Head’n Home

Barb & I went to the ice cream social at the clubhouse one last time to say farewell to the many friends we have made over the winter here at the Plantation. Oh, and of course for the ice cream! This is always an unhappy time saying goodbye but it is also a happy time to be moving on again. Our destination is to the NuWa factory in Chanute, KS to get the floor replaced on the bedroom slide.

One of the many Bluebirds that visit come by for a visit. this one looks really young.

We had a very nice drive north out of Mobile and into Mississippi. We stayed off the interstate until Winona and parked at WalMart in Grenada, MS. I always say that parking at WalMart is an expensive campground but this time I’m wrong. We don’t need anything so we paid very little for parking!

Back on the road with great weather but a bit breezy from the SW so it was helping until we turned west at Memphis. Wow, I had forgotten how flat the eastern side of Arkansas is, the dust was a blow’n. The terrain changed before we got to Little Rock and the hills offered spectacular vistas. We turned north again on 540 and pulled into WalMart at Fayetteville. It is hot and we would love to have our air on but no hook ups so no air! From here, our trip to Chanute is only a 4 hour drive. We continue on our way with little traffic and calm skies.

Our plan was to arrive at the Santa Fe Campground early Thursday to be assured of a space since this campground can be busy but as we roll in, there were lots of spaces available. Our appointment is Monday so we have a few days to be lazy – right! There are advantages to travelling in cool weather – you don’t have to wash the  bugs off the front! Yuk. Barb gets busy with organizing her fabric stash and sewing cabinet and I with a few little jobs that appeared while enroute. Otherwise, we’re  kick’n back in Chanute KS.

Hope’n all is good with all y’all out there….

The Quiet has Returned

Whew, we survived the weekend with Terri & Mark, and with many snowbirds heading north, it is considerably quieter around here now. Even though many folks from the Plantation have gone north, that doesn’t stop several of the remaining quilting ladies from gathering together and enjoy their ‘stitch & bitch’ sessions each Tuesday and Thursday. Barb continues to be influenced by the talent of the others and joins in on their camaraderie. In a few words, we’re having fun! BTW, our Magnolia Tree is out in bloom so now we can leave. We were hoping that we would get to see it before we left; we have and the blooms are beautiful.

As we look toward the end of the month and our departure, we get several items cleared up like truck maintenance, rig washed and starting to wax, ‘stuff’ stowed and organized. We have attempted to hook up with our friends – Sean & Patti as they move east and us west but to no avail. We’re gonna be ‘ships in the night’ again. So now our plan is to leave here Apr 24th for Chanute, KS to get the bedroom slide floor replaced.

We have been kayaking on the Fish River a few times with our friends Bill & Ann. One time, as we were heading back to the put in a homeowner waved us over to their shore and asked if we would help retrieve a kids bike from the river bottom. Apparently the kids were not to play near the water but you know kids, somehow the bike ended up in the drink!

So, Barb held us against the breakwater while I used their boat hook to feel for the bike and tried to catch it on a spoke or something to bring it to the surface. I was surprised on how deep the water was right against the breakwater. After a few attempts, we found the bike and had it hooked and brought it up. The kids were happy and the parents were overjoyed as they didn’t have to go in for it! The owner was no where to be seen so I’m sure she knew she was in for something unpleasant. Anyway, ‘the bike rescue’ gave us another story in our life memories.

Another time kayaking, we detoured over to Big Daddy’s for lunch. We were not sure how graceful we would be getting our duffs out of the kayaks and onto the dock but it worked out without one of us getting wet! It was kinda neat to go kayaking and paddle into the restaurant for a beverage and a bite. We pulled the kayaks out onto the dock while we ate. Getting back into them was not a pretty site for me, as I sat down, I did not land properly and was almost laying down before I regained my balance – ooppps.

One of the campers here does some beautiful scroll saw work and I asked if he had his router with him and of course he did! Judy had made us a stained glass window that we intended to put in the cabinet opening of our stereo components so I took it down to Ed to route a channel out to set the stained glass in. He had it done in no time and it is a perfect fit.Thanks Ed! Now we’re on the hunt for clips to hold it in but for now it is fine until we put some hinges on.

We’ve been hang’n with Bill & Ann and they depart on Monday as we head out on Tuesday so we decided to have one last kayak and to stop at Big Daddy’s for a celebratory dinner. This time, the getting out and in was much better. Good food and cold beer with friends, it can’t get any better than this – oh, ok, maybe if we won a lottery.

I will not publish again until we get back to our perch in Ontario. We hope to land around May 5th or so. Hope all is well with you out there, where ever you are…

A Warm & Fuzzy Weekend

It’s Thursday and we’re picking Terri & Mark up at the Mobile airport. Our bathroom light has just stopped working and I can’t find the correct diode here so we’ll make a detour on the way. We leave a little early – not because we’re too excited, we are, but we can do some errands in Mobile on the way.  Then, they arrive, oh happy day.

After we catch our breath and have a beverage or two under the Magnolia, we take a small tour of the park and then meet our friends, Bill & Ann and Dick & Marcia at Big Daddy’s for dinner. The weather did not promise to be great for their weekend visit but we’ll make the best of it anyway.

