tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63512914091839754742024-03-17T23:03:23.582-04:00 Observations From On The RoadI'd rather spend my money on good flip-flops than a winter jacketRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.comBlogger233125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-30867856384452299602021-12-01T12:56:00.000-05:002021-12-01T12:56:37.727-05:00December 1st, 1960<p><span style="font-size: large;"> On this day 61 years ago I flew to Hawaii.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
The 1st of Dec. 1960, we boarded a 707 in Los Angeles and flew to Hawaii. I was 7 years old. I don't remember the flight, I do remember arriving, the lei greetings, the rental jeeps with the striped covers (think of surrey with a fringe on top) and palm trees. <br /><br />
How much do I really remember from that day 61 years ago and how much has my mind built from photos & home movies? I guess, "Does it matter?" is the better question.<br /><br />
Our motel was across the street from Fort DeRussy, we were there over 3 months. I remember Suzi Lao, the maid at the motel and her Pearl Harbor/WW2 stories. I remember learning to swim underwater in the motel pool. I remember the little corner market behind the motel that had comic books. I remember the diner next door. I remember the sound the cockroaches made when my Mom ran them over with the stroller holding my sister as we walked on Ala Wai Blvd.<br /><br />
I don't remember second grade at Ala Moana elementary school and have vague recollections of the rest of the second grade at Maunawili elementary when we moved to the other side of the island (Kailua ,where we bought our first house on Papalani Street). I do remember 3rd & 4th grades at Maunawili elementary. And I do remember leaving my shoes at the door of the classroom in the morning and picking them up when I went home. <br /><br />
Funny how a single day can stick with you through the years....</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">I always feel the need to add a picture to a blog post, but right now I cannot find any of the Hawaii pictures but I can take a picture of our new house... it's getting really close to ready!</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz77Svv_TinqOfM3wTZUrYumlczlCJxuxYuQQZascOPqVhVbbqYGvGTrZhUUOb2ZF79vYHoLQf-XYHSTS5QUIrnP_hbGBbfdYMOSaJ9bvYbAzo1QSuXlT1WqSTmcdxyivxYaWW-wKSiaE/s2048/house+almost+ready.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz77Svv_TinqOfM3wTZUrYumlczlCJxuxYuQQZascOPqVhVbbqYGvGTrZhUUOb2ZF79vYHoLQf-XYHSTS5QUIrnP_hbGBbfdYMOSaJ9bvYbAzo1QSuXlT1WqSTmcdxyivxYaWW-wKSiaE/s320/house+almost+ready.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for paint on the ends, fill dirt around three sides, <br />stairs and the final inspection by the county!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-75777089356875257572021-07-30T16:25:00.000-04:002021-07-30T16:25:04.548-04:00It's been awhile....<p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: large;">The last thing I posted on this blog was the Declaration of Independence on July 4th of last year.<br /><br />
Let's go way back - back before the "pandemic house arrest", before the "essential" & "non-essential" job labels, back when society was what we'd had for my lifetime.</span><div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">
I'm talking about the 3rd of January 2020, which was a personal remembrance day because that was when my 4 year old grandson was diagnosed with leukemia. <br /><br />
</span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This was not the horror of Leukemia's first visit to my family, which was when Leukemia took my 20 year old daughter, Aurora, on the evening of Friday the 13th of 2011. Sad times.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH742VZENzq9uNU5BR2wGFnBey4Isbx8LeJaAH7ex531Au2RZmRUJ98DfCIZbLNinxtiU-1TBDnT2_EYHDhV-fRccCj_ljeYQVkZ9wmaEXgLmj-oe3-qhLrQqZ8t8vVRH0iBo7xl_h5fA/s320/Hood+Canal+Washington+sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sunset over Hood Canal In Washington state.</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH742VZENzq9uNU5BR2wGFnBey4Isbx8LeJaAH7ex531Au2RZmRUJ98DfCIZbLNinxtiU-1TBDnT2_EYHDhV-fRccCj_ljeYQVkZ9wmaEXgLmj-oe3-qhLrQqZ8t8vVRH0iBo7xl_h5fA/s2048/Hood+Canal+Washington+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">But in January 2020, Christmas was over and we were about to head back to Florida when we got the news. We stayed to help. <br /><br />
[A side note on Leukemia: these days they save 90% of the kids who get the most common type, and my grandson is on the good side of that equation!!! He is down to once a month doc visits and in a few months they will get stretched out even farther! This is GOOD NEWS, A SURVIVOR!!!]<br /><br />
The plan was for us to leave when he hit the maintenance stage. Then the pandemic came. So, for a variety of reasons, we did not leave. We even acquired a summer home on the Hood Canal! Florida was not forgotten, just delayed, with the new plan to spend summers at the Hood Canal beach house and to travel in the RV and spend winters in Florida. </span><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Then, in February of this year, our house burnt down. We escaped barefoot into the snow but lost our cat, Larry (and everything else) to the fire. </span><br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh999jlo53PDqpzAQ2OdLAcKuP2AEkCx9fNzyDHLyyOAG0WeOR8UEPzRsQggZ-_zYZPcpDttcbQ1_vmlkSmrJam9Hngwn12J8cWoShs5v8SeL-tcILsHO2-gryI41TZSrINmLhBiZhvZ80/s2048/Flames+shooting+out+the+backdoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh999jlo53PDqpzAQ2OdLAcKuP2AEkCx9fNzyDHLyyOAG0WeOR8UEPzRsQggZ-_zYZPcpDttcbQ1_vmlkSmrJam9Hngwn12J8cWoShs5v8SeL-tcILsHO2-gryI41TZSrINmLhBiZhvZ80/s320/Flames+shooting+out+the+backdoor.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Not a good night <br />but it could have been worse</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">We moved back into our RV. The neighbors were fantastic with the help of food, clothes, shoes, rubber boots, coats and the like! I cannot say enough about how all these people helped us when we really needed the help. Then we were offered the guest house next door, so we are now renting it. The county is allowing us to replace what we had where it was (the salmon creek setback rules have changed greatly since the home was put there in the 70's), and we must maintain the same footprint. We expect to have a replacement manufactured home delivered in September. We got lucky getting a build spot in September, the regular wait times for a manufactured home are sixteen months these days & it's the same & longer if you want a stick built house.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
That brings us to today. I'm not sure what I want to say these days but I will not be political on this blog.... </span><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">
We are alive and living today here in Tahuya Washington, visiting kids and grandkids, getting ready for the new house delivery and planning on being in Florida next winter. Shorts, a tee shirt and flip-flops is the year round climate I'm still aiming for!</span><br /><br />
<br /></div></div></div>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-61443471636983531752020-07-04T03:00:00.000-04:002020-07-04T03:00:04.029-04:00The Declaration of IndependenceIN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776<br />
<br />
The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United States of America<br /><br />
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.<br /><br />
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed. That whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such government, and to provide new guards for their future security. --Such has been the patient sufferance of these colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former systems of government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over these states. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world.<br /><br />
He has refused his assent to laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.<br /><br />
He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.<br /><br />
He has refused to pass other laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of representation in the legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.<br /><br />
He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.<br /><br />
He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.<br /><br />
He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the legislative powers, incapable of annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise; the state remaining in the meantime exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.<br /><br />
He has endeavored to prevent the population of these states; for that purpose obstructing the laws for naturalization of foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising the conditions of new appropriations of lands.<br /><br />
He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers.<br /><br />
He has made judges dependent on his will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.<br /><br />
He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of officers to harass our people, and eat out their substance.<br /><br />
He has kept among us, in times of peace, standing armies without the consent of our legislature.<br /><br />
He has affected to render the military independent of and superior to civil power.<br /><br />
He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his assent to their acts of pretended legislation:<br /><br />
For quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:<br /><br />
For protecting them, by mock trial, from punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabitants of these states:<br /><br />
For cutting off our trade with all parts of the world:<br /><br />
For imposing taxes on us without our consent:<br /><br />
For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury:<br /><br />
For transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses:<br /><br />
For abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule in these colonies:<br /><br />
For taking away our charters, abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering fundamentally the forms of our governments:<br /><br />
For suspending our own legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.<br /><br />
He has abdicated government here, by declaring us out of his protection and waging war against us.<br /><br />
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.<br /><br />
He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized nation.<br /><br />
He has constrained our fellow citizens taken captive on the high seas to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands.<br /><br />
He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavored to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian savages, whose known rule of warfare, is undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.<br /><br />
In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in the most humble terms: our repeated petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.<br /><br />
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friends.<br /><br />
We, therefore, the representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress, assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name, and by the authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these united colonies are, and of right ought to be free and independent states; that they are absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the state of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as free and independent states, they have full power to levy war, conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and to do all other acts and things which independent states may of right do. And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.<br /><br />
<br />
President of Congress<br /><br />
1. John Hancock (Massachusetts Bay)<br /><br />
New Hampshire<br /><br />
2. Josiah Bartlett<br />
3. William Whipple<br />
4. Matthew Thornton<br /><br />
Massachusetts Bay<br /><br />
5. Samuel Adams<br />
6. John Adams<br />
7. Robert Treat Paine<br />
8. Elbridge Gerry<br /><br />
Rhode Island and Providence Plantations<br /><br />
9. Stephen Hopkins<br />
10. William Ellery<br /><br />
Connecticut<br /><br />
11. Roger Sherman<br />
12. Samuel Huntington<br />
13. William Williams<br />
14. Oliver Wolcott<br /><br />
New York<br /><br />
15. William Floyd<br />
16. Philip Livingston<br />
17. Francis Lewis<br />
18. Lewis Morris<br /><br />
New Jersey<br /><br />
19. Richard Stockton<br />
20. John Witherspoon<br />
21. Francis Hopkinson<br />
22. John Hart<br />
23. Abraham Clark<br /><br />
Pennsylvania<br /><br />
24. Robert Morris<br />
25. Benjamin Rush<br />
26. Benjamin Franklin<br />
27. John Morton<br />
28. George Clymer<br />
29. James Smith<br />
30. George Taylor<br />
31. James Wilson<br />
32. George Ross<br /><br />
Delaware<br /><br />
33. Caesar Rodney<br />
34. George Read<br />
35. Thomas McKean<br /><br />
Maryland<br /><br />
36. Samuel Chase<br />
37. William Paca<br />
38. Thomas Stone<br />
39. Charles Carroll of Carrollton<br /><br />
Virginia<br /><br />
40. George Wythe<br />
41. Richard Henry Lee<br />
42. Thomas Jefferson<br />
43. Benjamin Harrison<br />
44. Thomas Nelson, Jr.<br />
45. Francis Lightfoot Lee<br />
46. Carter Braxton<br /><br />
North Carolina<br /><br />
47. William Hooper<br />
48. Joseph Hewes<br />
49. John Penn<br /><br />
South Carolina<br /><br />
50. Edward Rutledge<br />
51. Thomas Heyward, Jr.<br />
52. Thomas Lynch, Jr.<br />
53. Arthur Middleton<br /><br />
Georgia<br /><br />
54. Button Gwinnett<br />
55. Lyman Hall<br />
56. George WaltonRobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-50857833809305885702020-04-22T17:00:00.000-04:002020-04-22T17:00:40.164-04:00Earth Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1NQRHfqvwdQiibvlD4E1pR-87RIb9Hvjm4vGbsu1PWzAClck47o8Zd6T9vGcfMwjFnHl7PHX4Ww1myQ3cZgXOxYcXSKXnqFD6Fj3XixzYcYU_Sq2WRIMM4x35OU-0v_9bIlMw-lVsag/s1600/sunset+BIG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1NQRHfqvwdQiibvlD4E1pR-87RIb9Hvjm4vGbsu1PWzAClck47o8Zd6T9vGcfMwjFnHl7PHX4Ww1myQ3cZgXOxYcXSKXnqFD6Fj3XixzYcYU_Sq2WRIMM4x35OU-0v_9bIlMw-lVsag/s320/sunset+BIG.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I like sunsets so I put one here.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's Earth Day again. I remember the first one in 1970. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
