Ridgefield's Windseeker 2015 USA National Tour Travel Log Photo Gallery


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PHOTO GALLERY 2015 -- PART I

Jan 1 - May 19, 2015
Later entries at the bottom (or use the links below)

  See the USA in a Motor Coach
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The Tour begins - Heading South for California


The Windseeker - our magnificent 2010 Tiffin Allegro Bus 43QRP - our home on wheels for the 2015 USA National Tour. We are headed south to California... our Catalina sailboat has been towed to Florida for us awaiting our arrival... so we can travel together in the coach, towing our Chevy Suburban. Our first stop is Los Angeles. We will be posting many new photos as our journey unfolds... be sure to check back often!



This is our iconic Shasta photo... this is the third motorhome we have managed to photograph at this exact same spot along I-5 with a beautiful snow capped Mt. Shasta in the background. I am proud of this photo, and I have a similar one with Windseeker I and Windseeker II on our earlier blogs. We're on our way south to Los Angeles where we will spend a week or so visiting with friends.



A visit to Los Angeles always involves a lot of visiting. Both Libby and I lived here a long time... Libby was born here. And we have a lot of friends and family in the area. So our days are always filled with lunches and dinners with friends. Here we are in the back patio at the home of our good friend Shad Meshad who lives down by the airport. This is a former girlfriend of mine, Jil, who is also close friends with Shad.



And this is the same evening and interestingly enough, another old girlfriend of mine, Kitti, who Shad introduced me to so many years ago when we all lived in Los Angeles. It's great to see her and Jil both looking just great!



Pulling into Indian Waters RV Resort in Indio California on January 9. Indio is one of the desert resort cities just east of Los Angeles which include Palm Springs, Desert Hot Springs, Rancho Mirage and others. We have some friends here we wanted to visit but also just to soak up a little R&R time before we continue on to Phoenix, Arizona.




Leaving California and on to Arizona


We arrrived at the Destiny Phoenix RV Resort on the west side of Phoenix on January 14. We'll stay here a week visiting with friends in the area and enjoying some very pleasant weather before we head on to Tucson, one of our most favorite Arizona locations



Destiny Phoenix RV Resort is a very large park in a town called Goodyear about 20 minutes west of downtown Phoenix. It has a really nice swimming pool where guests can soak up the warm Arizona sunshine



Having dinner at our RV friends Bill and Ginny at their beautiful home in Scottsdale, we enjoyed a beautiful Arizona winter sunset. Good friends, good wine, good weather, and a great sunset. Doesn't get much better than this!



We had planned to head east after leaving Phoenix, but we were having some problems with our Aquahot hot water system. We had it serviced in Indio, but something was still not right, and Aquahot Expert John Carrillo had moved on to Quartzsite, servicing systems for RV show attendees. He worked us into his schedule and found a major issue with the Aquahot diesel burner engine which he was fortunately able to repair for us. We stayed over at Blackrock RV Resort near Quartzsite and took the shuttle in to the show for the afternoon, browsing all the latest RV gear before we head on tomorrow to Tucson enroute to Texas.



After leaving Quartzsite, we drove down to Tucson and pulled into the Lazydays KOA Campground where we stayed in 2013. We intended to just spend a day or two before heading on to Texas. But 'Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans'....



As we pulled into Tucson, we heard a strange and unfamiliar noise driving to the RV Park. Fortunately Tucson is home to Premier Motorcoach Service and Eric Olstrom runs as fine an RV service department as you will find anywhere. So decided to pay him a visit. They put the coach up on the rack and quickly discovered where the problem lay. It turns out we have broken exhaust pipe. See the next photo.



At the left is the culprit and no extended warranty covers the exhaust system. I called Tiffin Factory in Alabama and explained the issue. Their service tech told me it was a known issue, and even though the coach is long out of factory warranty, they are sending us out a replacement free of charge. This is why we upgraded to a Tiffin motorhome. This kind of problem can occur with ANY motor vehicle, but I cannot think of another manufacturer who would send you a free replacement part, with a retail price of $900, and even include free shipping! We would NEVER have gotten this kind of customer service from Country Coach. The part probably won't get here until mid week so we are forced to delay our travels and enjoy Tucson once again. Can't think of a better place to have to wait!




We spent Friday afternoon at Old Tucson Studios... an actual movie set built for the 1940's film 'Arizona' with Jean Arthur and William Holden which we have seen. It has been used many times since for more than 200 other motion pictures including Rio Bravo and McLintock with John Wayne, Winchester '73 with James Stewart, Monte Walsh with Lee Marvin, The Badlanders with Glenn Ford, Gunsmoke with James Arness, and many, many others. They put on a lively stuntman show in which Libby got to participate.



Besides a working movie set, the property doubles as a popular tourist attraction with movie set paraphernalia all around. You can wander about the streets, take a guided tour, take in the free shows, dine and sip your favorite beverage in authentic saloons and BBQ restaurant, ride on a train and in an authentic stage coach, and much more. It's an easy place to spend the whole day, if you are a fan of western movies as we are.



The Old Tucson Stage Lines takes passengers for a loop around the 200 acre property. It gives a pretty realistic impression of what it must have been like to ride in a stage coach in the old west. Our ride was about 15 minutes. It used to take three days to Phoenix where it takes 3 hours today. It's pretty hard to imagine what it must have been like to travel across the wild west in one of these things! See our special Old Tucson Gallery page with more than 25 fun photos from this entertaining visit.



Driving up to the Old Tucson Studios, we passed through the Saguaro National Park. Created in 1933, the entire area currently encompasses more than 91,000 acres. Native to the Sonoran Desert, the iconic Saguaro can grow to more than 70' tall. They live a long time and may grow their first side arm any time from 75–100 years of age. The saguaro blossom is the state wildflower of Arizona.



Saguaro have been an important plant in Native American culture, specifically to the Tohono O’odham tribe of Arizona. Saguaro are protected... Harming a saguaro in any manner, including cactus plugging, is illegal by state law in Arizona, and when houses or highways are built, special permits must be obtained to move or destroy any saguaro affected.



