THE END (Day 178)

We're Home!!

Oct 31, 2013, 7:43 PM

Well we are back home and our grand adventure has come to an end. Although I am absolutely heart sick that our trip has concluded, I can't say that I'm not happy to be home. This trip was so perfect in every way. I saw so much and learned so much along the way. The biggest and best take away from the trip was realizing I was on this adventure with the best person possible. 

So we pull up to our site and what do we find? There is CAUTION tape and spider webbing all over with even a few colorful spiders around. It really is good to be home, where you know you're loved. Only people that love you would go to the trouble!!! Well it is over. This is the end. There will be no more blog updates. We are going to be spending a lot of time cleaning up around here. The pavers need pressure washing, the furniture needs to be cleaned, the canopies need to be replaced, the RV, car, truck, and boat need to be washed, and the list goes on and on. . . So for the last time, goodnight. I want to thank all of you for following along on this journey with Steve and I. Bye

1 To Go (Day 177)

Let's Review

Oct 30, 2013, 4:13 PM

Steve and I left home May 7th on our Zoos Across America Retirement Trip. Our first stop was Savannah to visit with Becca and Penelope, I got some amazing photos of the that beautiful baby. Then to Atlanta to visit Zoo Atlanta, Coke, and Stone Mountain, and from there to North Carolina to see my brother and his family at Fort Bragg and North Carolina Zoo. DC was next on our list, we visited the National Zoo and Smithsonians. Pennsylvania was our next stop. Kim and Robert were really great putting up with us for almost a month. We hit the Philadelphia Zoo and so many other things. It was so great to make new wonderful friends and take some photos that will always bring me a smile remembering trekking in a creek and see Geo's face when Catherine held out a frog, oh it was perfect (thanks guys!). Then heading west to Ohio to go to the Columbus Zoo with Robert and Celeste, their daughter-in-law and grandkids, and the Toledo Zoo to see Scott and Debbie and Scott's sister Ruth Anne, it was so good to finally meet her (just an instant friendship formed). 

Wow we have already traveled so many miles. The Lower Peninsula of Michigan was next. We hiked, went to some small zoos and just had a relaxing time. Then we ventured further north into Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Canada. We found an island lost in time, water falls, pictured rocks, and the Great Lakes, oh it was spectacular. West again we drove to Wisconsin and into Minnesota. In Minnesota we went to another zoo and the Mall of America. From there we made our way to South Dakota, we stopped in Sioux Falls to visit the Great Plains Zoo then moved on to the Rapid City area and went to a Bear Country, Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Monument. It was a perfect day and we were really glad we took the bus tour, someone else had to do the driving. 

We are only about half way through the trip. We are in Montana, Badlands territory and one look and you can understand why it would be called the "bad" lands. We also visited Yellowstone National Park and saw a herd of bison. After that Glacier National Park and the area around it where we found a moose, HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!!!  Now we are in Washington State, it only took us about as long as the covered wagons to get to the west coast. We went into Vancouver, Seattle, Cascades National Park, Olympic National Park, Mount St. Helens, Point Defiance Zoo, and the coast where a kite festival was going on. 

Now we turn left and head south. We stopped in Oregon we saw Crater Lake and piles of rocks standing like sentinels in a valley. Then into California we went to wine country, to San Francisco, we saw giant redwood trees and sequoias big enough around to have tunnels cut in the base, we went to Sacramento on a day when the comic book characters all came to life and walked the streets. We went to Utah to go to Zion, Bryce, and the Grand Canyon's North Rim we came across some Navajo Indians and bought totem and a horse hair bowl, great souvenirs from a trip of a lifetime. We went back to California to visit the San Diego area where Steve's grandson Curtis is in the Marines, we met a recent addition to the family, Curtis' wife Courtney. Our family got a special gift the day Courtney joined our ranks. I got a special treat being asked to make dinner for Curtis, Courtney, and five of the guys Curtis works with (other Marines). It was so great to meet them and and cook them a home cooked meal, judging by the fact that 2nds, 3rds, and even 4th helpings were eaten, I think those boys appreciated the effort. 

