Winter Excursion 5, Day 117

I took Jacob to bowling this morning and Cecilia brought him back around 1130. He spent the day riding the E-Bike and running around the campground.

In the afternoon he helped me install our new "Fabulous Operating Products SAM-1-81 Range Hood Upgrade Kit". It really is fabulous, it is so quiet you can hardly tell that it is on. Cath loves it, we can actually talk to each other when the fan is on now!

The charger for the E-Bike died so we can't charge the battery. I'll order a new charger and have it delivered to our next campground.

We had our last campfire with Jacob and got all of our wood burned up.

One more day with Jacob. We will miss him!
 

Winter Excursion 5, Day 116

Jacob and Cecilia arrived just after lunch. After Cecilia left we left camp to do some food shopping for the weekend and to stock our freezer.

We spent the rest of afternoon playing cards, watching Jacob ride around camp, and checking out all the new campers arriving for the weekend.

We grilled the last of our sea trout for dinner. It was excellent!

Here's another pic of our night sky with the full moon.

The forecast has changed and we should not get any rain until Sunday night just in time to pack up for our move on Monday.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 115

We left camp this morning enroute to Cheaha State Park, AL. We set Gypsy (GPS) to avoid highways and she did a great job. We were on some roads that were barely paved. The park was worth seeing. It is on top of a mountain and on a clear day the views would be fantastic. The campground is one of the best we've seen, modern, clean, and plenty of room between sites. Here's a few pics.

The stone work is amazing!

We may spend some time camping here in the future to explore the whole place.

Back at camp we played some cards and got camp ready for a few days of rain. Our gorgeous weather we've had for the last few days is going to disappear.

We had some really good news from the campground manager here. They would like us to be hosts here from Jan 23 - Apr 23. Of course we said yes, we will get to see Jacob for 4 months!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 114

Another beautiful day. Temps in the 70s, calm winds, and sunny! We have one more day of this then the rain starts again.

We said goodbye to Ray and Melinda this morning around 1100. It was a really fun few days with them. We will stay in touch and hopefully see them next year.

We took the drive to Tractor Supply to get Kaylee's food and bones. She was running low and was getting grumpy.

Late afternoon we drove over to Cecilia's parents for dinner. It was good to see Bob and Peggy again. The meal was excellent. We enjoyed seeing their new house and yakking about old times.

Back at camp I got this pic of the moon and clouds. It looked better for real, the pic does not do it justice.

Off to bed and a good night's sleep.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 113

Another great weather day! We spent the entire day outside, but I did put the sunscreen up.

Melinda and Cath went to the local Mexican food store and got all the fixings for a Fajita dinner. We roasted the spiced beef on the grill and it was delicious on the fresh homemade tortillas. 

After dinner we played a game and just had fun yakking. We didn't get to bed until after 2300!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 112

Cecilia picked up Jacob around 0800. They had breakfast with us then headed home. We will see them again on Friday.

I keep harping about the weather, but it has been so bad that when we get a good day it's blog worthy. Today was beautiful, it got so hot in the sun we moved to some shade!

Here's a pic of Kaylee soaking up some rays. She's working on her tan!

Here's Cath protecting her nose from sunburn!

Ray and I picked up pizza for our dinner. Then we all played cards until 2100. A good time was had by all.

Sleep will come fast tonight.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 111

The weather is actually cooperating! It was sunny again all day with temps in the 60s. Cath and I got sunburned on our faces and necks!

The boys spent the whole day playing, we hardly saw them at all.

Cecilia and Ferdie packed up and were gone before lunch. Jacob made a few friends with some of the kids still in the campground and was in and out all afternoon.

We went to Ray and Melinda's for dinner. Melinda made a really good casserole (?) for dinner which we ate on tortillas. After dinner we played "Ticket to Ride". It was really fun with five players.

We were back at camp by 1930 and in bed by 2100 as Jacob has school tomorrow.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 110

Another sunny day and it was actually warm sitting in the sun.

Cecilia, Ferdie and all the boys headed back to town in the morning for the boy's bowling league.

