Louie's Childhood

Today we drove to Deltona, Sanford, Daytona Beach, Ponce Inlet, and New Smyrna Beach (North). Louie wanted to check out the old houses he used to live in when he was growing up. He said they haven't changed much from 30 years ago. He began to reminisce and tell me about some of the good times he had. This is a rare occasion since his memory isn't the best anymore. Daytona Beach and Ponce Inlet were for me, I have never been to Daytona Beach and wanted to go. So since we were so close and had the dogs with us (didn't have to hurry back to take care of them), we decided to just go ahead to check it out. Well the dogs weren't allowed on Daytona Beach so we had to drive down to Ponce Inlet to a beach they are aloud on. I got to see a tortoise alongside the road on our way back to the main road. I love seeing the wildlife like it should be.

Staurday, Louie's uncle and his new wife (Gary and Nancy) came to visit with us here at the campground. We had a great visit and we went down to the cafe here at the campground for dinner. We sat outside on the patio to eat. Well, it is by the lake and everyone knows how much the mosquitoes love me. They tore me up and now I have probably 50 bites all over my legs. Let's just say I am miserable. I just want to scratch my skin off right now. But it will pass and life goes on.

Yesterday we went to the pool. It was a perfect day to relax poolside. (79 degrees with a slight breeze) We had the pool by ourselves for most of the time. Later some older ladies came down and were talking. We overheard them talking about a BBQ joint down the road. We are always up for some good food, so we went and checked it out after getting our tan on. The place was really neat and the Redneck Eggrolls are to die for. I would have never thought to put coleslaw and pork in an eggroll. But let me tell you------delicious!!! I got to talk to Brinlee (one-way conversation right now, but she was trying to figure out where my voice was coming from) on the phone and got many pictures of her. Colton had her and they went out to lunch with Jordan and my parents for Jordan's 23rd birthday. We exchanged pictures of what we were eating. Lame, but it is nice to see what everyone is doing back home.

For Thanksgiving we were lazy most of the day. I made chicken and noodles in the crock pot and bought mashed potatoes. Yummy!!! We got to Skype with everyone at my parents house for a couple of hours. Didn't get to see Brinlee, that was disappointing. But is was nice to see everyone since we weren't there. Then we put up our little Christmas tree. It works for us since we don't have much room and I don't like a lot of clutter.

 The sand hill cranes are always around and it is neat to see them everyday.

 Our Christmas tree this year.

 The only picture I have been able to get of one of the eagles. They are usually flying around or out when I don't have my phone with me.

 Some more of the birds that are always around the resort.

 Finally got to see one of the baby alligators out of the water sunning himself.

 Louie with his Uncle Gary.

 Sitting poolside.

 Backwoods BBQ

 Redneck egg rolls and I also got cheesecake egg rolls, they were just as good (1-blueberry and 1-strawberry).

 Inside the restaurant

 Jordan and Brinlee on Jordan's birthday.

 Love her little smile and her sassiness.

 Louie's childhood home in Deltona on Lake Diana.

 Louie's childhood home in Sanford on the canal.

 Daytona Beach

 Ponce Inlet beach

 Ponce Inlet beach

 Taking the dogs to the beach.

 They didn't like the beach so much. They like their comfort in the AC and laying in the grass. No sand and saltwater. The beach at Ponce Inlet Lighthouse Park.

 Ponce Inlet Lighthouse

 New Smyrna Beach (North). There were big waves today. What did you do today? We just drove on the beach and enjoyed the smell of saltwater and hearing the waves crashing. Life is good!!!

 Gunner enjoying the beach from inside the comfort of the truck.

 Duke was not too sure about it all.

 Ate at Pappa's Drive-In in New Smyrna Beach on our way home since we had the doge we couldn't go in anywhere.

 Pappa's famous burger. Nothing special about it.

Drove through Ocala National Forest today. Seen a bear on the side of the road that was probably hit by a car. That's the closest I want to be to a bear.

Cirta, FL

It's supposed to warm up to 75* today,the low last night was 53*. We aren't doing too much while we are here. This is going to be down time for us. We've seen some wildlife that we don't normally see, and there are a couple eagles that fly around here but I always miss the opportunity to get a picture of them. We drove to Rainbow Springs State Park yesterday to check out the campground. But where we are staying now is very nice and if we are in this area again this will definitely be the place we come back to. We also had some oranges and grapefruits mailed off to my parents. They should be getting fresh fruit in a few days. We are close to Ocala and it has everything we need. However, the resort we are on has so much to do that we really don't have to leave unless we want to.

 This is from when we were still in Georgia, We went to the Georgia Sea Turtle Center. This one was so cute. He was swinging in the water. The turtles come to this center to get rehabilitated and sometimes released back into the ocean.

 A beach on Jekyll Island in Georgia. We had the beach all to ourselves. I never wanted to leave.

 I was doing laundry the first day we got to our resort in Citra and I walk out and this is what I see. These huge birds walking around. Louie later told me that they are Sand Hill Cranes. They are almost prehistoric looking.

 A frog we seen down at the dock.

 Another frog we found down at the dock after it rained.

 This is Orange Lake, and this is the most we have seen of it since we have been here because of the floating islands.

 This is a view of the lake the next day. More of the floating islands have moved in and you can't even is the water at all now. Louie hopes to be able to fish this before we leave but if they don't move out he won't be able to.

 The first alligator sighting for me this trip. I am hoping to see a much bigger one before we leave. They say there is a 13 foot one out there.

 Here is a gator hiding. Can you find him?

Drove to Rainbow Springs State Park.

Welcome

Welcome to my first attempt at blogging our adventures. Bare with me until I get it all figured out. I hope you will enjoy read my posts and all the pictures from along our travels. Here are some pictures from where we have been already this year when our adventure started.

 Our first camping trip started in Indiana at the campground across from where we bought our trailer. They gave us 2 free nights.

 From our scenic drive in Door County, Wisconsin.

 We toured Lambeau Field and made one of Louie's dreams come true,

 Lake Superior in Marquette, Michigan.

 Pictured Rocks in Michigan.

 St. Ignace Lighthouse in Michigan.

 Mackinaw Bridge, Michigan

 Soo Locks, Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan

 Shipwreck museum in Michigan

 We were given a 2016 Ford Fusion and a year of free groceries from Richard Petty Motorsport, Operation Homefront, and Eckrich.

 At the Brickyard 400 on the track before the race. We got first class treatment at the race. We got to ride in the pace car, go to the driver's meeting, have lunch with the crew, sit in the pit box during the race, a suite it we wanted to watch the race from there instead of pit rode,the garages, and just the experience was unbelievable.

 When we spent a month in Texas we took a float trip.

 Hanging out with our good friends Michelle and Aaron in Texas.

 We took a weekend trip to Oklahoma while we were staying in Texas to see my other good friend Teresa. They took us up to the only mountain in Oklahoma.

 One of the many waterfalls we seen while staying in Blairsville, Georgia.

 We took many hikes while staying in Blairsville and some of the memorable ones where on the Appalachian Trail.

 Took my first train ride from Blue Ridge, Georgia.

 Hiking he AT and seeing all the wonderful views when getting to the top of the mountains.

 Shrimp boats in Darien, Georgia

 Live Oaks with Spanish moss, memories for Louie from growing up in Florida as a little kid.

 Took a tour of Sapelo Island, What a wonderful little island. We want to move there because not very many people live there and there is a private beach.

Awe the beach and no one else there. Georgia coast.

We are now in Citra, Florida. Looking forward to the warmer weather in the winter this year and all the new places we will see on our travels.