Michigan Traveler

Pensacola, FL and Home for Christmas – Dec 2013

Posted on January 9, 2014 by Michigan Traveler

As the weather up north gets colder, we head south. Our plans were to spend most of the winter in Key West and we planned for some stops along the way. The Orange Beach, AL/Pensacola, FL area of the Florida panhandle is a nice place to stay. We had stayed in Orange Beach two years ago and thought Pensacola would be nice for this trip. The Oak Grove RV Park at Naval Air Station Pensacola is a great park. It is right on the shore of Pensacola Bay, across from Fort Pickens and the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

Right down the road from the campground is the National Naval Aviation Museum and the home of the Blue Angels. Starting in the March/April timeframe you can watch the Blue Angels practice on Tuesdays and Thursdays – it’s always a great show! The Pensacola Lighthouse is a short walk along the nature trail. A couple miles in the opposite direction is the Sherman Cove Marina where you can launch boats to explore the bay and other areas.

The camp hosts, Debbie and Paul have created a great sense of community with BYOB happy hours every day in the gazebo as well as parties every week or so. These events made it easier to meet people and make friends.

After one such party a few of us walked to the lighthouse for the annual Christmas lighting. The keeper’s dwelling at the base of the lighthouse was impressively hung with Christmas lights and they had hoisted strings of lights from the base of the tower to the light cupola at the top on the land side. The lighting was well attended with caroling, hay rides, children’s’ activities, cookies and hot chocolate for all.

The weather was like a yo-yo going from the low-40^os to mid-70^os from day to day. But it was nice enough to ride our bikes around the base. We focused on Christmas shopping and getting ready to fly back to Michigan for the Christmas holidays.

On December 14th, we participated in the Wreaths Across America program at the Barrancas National Cemetery. This program was originally started as a local program by the Worcester Wreath Company and is now a national program. A semi-trailer full of wreaths was delivered to the cemetery and we joined many other volunteers in placing the wreaths on tombstones around the cemetery. Later in the morning we joined in the ceremony honoring these veterans. The entire morning was very inspiring.

On our way back to the trailer, we stopped at Fort Barrancas, also part of the Gulf National Seashore. Over the years there were three forts erected for the defense of Pensacola Bay, Fort Barrancas, Fort Pickens, and Fort McRee. You can still visit Forts Barrancas and Pickens, but the sea has reclaimed the original site of Fort McRee and only a small portion of the foundation remains.

On the way from Fort Benning to Pensacola we had a tire blow out on the trailer. We took down our Christmas decorations, stored kayaks, bikes, and some other things in our screen house, and drove the trailer to Carpenter’s Campers to have the repairs done. We spend the night in the trailer while it was still in a maintenance bay and flew to Michigan for the holidays.

We may head south for the winter, but we always head home to Michigan for Christmas. We flew back to the Lansing area to see friends and our son, Dave. Our friends, Susan and Gary Aten, generously offer us a place to stay whenever we are in town and their invitation is always appreciated. Susan and Gary are a living example of the phrase, “make yourself at home” with their hospitality.

Pat has always made special food for the holiday, but it is hard to prepare the food in Florida and fly it back to Michigan. Consequently, we took advantage of the Aten’s kitchen to prepare Buckeyes and popcorn balls after we got here. After an afternoon of shopping we met Dave at his apartment for dinner.

The few days in the Lansing area were a time to catch up with old friends. Pat and I met friends for lunch, Susan and Gary had friends from church over for dinner, and we revisited our old Christmas tradition of going to the Outback Steakhouse as a family, even though it was just Dave, Pat & I this year. After dinner it was back to Dave’s apartment to exchange gifts and visit some more.

Saturday we drove up north and met my sister Susan and her husband, Gerry, for lunch in the Saginaw area. We shared pictures and stories of where we have been traveling and what our dispersed families have been doing. It seems the older I get, the more important it is to stay in contact with family.

We don’t always have snow for the Christmas season, but this year Old Man Winter did not disappoint us. There was snow everywhere, although some parts of the state got more freezing rain with resulting power outages. Days later I would see posts of Facebook from friends that had been without power for as much as six days!

We stayed with Pat’s brother, Geri, and his wife, Marcia, in Bad Axe. Fortunately the Thumb area was covered in snow, not ice and it was a beautiful setting. I was able to go cross-country skiing a few times, a hobby that doesn’t work very well when you travel in regions that don’t have snow.

