Spring - moving - going full-time

It has been the most glorious Spring that we can remember. The winter (that wasn't) allowed the finest tree blossoms ever seen!

We had the house totally cleaned and fixed-up for showing, so we decided to move out and save any further cleaning. We moved into Dutch Cousins Campground on April 14th, listed the house for sale on the 19th, and accepted an offer on May 8th. The internet brought many lookers, but it was a "walk-by" that brought the offer.

We have camped at Dutch Cousins for over 20 years, creating many fine memories, and the things they have done to improve the park is nothing short of amazing. On April 14th, we went to visit some friends that are full-time there, having just returned from Florida. The park owner stopped by, and when we mentioned that we were looking to rent a space for the summer, she told us there were only 2 long-term sites left. One of them was next door to our friends. Bingo!

The transition from house to RV has been smooth and easy and very busy. We have made many social connections in the park an have had some grand family times.

Yeah, feeling darned lucky!

Florida Panhandle, Pensacola - Emerald beach

Emerald Beach RV Park is a lovely place. We highly recommend it! We have met so many friendly campers, and there is a men's coffee meeting every weekday morning at 8AM. The stories (and tales) makes for much laughter.
My homage to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola was superb! I saw all of the planes that were in service when I was in the Navy (70-74). Also there was Fort Barrancas, a pic op dream.

Then there was Joe Patti's, an awesome fish shop and real down-home seafood restaurant; great fish, shrimp, and oyster lunch. I VERY highly recommend Joe Patti's.

The sunrises and sunsets provided such elegant colors and hues that is was hard to believe.

This area must be visited again!

The Florida Panhandle, St. Andrew Bay Ferry

Cabin fever struck, and had to be defeated. Well, had never been to the Florida Panhandle, and Fred didn't mind getting out, so here we are.

Panama City was the first stop. The 70/50 temps beat what PA had to offer.

The St. Andrew Bay Ferry was on our bucket list, and happened early.  It was a gorgeous day and a smooth ride to Shell Island, with views of dolphins and sea birds and jellyfish on the way. We walked across the island, only about a quarter-mile wide, and took smoe snaps of the surf, sand, and shells against a backdrop of solid fog out in the Gulf.  After about 40 minutes we looked back across the island and could no longer see the boat! Fog had engulfed the entire bay also.

This was the most unique photo environment ever! I snapped my brains out in the fog.

We were on the island for 1.5 hours, and when it came time to depart, Captain Hal told us he had never had these conditions and that it would be and "interesting" cruise back to port relying on GPS only. He sounded his fog horn every 2 minutes on the way. I kept snapping all the way, as the sun tried to burn down through the fog.

Hope you enjoy the pics!

Asheville NC, Blue Ridge Parkway, GSM Railroad

Hi.  I'm a bit late on this one; been working on the house.

The last portion of our Fall trip was to the Asheville, NC area. We drove several miles of the Blue Ridge Parkway, and took an afternoon ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad (on my birthday!).

This was the most spectacular Fall colors we had ever seen!

On the Blue Ridge Parkway, there were not only Fall colors, but, on the North side of some of road cuts there were some natural water flows that were frozen into icicles. And the ride on the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad had the Little Tennesee River and Lake Fontana that was formed behind a TVA dam.

I'll let the pictures speak a bit for themselves.

Dave and Nola

Old Santee Canal Park, South Carolina

HI folks. Just a few snaps of our time in SC.

This email has Old Santee Canal Park. They had a boardwalk/nature trail that provided super views. No, did not see gators. But we were lookin! We have been in this area 4 times now, and still find new things, new adventures!

 

Dave and Nola

Francis Beidler Forest, South Carolina

Hi everyone!

These SC snaps are from the Francis Beidler Forest Audubon Center and Sanctuary.

Found the place on our Garmin, and followed the highway to a state road, to a county road, to the park entrance: a gravel road. At each road change, you slow down, calm down. It kindly prepares you for the gift at the end.

We got the warmest welcome when we arrived, and talked quite a bit with the staff, before and after the walk. Barbara Thomas and the others (wish I could remember names!!!) were terriffic! They know their stuff, and there were two school groups that were litterally enthralled, in reverent awe of the place, for the entire walk because of the expertise of their guides.

I know we will be back, as it is a photographers paradise, and we want to see it at high water (but will bring a better camera; my 8 yr old Sony ain't quite enough anymore). Some of these, frankly, were taken with my Iphone; can't tell which ones. The squirrel was about 2 feet away, just going about his business. And the swamp provided picture ops at every step.

It is a 1.75 mile boardwalk through the swamp. And no pesky bugs! We learned that a swamp is a wet forest, and a marsh is a wet grassland. Whoda thunk it? And the soil is not soft and gunky, like you see in the movies. You will get the soles of your shoes muddy, but will NOT sink to your knees. It is all on compacted sand that gets covered with leaves and such, which gets cleansed with each high-water rinsing.

We decided that words have not yet been created that would effectively, properly describe this place. The pictures pretty much say it all.

Dave and Nola