Christmas Lights, An Engagement and Wildlife

December 7th - Pearl Harbor Day  Today we were anxiously awaiting news from Ryan but we knew we wouldn't hear until later tonight so we just had to be patient. We decided to go to the lighthouse as they were lighting the Christmas lights tonight and had free hot chocolate, cider and cookies and tours of the lighthouse.  We decided to walk as it would only take us ten minutes going along the roadway between the campground and the lighthouse. On the way a trailer came by giving hay rides to people and they were singing Christmas songs.  They asked if we were from the campground and told us they could give us a ride back when we were ready.
We arrived just as a local school choir was starting carols.  Here is a VIDEO of a couple of the carols.  Sorry, again it is not brilliant.

Singing Carols

We waited in line to go inside the lighthouse and got talking to a couple and their daughter.  They were  camping in a fifth wheel although not at our campground and we chatted about the lifestyle.  They only travel for short trips at a time as she is scared of committing full time because of the weather, mainly tornadoes.  I was a little surprised by this although I have to admit that we wouldn't want to be in the motorhome during a tornado.  I get some comfort in that the motorhome is mobile and we can hopefully escape any bad weather. However, we hope that we can avoid tornado country when they are likely to be tornadoes, much the same as avoiding hurricanes.  Most places that are prone to tornadoes have shelters if needed.  And as I have said many times, when it is our time to go it is our time!!!  We will obviously do everything we can to avoid dangerous weather conditions.  So far we have been fortunate, missing rain, snow, ice etc. Hopefully that will last.

As we waited they lit the lights.

This pelican was waiting to greet us complete with Santa hat. 

There were  177 steps to the top of the lighthouse and we decided not to do that, especially as it was crowded, but just look around the house.

In one of the rooms a trio were playing Christmas hymns. It was lovely.

We walked around the house, the grounds and shop and eventually decided it was time to go home.  There was a long line waiting for the hay ride so we decided we would walk back and off we set.  

Not long after we arrived home we got a message from Ryan that Christina had said Yes, so we were happy for them both. 

December 8th - Stayed around the house cleaning up and getting ready to put the Christmas decorations up.  When Bryan took CoCo out for her late night walk they came across this armadillo looking for food in the campground!! 

December 9th - December 12th  

We spent these days shopping, rearranging our furniture, putting up Christmas decorations, cleaning, laundry and walking on the beach. 

One day we were annoyed that there was one other person on the beach when we got there.  We laughed and said how dare they be on OUR private beach!! 

We purchased a wicker chest from Target to put our cooking pots and pans in and also as a side table for Bryan. 

It has been very cold all around the States including Las Vegas, getting below freezing but we have been fortunate that we have stayed in the high 50's/ low 60's during the day and high 30's and 40's at night.  Florida appears to be one of the only states that has escaped bad weather.

Ryan & Christina announced they will be getting married at the beginning of next year.  It looks as though March 7th is the date so far.  We have been discussing whether we should drive the motorhome back to the west coast or fly.  We'll let you know when we decide.

Friday December 13th - Today marks our 4 month anniversary of being "on the road". After going to the post office to mail the last of our Christmas greetings we went to the Nex navy store which is off base here and walked around.  My stomach was upset so we headed home. We arrived home and I started to catch up with our blog.  Thought about "Gonk" as he travels from UK to Canada to spend Christmas and New Year with his mum & Ian.  Enjoy your time together.  We ended up having a safe, quiet Friday 13th and were happy to see that "Gonk" arrived safely!!

Saturday December 14th - Staying home today.  I took some pictures of our Christmas decorations. 

We added some icicle lights along the top of the windscreen

Our Thomas Kinkade Christmas Tree

Mom gave us a laptop table which we decided to use as a table for our refreshment center, the coffee machine takes pride of place.  We put it on top of the storage box that Bryan bought home from Desert Storm. This really helps as it gets this stuff off of the counter space and frees that up for when we cook.

It was overcast today but the temperature was still good and we went for our walk on the beach.  The water was rougher and the tide had come in a little more than usual but it is just so relaxing.  We really wish they had benches down there to sit on and just watch as we always forget to take a blanket or chairs with us.  Today was one of those days when I could have just sat and watched the surf. 

This boat arrived while we were walking, it had a crane on it and we think it may be a salvage barge. It seemed to stop here just as we were leaving the beach.

Co-Co has been getting braver, this is the closest she has been to the water and you can tell she is thinking very carefully about going in.  I would love to see her enjoy the water but she has always been afraid of it. 

This boy is the only person who is ever on the beach at the same time as us.  He is staying at the park in a camper with his mom & dad.  

We stopped to talk to them one day as they have added a camper shell on the back of their Bronco,  and pull a travel trailer. They are going to be traveling down to the Keys and then head up to Alaska.  They are a couple, their son and two labradors and are taking a year out to travel.  They started in Colorado.  We took a picture of the Bronco to send to Ryan, to show him as it is the same year as the one we had that is now his. 

At the end of our walk we sat on the boardwalk steps that go onto the beach.  I attempted to get a self picture with my camera.  Here it is.  I obviously need more practice at this. Ha!! Ha!! 