Christmas morning was a Hallmark postcard picture with a light, fluffy snowfall. We opened gifts that morning with Geri and Marcia’s family. After a relaxing morning we were off to the Elkton Civic Center, which the family rents for the Christmas celebration. The extended family outgrew any home years ago (approximately 60 joined together for Christmas Dinner this year), and as always, it was a great time for everyone. This is often the one time each year for some of the extended family to see each other. This year we were blessed with more new kids for the older members to fuss over.

We flew back to Pensacola on December 28th. The repairs on our trailer were complete, we picked it up at Carpenter’s Campers, drove down the road a ways to have a set of heavier duty tires put on, and returned to Oak Grove. The staff at Carpenter’s Campers did a great job and I would recommend them to anyone else needing repairs while in the Pensacola area.

The weather was certainly warmer than Michigan, but still chilly. We had a New Year’s Eve party in the campground gazebo, followed by a New Year’s Day dinner the next day. We have definitely had the opportunity to make new friends and we hope to run into some of them in our future travels.

Saturday, January 4th we were on the road shortly after 9:00 am on our way to Tampa and the Raccoon Creek Campground at MacDill AFB.

Posted in Celebrating Holidays, Civil War, Florida, Fulltime RV, Holidays, Michigan Traveler, Military RV Parks, National Parks | Tagged Blue Angels, Carpenters Campers, fifth wheel trailer, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Gulf National Seashore, National Naval Aviation Museum, Oak Grove RV Park, Pensacola Lighthouse, Pensacola NAS, RV Forums, Wreaths Across America | Leave a comment

Advice From an Eagle

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

Let your spirit soar

See the big picture

Cherish freedom

Honor the earth and sky

Keep your goals in sight

Bald is beautiful

Fly high!

Posted in Fulltime RV, Michigan Traveler, Sayings Found on T-Shirts and Coffee Mugs | Tagged Advice from an eagle | 2 Comments

Fort Benning, GA – November 2013

Posted on December 13, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

We chose to return to Fort Benning’s Uchee Creek Campground to use it as a base for a family cruise over Thanksgiving. Uchee Creek is one of the best military campgrounds we have ever visited. We arrived on November 4th and found that the communities of Columbus, GA, Fort Benning, and Phenix City, AL were getting ready for a major celebration of Veterans Day. The celebrations kicked off with the Soldier Marathon and Half-Marathon at the National Infantry Museum. They offered a 5K event this year and I jumped at the chance. I had not run a race in years and felt up to the challenge. It was one of the most well run races I had ever participated in and my first using a computer chip to time my event. I was happy with my results and finished 19th in a field of 129 runners and finished first in my age category.

The National Infantry Museum is normally closed on Mondays, but opened on Veterans Day with special presentations. We watched videos of the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Bulge and toured the reconstructed WWII Company Street. The Company Street exhibit was interesting as I had stayed in the same sort of buildings in Ranger School and at Fort Custer in Michigan. Not bad for buildings that were erected as temporary structures intended to last only until the end of WWII!

That evening we attended a free concert in honor of Veterans Day in Phenix City. It was a mix of professional and volunteer musical acts and the church choirs that performed were outstanding.

One day we traveled to Andersonville to visit the site of the notorious Civil War prison. Andersonville Prison is also home to the National Prisoner of War Museum that describes prisoners of war from the Revolution to the present. We walked the grounds of the Civil War prison and couldn’t help but imagine the misery the prisoners endured. Going through the museum showed us how prisoners of all wars have suffered, and the feeling of helplessness they must have felt.

Later we drove to Tuskegee to visit the airfield where the first black pilots, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, were trained. Until this trip we never realized that some blacks had gone through pilot training on their own prior to the war and they served as the instructors for the Tuskegee Airmen. Not only were the pilots trained here, but also all of the ground support personnel, as entire squadrons were to be manned by black troops. It was interesting to note that black and white personnel staffed the training organization, but there were no segregated facilities, they all ate and slept in the same facilities.

On November 20th, we traveled to Atlanta to depart for our family cruise to Hawaii over the Thanksgiving holiday. Look for details on this trip in our next post.

We returned from the cruise on December 3rd and got an early start the next morning. Next stop Oak Grove RV Park at Pensacola Naval Air Station, FL.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Georgia, Michigan Traveler, Military RV Parks, National Parks | Tagged Andersonville, fifth wheel trailer, Fort Benning, full-time RV, fulltime RV, National Infantry Museum, Prisoner of War, RV Forums, Tuskegee | Leave a comment

Devils Fork State Park, SC – Nov 2013

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

Our stop at Devils Fork State Park was just a whim. We were headed to Fort Benning, GA and needed a stop enroute to break it into a two day drive. Devils Fork was in just the right place! Located in the foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains, Devils Fork offers the only public access to the largely undeveloped, 7,500 acre Lake Jocassee. The water is crystal clear and a haven for SCUBA divers and fishermen. Jocassee is the only lake in South Carolina offering both trophy trout and a smallmouth bass. Our campsite was on a point next to a cove with a nice beach. It was a very nice setting. The turns on the campground road were a bit tight for a long trailer like ours, but it worked out fine.

