Ready to Roll

Ready to Roll

Our History

My photo
Ohio, United States
Having recently retired we are fulfilling our long time dream. We began our camping life with a tent in 1969 adjusting as each of our three sons arrived over the years and gradually progressed to a 32' Class A in 2007. Even after our sons became too busy with their own interests, we continued dreaming over the years. The Louisville, KY 2003 Great North American RV Rally and the book "Movin' On" convinced us that a motorhome after retirement was really for us! In 2007 we sold our home and disposed of most of our belongings and awaited the wife's retirement on February 1, 2008. We were out in our first motorhome ten times in our first summer in 2007, with our grandson joining us eight of those ten times. Since he must stay behind with his mom and dad to continue school, we told him he can join us on vacations (by car or plane) anywhere we are as we travel the US. Imagine the history lessons he could acquire! However, Mom and Dad don't look at it that way, especially the flying. Fortunately we don't miss work one bit!! We just miss the friends there. We have many hobbies to keep us busy when we decide to sit still for a day. Hope to see you on the road.

Sunday, March 30, 2014

WIND DOWN AT RED OAKS RV PARK in BUSHNELL FLORIDA

I HEAR THUNDER!  Guess it will be an all day rain.  I am sure they can use it here, but it plays havoc with our packing up.  Good thing that we started a few days early.  We are also trying to have that last dinner or visit with each of our friends here.
Finished chainsaw carvings in the Park.
I do not think that this is all this year's work
as this is a permanent site.


Audrey and Gary at dinner
 with Jeff and Judy at Stumpknockers in Dunnellon FL.
Audrey wrestles the alligator at Stumpknockers
while Judy looks on.

Audrey at work on last scrap booking day in Park.
Audrey and Judy packing up the last time
 for this season.



Chainsaw carvings in progress.
They have a permanent area in the Park.

Friends, Don and Gina,
 trade Fifth wheel for a new Park Model.
  Awsome!!

Don and Gina,
 friends from New Hampshire.

Jeff and Judy, friends from Niagara, Ontario
with their rig.
  This is there first year full timing
 and we hope to meet up with them again.

Jeff helps Gary pack it away!
Getting ready to move on.

Jeff holds the scooter after loading it on rack
while Gary prepares to tie it down.
I'd call Jeff a great helper!


We missed Karen at our last scrapbooking session,
I think that she had company at home.
But we enjoyed her company when she was there.


Neighbors, Katherine and Ted, snowbirds from Indiana.
We hope to meet up with them in Indiana
as they are thinking that this will be there last
winter in the south because of Ted's health.


Sandhill Cranes that you see often in the park,
until the past week or so.
We think they must be nesting or moving north.
Our neighbor fed them corn so they were often near.
They are beautiful, but noisy and dirty.




















Bob and Bonnie Dawson,
snowbirds from Ontario, in concert
 at Frist Baptist Church last Sunday.
Neighbors, Evelyn and Glen, snowbirds from NY,
who winter here at Red Oaks in Bushnell FL


 
Friday evening we went with Glen and Evelyn to Brookesville FL for dinner at Golden Corral.  Evelyn has to be very picky about what foods she eats and what they have been prepared with.  Golden Corral is very good about getting the information for her.
 

 
Fran, our friend from Arizona/Illinois
who spent the winter across the road from our park
at Blueberry Hill Park here in Bushnell. 
She and I shared an office job with Cal-Am
in Mesa AZ a couple winters.

Fran went with us to the great Mexican Restaurant
in front of our Park here in Bushnell.

Judy and Jeff went with us for dinner today,
our last day here at Red Oaks.  We will miss them.
They have been very good for us and keep us young! 

Gary is having his last visit with Ted next door.
Katherine is so good to us.  It was not long before
she came out the door with a piece of lemon cake
for us!!  We will miss her treats.

We had to have good-bye time with as many of our friends here in Bushnell, as possible.  No better way than over a delicious meal!!  But we will not talk about the after effects of those meals!!  Diet next week, right?

I told you that this is a big beef producing state, right?  Not sure what kind these are, but we see them at several ranches in the area.  Thanks Jeff, for taking the pictures as my driver seldom stops for pictures!


















