Feb  5, 2015 For those of you following my adventures you already know how we spent last evening.
Here is a special “shout out” to Tom! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Tom made my idea to blog, instead of emailing or posting on Facebook, come to fruition. Tom’s computer genius and amazing tutorial skills made it all happen. He did it all and I just filled in the blanks.
This all happened in just a little more than a week. For those who know me, especially my husband, I think everything is easy, but rarely think about all the work involved. It’s the way my “magnificent” mind works. If you ever want to see David make a really funny face ask him about my “magnificent mind”. We had a looooong conversation about it once. It’s ONE of the reasons he loves me.
For some of us getting a little older, easy is not as easy as it used to be, especially with all the new technology. So when I asked Tom to “help me” he worked a miracle. Yesterday, when I emailed him and asked “so, about adding photos to my page, I’m not quite sure how to do that”. He accepted the mission!
I shoot all my photos in high resolution for developing. Tom worked computer magic and vwaaalla!, my photos convert to “post able”. How do I get them from the camera card to appearing on my page. Vwaaalla! Tom made a video of step by step directions and emailed it to me. I was so excited when I heard Tom’s voice on the video. Right then and there I knew I could do it! He has this natural calming voice.
So now for all my friends who don’t want to do all the reading, you can just look at the photos 🙂 I am very excited because photography is another one of my hobbies!
Now for reason # I lost count, on why I love RVIng … This is easy for anyone that has sat in a camper in the rain. I love the sound of raindrops on the rooftop. In a camper the acoustics make the raindrops sound like music.
I like the sound, but poor E T. David and I have both had dogs in the past, but it’s been a long time. It took us a long time to figure out, why she was acting very weird last night. David was cooking steaks out on the grill (yes, in the rain). and she wouldn’t go out with him. E T loves playing in the rain and steak for her, is like peanut butter and jelly for me, our favorites. She was all curled in a ball in her bed. She didn’t want to play. When I tried to hook her leash on her she ran away. She was acting afraid of us. It wasn’t us, it was the rain. She has never been in the RV in a rainstorm before and the raindrops on the roof magnified in a dogs ears, scary stuff ! E T sleeps in the bottom bunk, kind of like her own little cave. She knew where to go ” to get out of the rain” Smart girl!
The rain is suppose to stop by noon. We plan on biking the island. This is my favorite kind of bike trail, mostly paved, all flat. The scenery is great. Some portions of the ride take you Oceanside. You can actually ride on the hard packed sand.
There is a Sea Turtle convention on the island this weekend. It’s it’s open to the public today and Friday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. (Free Admission). We’re hoping to check it out, rain or shine.

Feb 04, 2015    This is our first day of not driving anywhere since we left home.  We didn’t arrive at the Jekyll Island Campground until almost 7:00 p.m. last night.  We were tired and hungry, but it was worth it to have been able to spend a little longer at Huntington Beach.   We will be here for three nights, two full days.    It was dusk  when we drove over the causeway  and it was as beautiful as I remembered.  We lucked out with a great site #8.

E T is turning out to be an awesome traveler.  This morning when I hooked her harness on to go exploring I think she was smiling.   We head out Clam Creek Road on the bike path headed to … Clam Creek Fishing Pier.  E T’s tail is wagging like crazy as we walk along.  There’s not a soul around, so  I break out in song. Lets call this story Barb’s Musical Adventure.  The name of my song is “If  You’re Happy and  You Know It Wag Your Tail”.  I’m singing,  E T is wagging her tail and I might have made an attempt to wag my tail a time to two also.  Suddenly, there are bicyclists passing us.   They turn around and look at us as they go by and they are  laughing.  Such a fun way to start the day 🙂  Too bad they weren’t talent scouts!

The only more spectacular fishing pier than the Clam Creek  that I have ever seen is the Gulf Shores, Alabama fishing pier.  The Clam Creek has Canopy Covers to shield the fisherman from the sun.  There are three separate “wings” to the pier which I’m guessing, when it’s full of fisherman is a sight to see.  I love to fish, but I can also picture myself and my lady friends setting up a card table  and  playing some Mahjongg under the protection of the canopy on a beautiful sunlit day while drinking Mint Juleps and enjoying the sights and sounds of the ocean.

