TRAVELING ON SOUTH into SOUTH CAROLINA to VISIT FRIENDS

We were so saddened to loose one of our South Carolina friends.  Mike passed away a couple months before we headed south.  So we decided to stop Monday, October 18th to share hugs with his wife, Sandy.  We also spent some time with other friends there at the church we have spend time in throughout our traveling years.  We met them all in 2008, our first year on the road.  Sandy was in an auto garage waiting for work to be completed on her car at the same time we were doing the same.  We surprised her by turning up at her church the next morning!!

This visit Sandy was expecting us!! First thing we see as we enter her kitchen. I may have shared this with you before, but was worth sharing again.  YUM!!

The first evening was supper and Bible study at their Church of the Living Word.  Great fellowship!!

Pastor's wife, Vicki  -  She's checking
out Mary's desert!!  You can tell we 
all enjoy eating!!

Johnny, his wife Mary, and Sandy!!

Fun, fun!!  Mary and Sandy

Pastor, Jack and wife Vicki.

Sandy and I did spend part of a day working on our scrap booking.  Then she took Gary and I on a jaunt to check out Lexington's Thrift Stores.  She knows that is one of our pass times.

Another day we had made plans to meet up with Johnny and Mary at Shealy's Buffet Restaurant.  Gary always thinks we have to go there at least once during our visit with our closest friends there.  Again, YUM!! 

We also had time to sit out and enjoy their weather on her patio.  So enjoyable!!

After we left there Friday, October 22nd, we finally arrived at our winter location in Florida,  Sandy had a couple of her friends help her decorate her mini van for Trunk or Treat.  She sent me a picture of their great work and I had to share it with you.  A great message!!   

Trunk or Treat!!  

This banner greeted us when we entered Sandy's kitchen.  She said that a friend made this for Mike to have hung in his hospital room.  It was so-o-o Mike!!  I'm sure that he was very pleased with it!!

They were such a sweet couple!!

As we journied on south we noticed the change in the fall colors.  So beautiful!!

I didn't notice many reds though.

We also had a rock from someone's tire hit our motorhome windshield!!  Seems it's always something!!

Our next Blog will be from Florida and about Florida.  Take care and stay healthy!!

TRAVELING SOUTH through West Virginia

                                                                                Friday, October 15th,  heading through the mountain in West Virginia.  On our way!!  Our first stop is at Tamarak for two nights.   It's such a nice stop and no cost!!  On Saturday we had made plans to go with our high school classmate, Sandy and her friend, Billie for a Mexican lunch and then on an underground tour of the restored Phillips Family Coal Mine that operated from 1890 to 1910 beneath the hillsides of  New River Park and the Museum in Beckley. 

 

In the touring train, we are ready to go - - -
Audrey, Gary and Sandy

Near the Museum are the restored Coal Company House, the Superintendent's Home, the Pemberton Coal Camp Church, a Miner's Shanty (not much more than the size of a very small bedroom), and the Helen Coal Camp School.  It all was a wonderful representation of early 20th century coal camp life.  This was all so meaningful to Gary, who's father was a coal miner before they moved from a more northern area in W VA  to Salem, Ohio.

We went through the Museum Buildings first. They were moved here from other locations for Museum purposes.  

Mine Superintendent's Home

  

Helen Coal Camp School. 
Look at the storm rolling in that day
of our tour. 

Desk in the School House -
Friends, Dick and Jane note the reader
on the school desk!!

Coal Company House

Story of the miner's housing.
Though Gary's father did not
live in such.  In fact, he did
not live at the mine that he
worked in. He lived with
his family.

Audrey checking inside
the Bachelor's Shanty.

Just inside the door.

To the right of the door.
All one would need!!

  

Pemberton Coal Camp Church

   

Now the Museum Tour

Sandy and Audrey ready for the Museum
then our tour ride on into the Mine.

     

    I was impressed by this piece of art in the       Museum.  It looked so true to the day!! 

Called "Silent Campanion"
by  W. C. Hart

 

Tour guides are experienced veteran coal miners who explain in detail, throughout the tour, the history of coal mining from the hand loading days into the modern era of mechanization. The stories that our guide told were very interesting, and included stories of such hard, hard work.  He also told the story of a miner who made a tool in his back yard to make his job and that of co-workers easier and more productive. 

Unfortunately, he did not patent the tool.  After he retired, a man in the company who ran this coal mine, got the patent in his own name.  And you can guess who made the fortune from this patent!!  So sad!!

Our tour guide, Dorsel, a retired miner. 

Tools sitting idle now, along the tour route. 

The miners got paid
by the coal cars filled
to specifications.

Some of the miners even took their children along with them, at times.  I just can't imagine that and all of the risk that was involved.

Our guide told of the risk of methane gas that the canaries could detect, until they made a mechanical method of detection.  The rats in the tunnel were indicative of any problems by their behavior also. It was such an interesting narration!!!  

We went back to Sandy's house for more visiting.  Another day well spent!!

Our next stop will be near Lexington, South Carolina to visit with friends that we met in our first stop in that area in 2008, our first year on the road. 

I will probably do that Blog tomorrow afternoon.  In the morning we will attend the Baptist Church just up the road from our resort park. It has become our winter church.  Tonight we are to have a campfire here in the park.  I wonder if the weather will hold out for us. Hope so!  We will see some people that we have not seen since arriving at this/ our winter location.  We have been living this week within their quarentine guidelines, since coming in from other states.  Stay tuned.