I was in high school at South Torrance High in Torrance, California. It was the 11th grade. Smog was real in those days. From where I lived you could no longer see the big Union Bank building a mile away. Brown air. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Even I could see that it was getting worse.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
Anyway, back to the first Earth Day. We all sat on the lawn while people wearing gas masks talked about the air quality, talked about life tomorrow, talked about nothing I remember, sitting here 50 years later. I do remember that the weather was nice....<br /><br />
My family moved up to the SF Bay area that Summer. I did my final year (graduated in '71) at a high school in Marin county. It was some time before I made it back to SoCal.<br /><br />
Fast forward 10 years. I'm in the Coast Guard doing a water temperature patrol down that way in a </span><span style="font-size: large;">(HU-16E)</span><span style="font-size: large;"> airplane. We're coming back from San Diego, heading for San Fran along the coast. I sat in the radio man's seat to fix a sandwich from the box lunch. I look up and see this brown wall in the distance. It's well out to sea, it's the Los Angeles smog. After I fix the sandwich I look up and we are in the brown...</span><br />
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Jump forward another 20 years after that and I'm driving down in the LA area. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Son of a gun, there are mountains all around Los Angeles! It really looks good!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Mq6duq76HediHpEqCIpTLve0Dki37wSJSggdJdKcEsnYoSW_UKCLF9EAIkzkYW8Uo7HN_VIPwlhTCNWMSqE0spwfi2QTwsi_UsairUuylJdJimO04-bJk1txv-UMUqojPO71rVaBvzE/s1600/Santa+Monica+Pier+%252837%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Mq6duq76HediHpEqCIpTLve0Dki37wSJSggdJdKcEsnYoSW_UKCLF9EAIkzkYW8Uo7HN_VIPwlhTCNWMSqE0spwfi2QTwsi_UsairUuylJdJimO04-bJk1txv-UMUqojPO71rVaBvzE/s320/Santa+Monica+Pier+%252837%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is from the Santa Monica pier a year or so ago.<br />It's the only picture of mine that I can find<br />that shows mountains in the distance<br />in the SoCal area.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">
I had been in that area from the summer of 1966 until the summer of 1970 and I was not aware that there were mountains!<br /><br />
It took awhile, but the California smog rules did what they were supposed to do. I was (and still am) impressed!<br /><br />
<br /><br />
With the world closed down I guess a lot of people all over are getting to see what their world looks like when the pollution has had some time to settle out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-88801991885076369102020-02-13T03:36:00.000-05:002020-02-13T03:36:05.637-05:00'NASA is Hiring' Brings Up the Old Dream.<span style="font-size: large;">I read a lot science fiction when I was younger. Going into space was always in the back of my mind, as I grew up in the 60s.<br /><br />
When I went into the Coast Guard, I went into aviation with space in the back of my mind.<br /><br />
Later, when they were looking for Mission Specialists I looked and I realized that I didn't meet the requirements and I really didn't want to go back to school. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Turns out my actual life was enough.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I thought the dream was gone.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8pOCopbNxQs8-U2Rkrmq7qG4Vf79Bd4tteVpCceC3Y2ou5sf_7mj5TM4pRDAlDwohtuNQRLBL0OkPxP6cMs8i9S-NeeNISU9ZGQWx0nTsVDL7F4-xS3-GeJL7XYFR0dLUDPglh97om0/s1600/20190117_111739.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8pOCopbNxQs8-U2Rkrmq7qG4Vf79Bd4tteVpCceC3Y2ou5sf_7mj5TM4pRDAlDwohtuNQRLBL0OkPxP6cMs8i9S-NeeNISU9ZGQWx0nTsVDL7F4-xS3-GeJL7XYFR0dLUDPglh97om0/s320/20190117_111739.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">NASA, through the trees and across the water</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Still, when I read this morning that NASA was <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/nasa-hiring-astronauts-for-missions-to-moon-mars" target="_blank">hiring</a> again, I had to take a look at what they needed, just in case. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">The other day I was reading about the <a href="https://www.spacex.com/starship" target="_blank">rocket</a> SpaceX is building in Texas - this is exciting stuff! Get a job there even sweeping the floors and you'd still be part of it. They are making history there!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">I guess the dream is never really gone. I still read science fiction.</span><br /><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlie52K5xIKZ9oI6TKYbFzkAjQsUUwjp-kWE_EpLqSzSrrXO6NncBIECDhQhdC1pSW-r6M3mgBrB8Ag2hSoZQ9ECG8vYKGbU0XMT5DbP77AK5bbAQ5HMCikbtH_LRd7ueRjIGqhbnnA_c/s1600/SKP+Florida+park+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlie52K5xIKZ9oI6TKYbFzkAjQsUUwjp-kWE_EpLqSzSrrXO6NncBIECDhQhdC1pSW-r6M3mgBrB8Ag2hSoZQ9ECG8vYKGbU0XMT5DbP77AK5bbAQ5HMCikbtH_LRd7ueRjIGqhbnnA_c/s320/SKP+Florida+park+sunset.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is central Florida<br /></td></tr>
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-13508512696915464132020-01-31T01:30:00.000-05:002020-01-31T01:30:00.549-05:00The RV Refrigerator<span style="font-size: large;">One day out of the blue we started getting a strong ammonia smell inside the RV. It was the smell of our RV absorption refrigerator giving up the ghost. There was a small amount of yellow residue on the bottom of the burner too.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Off to the internet for a little troubleshooting, some Youtube "how to" viewing and some shopping. We ordered a new cooling unit (~$500 delivered) from RvCool.com<br /><br />
In the meantime, we needed to keep food cold! The answer was to put ice into the two drawers that sit on the bottom of the fridge. This turned the fridge into an ice box - the drawers controlled the melt water and the ice kept things cool.<br /><br />
The videos made a DIY cooling unit swap look do-able, so a decision was made!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We ordered the new cooling unit, which took awhile for them to make & get shipped to us on the west coast.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDiwcIJcJVyW1Uv1yCmGjfhMABXH77-bhy2CHTsD0vWe2FDzn3SzfUxdY8irhq4UnQ-uvt2BqO5UU93j3EMY_FDs_T2tThafre60o8YFr1oyTo9xdNrN8z26hRMWbG_c-WJGUk856N-Y/s1600/fridge+box.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIDiwcIJcJVyW1Uv1yCmGjfhMABXH77-bhy2CHTsD0vWe2FDzn3SzfUxdY8irhq4UnQ-uvt2BqO5UU93j3EMY_FDs_T2tThafre60o8YFr1oyTo9xdNrN8z26hRMWbG_c-WJGUk856N-Y/s320/fridge+box.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cooling unit in the box</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We picked it up, loaded it across the back seat of the Camry and took it to the RV, which was in Santa Cruz, where we were <a href="https://seacliffrvpark.com/" target="_blank">staying</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyYcT8qBbmIIpQilgB9Vn-HT8RGj-E7nDzmbGR4Q8LpBBLrQOqPV_ZGhSDUWxKI4r1H4xMU2QqBiqrx40w8SgWFpi0w6hYPLSrLqxHoo1baqRtZIYKTFc0xdBsQWL9EnqxFFqstpXras/s1600/Seacliff+beach%252C+Aptos+%2528santa+Cruz%2529+Calif+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDyYcT8qBbmIIpQilgB9Vn-HT8RGj-E7nDzmbGR4Q8LpBBLrQOqPV_ZGhSDUWxKI4r1H4xMU2QqBiqrx40w8SgWFpi0w6hYPLSrLqxHoo1baqRtZIYKTFc0xdBsQWL9EnqxFFqstpXras/s320/Seacliff+beach%252C+Aptos+%2528santa+Cruz%2529+Calif+%25281%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view from the top of the cliff that<br />
was a 5 minute walk from the RV park we stayed at.</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Watched two different videos on YouTube, as the cooling unit came with no instructions. We laid the box on the bed to get the unit out. The fridge was pulled and laid between the couch & the dinette (table down). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP28ZrZY-sqjurh4p1DNuaNClSElYAZDhgsLD_3KtWdXwjCTwha4xwWIrxkMEX0L3zACcF0gdXtnnKF1U9hKGG3vBUSOMdnDl430K1RzE2CF9gHlRNhYMJvM0dGTQc0nzcthJeVrfqVs/s1600/old+fridge+out.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUP28ZrZY-sqjurh4p1DNuaNClSElYAZDhgsLD_3KtWdXwjCTwha4xwWIrxkMEX0L3zACcF0gdXtnnKF1U9hKGG3vBUSOMdnDl430K1RzE2CF9gHlRNhYMJvM0dGTQc0nzcthJeVrfqVs/s320/old+fridge+out.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fridge ready to be worked on in the RV.</td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I took lots of pictures, swapped it over, put it back together and slipped it in its hole. That did take all day so we used it as an ice box that night and finished first thing in the morning. Taped up the old one & took it to the FedEx office. They scanned the (included) label, gave a receipt with the tracking number and off it went.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">About the actual job. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Nothing was real heavy, more awkward. Two of us did fine. Fitting the cooling unit back in the refrigerator took a little finessing but it was well within my capabilities. We saved well over a thousand dollars when you think about just having the refrigerator replaced.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">It's nice having a working refrigerator!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-54522576456725465202020-01-25T01:00:00.000-05:002020-01-25T01:00:00.395-05:00San Francisco & the Cable Cars<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed in the SF Bay Area for a week. That was time to do a little tourist stuff, visit friends and pay respects to family members who have passed on.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS76caRiTzsGrxhb4pKpG1tpMOxS-HdMIjuAPpAHR376CSAe9JEJA1M9vAKMzsUU235ToVbXfEzXjuyltolU_T6KLO6RnOetENqHke4LUdByTjcvsBvrAo4HPZitNu3YbIQ3Xqf5qPURw/s1600/20191106_154113.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS76caRiTzsGrxhb4pKpG1tpMOxS-HdMIjuAPpAHR376CSAe9JEJA1M9vAKMzsUU235ToVbXfEzXjuyltolU_T6KLO6RnOetENqHke4LUdByTjcvsBvrAo4HPZitNu3YbIQ3Xqf5qPURw/s320/20191106_154113.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Golden Gate Bridge from the SF Side</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />One day we went into the City. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRYpPnSrvHsU6qMVo7lAnrj_3c2-TbnT4tz0b4yTQtaKghuB7jJhpS1L9YVOXogHPLKzhnbbEyao9PmtlXlFDzrNs2YP1tCo3waPPLpSybNLZLv0EV2h_rbejZam3ONGZehim9QXHD58/s1600/20191104_103610.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRRYpPnSrvHsU6qMVo7lAnrj_3c2-TbnT4tz0b4yTQtaKghuB7jJhpS1L9YVOXogHPLKzhnbbEyao9PmtlXlFDzrNs2YP1tCo3waPPLpSybNLZLv0EV2h_rbejZam3ONGZehim9QXHD58/s320/20191104_103610.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Gate Bridge from the Larkspur Ferry</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-vEqFxsemLr6p1hqX_87eaouLNMbWHfolWeaVFWRYhCJFRZZR_qoRUMZp_wiEClRJhug1fuxDage-k34qVBdSv-rL2nlHrvhsIYVjsGwgbqNKpNr1uHzYIPSZKnZCuvJFgbVoL3ikvI/s1600/20191104_104031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-vEqFxsemLr6p1hqX_87eaouLNMbWHfolWeaVFWRYhCJFRZZR_qoRUMZp_wiEClRJhug1fuxDage-k34qVBdSv-rL2nlHrvhsIYVjsGwgbqNKpNr1uHzYIPSZKnZCuvJFgbVoL3ikvI/s320/20191104_104031.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Francisco</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We took the ferry in from Larkspur, we rode the cable cars, we rode the street cars & we walked. We did tourist stuff!<br /><br />
Once we arrived in the city, we caught a cable car on Market Street. I had not been on a cable car since the mid-1970s. When we got on I thought about my great-grandfather.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6G9frfdyo20B-mrUwuvthm5Ql8R5TWJmxqHvq8jKANJYgA0gzsgU2tr5CB3Hve7tlDk2ciK1eH1xNB9AEPIcKa58cztLHlsItMP1DIdTHgE1pPGfvCk5h-jLKgo35tRNQohno2DRRtI/s1600/20191104_115737.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6G9frfdyo20B-mrUwuvthm5Ql8R5TWJmxqHvq8jKANJYgA0gzsgU2tr5CB3Hve7tlDk2ciK1eH1xNB9AEPIcKa58cztLHlsItMP1DIdTHgE1pPGfvCk5h-jLKgo35tRNQohno2DRRtI/s320/20191104_115737.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a cable car on the left, there is a cable under the<br />
tracks that pulls the cars along.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
It seems my great-grandfather was riding on the outside of a cable car in 1902 and fell off. He hit his head and died within days of the accident. I thought about this when I got on the cable car! I didn't ride standing on the outside either....<br /><br />
When I last rode a cable car back in the 70s, I was unaware of my family history with the machines so it was just fun.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsxSOGrSeym84oif7WM4k7w63xNiE0j0mtIRKkmO4W1klcYK2VfHCDjSJ8VqAmj_rPRAjefME4iwZD2mfraUzY1DHn8P_6mCpPYklirwvcvKj2EHCNEIbx9fj9duCjsYCkQn0rf8yRR0/s1600/20191104_160035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqsxSOGrSeym84oif7WM4k7w63xNiE0j0mtIRKkmO4W1klcYK2VfHCDjSJ8VqAmj_rPRAjefME4iwZD2mfraUzY1DHn8P_6mCpPYklirwvcvKj2EHCNEIbx9fj9duCjsYCkQn0rf8yRR0/s320/20191104_160035.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">San Fran after the 1906 earthquake - my grandfather was there for that. He said the <br />
ferry boats leaving the city would only take gold or silver, no paper money. <br />
With that in mind when I was born, he made a frame to hold five silver <br />
dollars so I'd never be too broke to take a ferry from the city.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />We had a good day! Fisherman's Wharf, the seals at Pier 39, the cable car museum, clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl not to mention riding the cable cars. Then we took the ferry back to Marin County.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlAe-UFDfAso-zsRZKibp3WlO2AumcvxJeecv0N-8oPiWDauFKjdO9tYVpbftNSqHhp_Hz3F9R7dFtWBqfJOMhnZXtdZdQwLOFo0013cwv1AgRHSpfB_YFdYfo7HOGV9kORZZLEpI0M4/s1600/20191104_121633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqlAe-UFDfAso-zsRZKibp3WlO2AumcvxJeecv0N-8oPiWDauFKjdO9tYVpbftNSqHhp_Hz3F9R7dFtWBqfJOMhnZXtdZdQwLOFo0013cwv1AgRHSpfB_YFdYfo7HOGV9kORZZLEpI0M4/s320/20191104_121633.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Clam chowder in a San Francisco <br />
