Ahhhhh - - our first visit to Florida - - land of beautiful beaches, birds, BUGS, and, for the winter months at least, much of the northern east coast population, I am sure! 

On our first beach visit, I was fortunate enough to witness the pathway to a shorebird conference!  They put their feathers down, however, when I tried to sit in on their meetings . . .

 

So many birds - - they're everywhere you look.  Many I have never seen before, but so beautiful!  I have mentioned before that I usually only do wildlife portraits if the critter steps out in front of me and strikes a pose, like this big guy did.

They play in the water, on the sand, and some creep up on their prey - - just waiting for that tasty morsel to show itself. 

A place that has always been on my 'bucket list' is Everglades National Park.  We went there, and it was not at all what either of us expected.  Very interesting and beautiful place with lots of open marshes and meadows - - not the dense swampy areas I expected.  

Did get to see some local fauna (gators!) but the most populous were millions of bugs!  Thought that by visiting in late November, all that would be over - - wrong again boys and girls!  Due to the unusually warm, wet fall and early winter, the skeeters and no-see-ums just decided to hang out instead of going to wherever they usually winter!  (By the way, you CAN see no-see-ums - - you just have to look hard to do so, usually when they are feasting on you.  Ha!)  If you wanted to be in the great outdoors, mosquito netting was the only way to go.  Enjoyed our visit, but decided to beat a hasty retreat!  Before we left the Everglades, however, we got to experience a real, Florida mountain(?) pass - - it was even marked with a sign!  Couldn't pass up a picture of that one!

I mentioned beaches - - you can see where I've been spending lots of time!  Really lovely with wonderful shelling as a major pastime on these shores.  Actually found some sharks teeth for the grandson!  Great lighthouses down here too . . . this one on Sanibel Island was all decked out for the season.

Lots of rain showers too.  More than I would have guessed, until I saw the trees laden with Spanish Moss.  I had the misguided notion that we left all that in the Louisiana swamp

lands earlier this year!

 

Speaking of rain, our RV lesson this month has to do with what happens when you leave your awning out during a short, but very fierce downpour.  You see, the awning then fills with LOTS of water (we're talking a small lake here), and when silly folks like us try to tilt the awning arm down to allow the water to drain, the entire structure warps and folds like tissue paper!  The good news is that the insurance came through and we get our new awning tomorrow.   Hooray!  Fellow RVers, I hope you are taking notes to learn from our experiences!

Another lesson I've learned is that, like the west coast, the east coast also has wonderful sunsets - - you just have to remember which direction to look!  Took me a little while to get that figured, but then I was able to get a few good images when all was said and done.

As another year draws to a close, I am once again reminded of how grateful I am to have the health and spirit to be able to continue this adventure we're on!  To all our family, friends and folks who follow these 'ramblings from the road', I wish you all a very joyous holiday season and extend our hope that the new year brings all you wish for.

Until next time . . . .

 
Having never been to the northeast area of this country, many surprises were lurking out there as we explored the region.

Maine and Acadia National Park did not disappoint.  Such amazing coastal villages and really wonderful food - - learned to say, spell and eat 'lobstah'!!  Speaking of eating, I've never seen such a wide variety of Moon Pie flavors!  Every flavor you can imagine and all baked fresh every day in every bakery around.  Mighty tasty!  Pumpkin and lemon tied for the top spots for me.  Still trying to work off the effects of these gastronomic wonders though;  back to counting those calories . . . Ugh!

As we moved from Maine into New Hampshire, Vermont and on into western Mass and Connecticut, I couldn't help but be amazed by the fact that every tiny village and town was founded in the 1600's and 1700's!  My school history lessons (at least those that I can still recall) emphasized all the early major events in places like Boston, but there was obviously a lot more going on all through the region!  (I'm thinking I was napping when all this was discussed - - I seem to remember having history class right after lunch, which could explain my lack of knowledge about all this.)  It was exciting to see houses and other buildings still standing from this era.

One disappointment about visiting New England was that 'Ma' Nature was late and we were early for the annual, and very popular, leaf peeping season.  We saw the very beginnings of the fall color, but due to a very warm fall, the locals told us not to expect the usual.  They were right!

Gettysburg, PA held even more historical wonders as we spent time taking in the famous battlefield that encompasses the entire town and surrounding areas.

Unfortunately, we had to spend a little more time in Gettysburg than we planned - - after much investigation, it was found that we needed to have a new engine installed in Kermit, the Chevy Tahoe!  (Heavy sigh!)  Trying to think positive about the unexpected $6,000 (yes, that is a 6, plus 3 zeroes!!!) expense - - just keep saying to ourselves 'now we have an almost-brand new car', on the inside at least.  Obviously, we had a little more time to explore, and even visited the nearby Amish country as well as the National Civil War Cemetery where Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address.

While we were waiting for the new engine to arrive, we looked around to see if we could find an alternate tow vehicle for our trailer, and found this one - - all we could really afford after all that . . . ha!

