Celebrating Our Second Anniversary As Full Timers

 

Port Charlotte, FL (78 degrees, sunny with clear skies)

Today we celebrate our second anniversary as full timers. It's humbling to look back over the past two years and review some of the amazing things we have seen and done. We are very blessed and continue to enjoy this lifestyle. Although this may not be for everyone, it is perfect for us. 

 

We started our second year in White Sands National Monument in Alamogordo, New Mexico and are currently in Port Charlotte, Florida.  Here is a map of our different stops along the way.   

This year we have

• Traveled 7076 miles in the motorhome
• Explored many more miles in the jeep
• Spent at least one night in 15 States
• Managed a sport memorabilia kiosk in Port Charlotte, Florida
• Worked for a KOA in Watkins Glen, New York
• Volunteered at White Sands National Monument
• Participated in one NOMADS project in Tucson Arizona
• Attended two rally’s (FMCA Indio, CA & Gypsy Journal Rally Yuma, AZ)
• Marveled at many beautiful waterfalls, sunsets, sunrises, and star filled skies
• Paddled several rivers and lakes in our kayak
  
• Took the motorcoach and jeep on a ferry ride
  
• Made many new friends
  
• Treasured several visits from family and friends
  
• Plus so much more.  Here are a few of the highlights

White Sands National Monument was a magical place.  We even had the whole place to ourselves with several volunteers when the main road closed due to a snow storm. 

 

The deserts in Arizona and California were so beautiful and we were awed by the spectacular sunsets. 

 

 

 

We had a lot of fun locating creasted cactus, a unusual and rare phenomenon which some cactus form.

One morning we woke up to a sudden snowfall in Sedona Arizona.  The 17 inch snowfall dusted the spectacular red rocks and for a few hours before it melted we experienced a very rare event. One photographer next to me said “it’s moments like this when you really know there is a God”. 

 

 

Before

After



We spent five months workamping at Watkins Glen KOA in New York.  The Finger Lakes are very pretty and the extended stay allowed us a chance to really experience New York.  We saw lots of waterfalls

The very small….

To the humongous Niagara Falls

Touring some wineries in the Finger Lakes was very interesting.  I learned a lot about wine from the wine tastings over the summer and have a new appreciation. 







A visit to NYC was a highlight and we especially enjoyed being able to see John’s sister, Martha, perform a lovely concert. 

 

We enjoyed moose hunting and celebrating Martha’s birthday in Vermont.  The cousins were all together and it was so much fun.  

 

 

 

On our way to Florida we even took the motorcoach and our jeep on two ferry rides to the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  

 

 

 

A new roof was put on our motorhome in Indiana and we added a comfy new sofa bed.  Plus in Delaware the motorhome got six new shoes (tires). My brother helped us also improve our sound system for the TV and we installed a new radio.  The IPOD capability sure has been fun to use as we travel down the road. 

 

 

We are now in Florida and and will soon be starting a  fun filled trip with our friends JC and Bev for three months all around Florida. Life is good.   We remain very grateful that we can travel and enjoy this lifestyle.  It’s been another great trip around the sun. 

 

Traveling On Down The Highway - Added Three More States To Our Map

Woodstock, NY  (50 degrees, gray skies, scattered showers)

The weather has caused a few delays as we travel to New York. A spring snow storm was predicted by the weather channels to drop a whole lot of snow right along the route we had planned. Sheesh!  My brother said that we are providing solutions for global warming, one state at a time! Snow seems to show up where ever we have been this winter.  So, we decided to hang out in Toledo Ohio for a few days and wait it out.

KOA gives you a few night free stay certificates to use when you are traveling to a new campground.  After leaving Indiana we stopped at the Toledo East KOA for what turned out to be three nights due to the weather.  The campground was in poor shape.  It certainly is not worth the $43 per night rate.  The sites were a good size and level with nice trees.  But, that's about the only good things to share.  It looked very run down and unkempt. 

KOA Toledo East Ohio

Yes, we managed to find snow AGAIN

Our next stop was a KOA in Bellefonte Pennsylvania.  This is a beautiful campground.  It's about two miles from the interstate 80 and overlooks the Appalachian Mountains.  It is very nicely landscaped and  has a nice pool and fishing pond.  Our site below was more level then it appears.  It is a very peaceful place and we really liked staying here. 

KOA Bellefonte PA

Gamble Mill Tavern

We had dinner at Gamble Mill Tavern that was originally built in 1790.  There is a fine dining restaurant, however we chose to eat in the tavern.  We had a great meal and there was even a micro brewery on the premises.  We found this restaurant with a Trip Advisor app on my Droid phone.  It's a great way to find places to eat or visit as you travel.  This was rated #1 for the area. 

This time of year you can always expect a lot of construction and lets just say we found a lot of it.  Today we headed to Woodstock New York.  This was our most difficult driving day. The roads were really rough at times too.  I think John was really worn out at the end of the day.   

Construction delays

We are staying tonight at the KOA in Woodstock New York.  It is a well maintained campground but it takes some negotiating to get to your campsite.  We would not consider it big rig friendly due to all the curves and negotiating around trees.  Be sure to arrive during day light.  Our satellite could not find a signal, however, they have free cable.  This campground is located in a very pretty area with charming homes and lots of restaurants nearby.  Turns out the Woodstock Festival in 1969 took place 60 miles from here.

We had to have dinner at The Bear Cafe in Bearsville.  Yes, the hamlet (new word for us) is really called Bearsville.  John's nickname is Bear and our motorcoach is nicknamed "Big Bear".  It is a great restaurant overlooking a pretty river.  We had a delicious dinner and unwound after a somewhat stressful day. 

KOA Woodstock NY

Tomorrow we'll be in Bennington Vermont just in time to celebrate Martha's birthday (John's sister).  She is teaching for a few months at Bennington College.  We decided to work camp in this area so that we could be close to her.  She normally lives in Sao Paolo Brazil so the opportunity to see her for an extended period is priceless.