End of our journey

It's Mimoisa Time!  The RV Resort preparded mimoisa's and muffins for all to enjoy at the clubhouse.  We sat outside near the pool to enjoy our breakfast and the Zumba workout.  The instructor is a Florida State Lady Body Builder Champ.  I didn't want to get near her.




One more day and it's going to be on the beach.  Drove over to Bonita Springs just beyond Naples to enjoy a sunny day.  Not sure we were headed to the beach....after I saw this guy I thought I was back at the Safari Camp.

The beach is so powdery white and trillions of shells.  Enjoyed resting, reading and a little stroll.

After the beach we headed over to Sanibel Island......traffic was at a stand still, so we turned around and headed back to camp before stopping at a Cheesecake Factory Restaurant....yum.

Need to get a fairly early start in am.  Guess it's time to head back so I can get ready for Mobay!

One more day

Last night we rode over to Goodland which is an area on the Island of Marco.  It's quite different than the town of Marco.  Goodland is very, very laid back, but seems to be a very polulur place to hang out.  Could be the easy access to the restaurants by water or just the very casual astomphere.  We dine at The Ole Marco Grill by the water and then went next door to Stan's for a night cap.  Both places had good, live entertainment.  Even shook a leg! 

I thought this was a hot tub!  lol

When we arrived at the RV Resort, while setting up, Buddy managed to get into an ant bed.  He didn't realize that he was stung until his feet started swelling and itching.  He didn't tell me how bad it was until he couldn't find any meds.  I found some oniment and apply several times throughout the day, but decided to go get the Benadryl.  I also took one, it helped with the sunburn.  He's still sleeping so I don't know if it helped him yet.

Today it's Sanibel Island and Naples.....suppose to reach 82 and be mostly sunny.   Better cover up the chest today, a little to much sun yesterday.

Sunshine and Hot Weather

Well it reached 81 degrees today and was mostly sunny.  A perfect day just to hang out at the RV in our front yard.  A little to much sun on the chest today.....ouch! 

west coast here we come.....

Up and out early from Safari Camp headed across the state to Naples.  There were many RV Resorts we had tried to get into, but they were full.  I new they would be.  We dealt with that last time we traveled in the winter to Florida.  But, we go anyway, and always find something really nice....not on the beach, but not far away.  When I was in Jamaica last year this time, Buddy ventured out on his on RV Road trip and found a very upscale resort just outside of Naples and 10 minutes away from Marco Island.  Got settled in for a few days.




Our front yard



another view



  Headed over to Marco Island for dinner at the Snook Bar and Grill.  Always crowded 

with locals and tourist.  Had a blast!



NOTES:  Traveled Route 80 from W. Palm Beach to Ft. Myers Area.  Jumped on 75 South for about 45 mins until our exit #101.  Traveled on 951 Hwy. aprox. 7 miles, turned onto 41 S. for 1/2 mile.  Naples Motorcoach Resort on right.  This is a Signature Resort.

Camping World is one exit down.

Route 80 is also where the Riverbend RV Resort is where stayed at 2 years ago Christmas.  It's approx. 20 miles East from Ft. Myers.

Safari KOA is also on Rt. 80 just 15 miles West of W. Palm Beach.

Just hangin in West Palm Beach

Monday and Tuesday we spent visiting with Mike and touring the area.  Lots of fine restaurants and shopping.  Purchased a few clothing items for my upcoming trip to Jamaica.

Enjoyed dinner at Crazy Charlie's and on Valentines, Mike took Buddy and I to a really nice Italian Restaurant.  Being that it was Valentines, I was sure we would have trouble getting in without reservations, but Mike new the owner and they were able to accommadate us with a outside seating.  It was really nice.

and the lion roars tonight

When we arrived at the Safari Campground I was warned that you could probably hear the birds and lions from the Lion County Animal Safari next door.  I have come to realize that lions DO NOT roar every 15 minutes, especially all through-out the night.  I WILL find the intercom system sometime during our stay.  What is so bad is that the poor lions sound like their in pain.  Buddy said I'm crazy, and they are the real thing.  I would be really surprised if they are the real sounds. 

