Back to the homestead!

Sunday, August 9, 2015

Our last day.  Spent some time cleaning and packing up the rest of the groceries for the last leg of our journey.  Finally set out around 10:30 to make the final 4 hours. 

Hit a cloud of flying ants around Vero Beach, but then hit a cloud burst of rain, so it washed them off, which made me very happy!  I was dreading having to wash the bugs off the front when we got back, yet not willing to leave them on to eat the paint.  

We drove into the neighborhood, to an astonished look from the security guard at our gate, which was pretty amusing! We unloaded the cats and most of the other stuff before another downpour hit.

 Clem met me at the door of the coach with a golf umbrella, and I handed the refrigerator things out to him.  By the time we had the freezer things stowed away in the house, the rain had stopped, and we drove the coach up to Jupiter and tucked it away for next time.  It was a fun, and this time relaxing trip, with a nice mix of exploring and visiting, and taking a day here and there to hang out.  Nearly 7 weeks on the road, and it is easy to forget all we have done! But I did love the hanging around parts, too, relaxing and reading.  I would enjoy some "camping" and hiking and exploring nature, but not really Clem's thing.  Maybe this winter we can try a bit of that!  

 I  would have opted to stay up north a bit longer, and as I suspected, it is a virtual sauna here, with at least another month of the same to come!  Oh well.....gives me time to catch up on things inside…..which includes converting my diary into this blog!  Unlike the others, this was created after, rather than during the trip, but I wanted to have a printed book, which we enjoy so much.  I will add the photos .....and then on to plans for our next outing!  

Why not take another day and explore!

Saturday, August 8

I woke up not really wanting to drive another day, not to mention packing up and unpacking the same day.  He agrees to spend another night here, and we went to the Mission Nombre de Dios, which was peaceful and beautiful.  The first missionaries to the US.  The museum there was interesting, if not large, and a fun hispanic lady has some fun with Clem and he with her, mentioning she must be 350 as she has drunk from the Fountain of Youth! 

The gardens around the mission were lovely, and beautifully maintained.  Old grave stones, and statuary, as well as what I initially thought were stations of the cross, but were the sorrows of Mary.

 Next stop, the lighthouse, where we had looked before but not gone onto the grounds.  Decided not to climb the 200 + stairs, especially on a hot day with tons of people, but wandered the grounds and went into the keepers house.  All reconstructed, didn’t seem very historic, but at least it was air conditioned!  Boy….it is HOT!! 

Since the Golf Hall of Fame is 30 minutes away, and the reviews were questionable, we decided instead on the Distillery Tour, the number one attraction on Trip Advisor….for 12 weeks, we learned later.  Wondered why I had not picked up on that when we were here before, but also learned that it is new as of 2014, so guess that answered the question!  Not sure I would have been interested had I known it was new!  But it is a craft distillery, and received an award for saving and refurbishing the historic Ice and Power building it inhabits, so it was interesting.  Sustainable, and very proud of its accomplishments to date, having won both competitions it entered into.  A tasting at the end did not encourage us to make a purchase.  The restaurant adjacent got great reviews, and we were about to imbibe, when we were told happy hour only, dinner only on weekends, and no lunch.  ?? 

So back to the homestead to clear out some more food from the stash, and make the unload a bit lighter!  Now we can finish that ice cream after all!  

Heavy rains!

Friday

Rained heavy in the night, and again a bit this morning.  The guys are all out hanging around, and as we prepare to pull out, Clem gets into a conversation with one who has a golf cart that matches his rig, apparently coincidentally.  I finally start the engine to get them moving!  The big guy jumps and laughs at that, and we finally get out around 10AM or a little before.  

Rains hit us on and off, and by late afternoon, some of them are so heavy, I can barely see, and it is as dark as night!  Truly!  Clem  was having trouble finding a place for us for the night, and it is now 4:30, when I spot a KOA sign on the road near St. Augustine, and pull off.  He calls on the way, and they have a spot for us, so we pull in for the night.  

Had to navigate into a narrow slot, but at least long enough for us and the car.  Clem grilled a couple of hamburgers from the meat we got at Carmines, and they were delicious!   Kind of trying to use some things up so we have less to carry into the house, so we had a big dish of ice cream for dessert!  Couldn't quite finish it, however!  haha!

Spending the night with Big dudes with motorcycles!

Thursday, Aug 6

Left around noon or so yesterday, and drove until around 4, a short, uneventful day. 