Around Lake Jocassee (from the South Carolina/Georgia line eastward to Jones Gap State Park), a series of steep-sided gorges carrying surging mountain rivers and streams down to the Piedmont has cut the generally uniform sloping face of the Blue Ridge Escarpment. These gorges together are known as the Jocassee Gorges. The Jocassee Gorges are home to a large number of waterfalls. A guide with directions to each of the falls was available from the park visitor center.

However, before we could really enjoy the area we had some repairs to make to the trailer. When we stopped for lunch on the way to the park we noticed some water dripping from under the trailer. We were afraid we had a leak in one of the holding tanks. When we got settled in I removed the fabric covering the bottom of the trailer and found no sign of leaks, but the insulation was soaked. After further investigation I found that water from leaky faucets had pooled in the outdoor faucet compartment, and had leaked into the insulation. After I made sure the compartment was properly sealed, I replaced the damaged insulation and we were good to go.

We drove to visit the Whitewater Falls and missed the turn and ended up at Gorges State Park in North Carolina. What a fortunate mistake! Thanks to a unique partnership of industry, the environmental community and the state of North Carolina, 10,000 acres of the Jocassee Gorges in Transylvania County were placed in public ownership, and the transaction created a 2,900-acre game land managed by the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission. Last October Gorges State Park opened its new 7,100 square-foot Visitor Center that was designed and built to national green building standards.

Rainbow Falls

After a short stop in the Visitor Center to find out how we missed Whitewater Falls, we hiked three miles, round trip, to Rainbow Falls. The route was challenging, but not extreme. We met a young family on the trail with two little girls and wondered how they would hold up. However, when we saw them farther down the trail on our return trip, close to the falls, they seemed to be doing just fine. Going just a little bit farther on the trail beyond Rainbow Falls took us to the river above the falls and a wide expanse of rock that gives you access to the river. The view from there was terrific!

Whitewater Falls

On our way back to Devils Fork, we stopped at the Upper Whitewater Falls and we were not disappointed. It is a short walk from the parking lot to the falls and there is a viewing platform that gives you an awesome view of the falls. We managed to arrive in this area at just the right time as the fall colors were at their peak and beautiful!

The next day I finished up the work on the trailer and we went kayaking on Lake Jocassee. It was great to see some of the homes and lodges along the lake shore. As we paddled along the shore we passed several coves that offered a shelter from the wind. After a lunch on shore, we paddled passed a group of SCUBA divers from Asheville who had traveled there to dive just because of the water clarity.

That night we packed up and got an early start the next morning for our drive to the Home of the Infantry – Fort Benning, GA.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Michigan Traveler, South Carolina | Tagged Devils Lake State Park, fifth wheel trailer, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Gorges State Park, Hiking, Kayaking, Rainbow Falls, RV Forums, SCUBA diving, Whitewater Falls | Leave a comment

North Carolina – Falls Lake State Recreation Area – October 2013

Posted on November 7, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

We once again returned to Raleigh to once again, serve as Camp Hosts at the Holly Point Campground in the Falls Lake State Recreation Area. This was a great opportunity to spend time with our daughter, Elisabeth, who lives and works in Raleigh, and enjoy a great campground. Before we traveled to Raleigh, Elisabeth told us the Central Michigan University Alumni Club was hosting a tailgate party for the NC State versus CMU football game. She got us tickets. We had a wonderful time (with the exception of CMU getting beat by NC State).

The last time we were in Raleigh, Elisabeth had just finished her certification as an Open Water SCUBA diver, so we took advantage to the warm weather to make a couple more dives at Fantasy Lake. This is a local quarry that has been turned into a complete SCUBA diving site. The water was much warmer than we experienced in April, but the visibility was not as good. Regardless we enjoyed the day and were able to dive on airplanes, a bus, car, glass-bottom boats, and a helicopter that have been sunk in the lake for divers to explore.

On days when we were in the campground we would clean our assigned bathrooms and exercise in the morning. The hills in the campground gave us a challenging workout. Some days we would run errands, do shopping, or just hang out practicing the fine art of doing nothing – life is good! Most nights Elisabeth would join us in the campground for dinner.

All three of us went to the North Carolina State Fair. We enjoyed the outdoor music and other entertainment stages. We particularly enjoyed the exhibits of crafts and the demonstrations of trades of pottery, woodworking, leather craft, weaving, and others. The fireworks were terrific. Of course going to the fair would not be complete without funnel cakes and cotton candy!