We beach comb in the remote area.  It was low tide and we walked among what I’m going to call drift trees.  They should be driftwood, but for the strangest reason there roots are either holding them steadfast in the sand, or they are roots up stuck fast in the sand.  It’s a cloudy overcast day and the skies are threatening rain which gives the area a real eerie look.  We walk the paths, boardwalks and bridges of the marshes.  I was worried that since getting E T my bird sightings might be far and few between.  No way, she stops when she spots one and David and I have to find it.  She’s not walking by anything that she’s not sure of what it is.  She waits patiently while I take enough photos and the click of the camera startles the birds away.  Then E T feels it’s safe to continue.

It was a little after 10 a.m. when we started out and almost 2 p.m. when we started back. The time flew.  David is napping and I am typing, while raindrops are falling outside.  We got back just in time.

Feb 2 – 3, 2015   David and I walked miles on the beach this morning. This  seems to be E T’s choice direction to take us in.  She got to play with two adorable beagles and met a Newfoundland.

One of the neat things to do here that I didn’t mention before is touring  Atalaya, the former winter home of renowned sculptor, Anna Hyatt Huntington and her husband Archer Milton Huntington.  Anna has “roots” in Connecticut, I just can’t remember what they are, I’ll google later.  Atalaya  is a National Historic Landmark and it’s moorish – influenced architecture is impressive.  It costs $2 to tour, but walking the grounds is free.  There really is something for everyone here.

We didn’t plan to stay here more than a night.  Last year our cousins got caught in a snow/ice storm here and we didn’t want to take any chances.     Last night temperatures were in the 20’s  and this morning a cool 32 degrees.  We were walking the beach in winter hats and coats.   The high was 45 degrees.

On the road again … To one of my favorites,  Jekyll Island.  This is one of the few places away from CT that I would consider buying a home.  It is just my kind of place.  It is not commercial at all.  If you’re not fond of nature and spending time outdoors, this would be a place to just keep driving right on by.  If you’re planning on staying at the Jekyll Island Campground making a reservation well in advance is recommended.  We waited too long  last year and could only get two nights and had to change campsites. This year we have three nights.

GPS tells us that we won’t arrive until 6:30 – 7:00 p.m.   It’s an easy drive down Hwy 17, but  it’s tough on the heart.  Lots of poverty stricken areas along some stretches.

Next stop … Jekyll Island

Feb 2, 2015 Lake Leamon N.C. (I’m wondering if they got the spelling right) was fun. I wish I could have taken more photos, but I didn’t want to offend anyone. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!
We only have 120 miles to travel to Murrells Inlet, S.C. It’s raining, but 60 degrees. On the down side, It’s windy (gusts up to 50 mph) and muggy. It’s hard to breath and I feel sticky. Laurel and Hardy were teasing us yesterday about using the air conditioning. Maybe they weren’t teasing. We “putzed” around this morning getting organized and letting
E T explore. The rain doesn’t bother her. She’s not making any friends with all the ducks and mallards on the lake. She is such a “whoosie” she waits until they start running away before she chases them. I would love to see her face if one of the ducks turn around and start chasing her. She would be hiding behind me, quivering in a split second.
We’ve arrived at Huntington Beach State Park Murrells Inlet, S.C, it’s the next town south of Myrtle Beach. I rate this a five star park for everyone that likes the outdoors. There’s the beautiful beach, nature trails, biking trail, Nature Center, camping. The last time we were here it was just for an afternoon. We were exciting to come back camping and are not the least bit disappointed.
Driving Hwy 17 through Myrtle Beach and Murrells Inlet, David and I say the same thing we do every time we take this route. I would never, ever come near here during peak tourist season. Every 100 feet is another tourist attraction and there’s construction everywhere, building more. There was a considerable amount of traffic today, it must be gridlock in the spring and summer.
Did I mention Huntington is very dog friendly. E T is welcome in at least 80% of the beach. She went for her first walk on the beach today. She liked it! Tomorrow we’re going shopping for sun glasses and a boogie board 🙂