After California's second visit we headed to Vegas to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. Kim, Robert, and Alex, and my father and step-mother flew in to help us celebrate. We had the best time! We went to the Hoover Dam, we gambled, and took in some of the nightlife, and it was over too soon. From there we really had a push east. We stopped in Flagstaff, Arizona in hopes of seeing the Grand Canyon South Rim, but those plans were dashed by the government shutdown. This was the ONLY blot on a perfect once in a lifetime trip. I hope everyone in Washington is ashamed of themselves for acting like spoiled rotten children and I do mean ALL of them and the media alike. The media is just as much at fault for fanning the flames. If I had my way they all of them would have a time out in the way of being sent home for good, banished NEVER to return. Starting with the "Spoiled-Brat-In-Chief". Can I get an AMEN?

Anyway, we actually had snow in Flagstaff as we were leaving. We made it to Albuquerque to see the Hot Air Balloon Fiesta, it was so amazing, we enjoyed it totally. Then to look for aliens in Roswell, New Mexico. We did find aliens running all over Roswell, even the streetlight globes are green and have eyes, what a giggle we got out of all of this. After this we head even further east to the great big state of Texas. San Antonio was great, we went to the Alamo and walked along the river, Houston you could keep, we weren't impressed. From there to Biloxi, then New Orleans, then Mississippi. After Mississippi we head to our home state of Florida. We decided to relax for a few days at the Gulf of Mexico. We did take advantage of this time and we relaxed cause starting tomorrow we are going to have a lot to do to get things back in order at home. 

So this is my recap of our trip. We are about two hours from home. Tomorrow we will be busy I'm sure!! Goodnight all, tomorrow I plan on putting out the last blog, just to let everyone know we made it home. So until then. . .

2 To Go (Day 176)

Rest & Relaxation

Oct 29, 2013, 7:08 PM

Today was our final day of rest and relaxation. Tomorrow we drive to Lake City, stay the night, then homeward bound on Thursday. So today we sat around and watched TV and did pretty much nothing. Oh it was so nice. I am going to miss our days of leisure, however it will be so great to see all of our friends and family. We will have our work cut out for us when we get to Salt Springs. Our To Do List for after we get home is long but distinguished (little Top Gun quote there, I couldn't help myself). It may take another six months to get back to normal. This campground turned out to be a jewel. It has been quiet and it has cabins. The cable has worked fine and the wifi has not only worked, but worked well. The wifi is a shocker and we didn't even have to pay extra for it. I was shocked and appalled when we had to pay for wifi at different campgrounds. The campgrounds that required extra payment were some of the pricier campgrounds too, or better yet, the free wifi didn't come in worth a damn. There were issues along the way, things that made us want to pull our hair out, and in spite of that we still have the most wonderful time. I hope through reading my blog you felt like you might have been with us at least some of the time. It has been such a cool thing to write the blog every night. Going back over blogs has helped me remember different things. I'm sure in time Steve and I will be able to read the blogs again and remember just like we were there again. 

I will of course have something to tell you tomorrow. After that I don't know what I'm going to do with my nights. Steve won't have any proof reading to do (that has been a hoot, the poor man), plus what will you guys do with no blog to read. There are going to be some people with real holes in their lives. Don't worry though, I will be available by phone for a quick update on what we are doing so that you can get your fix. Goodnight!!!!!!!!!

3 To Go (Day 175)

The Sun And Sand

Oct 28, 2013, 9:11 PM

Today we took a trip to the Gulf of Mexico to stick our toes in the warm sand and cool water. We drove about 25 minutes and got to see the beautifully calm turquoise water of the gulf and the white sand on the beach. We ate lunch at a seafood place on the beach. It was a great lunch and we sat on the deck with the breeze blowing and the sun shining on us while we watched the shore and water. We saw birds feasting on bait fish about 500 yards off the shore. There were even a few Starlings that tried to join us for lunch. After lunch we walked down the beach and stuck our toes in the water, it was colder than I thought it would be, but the water was so beautiful and clear, but as soon as we saw a pretty darn big jellyfish, the thing was about the size of a dinner plate and just rolling around in the surf waiting to sting if you got caught up with it, so we turned around and walked back. After that we had a couple errands to run, then we happened on a fresh fish market. We found such a great place. We got salmon, mahi mahi, and lobster bisque soup. Dinner was FABULOUS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, and we got plenty for several more dinners (YUM). So now tomorrow's plan is to take advantage of our last day of rest. We are going to do nothing tomorrow, just relax and enjoy the waning hours of our trip. Goodnight guys, I'll check in tomorrow.