Ray and Melinda did some shopping after the four of us sat outside for most of the morning.

The afternoon was spent, walking, biking, and sitting in the sun. The boys were all over camp with all the other kids.

Ferdie and Cecilia made a great dinner of chili dogs with all the fixings. Cecilia's parents came to camp for dinner, it was good to see them again.

After the sun went down it got chilly again, this should be the last night. We made it to 2200 then hit the rack. It's been another fun day!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 109

We finally got a sunny day!

Here's Kaylee and I on our mid afternoon walk.

We also took a few pics of some interesting campers. This one is made for off road camping.

It has some massive tires.

This one is homemade and the couple that owns it are still doing the interior here at the campground. It needs a few windows.

Cecilia, Fergie and the boys arrived around 1500. The boys spent the afternoon riding bikes and unicycles. The neighbors were really interested and actually tried it.

Ray and Melinda arrived around 1600 and got all set up.

Cath and I made a Low Country Boil for everyone. It turned out great. We even had a King Cake as it was Fat Tuesday this past week. We served dinner family style outside and when the sun started to go down it got cold fast. We had a nice fire, but the wind goes right through you. Everyone ate fast and braved the cold until 1900 then we all went to our respective campers to thaw out. Despite the cold a good time and a good meal was had by all.

 

Winter Excursion 5, Day 108

We left camp mid morning to do a little last minute shopping for the weekend. We checked out the new Duluth Trading Company store and the Field & Stream store. Costco was a zoo, but we got what we needed.

The weather stayed cloudy and cold all day. We will be glad when some warmer weather happens, but temps are forecast to be freezing for the next few days. Changing over the water hose and filling the fresh water tank is getting old. We will also be happy when the campground dries out, it's a mud hole with all the rain we've had.

We pretty much stayed in the camper this afternoon watching TV and relaxing. A few new campers have arrived for the weekend. They are always fun to watch.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 107

As is usual we ran out of propane on the coldest night yet. I woke up at 0200 and it was 46 degrees in the bedroom. Went outside and changed over the tanks. We got a chuckle out of this as it seems to always run out at night!

It warmed up a little in the late morning. We did some camp chores and got everything cleaned up from the snow mess yesterday.

In the afternoon we went to the grocery store and got everything we need for the weekend. Cecilia, Jacob, Fergie, and the boys will be camping this weekend. Ray and Melinda will also be here. Should be a fun weekend.

Hung out at the camper in the afternoon, watched a few new campers arrive, rode the E-bike, and just relaxed.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 106

The forecast for last night was temps in the teens, but when I got up this morning this is what greeted us!

This was not at all forecast!

Although to us it was just a dusting it crippled the entire area.

Most of the campers in the park (although there are not many here) had frozen water lines this morning. I was able to help our neighbor with our 100 ft. hose. They had not filled their fresh water tank and their pedestal was frozen solid. We filled their fresh water tank and it took them almost 2 hours to thaw their pedestal with a hair dryer. Temps did not get above the low 20s and we had snow on and off all morning.

Cath and I hunkered down, watch some TV, played cards, and were just "camper bound" AGAIN!

By late afternoon most of the snow had evaporated and we even saw a few minutes of sun. It will be cold again tonight so we will stay on the fresh water tank and let the pedestal drip.

All is well in the Boss camp!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 105

Cecilia arrived around 0800 to pick up Jacob. Cath and I looked at each other after they left and decided to go back to bed for a little while. The weather is nasty, rainy, and cold. We didn't wake up until noon! Jacob must have worn us out.

We spent the afternoon cleaning up the camper and getting ready for a cold night. Forecast is for temps in the teens. Dumped all the tanks and filled the fresh water tank. Disconnected the water hose and let the pedestal faucet drip.

Watched some TV and just relaxed the rest of the day.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 104

After breakfast we played a bunch of games. Cribbage was the highlight, but Ticket to Ride is really fun.

Later in the day Jacob wanted to do the Light Trail. I thought he wanted to hike it, but he took his bike instead. It was a wet and cold walk for Kaylee and I, Jacob rode his bike to the end, turned around, and then abandoned Kaylee and I. By the time we got back to the camper, Jacob had changed clothes, snuggled up to the fireplace, and had a nice warm hot cocoa. 