Sunday, we visited the Tucson Botanical Gardens (left) and saw a wide variety of native cactus and other plant species indigenous to the Sonoran desert. We visited the Botanical Gardens in Phoenix back in 2013, but this garden in Tucson is a bit more intimate.



At the left is Libby, looking a bit like Alice in Wonderland, surrounded by a vast array of different cactus species at the Tucson Botanical Gardens... including the famous saguaro, organ pipe, teddy bear cholla, prickly pear and many, many others.



The Tucson Botanical Gardens also had a special rain forest butterfly exhibit with dozens of species of gorgeous butterflies imported from Costa Rica like the one at the left.



What would a visit to the southwest be without a stop at Freddy's, the home of the original frozen custard... a creamy ice cream like desert which became an addiction when we lived in Texas.



We've been driving around Tucson for several days with our Hobie Outfitter pedal kayak on top.... so where are the kayaking spots, anyhow?



On Monday evening we went out for some authentic Mexican food at El Charro Café here in Tucson. Recommended by several friends, it is billed as the 'Nation’s Oldest Mexican Restaurant in continuous operation by the same family'. Tasty chicken fajitas, guacamole and cervesas fit the bill just great!



There's a big Airstream Rally this week here at the Lazydays KOA with more than 100 Airstream RV's in attendance. The Airstream is an iconic brand in the USA. The Airstream is easily recognized for its polished aluminum aircraft style shape. Airstream owners are somewhat fanatical and fiercely loyal to the brand. While it is easy to see the aesthetic appeal, Airstreams lack some of the standard amenities many of us have become used to, especially the slideouts which greatly increase the interior space.



Built for the last 80 years in Jackson Center, Ohio, Airstream is now a division of Thor Industries. The company, which now employs more than 475 people, is the oldest in the industry. Famous for their aircraft style travel trailers, Airstream also began manufacturing a Class A motorhome in 1974, badged "Argosy" according to Wikipedia, They began as painted 20 and 24-foot models, and were followed in 1979 by the first examples of the Classic model motorhome, with an unpainted aluminum body much like the trailers. These were built up until the early 1990s. At the left is a classic 1985 example parked right across from our coach which you can see in the background at the far right.



Wednesday was a beautiful warm sunny day so we took Corey (seated in the chair next to me) and the model sailboats and drove over to Christopher Columbus Park in Tucson, not far from the Lazydays RV Park. Libby and I parked our folding chairs there by the little lake for a couple hours and sailed the boats in the light afternoon breezes.



Christopher Columbus Park has separate little lakes for fishing and for model boats. We walked Corey around the larger fishing lake first and he was intrigued by the large egret, fishing by the water's edge.



Our exhaust replacement part arrived on Thursday on schedule from Tiffin. There was no charge for the part and no charge for shipping. Ya gotta love Tiffin! Eric over at Premier Motorcoach Service here in Tucson installed it quickly this morning, Friday morning, and we are back at the RV Park now. Big storm coming through right now... so we decided to let the storm pass before heading for Texas. We're retired, after all... we travel when we WANT to!



After a night in a small RV Park in Las Cruces, Day 2 was spent traveling in West Texas. Not much other here... just prairie and open plains with some barren mountains way off in the distance. But there are few cars on the road and it is an easy cruise in the coach as we try to pick up some time getting to Texas.



Leaving Arizona and on to Texas and Alabama


Half way to San Antonio, we spent the night in Ft Stockton at the Walmart there. Like most Walmarts (unless there is a city ordinance against it) they are happy to have you spend the night there. It's pretty ideal to pull in just before sunset, park towards the outside the lot, do some shopping in the food store... and then this one is a 24 hour Walmart and has a very convenient fuel station with diesel fuel at $2.71/gal, about 14c less than the nearby truckstop. Even freshly sodded grass for the dog! Generally you are in good company. We had three other Class A Motorhomes, 3 large fifth wheels, a couple travel trailers, 2 Class C Motorhomes and a Super C. Hard to beat Wally's World for a free quick, hassle-free overnight stop.



We finished our business in Texas, and finally on Feb 13 we drove east, left Texas, thru Lake Charles, LA and on to Jackson MS, on our way to Red Bay, Alabama. We drove up from Jackson on the middle section of the Natchez Trace Parkway, a beautiful 400+ mile drive that runs from Natchez, MS all the way up to Nashville, TN. We got on at Jackson, MS drove past the beautiful Ross Barnett Reservoir and pulled off at Tupelo and headed over to Red Bay Alabama, home of Tiffin Motorhomes where we are going to have things done to our coach by the people who know it best. This sign explains some of the history of the Natchez Trace.



We drove about 175 miles of the beautiful Natchez Trace Parkway on our way to Red Bay on Feb 15. It is the dead of winter, of course, and it will be much prettier in spring, but this gave us a feel for it and we can return and make the drive again in the spring. The deciduous trees are all bare and the grass is brown, but the many pines and cedars keep it from looking too bleak in winter. The photo at the left was taken out our motorhome windshield driving.



The first stretch of the Natchez Trace Parkway heading north out of Jackson MS runs along the beautiful Ross Barnett Reservoir. This pristine reservoir is about 15 miles long and several miles wide and surrounded by trees. It looks like a lovely place to bring our Catalina sailboat back to one day and spend a few weeks sailing this pristine body of water. There was a perfect steady breeze blowing as we stopped at this viewpoint.



Corey made some new friends along the Natchez Trace Parkway. He bumped noses with the fat beaver. It isn't often Corey feels slim so he enjoyed meeting the fat and jolly fellow.



Corey was much more cautious around the wily coyote! He sniffed under the tail trying to decide if this was a dog or what! It was pretty funny to watch. Thanks to the rangers at the Welcome Center for letting Corey visit his wild side.



At the left of the photo is the rear end of our coach with our Suburban & kayak, here at Tiffin Motorhomes Campground, Red Bay, AL. The huge warehouses with more than 50 service bays are over on the right. We arrived Sunday, met with service people Tuesday and are now awaiting our turn to take her in for factory service & upgrades. Thousands of Tiffin owners do this each year. Cold stormy wintry weather arrived, so we won't be posting many photos here for a few days.