4 To Go (Day 174)

Chill'n In Freeport Florida

Oct 27, 2013, 8:29 PM

We had a great day doing nothing. It was a good day to relax. Steve got to watch a Dolphins football game, not the NASCAR race though, we didn't get that channel. Football is better than nothing. I have spent the last couple weeks just mourning the fact that our trip was going to be over. I always hate the end of vacation. It means back to reality and work. I realized this morning what I'd been really dreading just wasn't an issue anymore. We are going home, but not back to work. We are stepping into a brand new arena. Now I can focus on the positive, getting back to home, family, friends that are as close as family. I am so excited!!!!!! Tomorrow we are going to go to the beach. It sounds like a perfect day to stick toes in the sand and surf, maybe pick up some seashells. It will be fun. Goodnight guys, I'll talk to you again tomorrow!!

5 To Go (Day 173)

Welcome To Florida

Oct 26, 2013, 7:04 PM

Well we have made it back to our home state, that's something.  We had a good night's sleep, we heard the train for the last time before we got in bed, then nothing till 6:30 AM, or so I thought. When I asked Steve if he slept well, he told me I slept through several train passes during the night. Oh well, I guess I slipped into a sleep coma last night. 

We left Mississippi this morning and made it to Florida with no issues, thank goodness!! We made it to a really nice campground, now let's just hope this one remains nice. There is pretty much nothing here but a creek, trees, and campers. I'm hoping the only thing we hear in the night are frogs. So we have decided to make it an early night and watching some TV after a nice dinner. Tomorrow's plans are ab-so-freakin'-loot-ly NUTTIN!!!!!! Oh this will be nice, I am so looking forward to this. So goodnight dears, even though there won't be much to report I'll be in touch tomorrow too. 

6 To Go (Day 172)

We Are In Hell

Oct 25, 2013, 11:44 AM

Oh my gosh, I feel I need to qualify this statement. . . I'm not sure it it is strictly a coincidence or road weariness or if it is some sort of geographical issue, but we have had several really crappy campgrounds lately. This one we are currently at went from a great little place, nice people, great location to the campground from hell very quickly. We were watching TV and relaxing last night and we heard a train rumble in, it was loud and sounded CLOSE. We both looked at each other and laughed that we hoped it stopped by 11 o'clock so that we can sleep, HA HA HA!!!!!! This freaking train rumbled through almost all freaking night long. The worst part was that they wouldn't stay off of the damn train horn for miles! Then the wind started up and the awnings over the slides were flapping so much we couldn't sleep. The campground we were in in Houston was at the flipping END of a runway at the freaking George Bush International Airport. I mean come on! Maybe this is the universe's way of saying "it's time to go home". I get it, we are on our way!!!!

New Orleans

Oct 25, 2013, 8:12 PM

Well I saw it!!! I'm not impressed. It was filthy and crowded and really unimpressive. I can at least say I saw it. We parked and the first thing we did was get some beignets, oh my God, they were heavenly!!!!! We walked from around the French Quarter, we ate at The Praline Connection restaurant on Frenchman Street, then we drove around the Garden District. While we were walking around the area was just so not for me, the smell alone is something that you should be very glad I can't share that with you. But of course I had a great time just seeing all of it with my wonderful husband. We are now home and I've only heard one train so far. I'm keeping my fingers crossed they were all sent last night and tonight there won't be many, HA! Yeah, I know, I'm a dreamer. Tomorrow we head for the Destin, Florida area for a couple days to just relax before we get home and have a weeks worth of hard labor getting things put back in order, washing the RV and car, and so much more. Good night guys, sleep well, cause we probably won't. 

7 To Go (Day 171)

WHAT HAPPENED!!!!!

