Winter Excursion 1, Day 85

Nice morning and another beautiful day. Weather is perfect 40 in the morning going to 70 in the afternoon and sunny with calm winds.
We explored the park today. Great views from the top of the mountains. The road up was twisty and turney, but worth it.

Up at the top was a trail to the waterfall, we took the short hike and were rewarded with a great view of a small waterfall.

 If you look close you can see the waterfall in the middle of the pic.

After the hike we went back to the camper for a quick lunch of leftover pizza. Then off to pick-up Jacob. Dropped him off with his Mom and then we were off to the camper.

Schnitzel, Spatzel, and salad for dinner. It all turned out fab.

A little TV and then off to bed. Got to get some firewood tomorrow.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 84

Up early this morning and took Kaylee for a good run, she loved it. Cath had a nice breakfast for us and then we took a tour of the area. The weather was a little chilly, but a beautiful day. High was near 65.

Here's a few pics of the campsite.

Looking down the path, most of the campers left yesterday.

 Another view.

 Kaylee enjoying the sun.

Picked Jacob up from school and went to Karate school. It was a hoot watching all the kids. He has a test on Saturday, may go from green belt (3) to blue belt (1). We have to wait till Monday to get the results.

Headed back to camp for a good dinner. Started the fire and the grill. And then here's Kaylee at the campfire, she loves her "dog cave".

Early to bed, this is a nice campground.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 83

Woke up to Jacob jumping on me at 0730, I could have slept a little longer but he had other ideas. His Mom picked him up at 0900 after breakfast. Then we met them at the Cub Scout Pine Wood Derby.

Here's the troop raising the flag.

And then the derby started, lasted about an hour, the kids had a blast.

And of course the retreat ceremony.

After the derby we stopped for Pizza. I ordered two mediums and here's a pic of what we got! These things were 24" across.

 We are both stuffed. I'll watch the Pro Bowl and then hit the sack.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 82

Easy drive today.

We had a very good time with our friends at Ft Rucker.

Arrived at the new campground (Oak Mountain State Park, AL) at 1400. The Gunk Skunk (Jacob) arrived at 1530! Was great to see him and Cecilia. 

Here's a pic pf the my Grandson at the camper.

And here's a pic of our campsite at dusk. If you look close you can see Jacob, he's sitting in the chair watching the fire that he helped make.

Grandma made a great boneless rib dinner for us. Afterwards Jacob rebuilt the fire and we sat out there and told wild stories. Jacob got a shower and totally got clean. No more Gunk Skunk.
Got to bed around 2130, all is well.
(following is from Jacob) while I was with other folks at the campground, I went back to the campsite and had Marshmallow Fluff s'more, yummy.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 81

Got up this morning and started to pack up the camper. We're on the road tomorrow en-route to the WACKO!

Ran some last minute errands, filled the truck up, and we are about ready. Should be an easy drive, less than 200 miles.

Had pizza with our friends. It was great to see Ronnie and Carol. Thanks again for all the hospitality.

We tried a selfie with them, but as we are old folks now the selfies don't look so good.

Back at camp early to bed and early to rise.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 80

Nice day, great weather. Had a little rain storm last night, but today was sunny, low humidity, and high about 65.

Slept a little late, coffee at 0900. Then I was off to the museum and a car wash.

The museum hasn't changed much, I spent about an hour there. Got the truck hand washed, the guy did a great job!

Back at camp, Cath wanted to get a pic of the boll weevil statue in Enterprise, AL. So here it is. Open the pic and zoom in to see the damn insect!

We got some propane as one of the tanks was empty and then back to camp. Scallops, rice and salad for dinner, yum yum!

Had a fire and most of the wood is gone.

Side note is Kim and her daughter, talk about a "mini me". She is a really nice girl and was a joy to meet.

So two more nights here and then off to see the Gunk Skunk. We can't wait!

Winter Excursion 1, Day 79

Nice day, perfect weather.
Didn't get up until 0900, but we are allowed to do that.
Cath and one of our old friends did lunch today. They had a good time and never left Panera as they yakked the whole time (like 4 hours). I stayed in camp, cooked ribs, and walked the Wild Vizsla.
Here's one of Cath & Kim.

And here's one of those "selfies" of the three of us.

Ronnie and Carol came to camp for dinner tonight. Ribs, beans, cornbread, and potato salad for dinner. Oh forgot, Bud Light too, that's Ronnie's substitute for water..LOL

We will sleep good again tonight. I'm off to the Army Aviation Museum tomorrow, Cath will BS the Viszla. All is well in the Boss camp.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 78

Left camp at 0930 and headed to Panama City FL. Nice drive through lots of back country. Weather was perfect, sunny, 68, and no humidity. We checked out a few military campgrounds and toured the area. Both campgrounds have them packed in like sardines. Drove a little west of the tourist beach and found a nice place for Kaylee to run.

View looking east.

View looking west. You can see the Wild Vizsla if you look close.

Stopped at a local seafood market and got some crab.
Back at camp it was crab cakes on the green egg.

They were really good.

