2022 and 2023

 2022 

Steve stayed in Florida, due to doctor appointments and him not feeling well.

Jan: Bette flew to Seattle for Dave Karnes memorial 

April 2022: Bette flew to California with Peg. Dale, Jim and Linda met us there for Uncle George's BD party . We rented a house along with Marvin and Patty Kelly

June / July - Bette flew to Seattle. Nancy and Bette took Nancy's RV to Montana  - this was a great trip

Aug - Bette stayed with Nancy and we attended Chris and Fernando's wedding. - it was Lovely

Sept. Savannah and Jacob's Wedding

Oct. Steve had his sinus surgery in Miami 

Nov - finished the remodel of our Lot and outdoor kitchen

Nov - Bette met Nancy, Lisa, Glen, Amy, Wes, Meika, Jes Karnes in Mexico for Nancy's 70th BD party

Dec - Zane here in Florida, we spent 3 nights at Flagler Beach, in a cabin. Zane swam with the Dolphins, we saw the Christmas lights in St. Augustine, toured the fort. Went to the Alligator Farm.

2023

Jan - Bette met Nancy and Lisa in Palm Springs Calif. We visited Joshua Tree National Park, Did a little hiking and had a great time

Feb. Linda visited us for a week, Went to the Essiey for a band concert, visited Vern and Kay for 2 nights,

April - announcement of Baby Girl  Blevins to arrive Oct 5, 2023

April - Steve and Bette -- Visited Nancy , LeRee's BD party, Saw Ann and Ben, Linda and her sister Cindy flew to Seattle, then the 4 of us flew to Honolulu of 2 weeks.  Dinner cruise, Arizona, beaches, Pali Highway

May - Chris, Fernando and Nancy flew back with us ; and we attended 3 days of Sun Fest

May - Stephan here from Germany for 10 days

June - Steve, Peg, Mike and I saw the Heath Brothers in concert , dog sat with Sasha 3 different time frames :)

2021 Summer Travels

This was a very hot summer - temps in the 90 - 116 - it cooled off our last day in Page AZ.

We left VIR on May 17th - and stopped at  Pecan Park – Jacksonville Fl for one night

to Jacksonville Florida

May 18 Triple C Campground Chattahoochee Fl very level Lot #5

Travels to Triple C

May 19 & 20 Hill Top RV Park, Robertsdale AL , Lot H-2, then headed towards Dallas due to 

storms in Houston. We cancelled our visit with Jane and Patrick and 3 parks along the southern route. 

Hill Top

May 21 Springridge Estates & RV Park, Clinton MS and 

May 22 Southern Living Park, Greenwood LA

Travels into Louisiana

May 23 & 24 Mockingbird Hill RV Park, Burleson, TX.  (just south of Dallas/ Fort Worth)

Arrive in TEXAS

May 25 Bar J Hitching Post, Sweetwater TX

Sweetwater Tx.

May 26 Mideassa Oil Patch RV Park, Odessa TX

Odessa Tx

May 27 Van Horn RV Park, Van Horn TX

2021 Van Horn RV Park

May 28 Hacienda RV Resort, Las Cruces NM

Las Cruces N.M.

May 29 Crazy Horse RV Camp, Tucson AZ – covered site

Arrived in Arizona

May 30 – June 18
 Eagle View RV Resort Fort McDowell AZ – near Phoenix - we visited with Linda & Jim , Sammy Bryan & Robbie,  Sue & Ray, Kathy & Joe.

2021 Fort McDowell

Bette flew to WPB to attend Savannah's Bridal Shower

Savannah's Bridal Shower

2 nights at Lake Havasu City - visited with Sherrie and Bryan Adams

Lake Havasu - London Bridge

2 day stay in Sedona to celebrate Steve's 66th Birthday at Sky Ranch Lodge

Sedona

June 19 & 20 Distant Drums RV Resort, Camp Verde AZ

Camp Verde Az.

