Nov. 09/21

 I seem to start each entry the same way.  Time flies.  I see it has been a couple of months since my last entry.  That seems to be par for the course.  Our last camping trip was to the beach at Gulf Shores State Park.  The weather was perfect, but we never went to the beach or saw the sand.  We will do that on the next visit.  Instead we walked for several miles on trails which are flat and mostly paved.  We rented bikes and rode one day.  I had some balance issues and almost wrecked a couple of times, but all in all it was a very good trip.  Amy had no trouble riding.  It had been 50 or more years since we had ridden bikes. After we got home we thought about getting us some until we went to a cycle store and saw the price.  We are no longer looking to buy bicycles.  My son and his wife came down at the same time we did but they stayed in a condo on the beach.  When I found out where they were staying I checked into staying there to but the cost was way too much for us.  I was worried about driving down on one tank of gas.  I have never filled up the truck towing the camper.  I was really worried when the warning light came on saying we had 50 miles left.  Then really worried when it said 35 miles to go.  You just can't pull in to any gas station to fill up with a 38 foot camper in tow.  I finally found a station I could pull into and get to the diesel pump so we made it.  I have an app on my phone that shows fuel stations that have RV lanes.  Had I remembered it before we left we would have known where to fill up.  We used it to find a station about half way so had no problem coming home.  Anyway our main reason for going was to eat seafood.  And we ate plenty.  This was the first trip that we did not have the dog with us.  If we had had him we could not have done the things we did.  I forgot to take pictures but here are a couple:

  

We have already scheduled our next two camping trips.  The first week in December we will go to our favorite place, DeSota State Park.  Then Emily and her husband and Kale and Maddox and their dog Radley will be coming for Christmas.  We are looking forward to their visit.  Maybe Jason and Shelley will be able to join us Christmas day.  I think that Amy's sister, Ginger, her husband David and their son Sam will come for lunch then too.  

After Christmas the first week in January we will go back to Gulf Shores for some more seafood. We are hoping that it will not be too cold by then.  Maybe this time we will actually walk on the beach.  That's all until next time.

August 10, 2021

 It is just so hard for me to remember to update this blog.  I'm always going to do better but I have no excuse except I'm a lazy bum maybe.  No comments are necessary but I know most will agree.  Just a follow up.  We did go to the Grand Hotel and met with our traveling buddies Mary Jane and Chuck.  It was a very good trip and the weather was great.  We have camped twice since the last post.  I forgot to take pictures while camping but here is our camper.

So, we camped at Cheaha State Park the end of may.  And twice at DeSota State Park.  The first trip to DeSota State Park was one that Amy did not enjoy.  She add a kidney stone which made hiking no fun.  I was able to get a picture of our hike.  Of course Max loved it.

These were at Cheaha

In July Katy, Scott, and their three came for a visit.  Katy was a tremendous help while she was here.  We were able to clean out old furniture and junk from our house.  Anything that we haven't used in the last 10 years went in the dumpster.  We make one more camping trip to DeSota while they were here.  We had upgraded the camper for luxury for us so it was just a little crowded with 5 more.  We boarded Max for this trip.  So we have just about caught up.  Only one thing left to mention.  This is where I spend the hot afternoons at home.

Next camping trip is already scheduled for labor day.  Back to our favorite place.

May 12, 2021

 So I see my last entry was in August.  Covid has kept us at home most of the time.  We have been camping several times.  We went to Desota State Park and encountered the first snow of the fall.  We decided to trade our camper on a new one.  We had purchased the 2017 camper thinking that our grandkids would want to go camping with us.  We came to realize that that was not going to happen so we upgraded for one that has more living space.  It is a 2021 Outback 330RL.  We love it.  There are two theater seat recliners as well as a sofa that opens into a bed.  Also has a fireplace and big screen tv.  It is an arm length longer than our previous one.  38' long with 3 slide-outs.  We have used it twice so far and it is really more comfortable.  Currently planning our next trip so Jason and Shelley and Luke (dog) can go with us.  We did go to a RV Resort on Lake Guntersville, but were not impressed.  Desota State park has has a lot more to offer than that place.  

  We had planned for a cruise to Alaska on Viking Cruise Lines, but that trip was canceled.  We did get a full refund so that means we can make some other trips.  Both Amy and I have had our vaccinations so we are ready to go.  Will spend Easter with the grandkids in Virginia. then the end of April we are going to the Grand Hotel in Point Clear.  On the way back we may stop in to see some old friends in South Alabama.