While awaiting our turn for service in Red Bay, Alabama, we took the free Tiffin Factory Tour. It takes about an hour and a half and is very interesting to see how our motorhome was built. At the left is an Allegro Bus Powerglide Tag Axle 45' Chassis being wired and prepped for mounting the floor, body, roof and essentials. Tiffin makes their own Powerglide chassis for the Bus and the Breeze. It is a superb chassis and what we have on our coach. I've created a full page of photos with 15 shots of the factory at work.



On a stormy weekend in Red Bay, ee are back in the Tiffin service campground waiting to pull back into the service bay on Monday to start wrapping up the work we wanted done by Tiffin's factory techs. So the computer and our satellite TV are our preferred ways to pass the time indoors. Corey is in his favorite spot....my recliner... and is happy to sit here whether I am in the chair or not. I have become quite adept at typing at a 45 degree angle so as not to disturb the dog. "Uh... why are you taking my picture, mom? I always sit here!"



We took a day trip over to Coon Dog Cemetery about 45 minutes from the Tiffin Plant, while our coach was in for a warranty mechanical issue. Interesting place. Corey was affronted he could never be buried there as only pedigreed coon hunting dogs are allowed. But he was happy to visit and pee on some artificial flowers.



Here's Corey standing by the gravestone for the coon dog Ranger (1964-1983). Corey is hoping he can live so long! So do we!



This is a collage of some of the many headstones for beloved coon dogs buried in the cemetery since 1937 when Key Underwood buried his beloved friend here.



Today, Weds, as we are in and out of various service bays at the Tiffin service center, a major snowstorm hit Northern Alabama. It was predicted 2-3 inches... by nightfall we were already at 6". (TOTAL reached 8" - a new record for this part of Alabama for the month of February.) Nothing like RVing in the snow.



Well at least our dog is lovin it. Corey hates rain, he hates hot weather and hates the desert and gravel. But he LOVES snow. Apparently Tiffin Service Department is not going to open today... normally everything is in full swing at 7:00 am. But it is almost 8:00 am there is no sign of life around here. Ah well. A Snow Day. We loved em when we were in school! At least this isn't Boston with 9 feet of snow!



Day 14 in Red Bay (our coach at right). Of course this includes two weekends when service is closed, one snow day when everything was shut down, and three days to get into the queue after our arrival. We have actually been in a service bay 4 days. We are scheduled again tomorrow, Monday 3/2, into one service bay and Tuesday for the big one to rectify a major defect and redo the cap rails which is the major reason we came here. The weather has been less than stellar and is raining this weekend again as we await service monday morning. As you can see in the photo, there are many of us in the same boat.



I don't often post pictures of food on our blog, but the pizza at Mr J's in Red Bay Alabama is worthy of an exception. Exceptional is the operative word... the meat lover's pizza with mushrooms was one of the best pizzas I have ever had. Not to be missed if you are in Red Bay Alabama. The only downside is that Red Bay is a dry town so no beer or wine if you dine in the restaurant. Still, this culinary delight was a highlight of our time in Alabama.



A shot of the Alabama Music Hall of Fame in Tuscumbia, Alabama adjacent to the legendary Muscle Shoals, home to a handful of music studios where the likes of Rod Stewart, Aretha Franklin, Eric Clapton, the Rolling Stones, The Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Roy Orbison, and Lionel Ritchie all recorded music... See a longer list here. We saw memorabilia from other Muscle Shoals legends like Hank Williams, Tammy Wynette, Etta James, the band Alabama, and many many others. We spent a couple hours walking around the museum reading, gawking and soaking up the history of this famous place.



We actually got to board the old tour bus for the legendary band Alabama, on display at the Alabama Music Hall of Fame. A tag axle Bluebird, it seemed pretty archaic compared to mega coaches of today like our modern Allegro Bus. But it was interesting to be on board a real super band's touring bus.



A real show stopper is Happy Hal Burns "Golden Country Western Car" with over 400 silver dollars used for 'bling'. That's Alabama's tour bus behind it.



A shot of the interior of Happy Hal Burns "Golden Country Western Car" showing some of the more than 400 silver dollars used for 'decor'. The door handles are six guns as is the hood ornament... and of course the front of the car sports the obligatory long horns.



We also visited the Fame Recording Studio - Florence Alabama Music Enterprises (FAME). We were able to tour the studio. The photo at the left is me, the rockin' Joey Lee Burkle, faking it at the same piano used by Jerry Lee Lewis, one of hundreds of famous artists who recorded hit songs at FAME. FAME Publishing has had songs cut by Tina Turner, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Elton John, Ronnie Milsap, BB King, Tim McGraw, the Dixie Chicks, Leann Rimes, Huey Lewis, Travis Tritt, Zac Brown Band and many more. FAME is still run by its founder Rick Hall.



Memphis, Tennessee and Graceland


We drove the coach up to Memphis for the weekend on March 7 while Tiffin was closed for the weekend. We wanted to see Graceland, Elvis Presley's famous mansion, and look around Memphis a little bit. Curiously there's a historic site in Memphis called "The Burkle Estate", the home of Jacob Burkle, a German immigrant, in the 1800's, who provided a refuge for runaway slaves during their flight to freedom in the North. Today it houses the modest "Slave Haven Underground Railroad Museum". I've only ever heard of one non relative named Burkle, so of course I had to get a photo by it.



We drove downtown to check out Beale Street... kind of a mini New Orleans-style Bourbon Street, Memphis' Beale Street is home to a plethora of blues bars. We walked it in the afternoon and poked our heads in a few spots, but noisy bars don't much interest us for evening entertainment. We'll leave that to the younger generation. So we took a few photos and left.



Graceland was the real reason we came to Memphis and appears to be the reason most people do. Elvis Presley bought Graceland Farms in 1957 and retained the name but spent half a million dollars remodeling and adding to the 13 acre estate. His daughter Lisa Marie turned it a major tourist attraction after Elvis' death in 1977. Graceland mansion was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 2006.



