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.

Thursday, August 29, 2013

VACATION AT OUTER BANKS NC

Even RVers need vacation!!
We arrived at Salvo, NC on the Outer Banks, Sunday at about 3:30.

We found the kids in the private pool.  It was good to relax from driving!!
















Angie and Bill
















Notice that our daughter-in-law Lynn got too much sun, because she thought it better to use a bronzer than the sun blocker!!  Now she pays.
Lynn and Rich relaxing!
Relaxing time!!















The beach house is very nice with the living area on the top (third) floor with decks on each floor.  The private pool and hot tub so enjoyable!! There are five bedrooms and a game room on the first two floors, so plenty of space and plenty of independence!!

Rich trying to study!!
















Work - - - - - - and play!!
Lynn and her mom, Angie.
 
Our first trip out for sightseeing!!  Off to the Wright Brothers Monument at Kitty Hawk with Richard.
 
 
Rich and Audrey
 
Rich and Gary
















Next, on to the Roanoke Island Festival Park, stopping to see the replica ship, Elizabeth II. 
Rich and Gary

Rich and Gary






























Then on to the Historic Settlement Site where Rich also tried the antique lathe.
A quality day with Mom and Dad, right Rich??  It was great!!
The next day will be our Ferry ride to Ocracoke Island and out to eat.  Stay with us.

Monday, August 26, 2013

VIRGINIA HERE WE COME!!

It seemed like all we were doing was EATING out!  But I sure was not complaining as I got out of cooking.  I really am getting out of practice at home.  Haha
Last week ended with three meals out on Saturday!  First breakfast at the Dutch Haus with Men of Faith, then lunch at the campground for their annual Camper's Appreciation Day.  We enjoyed meeting with other campers who we do not normally see.  And yummy fried chicken!!  Vicki and Sandy your work was appreciated and Vicki and Scott we appreciate the nice campground and all that you do to make it even better.  Thank you!!
Vicki (co-owner) and Sandy (Bingo-lady)

They served many!!



Rosemary, Anthony and Joe who camped same place near us back in the '80s!!
Ro, Joe, Tony and Janine camped beside us at Timashamie when our children were very young.  We left and sold the trailer after a couple years because Scouts and Soccer began keeping our boys tied up, with no indication that we would have time to go back to camping.  However, these friends never quit, except for Janine.  It has been good to visit with them again!!
Audrey with new acquaintances.
From this luncheon we went on to the First Friends Church annual Disaster Auction benefit Chicken BBQ!!  We knew that we really did not need this meal, so we enjoyed the side salad and a piece of pie and saved the half chickens and sides for another day!!  Whew!!  Don't need another day like that!! No wonder we are putting on weight.
We sat with a couple from Hartville and our friends Sandy and Niles.


Jim Moffett and his sister Dianne who were neighbors of Audrey's from back in the '50s!!
 
We never know who we are going to meet up with.  We see Jim almost weekly, but I have not seen his sister, Dianne, in years!!  I thought my family would enjoy this picture. 
 
On Sunday we went to the Skyline Restaurant north of Salem for dinner after church and had Gary's friend, Rick, and our son Richard and his family meet us there for dinner.  They have such good food and they were very busy.  Planes were flying in and out of the runway strip beside the restaurant. So Richard, Lynn and Richie stayed after dinner and watched them for a while.  It looked like there were students flying.
 
The week ahead kept us busy getting ready for our trip to the Outer Banks, to begin on Thursday. We were so looking forward to that as we wanted the R & R time with Richard and his family.  And we had plans for sight seeing on the way and a couple visiting stops on the way, as well.
 
We left by 7:30 am and had a good day on the road, arriving early enough that we were able to go to LuRay Caverns for a tour.  They were awesome, of course!!
Luray Caverns
 
Lake reflecting the stalactites.




Some were only 1/8 inch thick. Amazing!!


Unfortunately, I can not remember all of the explanations for the different types of formations, but they were very interesting. 
 

One of the attractions in the cavern was the Organ room.  The man, who created the organ's sounds, had to find and cut 3500 different stalactites to get each sound correct for the organ keys.  They were then attached, each to a hammer that was then operated by the organ.  It was difficult to hear, but awesome, non the less. 




This was a good finish to our first day on the road.  Day two started out in rain and kept up with more and more rain!!  But we started driving down Skyline Drive and enjoyed it in spite of the rain.  You could not see much from the overlooks, but I could imagine what it might be in the fall.  We will have to go back!!

One tunnel coming up - - -
 
The deer were not shy - - -



After the tunnel we decided it was time to get off Skyline Drive.  So we went on to Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's home.  If we thought it was going to get any easier, Not!!  When it was time to leave the main floor tour, it was POURING.  So we ended up returning to the car and then the motel soaking wet!!   

On Saturday we drove on to Richmond area, and looked up one of our son's babysitters. Now that is going back into history.   We had known that she lived in that area near her daughter, but missed seeing her on our previous trips through. 
Terry, Trina, Elayne, Audrey and Gary

Terry, Trina and Elayne
This time we not only visited with her in her apartment, but also went out to eat Mexican for dinner with Elayne and her daughter, Trina, and son-in-law, Terry.  Since Terry was a mechanical engineer, he and Gary had plenty to talk about and us gals had loads of catching up to do.  It was great!!  Thanks for suggesting dinner out, Trina. 

Sunday we drove on to Windsor Baptist Church to worship also knowing that we would see a dear friend, Margaret, and acquaintances from our prior stops there.  It was fun to surprise Margaret, the Candy Lady!!  It just made her day, which was our intention.  She and Audrey have been e-mail buddies since we first met in 2010.
Margaret Gaskins, The Candy Lady
She carries a full bag of candy everywhere!!  She has her audience.  We are no exception.

Now on to The Outer Banks!!  Stay with us.

Sunday, August 18, 2013

IS THE 50th BUG SPREADING?

It was our pleasure to recently help celebrate another 50th with Joyce Covert!!!  Yea Joyce!!!
Doug and the kids planned a surprise Pig Roast for friends and relatives while Joyce was out on a shopping and dining out expedition.  SURPRISE, SURPRISE !!

Joyce arrives!!
Joyce is greeted by husband, Doug,

relatives,


 
 
 
 

and many friends!!

 
 
Something smells MIGHTY GOOD!
 

And it is DONE!!


Even Raider gets in on the anticipation!!  He did have to be reminded that it was not for him.


And Joyce gets the first bite!!  YUM!!

Now the Princess for the Day gets her gifts as well.  Ah-h-h, Joyce, what happened to all of that wine?? 
Who is your helpful buddy??
We sincerely wish you many, many ,more Happy Birthdays!!  Love to all.