The Trip Northward

After an exciting last few weeks at the Plantation, we have the truck loaded to the gunnels, including the back seat to over capacity – almost no room for the cookies Marti made us as fuel while on the road! Our trip without the rig means we have to use public washrooms which is one of the downers for leaving it behind. Well, we are not wrong as our first nature stop was at a Marathon station and Barb came out totally disgusted with the filthy conditions – sticky floors, tissue scattered all around and a round toilet seat on an elongated bowl and the front part of the bowl was black. She told me in graphic detail how she had to be a contortionist so her jeans didn’t contact any of it!

We made it safely to Lydia’s new home in her favourite community of Bent Tree, just outside of Jasper Ga. Paul had to meet us at the gate to ensure we didn’t get lost driving to the house. We had a very warm welcome from Lydia and Paul with hugs. After we played catch up and cocktails, we went out for dinner at one their regular haunts – again, what more can you ask for, good food, good friends and good times – life is good!

On Wednesday, Paul had a regular ball game with a bunch of other old cronies! Paul was out in left field – no, I mean his ball position was in left field, not his personality! Barb, Lydia and myself were his personal cheering section which I’m sure embarrassed him some and I’d bet he heard about the rowdy cheering section at his next game. Anyway, we all had fun and then off to lunch – where would we be if we didn’t eat! After fortifying our appetites, we wandered – some call it shopping – around an outlet mall where we found the remainder of our dishes for the house. The rest of the day was laid back and relaxing back at the house.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday, we toured the beautiful Gibbs Gardens near Lydia’s. I can’t write it all here so I encourage you to follow the link I provided to see and read more, I can not do it the justice it deserves. We walked 90% of the gardens, walked up to the manor house – Mr Gibbs still lives there – and made it back to the snack bar to replenish our energy levels! As you would suspect, Barb’s camera was very busy and I have tried to give you a synopsis of the pictures she took. I hope you enjoy.

 

Friday we leave Lydia and Paul to head north onto Terri & Mark’s cabin in Ellicottville NY for the weekend before we cross the border back into Canada. The weather and road conditions were fine until we neared Cleveland and all too soon, we realize we have to get off the road before we find troubles. The snow was thick and blowing hard and we still had about 4 hours of driving ahead of us. We were approaching an exit with many cars in the ditches, a van pulling a travel trailer did a 180 and was against the guard rail pointing at us. The exit couldn’t come soon enough! It’s crazy how many drivers think they are expert winter drivers and ignore the conditions, driving faster than the conditions warrant and eventually, they end up in the ditch! Anyway, I digress with my narrative! we pulled into a Comfort Inn and waited our turn to check in – wow, we were quoted $189 for a night. When I asked what happened to the $39 dollar rooms, I was informed that it is March Break and they have an indoor water park – well, laudy dah, we don’t have kids and are only there to get off the road due to the weather. The attendant did advised that she would take $10 off the rate if we took a room without a nuke or a fridge! Wow, I was so ready to take 2 rooms at that rate! NOT! We went across the road to a motel of the same chain and got a room for $89. Luckily, there was a generous gentleman behind us that gave us a coupon that took another $10 off the rate so we thought we had won the lottery with only paying $79/night for a room for the night!

The next day (Saturday) we woke to clear blue skies but cold so after a quick breakfast, we were on our way again. We arrived near 1ish – that gave Terri & Mark a few hours of skiing on the last ski weekend. After we arrived, had a beverage and caught up, we took off to the EBC for lunch and of course, more brewskis! We toured the ski hill, walked around the deck as the day was winding down and the skiers were departing so we went into the chalet for some après ski.

After some Sunday antique shopping, we toured their new house they bought around the corner from their current place. They are becoming rental moguls of Ellicottville! We loaded back into the truck for the drive to our little ‘hobby house’. We arrived to be assaulted by snow plies – yuk! Thanks goodness, we have a nice neighbour who kept our driveway clear all winter so we didn’t have to shovel or walk through it to unload the truck. We no sooner had the truck empty and Terri & Mark arrived and we all go out for dinner! Another nice arrival….

So, I’ll leave you here as we settle into our house without furniture and TV but we do have an airbed to lay our weary bods down until we get a real one! Hope all is well out there,,,,

Our Last Weeks at the Plantation

Our last post brought us up to the 1st week in March. This is a difficult time for us as we are coming face to face with our decision to leave our home here and take possession of our ‘hobby house’ back in Canada. It took lots of conversation between us to make this leap from the roaming lifestyle to being home owners again and just commuting back and forth to our little bit of paradise here in LA (Lower Alabama). We just could not accept just anyone moving into our little house – we just did too good of a job finishing the place that we would be heart broken if it were damaged by a ‘renter’. And, maybe we are ready to settle into something and work on the gardens, clean the eve troughs and cut grass again!
So, March is upon us and we have decided to head home early to see how well or not, the little house survived the harsh winter. Before we go, there is still lots going on. A bunch of us went out to listen to TruGrass, a blue grass band. We heard them a couple of years ago and enjoyed the entertainment and this evening was no different, they were great.