Libby and I standing by the entrance to the Graceland estate in Memphis, Tennessee... home of Elvis Presley, dubbed by many as the King of Rock and Roll.



We bought the platinum tour tickets which included a self guided IPAD tour of Graceland mansion and admission to his automobile museum, and various other attractions. At the left is one wall of his former racquetball court which now houses some of his many gold and platinum records, other awards, costumes, and other memorabilia.



Although not really as grand as one might expect, Graceland is 17,552 square feet and has a total of 23 rooms. When not touring or working in Hollywood, Elvis lived at Graceland with his parents and his wife and daughter during their marriage. He died in 1977 at the age of only 42 and was buried here along with his mother and father. Their graves are pictured at the left. Yes that is snow on the ground around the graves.



Elvis lives! Libby posed for a quick photo with the King in the trophy room in Graceland mansion. This is where some of the King's many gold and platinum records over his 20 year career are displayed.



At the left is a glass case from the trophy room with some of many souvenirs and gifts which began appearing in the 50's as Elvis' popularity skyrocketed. I think he would shake his head in disbelief at the sheer volume of articles for sale today at Graceland which contain either his name, his likeness or some other aspect of his legendary career. There are more gift shops at Graceland than anything else... all with a differing array of the endless variety of Elvis souvenirs.



Elvis sold more than 70 million records during his lifetime and number is in the billions today. He got his start in 1954 and by '56 he was a major singing star. I was just entering puberty and songs like Hound Dog, Don't be Cruel and Love Me Tender were a formative part of my youth. I kind of lost interest in Elvis for the most part after the British invasion and Elvis gravitated to the Las Vegas circuit, but I will always be fond of his early music.



Florida at Last


We made it to Florida - a month later than we had hoped, but we made it. We set up camp at Wekiva Falls Campground, a wonderful spacious natural paradise in central Florida located just west of Sanford and Lake Monroe. The campground map of the more than 800 spaces is at the left. A full size map is here.



Monday morning we drove over to the Tampa Bay area where Catalina Yachts, Inc. has its factory. We had our boat transported there this winter and had Catalina go over it for us. We got a quick tour of the plant - interesting to see how Catalina yachts are built. At the left we are standing in the boat yard in front of a new just completed Catalina 275. Visible in the background is the form for the fiberglass hull for a 440.



The Anne Marie was waiting for us there at Catalina Yachts, in some very good company. Libby and I are standing just inside the plant in front of the white hull with red stripe for a brand new Catalina 275 (same boat as the blue one above), a boat I would love to own if we were keeping her in one place. Too big for towing around the country though. After our plant tour, we paid the bill, and then we towed the Anne Marie back to the campground. We'll rig her and launch her at Lake Monroe in the next day or so.



Here we are all set up at Wekiva Falls Campground. This is a great park and nearby Lake Monroe looks like a great place to moor the sailboat just 10-15 minutes away. Wekiva Falls is a quiet secluded park far off the beaten track where many people come and stay for the season. Easy to see why. 800 large roomy, level spaces with full hookups and friendly folks at excellent monthly rates and smooth asphalt paved roads, great for walking the dog or bicycling in a nice tranquil setting. We'll be here for the next month, enjoying the lake and the area. Possibly my favorite RV Park we have ever stayed in, we'll probably spend the whole winter here next year.



And the lovely Monroe Harbour Marina is quite easily the nicest marina we have found in our travels and at a very reasonable price. The yellow arrow in the photo indicates our slip, a great, well-protected slip on the inside dock nearest the palm tree-lined promenade, where people are always walking, sitting on the benches and gazing and waving at all the boats. The concrete docks are in excellent shape and every boat on our dock is a sailboat. This is a sailing lake, home to the very active Lake Monroe Sailing Association. And Harbourmaster, John "Luke" Lucarell, is the nicest guy in the world. I can only hope every marina we visit in our travels compares favorably to this one.



We had a superb afternoon sail on our first day of sailing Lake Monroe. Monroe is a picturesque little lake surrounded mostly by green trees and a few condos as landmarks. The lake is small and shallow enough that you don't get any swell at all... just a light wind chop so the sailing is smooth as silk... and the windy was so darn steady. Like a tradewind or something - we had a steady 10-12 from like 4:30 - 5:30 then a little fresher 12-14 for an hour so and then backing off to the 10-12 til sunset. It really doesn't get any better than that. We were the ONLY boat out on the lake if you can believe that. Not a single sailboat or powerboat or anything. Amazing. This is a great place!



The third of four perfect days in a row on Lake Monroe... Sunday I sailed with my sister, and Monday I had no one to sail with as Libby was back home for the week. But the wind was superb. I sailed Tuesday with RV friends Herb and Diane and today, Wednesday with Libby back in town we enjoyed another spectacular wind day on the lake... perfect 12-15 steady winds, clear blue skies, and temps about 82. No way to beat that! Corey was lovin' it! Our sixth day of sailing since we arrived less than 2 weeks ago. Lake Monroe rules!



As we headed in after three superb hours of sailing on Lake Monroe this Wednesday afternoon, Wednesday night "Rum Races" were just getting started. The Lake Monroe Sailing Association is an active sailing club here and holds races every Weds that there is wind. Libby and I don't have any interest in racing... we just enjoy the pleasant sensations of the wind, the water and the sailboat gliding effortlessly across the sunlight tipped waves. But it's always nice to see other boats out on the water. It's a pretty sight to behold!



Not only has the the sailing been near perfect, Wekiva Falls RV Park is almost perfect as well. Large generous spaces with lots of trees yet a clear shot for the satellite dish, plenty of room for all the toys, and lots of lush green grass for the dog to run and chase squirrels. This is a hard place to beat! A nice shot of our dream coach looking totally tricked out, with the colorful windsocks and our new custom sunshades on the front windows, which keep the coach cooler and provide privacy, and the new custom tire screens to protect the expensive Michelins from the tropical sun.