Friday, we ventured up to the Mobile Delta to 5 Rivers for a Delta cruise. Here gator, gator gator! It is worth the read to follow the links I’ve provided, it’s a pretty amazing piece of nature. We packed a picnic lunch and were on the boat by 11AM. Our guide was very knowledgeable and good at what he does – he kept us entertained and was able to answer all our questions – if you knew Terri she had at least one! We did see a few gators relaxing in the sun. They paid no attention to us in the pontoon boat but as soon as a family approached one in a canoe, he took off. Our guide said gators are afraid of ‘things’ that are the same size as them – like canoes – big boats not so much. After the 2 hour cruise we found a picnic shady table and broke out our lunch. It is a beautiful area.

Our outing took us down the east side of Mobile Bay through Daphine and Fairhope along the scenic route 98. Oh, the shops in Fairhope and we have the queen of shopping with us so we had to stop! First, a look at main street then a stroll down through the French Quarter. The trees have come out in leaf so all the mini lights (thousands of them) have been removed and the gardens at each corner of downtown are in bloom and are beautiful. This has to be the nicest little town in the USA and we are so lucky to live so close. We’re on our way again to settle under the Magnolia tree for a few beverages before dinner. It has been a great day and better that we are sharing it with Terri & Mark!

As I have said before, our plans are securely set in jello and it is a good thing. We wake to rain and our plans have to be rearranged to fit the weather. So instead of getting going at dawn, we have a leisurely morning then off to the Elberta German Sausage fest! Elberta is just 20 minutes east of us at the Plantation and with Mark being from Calgary, he just had to have a picture of the town sign. By now, the rain has stopped and with the heat, the grounds are drying up quickly so we wander – not aimlessly – through the many craft and art vendors and then off to the grill for a sumptuous German Sausage. We stop by a Karaoke set up and listen to a little  eleven  year girl belting out a terrific sound. She gathers a huge crowd and by all appearances, she is a regular here at the fest.

We continue on our way toward Florida and to the Naval Base, the home of the Blue Angels and the Naval Air Museum. This museum is spectacular. If you were to closely  look at each exhibit, you would need to make it a 2 day visit to see it all that way. There are planes on the floor, planes hanging from the roof and other exhibits around the edges and on the balcony that surrounds the main display floor. There are a couple of flight simulators that the ‘kids’ had to ride which was a good thing, it gave the ‘old folks’ an opportunity to sit and rest. After a very entertaining afternoon, we exit to see a jet circling for a landing – we planned this for Mark, LOL.

Our trip home via the scenic route along the gulf. What ever happened to public access to the beach? With all the condos and resorts, there is no room for us to just stop and walk in the surf. Oh, look up ahead – Florabama is on the left, a favorite stop for many spring breakers. Lets stop for a beverage and see what’s going on and maybe we can get out onto the beach. Up to the bar and get our libations and then stand on the picnic tables – everyone does it. Hey, there is beach access so off we go, the sand is soft and difficult to walk in but firm near the water.. Not too much going on, a few sunbathers, a few march breakers and their coolers but not too crowded.

Back in the truck and continue on our trip. It’s getting time for dinner so let’s give them an eating treat and go to Lamberts. The lot is full and we have to park at the back – not a good sign of an early seating. We are informed that there is a 60 minute wait. What the hell, where do we have to go and it is an eating event here so lets go! We finally get a table and the experience begins; buns buzzing all around us, food getting slapped down on paper towels and the wait staff spilling food and drink on us – oh, pretending to spill on us is what I meant to say. You just need to raise your hand and a bun is thrown at you from wherever the bun waiter is, across the room or from the end of an aisle. Once your food order is served, you immediately realize that there is more than you can possibly eat and will require a ‘doggy bag’! The 4 of us required help getting to our feet after dinner and then collapsed back home for the night.

Sunday’s tour was to attend the Spring Bird Banding Station. It is best viewed early in the morning so we had an early start and made the 45 minute trip to Ft Morgan  It is very interesting what they do and how they do it. Terri & Mark got to hold and release birds that were caught in the nets, then banded, measured, documented, fed and then released. There were a couple of stations set up. The bird nets are strung out along pathways etc to catch the birds as they fly in from the gulf on their way north. The nets are almost invisible and very delicate. The banders know exactly how to remove the birds and hold  them without causing harm or injury. They very patiently teach anyone that wants to know, how to hold and release a bird. It was an extraordinary event that we all enjoyed.

After lots of pictures and learning, we head back up toward the campground and over to the Pitcher Plant Bog. This is a very unique area down here and one of our favorite little walks we enjoy.