Pulled into a place we had stayed on the way up, with the big duck pond, and tons of ducks!  Place was packed!!  Apparently a motorcycle convention of some sort, and we got a pull through site, close to a roadway, and watched even more RVs pull in, often two at a time, as they whooshed past us.  A bit disconcerting at times!  A big burly black guy with a motorcycle was right next to us, and gave me a thumbs up as I pulled into our allotted space.  They are BIG, burly, loud, and happy bunch, laughing and having a great time!  The rains moved in and broke them up.

Heading out......slowly!!

Thursday, August 6

Leaving today, but another nice morning, so we had coffee and cereal outside, enjoying the sound and sights of the birds flittering among the trees.  So many cardinals!  One had landed on our rear view mirror the first afternoon here, and I see them blazing across the opening where we see the water.  A great blue heron swooped in by the lake, and a woodpecker was tapping the tree above us.  So pleasant, and neither of us seem in a hurry to leave.  

I took a walk while Clem showered, and when I came back, he had started reading, so I posted photos from yesterday on Facebook.  I am not blogging per se this trip, but putting things on Facebook for those who are interested to follow.  Hope I am not boring them!  But then, they don’t have to read them!  Rarely see a comment from Chris and Marcia, but friends and family do comment, and it is fun to see.  I hope to turn this into the blog format when we get back.  Which won’t be long now.  

Yesterday I was thinking we would hit the road and make it in two days, but it is so pleasant here, we have decided to sit and read a bit, and drive a few hours today, then two more days should do it to home.  No sense in pushing it, and not apt to be in such a pleasant place again before we get home, as we will just need overnight accommodations near the highway.  Good old 95 will be the route.  I HATE 95…but at least from here down, it is not bad, if boring. 

We took the car and drove loop G and marked a few sites on the water that would be good for our next stay, as we have done with loop F, and will catch up here and read a bit before we head out.

Raleigh and the Museum of Science

Wednesday, August 5

Bob drove us all into Raleigh, where we visited the North Carolina Museum of Science, with the giant globe out front that we had driven by last year.  Now I could get a good photo, and get to go inside!  The museum was really nice!  So well done, and showing the topography of the area, and explaining the Peidmont, which I looked up when we were in High Point, as I was unfamiliar with the term.  The multimedia inside the globe was really neat as was the dinosaur exhibit, and working labs…..just a ton of fascinating stuff, and one could spend hours and hours exploring it all!  We spent a couple,of hours, then hunger called.

 We headed out for lunch at Beasley’s Chicken and Honey, which had been recommended by one of Judy’s card playing friends, and had yet another yummy southern lunch!  I opted for three sides so I could taste more things, and Clem had his favorite, chicken and waffles! He dubbed them second best of the trip, over the one in Raleigh, this being his third!  The shredded chicken in thin gravy in Lancaster was his least favorite.

  

The other three now had no interest in the History Museum, which we thought we might do, but I wanted to at least get a quick peek  inside of the old Capital building.  Well, we ended up spending close to an hour there, as it was interesting, if not flamboyant, and had three historic flags on display, including the first 13 star, the one that flew during Washington’s inauguration, and , my personal favorite, the one that flew during the War of 1812, and inspired the National Anthem!  I looked up Francis Scott Key this morning to verify my memory of the facts, and found out that he was an attorney, and an amateur poet.  Pretty amazing accomplishment!

Almost forgot!  As we approached the Science Museum, we saw the replica of the Liberty Bell, which we learned in Allentown each state capital owns!  We explained how long it resonates, and I even pulled the clapper gently for Bob and Judy to hear.  I was astounded at how loud it was with the gentle tap!

98 degrees, feels like 101, and we are now hot and tired, and head home.  Had leftover peach pie around dinner time, and back to the coach by 6:30 for the night!

Apex to see Bob and Judy!

August 4,

We took our time getting out of High Point,  since check in at Jordan Lake is not officially until 4 pm anyway.  I cleaned a bit, ran the vacuum….a little housekeeping!  

It is a pretty easy drive, only 2 or so hours.  Kind of fun this trip, doing shortish drives, then staying for several days!  

We arrived at Jordan Lake around 2:30, set up and called Bob and Judy to come over.  We sat inside, due to the heat, chatted, then had happy hour!  I thought we might go out to dinner, or I could grill some things, but Judy had prepared a nice chicken salad for us for dinner, so we went to their place around 6:30......a progressive dinner!

We had her yummy chicken salad, and home made peach pie,  then headed back to the coach for the night, with plans to meet at 10:00 the next day to go into Raleigh and the Science Museum, where it would be cool, in addition to educational! 