Here is a picture of the cottages that are available to rent here.  This was taken as we were walking back from the beach through the trees. 

That's about it for today.  Earlier this evening we watched the Pensacola Christmas Parade on TV and are now watching and listening to a Country Christmas show with lovely Christmas music.  It's beginning to get a lot like Christmas around here, without the snow.

Take Care

December 4th - a significant date, the beach and news from Ryan

December 3rd, 2013 - Today, we had to go to get our Florida Drivers Licenses, get license plates for Tilly (Car) and Lily (motorhome) and get them registered so we can become official Floridians.  We had gathered all the paperwork we needed but couldn't find the title for Lily.  We had it when we started out on this journey but somewhere along the road it has got misplaced.  I know, how do you lose something in a 38 foot motorhome, ugh!!!
We managed to get our drivers licenses and a temporary registration for Lily which gives us 30 days to get a duplicate title from Nevada.  So, we are now officially "Floridians".

December 4th, 2013 - December 4th seems to be a significant date for us:  26 years ago today we first met, I still remember as though it was yesterday. 20 years ago today we arrived in Las Vegas after our journey west across the States and this December 4th we are spending our first day as residents of Florida after our journey east across the States.  Here's to many more December 4th's. 
We got the paperwork completed for the duplicate title, notarized and mailed overnight to Nevada.  They told us if we overnighted it and included a self addressed overnight envelope we could get it back in 7 to 10 business days, so fingers crossed.
We got some heavy rain today but not until late afternoon by which time we were safely back home.

December 6th - When Bryan sat outside early this morning he was joined by this squirrel, who seemed to pose for him.  


 

  

We really like it here, within steps to the beach and CoCo is enjoying walking on the sand as well.  There is usually no one on the beach when we are there or maybe just one or two others, pure bliss. Today we decided to walk along the beach to the lighthouse. 

Pensacola Lighthouse from the beach

An Egret keeping an eye on us.

CoCo & Sue (see our foot/paw prints) The lighthouse can be seen through the trees.

Bryan & CoCo

Foot and Paw prints in the sand

Pensacola Lighthouse & Keepers Quarters

Path down to the beach from the lighthouse

We had an awesome day and later Ryan told us that he was going to take a big step tomorrow and propose to his girlfriend Christina at the McCluskey Christmas Party.  We are excited and nervous for him all at the same time.  Hopefully I will have good news for the blog tomorrow.

Take Care everyone,  goodnight

Traveling through FOUR states, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama & Texas

Monday December 2nd, 2013

We packed up, filled up with propane, had a discussion about our bill as the campground had only credited us with $50 of the $100 deposit we put down.  The manager wasn't there but they will look at it and let me know.  I make it that they owe me a few cents after the cost of the electric and the propane. I'm willing to forget about that but I'm not willing to give them any more money.  The lady was very nice and I don't think there will be a problem.  This is the second campground where I have had to dispute the bill, just goes to show that my finance skills are not totally dead!!!  We ended up leaving about 11:00am.
I started to write my blog as I hadn't done it for a couple of weeks and time went quite quickly.  Before I knew it we were crossing into Mississippi.  

Just after you enter Mississippi from Louisiana there is a rest stop at the John C Stennis Space Center.  

We had stopped here on a previous trip from Louisiana to Pensacola with Bryan's parents to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary.  I remember that I saw a huge magnolia tree and was staring at it, fascinated by the huge buds that were on it.  Bryan's dad was really amused by my fascination with this tree,  he & Bryan were laughing at me and never let me live it down.

We were going to stop again and see if the tree was still there but we hadn't been on the road long and as we had a way to go we decided against it. When I look at the website for the Space Center we will definitely have to make this stop some time in the future.  In fact, we have already discussed coming back along this coast and spending more time along the way so we can explore more.  

Here's another long bridge...... whenever I go across these bridges and look over into the swamps below I always hope I might see an alligator but so far I haven't!!  This part of the bridge was before we got to the swamps.

Next we crossed into Alabama.  I nearly missed the sign, ha!! ha!! 

In Mobile we had to go through the George Wallace Tunnel.  We had been through here before in the car but not the motorhome so I was a little concerned.  Of course I didn't have to worry, Bryan had it handled, he really is great driving Lily.  Earlier today we had to fill her up with gas and he had to do a u-turn around the pumps, you would have thought he was driving a mini!!!!

Approaching the tunnel, our speed was good!!

Entering the tunnel

The light at the end of the tunnel

Coming out of the tunnel

and onto the bridge

We saw this on a bridge beside us, it looked like a small motorhome pulling a trailer.  We ended up following it for a while and it seemed as though it was a truck with luxurious living accommodation.

Gulf of Mexico

Then we followed this truck wondering again what it was.  It looked to me like a space machine, ha!! ha!!

As we passed it Bryan figured out it was a hydroseeder and was seeding along the highway.  Another mystery solved, although I prefer my version of a back to the future type of machine!!

We were getting closer to Florida and I saw these trees, they seemed really tall, although not as tall as the Sequoia's in California which I hope to see at some time.

