Well I have some time now so thought I would give you a birds eye view of our trip south.  Jack and I started out from NJ and stopped for a couple of days in Hagerstown, MD.  Why you ask.  Well I like Nora Roberts/J.D. Robb and she writes about this part of Maryland quite a bit.  She also based a trilogy on the town of Boonsboro MD so I wanted to go and visit this town. 
Jack and I spent a day walking around Boonsboro and we saw businesses that she wrote about.  After we left Boonsboro we drove to Antietem and went through this National Park.  Was a nice day for both of us and one more National Park off our list.  We have seen quite a few National Parks but still many more to see.
We left Hagerstown and went to Dollywood.  We stayed for 4 days and had a wonderful time.  We both loved Dollywood and will definitely go back.  This is a beautiful park with rides and plenty of shows.  We spent 2 days exploring Dollywood.  We went to all but one of the shows and the only reason we didn't see that one was because it wasn't playing the days we were there.  I felt that the performers were very professional.  The town of Pigeon Forge is funky and fun with shows, arcades, miniature golf and racetracks, so there is plenty to do.  People were friendly and the Bar-b-cue is amazing.  Lots of campgrounds and a the Smokey Mountains National Park is right there. 
We left Dollywood and made our way to Savannah.  Spent two nights in Savannah and took a day trip to Tybee Island.  Nice little shore area.  Was a fun day.
We left and finally got to New Smyrna Beach.  Was like coming home and we were looking forward to staying put for 7 months.  Well, I guess you all know that didn't happen.  We got the motor home almost all set up.  Decided to take our time and do just a little everyday.  Well, Matthew had a different plan for us.  We were there from Saturday to Wednesday and then we packed up and left again.  We seriously thought about staying put but then the brains kicked it and we found a nice RV Resort over in Cedar Key on the gulf coast.  We thought we would be here until Saturday but now it looks like we will stay put until at least Monday probably more like Wednesday.  All depends on what happens tonight and tomorrow. 
I will let you know more about the area we are in and what we are going to do later in the week.

The last time we were together we had just left Nova Scotia.  We made our way back through New Brunswick and into Maine to Bar Harbor.  Beautiful campground with plenty of space for us.  We literally could have parked another 36 foot motor home and a car with us in the site we had.  We went to Acadia National Park and walked around Bar Harbor one day and then went the next day to South Harbor.  Spent some time in the shops in Bar Harbor and had a nice lunch in South Harbor.  I did very little cooking while we were there.  We did manage to have some kind of chowder every day.  Have to say my favorite was the first night and Jack's was the next day.  Two different ways to fix it but mine was the best.  L.L. Bean had an outlet and Mr Sheller decided we needed to go there.  Now you all know how much Jack likes to shop - NOT!!  L. L. Bean and Eddie Bower call to him.  This time L.L. Bean called loud and clear!  We were in Bar Harbor area for the Labor Day weekend and left on Tuesday to make our way to NJ and family time.
We stopped one night in Massachusetts and the next night in West Point  We were able to stay in the Family Camp on West Point and decided to unhook the car and check out West Point.  What a beautiful area.  We saw the Golden Knights practicing jumping from a helicopter and walked around the campus.  So lovely and what a view.  I will share when Jack puts the pictures on the computer.
We left the next morning and made our way to Lumberton and Dotsie's driveway.  We had a great time visiting and seeing family and friends.  I was able to get a haircut thanks to Marie who was good enough to fit me in.  We spent Saturday evening with my cousins and my aunt.  John and Shawn you always make us feel so welcome and loved.  Better be careful or we won't go home!!  Shawn, I loved hearing and learning about all you have found out on Ancestry.  Jack and I need to get back to working on that.
Aunt Betty you are there for all of us.  Bet you never thought you would go from 3 children to about 15!!!  We all rely on you to be mother, father, aunt and friend.  Thanks!!
Spent all day Sunday with my niece and nephews and that was a highlight.  We had such a good time and I always hate to leave.  You all never make us feel like we have missed so much time with you all but we know we did.  Didn't get to see any of the Sheller side.  We were going to but then we had a toilet mishap and had to cancel.  We are coming back in the spring and will make up for lost time. 
I know you all are wondering about the toilet mishap.  Had a leak and Jack replaced it for Dotsie. 
Thanks Dotsie for always saying yes when we head your way.  You make us feel at home and so very welcome..  We love you! 
Well, next time I will fill you in on our trip south.  Lot's to tell you.