June 21 – 23 Wahweap Campground & RV Park Page AZ. 

scenic drive to Page Az - next to Lake Powell

North Rim

North Rim

June 24 Beaver KOA, Beaver Utah

travels to Beaver Utah

June 25 – June 30 Lakeside RV Campground, Provo UT

Provo Utah

July 1 – July 14 Mountain Valley RV Herber City – (near Park City Utah) 

Herber City

 Nancy arrives on July 9th

July 15 – Aug 17 Snake River RV Park Idaho Falls Idaho -

 

Snake River RV Park, Idaho Falls

Nancy and Bette to Diggs Utah and Jackson Hole --  Nancy leaves on July 24

Nancy & Bette to see Amy in Diggs; then Jackson Hole

Steve and Bette drive to Crater of the Moon and Shoshone Falls in Twin Falls

Crater of the Moon & Shoshone Falls

Ann Arrived in Idaho Falls Aug. 1st.

Pictures with Ann - Twin Falls, Jackson Hole & Idaho Falls

Aug 15 Golden Spike RV Brigham City Utah

Aug 16 Fort Bridger RV Camp, Fort Bridger WY

Aug 17 Red Desert RV Camp, Rawlings WY

Aug 18 A.B. Camping RV Park, Cheyenne WY

Aug 19 Holiday RV Park & Campground, North Platte Nebr.

Aug 20 - Sept. 6 Pine Grove RV Park

Sept. 7 & 8 Amana RV Park

Sept 9 Sundermeier RV Park, St. Charles Mo.

Sept 10 Outback rV Resort, Eddyville Ky

Sept 11 Hawkins Point Park, Roseville GA

Sept 12 Twin Oaks, Elko Ga

Sept 13 Pecan Park Jacksonville Fl

Sept 14 -- VIR

2020 Oct - 2021 May in Florida

 Pictures from Oct - Dec 2020 - New Mustang, Marcia's surprise BD party, trips to the ocean, Christmas

Florida photos Oct - Dec 2020

Jan 2021 - Savannah and Jacob purchased a new home - pics of the model home that Dawn & Eric are building. Steve & I went to Hollywood Beach, Pics at VIR

Jan 2021

Bette flew to Seattle to be with Nancy in support of Dave's final days.

Dave & Nancy

Outings with Nancy - hikes , Lopes Island

Band at Two Drunken Goats concert with Jeanie and Bill, Marcia and Butch's new home, LuAnn & Bob Ohlinger visit, Easter celebration with Dawn and Eric at Golf course in Wellington, Ocean Pics, Savannah's family visit VIR, Delray restaurant 50 Ocean: Bette's birthday celebration, Visit with Kay & Vern in Fort Meyers, visit with Nadege. 

Travels around Florida Jan - April

Zane visits for 2 weeks -- ocean, Orlando, Heat game :)

Zane visits May 2021

2020 Summer - Covid Style

 We left Florida, May 2020 -- adjusted our travel plans and cancelled our stay in Lake Tahoe due to Covid concerns....  - parked the 5th Wheel - Yu - this is the first year that we are traveling with the 5th wheel -- Steve spent most of last season in Florida getting RV ready - rewired, re-vamped almost everything that he could... AND we needed to get a larger truck so we ended up with a red F450 Doulie (6 tires ) AND in Jan 2020, we purchased a red Mustang Convertible - I had lots of fun with driving places in Florida with it - only Covid prevented some outings to events; Local trips to Lake Okeechobee and to Fort Meyers to see Kay and Vern (Kay is Steve's first cousin)

Our fist destination - Pecan Park Jacksonville FL. May 6^th  
We have stayed here before - very nice park (some year we'll stay for more than a day and explore the area ...)

We stayed only one night at the following: Twin Oaks Elko GA, Harvest Moon Adairsville GA, County RV  Cave City KY, Lake Haven Retreat  Indianapolis In.  Site 216 --

Our destination Elkhart Indiana to have a better suspension and disc brakes put on the 5th wheel we stayed at : Elkhart Campground Elkhart IN.