Tomorrow morning we hit the road again.  We will only do half the trip to Gulf Shores Alabama and finish the trip on Tuesday morning. 
We are looking forward to the change and talked with our son today about his trip with his nephew to spend spring break with us.  We are excited and look forward to having a good time with them and hope that it is sunshine all of the time.
We hope that spring is showing itself a little more each day for you in the north.
Take care and God Bless.

Friday, March 28, 2014

FANTASY OF FLIGHT at POLK CITY FL

We had heard that Fantasy of Flight is closing down on April 6th, so we hurried and made plans to see it.  We have since heard that it is to have an upgrade to compete with other Disney attractions in the area.  Our friends, Jeff and Judy, went with us to Polk.  Of course, us girls knew that we will later get to go to Michael's!  We need scrap booking supplies!

Walking to the museum from the parking lot, we watched the young people using the zip line training obstacle course.  Looks like fun but too young for these old bones!


Entering the museum we were greeted by "Rosie the Riveter"

As you come into the museum, you go through WWI era and then into an WWII era, very well done, indeed.

Gary and Jeff watching war film in the clouds.

Who is in the cockpit?

Tight squeeze working.





Gary is learning much from Jeff!!  He is in awe of how
informed Jeff is on many, many things!!


NAVY Corsair 

Miss Los Angeles and toys.

Gee Bee R-2 Super sportster built in 1932


Ford 5AT Tri-motor, corrugated sides and wings
 was built in 1929

In the mid 1920s, Henry Ford could see aviation had a bright future. Accordingly, he undertook aircraft development and testing. The Tri-Motor was developed from several earlier designs and became America’s first successful airliner.
1944 Short Sunderland

Fokker DR-1 Triplane built in 1917

Trautmann Roadair built in 1959


North American P-51C Merlin powered Mustang
built in 1944

Bachem Natter Viper built in 1944

Men's Toys or Boy's Toys?

DC 3/Military Version used today by
Buffalo Airways in NW Territory of Canada


Amphibian airplane out on the apron by the hanger

Stinson Tri-motor built in 1931
Jeff and Judy looking it over.
 
There were many, many more, too many to show.  They were packed in the museum like sardines in an exceptionally clean setting, so with the right changes it could be a great attraction.  I thought I had a picture of the Constellation of Howard Hughes' that was flown in from Sanford Airport north of Orlando.  It had been sitting idle for so long that they had to go over it completely to make sure it was capable of making a flight.  Then they brought in a pilot from Texas who had flown every type of Constellation made. But I guess I missed that picture???  Commonly known as a Connie, it was outside in the field near the parking lot.  Hughes story in a short film in the museum was quite interesting!
 
After leaving, we realized that there was a very nice looking RV Resort nearby.  It would be a nice location to be in to do all of the Orlando and Kissimmee attractions sometime in the future.  We will have to keep that in mind.  Then we went off for lunch at Bob Evans (Jeff says, always a great choice).  Then on to Michael's for a short shopping spree and then home.  What a way to wile away a day!!

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

HONEYMOON ISLAND in GULF off FLORIDA COAST

We had been wanting to go off the Gulf Coast to Honeymoon Island State Park and we finally did it.  It was an impromptu plan and awesome weather!!

Dunedin Causeway to Honeymoon Island,
formerly known as Hog Island many years ago.

Where's the beach??


Dunedin or Clearwater as seen from the beach??

Crowded busy place!!

Spring break??

Good sailing.






What a life both man and beast!!

Looks like Fun!!

This little gal was building all day long.
I think that the tide was pulling the sand out from under her walls.















Time to go home, had enough sum to turn pink!! 
Next time we will bring our umbrella's.  And our friends showed us a stand that you can put in the sand to hold it.  It looks simple enough to make, so Gary get your tools out.

Cross the dunes and find the car.  But there are walkways, thank goodness!!  Much easier than where we were at Out Banks.
What a picture!!
 After leaving Honeymoon Island, we decided it was time to eat so we went on to Tarpon Springs.