NOVA SCOTIA

We left Nova Scotia over a week ago and I have been trying to think of ways to tell you all how much fun we had, how beautiful it is and how grateful we are to Steve and Brenda for all they did for us.  

We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and got settled. This campground is right on the Annapolis River and the weather was sunny and just a bit warm.  Steve and Brenda had a corn roast with hot dogs for us so I didn't even have to cook.  Matter of fact we didn't cook too much the entire visit.  Sunday was a day of rest for us and then Monday we went sight seeing.  Steve and Brenda spent three days driving us all around Nova Scotia.  We saw so many beautiful sights.  We saw the oldest Wooden Church, the beautiful concrete church that was scored to look like blocks.   We went along all the little fishing villages and saw the Digby Gut.  We saw lobster boats and the village of Lunenburg, an UNESCO Heritage Site.   While in Lunenburg we visited the Museum and took a horse drawn carriage ride.  Happily paid for this sightseeing tour because it looked like a lot of fun but also because the streets went straight up from the waterfront.  We went to Halls Harbor and were able to walk on the ocean floor as the tide was out.  This is a 43 foot tide change and it is really amazing.  We have pictures and if I can figure out how to put them in I will add one of Jack next to the dock and you can see the water mark way above his head.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday we were on our own as Steve and Brenda had to decorate the Haunted House they do for the campground for their Halloween Party.  We visited the fort and the oldest house and boarding house in the town of Annapolis Royal.  Walked around and really enjoyed the area.  The people of Nova Scotia are so friendly and happy to help.  

Now let me tell you about the Haunted House.  Holy Cow was it fun.  We waited in line for a good hour on Saturday night.  It was so worth it.  I was laughing and holding on to Jack for dear life.  I think I jumped and yelled all the way through.  It is amazing was a lot of creativity and hard work can do.  Needless to say the Haunted House was a huge success!!!!

 Monday we were so very lucky to go on a whale watching tour.  We saw dolphins, humpback whales, seals, puffins and beautiful shorelines on the Bay of Fundy.  After a couple hours of whale watching we went through the harbor and out on the ocean side and they were able to fish.  Jack caught the biggest Mackerel of the day. 

We had a lobster boil that night.  Steve cooked the lobster out on the fire in a big pot and we just ate and ate.  What a fun night.  There were about 15-20 of us and what can I say.  I can't think of anything that would have been better.  

We rested on Tuesday and Wednesday we left to go to Bar Harbor for the Labor Day Weekend.  So sad to leave Nova Scotia and we plan to go back in a couple years.  Still a bit to see.

 

Well hi!  We are one night from Canada and 2 nights to our destination.  Really getting excited to get to Nova Scotia and see it and our friends Brenda and Steve.  We have had a long 10 days.  We left ND and drove and drove with stops in eastern ND, Minnesota, Wisconsin and then Michigan.  We took a day and went to Greenfield Village to see what Henry Ford established.  Was a good stop, we got lots of exercise and the Village was an educational fun adventure.  We rode the train all around and then walked to the different exhibits.  Spent some (a lot) time in the area reproducing Edison's Menlo Park laboratory and boarding house. Also spend time with the Wright Brothers and their home. Do you all see a pattern here!!  We left there and went through Canada to get to NY.  It was the fastest way and the road was great.  Came back through customs in Niagara Falls.  Across NY on the thruway (expensive) in two days and into Massachusetts.  Last night we stayed in Salisbury MA and took a walk on the beach.  Today finds us in Medway Maine.  Right at the start of Northern Maine. 
This is both Jack and my first time in Maine.  It is so beautiful and green and each part is different.  We are staying in Bar Harbor for Labor Day Weekend on our way south.  My father was born and raised in Maine but I really know nothing about it.  Maybe I should do some research.
We have been without TV for most of the trip from ND.  Been in a lot of trees and that doesn't work with satellite so we have read (me), played on the computer (Jack), and played some cards.  Found out we can live without TV but we prefer not to.
Well I will try to find some time to fill you in on Nova Scotia while we are there.  Looking forward to this trip.  Our neighbors to the north live up to their friendly reputation.
Talk more later.  Have a good weekend.