While we were here we visited Marilee and Jim Lewis

Then - on to Iowa - stayed at Hickory Grove Campground  Sheffield Ill — ground saturated due to lots of rain with the sewer seeping in the ground.. Nice couple that ran the park, but will not stay here again...

Next stop: Amanda Iowa RV Park for 2 nights and received a visit from Lori and Tom

Then, on to Shelby Iowa RV Park, we always ask for lot #4 - it's behind the Motel and next to the apartment - a safe place to park the RV, while we stay with Linda -- to celebrate Linda's 80th birthday, we took her with us to S.D. Before leaving for S.D. I attended Emily Blum's bridal shower.

One night each at these 2 RV Parks Tower Campground – Sioux Falls SD, Oasis Campground – Chamberlain SD Then on to Elk horn Ridge Spearfish SD With Linda and Jenn met us there , then back to Shelby same route.

While we were in Spearfish we visited The Black Hills, Spearfish Canyon, Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse -- this was a good time; only we had several wind / hail storms which damaged the canvas over the slide outs, cracked the skylight, and damage to the big awning - so we filed an insurance claim with Progressive. There was nothing that prevented us from pulling the RV.

Here's the link for photos of Emily's bridal shower and S.D. Highlights

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipPDHtU9dgymankVCFaMDQi0Uu2uC1ewkQ-aHqk6

Stated with Linda for 3 weeks June 26 – Aug 9 Here are the highlights during that time...

June 27, 2020 Emily and AJ's Wedding
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOba5Fv13IsSNNxhjTiTr5JmvMm8Ssm3iMpVuLh

Zane visited us at Linda's , Aug 9th we headed towards Indiana to get the RV fixed. We stopped at the Amana RV Park for 3 nights - during this time Charlie and Barb visited us  one day and Lori and Tom the next day. The day that Charlie and Barb visited, a huge storm came through - hit Cedar Rapids the most (just 12 miles NE of us.) The 90 mile hour winds blew our RV off the jack pads, pushed 3 of the slide outs in 2 - 3 inches. Fortunately, we were at the restaurant when the storm hit. We were able to get the truck hooked up and get the jack pads put back into place. The next day Lori and Tom came to visit - they had a difficult time finding a route that was open, due to the downed electrical lines and trees. We drove to Cedar Rapids to look at the damage. We filed another RV insurance - and Progressive said we had Zero deductible for both claims -- how wonderful was that.... We headed to Elkart and stayed at Leisure Lake RV -Joliet Ill one night

Pictures in Amana RV Park and Cedar Rapids:
https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOlZ0YImcAi0l3Qk1bPiJk47MoOFmFDu9tQbVdN

Dropped off RV at Jayco Factory  for  Aug  17^th –  We stayed a couple days here in Indiana and visited with Marilee and Jim at their home. Plus Carol & George drove from Detroit and met us half way at a hotel - we had a great visit....

https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipOTyD_QspcVxqAK61Y62bNeTpsy1QYDwP-QdSdG

Then back to Linda’s for 2 months.

Hot Air Balloon Ride - with sister Chris

Hot Air Balloon Ride

Highlights during this time: Susie and Bill visited, watched Heat Games with Zane, Lauritzen Gardens in Omaha, Sunken Gardens in Lincoln, Quilt Museum in Lincoln
highlight

Picked up RV on Oct 12^th  -- first stop: Grandma's RV Shepherdsville KY, then 

Raccoon Mountain RV – Chattanooga TN, then Twin Oaks RV Elko GA, then 

Pecan Park Jacksonville FL. We stopped at Missionary International for one night to see Jo & Arlin and arrived at VIR on Oct. 23.

Photos from Indiana to WBP

2019 Summer Travels May - Sept.

Summer 2019 Destination: Michigan

We left Florida a little earlier this year, even though the temperatures were much cooler after we arrived in Michigan; we had a good time.

