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.

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!!

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.

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.

Cape Canaveral

Today we road on down to Cocoa Beach. A beautiful strip of land out in the Atlantic after crossing two bridges over the Indian and Banana River. However, the rivers look more like very large lakes. Beautiful homes and condos. Quite a resort area. Our campground, Manatee Hammock, is right on the Indian River between Titusville and Cocoa. Like this campground because it reminds me more of the camping I am used to. Nice spots and trees, like alot of our state parks that are not beach state parks. We are parked next to a guy from Flushing, MI and met another from Oxford, MI. Many campers from the U.S. Not, as many from Quebec. Our last camp had way too many and we thought we were in a foreign country when we were at the pool with them all speaking Canadian French.

After Cocoa Beach, we traveled to Merritt Island. Beautiful area with all kinds of different birds.
We went off the area on a type of two-tracker made of crushed shells where guys were fishing. Water all around us as we would wind up and down through the area. The second pic shows the white road.

Then, we went out on the Canaveral National Seashore. Stopped at one of the parking areas and walked the boardwalk down to the Ocean.

Beautiful day. About 87 degrees, but a little windy. Had rain last night. They really need it down here. This is about 5 p.m.

I know you are having great weather at home. So, I thought you might want to listen to the waves coming in. Carl and I walked out into the water and was surprised at own nice it was. I know the gulf was warm, but the ocean wasn't all that bad--except the big wave that almost took us down.

Moving on Tomorrow

Sunday, we took a ride into Tampa area to Ybor City. It is named after a Cuban who started a Cigar Factory. It kind of reminds me of New Orleans with its Spanish influence. Now days it is a place for partying, eating, and drinking. And, by the looks of it, for St. Patrick's day they did. We found beads in the bushes.
A statue of Mr. Ybor is in the picture below. It is not a separate city any more but part of Tampa and is considered a Historic District.


Here is a couple of pictures showing what the area looks like. I think it really is hopping at night and so much on a Sunday afternoon.


Jasper says he is just chillin here in the air conditioning. He gets a good view off the dash to watch the little gray squirrels they have here.


Here are some strawberry onions. They are about the size of a grapefruit. Lots of people here in the campground have loads of them drying out or hanging. The stems are very, very strong but the fruit of the onion is very sweet and mild. They plant them around the strawberry patches here; and when the strawberry crops are about over, they sell them or let you come in and pick them. We wanted to pick them, but the place we found was closed today. So, we bought a few.


Ranger Rex wanted to let you know that tomorrow we will be heading over to Titusville. Our campground is called Mantee Hammock. It is on Hwy 1 by the Kennedy Space Center entrance. We hope to take a tour of it on Wednesday. Then, on Thursday, visit the Canveral National Seashore. We will leave there on Friday. As Ranger Rex always says, "Are you ready for an adventure.""

Taking It Easy Again

Took a ride on Friday to Apollo Beach to view the manatees. We only saw the back of one just resting. They are all suppose to be by the electric plant, but think they all went out to the gulf since the gulf water is so warm now. It was a nice park and had an informative little museum and nice boardwalks.
Just rested the rest of the day and headed out to get some groceries.


Today, Saint Patrick's Day, we went to the Cracker Barrel for their corned beef dinner. Sure was good. It was on this big complex where the Lazy Days have a huge display of all kinds of rv's to purchase, as well as, their own campground. Also, there is a Camping World store where, of course, I found something to buy. It was the largest Camping World I have been in.



Right by our campground is the big Driscoll Plant. Seem to always see that brand of strawberries in the stores at home. There are fields and fields and fields of strawberries down here and the prices are good. Too bad we can't stock up; however, we are eating our share.



At our exit off I-4, is this rv dealer. One of his brands is the Airstream. In the photo next to this, is a display you see on the freeway right at the exit.


We went swimming again when we got back today. You can just go right into the water in the outdoor pool and it feels just great. When we got home, we had a little glass of wine; and after I finish this we have to decide whether to have strawberry shortcake or Key Lime Pie. Oh, such decisions! I say, one of each!