Famous Lexington BBQ.....or not!

Monday, August 3,

Free day!  We need that at home, and on the road!  Sat outside with our coffee and plans, chatted and enjoyed a comfortable, if not really cool morning.  I put in a load of laundry and did some research, and as it got late, decided we would go to the “World Famous Lexington Barbecue” for a “brunch”. 

  We set out, and it occurred to me to call, since it was a Monday, and the phone was busy, so we proceeded on our way.  30 minutes later we approach, and see a huge sign CLOSED!  You have got to be kidding!  Well, some reviewers thought it was a tourist place anyway, and another was better, so I called there.  CLOSED!!  Ok, let’s try another….closed!!  Finally, one open, so we set off for them, even though we now have no idea in what direction we are traveling, and if it is going back or farther away, but at this point, who cares!  We get there to find a full lot, and cars pulling in and out jockeying or space, including the local gendarmes!  We park and go in to total chaos!  People standing by the door, waitresses rushing back and forth, and nobody paying any attention to us!  We wait for a bit, and look around at a less than clean place, and decide to leave!  Sheesh!!  Now, totally hungry, and getting cranky…..hangry!!…we pull in for gas, and I pull out the nutrition bars from my golf bag, buy a couple of drinks at the station, and fuel us as well as the car! 

 

Finally, my giant chair!  10 foot square seat, and a couple of presidential candidates have posed on it.  

  Now off to find the giant Duncan Phyfe chair, in Thomasville, the Chair City. Town is run down, probably due to the decline of the economy and furniture companies pulling out in the recent downturn.  But you can tell they are trying to revive it, painting buildings and murals on the sides thereof, but there is little of interest but the chair.  So I get my photo and we head back.   

But Clem is not satisfied, and as we head back to the campground, he wants to eat, and we settle on a Carters’ Brothers, that Frank mentioned was good.  Basically fast food with waitress service, food arrives on styrofoam plates.  I was afraid to order the “chopped “ not pulled, pork, so had a chicken breast.  It was fine, and the cole slaw was good, and the hushpuppies were not great, but at least tasty.  Clem finished his pork, and we returned to the coach on a very hot day, and stayed inside to read, and of course, both of us fell asleep! Oh well….we wanted a quiet day!  

We head out tomorrow for Apex, and a visit to Bob and Judy.  It is even hotter there!  Groan!!

Greensboro visit with Uncle Frank

Sunday, August 2

Another lovely morning, and we took our coffee and cereal outside to our slanted patio!  Spent some time researching, as we decided to take Uncle Frank not only to lunch, but to do something.  We decided on the Greensboro Museum, and lunch at a southern restaurant there called Lucky 32 that gets good reviews. 

We parked a bit too far to the left, worried about connecting, and ended up with a slanted patio!  Nice spot, though!

We arrived to pick him up, and he mentioned we could go to a local Italian restaurant, and we were still hearing about it when we arrived in Greensboro!  Well, I knew what I was going to order at the Italian restaurant!  haha!! We had a great southern lunch, which he had to admit was really good!  

Black bean cakes....yumm!

 Next stop was the museum, and he wasn’t too sure about that, but ultimately enjoyed it, as did we.  O’Henry is from Greensboro, and had a section of the museum dedicated to him, where I learned that The Gift of the Maji was one of his short stories.   Vicks Vapo Rub was invented here, and the town was the largest manufacturer of denim at the time, and played a significant role in the Civil War and train passage, gaining the nickname The Gate City. A silent movie "theatre" was on the top floor, in a recreated town which you visit by going through a hotel lobby , complete with old time telephone switchboard, which was really neat.  

The original store where the Greensboro 4 sat at the counter to protest of segregation. 

After leaving there, Uncle Frank wanted pie and coffee, a real throw back thing, so we hunted and debated, and finally stopped at a Fridays and......no pie!!  He wanted apple pie, and was determined to get it, even though it was not on the menu.  Thankfully they had cheesecake, a second best choice, and he decided on that.  We dropped him off at home and  returned to the coach  around 6. Lovely evening, and I went to sit on the lake a while, and we ended up walking the sites in section C to see if we might fit. We found some that are pretty level and great view to water, so we will try to get them the next time here.  The family is fun to visit, and there is still more to see, so we will definitely return.  

Golf and a cookout with the Marrara clan

Saturday, August 1

Morning is a bit cooler, and we set off to play golf with Frankie, figuring we will stop after 9 holes if it gets too hot.  Ron is under the weather, so didn’t join us this year, as he did last.  Weather was nice, course is so pretty, and we had fun, but did quit after 9.