sourdough bowl. It was good!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EBE9t7FStgAhhihIyMiZ8RxDWenH-spFC3-t3Yqxs9bwulDPyf8G73EUZ9-VyOor0CdTuZ7c_CR9NS7guIcPUoDTXCCNnDxbfd9dQ8rsQC47B-Y5HwW6gVR8bbnvZJtSN2PXpIKPEyQ/s1600/20191104_155039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_EBE9t7FStgAhhihIyMiZ8RxDWenH-spFC3-t3Yqxs9bwulDPyf8G73EUZ9-VyOor0CdTuZ7c_CR9NS7guIcPUoDTXCCNnDxbfd9dQ8rsQC47B-Y5HwW6gVR8bbnvZJtSN2PXpIKPEyQ/s320/20191104_155039.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cable car museum houses the cables that move the cable cars. It's free and well worth the time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIsSSZC4xNG5ssYiyWBc_THsls8ibnUopIiLTPEfAYqXACx_ZsGZ67tXejzv83-WAnrFs1r46Uqecbo1DpZea4WVf8QToAIhnMv_HDPA4_s7ywUWsrbVzVmSYP8YtmtWQ_UZQzUk0mkY/s1600/Sea+Lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCIsSSZC4xNG5ssYiyWBc_THsls8ibnUopIiLTPEfAYqXACx_ZsGZ67tXejzv83-WAnrFs1r46Uqecbo1DpZea4WVf8QToAIhnMv_HDPA4_s7ywUWsrbVzVmSYP8YtmtWQ_UZQzUk0mkY/s320/Sea+Lions.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sea lions enjoying the day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
<br />
Fees! I'll mention this because it's useful.<br />
We paid $7 each for our first cable car ride, but while on it the operator told us about the MuniMobile app. That was a deal! For $12 (ea) you can buy a pass that allows you to ride any SF public transit for the whole day! The passes stayed on the phone, all I had to do was show them, that saved us $$ as we took several cable car & bus rides that day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">It costs to go into the city via bridge, but leaving is free. The Bay Bridge takes cash or the local electronic transponder. The Golden Gate Bridge doesn't take cash, it's all electronic! If you're not hooked up they will send a bill to the address linked to the license plate. You can go online and take care of it before you cross, or after if you don't want to wait for the bill in the mail.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-36500286396435972472020-01-19T15:52:00.001-05:002020-01-19T17:57:45.101-05:00Gravestone Or Not?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">My blogging has gotten way behind my reality. I'll get to "here & now" but it won't happen today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The past few years I have gotten interested in my genealogy. Finding my great-great-grandparents' resting places left a mark on me. We found the Besse family in Santa Cruz, Calif & the Milroys in Bellefontaine (pronounced "bell fountain"), Ohio.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRmjSUNgehDLbElzdnss5jdYyjZ4LVTxfDiCP-IADBgks7CTDvI2wl4smToJOfO8BFGneXNeaT61xWTEEFV_8yGY89rko-xive5nq2W2sriWfmGF97mixv2hxRTYUzStptTEummsqIuk/s1600/Besse+parents+marker+1883+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRmjSUNgehDLbElzdnss5jdYyjZ4LVTxfDiCP-IADBgks7CTDvI2wl4smToJOfO8BFGneXNeaT61xWTEEFV_8yGY89rko-xive5nq2W2sriWfmGF97mixv2hxRTYUzStptTEummsqIuk/s320/Besse+parents+marker+1883+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samuel H and Martha (Boynton) Besse,<br />
Santa Cruz California</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />It sounds odd, but it wasn't until I actually saw the grave markers that I felt that I actually had people back then. It was no longer abstract.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqUhEANj1bS91iNVEBxAbeZbGv2d7yLF5s41M9SFiMQ-NGXBeAkxSthQSFr-SXtw6iLHz6v79-ijHBdL9PPdOUAqhuRx53N8u2Gt91-_BnrBr9ucQvpQlmwxZhKnenQDw3wLpxTnr_Cs/s1600/Milroy+in+Ohion+fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqUhEANj1bS91iNVEBxAbeZbGv2d7yLF5s41M9SFiMQ-NGXBeAkxSthQSFr-SXtw6iLHz6v79-ijHBdL9PPdOUAqhuRx53N8u2Gt91-_BnrBr9ucQvpQlmwxZhKnenQDw3wLpxTnr_Cs/s320/Milroy+in+Ohion+fixed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Robert and Catherine (Boyd) Milroy,<br />
Bellefontaine Ohio</td></tr>
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I've never been really concerned about what to do with my remains after I run out of time on this earth. The last few relatives I'd dealt with had their ashes scattered and that seemed good enough.<br /><br />
Then I thought about how I felt after finding the marker for my great-great-grandparents who passed in 1883... that marker took them from being an abstract thought to actual people in my past. If my ashes were scattered in the Pacific ocean no one would be able to have the revelation I did 133 years later.<br /><br />
Things to think about...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-76680213869205713162019-11-26T23:00:00.000-05:002019-11-26T23:00:07.459-05:00Another Free Camp Area Goes Away<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC2-B9swvEyIZ-owV-ADYpcJJLsEs_fuPSkMCC2oDTPiA075ZI9WPLFA34Epz9-VfU3r7kr-mhCHk0akgXxI_09CpsZ2-sITP1vEgRIw7kPMRIBv6IIZcSNDEdL7LDWVB31k6EwBUApo/s320/Vans+at+the+beach+%25282%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bastendorff Beach in 2017</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCC2-B9swvEyIZ-owV-ADYpcJJLsEs_fuPSkMCC2oDTPiA075ZI9WPLFA34Epz9-VfU3r7kr-mhCHk0akgXxI_09CpsZ2-sITP1vEgRIw7kPMRIBv6IIZcSNDEdL7LDWVB31k6EwBUApo/s1600/Vans+at+the+beach+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">A couple of years back we came across a small chunk of BLM land on the ocean, not far from Coos Bay Oregon. It was a place you could hang out for a few days at the beach, listen to, and smell, the ocean. It was free to stay there.<br /><br />
We came back to see if there was any room. And there was a lot of room. Probably because of all the signs that said "No Overnight Parking or Camping" with a few "Day Use Only" signs mixed in, just in case you weren't sure.<br /><br />
I do understand. This was a nice place and it's not too far from things. I'm imagining that some people started homesteading in the area, and it was noticed and dealt with. A squeaky wheel may get greased or they may just toss the cart.<br /><br />
There is a <a href="http://www.co.coos.or.us/Departments/CoosCountyParks/Bastendorff.aspx" target="_blank">County Park</a> & state park in the vicinity, it's not like there are no options.<br /><br />
There are more RVs out in the U.S. these days; boomers who retired, people who found some aspect of vanlife appealing and those moving to a van-car-tent simply because it gives them a roof over their head. If you look on YouTube, FaceBook and the other 'modern' means of (controlled) discourse in our world there are a lot of people looking at this form of being a nomad. <br /><br />
Bob Wells and his <a href="https://www.cheaprvliving.com/" target="_blank">CheapRVliving</a> has a yearly rendezvous (the RTR, the rubber tramp rendezvous) that has grown huge since he started using <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAj7O3LCDbkIR54hAn6Zz7A" target="_blank">YouTube</a>. I'm talking about thousands of people who show up to visit, meet like-minded folks & learn how to get free rent. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh443d5lQlZT0EqzuxLXl0ipL337EqqZ7APVVj6-dM8w3-W9dZbvV-b0UnixLJ4jgGEUZHm-tB_rt4bEvd0YQ1QyZ3o_VxCPZc9Xliqf4mTbj-AFd6dPYkxbBq1WNjVSHfjXo2Typb8i90/s320/Quartzsite+RTR+2018+overview.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Overview of some of the RTR in January 2018</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh443d5lQlZT0EqzuxLXl0ipL337EqqZ7APVVj6-dM8w3-W9dZbvV-b0UnixLJ4jgGEUZHm-tB_rt4bEvd0YQ1QyZ3o_VxCPZc9Xliqf4mTbj-AFd6dPYkxbBq1WNjVSHfjXo2Typb8i90/s1600/Quartzsite+RTR+2018+overview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">IMO it worked well when it was a just a few people, but when thousands and thousands get together it's noticed. When society notices someone trying to do something out of the norm it gets dealt with. Marking Bastendorff beach as "No Overnight Parking" was one result of it being noticed.<br /><br />
There are still places where you can camp for <a href="https://freecampsites.net/" target="_blank">free</a> in the West, just not at Bastendorff Beach anymore.</span><br />
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-74829831043766678552019-11-17T01:35:00.000-05:002019-11-17T01:35:40.423-05:00Whale Watching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">We took a whale watching tour with <a href="https://www.pugetsoundexpress.com/" target="_blank">Puget Town Express</a> out of Port Townsend, WA and had a great time! <br /><br />
We boarded the boat at 10am but it was a very short walk from the <a href="https://portofpt.com/point-hudson-marina-rv-park/" target="_blank">campground</a> we stayed at. We were back in port by 3 pm. We ordered the box lunch and that turned out to be a worthwhile sandwich and a big step to a no-hassle outing.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-D4yct1mNIsXzTExkkgFeJUSOdqEcfKxmNKGrT1uBPPaRpbp4R8TBYmYcR0cakRBpSCQ77MGM43FfjnfTOxLDpSlM2Tr5BQP2hgWKnS0T00BLAVRd9CGyPaAFf-l6fs8Nx0ejJcrXZY/s1600/IMG_2754.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ-D4yct1mNIsXzTExkkgFeJUSOdqEcfKxmNKGrT1uBPPaRpbp4R8TBYmYcR0cakRBpSCQ77MGM43FfjnfTOxLDpSlM2Tr5BQP2hgWKnS0T00BLAVRd9CGyPaAFf-l6fs8Nx0ejJcrXZY/s320/IMG_2754.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glacier Spirit</td></tr>
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The crew was knowledgeable, professional and friendly. The boat Glacier Spirit was comfortable and the coffee was good.<br /><br />
Yes we saw whales! I'd go again!!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId1JArPG11vHZHwTtkZu4qT38b7rFtAyjV7lCY8Hd27KhE4Kg68QYsVEaeLCmBPE9uN-EarTNXcw81yc7MjvpEuuQ8AHkixnqr7yC4OMe0vIUhmjO7ZZ93wqh2Qj5sAw8Qc9NjhRf3Io/s1600/Great+views.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiId1JArPG11vHZHwTtkZu4qT38b7rFtAyjV7lCY8Hd27KhE4Kg68QYsVEaeLCmBPE9uN-EarTNXcw81yc7MjvpEuuQ8AHkixnqr7yC4OMe0vIUhmjO7ZZ93wqh2Qj5sAw8Qc9NjhRf3Io/s320/Great+views.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Good views on the way</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHSGEKKfmnwJhV6cSpijlE522itRN0q-xYnDm8B6o_xgZIY5AqjVMNpnlLEvOFCeqdoQXzfG3yUJyUbs59CYklgo-m5DwkZCK7-x_05kOCpL1PErcdGXjwCtzhh63GezT_ObT7RmSSvU/s1600/Dressed+for+the+trip.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHSGEKKfmnwJhV6cSpijlE522itRN0q-xYnDm8B6o_xgZIY5AqjVMNpnlLEvOFCeqdoQXzfG3yUJyUbs59CYklgo-m5DwkZCK7-x_05kOCpL1PErcdGXjwCtzhh63GezT_ObT7RmSSvU/s320/Dressed+for+the+trip.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Folks dressed to be outside</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRbC-JeaEaBR_eUzwlI7L0OjcVgfn9_fIp2OLM4xbofeI0qA-hPD8A2AYq_NIi0idw2KXXT2RajCutJWcIUvwKKBNjtJUB0tQNtcHGjyex1YIHlsWH7s03fLm-dWmpTIhZpcgIAZ92gI/s1600/They+tracked+our+position.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFRbC-JeaEaBR_eUzwlI7L0OjcVgfn9_fIp2OLM4xbofeI0qA-hPD8A2AYq_NIi0idw2KXXT2RajCutJWcIUvwKKBNjtJUB0tQNtcHGjyex1YIHlsWH7s03fLm-dWmpTIhZpcgIAZ92gI/s400/They+tracked+our+position.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our position was tracked and displayed</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAwjckt7xf7Z-XvPKzY3iY7PL8PgwbFkwL7xNKdES88eBxUkePAa5OfQV7N1pRNfJGKU_EnKTKGto5qUjYjCGnt29jgX2q5UkoMkGtO3mXlzWq8pCXHms8ng0cK5tIgdPPA3BaW29K-A/s1600/Thar+she+blows%2521.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAwjckt7xf7Z-XvPKzY3iY7PL8PgwbFkwL7xNKdES88eBxUkePAa5OfQV7N1pRNfJGKU_EnKTKGto5qUjYjCGnt29jgX2q5UkoMkGtO3mXlzWq8pCXHms8ng0cK5tIgdPPA3BaW29K-A/s320/Thar+she+blows%2521.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thar She Blows!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTZLP8-RQUttirr7H8tpW_M6QoUmWp3Qal_91z9c4dvP9YDXLmqJmqF1kXmH_t1EQiv0j_PufhcMIRVpvZnY-_j-DU_X8YHrcBj4klBA1vNF_u7ejZ3sQXpviqGJxtLOglFgep1fc3jY/s1600/whale+sited+brings+all+the+boats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPTZLP8-RQUttirr7H8tpW_M6QoUmWp3Qal_91z9c4dvP9YDXLmqJmqF1kXmH_t1EQiv0j_PufhcMIRVpvZnY-_j-DU_X8YHrcBj4klBA1vNF_u7ejZ3sQXpviqGJxtLOglFgep1fc3jY/s320/whale+sited+brings+all+the+boats.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Any whale sighting brings out all the whale watching boats </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrlHObobljGTVlOD_t9ccw_5LFM_A49IQ0A2ld4hDC6Au9oYjV1-JDIWhPkLm9xUsPwQvKeYGvlhhLmwXCwx1BQJJwwEAqtnHKaxhDSsh4z6-XxbZKPYiChUt0IN7us6ym-ZvOL3Ui8o/s1600/The+other+two+viewing+boats.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGrlHObobljGTVlOD_t9ccw_5LFM_A49IQ0A2ld4hDC6Au9oYjV1-JDIWhPkLm9xUsPwQvKeYGvlhhLmwXCwx1BQJJwwEAqtnHKaxhDSsh4z6-XxbZKPYiChUt0IN7us6ym-ZvOL3Ui8o/s320/The+other+two+viewing+boats.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The other two boats</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNU3QN5wbIKEM-CUpynnkg1dfl0MtyxCS2UoRaYgCI_vQyl3zGkA45LW3iM4NZPF7vR7VpabeAECvXNyLnmBhVj36OdTJekthIhc-K_SF4_QHWz-Z89rI7fCNRqqvtUS01qY9Wm1LnotE/s1600/Humpback+whale+fin.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNU3QN5wbIKEM-CUpynnkg1dfl0MtyxCS2UoRaYgCI_vQyl3zGkA45LW3iM4NZPF7vR7VpabeAECvXNyLnmBhVj36OdTJekthIhc-K_SF4_QHWz-Z89rI7fCNRqqvtUS01qY9Wm1LnotE/s400/Humpback+whale+fin.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seeing the whale's tail like that gave me a good feeling</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I enjoyed it, it was worth the money and I will do it again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-31998001316617482832019-11-10T15:12:00.000-05:002019-11-10T15:12:27.788-05:00A Wedding!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">After doing the genealogy in Ohio and Michigan, we traveled across th</span><span style="font-size: large;">e top of the country following US Hwy 2. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE3GvnhQr3yhe2Fg20MvuY9Zs6IjdODg1wtaWKt61rG7F0HuS7kfiNgWeE-a-GJFuElQUUTxGUPfJ4zKRUZHq77R6OGB1bhLuAZFBdL8SUCQf9gOSrnPFJePdyBSKv9HI_CEyfYGKFlA/s1600/Hwy+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1600" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKE3GvnhQr3yhe2Fg20MvuY9Zs6IjdODg1wtaWKt61rG7F0HuS7kfiNgWeE-a-GJFuElQUUTxGUPfJ4zKRUZHq77R6OGB1bhLuAZFBdL8SUCQf9gOSrnPFJePdyBSKv9HI_CEyfYGKFlA/s320/Hwy+2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">US Hwy 2</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed at casinos quite a few times. They were free, often offered electrical plug ins, had good places to eat, and I always enjoyed the chance to test my luck with my $10 entertainment money!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We had a wedding to go to!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">My youngest daughter got married. I walked her down the aisle. I didn't give her away - she is a free woman - I just walked her down the aisle.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAR1Qcgja0kpvH-xlkooGntXAJphJUtFKaFyhuxEh0rK65tY9JPeZBCagq_HPDYzwFpSXJ3Dq8_4XOb2-dZGAE82C8AKoc5GMWT4zDxr9ASggL5V2v4hyphenhyphenHQ3jHz2XhDsDpjH6s1taInw/s1600/Walking+the+bride+down+the+aisle.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLAR1Qcgja0kpvH-xlkooGntXAJphJUtFKaFyhuxEh0rK65tY9JPeZBCagq_HPDYzwFpSXJ3Dq8_4XOb2-dZGAE82C8AKoc5GMWT4zDxr9ASggL5V2v4hyphenhyphenHQ3jHz2XhDsDpjH6s1taInw/s320/Walking+the+bride+down+the+aisle.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Walking Gwendolyn Down the Aisle</span></td></tr>
