CLASS OF 2007 follow along with us.

[froggi]

This gal is on the cruise and posting from time to time: http://travels-with-emma.blogspot.com

[nana25k]

Thank you to all Vets....but especially to our wounded warriors who live amazing lives in spite of their disabilities.

[airstream harry]

Amen to that

c u on the road

[homenomore]

Ok Gang We are geting our yearly NASCAR fix in Phoenix this week. having a great time with our race friends. I know some of you would love to be here, Jay, Ron, Greg. Weather has cooled down some but with the help of adult beverages has made it seem warmer don't forget to hug a Vet and safe travels.

[JoeandMarcia]

We are leaving paradise, I question myself as to why when I look at the weather forecast, highs in the upper 70s, and lows in the lower 70s with plenty of sunshine. The reason is Key West is a tourist trap, everyone and their brother is offering something for you to do or see for a fee, and I'm not one for tourist traps. Although I do really enjoy the weather here, and we will return when those dreaded cold fronts start drifting deeper into the south.

There is plenty of FL we still haven't seen, and areas we haven't been to yet, so while the weather is still good in the rest of FL we will meander around seeing what we can see. Sometime this afternoon we will pass through Key Largo, and then I will have to decide on a direction to go. Since US 1 is the only road out of the Keys, I won't have to decide until after Key Largo.

 

Will we stop at the Everglade National Park? Will we head north on I-95, will it be US 41 back towards Naples, or US 27 through the center of the state? I really don't know, so Greg will have to wait to see where we land before up-dating the stalking map. He can put us in Zepherhills come December, Glen Haven RV Resort where we have reservations for the month.

[nana25k]

Dave....you are to cruel! Since we are in the midst of an RV sleepover with the grandaughters Ron won't even get to see the race...at least no today!! He has to accompnay those lovely little ladies in his life to the movies this afternoon!!!!

Guess he better call the Daddy of these little imps and ask him to record it!!!!

[BobGuy]

Hi guys and, yes, indeed, we have been a cruise (with our kids, not SKP's); got your message last night when we got back Joe! Thanks, and we'll call you today.

 

It sounds like everyone is having pretty nice weather...we've been here in the Northern Neck until just before the cruise and the weather was really nice. Joe, can we get the rigs to St. John? They seem to have about the perfect weather all year 'round!!

 

We've been busy doing things with the kids and and lots of Escapade things too. We plan to head South from here on Tuesday, towards Myrtle Beach and then on to Abbeville, LA for a Cajun Thanksgiving with SKP's...any of you guys (Joe, we sent you a message) nearby come on down... we'll fry some turkeys and have a Cosmos!

 

Hope everyone is doing well, Jay and Patti , we keep you in our prayers and send many hugs!

 

Norah and Howie, we'll see you in Q for a few days in January; sounds like the weather is pretty nice there. Save some sunshine for us too!

 

Dave and Kathy, wish we were there for the race too...have a great time!! Linda, when do you head south?

 

Hugs to everyone... y'all travel safely and head south!!

[JoeandMarcia]

Joe, can we get the rigs to St. John? They seem to have about the perfect weather all year 'round!!

 

I tried my best to figure out how to get pontoons rigged up on the Santara, had that figured out, but didn't think it would hold up to the waves the sea has. So unless we charter a barge to carry them over we are stuck in the USA.

 

It was really good to hear your voice Molly, and please don't scare me like that again.

 

 

We made it to the casino at 997 and US 41, tomorrow we will have to decide which direction we will go, unless we stay here for another day. If the slot machines ate good to us we may............

[nana25k]

Molly, we will be staying in VA. Beach until the end of Dec. We will go to PA (just the truck, leaving the RV here) for a week near Christmas to spend that holiday with my Mom. The talk is that our daughter and kids will come down here the week after Christmas so we will have all our chicks in one place for a few days before New Years. We head to Savannah, GA. area the 1st week of Jan and will spend 3 months there at the refuge. ( Actually across the river in SC.) Let us know when you are around maybe we can hook-up.

 

Gotta run and get my "Terrible Towel" waving!!!

[JoeandMarcia]

I got up this AM and a voice was saying, "go west young man, go west". Well forget the young, but we are headed WEST, all the way to the coast. I figure 4-6 days from coast to coast, I'm talking Miami on the east side, all the way to Naples on the west side. we will try hard to be in Naples by the weekend.

[Carolyn Wilkerson]

Joe & Marcia, are you going to Naples via the road that goes thru the Big Cypress Swamp?

[JoeandMarcia]

Joe & Marcia, are you going to Naples via the road that goes thru the Big Cypress Swamp

 

 

Yes, we are sitting in the Big Cypress National Preserve now, Midway CG, at mile marker 52. Did the loop road today, (one rough road) saw a lot of gators, and birds.

[Carolyn Wilkerson]

Back in the winter of '04, the first time Keith & I fulltimed, we took our kayaks into a mangrove tunnel down there. Some places there was no room for paddles, we had to just move ourselves along by using our arms & the tree branches right over our heads! Kayaked with the gators down there too. Great experience!

[molade]

Yes, we are sitting in the Big Cypress National Preserve now, Midway CG, at mile marker 52. Did the loop road today, (one rough road) saw a lot of gators, and birds.

 

We have friends that worked at Big Cypress last year... Our friend Virgil worked on that road all year, clearing out brush and trees.

 

Guess it doesn't last long.