And then we were entering Florida.

Soon we were driving into Naval Air Station, Pensacola where our campsite will be for the next month.

"Bitchin Betty" shows how close we are to the water!!

The red blob in the middle at the bottom is the motorhome, looks as though we are driving into the ocean!!!

As we drove onto the base, we were reminded of how much we like this place.  Our campsite is about 3 minutes walk from the beach and white sand.  I will post pictures when I take some but in the meantime, here are two from our last visit in 2008.

We dug a hole in the white sand and Ryan got in to show how deep it was

Bryan's mom & dad and us at breakfast

We covered four states today, driving completely through two of them. 

Goodnight, will be back with more tales..........  Take Care.........

Mom, The Shed,Thanksgiving & a Birthday

November 16th - December 1st, 2013

The last two weeks have flown by while we have spent time visiting Mom.  How time flies when you are enjoying it.  Most days we have spent at Moms and she has cooked some wonderful meals for us.  Thanks so much mom, now we have to get back to what shall we have for dinner tonight!!!

I'll try to show you some events in date order.

17th - Our eldest son, Ian, entered his first 10k Mo-Run  in Cardiff, Wales and completed it.  He grew a moustache and dressed for the occasion.

Well done Ian...... We are proud of you.

18th - 19th - I got some pictures of the trees outside the RV park when we left to go to moms this morning.

It was time to start dismantling Dad's old shed in the back yard at Moms.  

Before demolition started, clearing out inside.

 There were a couple of squirrels playing in the back yard and investigating.  We saw these squirrels most days.  Click video to see one of them, although you will have trouble finding it sometimes as I couldn't keep up with it.  I tried to get video of them jumping between the trees and chasing each other but it was impossible, they were too quick for me. Not difficult to be to quick for me, I'm not very good at the videos!!!!

The siding has to be taken off first.  

Siding is half off

20th - We left Bryan cleaning tools and Mom and I went to the hairdresser and I got my hair trimmed to about shoulder length.  The gray is really showing through now.  I will be glad when it had grown out completely and I can be a "little old lady" :)  A picture will follow.

21st -   More demolition.... Bryan took the remaining siding off and then we hooked a chain between the beams at the top of the shed and mom's truck and pulled.  After a couple of attempts it was completely down.

At the end of the day

23rd - 24th - Bryan worked on dismantling the roof and wooden frame over both days. He took the nails out of the beams.  We joked that Bryan's dad should have had shares in a nail company with the number of nails he used.  He certainly wanted to make sure the shed was not coming down.

Bryan in the middle of dismantling

Mom's neighbor, Ben, came over and helped and sorted wood, some of it was still usable.  The rest he was going to burn.  The metal we planned on taking to the scrapyard.

Mom went out to check on Bryan and her cat wondered where she had gone.

Where's my mom!!!

By the end of these two days, all that was left was the base, which needed to be broken up with the help of a chainsaw, which we would need to hire and the metal to be taken to the scrapyard.

The cat found mom!!!

 25th - Bryan was suffering and could hardly move today so he had a day of rest.  He has really been pushing himself this last week and had accomplished a lot but it was time to take a breather. It's at times like this that you remember why he had to retire early.

26th - 27th - Rain stopped play, because of the rain the back yard was too wet to work in and we couldn't risk mom's truck getting stuck.

28th - Thanksgiving Day - We are thankful today for the time we have spent with family and friends since we started our fulltiming lifestyle and for the opportunity of being free to do this and the friends we will see on our future travels. We are thankful for all our family and friends in the UK and have special thoughts of Mum who has been struggling with her health recently.  Get better soon, mum - we love you.
We are especially thankful to Mom for taking such good care  of us while we have been visiting and cooking wonderful meals.  Today was no exception and she spent a lot of time yesterday and today in the kitchen.  I helped as best I could, without getting in the way, and Bryan & I did dishes.

Thanksgiving Dinner and Sue's haircut!!

November 29th - Happy, Happy Birthday to my wonderful hubby Bryan.  It was so good to be able to spend Thanksgiving and Bryan's birthday with his mom.  The last time we were here at this time was 20 years ago when I first came to the States and we were on our way to Las Vegas.  Bryan chose Longhorn Steak house for his birthday meal and we had some good food.  The service could have been better but we made the most of it. We watched the Garth Brooks show Live from the Wynn in the evening.

November 30th & December 1st - I took some pictures on one of my early morning walks with CoCo.  The temperatures dropped below freezing a couple of mornings. In these pictures you can see the frost and the "steam fog" rising from the lake due to the cold air.  We really like this campground it is well kept and we will return.

Unfortunately, we will not be able to clear the base of the shed and take the metal to the scrapyard this visit as the rain and time has beaten us.  This is a little disappointing but sometimes these things can't be helped.  We will be back through this way but Bryan's brother may beat us to it.  I have enjoyed helping mom with her washing up and learning some of her recipes and just generally chatting.
We were sad to have to say goodbye but once again it really is "au revoir" as we will return. Being on a time restriction sometimes really sucks!!!