Bill, Tom & I went to a cooking class that demonstrated ‘the how to’ while cooking grass fed beef, home made pesto served with cooked macaroni. Of course, being a commercial establishment, we were not permitted wine for our dinner so we stopped before hand for a few primer cocktails. The teaching kitchen was modern and open so we could all experience what each other was doing. Naturally, the 3 of us had fun and an excellent steak meal. Have no fears, our ladies were out for dinner too.
Saturday brought warm sunshine which urged us to replace the broken panel in our shed. It broke in 2013 and the manufacturer sent us a new one but I didn’t get a round tuit until now. So you ask, how many guys does it take to change a panel in a shed – four you say! Larry, Bill & Tom came by to help out and a good thing too, the roof panel had to be removed and so on. We had it all done inside of an hour and another few minutes admiring our hard work.
Sunday was such a beautiful day, we just had to get the boats wet again before we head north where our kayak won’t see water for a few months. We (Tom & Cheryl and Bill & Ann) put in at the boat launch on highway 98 and paddled through the canals that were left behind from an old campground that was destroyed after a hurricane ripped through this area a few years ago and is now a wet land reserve - Weeks Bay Reserve. After making our way through the canals, we paddled up the Fish River, made a right turn down another canal that wound through some pretty nice homes – all equipped with boat hoists and party rooms. Looks like a busy party area and it must be noisy on the weekends come summer! Once we cleared that canal, we turned down river and back to the launch site. All totalled, we paddled over 3 miles and had a wonderful time. Afterwards, we cooled down at Tom & Cheryl’s for happy hour - their deck faces west so we enjoy the late afternoon sun.


Tuesday was an exciting day. Our friends Larry & Marti – she is a southern belle from Charleston, SC. – hosted a Frogmore Stew for us northerners to enjoy. Our hosts extraordinaire provided everything, even the beer but if you wanted something different, you brought it yourself. Barb & I took dessert and a jug of Vesper Martinis for all. Everyone brought so much that I can’t list it here suffice it to say, no one went home hungry or thirsty!










This was a first time experience for us and it was maybe the highlight of the winter season. This is not a meal that you sit down for and most people do not use knives or forks – one might get hurt reaching for a morsel! Once the boil is done, the contents are drained and then poured out onto a large table covered in paper and anyone hungry, bellies up and digs in. The food was great, the company excellent and of course the beverages capped it all off for a great afternoon of fun.
We’re winding down now but still getting some chores done before we button it up and head out. Jerry came over to show me an easy way to sink long augers into the ground so we could fasten our rig down so it doesn’t end up on someone else’s lot! I manage to get’r washed and the boat washed and bagged for home. Now, this may sound busy but we still had time for a few lunches out – Big Daddy’s of course and we met the ladies at the Sunset Pointe in Fairhope. It is a real nice spot, overlooking the Fairhope Yacht Club and Mobile Bay. It was a wonderful afternoon, sitting out on the back deck with friends having lunch and a few laughs.

On Saturday before we left, we hosted happy hour under our magnolia tree. We had quite a crowd and our friend Dallas came by with his fiddle and played a few songs for us. What a great day and send off for us.





We had a wonderful surprise on Sunday – well, not really a surprise since they emailed that they would be by but a wonderful visit by Canadian friends Ray & Donna (aka Crusty). They were on their way back from Florida and since they were in the area, they thought they would stop by for a brief visit to see where we have all the winter fun. How’s your geography, LA is not really on their way home from Florida so it was more special to see them. After a little tour, we introduced them to the bunch we hang with over lunch at - - you guessed it, Big Daddy’s!

Ok, so I have written maybe too much but this ends with us loading the truck and head’n north to Georgia to check in on our friend Lydia. Our next post will pick us up there…. until then, wishing you well and safe travels wherever you are.

Fun Times–Still

Again, I am slack in posting for our loyal readers. I have no excuses except we have been really busy. We are back home in Ontario now but I will try to bring you up to date on our exciting activities.

I left off on our return back to the Plantation after a fun few days at Ho Hum RV park in Florida and we quickly slid into the groove of things and activities. Barb continues working on some quilt projects and I finally finish washing and waxing the neighbour's rig (I mentioned this task in my last post). Now, as you know, all this work was not done without a little fun. More happy hours on the warm days – even some on cool days but more difficult as all 8 of us get cozy in the host rig.

We even have happy hours at local establishments like this one, The Sunset Point Cafe at the Fly Creek Marina in Fairhope. It is at the base of a small bay on Mobile Bay, looking west over the Fairhope Yacht Club and into the setting sun – a great place for a late afternoon beverage.

 

We were even out on the water a couple of times this past few weeks. It is wonderful being on the water again. Against our better judgement, we have to kayak on weekends because of the weather – if we didn’t, we might be out! Anyway, we noticed an interesting observation – the more senior boaters do not slow down to reduce their wake for us yet the younger boaters do! Must be the southern upbringing – yes sir, no sir etc!