Feb 1, 2015. Today was a put on the miles day. We left Carlisle, Pennsylvania at 7:00 a.m. and with the exception of a gas stop and two doggie rest stops we drove until 4:30 p.m. (Approximately 450 miles and 40 degrees different in temperature)
We are settled in at the Leamon Lake Campground in Wilson, N.C. (30 miles north of Wilmington).
We chose this campground simply because it’s only 2 miles off the highway and we were ready to stop.
Reason #9 Why I love RV-ing. The Characters you meet. We pull up to the campground office and are greeted at the door by “Ollie”, with a big ole southern “come on in”. We walk in and there’s a half dozen well-worn recliners in a semi-circle and in the center of the room is an old wood table with four chairs. “Stan” all decked out in his oldest coveralls, is sitting down at the table. He invites us to come and join him. These guys are the down south good ole boy versions of Laurel and Hardy. They dickered back and forth so much checking us in that it’s a wonder they finally decided on a site for us. Then they both had to come show us the way to our site. They get into a old rusty, dilapidated mini van and tell us to follow. Most campgrounds have someone driving a golf cart lead you to your site. This is funny, they are funny. Good thing they showed us the way because there is so much “junk” that it would have been impossible to find it on our own. This is lawn ornament heaven!
We drive by a woman shoveling something into buckets. There is a sign that says “Dog Poop Disposal Area”. She is shoveling dog poop and carrying it over to her garden. We know this because she is our neighbor for the night. I never heard of using dog poop for fertilizer.
Lake Leamon is beautiful, Mother Nature has her act together here. The people here are different, but couldn’t be nicer, another adventure. Next Stop … Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, S.C.

Feb 1, 2015. It’s 3:00 a.m. and I’m laying in this lovely, lumpy motel 6 bed thinking about why I love RV-ing.
#1. No matter how elegant or not elegant your accommodations are or aren’t when your traveling, when you’re in an RV you’re in your home away from home. Own bed, own sheets, own tub and toilet, stove and fridge. You are not at the mercy of the last person that slept in your room, or the last person to clean it.
#2. The walls in the RV are not paper thin, they are sound insulated and you’re not ground level. When someone walks by talking you don’t think they are in the same room. Even the tightest of campsites, you still have some space between you and the next camper.
January 30, 2015 we celebrated E T’s nine month birthday. She had barked 12 times since we adopted her (David is counting). Last night she barked 3 times. Every time someone walked by the motel room door talking, she barked. Good thing our room is at the end of the wing and it’s 20 degrees outside.
#3. Comfort … In our RV we always have a “suite”. Right now in order to use my iPad and not wake David or E T my choices of places to sit are toilet seat or edge of bathtub. In the RV I could shut the privacy door to the bedroom, turn on lights, make a cup of tea and sit on a nice soft sofa.
#4. Once you pack the RV you are packed for the whole trip, you are not living out of a suitcase and vending machines. I knew in advance that we would be staying at a motel the first night so I had packed my backpack, but I still made at least ten trips back and forth to the RV for the things I’d forgot to pack. If we hadn’t had the RV parked 100 feet away I would have had to have paid $3 for a bottle of water from a vending machine, used my finger for a toothbrush, ET would not have had her comfort bone, David would not have had his Jack and Ginger. … We could have done without all these things, but it’s very nice having your “stuff” handy. Right now a nice hot cup of Celestial Seasons Sleepy Time Tea would be awesome 🙂
#5. If it wasn’t 20 degrees outside, our view would not be of a concrete jungle with signs everywhere telling you to protect your valuables. Conservatively, ninety per cent of the campgrounds we’ve stayed at are pretty. When you stay at National Park Campgrounds your views are usually phenomenal. Some state parks, like Florida offer gorgeous surroundings. Private campgrounds are a little more $$$ conscious and pack you in a little tighter, but they always have character. I can’t remember ever staying at a campground and not feeling safe. Even the time in Tennessee when the only people in the campground beside us were Lamar and Glenda from Alabama.
#6. Amenities … When was the last time, or anytime, that you stayed at a hotel that offered water aerobics, bingo or a Luau. How about free daily and nightly Ranger talks about history or habitat of the area. Here’s my favorite, free 3-4 hour Ranger guided canoe trips?
#7. Eating and drinking what you want when you want. You can still eat at a Restaurants, but it’s nice to have the option. #8. This one needs no explanation. Have Toilet, Will travel. These are just a few of the reasons I love RV-ing 🙂
On the road again … 7:00 on the dot. We are hoping to put some miles on today. Murrells Inlet, South Carolina (570 miles + -) is our destination. The weather forecast is for “precipitation” around noon. If we’re not far enough south it may get slippery and we’ll have to stop.

