Visit to William Umstead State Park and Full Timers Theme Song

(Raleigh, North Carolina) Today was a great day for hike. The weather until recently has not cooperated with our plan to get more exercise. Tucked between Raleigh, Cary, Durham is a lovely State Park.  William Umstead State Park is over 5,579-acres and offers great hiking, canoeing, horseback riding, and fishing.  There are two entrances and today we explored the Crabtree Creek area.  It was named after a former governor due to his conservation efforts. 

The grounds were a little muddy so we decided to take an easy trail that 1.25 miles in length.  Jimmy led the way.  The trail was well marked and ran along a nice babbling creek.. 

Can you see our who we found along the trail?  There were two of them watching us as we hiked along the trail.

Afterwards we came home to watch the Colts win against the Jaguars.  It was a great game.  They have to win two more in order to go to playoffs as a wild card.  Unfortunately one of our favorite players, Austin Collie, suffered another concussion.  He had just returned to play after a very similar injury. 

My brother sent me a great song written by Joe Bonamassa that would be a great theme song for a full timer.  Here are the words and a You Tube Video of his performance-

Don't Live Anywhere

Got no ceiling but the sky,

Like the world babe, just rolling by.

I don’t live anywhere, I live everywhere,

This road is my home.

There’s nine-to-fives, pretty yards,

That was never babe, in the cards.

I don’t live anywhere, I live everywhere,

This road is my home.

The clamours and glamours of the city, I don’t need ‘em.

As long as I live, let me hold on to my freedom!

It’s crossed my mind now and then,

A little too late babe, go back and start again.

I don’t live anywhere, I live everywhere,

This road is my home!

The clamours and glamours of the city, I don’t need ‘em.

As long as I live, let me hold on to my freedom!

It’s crossed my mind, now and then,

A little too late baby, go back and start again.

I don’t live anywhere, I live everywhere,

This road is my home - this road is my home

Road Trip to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base

(Goldsboro North Carolina )Today we took a road trip to visit
Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.  

It was an easy 90 minute trip to Goldsboro.  John was stationed here as a reservist for 12 years before we were married.  His responsibilities at the time were with construction equipment operation.  He was looking forward to the  opportunity to show Jen and me all around and to check out the campground (FAM camp).  

F-15 Eagle

It was thrill to watch several F-15 Eagles take off and land.

FAM campground

The campground was shady and had about 10 concrete slab back-in full hook up sites.  They were all very level and in a quiet area away from the runways.  The rate is $15/night and cannot be reserved in advance.  At the time there were four rigs staying at the campground.  There was also a bathroom and shower facility.

It was well maintained and we would certainly stay here.  The base offered a nice workout facility, golf coarse, and movie theater.  The was also a BX (like a small Walmart) and commissary (grocery store).  We did our grocery shopping and found everything that we needed.  You need to be retired military or active duty to stay at the military campgrounds (or the guest of someone staying there)

John said there had been many changes made to the base.  He enjoyed his duty while he was stationed here and seemed happy to see it again.