Arriving in North Carolina
I am happy to report that we arrived at the selected meeting point without incident where we met Randy and Kathy and unhooked the jeep. Randy then rode with Bob in the bus and led him into the Black Forest Campground. It was a tense moment as I watched the bus turn off the main road, but Bob did a good job at making the impossible turn with only one small back-up maneuver.
We left the bus there, packed a few things and have been staying at Whispering Oaks, Randy and Kathy’s paradise in the mountains. What a gorgeous spot they have. The views of the Blue Ridge Parkway and surrounding areas are breath-taking. Their newly construction home is totally awesome.
The first part of the tour is to attend the White Squirrel Festival in Brevard, NC. I guess that is a big deal around here, and Bob and I were amazed to discover that there are indeed real live white squirrels and we actually saw one! Anyway, back to the festival, they had live music and lots of people and food venders. We found a local pub for a refreshment, but then called it an early evening and headed back to Whispering Oaks.
Sunday and Monday we were given more of the grand tour. We enjoyed lots of beautiful scenery and learned about the area. We did a little hiking and a little shopping. Randy and Kathy are wonderful hosts and tour guides. Their accommodations were perfect and the food was great!
Heading for home
After spending 3 nights with the Theis’ we headed up and over the Blue Ridge Mountains. I am happy to report the bus and driver handled the hills, mountains and curves with seeming ease. Since we didn’t leave until late morning, we only got to Frankfort, Kentucky before we called it a day. We will be home tomorrow! Yahoo!
Home
Ah, the green green grass of home. We arrived at White Oak mid afternoon today. It is always good to be back. While we miss everyone from Florida, we look forward to seeing the Batavia family and friends again.
The blue bus is currently parked in our driveway as we continue to unload and clean it. Then it will go back into storage on Green Road. (Our life is so colorful!) No big plans for any extended trips in it before our return to Florida in the fall, but it is always ready and waiting in case our wanderlust kicks in. Bob will be taking it to the Chicagoland Nascar races in Joliet in July, but that is just a weekend excursion.
Thanks for sharing in our adventures!
Friday, June 4, 2010
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Day 5: We left the beach at 9am today. I was amazed and relieved at the ease with which Bob was able to get out of our site. The campground was really full by the time we left with people taking advantage of the long weekend. Given the opportunity, we would go back to Beverly Beach for another visit sometime….but for now, I am not sorry to leave the sand and salt behind. I must say that swimming in the Atlantic Ocean was much more enjoyable in Florida in May than it was in Rhode Island in September! (other than not having any siblings along!)
We arrived at the Point South KOA around 1pm. Once again, it seems we are the biggest rig in the place – we get lots of stares from people in tents and pop-up campers. It is great to have grass and trees again. People are very friendly and have encouraged us back to the office/shop later to have pizza and local wine with them. Sounds like a plan.
Friday, May 28, 2010
On The Road Again
It’s late morning Tuesday, May 25 (Digger Dave’s) birthday and the journey back north is underway! It is always a relief to finally hook up the jeep and close the bus door and get on our way.
We drive a couple hours to Punta Gorda and park at a rest stop where our dear friends Bob and Doris Kinsella graciously pick us up and take us to lunch at the water’s edge. Great food and even better company. It is so good to see the them again, they are the first friends we made in Florida. They are such fun and they look younger than ever.
Back on the road again we run into rain. Just drops at first which turns into a downpour. I keep telling Bob not to have the bus washed!! It happens every time. Next time we are in a drought, just have Bob wash the coach and park it outside.
A thought on the road: let’s call these road thoughts - new word Bublus…..it is much easier to say….especially when pairing it with blog. Say Blue Bus Blog 5 times in a row. I’m telling ya, bublus bog will be much easier to say. (No, I don’t drink while we are going down the road.)
Arrive at Marathon around 3:34pm - just in time to see the place get locked up and the worker bees scatter. Bob calls AT&T and gets his Iphone to connect to the internet for the first time in a few days. I am stuck without internet access (am having withdrawal - better break out the cocktails) He also calls and gets the direct tv working - although we don’t get much of anything. Hard to see these old fashioned tv’s that are so small after getting 2 new ones in FL!
Bentley seems fairly content. He will be happy to have dinner and a walk and go to bed. Think he is comfortable enough to stay alone here while we hit the Mexican restaurant in town.
Let’s hope for a quick fix in the garage tomorrow - and that they can do all the things we need, instead of having to go to Apopka to have some silly piece glued on the outside on the bus.