May 13 - 15 North Beach Camp Resort - St. Augustine Fl.
What a nice way to start our summer - This RV Resort is right across the street from the ocean. In spite of the fact that the lots are on very sandy soil and we arrived in the rain; we were able to level the Air Stream. It seems to always be most challenging when we first take off from West Palm Beach remembering all the steps for hooking and un-hooking the Air Stream. Perhaps after another 10 years of this life style we will find it less challenging...
A pull through lot # 50A - this was a good spot 

 The road going out of the RV Park - all roads were sandy

The Beach across the street from the RV Park   
                           I Love the Beach (Steve, not so much)

We took the Trolley ride for 2 days around St. Augustine - this was a good way to enjoy the city and decide what we wanted to do. We did not see all the things we wanted to see, so we'll be back..

On the Trolley

The Old Jail

Sheriff -- 

 Our Tour guide - "one of the prisoners" 


Museum - 

only a few pics from the museum 
                                                Coffee Grinder

 Washing Machine - powered by goats or children

 A few sites around town

We attended 0700 mass at Cathedral Basilica in St. Augustine

 After Mass we followed the priest and people to a room for silent prayer

The Fountain of Youth and pictures
    on the grounds of this exhibit

 House that the Indians of this area would have lived in.

View from the top of a tower 

View from the top of a tower 

Shrine to the Virgin Mary.
The original shrine was built in the late 1500s.

         204-ft. cross Near the Shrine - placed on the spot that the               first settlers visited St. Augustine

We found some good Restaurants 

A1A Ale House - great Nachos

Harry's - great seafood

and the most interesting decor and
good Mexican at Tijuana Flats

MAY 16 - Cordele KOA - (Georgia)
   We have stayed here before - a nice RV Park 


May 17 & 18th - Holiday Travel Park of Chattanooga
  This RV park is located in Rossville Ga - we stayed on lot #109 We like this park, also stayed here several years ago - this trip we found some nice tourist attractions.

70% Grade on Rail to Lookout Mountain

Rock City

Lover's Leap in Rock City 

Lover’s leap - how it got it's name:  A Chickasaw warrior named Sautee loved a beautiful Cherokee maiden named Nacoochee. Their two tribes were at war, and the two lovers were found out. The Cherokees sent out a raiding party which captured Sautee and hauled him to the ledge atop Lookout Mountain and threw him off to his death. While they were celebrating their deed, Nacoochee slipped unnoticed to the edge of the cliff. Her family couldn’t reach her in time, and the last word she spoke before leaping to her doom was “Sautee.”

It’s possible that there is an element of truth to this story, for there are two nearly lost towns in the valley below which bear the names Sautee and Nacoochee, whose histories stretch back farther than the Tennessee theme park.

My own guess is that for as long as there have been lovers, love has been seen as a leap. You’re putting the ultimate trust into another person, despite all the odds. You have to mean it, and be willing to hold onto that trust even in the face of loss. It’s a leap of faith, and if done with a pure heart, there is no turning back. For far too many, when love is lost, it’s better to seek oblivion than to carry on.

My own favorite tale of a lover’s leap is from another place altogether, where the young brave was simply not in his love’s class, and had brought shame to her and her family. He leapt, but the breeze lifted him and carried him back to his lover’s arms, for in the end, love recognizes no class, no status.nows 

that and sometA few pictures of the Fairy Tales - in Rock City
            There were many scenes like these 

Ruby Falls - located deep inside a cave - This was fabulous !!
 You walk for a long distance and at the end of the cave is a
 145 foot water fall. The water comes from the Tennessee
 River.

 

May 19 Louisville North Campground - Clarksville Indiana
- A small rv park close to the Interstate - OK for a short stay

May 20 - 21 Indian Lakes Campground - Wolcottville In.


 It was cold 50 - 60 ,and rainy... we were next to a lovely lake


Maralee & Jim Lewis live in Wolcottville  - we had a nice visit with them. Went to Auburn Car Museum

 There were several hundred cars in the museum

May 22 - 26 Bazan Baldwin Oaks Family RV Park - Hudson Michigan (near Grand Rapids). 

A good park for the Memorial Day weekend as the larger RV parks were full; plus this was close to Arlin & Jo Maas. We visited them and Barb & Charlie Mims were also there - so we had a good time. Arlin & Jo gave us a tour of the area.

