Highlands Hammock State Park & Disney Hollywood Studios

We accompanied the Timber Pines RV Club to Highland Hammocks State Park in Sebring,FL Jan 28th. We were going to stay 3 nights but it started to rain about 30pm the 2nd day and was still raining the 3rd day with signs of raining for another day or 2 so we headed for home about noon after 2 cold nights. We really enjoyed the tram ride through the back country that they really trying to maintain natively. We ran into whitetail deer, alligators, birds of a different feather and many native plants including the carnivorous bladderwort. We'd like to go back sometime and take some of numerous trails including 3 boardwalks. The park offers full hookups thru backcountry camping.

We ventured over to Orlando yesterday and\ "camped" at Sherwood RV Resort in Kissimmee. It's a little expensive but is close to shopping & dining. It's a favorite hangout for snowbirds and is
also on the local bus route which we used to go to Disney World. The bus goes directly to the Disney Transportation & Ticket Center with direct monorail links to Magic Kingdom and Epcot, however we had quite a walk and wait for the bus to Hollywood Studios. Returning tonight went much smoother. We enjoyed Beauty & The Beast stage show. The Indiana Jones stunt act was amazing. We also enjoyed the Little Mermaid stage show and the American Idol show. Keep watch for Scott Sheffield in American Idol.

Asheville,NC and Richmond, VA

We traveled to Asheville, VA last Wednesday for Pat to attend a 2 day session on the SpectraVision. They've added a few new devices and capabilities to the system that she is really excited about. She had about 8 hours of one on one training from Brandon Fields and is now ready to explore the galaxy. We visited  the Biltmore Village shopping district and the Grove Park Inn, a fantastic 1913 resort  in the heart of Asheville. The Inn offers a huge lobby with huge fireplace at both ends plus a great dining room and spa. We were very sorry we weren't staying there but on a retirement budget we just couldn't see it.

We motored on to Richmond on Saturday and are enjoying time with Jerry and his family. The weather was good yesterday and we enjoyed a walk around the villages. Last night we had a family night out at the outback.

Punta Gorda, FL

We took our LD to Punta Gorda for the weekend. Roger and his kids, Kyle and Emily, drove up from Miami to meet us. The Alligator RV Resort is just another RV park but they do have a nice fishing lake and heated pool. Roger and kids tried to catch dinner but alas, we wound up having to buy it. Today the pool was closed for electrical problem and Kyle wanted to go to church dance back up so we decided to leave early and got back home at 10pm.

Since last June (our last post) we've been quite busy but not RVing. We've been doing some timesharing among other things, like the Utah cattle roundup. We spent a week in Orlando,a week in Daytona Beach and a week in Charlotte Harbor, FL. In Orlando we did 3 days at Disney World. At the Dophin Beach Resort in Daytona Beach we enjoyed daily walks on one of the best beaches in the world. The resort is an older one but it's right on the beach. It also has a nice pool and hot tub practically on the beach. Our timeshare in Charlotte Harbor was on the bay and had a nice park and footpath along the water that we really enjoyed. The sunsets were wonderful. Roger and Rosie joined us there.

In early January we'll drive up to the smoky mountains in NC and then venture on over to Richmond to visit Jerry and family before heading home.

MiQ Taylor

Our 23rd grandchild arrived this morning in Midlothian VA. Weight 7 lb 15 oz, length 20 1/2 in. Mommy and Daddy doing fine, as is the new born. This probably ends the grandchild sequence, and it couldn't end on a better note - a cute granddaughter. In case you're wondering - it's pronounced Me-Q.

Midlothian VA

We're in Midlothian  VA outside of Richmond. QQ's baby girl is due Thursday, day after tomorrow by c-section. We're here to help any way we can. We had nice restful trip up Sunday. Stopped in North Carolina to say hi to John, who's enjoying a carefree life traveling around in his homemade moror home. PS: ask me about my first ever birdie - last Wednesday.

Home Once More

We enjoyed a great 3 day trip from Siloam Springs to home on mostly non-interstate roads - also known as scenic highways. We spent nights in Vicksburg, Mississippu and Tallahassee, Florida. We enjoyed a seafood buffet at the Aneristar Casino in Vicksburg and a short trip downtown in Tallahassee to see the state capitol. We made record time in cleaning out the motorhome and plan on hitting the sack early. Our travels included US highways 65, 49 and 19. We had previously taken 191 thru Utah, 160 thru Colorado, 64 thru New Mexico and 412 thru Oklahoma. It was really nice to get off the beaten interstate path. This is our last post for this trip - we'll be on the road again May 12 when we go to Richmond VA for the birth of our next grand-daughter. Til then Happy Trails to You.

Siloam Springs AR

Arrived in Siloam Springs about 2:30 today after a very windy 2 day drive accross Olahoma. We're camped at Natural Falls State Park in Oklahoma, it's very nice and wooded here. We really enjoyed our 4 days here with Joe, Maria and the kids. We went to 1 of Daniel's soccer games - 34F and rainy - not fun even though Daniel played a great game. What was fun was our campfire program last night with hamburgers and smores. Tonight we're in Vicksburg MS, tomorrow we'll be in Tallahassee then we'll be home on Sunday, finally.