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It was a wonderful time!<br /><br />
All my kids were there & that is something I don't see often. I have a picture now so I can see them anytime I want!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiCdamATmZ7FDmm8AuLCLjOTNyKXiYtaxDSj-lRYk0V5X1MGduNSdoCQRhp9A9lccU3s4D47aPfarcHFdK1Vfv-tLRdrkH6od_-BOwgYNom4WCQLEUQ9bPuR3iumPziuQhZFWSmegFWU/s320/The+wedding+%252814%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ethan, Jed, Gwen (the bride), Alex (the groom) and Brandy</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQiCdamATmZ7FDmm8AuLCLjOTNyKXiYtaxDSj-lRYk0V5X1MGduNSdoCQRhp9A9lccU3s4D47aPfarcHFdK1Vfv-tLRdrkH6od_-BOwgYNom4WCQLEUQ9bPuR3iumPziuQhZFWSmegFWU/s1600/The+wedding+%252814%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />One thing I did observe... a number of my daughter's friends from Minnesota came out for the wedding. All these people who were kids for so many years are now all grown up. It didn't leave me feeling old, but rather amazed at being able to see the world work like it's supposed to!</span><br />
<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-23988564331491680992019-08-23T07:30:00.000-04:002019-08-23T07:30:10.835-04:00Genealogy<span style="font-size: large;">One of the points on my map of "things not to forget if I go by there" was the graveyard where my great-great grandparents are buried in Ohio.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlnXdwH7OyugI5cxxF-GbjiMyJ8tZqQ8SvMvGijWQNXWTOne5cfI4OWhBQkdvaaydd1gnThliiFqRC02evWIizxZIkENfSgHjiJeIF1_zyQUlpBWHTS4sDpNSmMWUogEOu-JhZYkykDM/s1600/IN-OH-MI+pins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1600" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRlnXdwH7OyugI5cxxF-GbjiMyJ8tZqQ8SvMvGijWQNXWTOne5cfI4OWhBQkdvaaydd1gnThliiFqRC02evWIizxZIkENfSgHjiJeIF1_zyQUlpBWHTS4sDpNSmMWUogEOu-JhZYkykDM/s320/IN-OH-MI+pins.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "not to forget if I go by" map</td></tr>
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It did take some looking but they were found.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRXE-oiusQwf2z7tja259HKSv0HOsdJKVXFMMHGMVbpAvIahZ8rbPtJmWmrA3aoy8NZRqhggwWl7yq3KEIwK-zQH3zLdhVfE0SPtN3634z0pv4BSjsPbaybJ4Ye10Yd48P_fQCBeJwL8/s1600/2+milroy+grave+stones.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTRXE-oiusQwf2z7tja259HKSv0HOsdJKVXFMMHGMVbpAvIahZ8rbPtJmWmrA3aoy8NZRqhggwWl7yq3KEIwK-zQH3zLdhVfE0SPtN3634z0pv4BSjsPbaybJ4Ye10Yd48P_fQCBeJwL8/s320/2+milroy+grave+stones.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My great great grandparents</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">David Milroy 1814-1850, my great great grandfather is on the left and my great great grandmother, Catherine (Boyd) Milroy 1815-1869 is on the right.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Her dad, my 3G grandfather Robert Boyd 1789-1869, was buried next to his daughter. </span><span style="font-size: large;">That was unexpected.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Learning about where I came from made the words "great grand parents" real. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A "great grand" was something you knew everyone had, no big deal. Now I have them, they are real people!<br /><br /><br />
It wasn't just me who was looking for past relatives, my wife had some places to check out too!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBFIJu2dmYP0s9915hFo-lREoaY5xt4ePzc-QbHvtUUtBJVn0Wct8aHsdZR5MW1dqfryFV3JyGWWSs8MgDgV13TWVu2IMDS4or1qUdfXrGjM_uPCpuijR3LSmhmku-REvcOiGrFadW-w/s1600/MI+Cemitary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMBFIJu2dmYP0s9915hFo-lREoaY5xt4ePzc-QbHvtUUtBJVn0Wct8aHsdZR5MW1dqfryFV3JyGWWSs8MgDgV13TWVu2IMDS4or1qUdfXrGjM_uPCpuijR3LSmhmku-REvcOiGrFadW-w/s320/MI+Cemitary.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Krum-Blanding Cemetery<br />
Vergennes Township<br />
Kent County, Michigan</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-31368882849426272442019-08-12T07:00:00.000-04:002019-08-12T07:00:07.406-04:00The National Air Force Museum<span style="font-size: large;">I wanted to stop & see the Air Force museum at Wright/Patterson AFB in Dayton Ohio. I heard lot of good things about it from different sources.</span><br />
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They were all correct! </span><br />
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A great museum, free too! I really don't want to get carried away with airplane pictures, I could!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfUmlujYWNqx8Yav5k6ZCMRHmwRillsKnH9h3erOLIq4iP4W2v_B_xOGHNVXNbIJ2pzfDBJTzJfhnRxk-0iE6etfZ08nK9xh9GWxS1Rv-B-4p5-lfBpSuberwhVBKjQvQYzGAj3Px6_Q/s1600/me+in+a+space+suit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqfUmlujYWNqx8Yav5k6ZCMRHmwRillsKnH9h3erOLIq4iP4W2v_B_xOGHNVXNbIJ2pzfDBJTzJfhnRxk-0iE6etfZ08nK9xh9GWxS1Rv-B-4p5-lfBpSuberwhVBKjQvQYzGAj3Px6_Q/s320/me+in+a+space+suit.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Space Suit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsnnLn_f94hVKxwYXeykYbE1DRyYesIBqNEbUHVJfLlYc4cTSUJ77GlJ8TJA-pZmVzYFIymFEQ1BKdDfOE1m6BrsVg3QkCe1wPcazFzbhGxDlNXTDvRYeFRYlmuofgN8hFTgU8zPl4o0/s1600/My+first+CG+engine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRsnnLn_f94hVKxwYXeykYbE1DRyYesIBqNEbUHVJfLlYc4cTSUJ77GlJ8TJA-pZmVzYFIymFEQ1BKdDfOE1m6BrsVg3QkCe1wPcazFzbhGxDlNXTDvRYeFRYlmuofgN8hFTgU8zPl4o0/s320/My+first+CG+engine.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">R-1820 engine, the 1st aircraft engine I worked on <br />
in the Coast Guard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq25KlqHTKOIOekKcGjtXN6VfSxNf6GProwEIR6ddcol4smzPbJmNKQn5rsNw3LQInY4hd7eLpExwwvdBe1fzj7Hsz7tKNxWIBYe1oeqlK0IJYZFsyjPof4yJWCpuncq04Hpg-w_3Gan8/s1600/This+drone+is+HUGE.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq25KlqHTKOIOekKcGjtXN6VfSxNf6GProwEIR6ddcol4smzPbJmNKQn5rsNw3LQInY4hd7eLpExwwvdBe1fzj7Hsz7tKNxWIBYe1oeqlK0IJYZFsyjPof4yJWCpuncq04Hpg-w_3Gan8/s320/This+drone+is+HUGE.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This drone is HUGE! <br />
It's a Global Hawk, RQ-4A 44' long with a wingspan of 115'</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEs_mgcG_nC7zs509Rh-9Z0RktD_zRfu-aszPA2W3BV6yszP22qsYm_pTWzO1wHFxylAgeEBXX6Cj755ojxHJRREhjtdOM45gesTfbAW2xjOrKrFgaxI3BUXML9Gu8w9Wb7J9wqnwapM/s1600/Us+in+front+of+the+Apallo+15+capsul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqEs_mgcG_nC7zs509Rh-9Z0RktD_zRfu-aszPA2W3BV6yszP22qsYm_pTWzO1wHFxylAgeEBXX6Cj755ojxHJRREhjtdOM45gesTfbAW2xjOrKrFgaxI3BUXML9Gu8w9Wb7J9wqnwapM/s320/Us+in+front+of+the+Apallo+15+capsul.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A selfie in front of THE Apollo 15 capsule </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLxPKmXgOp3ymGu8Ousq-OswCdpRcsYkZmQBM_a8MYPQlbrglVQCyaQQMahxI6FrFVlyG0_ShJE8tkue81AUrksdW0j_LfJjJEEcsVux0_eV_t69ydwhMFwE4ApEmFVWx5W6M_uCAW-o/s1600/all+the+old+Air+Force+One+aircraft+are+here+2..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHLxPKmXgOp3ymGu8Ousq-OswCdpRcsYkZmQBM_a8MYPQlbrglVQCyaQQMahxI6FrFVlyG0_ShJE8tkue81AUrksdW0j_LfJjJEEcsVux0_eV_t69ydwhMFwE4ApEmFVWx5W6M_uCAW-o/s320/all+the+old+Air+Force+One+aircraft+are+here+2..jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">President Kennedy had the 1st jet powered Air Force One<br />
This is it.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All the past <a href="https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/Visit/Museum-Exhibits/Presidential-Gallery/">"Air Force Ones"</a> are on display, you can walk thru them and see how it was.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzzsBDM1eghOD1uhyJPe6BUqHUV5UQbcLQjvgUinvVa23w7m_qTYC2x1wm9pKi1-0PGXpR1duhWOk36rJ6dsj4DvM4V5CJe5s8xZZVK3AKsmmsR8e4Z4j4np3tzk67RY7bC1p2b8orpw/s1600/Here+is+where+LBJ+took+to+oath+of+office+in+1963+2....jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQzzsBDM1eghOD1uhyJPe6BUqHUV5UQbcLQjvgUinvVa23w7m_qTYC2x1wm9pKi1-0PGXpR1duhWOk36rJ6dsj4DvM4V5CJe5s8xZZVK3AKsmmsR8e4Z4j4np3tzk67RY7bC1p2b8orpw/s320/Here+is+where+LBJ+took+to+oath+of+office+in+1963+2....jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is where Lyndon Baines Johnson was sworn<br />
in as the 36th President.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We stayed at an Ohio State Park for our Dayton/AF Museum visit, and that was a pleasant stay. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The park had a good vibe and leaves a happy feeling when I think of Ohio.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
Going north thru the different states, up the middle of the Republic has been good, it freshened the memory I'd had of them. There is a lot of agriculture going on out there!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just one more airplane picture.....</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjeYuyHqHNp7qRHKS_QH49sK_xBSdiOnrUsgL_0I1kbe3nzxQ411miX1P0ofH0-6blK1lbc7RbGxJRsd5YXF5-zRjUHkfFOFpIzDUBoMPhMVsT6uN8t1VX6k-QFAvjUx-LYbH8ZizU3Y/s1600/HU-16%252C+my+first+CG+aircraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyjeYuyHqHNp7qRHKS_QH49sK_xBSdiOnrUsgL_0I1kbe3nzxQ411miX1P0ofH0-6blK1lbc7RbGxJRsd5YXF5-zRjUHkfFOFpIzDUBoMPhMVsT6uN8t1VX6k-QFAvjUx-LYbH8ZizU3Y/s320/HU-16%252C+my+first+CG+aircraft.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An HU-16, that was my first aircraft in the Coast Guard</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-5915952477668763782019-08-01T20:02:00.000-04:002019-08-01T20:02:01.893-04:00Fort Knox Kentucky<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We went & took a look at Fort Knox in Kentucky. The gold depository was what I wanted to see.<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh485V8jMhHKGXwfqse-85eCkaYI_hElmhxLZ8cWcESxoGFheCnMCDdnqAxcjBRNxCRuwzJ-kqKkN67cf9p6qegwWoXH-q6L-wud_R6hwZDH5YGD3-NHULkEgxbxbN8edrAsMvqhQ8MLP0/s1600/Gold+depository+fixed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh485V8jMhHKGXwfqse-85eCkaYI_hElmhxLZ8cWcESxoGFheCnMCDdnqAxcjBRNxCRuwzJ-kqKkN67cf9p6qegwWoXH-q6L-wud_R6hwZDH5YGD3-NHULkEgxbxbN8edrAsMvqhQ8MLP0/s320/Gold+depository+fixed.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Fort Knox gold is in that building</td></tr>
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<br />That's it....<br /><br />
We did go to New Albany, Indiana to tour the Culbertson Mansion State Historic Site. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjfvBU5ORS-fJItIlaTaZqCDX-SlThFHY5FWDY3BGgetQK4_eZm997OdqIeS9DhcuLpEMzLzdzRm2VSFVhBBrQY33hqJf45TxwaRTljOw5VXdVZ6yghYLp0P5IPBB1gtmEIZ80YDXVCk/s1600/20190626_162331.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjfvBU5ORS-fJItIlaTaZqCDX-SlThFHY5FWDY3BGgetQK4_eZm997OdqIeS9DhcuLpEMzLzdzRm2VSFVhBBrQY33hqJf45TxwaRTljOw5VXdVZ6yghYLp0P5IPBB1gtmEIZ80YDXVCk/s320/20190626_162331.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZiZoBoVw356AptCgrUTzpgKbW1dJHD2TQzvmEDNXMCGesGCE-QDqInB6rRoYXc8sK2PpKUqXYjD-UWFbE9oNj_fn1hD_-wejnpbrGGFbO0x67C-Qw3PvV7mZiAv4lBHmSyYkTx22PUc/s1600/Indiana+mantion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZiZoBoVw356AptCgrUTzpgKbW1dJHD2TQzvmEDNXMCGesGCE-QDqInB6rRoYXc8sK2PpKUqXYjD-UWFbE9oNj_fn1hD_-wejnpbrGGFbO0x67C-Qw3PvV7mZiAv4lBHmSyYkTx22PUc/s320/Indiana+mantion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Culbertson Mansion in New Albany Indiana</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's owned & operated by the state of Indiana and it was a great tour! </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We got to see the whole house including the places they were still restoring & the places that had not been touched.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-_d5qtg7Aihm5r82THHlDNKG8kKAms_asyRusdrH1lnXMGmFMoS_uLcBDipzZwPk9DfPihjbHt3hZyYj1RdrHkINu_aSdmj26o_t3ciQtzPwmuWAxYvDvlseA2OViHgfMjZtFBNacP4/s1600/restoration+work.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-_d5qtg7Aihm5r82THHlDNKG8kKAms_asyRusdrH1lnXMGmFMoS_uLcBDipzZwPk9DfPihjbHt3hZyYj1RdrHkINu_aSdmj26o_t3ciQtzPwmuWAxYvDvlseA2OViHgfMjZtFBNacP4/s320/restoration+work.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Restoration work in progress<br />
It can only be restored to what is under the old paint<br />
or what it looked like if they had an old photo</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5Qw3opVX87s28Tl7BZuHs3geYMlkIxqbPtoB0jfNfARxplZnYvvtutfifXvTLd37uSUWU_-1qHZV27T8-cTpC2Po09hcWIPddwI9Hbc9e0exTN6FOJu9XOmmOzVq5spEYQoj8qyvkLg/s1600/original+coal+soot+covered+walls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj5Qw3opVX87s28Tl7BZuHs3geYMlkIxqbPtoB0jfNfARxplZnYvvtutfifXvTLd37uSUWU_-1qHZV27T8-cTpC2Po09hcWIPddwI9Hbc9e0exTN6FOJu9XOmmOzVq5spEYQoj8qyvkLg/s320/original+coal+soot+covered+walls.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The top floor with the wall still covered with<br />
soot from heating with coal back in the day.</td></tr>
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Children were seen but not heard and back then, they had some unusual ways to insure obedience..<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb92vZRtKI_619luYBANq2AD8auBQxIJTH4QYAEXTeeJDiUv3901I0Y8a8OBjlhcG8pJPhIpcpoXmtCcEc8ChThCkyXaMjc1Ni7zeN90tfzNGAcv6l9ir6WN_LO2hHVrsHlQY9pYw_ek/s1600/timeout+room+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitb92vZRtKI_619luYBANq2AD8auBQxIJTH4QYAEXTeeJDiUv3901I0Y8a8OBjlhcG8pJPhIpcpoXmtCcEc8ChThCkyXaMjc1Ni7zeN90tfzNGAcv6l9ir6WN_LO2hHVrsHlQY9pYw_ek/s320/timeout+room+front.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "time out room" for the kids</td></tr>