One Friday I took a day to drive to Fayetteville to visit the National Airborne & Special Operations Museum. This is a excellent facility that traces the development of parachute forces and special operations forces from pre-World War II to the present. The displays are well done and very informative. The current special exhibit describes the 1991 operation in Mogadishu, Somalia and what is known as the Battle of Mogadishu described in the book and movie, “Blackhawk Down.” The exhibit and film go into great detail and gives you a new perspective from the viewpoint of those Rangers and Special Operations soldiers who actually fought the battle, a very moving story!

North Carolina has developed the “Mountains to Sea Trail.” This trail runs from the Great Smokey Mountains National Park to the Atlantic shore at Jockey Ridge State Park in Nag’s Head in the Outer Banks. Section 27 of this trail runs right along the shoreline of Falls Lake. Toward the end of our stay I hiked a 16 mile section of this trail. The trail is well marked and offers plenty of scenic views of Falls Lake and the surrounding area. There is no backcountry camping along the trail, but I was able to spend the night at the Shinleaf Campground, a part of the Falls Lake State Recreation Area, it was the just the right distance from my start point. I hope to hike more sections of this trail during future visits to the area.

After a wonderful month in Raleigh it was time to head on down the road. On Thursday, October 31st we pulled out early in the morning to travel to Devil’s Fork State Park in South Carolina.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Michigan Traveler, North Carolina | Tagged Falls Lake State Recreation Area, fifth wheel trailer, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Mountain to Sea Trail, National Airborne & Special Operations Museum, North Carolina State Fair, RV Forums, SCUBA diving | Leave a comment

North Carolina – Outer Banks, Sep 2013

Posted on October 21, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

Whenever we go to North Carolina, we consider a trip to the Outer Banks, or as the locals refer to it, “OBX.” There is so much to see there; Kitty Hawk & Kill Devil Hill – site of the Wright Brothers’ first flight; the Lost Colony of Roanoke Island; Jockey’s Ridge State Park – some of the best kite flying anywhere; Cape Hatteras Lighthouse; Ocracoke Island; and, of course, the Atlantic Ocean!

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore stretches north to south across three islands, Bodie, Hatteras, and Ocracoke. NC Hwy 12, a narrow paved road and the Hatteras ferry link the islands. The highway runs through eight villages that reflect the nearly 300 years history of the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks serve as a chain of barrier islands, protecting Albemarle and Pamlico Sounds.

There are four National Park Service campgrounds, only the one on Ocracoke Island takes reservation, the rest are first come, first served. We stayed at the Oregon Inlet Campground on Bodie Island. Oregon Inlet does not offer any utility hookups, but fresh water and a dump station are right across the road at the Oregon Inlet Fishing Center at no charge. At Oregon Inlet you are only a short walk over the sand dunes to the ocean. When the surf is up it is great fun to play in the large waves and body surf back to the beach. Our daughter, Elisabeth and I had a great time and a trip to the beach was a regular event on our schedule.

The Cape Hatteras area was and remains a hazardous passage for shipping, which is why the area is known as “The Graveyard of the Atlantic.” Over the years Congress authorized the construction of a series of lighthouses and lightships to warn mariners of shoals, reefs and other navigational hazards.

Our first outing was to visit the Cape Hatteras Light. The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse protects one of the most hazardous sections of the Atlantic Coast. Offshore of Cape Hatteras, the Gulf Stream collides with the Virginia Drift, a branch of the Labrador Current from Canada. This current forces southbound ships into a dangerous twelve-mile long sandbar called Diamond Shoals. Hundreds and possibly thousands of shipwrecks in this area have given it its dangerous reputation. The current lighthouse was lit on December 1, 1870. From the 1960s to the 1980s, efforts were made to stabilize the beach in front of the lighthouse, which had started to erode again. In March of 1980, a winter storm swept away the remains of the 1803 lighthouse and caused significant dune erosion. In 1999, after years of study and debate, the Cape Hatteras Light Station was moved to its present location. The lighthouse was moved 2,900 feet in 23 days and now lies 1,500 feet from the seashore, its original distance from the sea. The Double Keepers’ Quarters, the Principal Keeper’s Quarters, the dwelling cisterns, and the oil house were all relocated with the lighthouse.