Oct 24, 2013, 8:08 PM

I shouldn't have started this count down, what was I thinking? WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? There are only seven days left. Anyway, I'm just going to pretend I don't have any idea how little time we have left. Ok, so we left Louisiana and I can tell you one thing for sure, when all of these stimulus dollars were being doled out and shovel ready projects planned someone should have informed Louisiana their roads need help. We bounced for many miles over expansion joints in I-10, I thought my spleen was going to rattle to dust. It was so annoying. Now I know how the settlers felt going across the country in covered wagons. UGH!! Anyway, we are in a nice little campground, across the street from the gulf in Biloxi. They are friendly and the place is nice and I can't wait cause tomorrow we are going to New Orleans. So tomorrow there will be nice photos to share. So goodnight all, have a wonderful tomorrow.  

8 To Go (Day 170)

A Little Day Trip

Oct 23, 2013, 8:51 PM

Today we went for a drive, looking for some sights. We saw parts of Lafayette, Breaux Bridge, New Iberia, and Saint Martinville. We never did find a nice part of the city to take photos or walk around and see sights, but we had fun anyway. We ate dinner at Randol's Cajun Restaurant. Oh it was very good. We saw sugar cane fields and burning cane fields and all types of equipment for oil rigs, even compartment crew housing, boxes on top of boxes and I wouldn't want to live that way. It was a fun afternoon and another great day with my wonderful husband. 

Tomorrow we head to Mississippi, the Biloxi area. We are going to go into New Orleans while we are there, that should be great. Of course I've never been and I'm looking forward to it. So goodnight darlings, I talk to you again tomorrow. 

9 To Go (Day 169)

We Are In Lousiana

Oct 22, 2013, 6:33 PM

Well I have been in Houston now and I can say I'm not overly impressed. The highways alone were a crazy mess to try to navigate. The GPS told us to go on this one toll road, now OK, I don't really want to pay tolls but it is seriously not a deal buster. So we are on the road and the signage overhead says no cash, EZ Pass only. Now please forgive me if I'm being silly, but have you ever thought that visitors to the area might want to use this road too, especially if that is the way you are being directed by your GPS? Have you? We don't have an EZ Pass for Texas/Houston roads. I do however have a Sun Pass for Florida roads, but I don't know if that would work for this and we didn't want to get a nasty fine, so thank you very much Houston, we had to travel over surface roads, stop and go, traffic lights and shopping districts. NICE, welcome to Texas. 

Moving right along, as we went over the state border we saw some of the biggest refineries I've ever seen. They stretched far and wide, both sides of the highway. There were runs of pipes going along the road, up and over the road and then along the other side. I have never seen anything like this. It was crazy!!!!!! Other than that, the ride was very uneventful and we are now safe and sound in Louisiana. Tomorrow we are going to check out some Creole Nature Trails, sounds fun!! Goodnight guys!!

10 To Go (Day 168)

We're Counting Down

Oct 21, 2013, 5:51 PM

Oh my gosh, we are going to be home in ten days. I can't believe it's almost over. How is that even possible? It seems like we only just left yesterday!! Oh well, I'm not going to dwell on the negative. Today we went to the Mercer Arboretum & Botanic Gardens. It was a pretty little park here in Houston. I even found a cactus with the worlds worst toupee. I would have loved being here in the spring when more would be in bloom, but we still had fun walking around. We are keeping things a bit more calm these days. It's been a long trip and we have done so much already. After the park we got something to eat then headed home. Tomorrow we are on the road again, this time to Louisiana. We are going to have to track down some beignets since we are going through Louisiana, I can't wait. YUM!!! So goodnight my darlings, I'll talk to you tomorrow from The Frog City RV Park, I think this place sounds fun. Enjoy the flower garden I'm sending you. 

Day 167

Just Sit Back And Relax

Oct 20, 2013, 6:44 PM

We have been going for almost six months and we have been going strong, well not today. We were lazy today, HEY, we're allowed!!! We watched some TV and we relaxed. I guess it really is time to be going home. I'm not sure how I'm going to be spending my evenings when we get home, I won't have a blog to write, however I'm really worried about all of you faithful readers. How will you fill your nights with nothing to read?  I guess when I took on this blog I didn't think about the damage that would be done when it's finished. We have had one hell of a trip though, I don't know what our days will hold when we get home. It will be a real change of pace, Steve won't be going to work everyday, we won't be seeing new wonders around the country, I will have to learn to deal with Steve being under foot all the time. I will miss this trip! We have had so much fun and we have seen so many things. When we get home I think I will sit down, when I have several days with nothing to do, and I'll read the blog and remember the time we've had. Steve and I really are going to have to start exercising when we get home. We have done so much eating on this trip. It will take us a month of Sundays just to get back to pre-trip weight and I'd like to do even better. I don't know what tomorrow is going to bring. I think they are calling for some rain. Oh well, I'm not going to worry about it. I could handle another relaxing day if I absolutely have to. So good night you guys. You better really relish this blog, there aren't many left. 