Another thing, after a little walk about, I noticed alot of foreigners from Canada are here.  Everybody is talking funny.  Were am I?????    Guess those directional signs I thought were written in spanish are actually in french.  You know I never studied either one!  Should have.   After my return walk and no speakers to be found and no more lion roars during the walk, guess what, the lion started back again just as I am writing this.

Visit with Steven

Sunday was a good day to catch up with Steven.  Shawn, his wife, baby, and Steven came over to see us at the campground.  We spent a while just getting familiar with each other and then drove over to a near by pub and lunch.  It was great to get to spend time with Steven and hear what he's been doing.  It's been 4 years since I've seen him.  Shawn and his wife, Polly and their new baby, Isabella, were very delightful.  I'm hoping to call on Susan (Shawn's mom) the first part of the week to catch up with her.  She was out celebrating her birthday in Orlando this week.  I believe where they live in Coconut Creek is about an hour from where we are based.

On the road again.....

A very early start so we can make some great distance to our destination in the "Sunshine State".  We traveled 735 miles today and decided to call it a day.  We found a very nice place, well-maintained, brightly lite, with security and snack machines......all at a rest area somewhere in between Vero Beach and Palm Beach.  It wasn't so bad....I felt safe among all those trucks.    We arose early the next am to find our way to another Cracker Barrel for breakfast.  We only had about and hour and a half to go to where we have reservations at.

This is the KOA Campground at Lion Country Safari.  We will probably stay here for aleast a week.  Our friend Mike lives near by and my grandson, Steven, lives near here also.  We plan on visiting both on this trip. 

 Today,  Saturday, we toured Lion Country.  Pretty cool seeing all the Africian animals and we didn't even have to go to Africa.  My brother, Steven is on vacation and working there right now. Wonder what he's seeing.  Anyway, we went next door from the Campground to enter the drive through tour.  Oh yea, they would not let us go through in our jeep.  So we had to rent a car from their facility.  Picture below. lol



Our Rent A Car for tour!



We really did enjoy our tour and afterwards and a walk through part of the park, where I got to feed the giraffe.  Long, long neck and legs.  Nice tall guy.

 

It's Jeffrey!

 

Simba, son of Mufasa - Ruler of the Pride Lands





Am I black with white stripes, or white with black stripes!





The nurve of this guy......pecking at our zebra car!

So cute, this couple just hangin out on their front porch!


We finished the tour and went back to the RV for a brief nap then decided to ride over to the beach area on AIA in Palm Beach....wow....the homes around this area and the lamborghini cars made me a bit uncomforable.  Just as soon ride back towards camp and find a nice restaurant to dine at.  And that we dine and enjoyed our day!

Let's go back in time....

Battleship North Carolina....Wow.  Can't put into words seeing this incretable ship.  We took a 2 hour tour exploring the massive guns, engines, living quarters, kitchen, communications - I could go on and on.  It is so unbelieveable, first how this ship was built and 2nd those sailors that operated it and how many battles she helped with.  What is also amazing is how she is camoplaged to look like the sky and sea.  Really beautiful. 

After our tour we drove across the Cape Fear River to the water front area in Willimgton.  So many historical sites, restaurants and not to mention the other boats along the front.  Went to a restaurant called "The Reel".  I was expecting fishing stuff, but it was decorated with pictures of actors that had either visited the area or actually had been there making a movie.  The walls were lined up with pictures on a movie reel.  One Tree Hill and Dawson's Creek were filmed in Wilmington and I'm sure there have been many others. 

Now off to Wrightsville Beach again, hoping to find another cool place for dinner. 

Willington NC to N. Myrtle Beach SC



 N. Myrtle Beach (home of the Shag Dance) is where Buddy's cousin lives.  We had about an hour and a half drive on route 17 to spend the day visiting.  Arrived around noon and Max, Vicky and their daughter, Holly, took us to one of our favorite places to eat - Crab Catcher.  It's one of many, many restaurants on the Intracoastal Waterway.  Not much to look at, but the food is great.  Just a laid back kind of place.  I think everbody ordered crabcakes, except for me, of course, I ordered chicken.  Spend alot of time catching up and Max toured us around a couple of developments he had worked in.  Max always has stories to tell.  Traveling, eating and talking can wear you out and we new we had to travel back to our base in Willington.  Didn't get back till after dark and just to tierd to go back out for dinner.  Cereal and chicken salad for dinner and an early bed time.  Another busy day tomorrow - we're going to visit the "NC Battle Ship" and downtown Willington.  Should be a pretty day reaching 65 and sunny.  Hope so!