Jan 31, 2015 We’re leaving a little later this year than usual. Last night we had tickets to see Sophie B. Hawkins at The Kate in Old Saybrook, with Dave and Tom. Well worth waiting to leave. She belted out mostly new stuff, but treated us to some great old Blues tunes and my favorite were her Janis Joplin sound alikes. Her sense of humor and dialogue were at their peak. It was mine and David’s first time seeing a show at The Kate. It is a great venue, not a bad seat in the house. Our seats were great, front row, thanks, again, to Dave’s awesome ticket purchase timing talent.
This morning we were pretty much packed and ready to go except for the last minute incidentals. As we’re scurrying around, E T is underfoot the whole time. She senses we’re going somewhere and she doesn’t want to be left behind. Yikes! I almost forgot to pack her toys. Most of the time I am picking her toys up all over the house and putting them back in her toy box. This time she’s watching me take them out. When I’m done she walks over to the toy box and looks in, very sadly she looks from the nearly empty toy box to me and back into the box. All I’ve left are the toys she really doesn’t like. She let’s out a big sigh and hangs her head down. I’m thinking she’s going to cry. I take her and the toys out to the RV and put them in her bunk. One by one she takes them out and scatters them about. She’s happy now, she knows we’re taking her with us.
RV’s engine is running and we’re all ready to go. Oooops! The doors to the RV are locked and both sets of keys are inside. Our 9:00 start is now a noon start. We had to wait for a locksmith. We got Glitch #1 out of the way.
We’re leaving 18 degree temperatures and it’s windy, David says it’s blowing at least 20 knots.
Our first gas stop I78 Exit 7 (New Jersey) $176.9 per gallon. Pennsylvania gas prices are about the same as Connecticut.
First stop Carlisle, Pennsylvania, “America’s Original Pet Friendly Chain … Motel 6”. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean. We have no carpet on the floor!! Domino delivery is dinner. Next Stop North Carolina.

March 11, 2014   If you’re tired of reading about all of the wonderful places we have been going read on, you’re going to like this one.  If you have been to New Orleans and think it’s just wonderful, stop reading, you’re not going to like what I’m about to write.

This is the worst place I’ve ever visited.  It stinks, really stinks, like rotting garbage. The streets are filthy.  According to our “Buggy Tour Guide” New Orleans is slowly disintegrating (rotting) from infestation.  He named termites … and was vague on the “variety of other bugs and insects”.  My guess, for the BIG ONE he didn’t name would be cockroach.  EEEEYYYOOOOUUUU!  He pointed out small silver caps in the sidewalks that are full of insecticide (poison).  But don’t worry they are carefully monitored by University students.

The University of Boozers maybe?  If you are an alcoholic wannabe, come to New Orleans and your dream will come true.  Bars here are required to close down for ONE HOUR a year!.  On the day after Fat Tuesday (Ash Wednesday) all bars must close for one hour, so they can clean the streets.  We are actually here during the cleanest time of the year! I cannot imagine the odor during the summer heat and humidity.  People must either walk around with clothespins on their noses or the more scientific explanation would be drunk people lose their sense of smell.

