Center here. We ate with the same two couples that we did at our welcoming dinner. One is from NY state, and the other from Georgia. Pleasant dinner companions. The food was excellent and made me wonder why at all pot lucks, the food seems to balance out with enough salads, veggies, entrees. Strange. The hosts provided strawberry shortcake for dessert which was excellent. They had only sliced the strawberries, provided real cake, ice cream and chocolate syrup. They we gathered for a group photo. They took one with my camera.
It was really windy today, and when we got back to our campsite, the row behind us had lost electricity. Poor folks. All of the electricians on standby were out at the Strawberry Festival, so those folks may have to do without for tonight. The Class A’s should be okay, but those without generators are up the creek.
Tomorrow we head off for the Navy Sub base at Kings Bay, St Mary’s GA for two weeks.
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