After dinner, we preped some ribs for tomorrow and then hit the sack.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 77

Recover from the storms day.
Got up this morning, had some coffee, and went outside. It looked like a flood had come through the campsite. Leaves, pine needles, and gravel all over our pad. Spent most of the morning cleaning it up. Split and stacked the wood I'd got from my friend Ronnie, it will last for the rest of time we have at this campsite.
As promised here's a few pics of our site:
View looking out from the camper. You can see the lake just past the trees.

You can see the bath house in the middle right. We spent some time in there during the tornado warnings.

 Another view from our site.

 Our favorite chairs.

 

 Good one of the truck and camper.

 And yet another view.

Today was beautiful! Temps in the 60s and no humidity.
Went over to our friends for a taco dinner (it was delicious), and came home around 2100. Lit the fire and had a few toddies, all-in-all it was a nice day.
Off to Panama City tomorrow, but off to bed right now,

Winter Excursion 1, Day 76

Spent the night listening to the rain and thunder on and off and woke to another round of severe thunder storm warnings and tornado watches. rained like crazy and the sirens went off around 1130. Checked the radar, we dodged the bullet by about 15 miles.
Headed over to our friends Kevin and Kim and had a fun afternoon and evening. It was great to yak with them. Had a wonderful steak dinner as it was Kevin's birthday.
The weather cleared in the afternoon and that made Kaylee happy. Back at the camper by 2000. Caught the end of the football game.
Tomorrow is camp clean up as the rains have washed out everything outside. Weather is supposed to be good the rest of the week. I promise campground pics tomorrow.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 75

Lots of BIG thunderstorms and tons of rain last night and this morning. Rain started around 0300 and lasted until 1200. Lots of thunder and lightning. As I write this we are getting yet another big storm and it is pouring. We are under a tornado watch until 0300 tomorrow morning. I guess we traded the snow back home for severe weather.
Ran a quick few errands and headed back to Ronnie & Carol's. Helped Ronnie take down a dead oak tree. He got his tree down and cleaned up and we got some firewood.
We went to a really nice Mexican restaurant for dinner and came back to their house and yakked some more about old times.
As another storm is on the way we headed back to the camper and made it just before the heavy rain hit. Lots of lightning and thunder. Kaylee is having a hard time with all the noise.
Again no pics, the weather has not been conducive to picture taking.
We are off to Kevin and Kim's (military old friends) tomorrow.
Off to bed listening to the thunder and rain on the camper.
Have to put an addendum on this post: 30 seconds after I pushed "publish" the sirens went off. We are just back from spending 45 minutes in the campground bathroom as that is the only "hard structure" in the area. Flash flooding all around but no tornadoes in this immediate area.
I think I'll have another drink!

Winter Excursion 1, Day 74

We sleep like bears last night, had a big storm, but neither of us woke up.

Got up early as we are in a different time zone now. Did a little camp maintenance and made a commissary run. Here's a pic of the brand new commissary at Ft Rucker, Cath says it's a very nice facility. Came back to the camper, unloaded the groceries and were off to see old places and friends.

We went to the old trailer park where we lived in a single wide while I was in flight school (1979). The trailer park is still there, but mostly empty. The trailer we lived in is gone, the slab is still there. Enterprise has really grown since we were last here.
Next we went to Ronnie & Carol's. It was great to see them again and we had a fun afternoon reminiscing. Went out to dinner with them at Hunt's Steak House in Dothan. Meal was good and the yakking continued.
Headed back to camp around 2100, caught a little TV, bed will feel good.
One foot note tonight: AMERICA FIRST! Congrats to Donald Trump.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 73

Moving Day.
We left Ft Stewart at 0900. Arrived Ft Rucker at 1530. The campground is really nice, disbursed sites and a nice view of Lake Tholocco.
The drive today was really nice. We took back roads all the way. Lots of turns and slow areas, but seeing the rural areas of southern Georgia was worth it. The drive was less than 300 miles.
By the time we got to the campground and set up I didn't get any pics. Hope to get some tomorrow, but thunderstorms in the forecast for tonight and tomorrow.
We will be here for 10 days so pics will be in future blog posts.
Early to bed as I'm tired.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 72

Camp clean-up day, as we are moving to Ft Rucker, AL in the morning.
Got up late, cleaned up the truck, did a lot of laundry, said good-bye to the neighbors, and flew the drone in the afternoon.
We will go back to this campground. The neighbors were really nice. The campground is great. Only bad thing was all the shooting on the ranges, but that is the sound of freedom. Kaylee did not like it!
Sorry for the short post, but not a lot happened today.
Early to bed as I want to be on the road by 0900.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 71

Up early this morning. Left home and headed to Savannah to pick up a few things for the camper. Then headed south to Fort Frederica on Simons Island, GA . We avoided I95 and stayed on RT17. It was a neat drive, we saw more damage from the hurricane than we've seen the whole trip so far.

Here's a pic of Cath and the Wild Viszla under a British Flag.

 The Live Oaks on this National Historic Site were awesome.

 And there was even an orange tree!

 More Oaks.