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Before this room they locked the kids in a closet....</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoJNKrzWNSM7vP-5uBdgeNWqlRDu1HPzdSgw1m1PReKi7pfdSsN5gjvofVa2As2eo9YYvA1-C9AK-IvolFZ5mERXV4fdEQzqt7ybzjXNlh_LxpWlFBZ76Ze8YHQTLfmFn_-rj_hkVaIs/s1600/timeout+room+door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoJNKrzWNSM7vP-5uBdgeNWqlRDu1HPzdSgw1m1PReKi7pfdSsN5gjvofVa2As2eo9YYvA1-C9AK-IvolFZ5mERXV4fdEQzqt7ybzjXNlh_LxpWlFBZ76Ze8YHQTLfmFn_-rj_hkVaIs/s320/timeout+room+door.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The door side of the "time out room"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Mr. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Culbertson,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">who had the house built, made his money off wholesaling dry goods and he did really well. He built & supported an orphanage, a house for widows, the water purification plant (after several of his kids died from water borne illnesses), and he built the bridge over the Ohio river where the rapids were, opening up the whole area.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our tour guide really cared about the house, the history, the restoration & the restoration process. She was good!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4DQU72aXVYsBg9kcGaQ_acxuN9segQxgHlBURplahseypg3JLlJdX9OnL_80lyKo6U64lVnZr6r9m2sD7YkEnXgXk5IImcCL1S1AIOlkXGPnoNc6wfmJmRLAzapmUFft8FsACWpWgLo/s1600/Tall+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF4DQU72aXVYsBg9kcGaQ_acxuN9segQxgHlBURplahseypg3JLlJdX9OnL_80lyKo6U64lVnZr6r9m2sD7YkEnXgXk5IImcCL1S1AIOlkXGPnoNc6wfmJmRLAzapmUFft8FsACWpWgLo/s320/Tall+room.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall rooms!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Fort Knox was ok, we stayed at a military RV park for two nights then we headed north again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next goal was up into Indiana, then into Ohio for a couple of stops.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">On the way up we had a brief stop in Milroy, Indiana.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">I wanted a picture with the town sign </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wpyDGva2NTMmm2pZi1KTsGxoAK6wETFVSZyCPfGsA-oUH-ZPsFVF7PBWjY6MNhwNmHQumHJgvu1PuiV0oT7WFDGL9qTfCpUw0iNAGN5nCjwJSrms5RoWjZNEyqyPcWejxLAWW44Q0Cc/s1600/milroy+selfie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2wpyDGva2NTMmm2pZi1KTsGxoAK6wETFVSZyCPfGsA-oUH-ZPsFVF7PBWjY6MNhwNmHQumHJgvu1PuiV0oT7WFDGL9qTfCpUw0iNAGN5nCjwJSrms5RoWjZNEyqyPcWejxLAWW44Q0Cc/s320/milroy+selfie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Rob Milroy, Milroy Indiana, June 2019</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: large;">It's part of a collection </span><br />
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6gVlCcw6xoucr1Y9zJ3hwoWOJnKsuNKwYbTXUH2y3nQYfEFqRSn-x0JJeI-YGXrKO3v0nEKWwC-DHOdqbvd28UUJ7MgL01kJHeZze1EzUKBw39lflFtRr3owIhlETxlASUOkfBXH0Xg/s1600/Milroy+famly+at+Milroy%252C+MN+turn+of+the+cecntury+or+so.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6gVlCcw6xoucr1Y9zJ3hwoWOJnKsuNKwYbTXUH2y3nQYfEFqRSn-x0JJeI-YGXrKO3v0nEKWwC-DHOdqbvd28UUJ7MgL01kJHeZze1EzUKBw39lflFtRr3owIhlETxlASUOkfBXH0Xg/s320/Milroy+famly+at+Milroy%252C+MN+turn+of+the+cecntury+or+so.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">The Milroys in Milroy, Minnesota, some time around<br />
the turn of the century.<br />
Dad, Aurora, Brandy, Gwendolyn (in front) and Ethan<br />
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-51869439111561260032019-07-02T21:26:00.000-04:002019-07-02T21:26:29.261-04:00Mammoth Caves in Kentucky<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were heading north from Georgia, where we'd spent some time & had taken care of a few things. The idea was to see some new country up through Tennessee & Kentucky as we headed north.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkj5uPcA9jedEmEs1EStBmrRwJPKejOt3Vf1aUqVgxyTsYyPO4TXY3-dZW6JgfwwVP7ayTd0LmbdVm2EFSN2_8ffZi6qQNRft-TW8t5fFBDaOnaoBzZ_vUpfcyEgS1b6SfNEtW1MOWjLw/s1600/summer+trip+west.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1396" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkj5uPcA9jedEmEs1EStBmrRwJPKejOt3Vf1aUqVgxyTsYyPO4TXY3-dZW6JgfwwVP7ayTd0LmbdVm2EFSN2_8ffZi6qQNRft-TW8t5fFBDaOnaoBzZ_vUpfcyEgS1b6SfNEtW1MOWjLw/s320/summer+trip+west.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
I had a couple of spots along the way that I'd heard of in passing. If I was going to be close to <a href="https://www.rabbithash.com/">Rabbit Hash</a> Kentucky that seemed like a place to stop and check out the general store! Then my wife mentioned that we'd be going right by Mammoth Caves National Park. Now that sounds like a place to stop! National Parks are always worthwhile.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzGIVQGSsmMdjKJ3Mh-kKs5l-0JTaimr6oKmURAzsdTcAKls796ll8_a5XS16NMlJzKutE9Tv9BhLsXkAgq8mr9Nt4bGy4iCYSwhdOtDIyRjnZ6s6vKHJt0iUlaJZRUG4Fv-8BMPcnKQ/s1600/cave+opening.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGzGIVQGSsmMdjKJ3Mh-kKs5l-0JTaimr6oKmURAzsdTcAKls796ll8_a5XS16NMlJzKutE9Tv9BhLsXkAgq8mr9Nt4bGy4iCYSwhdOtDIyRjnZ6s6vKHJt0iUlaJZRUG4Fv-8BMPcnKQ/s320/cave+opening.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The traditional opening to Mammoth Cave</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">We found a Corps Of Engineers campground not too far from the NP and headed that way. Most COE camps have electricity... it was a bit warm & humid so plugging in and running the air conditioner was a good idea. They are always well kept, usually have good bath/shower rooms and with the senior pass we get half off! So we settled into Montardier COE camp in Bee Spring, Kentucky for a couple of nights. (On a side note, I think Bee Spring is as good as name as Rabbit Hash, maybe better!)<br /><br />
With two-night stays, the first night is leisurely, and the second day (and as far into the evening as we want) is tourist stuff. The third day is a travel day, and we need to roll by the check-out time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnb-YUf38WSanG3OF9FKY3le2Ch23tdtd4X5goOlFhT_LwIQ8LZgcF2dUUUpiTbgNFwNwugvs5YIQ3y7n_qfIRBdTrC94tpNkj8Fgzs9BPXxpG3tODrot5bCvL1lrck12zkhRCREy4t4/s1600/Inside+the+cave.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWnb-YUf38WSanG3OF9FKY3le2Ch23tdtd4X5goOlFhT_LwIQ8LZgcF2dUUUpiTbgNFwNwugvs5YIQ3y7n_qfIRBdTrC94tpNkj8Fgzs9BPXxpG3tODrot5bCvL1lrck12zkhRCREy4t4/s320/Inside+the+cave.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the cave</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Passageway</td></tr>
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I do realize that my lack of planning & </span><span style="font-size: large;">homework is my own fault, but I never, ever thought that tour reservations would be required to see the caves! </span><span style="font-size: large;">A friend mentioned this </span><span style="font-size: large;">on FaceBook, so I checked it out. You can roll the dice and get 'walk up' reservations - IF anything is available. But they're often sold out days in advance for the most desirable tours. So do consider online reservations before you arrive.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wide passage cut by a river long ago</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nps.gov/maca/planyourvisit/discovery-tour.htm">The Rotunda</a> </td></tr>
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We were able to get "walk up" tickets for the last "self guided" tour during our first full day. Then we spent our "extra time" checking out the museum and the surrounding area. We were also able to buy "walk up" tickets for the next day (our travel day) for the earliest "Frozen Niagara Tour</span><span style="font-size: large;">". It started early and checkout time at the COE park was well into the afternoon. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The self-guided tour was great! There were rangers stationed in places to answer questions & point features out. The rangers were knowledgeable and the cave complex is something!</span><br />
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On the drive back to the camp we went over the Green River ferry. This was unexpected! A small ferry for 3 or 4 cars that just goes back & forth across the river as needed. </span><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Green River Ferry</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We were up early, got most everything packed for travel and went to the caves for our tour. It was good! Then back to the campground, we loaded up the Toyota on the tow dolly, and we were on our way again!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ve2lgRPdlPGPH78tX151gF7WCskw6f8w-npVNBnSpDGF8OPOGaDrv0xKNpRcmiDo0rZJhNV6SvK0ByrI-PLaGt34RGP0SPXcJz5AAkG1_GddzBE_2ki4Mqk8D3-cLDVDv0YKwgaQRGo/s1600/flowing+rock+like+a+water+fall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Ve2lgRPdlPGPH78tX151gF7WCskw6f8w-npVNBnSpDGF8OPOGaDrv0xKNpRcmiDo0rZJhNV6SvK0ByrI-PLaGt34RGP0SPXcJz5AAkG1_GddzBE_2ki4Mqk8D3-cLDVDv0YKwgaQRGo/s320/flowing+rock+like+a+water+fall.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limestone that built up like flowing ice</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the guided tour, going down</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sadly no rabbit hash after we left the caves... </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I saw Fort Knox on the map!</span></div>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-74171189319244267572019-06-01T13:36:00.000-04:002019-06-01T13:38:06.985-04:00Sitting here looking out the window at the palm tree<span style="font-size: large;">It's almost 7am here in southern Florida, next to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm doing my morning computer thing, writing this blog and looking out the window admiring the palm trees. I really like palm trees.</span><br />
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It's a 'Payday Friday', that means there are bills to be paid, but my credit union is on the West Coast so it's way too early for that. It's a travel day: we're going back to Georgia, where we left the RV & the cat, but with the timing to get thru Atlanta it's way too early to be leaving. Besides it's a chance to visit a bit more with the in-laws and that is why we came down here. <br /><br />
Getting married doubles your family and with family you don't get much choice, as in, "You can pick your friends but you can't pick your family." I lucked out.<br /><br />
It's been a good visit. My bride is happier, I've had a pleasant time and I've gotten to see not only palm trees but banana trees too! I really like all the sub-tropical growth here.<br /><br />
Southern Florida is a good place. I can sit here and look out the window at the palm trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-31979379672552265592019-05-18T11:48:00.000-04:002019-05-18T11:48:23.996-04:00Souvenirs<span style="font-size: large;">I was going thru some stuff the other day and came across a cigar box with mementos & souvenirs. After spreading them out & looking at them I realized I had a box of memories. Memories kept in a box... then I thought of my last souvenir.<br /><br />
The last souvenir I bought was a replica Spanish silver piece of eight. I bought it at <a href="https://www.melfisher.com/Sebastian/Sebastian_Museum.asp">The Mel Fisher Treasure Museum in Sebastian Florida</a>. Right after I bought the coin I drilled a small hole in it and put it on my key chain!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The "piece of eight" coin right in front<br />
of the P-38 can opener</td></tr>
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This is a reminder of finally making it down to Sebastian Inlet. It only took me 50 years... but putting this on my keys keeps it in my life rather than in an old box that lives in a cupboard.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Sebastian Inlet beach I first read of<br />
in a treasure book in 1968</td></tr>
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This is not the only souvenir from this winter. I have a Key West hat and a light blue zippered sweatshirt with a Key West decal ironed on the back!<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HH_X8EV7x64IE58FwZhTTAXzn_ssntFSCo8hL1ujk57L3VogVIynkm__M37oyEjxk8DV_4kBygZsAAPrTiMARmWHHxHi_KQdOPZVlaD3HTy0AFSfbaVSdy5yicHuFtiDJSwThekI3hA/s1600/KW+decal+wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2HH_X8EV7x64IE58FwZhTTAXzn_ssntFSCo8hL1ujk57L3VogVIynkm__M37oyEjxk8DV_4kBygZsAAPrTiMARmWHHxHi_KQdOPZVlaD3HTy0AFSfbaVSdy5yicHuFtiDJSwThekI3hA/s320/KW+decal+wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the back of my sweatshirt</td></tr>
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<br />Having souvenirs on my key chain means that I see it everyday, it's not put away in a box.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I'm learning something?</span><br />
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<br />Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-27169374518936352362019-05-03T12:41:00.000-04:002019-05-03T12:41:09.872-04:00Out of Florida...<span style="font-size: large;">With Spring arrived, we left Florida. It was a great winter!<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc7sZ-Yrtyconpb8pTxmVTUIRDSzyLGQUFr457cE8zmO2YjzoKaSznh1tBrCz_LtbBnFBBZjNHzicn1Qhf25nzGb1QieWCmzujlBEgx-LMDuKt_wYSWgCBhVfA2GBFz3TgaBjITjKTZA/s1600/Florida+sea+shell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPc7sZ-Yrtyconpb8pTxmVTUIRDSzyLGQUFr457cE8zmO2YjzoKaSznh1tBrCz_LtbBnFBBZjNHzicn1Qhf25nzGb1QieWCmzujlBEgx-LMDuKt_wYSWgCBhVfA2GBFz3TgaBjITjKTZA/s320/Florida+sea+shell.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A sea shell on Sebastian Inlet beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We need to be in Washington state come the middle of July, so we're heading in that general direction, but there are choices! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
The first plan was to travel along the Gulf coast in Texas and hang a right at Mexico, up the border and continue north. There would be sites to see, boondocking spots to check out (plus Whataburger is in Texas!), a long coast with salt water, camping on the Padre Island beach and </span><span style="font-size: large;">down by Brownsville you're supposed to be able to see the SpaceX stainless test rocket (Hopper) from the road! Then lots to see before getting to the "Very Large Array" (</span><a href="http://www.vla.nrao.edu/">SETI</a><span style="font-size: large;">) up in New Mexico....</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There were some other options too, one of them was the Spring SE Vandweller GTG (get together) that was coming up in northern Alabama. This is a gathering where I met my wife a few years back and we have been visiting with friends there every year since then. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBg7kJC_Dx3YBKrhLMUSpTF3g62DWOnqQMSJuwPZVp0Bac0uic31oDBEkCIGW9RlJayAcw0Or4sRfardbp815kWfiKq8Nutm4xy-UTkAstx_D3CSUrcmwtNlmQamy_qIgDZ6GG3B562jk/s1600/gtg+camp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBg7kJC_Dx3YBKrhLMUSpTF3g62DWOnqQMSJuwPZVp0Bac0uic31oDBEkCIGW9RlJayAcw0Or4sRfardbp815kWfiKq8Nutm4xy-UTkAstx_D3CSUrcmwtNlmQamy_qIgDZ6GG3B562jk/s320/gtg+camp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">GTG camp 2019, Raccoon Creek WMA<br />Stevenson, AL</td></tr>