Day 3: Still here at Marathon. The good news is that they are able to address all of our needs. The bad news is that they can’t find a part we need for the ac in bedroom. Bob is off trying to pick up the part now.
This isn’t a bad place to be. I went out on my own yesterday while Bob stayed to crack the whip on these guys. (At the DISCOUNTED rate of $110 per hour, he needs to keep them moving!)
We tried a new place for dinner….a real seedy looking bar that we have been driving by for years. Not bad…and Bob liked the prices. Fried gator tail and chicken livers and gizzards!!! I can feel my arteries harden.
We have reservations on Beverly Beach http://www.beverlybeachcamptown.com/ for tonight and tomorrow. So, now I am getting antsy to get out of here. It shouldn’t be more than a 3 hour drive, so there shouldn’t be a problem. I can’t wait to get on the beach, but I can already hear Bob yelling about the sand in the bus!! Let alone the salt air!!
Day 4: Ah, the beach! This is a very neat campground. We can watch the surf right from the windshield. Moonrise last night was superb as was sunrise this morning. (I will admit, I just stepped out of bed for a couple minutes to watch it). Bentley enjoys running on the beach and chasing the waves….as do I. (Well maybe not running and chasing, but I do have to keep up with him.)
Nothing on the agenda for today other than food, drink, sun, surf and fun!! Yahoo! We plan to leave here tomorrow and head north for one night in South Carolina and then on to North Carolina on Sunday to visit Randy and Kathy Theis at their new home.
We drive a couple hours to Punta Gorda and park at a rest stop where our dear friends Bob and Doris Kinsella graciously pick us up and take us to lunch at the water’s edge. Great food and even better company. It is so good to see the them again, they are the first friends we made in Florida. They are such fun and they look younger than ever.
Back on the road again we run into rain. Just drops at first which turns into a downpour. I keep telling Bob not to have the bus washed!! It happens every time. Next time we are in a drought, just have Bob wash the coach and park it outside.
A thought on the road: let’s call these road thoughts - new word Bublus…..it is much easier to say….especially when pairing it with blog. Say Blue Bus Blog 5 times in a row. I’m telling ya, bublus bog will be much easier to say. (No, I don’t drink while we are going down the road.)
Arrive at Marathon around 3:34pm - just in time to see the place get locked up and the worker bees scatter. Bob calls AT&T and gets his Iphone to connect to the internet for the first time in a few days. I am stuck without internet access (am having withdrawal - better break out the cocktails) He also calls and gets the direct tv working - although we don’t get much of anything. Hard to see these old fashioned tv’s that are so small after getting 2 new ones in FL!
Bentley seems fairly content. He will be happy to have dinner and a walk and go to bed. Think he is comfortable enough to stay alone here while we hit the Mexican restaurant in town.
Let’s hope for a quick fix in the garage tomorrow - and that they can do all the things we need, instead of having to go to Apopka to have some silly piece glued on the outside on the bus.
Day 3: Still here at Marathon. The good news is that they are able to address all of our needs. The bad news is that they can’t find a part we need for the ac in bedroom. Bob is off trying to pick up the part now.
This isn’t a bad place to be. I went out on my own yesterday while Bob stayed to crack the whip on these guys. (At the DISCOUNTED rate of $110 per hour, he needs to keep them moving!)
We tried a new place for dinner….a real seedy looking bar that we have been driving by for years. Not bad…and Bob liked the prices. Fried gator tail and chicken livers and gizzards!!! I can feel my arteries harden.
We have reservations on Beverly Beach http://www.beverlybeachcamptown.com/ for tonight and tomorrow. So, now I am getting antsy to get out of here. It shouldn’t be more than a 3 hour drive, so there shouldn’t be a problem. I can’t wait to get on the beach, but I can already hear Bob yelling about the sand in the bus!! Let alone the salt air!!
Day 4: Ah, the beach! This is a very neat campground. We can watch the surf right from the windshield. Moonrise last night was superb as was sunrise this morning. (I will admit, I just stepped out of bed for a couple minutes to watch it). Bentley enjoys running on the beach and chasing the waves….as do I. (Well maybe not running and chasing, but I do have to keep up with him.)
Nothing on the agenda for today other than food, drink, sun, surf and fun!! Yahoo! We plan to leave here tomorrow and head north for one night in South Carolina and then on to North Carolina on Sunday to visit Randy and Kathy Theis at their new home.
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