Libby found this image on Facebook. Very artistic rendering of the spirit of blogging and sailing, I thought. It captures pretty well a major part of our lifestyle these days, as we travel around the USA finding beautiful jewel-like lakes to sail and relax into the local lifestyle for a while, living in our luxurious coach until we're ready to move to a new spot. Some people ask if we don't get tired of it. These are people that are not sailors and don't understand the Spirit of the Wind. I call it the Breath of God. I've never gotten tired of riding the wind in 35 years, so it is unlikely to happen now. And if we tire of a location we just move on. We never tire of our beautiful home on wheels either. We truly have the best of both worlds.



We drove the car over to the Gulf coast to visit my brother and sister who both own places in Venice, Florida. Venice is a charming beach town just south of Sarasota, lined with sandy beaches and blue green gulf seas. A very pleasant place to be in the winter and shoulder seasons, and snowbird tourists flock here. It's a nice place to visit, but not for us longer term since we do not sail salt water for various reasons. We stick to lakes and fresh water, like Lake Monroe. We'll head back to our sailboat there on Saturday.



Libby visited the Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota with my sister and her husband, while I went bicycling on Venice Island with my brother. In addition to the museum which follows the birth and growth of the American circus from the 19th century to the 21st century, there is a regular Art Museum, and lush gardens and grounds featuring outdoor concerts on the large property situated on Sarasota Bay.



While on the gulf coast, we drove down to Punta Gorda a popular sailing locale on Charlotte Harbor, to check it out for future potential. Contrary to what we heard the water even near the mouth of the Peace River is pretty salty. We don't sail salt water... lightly brackish is what we were hoping for but, nope... it was salty. Scratch that one off the list. Nice area though, but too darn crowded.



The whole purpose of coming over to Venice Beach was to hang out with my brother and sister for a few days... it had been quite a few years since we were all three together. We sat at the beach tonite and watched the sunset, something of a ritual here. And by some happy coincidence the day was National Siblings Day. Serendipitous for sure. A friend snapped this photo of Me, Libby, Cecilia (sister), Frank (brother), and Jim (brother-in-law). Tomorrow we'll head back to Lake Monroe.



Back at Wekiva Falls Campground near Sanford and Lake Monroe, we were treated to a rare opportunity to view an osprey with a fish in its talons right near our coach. It isn't often you get to see something like this right up close. This is NOT a telephoto lens! Wekiva Falls Campground is a great place to see nature up close and personal!



Today, Tues April 14, we drove to the marina and pulled the boat out of the water. We've done it so many times we have it down to a science. Takes 2-3 hours from dock to driveaway... we always do it early in the day before it gets too hot. We bid farewell to D Dock where our sailboat was docked. This colorful liveaboard boat is docked right alongside the promenade where we walk down to our own boat. I had to get a photo of it. You can see a lot of sailboats behind him. This is very much a sailing marina. It was a real find and we will return here next fall.



Savannah, Georgia


We arrived in in Savannah, GA tonight... it's a place I have always wanted to visit to soak up some of its legendary southern grace and charm. A wonderful birthday present, as I mark another decade completed and surge forward into senior citizenhood. I like to bear in mind this anonymous quip... "Birthdays are good for you. The more you have, the longer you live." On the travelog I quoted Mark Twain, but I'll add another highly appropriate additional quote of his to live by here: "Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."



On our first foray into the historic city of Savannah, a first time visit for both of us, we decided to take the Old Town Trolley Tour of historic downtown Savannah. Here's Libby waiting to board the open air trolley for the 90 minute tour through Old Town Savannah. There are 16 stops and you can get on and off as often as you like.



The open air trolleys are a delightful way to get an overview of the historic downtown city of Savannah. On this 90 minute guided tour, you can hit most of the highlights, you can get on and off as often as you like throughout the day, and never have to worry about parking which is big issue in Savannah.



Here's Libby standing in front of Hodgson Hall, which houses the Georgia Historical Society. Founded in 1839, it is the oldest cultural institution in the state of Georgia and one of the oldest historical organizations in the United States. Rich in history, Savannah was the first colonial and state capital of Georgia, and is known as America’s first planned city. The downtown area is one of the largest National Historic Landmark Districts in the United States.



We particularly enjoyed the Victorian district around Forsyth Park. This large 30 acre park is the largest of Savannah's 22 remaining squares and is lined with classic old Victorian and Colonial mansions all around the beautiful park.



Another of the huge Colonial mansions around Forsyth Park. This one with its spectacular white columns houses the Forsyth Park Animal Hospital



One of the classic Victorian style mansions around Forsyth Park. The graceful front porch looks perfect for sipping mint juleps on a sultry summer eve.



Another classic Victorian style mansion around Forsyth Park, sitting on a corner with a big Live Oak tree dripping with spanish moss on one side and a tall palm tree on the other.



Here's Libby walking around the wide sidewalk alongside Forsyth Park, shaded by massive old Live Oak trees dripping with spanish moss. Our guide told us the oldest one in the park is some 275 years old. Think of the history that tree has witnessed!



Here I am leaning up against an old Live Oak tree in Forsyth Park, relaxing in the shade of its majestic branches, laden with spanish moss. I have always loved the majestic Live Oak trees ever since I first came to the south in the '60's.



This is Savannah's renowned Davenport House. Completed around 1820 by master builder Isaiah Davenport in the Federalist style of architecture, the historic home marked the beginning of Savannah's historic preservation movement. We took the guided tour of this historic home. That's Libby standing on one of the two sets of front steps... designed with one side for the gentlemen and one for the ladies, as it was considered improper for gentlemen to follow up the stairs behind ladies for fear one might catch a forbidden glimpse of the ladies' ankles. Note the perfectly symetrical design of the building... a hallmark of the Federalist style (inside and out).



The Richardson Owens-Thomas House built in 1816-19 in the English Regency style was one of the earliest homes in the country to have indoor plumbing. The guided tour of this fully restored museum home explains the intricate system of cisterns and iron pipe and sub floor drains. It is said this home had indoor plumbing before the White House in Washington DC!