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<br />We had maybe spent a touch too long in Florida (Florida was NICE!), but timing does count. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-size: large;">t starts to get warm in Texas sooner than later,</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and the social security check only comes once a month. Not having gotten to Texas in March made the timing for </span><span style="font-size: large;">going to the GTG better.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />So we went to the SE GTG at Raccoon Creek WMA (Stevenson AL) to hang out, visit old friends and meet new ones. It's a place for hiking, biking, wildlife, barges on the Tennessee river, campfires, friends and a relaxing time. I thought we could adjust the route and see what's best when the GTG was about up.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxF2nKjTQ6okB9_qdqnx2iFJvozcBAch35hyd2FUsnKiyACaL5Rywg5pJvWHb9bsBiDRg1Ho8bV0kfOYNTYoCyAbfuSoWpv45r4g31ErJ8rpPEPxB5iqQpmkBFzZgLZc5a2FRQl-Soik/s1600/View+of+the+Tennessee+River+from+the+GTG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGxF2nKjTQ6okB9_qdqnx2iFJvozcBAch35hyd2FUsnKiyACaL5Rywg5pJvWHb9bsBiDRg1Ho8bV0kfOYNTYoCyAbfuSoWpv45r4g31ErJ8rpPEPxB5iqQpmkBFzZgLZc5a2FRQl-Soik/s320/View+of+the+Tennessee+River+from+the+GTG.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Tennessee River from the GTG </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">While sitting around the fire one night someone (Ronda without the "h", maybe?) mentioned a music festival up in Ohio, so I looked it up. (I have a computer in my pocket, I do that kind of thing). </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZM6-or2vdvH8HPfKProdXZ8mAZD2jl8mlHehVjbG7at5Lr7huGrcKdCIACPHAnVp_v_8UQGA00OKfX7q_k9UndH9MywfZ-7nQMrwxJWgdxCVRKRJwDLDd-KElmcvDSeyZW-Qwj2xFOs/s1600/gtg+camp+fire+river+view.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZM6-or2vdvH8HPfKProdXZ8mAZD2jl8mlHehVjbG7at5Lr7huGrcKdCIACPHAnVp_v_8UQGA00OKfX7q_k9UndH9MywfZ-7nQMrwxJWgdxCVRKRJwDLDd-KElmcvDSeyZW-Qwj2xFOs/s320/gtg+camp+fire+river+view.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting around the campfire</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">No music but it seems the music festival location has other things going on, plus the location sounded familiar. I had to pull up a map and look, that was really close to the town my great grandfather was born in! I have relatives buried there (live ones too I understand) and it has been my intention to visit there: it's "on my (places to go) map!"</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">A side note - my outlook on life changed the day I actually "saw" the grave of my great-great grandparents in Santa Cruz Calif. That was the moment in time when I KNEW I had great-great grandparents. They were buried there in 1883. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Knowing I had ancestors and actually seeing the graves were (in my mind) two different things.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PXlCx7AAUi2QztFWdoHjIbNExj841IB7iGdppTn-SkoogPAtS5KKgndgq7GXHnhEVlJ4IbYjwFPSYSz8iVVrSC9oCJLi0fGaOepV5oDrT0heMScg0r4BZVQxSxkm_sei85Jm1gYbjN8/s1600/Besse+parents+marker+1883+%25283%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PXlCx7AAUi2QztFWdoHjIbNExj841IB7iGdppTn-SkoogPAtS5KKgndgq7GXHnhEVlJ4IbYjwFPSYSz8iVVrSC9oCJLi0fGaOepV5oDrT0heMScg0r4BZVQxSxkm_sei85Jm1gYbjN8/s320/Besse+parents+marker+1883+%25283%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Samuel and Martha Besse's marker<br />Santa Cruz, Calif</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
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That is enough of a hint from the universe for me, Ohio is right on the way! Plus that takes us right by the <a href="https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/">National Museum of the USAF</a> in Dayton, that's "on my map" too! <br /><br />
Oh lookee there! Milroy, Indiana is almost right on the way, I want a photo with the sign for that town too. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back in the late 1990s, I took the kids to Milroy, Minnesota for a picture by the sign. Everyone needs a hobby.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1uaz3CjDqsqAq8VC6VKwqZ3pK4Xk3s67_3UzMQpW2fV3OLZkRh_7M8AXt3URA2e6z2ASx3gn54mRXcdzr3QzV9xdaV30NCdd-sS5CinvI13XGLUiJeu4vc0FPG9In22b7UvYwdZXHJU8/s320/Milroy+famly+at+Milroy%252C+MN.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dad, Aurora, Brandy (back), Gwendolyn and Ethan<br />
at the sign for Milroy, MN</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
We're stopped in Georgia now, my wife was from here. We are visiting and doing some medical stuff. As soon as the medical is completed, we will be heading up towards Indiana & Ohio. Some more genealogy in Michigan, a trip up the coast of Lake Michigan, a stop in Traverse City (I retired from the Coast Guard there) and up across the Mackinaw Bridge, then take a left to follow (sort of) US 2 West to Washington state.<br /></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSNYPWGLUeDSGj1-1s5tsFAHLJsw4Y6GK9xf4DHkFIA3FUAnJaKdRMXyrilZ1BqSZiabgAz2Hx79aNWCb-IgpP8IlgQSnU_6jizxgbJ5dlxnYrwCKARXyoQLxTi3GQJXNzC8yrkMoUw0/s1600/summer+trip+west.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1396" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSNYPWGLUeDSGj1-1s5tsFAHLJsw4Y6GK9xf4DHkFIA3FUAnJaKdRMXyrilZ1BqSZiabgAz2Hx79aNWCb-IgpP8IlgQSnU_6jizxgbJ5dlxnYrwCKARXyoQLxTi3GQJXNzC8yrkMoUw0/s320/summer+trip+west.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heading west from Georgia</td></tr>
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</span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-27615380955788123842019-04-05T19:05:00.000-04:002019-04-05T19:05:08.162-04:00Our time is up for Florida<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight is our last scheduled 'reserved night' in Florida and I really don't want to leave. It has been a good winter! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKP95KwcJfRrKlnfc0zXmcjsw0NKjqSWM6_Xg3o0qy8RZawRU-_ym3tyZivK_OfrqWzRK0K5CDaJyQ9pUIXpEBY5nZJmkWThf0T3OJ65M8UtsYYKdDz9w_oWYTt9boCTyWdgrNX5Sx4M/s1600/Middleton%2527s+fish+camp+better+pict.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDKP95KwcJfRrKlnfc0zXmcjsw0NKjqSWM6_Xg3o0qy8RZawRU-_ym3tyZivK_OfrqWzRK0K5CDaJyQ9pUIXpEBY5nZJmkWThf0T3OJ65M8UtsYYKdDz9w_oWYTt9boCTyWdgrNX5Sx4M/s320/Middleton%2527s+fish+camp+better+pict.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Florida Fish Camp</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Florida is the most expensive of the three winter places for a snow bird (Arizona/Calif, the Texas Gulf Coast and Florida). Spending the winter here with only three month's notice took some planning, luck, some Reserve America fees and cash for all the parks we stayed at. Some free boondocking, but not much. I'm not complaining, Florida state parks are great! Worth every penny, every phone call and every reservation fee we had to spend. If you can get your act together 11 months ahead, the state parks are nice. If you have the money for a commercial RV park, there are some outstanding ones. Florida in the winter is worth it. It has truly been a winter of shorts & flip-flops! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh9LY9PyYO9uygpX9mefKNCZbJlsJJVlTd2Vwq_NFnAZun9mB642zsHinH3ienJyvHEhADXgm0NGB_BMV7kSj-5QrUE9YK28YRc_Olerdkw16av3d9xHIwQqhd_N6g1LmctZi4Lhwma8/s1600/Sebatian+Inlet+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDh9LY9PyYO9uygpX9mefKNCZbJlsJJVlTd2Vwq_NFnAZun9mB642zsHinH3ienJyvHEhADXgm0NGB_BMV7kSj-5QrUE9YK28YRc_Olerdkw16av3d9xHIwQqhd_N6g1LmctZi4Lhwma8/s320/Sebatian+Inlet+beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beach at Sebastian Inlet </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Then the winter ends & it's time to leave.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">We do have somewhere to be, near the Pacific ocean, in 101 days. We do have a number of places marked to check out on the way to Washington state and the South East Vandweller Get-Together is happening next week. We have not missed that GTG since 2016 and it's not that far out of our way, so we've decided to go. It's good to see friends there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">But I still don't want to leave Florida. I really can't remember the last time I was someplace I didn't want to leave.<br /><br />Maybe we'll be back next year?</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-59953546239328169222019-04-01T16:59:00.000-04:002019-04-01T16:59:16.433-04:00Florida<span style="font-size: large;">We spent this winter in Florida. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPZ0vqIw2nVNDJ_w9hoPYA-8QLqksZTAUJlL9Aqn03dpSTV1aA5ztHPmO9sdReUr3KiyaOxRZ0jSTOtZLcrYNInXdADb8XmU_rk-fZKbzd7QSJPLVIEH-NI7Q1mBuOSxKxGbrgekzmlA/s1600/Blue+Spring+wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPZ0vqIw2nVNDJ_w9hoPYA-8QLqksZTAUJlL9Aqn03dpSTV1aA5ztHPmO9sdReUr3KiyaOxRZ0jSTOtZLcrYNInXdADb8XmU_rk-fZKbzd7QSJPLVIEH-NI7Q1mBuOSxKxGbrgekzmlA/s320/Blue+Spring+wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Spring</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From up by Lake City, then down to Bushnell in a park for all of December. </span><span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks in the Tampa area, a few weeks on Key West. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Assorted week long stays in state parks near the east coast. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Blue Spring by Orange City, Jonathan Dickinson by Jupiter, & Sebastian Inlet where the Spanish 1715 treasure fleet sunk in a hurricane. </span><span style="font-size: large;">We stayed at a couple of county parks, a county fish camp and out by Lake Okeechobee at a water management district camp.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_whfI3kXfoJe320A6AbzcAF2B7l36XKfDrBrFxP5Dqm8vjl-SoBzxPSHmQcYuOpV-bRp-5SM8W3ov3GP4OvslTTuwb0mCp60plCxz2o2KRmqf_vxn5_-yNaHKXFEozrJSQyDWn4UKXUs/s1600/Hibiscus+flowers.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_whfI3kXfoJe320A6AbzcAF2B7l36XKfDrBrFxP5Dqm8vjl-SoBzxPSHmQcYuOpV-bRp-5SM8W3ov3GP4OvslTTuwb0mCp60plCxz2o2KRmqf_vxn5_-yNaHKXFEozrJSQyDWn4UKXUs/s320/Hibiscus+flowers.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hibiscus flowers</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We've seen turtles, raccoons, alligators, manatees and dolphins. Horses, c</span><span style="font-size: large;">attle & goats too ... don't want to forget the cattle & goats.... </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">There is a LOT of cattle in Florida</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqt7ffZVcefBDVg2CuT8iXqfPNJglYTcKDZw3BP0tgQDGEM7yzUypMSclDrIk3h5dmj0R3KH_snwtrin1Na5d1f6_E5iaXDZF4qxlaYaVXXD7GClSpxTncygI3sLWFNdgirL6b9XpxSs/s1600/Alligator+in+the+weeds+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqt7ffZVcefBDVg2CuT8iXqfPNJglYTcKDZw3BP0tgQDGEM7yzUypMSclDrIk3h5dmj0R3KH_snwtrin1Na5d1f6_E5iaXDZF4qxlaYaVXXD7GClSpxTncygI3sLWFNdgirL6b9XpxSs/s320/Alligator+in+the+weeds+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An alligator</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwtHtMGzMmlM8OW0nzhZtH_SR5qHWZOrjBevP7i627b-zT_4VTHBDS78jfjADwiOq7B6A5mnStLsMaCm4L5ZE7_UONkCtH8YMObSwClFQUizgtagp0YK-ttIj5G6NEk3gRjAU1lMAloY/s1600/Dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwtHtMGzMmlM8OW0nzhZtH_SR5qHWZOrjBevP7i627b-zT_4VTHBDS78jfjADwiOq7B6A5mnStLsMaCm4L5ZE7_UONkCtH8YMObSwClFQUizgtagp0YK-ttIj5G6NEk3gRjAU1lMAloY/s320/Dolphin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A dolphin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-size: large;">More birds than I can count, and chickens too! </span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe6MhhOFTWDc-ulJAcPvPWWOrwxbul02FvUFAD5Kb2hEc4fFyGPpDOyTWtR-NassOnIHfhq40DqJnajGQ2fLaF67jslw-GUIMk9-WKqKjTT20wOdDYTNIpKFNAvUWmLBGu_gPOSad-xc/s1600/Bird+fishing+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="902" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQe6MhhOFTWDc-ulJAcPvPWWOrwxbul02FvUFAD5Kb2hEc4fFyGPpDOyTWtR-NassOnIHfhq40DqJnajGQ2fLaF67jslw-GUIMk9-WKqKjTT20wOdDYTNIpKFNAvUWmLBGu_gPOSad-xc/s320/Bird+fishing+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fishing for lunch</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1ZwTUbWdc6tX9jL82bdPwrlKWKGnh3qTzX_APsu_ifzdK6Pi1rg2FgLZZP4eEtUiKQSIjxs0QVnXOgm-kWlRIp7k9OWV2TQgYxS60M4Py6j3dhkMRbTPzvCydmCCrwKIMH4tv-z6lHc/s1600/Birds+in+the+trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg1ZwTUbWdc6tX9jL82bdPwrlKWKGnh3qTzX_APsu_ifzdK6Pi1rg2FgLZZP4eEtUiKQSIjxs0QVnXOgm-kWlRIp7k9OWV2TQgYxS60M4Py6j3dhkMRbTPzvCydmCCrwKIMH4tv-z6lHc/s320/Birds+in+the+trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hanging out</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_6y4seXKurkDxnojPKRdcm6hpHR4qkn7uzJ9qkIekHDFUZXIuBvXoXtdgG4rPeWFjeVEIwsv5F1LEUdc5tB7vn112INOUPl2t4bD-SSi6xHlG6V7WW7aG94NdrBym88CmldoFzrnBYk/s1600/Circling+birds.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp_6y4seXKurkDxnojPKRdcm6hpHR4qkn7uzJ9qkIekHDFUZXIuBvXoXtdgG4rPeWFjeVEIwsv5F1LEUdc5tB7vn112INOUPl2t4bD-SSi6xHlG6V7WW7aG94NdrBym88CmldoFzrnBYk/s320/Circling+birds.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Circling. waiting for lunch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Plus trees, trees all over the place. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Date palms, coconut palms and palms that I was not able to do more than tell they were palm trees. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Oaks with moss hanging from the branches, pine trees & evergreens I couldn't identify. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Papaya trees, Mango trees and Orange trees.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnY7YwD2ogeu_99-uAuFve-Ke399QJ7p1EKce_grh3pzz3ukCyMS93tQJsup5cH_hbfKD7-xPFB96oUW8drmIfzGHazAsRf2sHeWmLlrAkNvLYV2Pe9ETeOPwlRkvdvrKb0Q0lcucsoM/s1600/Osprey+in+the+trees+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="577" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirnY7YwD2ogeu_99-uAuFve-Ke399QJ7p1EKce_grh3pzz3ukCyMS93tQJsup5cH_hbfKD7-xPFB96oUW8drmIfzGHazAsRf2sHeWmLlrAkNvLYV2Pe9ETeOPwlRkvdvrKb0Q0lcucsoM/s320/Osprey+in+the+trees+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An Osprey</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmAZ8yRtK8Z3Sha8yVxeOxr0VWVaD2dNSaGGK0JHgMJipJAyFUX0wVZ-s8ssIugGkhDbRTWW_4ic3QGFr-S6A23kb78E65x99pBbwTWXc-XsNWUjH6LlTr5LUWzB_sifxQlwdOz0I3L8/s1600/Palms+trees+at+the+beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLmAZ8yRtK8Z3Sha8yVxeOxr0VWVaD2dNSaGGK0JHgMJipJAyFUX0wVZ-s8ssIugGkhDbRTWW_4ic3QGFr-S6A23kb78E65x99pBbwTWXc-XsNWUjH6LlTr5LUWzB_sifxQlwdOz0I3L8/s320/Palms+trees+at+the+beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palms on a beach</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