Checked out Jeckel Island and then stopped at a local seafood market and got some really fresh Sea Trout. Back at camp trout on the grill were very tasty, corn and rice to go with it.
Camp clean-up tomorrow, as we are moving to Ft Rucker on Thursday.
A little TV and then early to bed.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 70

Total Down Day.

I took Kaylee for a long walk this morning and after that we didn't even leave camp.

While on the walk the elusive shades were located. They will be in the mail today back to Nicole.

Fried Rice for dinner, a few toddies by the fire and then we were off to bed.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 69

Woke up at 0700 when the Kiddos got up. Pancakes and sausage for breakfast. Then laying in bed watching Disney until Mom & Dad got up.

Took the boat out again after breakfast. The fishing here is actually lousy, but it's better than no fishing.
Sloppy Joe's and all the fixins' for lunch. We even made some hush puppies as we are in the south..LOL.
Kids and Kiddos left late afternoon, it's really quiet here all of the sudden! We will miss the Kiddos, won't see them till maybe this summer or next fall.
Football on the TV, Cath and I will sleep good tonight.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 68

After coffee and a quick breakfast we waited for the Kids and Kiddos to arrive. They got here early enough. It was great to see the Kiddos again. Hot dogs and the trimmings for lunch, Bri did a great job.

The hot dog cooker....

 The hot dog eaters!

After lunch we put the boat in and did some touring and fishing. With the Kiddos on board it was more touring than fishing.

 Bri and the WooWho couldn't take the fast pace.

The Kiddos stayed with us in the camper and the happy couple got the tent 100 yds away from us.

We had a nice campfire after the Kiddos hit the sack and we watched the football games. Got to bed late, but this is our last night with the Kiddos.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 67

The temp reached 80 today!

Did a few errands and a little shopping this morning in preparation for the Kiddos tomorrow.Back at camp I cut a little more firewood are relaxed during the afternoon.

We had a taste of home for dinner, Jerked Pork!

This camper is interesting, A guy , his wife, and 7 kids live full time in it. They hardly ever came out of the camper and at 1630 packed up and left after being here for 3 days.

Had a nice campfire and yakked with some of our neighbors then off to bed.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 66

Slept late this morning after the long drive yesterday. Had a late breakfast/lunch and then hit the lake for fishing. Can't say the fishing was good, but the scenery and solitude was great.

Here's a pic from my fishing spot.

 I still love my truck.

 

 And back at camp, Kaylee is her normal lazy Viszla self.

Kids and Kiddos will be here Saturday. We can't wait. So tomorrow is a shopping day, get ready day, and try to rest up day. I think I'll do some more fishing.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 65

Driving Day, but not by choice. All went well with my Mom's stuff, but it was a long driving day (450 miles).
This will be a short blog.
Best part of the day was seeing the Kiddos (and my DIL) twice. Stopped for coffee on the way north and stopped to see the Kiddos on the way back south.
Cath had a down day, but had a great dinner for me when I got home. Had a few toddies, watched the sunset, and it will be early to bed.
Pics tomorrow of fishing, hope we catch a few.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 64

Down Day.
Slept in a little. Started our errands about 1130, I guess it was a lazy morning!
Had some long conversations with the camp host about fishing. There is Crappie, Catfish and Bass in this pond. Got my license today and hope to have a few fish fries while we are here.
Cath is still a little under the weather and I hope she recovers soon.
The camp host here is the best. He's allowed me to cut some wood and he's going to bring some Oak hardwood to our site tomorrow while I'm gone.
I have to make a trip to Myrtle beach to tie up some financial ends from my Mom. Cath is staying in camp.
All else is good.
Here's pic of Cath this evening.

Winter Excursion 1, Day 63

Moving Day. We miss the Kiddos already!
Had a good ride south to the new campground. We are at Holbrook Pond Recreation Area at Ft Stewart, GA. We stopped at an Old Time Country Store on Rt 17 on the ride to here. It was really neat! Lots of good ole' southern stuff. We picked up some cider, corn bread mix, hush puppy mix, and some BBQ sauce. We had the corn bread for dinner (on the Green Egg) with some ribs and baked beans.
The cider is really good, too bad it has no alcohol.

Got to the campground about 1430. The camp host was really great and the campground is FAB! Nice dispersed sites on a small lake that has lots of Bass. We had our first campfire in weeks. Asked the Host about firewood. I loved the answered! He said there is plenty of blow-down from the hurricane and YES, I can use a chainsaw. WhoHoo!
Here's a good story. We got to our site and were set up. A new neighbor pulled in and started to set up. First thing they did was hunt firewood and start a fire, they continued to hunt wood and found a few twigs and small wood. We watched this for about 30 minutes and I finally took a few pieces of wood over to them (we had got this wood from a fellow camper for free). Next thing I knew she came over with a six-pack of Heineken in return for the firewood. I'll make that deal any day.
Here's few pics of the campground.
Our site.

Looking out from our site.

View of the pond.

Cath, warming her butt. Still a little cool (43), but supposed to warm up this week. Forecast is for near 80 by Friday.

Early to bed, we are in recovery mode.