May 27 - May 31 River Ridge RV Resort - Stanwood Michigan
 a nice park along the river, with a heated pool. This is close to Marie & Bert. We had lunch with them one day at their home.  We are having some cooler days - mid 60's with lows in upper 40's.

The River from the RV Park --Steve is growing a beard............

Marie and Bert - the river is in their front yard.

We traveled to Big Rapids a couple days and walked along the river.

June 1 - July 25 Silver Creek RV Resort - Mears Michigan
We are now close to Lake Michigan. The days are starting to get warmer........... We had to move to different lots several times in order to stay here this long. 

Cruise on the USS Badger across  Lake Michigan (52 miles) to see family and friends. From Ludington Mi -Manitowoc Wi. 
Had lunch with Bill McLaughlin (VIR owner), stayed with Ray & Sue Sheeran for 3 nights, and one evening with Kevin (military buddy of Steve's).

A walk in the woods on Ray & Sue's hunting land.

Their Cabin

Lovely Restaurant in Horeb Wi.-- known for it's many trolls

Madison Wi State Capital

From the top of the Capital building

June 1 ----  Our trip to Chatham Canada for Bob Young's funeral :(
Sylvia and Fred were there also. We had a nice visit with Deanna and her family.  Bob will be missed !
Barb and Charlie were with Deanna when Bob died - this was a blessing that they were there.....

On a more cheery note - we flew to Las Vegas for brother Jim and Linda's wedding..... June 27th.

View from our room at Westgate Hotel

Jim - getting ready................

Bette and Jim (looking good brother !!)

Steve, Jim , Tom

It was an Elvis wedding - very nice ceremony.

Linda and Jim arrive via limo

Koal - Jim's grandson

Linda's daughter, Sky

Mike  - Linda's son -in--law walks Linda up the isle

Star (Jim's daughter) and Issac

Sam (Jim's daughter) and Bryant

Bette, Tom and Lori

Jim with Elvis glasses and sideburns

Jim with Pat & Jerry

Steve and Bette 

More pictures and a video of the wedding can be found at
https://photos.google.com/share/AF1QipOuEBEePjeEH1ItETdr8S8cc27qxKgXpEZEwEhnV4ytKY9nqRBb3HrfX3kEktxfXg?key=bWF4aVV6bllYYlBlVEV3cW9iSVdZay04MnlOTGpB

The After wedding party at "Dick's Last Resort"

Paul McCartney Concert in Las Vegas fabulous show We Were in the "Nose Bleed" section; and that did not matter; as the concert was awesome !!

Back to Silver Creek RV park - we meet Lynn & Derek - they both are working part time at this park. We went out to eat twice with them and plan to stay in touch in the future
We saw many lighthouses while at this western Michigan RV Park

Big Sable Lighthouse - 2 mile walk to the lighthouse


It was still a little chilly one the day we took this hike - low 60's but sunny

Little Sable Lighthouse -- 92 feet to the top

 

Iowa is only 265 miles away...

 Beach and North Breakwater Lighthouse in Lundington 

Walked up the hill to find the Dunes in Pentwater

White River Lighthouse and museum

Sign at the Hart Brewery

Lundenton North Breakwater Lighthouse

Ride on the Dunes - booked a ride with a company that owns 700 acres of Dunes

 Tour guide

 Silver Lake

When lightening strikes the sand, it leaves pieces of compressed sand -- stay off the beach when it's stormy.