We had lunch at the course cafe,  then Clem and I read, loafed, and took a nap before returning to Frank and Roseanne’s for a cookout.  She says you must call it that here, because if you call it BBQ, they expect the brisket and pig roast!  An easier time to chat at the house, and we got to know about them and their families a bit more.  A really nice group, and we enjoyed the evening.  We said goodbye, as we will see Uncle Frank tomorrow, but may not see them again, but hope they will visit us, and we will see them here again next year!    I really blew it, and didn't get any photos this year!

Arriving at Oak Hollow in High Point , NC

Friday, July 31

Sign at the front of the KOA in VA says “Jee, that was fast!  July is history!  Isn’t that the truth!

We have been on the road for just over a month.  Clem is ready to go home, though he  seems OK  to meander  a bit on the way, and we are heading off to visit folks, which I think  makes him happy.

We arrived at Oak Hollow campground in High Point around 2:30, and found a site in the woods in Section A that worked for us this time.  It is first come, first serve, and you register, then go pick out your site.  A nice man took us on the golf cart and pointed out some areas that he thought would work for our big rig.  We are a bit too sloped, and when you walk from the back forward , it is a bit uphill!  But I am  happy to be in the trees and shade.  Last year we were in the “parking lot” down below, and I wasn’t crazy about the prospect of that again, especially with the hot sun.  

We met the family, minus Roseanne and Doug, who oddly enough are in the Boston area,  for dinner at Southern Roots, a local favorite spot.   After a really long wait, we had a really good dinner!  Shrimp and Grits were heavy, cheesy, fattening, and delicious! 

The Woodrow Wilson Library

Thursday, July 30 

Had to wait for the guy to come repair the step, so I took a nice walk up through the regular camp sites.  We are parked in the cinder lot near the entrance, as we made late arrangements, and I was curious what else was available.  The sites up there are so pleasant!  The walk up took me through heavy wooded area where there are tent sites, and cabins, up to pull throughs, some with decks, and some with really nice big cement patios and grills!  The sites along the lake get a lovely breeze….would be very pleasant.  

The step could not be repaired, so is wired up, and we will use the old tech way of a folding bench to get in and out!  But he came in good time, and we set off for our day's excursion.  

 Or sixth Presidential Library to visit, The Woodrow Wilson home and Library tour was interesting, but surprising, in that he only lived there from birth to 18 months!  While we learned some interesting things about the times, the tour was really about his parents, rather than him as a man and our president.  Not even much about him as a child!  We needed Professor Watson at FAU!  The museum was really not much, and gave us little insight into his term in office other than a brief mention of various accomplishments, and little or no backup information.  It would have been interesting to go more into Child Labor and Suffrage, and I am not sure why they didn't do that.  They do own the second largest collection of his records and papers....one would think more would be made of their contents.   

Recreation of bunkers, which some criticized for being so neat and clean, and nothing like the actual thing during war. 

We walked downtown, to find the supposed charming stores, and found little of interest other than the gelato store, which of course we had to sample!  It was very good , and cooled and refreshed us on a hot humid day!  

Because of the heat, we skipped the Cultural Museum, an outdoor recreation/reenactment of the farms of the settlers, and headed to the pet store and grocery store to restock our larders!  Dinner in the coach in the AC, with a rotisserie chicken and fresh corn on the cob and veggies…..I am now awaiting dessert of….finally….a whoopee pie!!  I kept resisting buying them in PA for some reason, though they were plentiful, but we fell prey tonight!  I will go take a walk while Clem cleans the cat box…naturally he does not want to walk with me…..and then we will relax and have dessert!  Leave tomorrow for NC to visit the cousins and Uncle Frank.  

Making the most of an overnight in Staunton, VA

Wednesday, July 29

Coffee outside this morning resulted in my washing the coach with the waterless cleaner.  The bottom and back, anyway.  And I am so much happier now that all the gunk is off!  Driving day, heading mainly to SC, but decided to stop in Staunton, VA, where we stayed on the way up after the truck fire, and stay two nights, so we can visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.  

Got in around 4, and many pulled in right after us!  Quitting time!  Chatted with the man next door, took a walk around, and found the most pleasant lake, and then headed to Edelweiss for dinner.  Accordion music alone was worth the visit to the cute chalet, and the food was pretty good, if not outstanding.  Shared a piece of Black Forest Cake which was surprisingly good…I doubted it would be! 

