Wednesday, April 18, 2012

HOME

We arrived home today a little after 3 o'clock. Nice drive through Indiana's countryside. We camped just east of Anderson, IN last night and drove all the back roads until ST 13 connected to US 131.

Now, there is alot of cleaning both inside and out. Tons of laundry to do also. Not to mention yard work. Those weeds sure did pop up in the garden.

Well, Maverick Miles will close for now. When another trip is planned, I will notify everyone again. Thanks for reading about our adventures.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Camping in Maggie's Valley, NC


Some people go camping and take just about everything. But, what was so strange, they never took anything off the van to use.


This is the little rabbit that stayed by our campsite and entertained Jasper. Then, there was the raccoon who tried to open Jasper's pail of cat food. He couldn't so, he started dragging it into the woods. However, Carl had to go get it in the middle of the night. There was this female cardinal that kept pecking at our car outside mirrors. The lady from the campsite opposite ours told us that she did it to the other peoples car too. They think she doesn't like it that we were camping in that spot. Maybe she has babies or eggs in the bushes and doesn't want up around.



Below 2 pics of Jasper being entertained with the rabbit and a little bug he was trying to catch.



This is the layout of the Atalaya house at the Huntington State Park. The actual home is the square around the courtyard. It is all brick and cement.



Pre-wedding photos and graduation pictures were being taken while we visited. This is the courtyard.


This is a pic of the outside. Each room had a fireplace--those are some of the chimneys sticking up.



Carl and I took a long walk through the woods toward the ocean. But, we ended up at the sandpiper pond just before the ocean. It was a long trail that we ended up having to repeat to get back.





We are staying tonight at Creekside Farm RV Park in Waynesville, NC. It is a beautiful park on a creek in Maggies Valley overlooking the Smokey Mountains. It is sure a clean park--one of the vest we have visited. The bathrooms are each individual rooms with larger shower, counter sink and toilet (your own bathroom, just like home.)

Tomorrow we will head over the mountain to Knoxville on I40 to I75 to Cincinnati. The weather was in the 80's today and suppose to be about 75 up to Indianapolis where we are heading. However, could have rain. Hope weather will be good when we get home.

Sunday, April 15, 2012

On Our Way Home

Well, this is the last day for us down here. We just came back from the beach and heading out for a bike ride and then a walk on some trails. We are at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet, SC. Very nice park.

We are leaving tomorrow and going up to Asheville, NC. From there onto Knoxville, TN to Cincinnati, OH to Indianapolis, IN, to home. Hope to be home either Wednesday or Thursday.

Yesterday, we toured this very different home here at the state park called Atallaya. I took pictures and if I have internet next stop will try and upload them. I forgot to bring my camera to the internet area of the park this time.

Thursday, April 12, 2012

I Lied--We are still in South Carolina


This is pic of the pier at the Myrtle Beach State Park where we were staying. There was a little cool wind that evening when we walked, but it wasn't so bad. We were suppose to leave the state park on Sunday but decided to stay longer; however, they only had room for one more night. It is still pretty busy down here with spring breaks.


We took a little walk on the long boardwalk in town. It really is beautiful with great landscape between the beach and the hotels. You can see the Sky Wheel in the background. We wanted to ride it, but the whole area down there was extremely busy. Parking was a problem too. The lot next to the Sky Wheel was charging $7.00 an hour.


Between the beach and the boardwalk was a another path of harden sand. Think that might be used for runners.



We moved to a new campground called Pirateland. This picture shows how much room there is between the rv and the covered picnic table. You back into your spot to line the back of your rig to the back of the picnic table. We originally decided to stay here for 2 nights, but ended up signing up for 2 more nights. Had to move to the spot next to us though. We decided to stay down here a little longer since it has been so nice.
On Saturday, we are going down to Huntington Beach State Park between Murrells Inlet and Litchfield Beach. It is about 15 miles south of here. We are almost to Surfside Beach now. We got reservations for Saturday and Sunday night. We couldn't get in earlier that is why we are staying at Pirateland those 2 more days. Might reup for Monday if someone hasn't taken our spot yet because that is all they have open. Then we will head straight home. Should be back middle to late next week.

Monday, April 9, 2012

The End of Myrtle Beach

Eric and Caitlyn had a great time in the ocean.
We all went to this Pirates Voyage Theater. If anyone has been to the Dixie Stampede, it was like that. However, it has a 15ft. deep pool with a simulated ship. It was great and enjoyable. The meal was good and we even got a fork. The pictures below are of Caitlyn out front of the theater.


The night before Eric left we had a big storm. When it stopped raining, we went down to the beach. It was high tide. There was a storm surge and the waves were coming right up into the campground. The water came right over the entrance to the beach. It covered the road and into some campsites.



We are at Myrtle Beach State Park now. Thinking of staying a little while longer as the weather is good here. Don't want to move north as long as it is still cold. But, will probably be leaving here by Thursday to head back.

Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Fun at Myrtle Beach


Eric, Mom and Caitlyn went to the aquarium at Broadway at the Beach. While they were there a couple of hours (Carl and I were there before), we walked around the area. They have all kinds of shops, restaurants and amusement places to visit. We ended up sitting in Adirondack chairs on a simulated deck of a ship in front of a wine tasting store just relaxing.



We stayed for awhile on this bridge (one of many) that cross over their little "lakes." We watched the birds, ducks, turtles, and the speed boat.


We watched this boat with a Corvette engine in it give people thrill rides.



Eric is stretching before one of his runs. He runs miles down the beach. The campground takes him 20 minutes just to run the perimeter it is so huge.