From there we drove to Ocracoke Island at the south end of the National Seashore. Ocracoke is a small island and jam-packed with visitors. We took the free ferry from Hatteras Island, parked near the National Park Service Visitor Center, and walked around town. It is said that the pirate, Blackbeard, roamed the nearby waters and established a base on Ocracoke Island. His ship, the Queen Anne’s Revenge, is sunk offshore. The Ocracoke Light is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the nation. In 1822, for a charge of $50, the federal government purchased two acres at the south end of Ocracoke Island as the site for the new lighthouse. Constructed by Massachusetts builder Noah Porter and finished in 1823, the tower still stands today. Total cost, including the one story, one bedroom keeper’s house, was $11,359, far below the $20,000 budgeted. Wouldn’t it be nice if all government contracts were like this one?

Ocracoke has a small local museum that was full of local history and the staff added more details to the exhibits. It’s surprising what a small community can do if it puts in the effort.

Elisabeth and I went kayaking in the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. The Pamlico Sound is a great kayaking location, it is calm, protected by Hatteras Island, and there is abundant wildlife above and below the surface of the water. The amount of pelicans, cranes, ibis, and seagulls is amazing and they are everywhere. We had fun paddling down the small canals in the area, although we ended up in dead end channels more than once.

The Bodie Island Light was closest to our campground. This light was closed to the public for many years due to the amount of deterioration. After years of raising funds and postponement, work to restore the cast iron and other parts in need of work began on the lighthouse in August 2009. As of March 2010, the outside scaffolding was 100% complete while interior scaffolding was 50% completed. The restoration was stopped in spring 2011 after significant new structural integrity issues were found in many of the main support beams under the balcony. The additional repairs needed were too costly to finish in the original restoration project. Additional funding was obtained to continue the restoration, which was restarted in 2012 and completed in March 2013. There was a re-lighting ceremony on April 18, 2013, and the lighthouse was opened for the general public to climb the following day.

After Elisabeth headed back to Raleigh, Pat and I went kayaking in the Oregon Inlet. This is a great local fishing spot and there are many channels to kayak through. The Roanoke Sound is a pleasant kayaking experience in the shadow of the Bodie Island Light.

The National Seashore is a unique mixture of science, history, and nature. There is more than one reason we continue to return to the Outer Banks. However, all good things come to an end and we headed to Raleigh on September 26th.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Michigan Traveler, National Parks, North Carolina | Tagged Blackbeard, Bodie Island, Cape Hatteras, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Graveyard of the Atlantic, Jockey's Ridge State Park, Kayaking, Ocracoke Island, Orgon Inlet, RV Forums, Wright Brothers | Leave a comment

Taking a trip back into history (Boonesborough, Jamestown, & Yorktown)

Posted on October 11, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

After our long summer in Michigan, we headed towards Raleigh, NC where we would again serve as Camp Hosts in the Falls Lake State Recreation Area for the month of October. Our route was not the most direct, but allowed us to travel to some sites we had not visited in the past.

I have a friend from the National Guard who lives near Lexington, KY and discovered that Daniel Boones’ Boonesborough was nearby. We met Bill and his wife, Phyllis, for lunch enroute to the campground. Phyllis and Pat had a good conversation while Bill and I swapped war stories and jump lies. Fort Boonesborough State Park is right next to the site of the original Boonesborough settlement and the reconstructed Fort Boonesborough. The reconstructed fort has staff in period clothing that actually perform the tasks done by the original settlers, such as blacksmithing, soap making, leather and metal working. They made the history come alive as they talked and demonstrated their skills. Nearby is the Number Ten Lock and Dam on the Kentucky River. I have always been interested in river and lake navigation, and even more so since I have led the Leadership Development Program for the Corps of Engineers. This facility has been transferred from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to the State of Kentucky, and the state has restored one building and turned it into the Kentucky River Museum.

From here we traveled to the Chickahominy Riverfront Park near Williamsburg. Unfortunately the trip was not without its problems. When we stopped for lunch on our first day of the trip I discovered we had a flat tire on the trailer. We called Good Sam’s Club for road assistance and soon a truck was out to jack up the trailer and replace the flat tire with the spare. I’m so glad we have the Good Sam’s Insurance on the trailer. One of the first things we did when to we got to the campground was to find a tire center and order a replacement.Chickahominy Riverfront Park is in what is referred to as the Historical Triangle of Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. Both Yorktown and Jamestown have two sites, one operated by the National Park Service and the other operated by the Yorktown-Jamestown Foundation, an agency of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Our first visit was to the Yorktown Victory Center which has recreations of a Continental Army encampment and an 1780’s farm. There are historical interpreters in period attire that perform tasks that were done during the period and answer your questions. We watched as visitors assisted the interpreters in firing a Revolutionary War cannon. The Yorktown Battlefield is operated by the National Park Service and is the actual site of the Yorktown siege. Park Service Rangers give tours of the British positions, describing what General Cornwallis was trying to accomplish and how the battle progressed. We purchased a CD at the Visitors’ Center for a narrated auto tour of the battlefield. The CD is narrated by a British and an American officer and is a good way to understand how the battle was fought. You get a true sense of history when you stand on the actual fighting positions of the battles fought to win our freedom.As a side note, when we were getting our admission to the Yorktown Victory Center, I discovered that I didn’t have my driver license. I realized that I had left it at a gas station in Ohio. Fortunately I was able to contact them and they were willing to mail it to me at our daughter’s house in Raleigh, NC. Until then Pat had to do the driving.

