More catching up

In September we co-hosted an Aliner rally at a campground near Little Rock, AR.  The next few pics were taken there.

Here is Ginnie and her tutors learning a few tricks for Dutch Oven cooking.  We got the dutch oven almost two years ago, and this is the first time we used it.

The tripod symbolizes my ball and chain for the duration of the Maumelle rally as official photographer.  This is a random shot of a scene repeated numberous times as people gathered got acquainted, or simply renewed old friendships.

Flags decorating the walkway to our pavilion... neat idea

More Dutch Oven goodies.

In line for the food truck serving our Catfish dinner.

Marcia, Ginnie, Margie, Herrn and Robert

Little Rock skyline

Catching Up

It's been a long time since I updated this blog and much has happened since our winter trip to Orlando.  We have attended two aliner rallies, the first being in Branson with the northern Midwest group sponsoring.

Here we are in Branson, a group gathering, gabbing and eating.

More gabbing.... Food!

After the rally, we hung around Branson for a couple of days and spent some time with fellow aliners from Kansas.  We farkled more than once.

                                                            

University of the Ozarks Museum
"Smithsonian of the Ozarks 

Beverly Hillbillies 

Not a fan of western art, but I liked this

Our second rally took place in Durant, Oklahoma.  The format is pretty fixed:  Gather, Gab and eat.  Repeat...

Interesting camper made in Canada.
Very High tech 

Campfire, followed by bedtime

... afte the Ralllies we stayed home a bit and then went to Kansas for Graduations.  First was Scottt from K-State.

A week later we celebrated Grand daughter Madeline's highschool graduation...Madeline received a Humanitarian award, selected by the Faculty, as the student who most exemplified Christian values. A proud and humbling moment for parents and grand parents.  

We thought we would stay at home for a bit until an ad caught my eye for an aframe camper located in Vermont.  It was being offered for sale by an individual.  As background, I had asked Ginnie what she most wanted in a camper and it was "twin beds", as with our current camper, she had to climb in bed first, as I'm the one most likely to get up in the middle of the night.  I had been researching aliner models, and even though no twin bed configuration is currently being produced, there are older models so constructed.  After much research, we had come to the conclusion that no aliner was going to make us happy, but this Chalet in Vermont, hmm.  This could be the one:

Ferry from New York to Vermont

Aboard the Ferry and half an hour to our destination

Sellers Driveway in Middlebury VT

Inside our new camper

Corps campground near Tionesta, PA

We struck a deal, long distance, with the sellers who agreed to hold the trailer for us.  No deposit, just a commitment on our part to drive 1,500 miles with the intention to purchase, assuming the sellers description was accurate.  Sometimes things work out, and this was one of those occasions.  The trailer didn't leak, and all systems functioned properly.  We left Middlebury, and immediately went to Syracuse, NY to a Camping World to have the wheel bearings packed.  We also swapped the worst of two tires for the spare and then proceeded to enjoy our first few days of ownership, camping near Ithaca in a State park for three nights before proceeding through Corning, NY to Pennsylvania.

Entry to Corning Glass Corporate

Corning Glass Grounds

Corning Glass Corporate

Panorama from Pennsylvania Welcome Center -  Gorgeous

World's first Oil Well, Titusville, PA

The Well

Steam powered pump 

http://uncoveringpa.com/sherman-memorial-lighthouse

After Pennsylvania we stopped playing tourist, mainly stormy weather in the forecast, and headed for St. Charles and Ginnie's Brother and Sister.  We made overnight stops outside of Columbus, OH and just across the state line between Indiana and Illinois.  After that it was a short haul to Susies.

We left the camper with John Pfeil for minor repairs and detailing, we pick it up in late July and plan to camp some more before heading home.

No pictures to show but we spent several days helping Scott move to Kansas City to begin his new job and career.  That's a story that probably wont be immortalized with a post.  No pictures, but plenty of memories to share - in person.

A couple of weeks in Orlando

We just returned from visiting Orlando, our mid-winter escape from grey skies that along with low temperatures were torturing our aging bones.  We considered taking the camper to Arizona, but too short a time between Doctor visits ruled that plan out.  As it turned out, I don't think O-town was the second choice we thought it would  be.  First, we found a good place to stay.   We knew we didn't want to stay in a motel again, and last year had checked out a couple of extended stay places close to Williamsburg, where we have friends and once lived.   Both places were tired and worn and needed updating badly.  We decided against staying there.   When we realized that Arizona was out, due to Doctors, we took another look at Orlando, and found two Extended Stay places that had been "newly renovated".  That was encouraging, and we like the location..  I made reservations for one week, prepared to move on if the "newly renovated" turned out to be not so recent.   When we arrived and saw our room, we were pleasantly surprised to find that indeed, it had been recently renovated, and nicely furnished.  Our first night was rudely interrupted by a Pizza party in the lobby at 1:30am.   I went to the desk in the morning, to complain and was told that the Brazilians, the partiers, had just checked out.  I skeptically accepted this explanation, and the rest of our stay was quiet and uninterrupted.  Pictures follow, but the camera wasn't used often enough to document all the highpoints of our visit.   I'm beginning to recognize that the best blogs rely on photography to provide interest.  I'm neither a photographer or a writer, but I persist, thinking that there might be a person or two who find my ramblings interesting.

Here are the "Friday Night Bunch" at a Longhorn

Old Friends and Neighbors Nick and Teri, treating us to a stroll around Epcot

Bocce on Tuesdays, by some miracle the league carries on

a

Boat tour in Winter Park

Entering a Canal

Mr. Rogers College Digs

Our tour guide explained that Mr. Rogers came from a wealthy family.  Mr. Rogers and his sister attended Rollins College in Winter Park and this lovely home was purchased for them to live in while attending college. 

Strolling around Epcot

Stylish Young Lady at Ikea, Tattoo and matching Blouse

Ginnie carrying our tray of Strawberry Shortcake

Parksdales in Plant City

Our "Private Beach" at the Canaveral National Seashore

Sam, Ginnie, Jean, Jill, Arline and Del

Catching up on the "news"

Weiner Schnitzel downtown Orlando

Strawberry Shortcake, Yum

We had a great time catching up with so many of our friends, gabbing, eating, shopping and strolling around.  We were introduced to the commuter train, "Sunrail" which zipped us downtown and to Winter Park in about 10 minutes.  It is a great way to get around and not have to worry about parking in congested Orlando.   That about sums it up.  If the Doctors don't interfere, we will do this again next year.