Libby standing in front of the Massie Common School built in 1855 on Calhoun Square which now houses the Massie Heritage Center, a wonderful museum which provides a marvelous perspective on the rich architectural heritage of Savannah and vast spectrum of beautiful architectural styles visible throughout this beautiful city. Of particular interest is a detailed scale model of the entire historic district depicting all 22 original parklike squares around which the entire city was designed. To learn more about the unique design of the city of Savannah, click here.



Savannah is much more than just a collection of historic homes and museums. To appreciate the charm of this city, you need to walk around the pretty side streets like the one pictured at the left, stroll through the many parks and open squares, and stop and talk to the warm friendly people who are eager to share their love of Savannah's rich history with you. As I took this photo a charming young lady, an employee at the local Marshall House Hotel, was walking by, and she stopped and talked to us for 15 minutes about the uniqueness of this little street and all about the history of the area. The intoxicating smell of jasmine fills the air as you stroll past the many walls and iron fences covered with this fragrant vine.



It's not just the buildings that are steeped in history... the Candler Oak, is a magnificent old live oak tree, Quercus virginiania, named for Asa Griggs Candler, an American business tycoon and philanthropist who made his fortune selling Coca-Cola around the turn of the 20th century. Dripping with Spanish Moss, this grand old oak is thought to be about 300 years old and is one of the oldest living landmarks in the area. In 2001, the Candler Oak was designated a Georgia Landmark and Historic Tree by the Georgia Urban Forest Council. In 2004 it was added to the National Register of Historic Trees. It stands in front of the Savannah Law School and serves as the school's logo.



We took a brief riverboat cruise through the port of Savannah aboard the Savannah River Queen, a historically accurate reproduction of the old river boats which operated on the Savannah River years ago. We cruised all along the picturesque downtown Savannah riverfront, and upriver underneath the amazing Talmadge Memorial Bridge. The captain explained some of the rich history of the port of Savannah, the 4th largest seaport in the country. That's Libby waving from the upper deck on a beautiful warm spring afternoon.



Here's a photo of the beautiful park like setting of Bonaventure Cemetery. Developed on the site of Bonaventure Plantation, the peaceful setting rests on a scenic bluff of the Wilmington River, east of Savannah. The site was purchased for a private cemetery in 1846 and became a public cemetery in 1907. You can drive in with your car, cruise around the whole place, park, walk around... and dogs are allowed on a leash. Lovely spot with a whole lot of history. Sets a new standard by which all cemeteries must be judged.



Here's still another photo of the beautiful 100 acre grounds of Bonaventure Cemetery. The gorgeous live oak trees dripping with Spanish Moss, palm trees blowing gently in the breeze off the adjacent Wilmington River, and the heavenly fragrances of magnolias and many species of azaleas, jasmine and other flowering plants, all make this a delightful place to visit.



We parked along the outer edge of Bonaventure Cemetery in a spot overlooking the Wilmington River and had a picnic in the shade of the big old live oak trees. Corey was having too much fun watching for squirrels, lizards and other creatures scurrying along the river's edge.



Lest you think these grand old live oak trees exist only in park like settings or on historic preservation sites around Savannah, I grabbed a quick photo of this grand dame, probably 200 years old or more, sitting on a nowhereville street corner somewhere east of Savannah in a nothing neighborhood. Look closely and you can see a McDonalds arches unless the branches on the right.



No visit to a historic city anywhere is complete without stopping in at least one historic church. And there are plenty to choose from in Old Savannah. But none more grand than the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist. This immense Catholic church was constructed and dedicated in 1876. The interior of the cathedral is like something out of an old French city from the middle ages. Definitely worth a visit, no matter your religious preference.



If you have enjoyed this brief photographic tour of historic Savannah, Georgia, like the photo at the left of its historic Fosyth Park fountain originally ordered in 1858 from the "Catalogue of Ornamental Iron Work", may I recommend that you visit Savannah... Crown Jewel of the American South. This site offers a most extraordinary collection of photos of every aspect of Savannah from its glorious architecture, to its parks and squares, fountains, churches, gardens, riverfront district, military forts, Bonaventure Cemetery, and a lot more. Voted one of the "Top Ten U.S. Cities to visit" by Conde Nast Traveler Magazine, November 2010, this is one place you can visit again and again.



Just 15 miles north of Hardeeville RV Park where we are staying while visiting Savannah and Hilton Head, is the historic town of Ridgefield, South Carolina. Pictured at the left is the Jasper County Museum and Visitor Center.



The historic Jasper County County Courthhouse, seat of Jasper County, located in Ridgefield, South Carolina, was built in 1915. In 1981, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.



Well it may not look like much, and the sign above Ridgefield's Bar-B-Q Grille proclaiming Carolina's Best Bar-B-Q may sound like an idle boast. But I am here to tell ya... it's probably an understatement... it might be the best Bar-B-Q in the country! Maybe in the world! If you like finger lickin' down home cookin', the BBQ Pork and Chicken Buffet is an epicurean delight of the highest order. If you are in the area, be sure to check out The Bar-B-Q Grill on TripAdvisor.



Shenandoah River Valley, Virginia


We have arrived in Luray, Virginia in the heart of the Shenandoah River Valley. Skyline Drive is a scenic 105-mile road that runs the entire length of the Shenandoah National Park along the ridge of the Virginia's Blue Ridge Mountains east of the Shenandoah River. This scenic drive, hiking the Shenandoah National Park, kayaking the Shenandoah River, and visiting the Luray Caverns, and maybe the Skyline Caverns, will be the focus of our 10 day visit in this beautiful area.



Here we are comfortably nestled in our little corner of the Luray KOA Campground in Luray, Virginia with lots of elbow room and views of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the distance. It is a great spot for dogs too... more like a county park than an RV Park with lots of room to run! And not at all crowded this time of year. Spring has just begin to leaf out the trees now in early May making it a beautiful time of year to visit this heavenly part of the country. As John Denver sang in "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "Almost heaven, West Virginia, Blue Ridge Mountains, Shenandoah River..."