Went to the beach on Monday and what a beautiful day. It was sunny and 84 degrees with a slight breeze. These next two pictures show how crowded the beach was; however, you could always find room to sit without having someone right on top of you.


Caitlyn tried her hardest, but couldn't quite make the sand castle. She went to the camp store and bought a pail and shovel. She also bought sunglasses the other day. She goes down to the store with her money in an envelope. She took her money out of her wallet before she left and put it in the envelope. The cashier told her he liked her billfold.


Carl, as usual, sitting in the chair. If not to windy, umbrella up. He has his 95% blocked sun shirt on too.


Cait and I went in the ocean. It was cold and thought we would just wade. However, as the tide was coming in, we got caught in the waves. It didn't seem too cold then except my feet. I put on my crocs and stayed out quite awhile with her. That was not my plan when I started out.


Today is Tuesday and we moved to a different park. We are now staying at Myrtle Beach Travel Park in North Myrtle Beach. A quieter park because they don't have all the golf carts roaming around. The golf carts were bothersome at the other park because they let they kids drive them and they weren't paying attention or driving the speed limit. This is a little smaller park.
Eric and Cait are up at the pool area. She wanted to go in the lazy river for awhile. It is about 4 o'clock and we arevheading up to the grocery store to get some more grub.

Saturday, March 31, 2012

At Ocean Lakes RV Resort

Eric and Caitlyn had a good flight. They left at 8 a.m. and arrived at 9:40. A beautiful sunny Friday for their arrival.

Here is Caitlyn getting a greeting from Ranger Rex when she arrived at the motor home.
After they got settled in, we needed to search for a place to take the car to be fixed. What a bummer. It started dripping anti-freeze on Thursday night after we got here. Found a place. So, while Eric and Caitlyn went to the beach, we headed out to the repairman. He took us back to the campsite. Sure enough, it was the water pump. He also put in a new thermostat and serpentine belt while he was at it. He brought it back about 4 o'clock on Saturday. So, we were "homebound" for a bit. There is so much to do at this park it really wasn't so bad.
Carl, Caitlyn and I walked up to the store so Caitlyn could buy some sunglasses. This is the mascot here named Sandy.

Friday night they had a fish fry here at their restaurant. We all went down to it. They had flounder, fries, hush puppies, and a drink. We sat outside on the patio. A nice evening to be outdoors, only needing a light top/long sleeve. Then they had Bingo. Carl won one of the rounds and here is a pic of him proudly holding his winning candy bars.

Tomorrow, they have a church service here at the campground that we are going to go to. What else?? Check in at a later time to find out.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Myrtle Beach

Just dropping a quick line to let you know that we are now in Myrtle Beach. Will be leaving here the day after Easter. Eric and Caitlyn will be flying in here tomorrow morning. We had been in Charleston the last two days. Will send more news and pictures as the week goes.

Happy Birthday, Mom Oudbier!!

Sunday, March 25, 2012

St. Augustine


When we left Titusville, this little gecko was sitting on the tree saying good bye to us. There was one there that was red. The man next to us said they have been watching him for a few months. Guess red ones are rare.

We got down here to St. Augustine on Friday. Very busy town. We went into the city on Saturday and there were people all over the place. So, we headed to the beach area. This is the St. Augustine light house and the house that was in front of it.


Then down to St. Augustine Beach on Anatasia Island later that afternoon.




Sunday afternoon, we headed to Crescent Beach just a bit further south. Tide was at the lowest. May head out to the beach again tomorrow.




We went to the flea market yesterday and today. It is by the campground. Picked up a few odds and ends. Mostly, we just had fun walking through the vendors and looking at all the stuff. Mom walked the entire thing yesterday. She had been really good at walking lately only at a slower pace. Tomorrow will be our last day here. Don't know where we will end up for Tuesday and Wednesday night--Georgia or South Carolina. Have reservations for Thursday in Myrtle Beach. Just waiting for Eric and Caitlyn on Friday.

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Kennedy Space Center


Today we visited the space center. We were gone for eight hours and could have seen more, but time ran out. Below, I just added a few pictures I took; mostly, fun ones with us in them. There was plenty of things to photograph.

We took bus rides out to two different buildings. One was the observation area for the launch. The other was the Apollo/Saturn V.




These two lanes of road are made of a smooth rock called Tennessee rock. The big "crawler transporter" that takes the shuttle back and forth between assembly area and the launch pad. It goes one mile an hour and one set of tires are on one side of the road and the other on the other lane. It is the width of 8-lane highway.



Carl is overlooking Cape Canaveral. We visited there yesterday. While there yesterday, we saw a cruise ship in the port and visited a craft show.



Launch pads in the distance.


This is the vehicle assembly building. That flag is huge. One stripe is 8 ft. wide. On the side where it is dark and horizontal stripe is actually the door that opens. It takes 45 minutes to open.


A replica of command control.


Pics from inside the Apollo/Saturn V building.
We are goofing off at the place where the important guests get to view the launch.


The Hubble Space Telecope.

Mom touching an actual moon stone and me by a pic of the moon.

Laying inside the capsule. Not at all comfortable.




Future astronauts? More like spaced out and not in space.
We rode a ride simulator of the space shuttle taking off (Shuttle Launch Experienc). Even with warnings of a bad heart, high blood pressure, bad back, etc, Grinny was going on it anyways. She came out laughing because it really wasn't much at all. Also, saw 3-D Imax movie of the Hubble being repaired.
To Betty, thanks for telling us to visit the space center. It sure was well worth the visit.
Tomorrow, we are leaving here and going up to St. Augustine for four nights.