On to Virginia, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Great Smokey Mountains National Park - - once again, our first real visit.  In a word, SPECTACULAR!  We were lucky enough to take in some real early American roots music and even saw 'Mayberry' up close and personal.  For those old enough to remember, Mt. Arie, NC (where Andy Griffith was raised) was the town that was used as a model for his show - - - can you say 'many' years ago?  Floyd's Garage, Aunt Bea's restaurant, the iconic sheriff's office and Opie's candy store are among the things that tourists come to see in Mt. Arie.

When we got to the Smokies, the fall color was finally in full swing as were soooo many visitors!  In spite of being among all those who make this the most visited of our national parks, it was really amazing and gave me a chance to give my 'ol camera a good workout.

I even tried my luck at a positive version of a 'drive-by shooting' - - had fun with that one . . .

We're now officially back in the 'south' - - I know that because as we entered Georgia, the first street sign I saw was "Hog Liver Lane"!  True - - can't make this stuff up!!!  Soon we'll be heading further south to spend the winter months along Alligator Alley and other famous locations in Florida, while hoping that the expected El Nino doesn't spoil the good weather we're looking for.  (You can probably guess how excited I am to spend months with all the talked-about 'critters' in Florida . . . one word . . . YEEK!)

I hope everyone has a wonderful, joyous and safe holiday season.  When I found this image, I could only think how it fit the upcoming season. 

Until next time . . . take good care everyone!

We've been off line for a bit do to electronic problems, so I'll try to catch you up on our adventures.  New lesson learned:  laptop computers DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT like water!!!  This is the first blog on our new one, so I'm sure it will reveal wondrous things . . .

Following our visit to northern Michigan, my trusty sidekick/navigator/bottle opener/fix-it guy (of now 52 years!!) bid farewell to Lake Ontario by tipping his hat to a lovely sunset.

And a lovely sunset it was . . .

Heading east across southern Ontario, Canada, we stopped ever-so-briefly at the tourist trap they call Niagara Falls.  Oh, the falls are lovely all right, but the scene is not so enjoyable.  Back on the road quickly after that - - never have I seen so many t-shirt shops, and all the people it takes to wear them!!

Visiting northern Vermont was a real joy.  Found some great street art in Burlington and got to enjoy a wonderful Festival of Fools which celebrates street performers of all kinds.

Our visit to Quebec City was great - - a beautiful, very old, and partially walled city that is delightful!  Felt very European, even down to the fact that all signage, menus, and every speaking voice you heard were in French, of which 'wee' is our only known word!  We found ourselves nodding quite often . . . we did enjoy the street theater, however.  Wonderful costumes!

 

These enormous painted murals, several stories high, on some of their buildings are amazing!








The Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia had us speaking English once again, (yeah!) although we were surprised to see road signs in Gaelic on Cape Breton Isle in Nova Scotia.  They have maintained an incredible Celtic culture there, left over from the days when the first Scottish and Irish pilgrims discovered Canada.  The music, food and language had us dancing and singing and stomping our feet at the gatherings that happen nightly.

After hearing so much about Peggy's Cove, near Halifax, we HAD to visit.  No disappointments!!

I don't think clothes dryers have been discovered in this part of the world.  Every house aired their (clean!) laundry, and I am sure they were happy with their lower power bills!



I've seen so many delightful fishing villages and harbors, that I couldn't resist getting my 'creativity' on just a little bit . . .

One of New Brunswick's 'claim to fame' is housing the longest covered bridge in the world - - quite an architectural feat, to be sure . . .

Now that we're back in the US, we are preparing for a good 'ol Maine 'lobstah' dinner tomorrow, courtesy of our campground host/lobster fisherman who brings his catch, all steamed and cracked and ready to eat, right to your trailer door!  Now that's service!!  (Katy - - we'll feast in honor of you and your Dad!!)

We have one little tiny rv-ing type lesson that we learned this time - - just in case any of you are thinking of adventuring on wheels.  If you find yourself positioned incorrectly in your rv space, and just want to move your trailer a couple of feet forward (to avoid resting your bumper in the neighbor's campfire pit), be sure to resist the temptation of pulling it forward using only the ball on your hitch, without re-connecting the stabilizing bars.  'Nuff said!!!  Just take my word for it!  DO NOT DO THAT - - EVER!






Fall is on the doorstep here in 'down east' Maine, and we'll soon be headed into New England to go 'leaf peeping'.  Hopefully, we will be blessed with many more photos during the next step in our adventure.  I'm also hoping for a quick end to all the mosquitos and buggie critters we've encountered in this neck of the woods.  Someone said that after the first of August or so, there would be far fewer of the little rascals, but judging from the bumps all over our bodies, I would say that someone had the wrong information!!  Our new cologne is called 'itch repellent'.

Until next time . . . signing off for now.