Classmates

Off again......left Farmville early so we could meet up with two of Buddy's classmates in Wilson, NC.  About a 3 1/2 hour drive.  Arrived earlier than we anticipated, so we shopped at the good ole Cracker Barrel.  Pick up a Nicholas Sparkts Audio Book "The Choice".  I read the book a few years ago, but would like to hear it while traveling - gives me something to do besides navigating and FB.   Didn't know you could actually rent these at Cracker Barrel for $3.49 a week and just return them when you visit another store.  Good Deal!  Of course, if you don't return, you get charged $40 bucks.  That would not be such a good deal.  Anyway, on the way over we traveled the back roads entering Charksville, Va.  a place years ago when Buddy lived there and owned his own Marina called - what else "Buddy's Marina".  With a new bridge built, guess they tore Buddy's down.  The lake is called  "Buggs Island Lake" aka Kerr Reseviour.  Believe they have alot of fishing tournments there - striped bass is the fishermans chose.  Our good luck on our back roads put us excatly where we were to meet Pat and Butch.   Had such a wonderful visit, wifes included, and I know it was nice for Buddy to catch up with this classmates. 

Butch, Buddy, Pat

We had planned to go on to N. Myrtle Beach but time was running short.  Myrtle Beach is not exactly the place you want to travel into with "No Reservations" at dusk.  I was not able to get something suitable for the night near where we need to be, so Buddy suggested stopping short in Wilmington.  Was able to get setup and plan an evening dinner before night fall.  Traveled a few miles away to Wrightsville Beach and found a restaurant called "Oceanic".  It was perfect.  We even sat where we could see the waves rolling in.  The staff was so nice and even the manager came over and asked us if we would like to move to a better setting....mainly because the hostess sat a group next to us with about 4 small kids that could not contain themselves.  Dinner was excellent.

Tomorrow we'll drive over to N. Myrtle to visit with Max and Vicky.  Two of our favorite kin folks.

OUR FIRST STOP

Not much time to plan a RV trip....but here we go.  We got a fairly early start on Thursday, February 2nd, considering I packed in less than 2 hours the night before for a 3 week road trip.  Knowing that we would be in cold and warmer weather, I just through some stuff together.  Headed first to Farmville, VA to visit Chelsey, Kraig and Darangi.  Made good timing and little traffic to VA.  Instead of setting up at the RV Park,we ususally stay at, Darangi and Kraig had cleared their driveway of over handing branches so we could just set up in the front yard.  It worked out great.  We had a relaxing weekend and enjoyed a teriffic Jr-Varsity and Varsity basletball game on Friday night.  Kraig played very well in his game, but they took a defeat.  We won the Varisty game in overtime.  Nail biting excitment - so much I had to get a manicure the next day.

Darangi is an excellent chef....he mariated chicken in a secret sauce for most of the day and turned up the grill.  We enjoyed an exceptional meal including, my favorite, rice and black eye peas and Buddy's favorite, sauteed squash with onions and mushrooms.  Yum, Yum.

I had intented to visit the "High Bridge State Park" for a bit of hiking and view of the railroad bridge, but the weather decided to bring some rain.   High Bridge Trail State Park is a multi-use trail ideally suited for hiking, bicycling and horseback riding. Its centerpiece is the majestic High Bridge, which is more than 2,400 feet long and 160 feet above the Appomattox River. The bridge was built in 1853 as part of the South Side Railroad. The bridge itself isn't yet open but the rest of the park's 28-mile linear trail is.  Maybe by our next visit, the bridge will be open.

Buddy hopes to visit some classmates near Raleigh, NC on Monday.  He hasn't seen or heard from these guys in 50 years.  Wow - how do we know who to meet????   We'll stay at Chelsey's through Sunday and we'll head out on Monday AM.  Guess I'll be watching the Super Bowl game tonight - so looking forward to that. lol    We have about a 3 hour drive to where our lunch visit with Butch and Pat will be.  Then we'll head south to Myrtle Beach hoping to catch Buddy's cousin Mac and his wife Vicky.

Buddy with his Cousin Gordon and Wife Deb



Darangi's New Ride