Yorktown is where we won our independence, but Jamestown is where our country began with the first permanent settlement, thirteen years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth.

The Jamestown Settlement is operated by the Yorktown-Jamestown Foundation. Located near the historic Jamestown site, it has full-size replicas of the 1608 fort, an Indian village, and the three ships led by Captain John Smith to establish Jamestown. As we toured the ships, we were struck by how small the ships were and how uncomfortable the voyage must have been for those early settlers. In the village and the fort historical interpreters demonstrated firearms, glass-blowing, fire building with flint and steel, and other period activities. It was interesting that the colonists were required to build a church as a part of the settlement and it was one of the largest structures within the fort. You could almost picture the wedding of Pocahontas and John Rolfe in 1614.The Jamestown Colonial National Historical Park is operated by the National Park Service and by Preservation Virginia, a private non-profit organization. In 1893 Preservation Virginia acquired 22.5 acres on Jamestown Island which included the site of the original 1608 fort and the Old Church Tower. In 1934 the National Park Service acquired the remainder of the 1,500 acre island. Archeology is the main focus on the island to carefully expose and preserve the historic structures. There are active archeological sites in and around the site of the 1608 fort and replicas of the original foundations throughout what is called New Towne. A Ranger-led talk brought the history to life as we walked among the remains of New Towne. Standing within the walls of the fort I could picture the settlers as they tried to grow crops in the middle of a drought and tried to protect themselves from unfriendly Indians.One of the last places we visited was the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News. I am a big fan of maritime museums and this is one of the best. The permanent exhibits include the Defending the Seas that tells the story of the navy’s important role in our nation’s past, present, and future, and the Great Hall of Steam that relates the story of the oceangoing commercial steamship through ship models and murals.

The best exhibit is the newest addition to the museum and that is the Monitor Center. This exhibit describes the famous Battle of Hampton Roads where the CSS Virginia (aka the Merrimack) fought the USS Monitor. While the battle was a draw, the Confederate Navy was unable to break the Union blockade. The exhibit is very interactive and gives an in depth picture of both the Union and Confederate forces and their actions. You can walk on a full-size replica of the deck of the Monitor and see the steel turret of the Monitor, and how the turret was recovered from the site of the sinking of the Monitor off the shore of Cape Hatteras, NC.We spent our last day replacing the tire that had gone flat on our drive here, packing up and generally taking it easy. The next morning (September 19th), we got an early start and headed for the Cape Hatteras National Seashore and the North Carolina Outer Banks.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Kentucky, Michigan Traveler, National Parks, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Virginia | Tagged Fort Boonesborough, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Hampton Roads, Historic Jamestown, Jamestown Settlement, Mariner Museum, Ranger-led Hike, RV Forums, USS Monitor, Yorktown Battlefield, Yorktown Victory Center | 2 Comments

Back to Michigan, 2013 – Part III

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

This has been the longest period of time we have spent back in Michigan since we went on the road in June 2011 and we have not been complaining. It has been fun to have time to see old friends and experience some things in the Lansing area that we never did when we were living here.

The Cottonwood Campground in the south end of Lansing was a new experience for us. We were not sure it would be a campground that we would enjoy. We drove through to check it out and found it to be a nice campground that was more convenient to Lansing than Sleepy Hollow State Park, and the monthly rate was quite affordable. One of the nice things about the location is that we were only a quarter mile from the south end of the Lansing River Trail. This gave us an excellent location for fitness running/walking/cycling, as well as another way to travel to parts of the area. The River Trail runs all the way to Michigan State University (MSU) and through Downtown Lansing through Old Town in Lansing’s north end. Hawk Island Park is one of Lansing best kept secrets. It is a great place for families to picnic, swim, play in the splash pad and playground on summer days. We routinely saw groups of people gathered for picnics in the pavilions around the park.

