It's Spring..........FINALLY!!!!!!!

                           
Several weeks ago the weather suddenly went from cold (chilly to you up north) to beautiful and rather nice....70s.  Like most people that have endured a long, cold, drab winter we got excited.  So excited in fact that we took nearly all our winter clothes to our storage building bringing the spring/summer attire to Ollie.   You guessed right!!!  Too early!!!  It wasn't long after that the temperatures decided to get colder, wetter and uglier.  We endured....determined to use what we had and not give in.   It paid off......spring has arrived in the south!!!!

Now in the south we really don't have a very long spring.  In fact, it's almost over!!  Today it will be in the mid 80's BUT without the horrible humidity that we will experience later in the season.

We decided to take a walk around the park today and learn more about the settings on my new camera.  I experimented with the manual mode and I would say I'm in the learning mode!!  I found a few interesting sights along the way.
           

You can always tell how excited folks are when they can finally get outside and enjoy some wonderful sunshine!!  The kids are even swimming in the lake....how cool is that!!!!
           

Swimmers are right behind the middle branch on the left

Floaters in the background

Last week I got some great news from my latest CT scan.  I have to have those every so often.   The results showed NO nodules or masses.....all clean and clear!!!!  To God be the glory!!!  If it were not for His grace I believe I would not be doing what I'm doing today.   I have an appointment with my Oncologist Thursday and then Mike has two physical therapy sessions and then we are free to roam some.
We can't roam as far as some but a change of scenery is just what the doctor ordered.  Well, he didn't exactly order it but he would if only he understood the joy of RVing, full-timing or just exploring God's creation.
             

My journey is not over with this cancer....or I should say recovery from cancer.  I will be pulled back every 3 months for another year and then every 6 months for 3 more years.
It's ok because I'm ok!!!

We are planning a big trip this fall!!!! If all goes well we plan to travel to the Grand Canyon and see as many as possible of the national parks in that area of Arizona, Utah and Colorado.  I know many of you have seen these places but we never have!!!! How do you say....excited!!!!  So any pointers or tips are gladly welcomed.
             

So hopefully in a week we an do a post from a different view!!  Until then, safe travel nd happy journeys!!!

A Uniqueness of the RV Life

Several years ago Gerri and I had our first outing as full-timers, and we loved it.  The 2 years we were in our RV, we met some of the best folks ever and those special friendships continue even after 7 years.  When we began full-timing people would tell us that its not only the places you visit but its the friendships you make!!  Boy were they right!!

We got a call from Mike and Peggy Evringham a few days ago that they wanted to stop by for a visit on there way back to Maine and of course we said by all means.  We were excited because we had not seen them in about 4 years.  We told them where we were camped and fortunately there were several sights available for his motorhome. 

            

After they arrived and got settled, we visited for a while and took a tour of their new Winnebago Forza motorhome and we showed them our new Oliver Trailer.  Our conversation picked up as though we had just seen them yesterday.  It is incredible the friends you make on the road and how you can pick up even when you haven't seen each other for about 4 years. 
        

 Mike and Peggy brought some fresh gulf shrimp with them and grilled them for dinner and boy were they good.  We had some fresh fruit and a salad and some cheese biscuits to go with the shrimp, followed with dutch apple pie topped with ice cream.

We visited a good bit after supper until we decided to call it a night.  Mike  and Peggy were planning to make it out around 9 the next morning so we got up to say our “see you down the road” and wish them safe travels.  They invited us to come up to Maine sometime and they would give us the tour…think that will definitely be on our to do trips.

We enjoyed our visit and sharing the friendship…after all that is more important than the places you see!

A Walk in the Park

Mike and I discovered a very nice park in town the other day.  Town Creek Park sits right in the middle of a very nice section of Auburn.  

                 

There is a nice entrance where you can park your car and has restroom facility along with a large fenced dog area.  On the day we visited there were several dogs happily at play in this safe area.  

We began our walk at this point and discovered a very nice wooden path and bridge over a creek.  

                   
 
                               

    

As we continued walking we saw a nice sized pond with a dock leading out to a pergola.  What a nice quiet place to just sit and listen to the birds or watch the turtles sunning.   You could tell it is spring with all the birds happily singing and so much pollen in the air.

                    

                            

The path just continued on around the pond where we met several people on the trail, some with children in strollers some walking their dogs and some just enjoying a nice spring day.

                    

                                           

On the back side of the pond we found an exercise play area for both larger children and adults.  A good place to tone those muscles.

                

 

There were a few side paths but they didn't lead to much...no outlet.  One side path led to a very nice public cemetery also called Town Creek.  

This park continued across the street with more walking trails.  We were pretty impressed with the park and the cleanliness and just how well done everything was.  A definite place to return enjoy and walk!!  
              

"This is a beautiful world, and all who go out under the open sky will feel the gentle, kindly influence of Nature and hear her good tidings."  Enos Mills

Choosing a Path

Being in an RV makes it easier to go to National Forests, State Parks or even National Parks.  Once in those areas, we have many opportunities to seek paths that will take us to specific destinations or to even start down the path not knowing where it would lead.  Exploring different paths is a great way to see things you may never have seen if you don't explore.

      

                           

We have all taken paths that lead us to magnificent views or awesome sights and then, I would imagine, we have all taken paths that led us to some dangerous situations or places we didn’t want to be.

        

Many of the paths that we take are man made while others are just natural.   It doesn’t matter because both can be pleasing to the eye.

                         

When we get to our destination, we are speechless at the beauty or awesomeness we see.   Then there are some paths that can be a bit rough or not very traveled but still are interesting and worthy of exploration.