This is our view looking out our front door on another beautiful sunny morning. It is a Monday morning and the park has emptied out after the weekend. Still remaining is this other splendid Tiffin Allegro Bus just across from us, one very similar to ours. We enjoy seeing another Bus as part of our view as it is like looking in a giant mirror at our own beautiful rig. This KOA Campground is now the standard by which all future campgrounds and RV Parks will be judged. It is outstanding. Today is a perfect day to go do the Skyline Drive. Should be able to see for miles and miles across the entire Shenandoah Valley.



At the left is a view from one of the many, many scenic overlooks along the Skyline Drive through the Shenandoah National Park. My lifetime seniors pass gets us in for free! This famous scenic drive goes all along the ridge of the Blue Ridge Mountains here in Virginia. The Blue Ridge Mountains are eastern most range of the Appalachians and the Skyline Drive is part of the Appalachian Trail. We caught many distant glimpses of the beautiful Shenandoah River as it meanders thru the romantic valley below. Here's a hauntingly beautiful rendition of Oh Shenandoah by one of my favorite recording artists of years gone by. Easy to see why they say "Virginia is for Lovers".



Virginia is for Lovers is the tourism and travel slogan of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Used since 1969, it has become a well-recognized and often imitated part of American jargon. In 2012, Advertising Age called Virginia is for Lovers "one of the most iconic ad campaigns in the past 50 years." After only a few days in the state, we can certainly see why... and we LOVE it here.



Here we are standing in front of the 'Virginia is for Lovers' LOVEwork called the "Logs of Love" at Luray Caverns. One of dozens of similar LOVEworks around the state, this sculpture is located on the grounds of Luray Caverns and is constructed from wooden logs. Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Shenandoah Valley, the artwork encourages visitors to feel the LOVE at America's largest and most popular caverns.



Another lover's experience here as we walked with Corey along the Luray-Hawksbill Greenway, a multi-use path which meanders along scenic Hawksbill Creek through the center of historic Luray, Virginia. Luray is the central entry point to Shenandoah National Park and its scenic Skyline Drive through the Blue Ridge Mountains. It is also is home to Luray Caverns, a U.S. National Landmark and Eastern America’s largest cave which we'll visit on another day while we're here.



We took advantage of the nice weather and went out in our Hobie Outfitter pedal kayak along the south fork of the Shenandoah River. We launched it from the Massanutten Boat Launch which is just a few miles above the hydroelectric dam where the river is deeper and not so swift. We enjoyed some exercise amidst the beautiful scenery and absolute stillness of nature for a couple hours. We saw cows grazing in the fields and some of the local wildlife including fish jumping, great blue herons watching patiently for a meal, squirrels, and a lot of turtles sunning themselves on sections of logs poking up from the river bottom.



Here's a photo of me in front of a limestone formation in the spectacular Luray Caverns. The caverns were first discovered in 1878 by a local photographer and his friend. It has become a national attraction drawing more than half a million visitors a year. Among the memorable formations in the Caverns was the Lake of Dreams - a breathtaking reflecting pool. Photos cannot do it justice... but here's a little video tour someone did which gives a bit better idea of the scope of this incredible place.



After our visit to Luray Caverns we drove over to a local vineyard, Wisteria Farm and Vineyard. We did a 'flight' of 8 wines, both reds and whites... all very tasty. Our favorite was the Adonis, a unique varietal blend. Afterwards we strolled through the vineyard where the vines are just starting to leaf out.



We also visited the Luray Car and Carriage Caravan Museum located on the same grounds as Luray Caverns. The price of admission includes both plus the Luray Valley Museum, a collection of historic buildings from rustic 19th-century life along with many artifacts from the period. The Car and Carriage Museum contains an extensive collection from the earliest covered wagons and horse drawn carriages to the early motorized carriages on up through many fine automobiles thru 1925 including Rolls, Mercedes, Buick, Ford and others.



At the left is Libby in front of the Belle Brown Northcott Memorial Tower on the grounds of the Luray Caverns, standing with Carilloneur, Jesse Ratcliffe after listening to his Saturday afternoon 45 minute recital. Jesse was wonderfully generous to give us a private demonstration on the practice carillon in the photo below. There are 185 carillons in the US -- who knew?



A carillon is a musical instrument that is typically housed in the bell tower (belfry) of a church or municipal building. The instrument consists of at least 23 cast bronze, cup-shaped bells, which are played serially to produce a melody, or sounded together to play a chord. A traditional manual carillon is played by striking a keyboard (batons) with the fists, and by pressing the keys of a pedal keyboard with the feet. The keys mechanically activate levers and wires that connect to metal clappers that strike the inside of the bells, allowing the performer on the bells, or carillonneur/carillonist to vary the intensity of the note according to the force applied to the key.



Williamsport, Maryland


Moving on to Williamsport, Maryland, we're staying at a KOA Campground right on Conococheague Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. You can see it thru the trees. This is the deck that goes with this premium site here along there river... table and chairs, picnic table, swing... very nice accommodations! While here we will bike the celebrated 23 mile long Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT) as it winds along the Potomac River through scenic rolling farmland and woodlands along the border between Western Maryland and West Virginia. And plenty of kayaking options as well.



Well, once again the restaurant food rates a blog entry. We went out to have a celebratory Mother's Day dinner at Carmine's Italian Restaurant in Williamsport. Not expecting too much in small town Maryland... why would you? Well I am half Italian and have eaten a ton of Italian food in my time and this was bar none the BEST antipasto I have ever been served. In Williamsport, MD??? Yep. hands down. That's fresh wet mozarella, aged provolone, killer prosciutto, superb salami, tangy olives and red peppers and the best sliced eggplant ever. Served with a side of wonderful garlic bread, this was a full meal for the two of us. Carmine is owner and chef. We will have to go back.



Just outside the KOA Campground where we are staying is this scary little bridge. I am very grateful I did NOT have to drive the motorhome across it to get to the KOA. This is the kind of recurring nightmare you have when driving a mega coach like our Allegro Bus around small town America.