We had some prime NY strip steaks for dinner. They turned out great, but the Bourbon Pecan Upside-down Cake that Cath made was the hit of the meal! 

It's been a fun weekend with Jacob. He will be heading home first thing in the  morning.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 103

Took Jacob over to bowling this morning. Weather is cold, wet, and foggy.

After Jacob got back we drove over to Bass Pro Shop and stopped at Chic-Fil-A on the way. We also stopped at our favorite butcher shop on the way home and picked up Valentin's Day dinner.

Back at camp we played some cribbage and watched some TV. Cath made a nice dinner and we hit the rack around 2100.

Except for the weather it's been another great day!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 102

Today was a great day!

First I picked up Jacob for the weekend. We had a fun drive and some good conversation on the way back to the campground. Back at camp we watched some TV, played some cards and some cribbage, and just had a good day despite the crappy weather. It's cold and wet!

Second we heard from the Georgia DNR volunteer coordinator. We have been accepted as Camp Hosts at George L. Smith SP starting 1 Jan 22 to 30 Apr 22! Cath and I are really happy. We have been applying for hosts jobs for the past few years and Georgia came through. The system for volunteers in Georgia is great!

We are hoping for some better weather this weekend, but we might end up being camper bound again.

Celebrating tonight, all is good, we are jazzed, and Jacob is here!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 101

We woke early this morning to thunderstorms. It lasted for about 2 hours. The campground is soaked. After it let up we were able to get Kaylee out, she hates thunder!

We left to do all the shopping for the weekend. First stop was Costco and amazingly we ran into Cecilia in the parking lot! There is only a million folks in this area, so figure the odds.

In the afternoon we got the camper cleaned up and then left to see our friends, Ray & Melinda, for dinner. We had a good meal and then played around 12 hands of UNO Flip. Melinda was the big winner.

On the way home the "5 mile drive" in the park was interesting. We must have seen 20+ deer. 

Weekend forecast is for rain and cold. Camper bound again!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 100

We left camp this morning and did some sightseeing/driving around north Birmingham. We saw million dollar homes and slums. For the most part we found the roads to be in really bad shape and as we've seen in years past the trash along the roads is bad!

Back at camp we just enjoyed the weather, 70 degrees and sunny with a light breeze.

Before bed we battened down the hatches as thunderstorms are forecast for tonight. Our weather is about to change. Ten day forecast is for rain and freezing temps at night. Time will tell!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 99

Cecilia arrived around 0800 to pick up Jacob and test if his school computer can hook up from the campground. Unfortunately it can't so he won't be able to do school from here.  After breakfast they headed home. We will see Jacob again on Friday.

We both took showers and cleaned up the camper a little.

Later Cath cut my hair for the first time. I'll be wearing a hat in public for the foreseeable future. She did a really good job for the first time. It kind of looks like Gibbs on NCIS or Moe from the Three Stooges. There will be no pics posted of me without a hat!

We spent the afternoon people watching and riding the E-bike.

The weather has turned nice and should be good for the next few days.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 98

Super Bowl Sunday!

It was cold, wet, and cloudy this morning. We, for the most part, hung out in the camper. I played a few games of cribbage with Jacob. He's getting pretty good at playing.

Around 1230 CC, Ferdie, and the boys came over. We burned some burgers and sat around outside and complained about how cold it was!

They brought their unicycles and it was fun watching them. Ferdie and the oldest boy are pretty good. CC is getting better.

Later in the afternoon on one the boys had to use the campground facilities. When he came back to the camper I snapped this pic. Guess what is hanging out under his coat? LOL!

They all left around 1530. Cath made a super layered dip and I did some wings and shrimp on the grill. We finished everything up just in time for kickoff. It was a good game if you are a Tampa Bay fan or a Tom Brady fan. I thought it was exciting to watch Tom win number seven!