I have fallen in love!!  Montana along I-94 and Southwest North Dakota are just beautiful.  We are here in Medora, North Dakota and both Jack and I have fallen for this little town.  Of course, too cold to live here but we are loving what we see.  As we left Billings Montana yesterday we drove 283 miles on I-94 and it is truly a pretty drive.  We had buttes, grass lands, prairie and farms right around every turn. 
We kept watching for John Wayne or Roy Rogers to come riding down the trails but no such luck.  We saw some pretty little towns along the Yellowstone River with beautiful green grass and trees and of course corn and hay.
Got to Medora in the early afternoon in time to clean up and go to the Pitchfork Fondue and then the Medora Musical.  What a fun night.  We didn't take the camera because we wanted to enjoy the evening not looking through a view finder.  The food was really pretty good considering there must have been at least a thousand people there.  They do this 6 nights a week (I think it's 6 might be 5) so they know what they are doing.  After dinner the musical is just right down the parking lot.  This is an outdoor ampetheater built into the side of a mountain looking out over the badlands.  These performers put on a delightful show centerd around the North Dakota west and Teddy Roosevelt.  He loved Medora and there is a National Park named for him starting right in Medora. 
Today we took a tour around the lower part of the National Park and saw bison and wild horses.  Great birthday for Jack.  We came back to the motor home to rest a bit and then we are going to walk around the town and have dinner in town.  I thought I would take Jack out for his birthday.  Obviously, then, I won't have to cook or do dishes but that is secondary to Jack having a nice dinner out.  Oh yeah, we had that last night.  Oh well, two days in a row won't kill us.
We leave here  tomorrow to work our way to Nova Scotia.  Lot's of one night stays ahead of us.  Talk to you all later.