I’ll get off my soap box and tell a funny story.  We are walking down one of the streets in the French Quarter. There is a young (maybe 20-25 yr old) dirty, unshaven, slightly intoxicated, WHITE male, half sitting, half laying against a wall.  He looks up at David and slurs “Hey Daddy! You got some cheddar to spread on this cracker?” I burst out laughing. David didn’t here what he said. He’s say “What?  What did he say?”  Good thing we had walked away before I told him what he said. David probably would have gone over and kicked him and told him to get off his lazy “butt” and get a job.  Then David would have got knifed.

Another memorable moment was when we were standing with a group of tourists waiting on a corner for our shuttle.  The group was approached by the most hideous, filthy “gray” woman.   She looked like she had come out of a graveyard.  She had sores all over her arms.  I kept thinking, don’t make eye contact, don’t make eye contact. She proceeded to lecture the group on safety tips for tourists. Men keep your wallets in your front pocket, ladies hang your purses across your chests … blah … blah … blah. As I slinked as far away from her as I could, her hand was coming out for a “gratuity”.  I didn’t look close enough, but I’m pretty sure her shirt said “Gratuities are kindly accepted and appreciated.”  That’s as common a sign here as “Don’t feed the alligators” is in Florida.

Travel Tale … Here’s the last funny one.  I have a ton of them, this place is bazaar.  We had coffee and beignets at the famous Cafe’ Du Monde. The atmosphere was fun. Lots of characters, especially the waiters and waitresses. My guess is they are hired for their ethnicities and character, there was a variety.  I was in the ladies room when David was seated and ordered.  One cafe au latte and two orders (6) of beignets. The place was packed. Waiters and waitresses were everywhere delivering trays FULL of orders to three and four tables at a time. We’re waiting and waiting and waiting.  I say to David “Are you sure you ordered? Do you see our waitress?”  He say’s “Yes, I ordered. No, I don’t see her.”  Then I see her coming … I KNOW this has got to be her.  Boom! Boom! Right down through the crowded tables. A robust Asian woman with attitude all over her face. All she has on her tray is our order, one cafe au latte and 6 beignets. The cafe is spilling all over the tray.  There are no checks here. When your order is delivered, you pay and you better have cash.  Ms Waitress of the Month says “$8” to David.  David hands her exactly $8.    She scowls at him and stands there glaring at him.  “I lean over and say “I think she’s waiting for a tip, NOW.”  David gets flustered and starts fumbling in his pocket for a tip, meanwhile the glare is almost blinding.  Thank God he had singles and didn’t have to ask for change.

In New Orleans you better have lots of singles, EVERYONE expects to be tipped and not in change. I heard a street performer yell at someone for throwing change into his bag.

This is our last night here.  Our plan is to go back into “the armpit” tonight for dinner.  Cockroach du jour at The Swamp. It’s a real place, check it out on line. It is one of the most disgusting places down there. Young people wait hours in long lines to get in. Girls and girls only are allowed to dance on the bar.  Only joking!  We’re NOT going there.

The place we’re really eating at is where Napoleon Bonaparte was given refuge in the city. It’s very historic and funky.  My meal will be liquid and I’m planning on smuggling in a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in my purse.

Note to Vegan/Vegetarians you would starve here.  EVERYTHING is made with sausage, pork, beef and seafood.  I don’t know where chicken went, I think the 20 pound Nutria (giant rats, that are also a problem here) must eat them.
My first restaurant meal here was a French Bread Pizza appetizer ($9) that I was told they ran out of sauce, but would I like tomato paste. I opted for canned diced tomatoes.
Second was a spinach salad ($8) that actually had a delicious dressing and crunchy candied pecans (I hope they were pecans).   Those were the only two things “vegetarian” I could find on any menu.  One waitress was quite perturbed with me, she was tapping her pencil on her pad and tapping her foot on the floor as I was looking at the menu. It’s all about attitude here in New Orleans!

We did stay at a very nice campground.  Pontchartrain Landing.   A New Orleans Waterfront RV Park, 6001 France Rd in  New Orleans  (Site # 82).

