OK - I have decided to give blogging a try. This will be my first post and for some of you a duplication of an e-mail previously sent. Sorry for the duplication. My first focus will be to keep you all updated on the fact that We are still alive and well and gloat a little about the retirement gig.
Our first retirement trip was to North Carolina thanks to our friends Aldene and Lamar who so generously shared their RV for a weeks stay. The picture at the top is the name of the campground where their RV is parked and the road name - which is "No Name Rd." We thought this was a hoot. The manager and all the residents were very friendly. And by the way - Aldene says the RV is for sale if any one is interested. They are embarking on a new adventure that requires traveling about rather than being stationary. Thanks guys!!
As way of background: Jim does not especially care to do the classic tourist thing, so traveling can sometimes be a challenge for ME - "you're gonna have fun if it's the last thing I do" type conversations. Then of course Jim answers in that oh so patient way - what makes you think I'm not having fun? Then I plop him wherever he chooses to "have fun" and then I go about my merry, touristy way, checking back in with him periodically to be sure he's still "having fun" sitting on that bench, by the stream, back at camp, or wherever.
Well, this time one of the things high on my list of tourist things to do was to gem mine. I experienced gem mining about 20 years ago when Tiffany and I went to North Carolina with the Hauff's and have been wanting to go back ever since. So when I saw the chance, since we were staying in the middle of gem mining country anyway, I mentioned this to Jim as one of my "list of things to do on this trip." He decided this might be something interesting to check out and agreed to go ONCE..............WELL - we went back two more times before we had to leave and come home. He's got the bug. So our new names, to be engraved on the redwood shingle that will hang on the RV or tent, will be: Jim and Lilla, the 49ers, Lake Panasoffkee, FL.
I have attached several pictures (just like an ole retiree). Of course the views were always spectacular. It was too early for leaf change although we were seeing a lot of the reds pop. Middle of October will be better for leaf change. We had a blast!
Next trip will be for Sukkot to Winchester, KY, leaving middle of October. We should really see some leaf change on this trip. I'll bore you with an update and pictures after our return.