Hello from Yellowstone!
We have been visiting Yellowstone all week and it has been amazing.  Before I tell you all about Yellowstone let me tell you that we are staying in Idaho about 20 miles from West Yellowstone and the west entrance to the park.  We are in a small RV park about 5 miles off Rte. 20 the main road to West Yellowstone.  Monday morning we headed to Mammoth Hot Springs.  Of course, we had a few stops along the way at Gibbon Falls and then we got to Mammoth Hot Springs and the Roosevelt Arch.  This was the original entrance to the park from the north.  After a few pictures we went back to spend some time in Mammoth Springs.  The visitor center and historic Fort Yellowstone is located at the base of the Mammoth Hot Springs Terraces.  We stopped at the visitor center to use the facilities and to take pictures of the elk roaming around the town.  The we drove up a bit to the terraces.  Here we were walking around a herd of elk that seem to accept people.  Of course, we were smart enough to give them their space.  The hot springs and the colors of the rock are pretty amazing.  We walked up and around for a bit then drove up to the overlook.  We decided this was a long day and we were tired we stopped in West Yellowstone to have dinner.  Jack had intended to take this route on our way to Billings Montana but after driving these roads and all the switchbacks and curves decided that he didn't want to take the motorhome this way.  Tuesday we were back on the road to the park and this day we stopped at Artists Paintpots, Virginia Cascade and Canyon Village Education Center on our way to Tower Falls.  Another road we aren't taking the Motorhome on but a beautiful drive in a car.  Up around 8500 ft for most of the way.  The falls were spectacular and this was a day well spent. Not as long as yesterday so we came home for dinner.  Wednesday we took it easy until around 2 then drove into West Yellowstone and visited the Railroad Museum located in the old terminal.  Beautiful building and a real nice place to learn a little about the history of the area.  We walked around the quaint town and of course went in and out of stores.  Had a lovely spaghetti dinner right on main street with enough left over for dinner tonight.  We tried to go to the park yesterday (Thursday) but it was bumper to bumper traffic.  Took us 45 minutes to go 4 miles so we decided to turn around and go home.  We stopped for some groceries and then came back did some laundry. 
Today was spectacular.  Save the best for last.  We got up early and got on our way by 7:30.  Norris Geyser Basin, Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone and Old Faithful were on our list for today.  We hit them all and one was more amazing than the last.  Leaving so early it was still cold so you could really see the steam from the geysers and that just made the trip more enjoyable.  We did some walking and some riding and some stopping and going but if Jack ever gets the pictures out there I will let you know.  We saved the best for last and Old Faithful didn't disappoint.  I swear it spouted at least 500 ft in the air.  P.S.  I am a bad judge of distance.  Could have been more or could have been less but it was spectacular.  We obviously got home fairly early since I am posting this today.  We will be packing up and leaving tomorrow morning.  We stay a night in Billings MT then on to North Dakota but that's for another time.
Jack is outside relaxing and I'm going out to join him.  Talk to you later.

Hi,
I know I let a whole month go by without filling you all in on our adventures.  This has been a fun filled busy month. 
First, though, let me catch you up on the car story.  We really enjoyed the C-Max for the few days we had it.  Tuesday the dealership called and said the car would be ready on Thursday afternoon.  We went to pick it up and everything was free.  We were so glad to hear that let me tell you.  So all is well with the car and we are ready to hit the road.
We have been able to do some fun things.  We went to our first rodeo.  The St. Paul Rodeo on 4th of July weekend.  We had a good time and decided that we might go again next year.  We also went to Albany with Erin and Scott.  We had some stuff to put in and take out of storage and then we spent a great afternoon with Jim and Diane (Scott's parents).  We sat outside and had lunch and just visited. 
4th of July found us at Erin and Scott's for a picnic.  Jim and Diane came up and some of Erin and Scott's friends came over.  We ate and ate and ate!! Because isn't that what you do at a picnic.  Hamburgers, hot dogs, chips and dip and then the desserts. 
We also made a trip to Seaside for the day and walked on the beach and had a nice lunch.  Cute little beach town.  Headed to Mt. Hood one day.   We were surprised to see so many people skiing and snowboarding.  Still able to ski and snowboard in Oregon in July!!!  Took the long way home through Hood River and then along the Columbia River home.  They were wind surfing in Hood River.  Was really pretty windy and the Columbia had whitecaps. 
Sunday we finally toured the Pittock Mansion.  What a beautiful old home that has been restored to its former glory.  Sits up on the hillside and has a gorgeous view of Portland.  We have been talking about going there since Erin started college.  Sometimes we are a little slow doing things.  
On Monday of this week we were back in Albany.  Our friends Pam and Doug invited us for lunch and we sat on their patio and enjoyed the view.  They are on a hillside and look over the valley.  On a clear day you can see Mt. Hood but this particular day was not so clear.  We had such a great visit and were sad to leave.  Next year!!!!
We have been packing up slowly, well really Jack has been packing up since he has to do the outside and fit things in the bins.  I started putting things away today and really I have it easy.  I can pack up in about a half hour. 
We are going to Yellowstone for a week.  We leave tomorrow and will be there on Sunday.  Will keep you all posted on the trips to come.  Planning to be in Nova Scotia the end of August.  Looking forward to that trip and visiting with our friends Brenda and Steve. 
Well that has brought you up to date on our Oregon adventure.