I've always known that I liked palm trees, something from my Hawaii days when I was a kid, but I never realized that I liked all kinds of tropical plants. </span><span style="font-size: large;">I get a kick out of driving down a road and seeing banana trees just growing in the ditch or in a stand across a field. </span><span style="font-size: large;">The flowers too, hibiscus all over the place and I'd swear I saw a Plumeria the other day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Florida is a neat place, lots of tropical plants, flowers & warm water. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMWoPBPzY-XPyhFonk7JYWBNQfScPzWJ_B9JyGso7XSDoksN3ga9VTmIbKqPXc_Ds6us-7r7KqgucwQKacYysDcDB1ipg0soCQv7NFl229iMH5OpMf9VfXi6rfWighLUgFJNLkE0cRUw/s1600/Bananas+by+the+roadside+%25281%2529+cropped.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMWoPBPzY-XPyhFonk7JYWBNQfScPzWJ_B9JyGso7XSDoksN3ga9VTmIbKqPXc_Ds6us-7r7KqgucwQKacYysDcDB1ipg0soCQv7NFl229iMH5OpMf9VfXi6rfWighLUgFJNLkE0cRUw/s320/Bananas+by+the+roadside+%25281%2529+cropped.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bananas by the roadside</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />I hadn't realized how much I like the tropical plants. I knew I liked the warm water and the sea shells but I didn't realize how much I enjoyed seeing the tropical plants.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQzAQ5_mx5H2vtDlUnt1foL4V1k98sfN1r7jsSqINWMmlWfS5NpfcXaUGkSTby5VSuO7FqWlmmZ3q4W3hcESV_Eu8zixn8ssyHSph1x5D1c5vrAuo1UVGJdwGxbHKpDDogjc4VopaB88/s1600/Upright+palm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQzAQ5_mx5H2vtDlUnt1foL4V1k98sfN1r7jsSqINWMmlWfS5NpfcXaUGkSTby5VSuO7FqWlmmZ3q4W3hcESV_Eu8zixn8ssyHSph1x5D1c5vrAuo1UVGJdwGxbHKpDDogjc4VopaB88/s320/Upright+palm.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florida</td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">It hasn't been just plants & animals I saw here in Florida this winter. I saw in-laws too! </span><span style="font-size: large;">Father-in-law, mother-in-law, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. All great people I'm pleased to say!</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0FM9DKLRAIysLQ1dlIhq43Hp7aIozGiHwzn8tc_n7an4NfODliMaTBhj9fPBG3YEAqlJMhrgujGSvLX3U37T5y5Rf7Su68fNylMxHqzw_pMlvW5p4PzZrpTffQjM5KDlwFEgHCfiVRo/s1600/Mile+zero+US+Hwy+1+.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="903" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy0FM9DKLRAIysLQ1dlIhq43Hp7aIozGiHwzn8tc_n7an4NfODliMaTBhj9fPBG3YEAqlJMhrgujGSvLX3U37T5y5Rf7Su68fNylMxHqzw_pMlvW5p4PzZrpTffQjM5KDlwFEgHCfiVRo/s320/Mile+zero+US+Hwy+1+.JPG" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A good place to be in the winter</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">--------------</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can't talk about Florida without mentioning Spanish treasure.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIrSbTRgM_aC7sW-sTSZBO0K_gXvNxyZgjwDSmNLH8lJx9XMz8Jqp8qc1VXIxGtjEcyoQk_YS4WDGLqrkyJWAs_WubmJHSAc_sfYdAtBRw_qBEI9pn7zjWQ8CE6OnbTwLORCnRsCJDgo/s1600/Mel+Fisher.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBIrSbTRgM_aC7sW-sTSZBO0K_gXvNxyZgjwDSmNLH8lJx9XMz8Jqp8qc1VXIxGtjEcyoQk_YS4WDGLqrkyJWAs_WubmJHSAc_sfYdAtBRw_qBEI9pn7zjWQ8CE6OnbTwLORCnRsCJDgo/s320/Mel+Fisher.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">For 16 years everyday Mel Fisher went out treasure hunting and <br />
everyday he said "Today's the day!". <br />
On the 20th day of July in 1985 it was! <br />
They found the Atocha, <br />
40 tons of gold and silver and emeralds.<br />
Somewhere around $450 millions dollars worth.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-30977424214537203852019-03-23T16:28:00.000-04:002019-03-23T16:28:01.484-04:00I Can Get There From Here!<span style="font-size: large;">I've lived on islands for 10 years of my life, on three separate occasions... islands where you needed a boat or an airplane to go off the island. I didn't <i>need</i> to go anywhere, I just knew that I couldn't.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
This bends my thinking a little. These days I often tell myself, "I could walk there from here." I know I'm not going to, but I <i>could</i>.... Can't walk to an island though.</span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYs8ga4gyCzMSSymVo3dCNgFgoxG4yyfIY-3gHH2uqI2vwg8sz9wbMPrCPvvlk9bSfQI1NQc3lFVwdAmUClkAd-0ax-C0H_LuTWSqF184ZMVVay_3MAzbOkbKhRfMrLPmLQsz7w_3EFg/s1600/Kailua+Hawaii.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1600" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDYs8ga4gyCzMSSymVo3dCNgFgoxG4yyfIY-3gHH2uqI2vwg8sz9wbMPrCPvvlk9bSfQI1NQc3lFVwdAmUClkAd-0ax-C0H_LuTWSqF184ZMVVay_3MAzbOkbKhRfMrLPmLQsz7w_3EFg/s320/Kailua+Hawaii.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Papalani St, Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJ5kFJeoCRzvXKhsHsIBYXwTqLQWHJ0uea9pNJEAHYstsZFmf3MSySyWxrS6mCo-7zMeu5Qt7K1D5oyKsTjKF07Og2SY-q6okIA7WKCvNpUvQJBYA9GLhdvwt36GTnXFg6Q83K53LS44/s1600/CG+Light+Station+Pt+Robinson%252C+Burton+Is%252C+WA.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="828" data-original-width="1600" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaJ5kFJeoCRzvXKhsHsIBYXwTqLQWHJ0uea9pNJEAHYstsZFmf3MSySyWxrS6mCo-7zMeu5Qt7K1D5oyKsTjKF07Og2SY-q6okIA7WKCvNpUvQJBYA9GLhdvwt36GTnXFg6Q83K53LS44/s320/CG+Light+Station+Pt+Robinson%252C+Burton+Is%252C+WA.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coast Guard Light Station, Point Robinson, Burton Is, WA</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As we've been traveling around, we've been looking at places to make a home base. Some of the places have actually been on a </span><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/KvVTQ7gmybk" style="font-size: x-large;">canal</a><span style="font-size: large;"> or close to a boat ramp. </span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz5ATxBAIyI9taL-ioLQ_IGfEcY0X6YRU0Q5mdX0Tjnzimi-T19Rcnu4c1GY7WdMitsqSFb6RWYyzXHsebQ6dGCNCQRJvK9Ko6sJbxuoRE-JFz9peMbOR5YL2XG24VRsmx2HqgQq0GZk/s1600/CGAS+Barbers+Pt%252C+Hawaii.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="877" data-original-width="1461" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPz5ATxBAIyI9taL-ioLQ_IGfEcY0X6YRU0Q5mdX0Tjnzimi-T19Rcnu4c1GY7WdMitsqSFb6RWYyzXHsebQ6dGCNCQRJvK9Ko6sJbxuoRE-JFz9peMbOR5YL2XG24VRsmx2HqgQq0GZk/s320/CGAS+Barbers+Pt%252C+Hawaii.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coast Guard Air Station, Barbers Point, Oahu Hawaii</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So, many times when that has happened here in Florida, I look at the map & realize that, "I <i>could</i> get to Hawaii from here!" My wife looks at me funny every time I say that... I don't have a boat & I'm not a sailor, but I like the idea of knowing that I <i>could</i>. </span><span style="font-size: large;">As a plus, since FL is the mainland, I could walk most <i>anywhere</i> from here!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Ya, it's dumb but it leaves a smile on my face.<br /><br />
The google map function on my phone allows me to pick how I want to travel, as long as it's not on a boat. So I can check to see if I really <i>can</i> walk there from here... or take my bike!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc05o1uoQXmeWQBHkWQDUQ4aQMMfmhEfmoDUt_BgV0BoWm_wxa7yJfE007uq-JKNM0CTH2-n3NY11IBbOm1WQcaKRYYv3AdycYGX-MKaLq4zsxZEXYB0mrbkqTOt7010cvKLZXgD8UfzU/s1600/bike+from+KW+to+Union+WA+map.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1317" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc05o1uoQXmeWQBHkWQDUQ4aQMMfmhEfmoDUt_BgV0BoWm_wxa7yJfE007uq-JKNM0CTH2-n3NY11IBbOm1WQcaKRYYv3AdycYGX-MKaLq4zsxZEXYB0mrbkqTOt7010cvKLZXgD8UfzU/s320/bike+from+KW+to+Union+WA+map.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Key West to Union, Washington on a bike via google maps</td></tr>
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<div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
We were at the <a href="https://goo.gl/maps/pToFb4CCy9n">east</a> side of Lake Okeechobee recently, and I pulled out my phone, started the map app, and took a look at where I was. Son of a gun... I <i>COULD </i>get to Hawaii from there!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5_vf6nZKCAeY3RM3kVeC0dK4KHjnTC5kwjs_rvEkxliSPcRyMAn0UO0GOaihCEBcqwlD7jsV2Rp9q6N0UWZ4rTe5O-Vbykige13nzZEZglo_OAOBysA2EfP67Fb0X8tu6LAE12kwgX8/s1600/Looking+west+across+Lake+Okeechobee+towards+the+Gulf+of+Mexico+outlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5_vf6nZKCAeY3RM3kVeC0dK4KHjnTC5kwjs_rvEkxliSPcRyMAn0UO0GOaihCEBcqwlD7jsV2Rp9q6N0UWZ4rTe5O-Vbykige13nzZEZglo_OAOBysA2EfP67Fb0X8tu6LAE12kwgX8/s320/Looking+west+across+Lake+Okeechobee+towards+the+Gulf+of+Mexico+outlet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the Lake Okeechobee eastern inlet <br />looking to the west & the Gulf of mexico</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqs1HzN48la3phYp5AxLA0HV989LPAGPtWxE9TUzUOj5dDOJ7zS4MlzfCUMo574l5D4Hf-_6cFtzY31NZ2xRtVnnqPn_6KEYCyDDlVjm2Bpr7VWswRnFpkE-91IBLTW88gdGJFG4dyD0/s1600/Lake+Okeechobee+east+outlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqs1HzN48la3phYp5AxLA0HV989LPAGPtWxE9TUzUOj5dDOJ7zS4MlzfCUMo574l5D4Hf-_6cFtzY31NZ2xRtVnnqPn_6KEYCyDDlVjm2Bpr7VWswRnFpkE-91IBLTW88gdGJFG4dyD0/s320/Lake+Okeechobee+east+outlet.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From the east looking at the lake Okeechobee outlet<br /> heading towards the Atlantic Ocean</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00JsA7oGS5RCULZfYtvD_MKVCuAZ5s4LyunCUv3WF0cvv14XSxwpiPGei-tJG4XcHM-9OUMpDmomvv5sC9u8e-oCRGHupHUMriNva3eMLsdmPlGUi1anAHkQ5rUZnsTokSngb-FNTunQ/s1600/Lake+Okeechobee+out+going+to+the+Atlantic+Ocean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg00JsA7oGS5RCULZfYtvD_MKVCuAZ5s4LyunCUv3WF0cvv14XSxwpiPGei-tJG4XcHM-9OUMpDmomvv5sC9u8e-oCRGHupHUMriNva3eMLsdmPlGUi1anAHkQ5rUZnsTokSngb-FNTunQ/s320/Lake+Okeechobee+out+going+to+the+Atlantic+Ocean.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the lake looking east, this will take you too the Atlantic Ocean</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's fun to think that Florida has a boat highway running right through the middle of it!</span><br />
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-89765971779021220842019-03-15T17:42:00.000-04:002019-03-15T17:42:18.772-04:00A Key West bike<span style="font-size: large;">When we were on Key West I noticed the bikes there, it's hard not to.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuP4wf5mIoJRJcnSnCI1f2MvvntqIzU9Qc9HFSjXicmn8OGbQcu1jfPqUlzGq_1Z1QBSu9Nz9LaDOjJrmFxDdo3FDuc6MIRDSlYiolOBfi-S3lFJUDhAc4X2hjDb2CbdXl2bykd6_7LI/s1600/KW+beach+%25288%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNuP4wf5mIoJRJcnSnCI1f2MvvntqIzU9Qc9HFSjXicmn8OGbQcu1jfPqUlzGq_1Z1QBSu9Nz9LaDOjJrmFxDdo3FDuc6MIRDSlYiolOBfi-S3lFJUDhAc4X2hjDb2CbdXl2bykd6_7LI/s320/KW+beach+%25288%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local with her bike enjoying the day on a pier</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
I like the Key West bikes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Generally a single speed cruiser, with a basket & often a rack. A comfortable looking seat, handle bars you didn't need to bend over to grab & maybe a bell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Please don't let my enthusiasm lead you to thinking they were all Key West cruisers. Scooters were a big thing, </span><span style="font-size: large;">a real big thing.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I saw e-bikes and all the bikes you'd find in any small town. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I just liked the Key West cruisers</span><span style="font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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I saw three types while we were there. There were the rental bikes, generally clean, a pleasant color and the basket on the front carried the name of the company or resort renting the bike. <br /><br />
There were what looked like brand new bikes, I'd guess a lot of them came with the tourists. <br /><br />
Last but surely not least were the local bikes. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZg6o-px6wT1E-I9Z1d_cn-4Kpi_T0tnIpRJHfBpZeqXDrypftazHm927s2tTYSDwjxQZ4rEPzmr6EHdkoYPa0m9WbkVwuvFiPd4XaFNCILpnByhPPrTzzpLspoUPV7NO4_QQtAJO6kVw/s1600/Key+West+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZg6o-px6wT1E-I9Z1d_cn-4Kpi_T0tnIpRJHfBpZeqXDrypftazHm927s2tTYSDwjxQZ4rEPzmr6EHdkoYPa0m9WbkVwuvFiPd4XaFNCILpnByhPPrTzzpLspoUPV7NO4_QQtAJO6kVw/s320/Key+West+bike.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A local bike with a cup & cell phone holder </td></tr>
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Like the rest, generally a single speed, it's a flat & slow paced place. There is a comfortable seat and almost always a basket on the front, usually a flat rack on the back (often with side baskets, sometimes folding). The handle bars are easy to reach while sitting up, the cup holder is within reach, as is the cell phone holder. <br />
Sometimes the bike comes with installed tubes for holding fishing poles and it's generally rusty. Not super bad rust but I had no doubt the bikes had spent serious time in the Key West salt environment.<br /><br />There are bike shops too, all over the place. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Our favorite was <a href="https://www.eaton.bike/">Eaton Bikes</a> </span><span style="font-size: large;">on Eaton street, they let us borrow bike </span><span style="font-size: large;">helmets & had air out back in case you needed it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I've got a bike. I bought it for less that $10 at a second hand shop.</span><br />
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It lives outside on the back of our RV. It works.<br /><br />
But now after visiting Key West I have something to reach for!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8SxeY3Ro-bLr9tWFgF0XwVK3T5TzLdHbZ6Xt6rMEj6Ro5mtXg70VM6r26DlbGIvVSyIYmZcfmTn9ik2GcXSd-_1_GUMpbhbi3OXlirf5woBk6i5kSoFVah4kE6EMbRj8udU4f2f55aU/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs8SxeY3Ro-bLr9tWFgF0XwVK3T5TzLdHbZ6Xt6rMEj6Ro5mtXg70VM6r26DlbGIvVSyIYmZcfmTn9ik2GcXSd-_1_GUMpbhbi3OXlirf5woBk6i5kSoFVah4kE6EMbRj8udU4f2f55aU/s320/IMG_0631.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mile Zero, Key West Florida.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /><br /><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-44724925911488821242019-03-02T12:37:00.000-05:002019-03-02T12:37:19.705-05:00The Florida Park Shuffle<span style="font-size: large;">It's coming on to 1pm at a Florida State Park, time to check out of this site and into the next one! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Florida Park Shuffle!<br /><br />