CATCH-UP TIME BEFORE LEAVING OHIO

October is wind-down in Ohio.  We have most of our doctor,etc. appointments finished for the year.  But we still have people to see at least one last time.  October 6th was breakfast at Bob Evans in Salem with our favorite grandson!!!  We had a good breakfast and a wonderful visit with him alone!!  We were to see him again before leaving, but this was special time.  We forgot taking a picture though.  Darn!!!

Then on Thursday, October 7th, we had arrangements to meet up with Audrey's nephew, Charles and his wife Cheryl, son Conner, and grand daughter Noah.  We joined them at Olive Garden in Niles near Eastwood Mall.  We had a room to ourselves and had a great time!!  Victor was able to go with us also.  

Victor, Charles, Audrey, Conner, Noah, Cheryl
and Gary

Charles and Victor

Gary, Conner and Noah

Friday, the 8th We went to Audrey's cousin's in Rome, Ohio.  Gary had wanted to see Larry's workshop and his truck project, so we made time for that and enjoyed it very much.  Betty and Audrey always have a great time visiting as well.  

Larry with his truck

Gary was impressed with 
his tools also!!

The beginning of the 2021 Rally of the
Valley at the Covelli Center.

 Gary finished the week out by attending the Men of Faith Rally at the Covelli Center in Youngstown. He always enjoys the monthly meetings at the local Men of Faith Breakfast at the Dutch Haus in Columbiana also. 

Bing Newton was the 
founder of that group
in Columbiana. He is
already working at lining up
the speakers for the 
2022 Rally in the Valley.

  

On Wednesday the 13th we moved the motorhome to Williamson's in Alliance for an oil change and tune-up on Thursday.  So we spent the day, Thursday, having lunch with Gary's friend, Rick at the Circle Restaurant in Deerfield.  And we went back to NEO to be there when our load of gravel was delivered on our lot for next summer.  Gary wanted to make sure that it was dumped in the correct spot.  Deed is done!!

That evening early, we went to Richard's in Columbiana for birthday cake and celebration for Richie.  One last visit before we pulled out the next morning early. While there Gary checked out Richie's work in process to raise his Jeep.  He and his dad have quite a project ahead of them, but are having difficulties receiving the correct parts!!

The hickory nut trees beside us at NEO campground, sure did a number in spite of the work that Gary went to to protect the roof of the motorhome.  There were a couple cracks in the cover of the airconditioner in the back of the motorhome!!

 

The trees are beginning to turn color!!

That Friday we hit the road to our first stop at Tamarak, West Virginia.

We spent a day with friends, Sandy and Billie.  We will cover that event in our next Blog because we spent time going into a Coal Mine and checkcing out the Museum there, where we took pictures. 

Stay with us!!

IN OHIO, SEPTEMBER COMES TO A CLOSE

Grandstand from a distance!

Thursday, September 2nd we did get to the Canfield Fair, but a morning was all we needed to see Gary's and all other fine art!!  We then got our sausage sandwich and went home.  We need more stamina!!

Entering just one wing of the Fine Art building.

Not Gary's, but I knew that our daughter-in-law 
would love it!!!

Gary's Little Girl,
bottom right. 

Gary's cowboy by the fire.,
a ribbon winner in Florida.

However, Gary did not win any ribbons at the Fair.  

The next day we followed the Rt. 7 Yard Sales from Girard on north till our energy ran out.

Then on the 5th we had another covered dish dinner with pulled pork and corn on the cob 

at our campground.  Then the 6th we spent Labor Day at Rich and Lynn's, always a good day.

Then we ended that day playing cards with friends in our campground.

The following day our friends, Bill and Jane left for their winter in Arizona and our month 

continues with meeting for dinner with cousins, Larry and Betty at Panera Bread in Niles.

We continue with our fun, scrapbooking, thrift shops, reading, Gary's drawing and  our routines.

This begins our two months of family birthdays.  So I follow the calendar closely to be sure 

I do not miss those TEXTS.  

Saturday, the 18th we attended the 45th year birthday party for the company that Gary 

retired from.  Our table had seven members of the Wyatt family which brought on comments.

But there are still three employed there!!  It's a good place to work.  While there our grandson's 

name was drawn for a trip to Las Vegas!!  I told him I thought he should take his grandma!!

As our dining out continues, wse met up with more cousins, the Ross' at O'Charley's in Niles.

Niles is about half way between us and them, so it makes a good location for our fun.  

Chris, Audrey and Gary on the left.
Bill, Tom and Barbara on the right.
Great time!!

Gary and I continue eating out with close friends to talk up a storm!!  And I went on an outing 

to Brunswick, Ohio to our scrapbooking shopping location though we do not need much in 

materials anymore.  We have accumulated so much over the years.  But our real focus was 

lunch at Molly's Tea Room.  

Betty and Eugenia

Eugenia and Leah 

Betty, Audrey (Molly??) Eugenia and Leah

September 26th, Sunday we had another family get together at a Chinese Buffet in Boardman.  

It's always a grand time to pass out birthday cards and gifts and visit!! And of course, to eat 

too much.  I did better than usual curbing the eating though and so did others!! 

Richard Jr., Victor, Audrey, Gary, 
Lynn and Richard, left to right.

Richie and Victor.

Stay tuned and I will do another Blog to add the last of the events for Ohio.  Have a wonderful

fall and stay healthy!!