After the game we all hit the sack. We are all tired from the cold weather and we were outside most of the day. Tomorrow is a school day for Jacob and CC will pick him up in the morning.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 97

After breakfast I took Jacob to bowling, then stopped at the store on the way home.

CC brought him back around noon. We had the rest of the fish tacos for lunch.

Then the rain started! It is forecast to last all day and most of the night.

We played some three handed cribbage, Jacob won! I'll never hear the end of that!

Jacob introduced us to the game called "Ticket to Ride". The three of us had a blast learning and playing it. The game lasted almost 1 1/2 hours. It was fun and I'm sure we will play it again.

We watched some TV. Cath made a yummy bean soup for dinner. A Harry Potter movie was next, then it was off to bed. Despite the rain it's been a fun day with Jacob.
 

Winter Excursion 5, Day 96

We got all the camp chores finished this morning before CC and Jacob arrived.

I haven't posted a pic of the new Sat antenna so here it is. We are still really happy with it. It is much better than the old one.

CC made us new masks from a pattern they found on the web. Our normal paper masks fit inside. Cath's has chickens on it!

Jacob had a blast riding the E-bike all afternoon. We had a nice dinner of fish tacos at Jacob's request and for desert used the pie irons for apple pie.

Watched a little TV and were in bed by 2200, which is really late for us. We will all sleep good.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 95

Today was a great day for us!

We slept in a little and then had a lazy morning.

Went to Publix and picked up all the groceries we needed for the weekend. We're looking forward to all the eats for the weekend to include all the Super Bowl food.

Back at  camp I took a bunch of pics of our old Sat dish and receiver in preparation for posting on the classified section of the Forest River Forums.

As I was working on getting the advertisement ready for posting some fellow campers stopped by and asked if the old Sat dish was still for sale. I said yes, and that I was just working on posting the ad on the web. To make a long story short they bought all the old stuff at the price I asked. This saved us a lot of heart ache selling, shipping, and packing if it sold on the web! 

The weather is still cool, but no temps below freezing are forecast. It still beats northern NY.

All is well here and we get to see Jacob for the weekend.

GO TB!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 94

We saw Jacob for the first time this year and OH MY is he getting tall.

Here he is with Grandma. Notice the grin....😊

Here's the three of us. He will be as tall as me in a year or so!

And here's CC and Jacob. It's been a great day for Grandma and me!

Jacob liked the E-bike and his hover board is really cool! He will spend most of the weekend with us and we are really looking forward to it.

We had a bunch of stuff sent to CC and she brought it all to us today. The new Sat dish is really nice and brings in the satellites way better than the old one.

We put a bike rack on the E-bike and I'll post pics tomorrow. I will say the install was a PITA!

It's been just a wonderful afternoon with CC and Jacob. We are looking forward to the rest of the month with them.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 93

We did a few errands this morning and then spent the rest of the day in camp. Cath did laundry as the park has some nice new machines.

Weather is a little cool, but the sun was out all day.

Kaylee started in around 1430 wanting her dinner. She is not adjusted to the time zone change yet. Here she is begging for her meal...pitiful!

Temps are going below freezing tonight again, but we have the heated hose on.

All is well at OMSP!

Winter Excursion 5, Day 92

We were on the road by 1000 enroute to Oak Mountain State Park and Jacob! We forgot that we are going to a new time zone so we arrived at OMSP just after 1200!

The drive went well but it was a little windy once we got into the hills in Alabama. We got camp all set up and then relaxed. The weather turned cold and never got above 39 all day, it will be below freezing tonight. Jacob called later in the afternoon and we yakked for almost an hour. Here's a pic of the new site, it's our normal B-30 at OMSP. We will be here for a month.

Winter Excursion 5, Day 91

Got up late this morning and enjoyed the rain...LOL.

Went into town and picked up a few things before we leave tomorrow. Go this pic of Dino Village in Pine Mountain, GA. We are sure it's a summer tourist trap.

Rain stopped in the afternoon, but cold weather set in. Got Kaylee out for a short walk and put a few things away in preparation for the trip tomorrow.

Take out KFC for dinner, it was yummy and very healthy...LOL.

We head to Jake tomorrow.😍