Sunset at Mears 

Visited Lighthouses near Traverse City

Manistee 

Frankfort Mi Point Betsie

Lunch with Sharon & Bob Potere

Town of Kalkaska Mi  -- big trout

Trip to New Haven to meet up with Jo & Arlin and
to see the Heath Brothers

Waves on Lake Michigan

Christen, Nickolas, Clayton           The 3 Heath Brothers

Muskegon South Pierhead Lighthouse and waves on Lake Michigan 

July 26 - 30 River Ridge RV Resort
 Stanwood Michigan -- Relaxing time

Met Marie and Bert in Reed City for lunch

July 31 - Sept. 3 Northpointe Shores RV Resort
Ira Township Mi  (Met Patty & Paul plus Kathy & Bob here)
Sunrise 0624

Walk along the Clinton River

Evenings at the Fire Pit

 New RV Friends Patti and Paul - They are in AZ during the winter

 Time with Carol & George 
                                Lunch at their home plus met them for lunch one day at Ford's Garage in Dearborne

Spent time embroidering a pair of pillow cases 

Took the ferry to Canada in Algonac - a very small car ferry - cost $8.  Spent 2 nights with Deanna Young

Celebrated our 26th year Anniversary with 4 nights away from the RV -- here's where we went and what we saw: 


The view from Best Western  Inn in St. Ignace - Lake Huron 

Yup - Steve got rid of the beard (yeah !! )

Boat ride to Mackinac Island

The bridge from Mackinaw City to St. Ignace

We took a horse drawn carriage ride around the island

Museum pieces

Pictures on the island- from the fort where we had lunch

The yellow umbrellas are the ones in the cafe in the fort

More pictures around the Island on our horse drawn carriage ride.

Sunset - last night at Hotel in St. Ignace

 Trip to the most northern part of Michigan  

to the Shipwreck Museum at Whitefish

Museum at Whitefish

 Tahquamenon Falls

VIR reunion with Marilee & Jim, Sylvia & Fred, Pat & Rudy plus Jo & Arlin in Frankenmurth  

Merilee and Jim

Pat and Rudy

Sylvia and Fred

River Boat -- we took a ride

 Deer

 Ducks

Turtles 

Frankenmurth Christmas Store - at least a block long

 The Silent Night Memorial Church, 

next to the Christmas Store

Merilee & Jim's Anniversary the day we all left  --69 Years !!!

A Restaurant on the St. Clare River - Canada is on the other side

We took the Ford Tour - Not able to take pictures during the tour - these antique cars were in the entrance way

The Ford Tour - no pictures allowed on the Factory Floor

Here's a few pictures taken in the Museum and the Ford Village

and more pictures taken at Ford Museum and Village can be found at
https://photos.app.goo.gl/CuBw2yU1RHtwFAwZA

Back at Northpointe Shores RV Park - Carol and George pay us a visit-- the waves are wild !!

Chris Laux comes to Detroit to attend her brother's funeral - we went to Miller's for burgers.

Day trip to Hansen Island, MI. via ferry

Next Stop: Punderson State Park Newbury Ohio - lovely park; included a lodge, cabins and lake. Visited Ali and Mark in nearby Solon Ohio

Sept 7 - 9 at Ramblin Pines RV Park, Woodbine Maryland -- near Ron (Bette's Brother)  & Melissa
and family (Faith and Blake who is at College)

Here we are in Boston at the Street Paining Event

We found a nature park - great place for a walk

While in Maryland - had lunch with Ann and Ken

Next: one night at RV Resort at Carolina Crossroads in Roanoke Rapids NC,
Then 2 nights at Creek Fire RV resort in Savannah Ga.. 
We spent one day in Savannah on a trolley tour and walking along the ocean inlet.

Prohibition Museum

                 Dumping alcohol in the streets


















Tens of thousands of people died because of prohibition-related violence and drinking unregulated booze. The big experiment came to an end in 1933 when the Twenty-first Amendment was ratified by 36 of the 48 states. ... One of the main reasons Prohibition was repealed was because it was an unenforceable policy.
After the repeal of the 18th Amendment, some states continued Prohibition by maintaining statewide temperance laws. Mississippi, the last dry state in the Union, ended Prohibition in 1966



A few sights around the City

We arrived at the Catholic Church just in time for Mass

 Alligator in the restaurant where we ate.

Next Stop: Beverly Beach , Flagler Florida - for one lovely night.
View from the inside of the AirStream

September 14, 2019 Arrived at Vacation Inn Resort (216 miles from Beverly Beach)

Looking down our street.............  Good to be back Home.
That's the Moon !!!!

Sunset  :)