As we follow the boardwalk out to the Fish River overlook, we meet up with several SKP friends from the plantation. The boardwalk is not very long – about 1/2 mile but perfect through tall pines. We met up with another Blue Tailed Skink along the way. On our return, we met more friends from the park, it’s a popular place. We also found a Red Bellied Woodpecker digging for lunch at the top of one of the  dead pines. We loaded back up into the truck and headed back to the Magnolia for more chit chat and the accompanying beverages. As dark approached, we took off for dinner at Lulu’s. As we came into the parking lot, the attendant informed us that it is a 2 hour wait for dinner – then he said that’s the Lulu’s experience! We went in anyway because what did we otherwise have to do? We sat at the outdoor beach bar (Lulus is at least 5 miles away from the beach) and listened to the music and watched the other customers waiting also. After a couple of drinks, we closed our tab and miraculously, our table was ready! Can you say they plan it that way? Anyway, we had a table on the rail overlooking the Intercoastal Waterway, in our shorts, having a great time so how good is that?

Before you know it the weekend is over and on Monday Terri and Mark fly out.  We had a leisurely morning and drove them out to the airport for their 1:30 pm flight. They had a bottle of red wine with them but the security folks would not allow them to take it with them on the plane so it was dropped into the trash bin. After they passed through security, they found out their plane was delayed and decided to have lunch so they went back to security and retrieved their wine and sat at the local restaurant and had lunch and drank their wine. A perfect ending to a terrific visit. Thanks guys for coming all the way down here.

Thanks to you for viewing and we hope all is well out there…..

Expectant Guests

Monday, Mar 26th, Terri and Mark are coming down for the weekend and we are excited that they want to visit the old folks at the ‘old age home’ here in L.A!

Barb & her quilting buds were off shopping to put the final touches on a table cloth they made with the left over fabric from the raffle quilt and I laid more broken stone down in front of my ‘work bench’ (read plank on ladder) beside the shed. It works great for me – rain or cold and I don’t do anything! After all the shopping and stone laying was completed, we trekked down to Bill & Ann’s again for happy hour (or two) with Marcia and Dick.

Even though the ladies are sort of done sewing, they still get together at the clubhouse and I’m sure tell funny stories about their pet husbands! After lunch, Barb & I picked up another couple of flip flop patio stones so we could get the step completed at the deck entry. We had lots of stone left over from the walk way so with all the materials in hand now, we dug and dug and finished the job before clean up and off to the last Tuesday dinner at the clubhouse. Tonight’s dinner was free to say thanks to all those that have volunteered throughout the winter – yes, we do volunteer. Larry (our cook) rummages through the freezer and pulls together a fine pot luck meal.

Wednesday, Bill, Ann & Joan join us kayaking some of the back channels of the Fish River where it empties into Weeks Bay. It was a wonderful paddle with friends and calm waters. Again, we didn’t see too much wildlife except for the ones in the kayaks. On our way back to the launch ramp, we did see a Blue Heron, a Green Heron and an Osprey.

                                   

Tomorrow, Terri & Mark arrive at Mobile airport so we’ll cut this entry short here. We wish y’all well out there….

It is Slowing Down

I am sorry I am a couple of weeks behind my postings but time is zipping by and lots of our winter friends are heading to northern locations. We have had several lunches out to celebrate with heart felt goodbyes. I’ll try to pick up where I left off narrating about our fun times here at the Plantation.

Monday, March 19th, Barb had her quilt team over for lunch as a thank you for their hard work and friendship on next years raffle quilt. This was the 1st ‘real’ event that we hosted on our new site here. It was a good time. In the evening, Jim & Lydia and Barry joined us for a Mexican Train fix.

It seems like it is just party, party, party  and the quilting ladies had their year end brunch party at the clubhouse. Barb has been helping Ron with his video software (he uses the same as Barb) so we had them over for dinner and ‘home movie’ night to show him what Barb does with the software. Jim & Lydia were also here and brought lots of laughs with them. Ron & Ruth came over in their golf cart and we all sat out under our Magnolia tree before dinner. As Ron & Ruth were leaving, they drove straight out the back of our site but did not notice the Azalea bush a ran right over it! Now I understand why they don’t drink alcohol beverages!

Wednesday was the last Cooks Corner seminar and we feasted on prime rib of beef and pork tenderloin with all the trimmings. What a lunch! Barb rolled me home for a nap!

Thursday, Barb went to her quilting ladies group and I went to the computer group but it was a sad day as we said fare thee well to Jim & Lydia as they left for destinations in Georgia and North Carolina. We had a quiet afternoon and back to the clubhouse for dinner.

 

 

Friday brought us a torrential downpour but Barb and a couple of ladies delivered the quilts to the boys ranch in the rain. The quilt group here held a quilting bee and completed 15 quilts in one day with many hands helping. Fifty-two men & women helped  cutting and assembling while others sewed (15 sewing machines) and pressed seams. It was amazing the progress they made.

That evening, we had dinner with Barry & Lorrie at the Fish River Grill. Sadly, Barry & Lorrie left Saturday AM after we all had a last breakfast at the clubhouse. 

A bunch of us met at a local restaurant in Fairhope for lunch Sunday. It seems it is a regular stop for some after church. Us, we just showed up and one of the others put a bunch of tables together to seat us all.

 

 

We road with Bill and Ann and after, sat at their site for the afternoon with Dick & Marcia, kibitzing and carrying on as if we were in our right minds! It was good fun. And yes, it is Sunday and so off to the ice cream social and said our good byes to many RVers heading out.

Hoping all is well where you are….