Day 166

Houston Today

Oct 19, 2013, 8:10 PM

We are now in Houston for a few days. We had a nice ride here. The campground we are in leaves a lot to be desired. When we got here the office was locked. I called the the number and a guy said he'd be up in a few minutes. It seems the manager is away till Monday and he left this guy in charge, but he has no key to the office. He did say if we were paying in cash we could give it to him, wasn't that nice, if we were paying by credit card we'd have to wait till Monday and see the manager. So he showed us to our site, this place is good enough and that's as far as I'm willing to go. We will see what Houston has to offer tomorrow. I'm looking forward to it. You all have a wonderful evening and I'll be in touch tomorrow. 

Day 165

Texas Size Fun

Oct 18, 2013, 8:04 PM

We went to the San Antonio Zoo today. We had such a great day. We had overcast weather, so the temperatures were very comfortable and we saw some animals we haven't seen before, plus this little zoo was so nice and clean. We saw two hippos in a large tank and the water was crystal clear. Typically the hippo tank is so green and cloudy. All of their tanks were beautiful, you could see the small fish cleaning the skin of the hippos, the air bubbles coming out of the hippo's nose. The only thing I have to complain about was a lack of pins with the zoo logo. We got one with a giraffe on it. The zoo logo was very pretty and perfect for San Antonio, it is a gazelle with very long antlers and they are in the shape of the roof line of the mission at the Alamo. Really kind of cool, but they didn't have any of those. We bought a pin with a giraffe on it, we always buy the pin as soon as we go into the zoo, on our way out we realized we didn't even see any giraffes, they didn't have any at the zoo. CRAZY!!!!! I have to try to get a better pin from the Columbus Zoo too. When we were there they had no nice pins, just a cheap plastic button. EVERY other large zoo we went to had nice metal pins, come on Columbus Zoo, get in line. 

After the zoo we went to the Riverwalk. We rode a boat around the river and saw much more than we would have on foot. It was pretty cool! Then we had a wonderful dinner in one of the nice restaurants along the river. Oh it was so good and we are so stuffed. I planned on having a creme brûlée for dessert and we couldn't make it. What a disappointment. So now we are just home trying to get over dinner and relaxing. Tomorrow we are off to Houston for a few days. So goodnight all!! I'll talk to you again tomorrow.

Day 164

Remember The Alamo

Oct 17, 2013, 7:32 PM

We went to the Alamo today and once again preconceived notions were just completely off base. I expected the John Wayne version. The Alamo sitting in the middle of a desert area. Oh how wrong can one person be? (That was a rhetorical question, I don't expect, or want, any smart ass answers.) the Alamo is actually situated in the flipping middle of San Antonio, there are hotels, restaurants, stores, and building of all kinds all around it. It was wild!!!! The Alamo was nice, the gardens very quiet and serene, the buildings were old and crumbly, there was a very interesting movie that pretty much debunked the John Wayne movie portrayal of the battle at the Alamo. I was expecting something more, especially since it is referred to as a shrine, you have to remove your hat inside, you have to speak in hushed tones (as if anyone did), no photos, etc. 

After that we found a place to get lunch. Oh it was a big mistake. There were animals heads and upper bodies all over the walls. I don't understand why some people need to kill poor defenseless animals to feel superior, must be so sad, but I can't abide senseless killing. There was a freaking GIRAFFE head and neck on the wall. REALLY, you had to kill a giraffe, the big scary giraffe caught you off guard and you just happened to have a gun in your hands. WOW how sad and small must their self-esteem must be. Well the lunch was ok at best, it didn't sit well with Steve either. I guess the animals were getting him back. He had a burger, I had a fish sandwich, there weren't any fish on the walls. 

Tomorrow we are going to go to the zoo and check out the river walk area some more. It will be good.