We had been having issues with the emissions control system on the truck ever since March and trying to get that fixed once and for all was at the top of our priorities. To make a long story short, we took it into Crippen GMC where they determined that two of the sensors in the exhaust system were bad and replaced those. Hopefully this will be a lasting fix to this problem. I have to say that Crippen’s service department gave us the best service than we have had anywhere on this problem. So, for all of you GMC owners, if you have problems while traveling through mid-Michigan, Crippen GMC in Lansing is the place to go!

One of the reasons we returned to the Lansing area was to complete the process of cataract surgery by getting a new prescription and glasses from my optometrist. After spending a month of using only reading glasses, I was looking forward to getting a pair that would give me clear vision over the whole range of distances.

We were able to see our old friends at Trinity United Methodist Church, spend some more time with our son, David, who still lives and works in the area, have lunch and coffee with friends and business acquaintances.

On Saturday, August 10th, I traveled to Willow Run airport near Ypsilanti for the Thunder Over Michigan Air Show. The 425th Regimental Association helps park cars as a fundraising activity and it was nice to be in town to help out. I had a chance to see the encampment of WWII reenactors, see some amazing aerobatics, vintage aircraft flybys, and static aircraft displays. Some people were disappointed that the Navy’s Blue Angels did not perform because of the funding cuts in the sequester, but I thought it was one of the better air shows that I had seen. However, the best part was spending time with former comrades from my Ranger company days and reminiscing about good times together.

One Saturday we rode our bikes along the River Trail to MSU for a picnic lunch with ice cream for dessert from the MSU Dairy Store. The weather was perfect, school had not started yet so the campus was not crowded and it was relaxing to eat on the banks of the Red Cedar River. MSU was originally the Michigan Agricultural College and still has a very strong agricultural program. The MSU Dairy is a student run dairy operation that takes ice cream “from the cow to the consumer.” It is some of the best ice cream around and the portions are generous.

The next week I flew to Ruth, NV to do some project management training for the Robinson Mining Operation. Ruth, NV is literally in the middle of nowhere. The nearest airport is Salt Lake City – a four hour drive. The good news is that our oldest son, Scott, and his family recently moved to Salt Lake and this gave me a chance for a short visit with them. I arrived in Salt Lake Monday afternoon, spent about an hour visiting with Scott at his office and drove to Ruth. The mining operation in Ruth is an open pit mine that produces iron, silver, gold, and a few other metals. While the training was done in their training room I had to wear full personal protective equipment while on site. This meant orange vest, safety glasses, helmet, and “clackers,” steel covers for my shoes because I didn’t have steel-toed boots. The group of students were great and the hospitality of the staff was wonderful, but the “clackers” were the worst part of the trip.

Following the training and a four hour drive, which included going from Pacific Time to Mountain Time, I got to Scott’s house in time to see Scott, his wife, and our three granddaughters, visit with them and tell the girls a bedtime story. The next morning I got to go with them to their swimming lessons and to a local playground before I had to head to the airport. It’s a good day when you can combine a business trip with seeing family! Pat and I are looking forward to seeing them again in November.

This year Pat and I celebrated our fortieth wedding anniversary with dinner at one of our favorite restaurants and a night at Holiday Inn Express as a special treat. I still have a hard time believing she has put up with me for so long! We finished up our stay in Lansing with a few more lunches, shopping, and packed up to head to the Manistee National Forest Sand Lake Campground near Irons. MI.

The Sand Lake Campground is owned by the Natural Forest Service, but is operated under a contract by American Land and Leisure Recreation. Many National Forests are operated by contractors and this has led to a range of customer satisfaction. Imagine your surprise when you thought your Inter-Agency Senior Pass would get you free admission to the National Forest, but now you have to pay a fee to American Land and Leisure. But, hey, it’s better than having it closed as has happened to many of the Michigan State Forest Campgrounds. Sand Lake is a lovely campground, with a boat launch and beach to a crystal clear inland lake. The water is comfortable for swimming and the underwater visibility was the best I have experienced recently. We were only a short drive or bike ride from our friends Roger and Darcy and were able to spend time with them. One afternoon, Pat and I accompanied Darcy to the Little River Tribe Casino in Manistee. It was a lot of fun and Pat even walked away the big winner for the day.

Our last stop in Michigan was a birthday party for our friend, Betsy Pash. We arrived a few days early and camped in their backyard, next to her husband Stan’s tool shed (Thanks again, Stan, for the 30 amp RV plug!), to help out with getting ready for the party. Betsy is a breast cancer survivor and has a high-pressure job with the Institute for Population Health in Detroit. It was a joy to share this event with our mutual friends from the Lansing area and Bonaire.

On September 9th we were on our way to Fort Boonesborough State Park, south of Lexington, KY.