Hagerstown with a population of around 40,000 is the largest city in Western Maryland. This is about the size of Lake Oswego, the city in Oregon where we lived for many years. But it has a city park which rivals the very best in the country. The city purchased the land for the popular 50-acre park back in the early 20th century and it has become a beautiful spot for residents and visitors alike, housing several museums like the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts visible behind Libby across the lake.



Hagerstown City Park was rated 'Most Beautiful Park in America' by EscapeHere.com, "a website dedicated to showcasing incredible tourist destinations". It is certainly not hard to see why. I was motivated to take lots of photos, but photos can scarcely do it justice... it is one of those places you have to walk through at a leisurely pace to really appreciate. Walking at a leisurely pace is one of the very best parts of retirement.



Here's Corey and me relaxing in the shade of a gorgeous weeping willow tree down by the edge of the beautiful lake in Hagerstown City Park. I am sure if we lived here we would be regulars!



Another beautiful photo of the picturesque Hagerstown City Park, showcasing one of the numerous walking bridges which cross over various fingers of water which lead to the central lake.



How many small city parks have an amphitheater like this one? Situated right in the middle of Hagerstown City Park the Peter Buys Band Shell hosts summer concerts by the Hagerstown Municipal Band, local gospel singers, and serves as the venue for the Sunday session of the Western Maryland Bluesfest. What a beautiful venue!



This beautiful sculpture by artist Paul Rhymer sits in front of the Washington County Museum of Fine Arts in Hagerstown City Park. It's called "The Fishing Lesson" depicting a mother bear teaching her cub to fish. There are plenty of fish in this little lake too... mostly of the large pond carp variety readily visible along the edges of the lake, making it like a large goldfish pond.



In addition to the many walking paths and bridges, sculptures, museums, and the beautiful lake, Hagerstown City Park has a couple lovely fountains like this one. They really didn't miss a trick! We highly recommend a visit to this beautiful 50 acre park if you are passing through Western Maryland. I'm sure you will agree there is nothing like it anywhere.



On Wednesday we took our bicycles over to the Big Pool Station and rode along the Western Maryland Rail Trail. This beautiful wooded Bike Trail has been extended to 23 miles of flat, paved trail surface, starting 1/2 mile west of historic Fort Frederick State Park in Washington County, Maryland, all the way to Pearre, Maryland. We rode 10 miles of it (roundtrip) today. We'll try to get back here once more before we head north.



On Thursday we drove the 45 minutes from our KOA Campground in Williamsport over to the quaint, historic community of Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Located at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers, where the states of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia meet, it was named for the ferry here across the Potomac River established in 1761 by Quaker colonist Robert Harper. This historic ferry made the town a key starting point for white settlers moving into the Shenandoah Valley and further west. The town later became an important front in the Civil War with many significant battles fought here. We strolled the picturesque streets, and visited a few exhibits and museums, and had lunch.



Harpers Ferry is a treasure trove of history, mostly now preserved as a National Park. Again my senior's pass gets us entrance for free, and a shuttle ride down from the visitor's center into the town where parking is very limited. Harpers Ferry is renowned among other things as the home of John Brown, the famed abolitionist whose raid on Harpers Ferry is in all the history books. His original fort, pictured at the left, is preserved here as a monument. 'John Brown's body lies a molderin' in the grave..."



Many of the original buildings have been partially rebuilt after numerous floods which ravaged Harpers Ferry over the centuries. Now managed by the National Park Service, these are all set up as exhibits of early colonial life... shops, hotels, hardware store, old homes including that of John Brown, and this armory where rifles were manufactured for the civil war, locks, stocks and barrels.



Harpers Ferry is located on a point of land at the confluence of the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers... here's Libby standing at the extreme point of land in Harpers Ferry with the Potomac on the left and the Shenandoah River on the right.



Harpers Ferry is the site not only where two mighty rivers meet, and three states, but also three famous trails... the Appalachian Trail, the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal (C&O) and the Potomac Heritage Trail. A Hiker's Paradise. Maybe in our next lifetimes!



Enroute to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, we drove thru Sharpsburg, MD, home to the Antietam National Battlefield, a National Park Service protected area along Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Washington County. It commemorates the American Civil War Battle of Antietam that occurred on September 17, 1862, widely known as the bloodiest day in American history. There's a marvelous visitor's center there with a museum, a very informative half hour film presentation, and the tower memorial pictured at the left to honor the fallen soldiers.



On Friday we loaded our bikes back on and drove to the Hancock trailhead (near milepost 11) of the Western Maryland Rail Trail (WMRT). This proved to be a quieter section of the trail, as the previous ride out of the Big Pool trailhead paralleled the interstate for several miles. No roads nearby at all once we headed north out of Hancock on this section of the trail. With Corey in his Doggyride, we rode about 12 miles roundtrip. It was similarly wooded and shaded but had some rocky terrain alongside for some varied scenery and offers occasional glimpses of the Potomac River which runs alongside.



After our bike ride we drove out into the country to check a place called Happy Hills Campground. On the drive there we passed this gem on the left... which should have been our first clue. When we finally negotiated all the twists and turns to get out there to the campground, we were NOT happy. Scratch that one off the list!



On our last day here we got an early start and drove back to the same Hancock park where we biked from yesterday... they have a boat launch and we put the Hobie Mirage Outfitter Pedal Kayak into the Potomac River and pedaled upstream several miles for about an hour and a half. Once you pass the bridge at the town of Hancock, the river is very solitary in this area. After an hour and a half pedaling upstream against the swift current, we turned around and more or less coasted with the current all the way back being careful to avoid the really shallow rocky spots. Great exercise for the two of us and a very pleasant afternoon!



Today, Monday, our only full day in the Harrisburg area, after I purchased the EZ Pass transponders at the Harrisburg office for the Pennsylvania Turnpike, Libby and I went to visit my parents' graves at the nearby beautiful Indiantown Gap National Cemetery. My Dad was a doctor in the US Navy for 25 years and thus qualifies to be buried here. As I have not been back to Pennsylvania for quite some time, this was my first visit to the gravesite since the two funerals, the last one 11 years ago. It is a beautiful quiet spot on the hill where they can rest together for all eternity.



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