When reservations have to be made 11 months in advance and you're not that together on your planning you take what you can get. It's all done online through Reserve America and comes with an extra fee. <br /><br />
That might mean several different reservations at the same park if you want to stay for a week. It has for us...<br /><br />
Hence the one o'clock shuffle.... <br /><br />
You can talk to the people in the office & they can "maybe" get the shuffling part reduced.<br /><br />
Is it worth the hassle? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The weather in Florida this winter has been really nice. All the Florida State Parks I have seen have been great along with all of the showers in the parks. The Florida spots come with electrical and water.<br /><br /><b>
Yes, it's worth the hassle!</b><br /><br />
The only problem comes when you are between state park reservations...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">There are other places beside the state parks ....</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtTdzSTjlhcMxijqfOuXSnudPWIiXXj0sjGQ0KBlryiNMCkiF-2SbAWjzT1pmk05Ual4FMQbSlXdNCapdsblKvkS-GxlsRzNQWclrBduRGxIn0IDJgW58Krywo0x0gBdkS4T0CJGQ3oM/s1600/fish+camp+wide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQtTdzSTjlhcMxijqfOuXSnudPWIiXXj0sjGQ0KBlryiNMCkiF-2SbAWjzT1pmk05Ual4FMQbSlXdNCapdsblKvkS-GxlsRzNQWclrBduRGxIn0IDJgW58Krywo0x0gBdkS4T0CJGQ3oM/s320/fish+camp+wide.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Middleton"s Fish Camp, Indian River county on Blue Cypress Lake</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.middletonsfishcamp.com/">Middleton's Fish Camp</a> is about 22 miles as the bird flies from the coast where we were staying, about an hour on the road.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No hook ups but it's only $5 per person for a night. Lot's of fishing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Our two solar <a href="http://observations-on-the-road.blogspot.com/2017/11/solar-on-bench.html">panels</a> are keeping the RV 12v electrical system going so we are doing great out here. It is still winter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-10962913195821134412019-02-16T11:10:00.000-05:002019-02-16T11:10:20.210-05:00Key West!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">It's 9 am, sunny & almost 60 degrees here at <a href="https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/blue-spring-state-park">Blue Spring</a> State Park in Florida. We left Key West four days back & I have to admit that I do miss being there.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQEerMDkHwtsGVPm2db089fZXpwyxLEIyfPeiTxtmGgploFh3ddepziRHcicRMQKK8N5qr81orKm7pqF6aCTPa-LeZ_vJrKYwAsG6uKIrGSoAU4SxQJmvFFTVBG1AedY1egySZUuqPE8/s1600/Duval+St.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1600" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQEerMDkHwtsGVPm2db089fZXpwyxLEIyfPeiTxtmGgploFh3ddepziRHcicRMQKK8N5qr81orKm7pqF6aCTPa-LeZ_vJrKYwAsG6uKIrGSoAU4SxQJmvFFTVBG1AedY1egySZUuqPE8/s320/Duval+St.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duval St <a href="http://www.liveduvalstreet.com/">webcam</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Key West is a different place. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The history, the attitude of the people, the smell of the sea, the flowers, the trees, the coconuts, the boats, the bicycles, the scooters, the houseboats, the chickens, the cruise ships, sunset on Mallory Square... The tourists even add to the place. <br /><br />
I liked it!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eUDNAoAU-tUzGXVR-6i41WFA1yVGSOFKLs3v3mTbqxnDED4OquTGop_3HyQ4yHPsoFNtwgilzX-11XeYPaorFd16jsly69GKRFLv2iecjW0jRtXQnySYLwIKSL7-qOArKdb62ItKsHU/s1600/Key+West+%252830%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5eUDNAoAU-tUzGXVR-6i41WFA1yVGSOFKLs3v3mTbqxnDED4OquTGop_3HyQ4yHPsoFNtwgilzX-11XeYPaorFd16jsly69GKRFLv2iecjW0jRtXQnySYLwIKSL7-qOArKdb62ItKsHU/s320/Key+West+%252830%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chickens are everywhere</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGx1f9grL2C3uZf9yUYQcHV4gGsG2HZsZ4Qut5RKnbze37YSovIWel3VCHTuLZysguJQeKHdzvPK9_WU3OoPaLp2jt-FetXWEhlf76yomgzX5N-0O-HLqH22Wqu6QaXabmXJ7t4dzUQ5E/s1600/Mel+Fisher+Treasure+Museum+%252834%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGx1f9grL2C3uZf9yUYQcHV4gGsG2HZsZ4Qut5RKnbze37YSovIWel3VCHTuLZysguJQeKHdzvPK9_WU3OoPaLp2jt-FetXWEhlf76yomgzX5N-0O-HLqH22Wqu6QaXabmXJ7t4dzUQ5E/s320/Mel+Fisher+Treasure+Museum+%252834%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Treasure!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
I thought about staying and after looking around at rents and property prices realized I needed to buy a lottery ticket!<br /><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIKZon2bAGB6ldWdSukIvPy7r2EqEEns7tJDfQLBpagfND-9KJJUlpw3pb8qig_uFLF_2ZsoeHejLYQrYX8c6AJchxm6liRTFvSOhxR2LTSp1KrxlnDOLtGS68LsRSKC0u7LzJXduXkg/s1600/Key+West+%252872%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMIKZon2bAGB6ldWdSukIvPy7r2EqEEns7tJDfQLBpagfND-9KJJUlpw3pb8qig_uFLF_2ZsoeHejLYQrYX8c6AJchxm6liRTFvSOhxR2LTSp1KrxlnDOLtGS68LsRSKC0u7LzJXduXkg/s320/Key+West+%252872%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">My $2 investment in a Key West future</span>!</td></tr>
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We were there for a little over three weeks and it then was time to go (we had reservations at other Florida parks).</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQoVG6xOwUQcxYvBilthC1p2q7AiV4EHqJTq_zvNmJhMkXZFNI0mTgQxSkbn_V8WWXN9OeaJpagwYManojyY27x2J7_46VGelLSKqMHDOFZtStwBUVHOZBY7_LOR6AjCX91C-_c1hXVA/s1600/Key+West+bike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQoVG6xOwUQcxYvBilthC1p2q7AiV4EHqJTq_zvNmJhMkXZFNI0mTgQxSkbn_V8WWXN9OeaJpagwYManojyY27x2J7_46VGelLSKqMHDOFZtStwBUVHOZBY7_LOR6AjCX91C-_c1hXVA/s320/Key+West+bike.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Key West bike. Single speed, padded seat,<br />drink holder and rust</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3-142rkLdNqk4CEioOMT5D28c9IUp8TuQ0FMOQC2R-Cqn4zzfwREfAfzUHrLkTxMsehKuIhZOXGN15CcHCcnca8TLLq6OIFFGcchwcwVsmf-twLVNxghatpLGt0nIgmP1HfmKrfude8/s1600/Key+West+%2528293%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3-142rkLdNqk4CEioOMT5D28c9IUp8TuQ0FMOQC2R-Cqn4zzfwREfAfzUHrLkTxMsehKuIhZOXGN15CcHCcnca8TLLq6OIFFGcchwcwVsmf-twLVNxghatpLGt0nIgmP1HfmKrfude8/s320/Key+West+%2528293%2529.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I liked the signs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A side note to 'me' & my Key West fantasy... I spent an afternoon here in '80, the tail end of the Mariel boatlift from Cuba. I was in the Coast Guard and was sent to CG Air Station Miami to help out. A buddy & I drove down on a day off.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">All I remembered was the color of the water on the drive down and the people at Mallory Square for sunset. I knew I needed to come back.</span><br />
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Personal note:<br />
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Come the 21st century... I was retired from the USCG and working at a warehouse in Washington state. Serious problems in my life (a daughter with cancer), a so-so job that was a 45 minute drive from home in my VW camper and time to think. During the drive I'd sometimes remember that I had all I needed in my VW & the Navy has an RV park on Key West. I would put Key West in the GPS (3400 miles, a 54 hr drive), Jimmy Buffet in the CD player and just dream as I drove. I always ended up at work... </div>
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Aurora passed in 2011... and everything changed. In January 2019 I finally made it to Key West.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLqil8VOd9voJPuz51nCjzgCPrhd89IWsWcB-6LmdHWORBhvhBZCgZIeYoRzG7SPVLM5xqYpWoS6jRvDaoTtuI4xgQkEs180KuJLiGSDoJe_3MWDFWkROnr2v3RPwLMHe3vkMBU6rFx4/s1600/Shipwreck+Museum+%252819%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="903" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLqil8VOd9voJPuz51nCjzgCPrhd89IWsWcB-6LmdHWORBhvhBZCgZIeYoRzG7SPVLM5xqYpWoS6jRvDaoTtuI4xgQkEs180KuJLiGSDoJe_3MWDFWkROnr2v3RPwLMHe3vkMBU6rFx4/s320/Shipwreck+Museum+%252819%2529.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from the Shipwreck Museum tower</td></tr>
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Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6351291409183975474.post-43499655418090035782019-02-02T14:02:00.000-05:002019-02-02T14:02:07.593-05:00Florida<span style="font-size: large;">We have been in Florida for the winter and I have to say it's nice. It does cost more than the other winter destinations for an RV but it is nice.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoiDb1YWJQobTVl2OD0lr_bzMKgpuQs9vuM-SWNtKTk98fqbC6MYi4wERdZviBFB6766XH71JT8CfbWw24CQEP4tgYTP8yB1qAhrafDHj1zQ_TryT3xOviDHo2-1y1uXhBx4_dn-rlkg/s1600/20190115_115906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQoiDb1YWJQobTVl2OD0lr_bzMKgpuQs9vuM-SWNtKTk98fqbC6MYi4wERdZviBFB6766XH71JT8CfbWw24CQEP4tgYTP8yB1qAhrafDHj1zQ_TryT3xOviDHo2-1y1uXhBx4_dn-rlkg/s320/20190115_115906.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Atlantic Ocean</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
There is one thing that I've noticed...<br /><br />
We have Florida license plates and so does most everyone else. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
Most places we go we are obviously tourists, I'd like to think that gets us a little slack when we're in the wrong lane.<br />
Not that many would suspect we're locals driving this big old RV through town...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT2eGP5_3YY3nJABo2D1qHYKavcLKqeod3IWt0AWlX3vewoa4MTgAHzzhSAfHg38Zco_GWuNoEF9OfGYaDGRCEBzqdxLQSgS2iupzb-7by3ebHu9jnR-jC9szPJ2VvN6MlTYWq1Ow8wE/s1600/20190105_160053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCT2eGP5_3YY3nJABo2D1qHYKavcLKqeod3IWt0AWlX3vewoa4MTgAHzzhSAfHg38Zco_GWuNoEF9OfGYaDGRCEBzqdxLQSgS2iupzb-7by3ebHu9jnR-jC9szPJ2VvN6MlTYWq1Ow8wE/s320/20190105_160053.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tourists</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />Winter in Florida takes planning. The state parks are great but they take reservations 11 months in advance and Florida is a popular place for RVs in the winter! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcV9XUPOZB4IZu-56iTniBUaF2p-gNIjZq87g8ABsC2rgrgGr5fWW3mysfLsjsXLiqWSk9g4-Ar9wA0vYqyDFkSublKpk3UYPqTb1nkM5dq5OBOcGdFAIVq8TTrctoH9Wu7h5ODqrArQ/s1600/20181207_125749.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcV9XUPOZB4IZu-56iTniBUaF2p-gNIjZq87g8ABsC2rgrgGr5fWW3mysfLsjsXLiqWSk9g4-Ar9wA0vYqyDFkSublKpk3UYPqTb1nkM5dq5OBOcGdFAIVq8TTrctoH9Wu7h5ODqrArQ/s320/20181207_125749.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLjO81CNdQR7OYjixUsSwpddWa9A7ycqMr__1R3bTPYIDFdA7uK5GXSw_2koogiP8tQIlZLjUTM3u1t6gtIxGaEkgkggtibdocjhBJNwyILCeUw6Wc5dc1U4Gebj-dCOqrlHWskM3lTI/s1600/20181207_150927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnLjO81CNdQR7OYjixUsSwpddWa9A7ycqMr__1R3bTPYIDFdA7uK5GXSw_2koogiP8tQIlZLjUTM3u1t6gtIxGaEkgkggtibdocjhBJNwyILCeUw6Wc5dc1U4Gebj-dCOqrlHWskM3lTI/s320/20181207_150927.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
State parks book up, county parks book up, the COE park we booked at was almost full, we found a handful of connected days. <br />
Commercial RV parks book but there are a lot of them. They do cost a bit more than the state or county parks. <a href="http://www.marysfishcamp.org/#!/services">Mary's Fish Camp</a> in<a href="https://goo.gl/maps/tcjRsKnzmPH2"> Weeki Wachee</a> had room but it was a little spendy.<br /><br />
I realize that the old saying, "Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part," is valid. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our life and plans are fluid at this point so booking for next winter is a tall order. That's how it was last year at this time, so when we made this year's arrangements we had to pay several separate fees to the state's 3rd party reservation company for a week's stay.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Otll28bYssgRN9buXZW1hA2To05N4GL7iy04et6O4PmDQ27Ijsv-KpuGlYTX29ceGyi-JyIWuVCD3l7mqRVv22fGOnVsxBU-yLxjsGmS2ToTtMDW8_UNlBj3Q45vZ6gTKZrAWz-9I4A/s1600/20181207_104151.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Otll28bYssgRN9buXZW1hA2To05N4GL7iy04et6O4PmDQ27Ijsv-KpuGlYTX29ceGyi-JyIWuVCD3l7mqRVv22fGOnVsxBU-yLxjsGmS2ToTtMDW8_UNlBj3Q45vZ6gTKZrAWz-9I4A/s320/20181207_104151.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not cold in Tampa Bay</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcYQr0suors9eTbNPhdiTjiSs2jo5adEA30PYuEKkM7OULZ5vRweO8WtRFtzoCtzCs3l9S230i6jELwX9PtSUD88F-H8ZzSVw7pgXSeOrgtmSsmKDcgn0TrDPOcVqxSrOdAW_KmTQIyY/s1600/20190103_153257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMcYQr0suors9eTbNPhdiTjiSs2jo5adEA30PYuEKkM7OULZ5vRweO8WtRFtzoCtzCs3l9S230i6jELwX9PtSUD88F-H8ZzSVw7pgXSeOrgtmSsmKDcgn0TrDPOcVqxSrOdAW_KmTQIyY/s320/20190103_153257.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hurricane Damage in Tampa Bay </td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br />
Confused? A hypothetical Florida state park: we'd like to stay a week. There is a $6.70 fee for each reservation we make... we can get 3 nights at spot #1, we can the next two nights at spot #27 and we can get the last two nights at spot #235. That takes three separate transactions, 3 separate fees and several (many!) different attempts to find the needed days (looking for someone who cancelled).<br /><br />
That is what happens when we don't plan far enough ahead. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">FWIW there is a $17+ fee to cancel a reservation at the state parks (after 24 hrs), as a Florida resident over 65 the camp site only costs us $15.<br /><br />
That's ok, the winter in Florida has been nice!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVntll7ca9tWu3mRgvOfSLaITOfTnxBznL1CUXjMGVvXeJD8BobYi5JOGXgGS6xFQMLU_0QyryNSSoE7iRO0lxBVhWWnEEbDBbriZOKmSJ8ZkoXfiNpfx00qpH1iw3KYdHXQj4M66cIxA/s1600/20181130_124907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVntll7ca9tWu3mRgvOfSLaITOfTnxBznL1CUXjMGVvXeJD8BobYi5JOGXgGS6xFQMLU_0QyryNSSoE7iRO0lxBVhWWnEEbDBbriZOKmSJ8ZkoXfiNpfx00qpH1iw3KYdHXQj4M66cIxA/s320/20181130_124907.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Florida</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Robhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05450082315014407506noreply@blogger.com3