 

Helen

[lelandschliep]

Great to hear everyone's adventures and to keep up with all of you does take some time. Wow, what a bunch.

We are in Red Bluff, Ca and warm and dry. We saw that Chapter 24 was having a rally here and since we had never been to a chapter rally and since we didn't know anyone here we decided to stop in and spend the week. Glad we did. Lots of nice folks and great conversations. I have discovered one of the nice things about meeting all new people like this is that you don't have to worry if they have heard any of your stories before. Cool.

We've decided to go to Coarsegold SKP for thanksgiving. Should be fun.

[lelandschliep]

We have moved South, to Vacaville Ca. That's not much but we are feeling very warm compared to our kids in Montana.

The high Sunday will be 8 and the low 3 below. Not nice. Emergency travel only on the interstate, semi's turned over on the ice. Deep sigh! Here in Ca. They are complaining about the 50s.

Tomorrow we get to watch field trials for Dauschunds. They will be chasing / finding rabbit scents. Should be fun to watch.

[Bill Joyce]

We have friends that worked at Big Cypress last year... Our friend Virgil worked on that road all year, clearing out brush and trees.

 

Guess it doesn't last long.

 

Helen

I thought Virgil worked on the scenic road in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park? Anyway the loop road through Big Cypress was closed last winter due to flood damage, so I am glad it is open this year.

[JoeandMarcia]

Anyway the loop road through Big Cypress was closed last winter due to flood damage, so I am glad it is open this year

 

If you ask anyone with authority they will tell you it is closed, BUT it is really open. They are planning on closing it in Jan to do major repairs, 200+ culverts to put in, and I guess they will fix the potholes while they are at it.

 

When we talked to the maintance volunterrs they told us it was rough and not worth the trip, but didn't say anything about it being closed, so we did it and agree it wasn't worth the trip. The bouncing around in the jeep was bad enough but the trees were grown up all along the sides of the road and you really couldn't see much.

 

We I talked to one of the girls in the visitors center she said it was closed, but then said it really wasn't closed but they were telling everyone it was. (really confusing) but most all the people we talked to in the visitor centers at Big ypress, Everglades, and Shark Valley, didn't impress me with their knowledge.

 

They do have signs saying for local traffic only up, but I figured if I was living in the CG (for a few days anyway) I would be local.

[molade]

.

 

They do have signs saying for local traffic only up, but I figured if I was living in the CG (for a few days anyway) I would be local.

 

Home is where you park it...

 

Helen

[JoeandMarcia]

Big Tree RV Resort in Arcadia is where we live "today". It is a carefree park and gives a 50% discount to veterans. I will applaud them for their gift to veterans. (THANKS CAREFree RESORTS)

 

We did the casino last night, (anyone got a shirt I can have? I lost mine in the casino).

 

As we drove up hwy 29 the Etch-A-Sketch got shook up and I can't even read it. Marcia put in an application to volunteer at Big Cypress, and they should let us know Monday or Tuesday and that will determine which way we go when we leave here. Either back to Burns Lake CG in Big Cypress National Preserve, or on to Zepherhills on Dec 1.

 

Everyone be safe running the roads, and even safer if your sitting somewhere.

[andybaldwin]

Brenda and I have been visiting Jay at Valley Baptist Hospital here in the Valley. For those of you who don't know, Jay has been back in the hospital for a couple of weeks with an infection of meningitis of the brain. It causes brain swelling and has interrupted his recovery from surgery. We have seen some improvement this week, but he has good days and bad. The drugs have kept him from being himself and recognizing friends and family at times. The drug treatment is also probably affecting his ability to think clearly. Fay does not know exactly when he will be released. After he is released, Fay has some decisions to make about his care. Please continue to support Jay & Fay in every way possible. Remember Fay is still dealing with her heart issues. Her sister Linda and friend Beverly are with her now to help and support her with Jay. We are also here to do what we can. A pic of Jay is attached to this post.

 

Andy & Brenda

[homenomore]

Thanks Andy & Brenda for the update on Jay. Our prayers have been with Jay & Fay, Pattie & Hank from the beginning and will continue. Please give them both big hugs for us.

[Carolyn Wilkerson]

I had just been wondering about Jay on Saturday, so it's good to get an update. I'm sure we all wish the news were better. Prayers continue for them both. Do we have any recent info on Patti & Hank?

 

As to my "progress," I'm waiting for an appointment with my new oncologist on Dec. 1st. She seems to be wanting to disagree with the original diagnosis done in Oregon two years ago that led to my surgery in 2/09, which certainly doesn't encourage my trust in her judgment. So I may be in the "wait & see" process for quite awhile if I have to ask her for a referral to Stanford University Medical Center (about an hour north of us) for another opinion. Grrr!

 

But life goes on. I'm feeling great, enjoying 20 hrs/wk physical labor as a volunteer with Monterey County Parks. Hope to see some of you in the spring if anyone's in the Southwest.

[norahg]

Thanks Andy and Brenda for the update. Not a day goes by that we don't think about and wonder how Jay, Fay, Patti and Hank are doing. We continue to send our best thoughts and wishes their way. Give them our best when you see them again.

 

Norah & Howie

[JoeandMarcia]

Hey Andy and Brenda, it sure is good to know they aren't alone down there in the RGV. Please give them both a BIG HUG from Marcia and myself, we do miss all our SKP family.

 

Carolyn doctors can disagree on lots of things until you ask them to say it in court, then they stick together. I do hope all goes well.