     

After dinner we took a drive  into Staunton to check out the down town, which is said to have 100 stores, but is very old and historic, and quite charming to boot.  We spotted the Library, so that is where we will return tomorrow.  But it was a good time to drive around and see the old buildings with no traffic.  And an unexpected Roadside Attraction!  A giant watering can and flower pot and the Railroad Overpass!    

  We are amazed at the huge tracts of land attached to homes and the college!  It must take them a week and a day to mow the lawns, which are neat and tidy beyond compare, with miles and miles of fencing!  Beautiful! 

Failed to mention that when we pulled in, Clem came back from registering us, and the step wouldn’t go back up!  Motor churns, nothing happens!  Drove gingerly to our site, and looked at it, but finally called a mobile mechanic, who will come tomorrow morning to see if he can get it to go up.  It will delay our plans for the day, so hopefully he won’t be late! But at least we had decided to stay two nights anyway! 

We have fallen into a pattern of sleeping later in the morning, which we attributed to the darkness of the coach, but now are staying up later, too, which makes mornings a bit later yet!  

A very nice unplanned day and making pretzels!

Tuesday, July 28

I really didn’t want to leave today, and we agreed to extend a day and do some more exploring.  First stop, Sturgis Pretzel company in Letitz, which we finally learned to pronounce!  (LET its ) Nice tour, very interesting, and we were given lumps of dough, which turned out to be play dough, and learned to twist our own pretzels.  Got our official twister documents!  I posted the fun photos on Facebook, and received many comments.  A very fun experience!

Next to the Wilbur Chocolate factory, where we did not tour, but watched an interesting video, and got to see the ladies hand dip some chocolates, and sampled their famous “Buds”, while drooling over all the assorted goodies.  Bought relatively little, considering all the drooling and wonderful aromas wafting from the chocolate factory above our heads!

President Obama visited the factory.

Hungry, we stopped across the street at a cafe for lunch, which  turned out to be the best meal we have had maybe the whole time we have been gone! Tomato Pie cafe, and I had their signature namesake pie, which was fantastic!  Clem’s soup was delicious, also, as were the herbed scones, and his herbed lemonade.  Great stop! 

Noticed a caboose next to the visitors center, which turned out to be a museum of sorts, and went in and chatted with a guy who was vey knowledgeable.  We are definitely having a train trip! Model and real!  But I am enjoying it, and Clem is loving it! 

Next, on to  Ephrata, where the artist gallery we went to see was closed, but we explored the Ephrata Cloister and learned of the very odd group who lived and worked there.  They did make some beautiful hand made and bound books!  And apparently the leader, Beissel, created some pretty amazing music, but we were amazed at the celibate culture, which of course, died out with the last of the 80 members.

It turned very hot and humid today, and was a blistering 94 degrees when we finished our tour, and we headed back to catch a film at the Mennonite Information center, before dinner at Deiner’s, the reputed best Smorgasbord in the area.  It did not disappoint, and at $11.50 was a bargain to boot!  Even a little of everything resulted in being stuffed, and we waddled back to the coach for the evening.  

I officially love it here.  Great little towns, history, bucolic setting….great place.  I would definitely return. 

A quiet day, cows, and fireflies!

Monday, July 27

Many pulled out yesterday, and more today, and the field that  was the parking lot behind us is empty….not surprisingly for a Monday. Rained heavily last night, and disturbed our sleep, and it is gray this morning, so I cleaned and put in laundry and took a walk.  Clem and Sas napped a bit, and now he is looking at maps and notes. 

We set out tomorrow, and ultimately head to NC to see his cousins and uncle, so I am waiting to see how much more we do before going back to Florida.  I do let him set the pace, as he gets tired of it, and then gets cranky!

We decided to go to dinner at the Fulton Steamboat Inn, which was most likely a tourist trap, but intriguing to Clem, so we went. Very cute, fair meal.  Headed out after to get a photo of the huge Amish farmer/Roadside Attraction, and stopped for gas at a local station on the way.  Low and behold, there was Santa Claus!  I of course, asked if it was not a bit early for him, and he proceeded to give us his life story.  Quite a character, but a good soul, and I finally had to tell him we needed to leave, in order to get away!  He gave me his card!

 As dusk set in, we took a walk, and the cows were in the pasture across from the stream, and the fireflies were twinkling.  Lovely….would be neat to get a site near the water.  We chatted with two couples who had  a site on the water, and they said they come every year , and absolutely love it, and in fact would like to retire in the area.  They recommended Deiners Smorgasbord, as the couple did when we pulled in.  Guess we should have tried that instead of Millers!