Please leave a comment as they are always appreciated.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Michigan, Michigan Traveler, Nevada, Working on the Road | Tagged 425th Regimental Association, Cottonwood Campground, cycling, fifth wheel trailer, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Lansing Old Town, Lansing River Trail, MSU Dairy, RV Forums, Thunder Over Michigan, Trinity United Methodist Church, Willow Run Airport | Leave a comment

Living Life

Posted on September 8, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

I saw this on a plaque in a store and thought it was some of the best advice I had ever seen –

“Life is not a race – but indeed a journey. Work hard. Be choosey. Say, “Thank you,” and “great job” to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer.

The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you’ve been given, it is not accidental – search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you aspire to be.

Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul.

Take time for yourself – plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you’ve been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.”

Bonner L. Mohr

Posted in Fulltime RV, Sayings Found on T-Shirts and Coffee Mugs | Tagged Bonnie Mohr, fifth wheel trailer, full-time RV, fulltime RV, RV Forums | Leave a comment

Back to Michigan, 2013 – Part II

Posted on August 16, 2013 by Michigan Traveler

My first cataract surgery on Wednesday, June 26th was successful and we headed back up to the cottage near Rose City on Thursday. Pat’s sister (Mary Lee) and her husband (Welton) from Milwaukee arrived later that afternoon with their fifth wheel trailer, so then we had a fifth wheel trailer in the front yard and another in front of the garage. Mary Lee and Welton were hosting the kids of our niece, Robin from Florida, for the summer. Destiny (12) and Jeremiah (6) were a welcome addition to the gathering and were just great fun to have around. Destiny had visited last summer, but this was Jeremiah’s first time and he was really excited. Friday we had a BIG rainstorm that lasted a LONG time, quite a way to start a holiday week! Fortunately we had beautiful weather for the rest of the week. Friday night, the rest of the family started arriving. By Tuesday we were in full force with four families plus children.

The week at the cottage was our big annual get together and everyone pitched in to have a lot of fun. We took turns cooking and spent a lot of time at the beach, kayaking/canoeing on Rifle Lake, and boating on Wayne’s pontoon boat. Geri’s homemade french fries and Welton’s ribs were hits with everyone. It’s a sure thing that no one goes hungry this week as there is more food than anyone should eat, but we enjoyed every bite.

Wednesday, I drove back to Bad Axe for a follow up visit from my surgery – everything was good, one more eye to go! It was really strange walking around with good distance vision in one eye and good near vision in the other. I popped one lens out of my glasses and that helped, but I was looking forward to having the whole thing done.

Many of the family went to Rose City for the July 4th fireworks show. Rose City may be a small community, but they put on a fireworks show that would rival any large city in the state. Last year Michigan passed a law allowing larger and aerial fireworks, and it was apparent that several families around Rifle Lake had taken advantage of it to produce their own fireworks shows, the booming lasted well into the night.

Sunday we left the cottage to return to Geri’s place in Bad Axe. In Bad Axe it had rained through the night and into the morning with approximately four inches of rain. Geri’s three acre back yard had a one acre lake in the middle. Welton and Mary Lee joined us there, camping in the backyard. Jeremiah thought it was great to see Geri’s horse, Copper, and the other animals. Geri works the family farm in addition to his fulltime job and the kids got a chance to ride the farm equipment, see the barn and pick raspberries in the garden. It’s a great experience for two kids that live in an urban setting in Florida. Monday brought another two-three inches of rain and the lake got bigger. Geri jokingly told us that lakefront campsites cost more than the normal ones.

Wednesday was my appointment for the second surgery, so we said our goodbyes to Welton, Mary Lee and the kids, as they were gone by the time we returned from the hospital. The second surgery went fine and I was relieved to have them both done. Now my old glasses were worthless, I could see fine at long distance, but not well at all up close. I bought a pair of reading glasses, but they are a hassle too.

The last weekend we were in Bad Axe was a busy one. One of Marcia’s nieces was getting married and they opened their house to several of the other families attending from out of town. Pat and Marcia were busy serving breakfast to so many guests. I drove down to St. Clair Shores for the annual 425th Regiment Association picnic. This was in conjunction with the 82nd Airborne Association and was a good time for catching up with old comrades in arms and seeing who could exaggerate their old stories the most.

Tuesday I saw my ophthalmologist for the last time and received a clean bill of health and we packed up the next morning to head down to Lansing.

Posted in Fulltime RV, Michigan, Michigan Traveler, National Guard | Tagged 425th Infantry, Bad Axe, fifth wheel trailer, Fourth of July, full-time RV, fulltime RV, Rifle Lake, Rose City, RV Forums | 2 Comments