Next Stop … heading north

March 10, 2014  We have reservations at Gulf Shores State Park campground.  It is more like a resort than a campground. It’s big, clean and has every amenity that you can imagine.  Three lakes for kayaking, a pool, marina, golf course, miles of hiking trails, paved biking and rollerblading paths, even an Alligator Marsh Trail.  I biked jungle trails in the Everglades, but the Alligator Marsh Trail creeped me out.  I think they filmed Jewel of the Nile there.

The area is quite a bit more touristy than St George Island.  David and I both agree we could spend two weeks here and never put a dent in all the things to do.

Today we went to the Gulf State Park Fishing Pier. The pier is open 24/7 and has ambient lighting at night. The beach is miles of pure white sand, a beachcombers dream.

We toured Fort Morgan, where during the Civil War Admiral D.G. Farragut gave his famous order “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!”  We had brought our bikes so we were able to tour the grounds without it taking all day.

On the way to Fort Morgan I had spotted a sign for the Pine Forest Trail.  David thinks I’m trying to kill him, but I “encourage” him … it’ll be fun.  A mile and a half ends up to be more like five. It went from dense forest to the beach, simply beautiful.  David survived and was treated to the best shrimp and oyster dinner he ever had at Bubbas Fish House.

Today we’re up at the crack of dawn to hike the Middle Lake Overlook .  I’m on a mission to spot an Armadillo.  Then we’re on the road to New Orleans and then we’re headed home.

We have to go home and rest. We are both laughing, because we are calling it a day earlier and earlier.  We should have bought stock in ibuprofen and muscle ain cream before we left.  I don’t know anymore what the date is, what state we’re in or what time it is. David says I have a case of C R S. …  Can’t Remember Shit!

Travel Tale … This is a funny story.  In Alabama people are very friendly. They also speak very funny and fast.  We go to the campground front desk to get some directions.  Bubbling Billy Bob pulls out a map and starts rambling and pointing all over.  I take a look at David’s face and almost burst out laughing. I’m understanding maybe every 3rd word Bubbling Billy Bob is saying.  I know David might be getting every 4th or 5th word. I think BBB realizes it and slows down a bit.  Now I understand what he’s saying. This is where the fishing pier is … This is where I live … This is where my baby brother lives … This is the road to Fort Morgan … You have to eat at my favorite restaurant it was built in 1818 …he goes on like this for what seems like forever.  We walk out the door and we’re both laughing.  I ask David “do you have any clue where we’re going?”  He says “No, but I know where his second son was born?”  Thank goodness we have a map.

What a good time we’re having!  Next Stop New Orleans.

March 6 – 9,  2014  St. George Island is beautiful. The ride over the causeway is an awesome introduction. We are staying at the St George Island State Park campground.  There are nine miles of pristine beaches.  The sand is so clean that when you walk on it it squeaks.  Miles and miles of biking and hiking trails.  If you’re looking for fancy restaurants or tourist attractions they are not here.  We drove 15 miles back over the causeway and on the Big Bend Scenic Hwy to Apalachicola last night to find a seafood restaurant.  We had dinner at Boss Oyster sitting at a picnic table on the deck overlooking the St George Bay. It was like going back in time to a fishing village in the forties and fifties.  If we hadn’t eaten too much and had saved room for dessert we could have shared a banana split at The Olde Fashioned Soda Fountain.

Our first bike ride takes us miles to the tip of the island and is a shell heaven.  There are millions of little tiny shells.  We can bike miles and miles here it is very flat.

Our only disappointment is it’s cold. The temperatures have dropped and it’s drizzling.  There are great kayaking opportunities, but the weather isn’t co-operating.

By mid morning we are able to go hiking. It turns out to be one of my best and exciting bird spotting days.  I got the most wonderful photos of a gorgeous male blue heron all decked out in his feathery finery ready to go out on the town to court a lovely lady heron. The miles and miles of hiking trails in the park are well maintained with lots of boardwalks and lookout.

Next stop Gulf Shores, Alabama