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. 

 

Celebrating A Very Special Birthday With Diva

Bennington, VT (52 degrees, partly cloudy with a few snow flurries)

Martha &; John

We celebrated a very special birthday with John's sister, Martha (affectionately known also as Diva).  It was her 60th birthday and we wanted to celebrate with her. Their cousin (Mom's side), Kathy, also flew in from Lansing Michigan to join in all the fun. 

Martha is teaching this semester at Bennington College in Vermont.  She normally lives in Sao Paulo Brazil, so the opportunity to see her was priceless.

Kathy, John, &; Martha @ Bennington College

Kathy stayed at this beautiful bed and breakfast called Alexander Inn.  John and I boondocked with special permission in a parking lot at Bennington College.  This is the first time  a motorcoach has stayed there overnight.  They seemed very curious about our life style and ability to "live off the grid". Martha lives in a lovely home on campus that is shared with three other professors. 

Alexander Inn

We enjoyed touring the area.  In the Vermont countryside spring is just beginning and all the trees were in bloom.  It's been fun to follow the spring across the country this year as we traveled from Arizona to Vermont. 

Bennington Pottery

We visited a famous local pottery.  They have been making stoneware pottery since 1948. Oh, gosh that's older than Martha. :)

We had lots of fun ribbing Martha about being old.  She stopped at a local liquor store and we insisted  the cashier "card" her to be sure she could buy alcohol  Here is the result. 

Bennington has three pretty covered bridges.  Most were tragically destroyed last year after the hurricane in the surrounding areas. 

We enjoyed some wonderful meals together.  Kathy was so generous and treated us to most of them.  One of our favorites was at the Dorset Inn.  It's the oldest continuously running inn since 1756.  That's a really long time.  The dining room was lovely and the town of Dorset was very quaint.  All the houses are painted white. 

Dorset Inn

Lunch @ Dorset Inn

Two of Martha's friends, Tom & Jim, cooked us a wonderful meal in their home.  It was a wonderful evening.  Martha and Tom entertained  by telling to us about some of the performances they have been involved in over the years. 

Kathy and a cuddly Moose at Orvis Outlet

John said his favorite part of our weekend together was hearing all of us laugh in the car as we traveled around.  There were lots and lots of laughs.  For example, here is Kathy and Martha climbing a sculpture at the Bennington Museum.  Let's just say we did not act our ages.  Kathy's commentary throughout the weekend was hysterical. 

One of the highlights was visiting the Vermont Country Store in Weston.  We've been getting their interesting catalog for many years.  We enjoyed a nice lunch at the restaurant next door and had a fun time browsing the store.  You can find some amazing things and there are lots of snacks to sample as your shop. 

We were very entertained by trying to find all the moose sculptures that were on display all over

Bennington.  We  had seen a similar type of display in Custer South Dakota last summer.  Martha and John studied the map and the scavenger hunt lasted on and off all weekend.  Peals of excitement would eminenting from the car when someone spotted one.  We are easily entertained. 

Here are a few of the moose or is it mooses...meeses??

Kathy had to return back to Michigan and we are on our way to Watkins Glen KOA to begin our workamping job.  Martha will be teaching until June and plans are already being formulated to gett back together soon. 

It sure was fun seeing the cousins all back together again.