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Hearty Parties

Two parties we attended again this year helped to pass the time between the holidays. The first was our regular Good Sam party that was very well attended. We had at least 25 people and it was very well arranged by Kathy Werden. The event was held at the Premiere Center and our usual $5 gift exchange went off without a hitch and a good time was had by all. It seems that Sharon and I may be the only ones who will be traveling this winter. That's TOO bad but I'm sure they'll enjoy the deep snow.

The second party was at the home of John and Joanne deBidart and was the Fire Department X-Mas party. They open their home and put on a very nice gathering. It gives us a chance to see old friends and new ones in the Department. Attendance at this party is always fun because Joanne makes Christmas Ornaments for the group. This year it was a Ball with a felt helmet, along with the accompanying turnout coat and our names emblazoned on the back. A very clever idea.

The Christmas season is always a joy when you have friends to enjoy it with. Until next year at this time, Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good nite.

Back in the Groove

Our way back was punctuated with two days of hard driving (948 miles) and finding a dead engine battery in the motorhome. It's always something!! We left for Abita Springs, Louisiana the next day after rectifying our temporary setback. Eight hours and 400 miles later we pulled into the Western Horizons campground and settled in for New Years.

Last year we arrived for the party just before the band started playing and just barely found a seat. So this year we thought we would go a little earlier and pick where we wanted to sit. It was a nice thought, but who would have imagined there would be more people there this year than last, and still, we just barely got a place to sit. We did settle in at a very friendly table, however, and enjoyed the party thoroughly. The food table was 12 feet long and heaped with potluck goodies. More than enough to make the fixins' for several meals. The band was very good. Very loud, but very good. They were different from the band last year. All in all we had an excellent time and we have indeed come full circle since we were here last New Years Eve. Happy New Year!

A "New" Venture and a new Record

The trip we experienced this fall was a spectacular one. We got a real chance to see what it was like to travel while it is still warm. We've been on vacations when it was warm, but not 56 days in a row. We were in shorts the entire time except for a couple of days in the middle. We had one day of rain, and that was during the night, but not enough to make puddles on the ground.

The excursion started at a Michigan Samboree in September and ended at our homepark in Arley, Alabama in November. The only drawback, if you allow it to be one, was the absence of close friends and our kids, and G-Kids. We did have the opportunity to visit extended family, however, and we visited with old friends, and new ones, along the way.

The 56 days saw us traveling 4,383 miles, with 3,183 in the motorhome, and the remaining 1200 in the car to get home, after leaving the motorhome in Arley, Al. Along the way we ran the gamut from a Samboree to a Wedding, a Christening, a Horse and Buggy Tour, and 7 National Parks. It really didn't seem that busy at the time, especially since it took 56 days to make it through all that. It seems the only thing we didn't do, which seems unusual now, is go for a dip in a swimming pool. We certainly had a few chances.

The journey we had, was certainly a positive commercial for the "full-timing" lifestyle. Obviously the reason to make the changeover is to be able to renew old acquaintances and friendships, and then to move on when the mood overtakes you, and then come back again. This has been a good experience for us, but we're still not ready for the change.

If we total the entire year since January 1st, we have now visited a total of 24 different states and traveled about 10,000 miles. Many states have been visited twice so they weren't counted again. We stayed in the motorhome almost 6 months of the year. If you count our summer campouts, it's over 6 months. It was a great year for traveling and there weren't many complaints from the Mrs. except for not seeing the kids, but they live where the snow and cold weather is. It is very nice not to have to live there when it gets nasty.