 

 

The ladies decided that just quilting was not all they wanted to accomplish this season and started to design and paint a mini barn quilt for our sites. Tom & I sanded and prime painted the boards and when dry, Barb & Cheryl started painting. At first, they painted together under our awning but the pine pollen drove them inside. Barb was able to complete 1 side of hers before we left and it looks great.

 

In early March, a few of us went on a Shrimp Boat cruise to learn all about the Shrimping industry. Our day started early to meet the bus and then a drive to Biloxi to a casino to separate us from our money. Barb & I did pretty good and left there with more than we went in with – we’re not buying anything big by the way but at least we were in the black. Then we bellied up to the lunch buffet – need I say I was over served again? So much good food and of course, I had to try everything I wanted to and then couldn’t move without Barb wheeling me around in a wheel barrow!

We all felt better after a long walk on the fishing pier just outside of the casino before we headed over to the Shrimping tour boat. The tour guide demonstrated the shrimp nets, talked about the shrimp season, where the shrimp are and what brings them in or out. He even caught a small one when he brought the net in along with a few other interesting creatures. He handled each one and talked about what he had caught etc. It turned out to be a beautiful day to be out on the water and learning some stuff too.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now that I am done with being nice to the neighbours, I have built a garden under the Magnolia tree to keep the summer grass cutters away from the lower limbs of the tree. Last summer, a few were damaged by the canopy of the mower. There is no plan to plant this area so we filled it with the same type of gravel we used for the walk way to the shed and it looks great.

 

 

This post brings us up to the first week in March and I will post again soon to get us back to Ontario – maybe!

A Vacation Trip

Holy crap, where does the time go? It seems I just updated our blog then I turn around and a month has past me by! Where to start? I think in my last posting – oh so long ago, I pretty much covered off January. Let me recap – lunches, happy hours and quilting for Barb and BS’ing for me. I will try to bring you up to-date on our February activities so far.

Our neighbour has had a difficult time finding a reliable guy to wash her rig so I offered to do it for her – isn’t that the SKP way? The weather has not co-operated but I finally finished it March 1st and now onto some of our own projects and it seems the weather is warming a bit here. We haven’t even been out kayaking very much because of the cool temps or rain.

 

In early February, our Ladies thought they should make a trip to Ocean Springs, MS for fabric and the guys would meet them at The Shed for a BBQ lunch. We left an hour or so behind them so we wouldn’t be sitting and waiting, consuming way too much while they shopped. Well, the fabric store was closed and the Ladies were waiting for us! Now that’s a role reversal for ya.

 

At least once a season, we trek over to Felix’s fish camp for a most excellent lunch. It is always a treat and this year was no exception as it was Ann’s birthday lunch. There was 10 of us and the restaurant set us up in a small room for our ‘party’. We had a wonderful feast and of course, a great time.

It’s Mardis Gras time here again and Tom & Cheryl have not been to a parade so we took them to Point Clear for the Mullet Mardis Gras parade – a smallish family style to break them in gently. Maybe next year we’ll do a bigger night parade to give them the complete experience!

The next day, the three of us – Bill & Ann, Tom & Cheryl and Barb & I – hooked up our rigs and head off for a little sight seeing/get-away to Ho Hum campground in Carrabelle Florida. The original thought was to take our kayaks and spend a lot of time on the water as the campground is right on the coast and easy in and out. As we got closer to our getaway, the weather did not co-operate again and we decided to leave the boats here and instead, picked up more beverages! We arrived in time to set up, have happy hour and then out for dinner – remember, we don’t cook on travel days. After dinner, we were back to our place for night caps.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday was Cheryl’s birthday and we tried hard to give her the best celebration – happy hour at 10 then off to lunch! A great start for her day. After we got back, Barb & I went out for fuel and happened on a Bald Eagle on our way back. We pulled over and even though we were a few yards away, Barb managed to get a few pictures. Then we all converged on Tom & Cheryl’s for more happy hour festivities!

Tuesday was a trip to St George Island, a little walk around on the beach and lighthouse but it was cold and threatening rain. After this, we’re off to Apalachicola, FL to wander the downtown (read shops) and lunch. We end up at Caroline’s on the river for lunch. Unfortunately, is was too cold to sit out on the deck to watch the world go by but the food and service was great anyway – not to mention the company! After we get back to Ho Hum, Barb & I drive further down the coast ( the others have been here before but we’re newbie’s and wanted to see more) to Alligator Harbor Aquatic Preserve. Here the government leases 10 acre sites to shell fish farms. Rather interesting and we caught a couple of good pictures of a Blue Heron that was standing nearby. We travelled further than we expected and were a little late for happy hour – now that’s not legal!

The next day we head back to the Plantation and brings us to February 19th and a good place to stop for now. Hope all is good where you are and come back again mainly if you are snowed inside. . . . .