                            

I would also imagine that we all have, at some time, taken the wrong path creating problems for ourselves.  The beauty of exploration is that we can always find our way back to the right path.  

                          

We wish you many happy moments on the paths that you take and may you find lots of beauty and joy in your explorations.  

                          

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.  Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take.

Psalms 37:23-24

A Calm Life...

"It's okay to be happy with a calm life.". I read these words on a facebook site the other day.   I believe they were written by Sue Fitzmaurice.  I would not want to use someone's quote without giving them credit.  Anyway, it got me to think a little about a calm life.  What exactly is a calm life, what does it look like, how do I get it??

As some of you already know, this is our second time to enter the full-time lifestyle.   This time came differently than last time.  We actually thought we had a calm life.  I mean sitting on the front porch, visiting a certain restaurant for lunch nearly every day just to get out and actually have something to do and interact with people.....isn't that calm?  Or maybe that is boring???  All I know is Mike and I both felt like something was missing...we just couldn't put our finger on it.

Everyone knows it's good to stay active, be busy and involved in something.....we weren't.  We just did the same things over and over all the time and being restless inside.   One day we both asked ourselves, "why don't we full-time again?".  Can we do this!  Can we go back?  Why not?  We weren't giving up much by staying.   So after much praying....we listed our house. Forty-eight hours later we had our asking price by way of a cash sale.

This was our motorhome when we full-timed our first time

We didn't want a large motorhome this time,  Mike had a situation with his left eye that has left him legally blind in that eye.  His depth perception is not great and is definitely not good for driving a motorhome.   We decided to truly simplify our lives and travel in a smaller RV that we could both drive, park in any spot we desired and tow without investing in a very large truck.
This is what we wanted in our next RV.  We want to explore national parks, national forest and even do some off the grid type camping.  Our style had changed and what we wanted from the lifestyle had changed.  That's when we discovered the double hull molded fiberglass trailer called Oliver.  We had ours built equipped with every option available which included 320 watt solar with a 2000 watt Xantrex inverter....yes, we can go off grid now.  The tanks are enclosed and with dual pane windows we are four season.

             

This is the bottom hull with holding tanks.  The inside  hull is placed on top of this.

The inside floor hull...

Our 23.5 ft. Oliver Legacy Elite ll

We can't move around quite as much as many can or as much as we would like.  Since I had an encounter with cancer I have to see my doctor every three months for two years.  This March 14th marks one year.  After two years we become a little freer and I only see the doctor every six months.  This means our travels will be spaced between doctor visits.  That's ok because, you see, we aren't just sitting on the front porch any longer.

Peace comes from the inward, not circumstances

I've discovered that calm is not necessarily the outward circumstances, calm is inside.        

         
We walk in the campground wherever we are and enjoy the beauty God created.  We talk to the people we meet along the way and every now and then we still eat out for lunch.  Old habits are hard to break.  We have even started to capture some of these moments "through the lens."  We sit outside and read and spend quiet time in the Word with God and enjoy a late night fire in the firepit.

I would say our lives are calm but most importantly WE are calm.

Be still and know that I am God...Psalm 46:10

It certainly feels good to be home.  Thank you for joining us on this journey called life and we look forward to following your journeys.

A Sunny Day Outing

Last week Mike and I found an opening in all the rain we've been having and decided to check out an area nearby on Lake Martin.

We left the campground and traveled northwest for about 45 minutes to Alexander City, Alabama.  This is where Windcreek State Park is located.... sitting right on the banks of Lake Martin.

Lake Martin is located in Tallapoosa, Elmore and Coosa counties in Alabama.  It is a 44,000 acre lake with over 750 miles of wooded shoreline.
It is one of the largest man made lakes in the U.S.   A noted recreation area that sees swimming, boating, camping and lots of nature.  The shores are lined with, not only a state park, but many beautiful homes.
                           

This is taken from an rv site

It will take another trip there to be able to see all that it has to offer.                        

Our purpose for this trip was not only to get out and do something after so many rainy days but to explore the state park campground for a future stay.
                           

Out home base is in Auburn, Alabama at Chewacla State Park where we have full hookups and a monthly rate.   Our son lives in Auburn and it is also very close to our doctors and Mike's physical therapy.   We have been tethered to this area because of this.  I have to see my doctor every 3 months for another year and then I can go every 6 months.  My doctor is located in Lagrange, Georgia.  So we have to be in this area quite often.

Now enters football season!!  Football is very big here in Auburn.   This is the home of Auburn University and the Auburn Tigers.  This year there will be some huge home games.    Two of those being Georgia and Alabama.  We have found out, the hard way, that every campsite is booked and also outrageously priced during football season.  They even raise the price for RV storage during that time.  So we are scoping out alternatives for this time since we want to be nearby for Thanksgiving.   Windcreek is a good possibility.

Windcreek is a huge state park and they offer full hookups and monthly rates November thru February.   It is also a wildlife sanctuary.  We were told there are even some bald eagles nesting in the sanctuary.  Unfortunately, we didn't see them on this trip.

So our trip yielded a nice outing and a great possibility for a November stay.

                       

The heavens declare the glory of God and the sky above proclaims His handiwork.

Psalm 19: 1

Early Birthday Present

An early birthday present!!  My birthday is not until March 21st but since spring appears to be making its debut early this year, Mike didn't want me to be without a camera to capture the beauty of the season.                
                           

My old faithful Sony point and shoot was about 8 or 9 years old and I was having trouble getting disk to fit it and getting the pictures off the old disk.  I didn't want a large DSLR mainly because I don't know much about them and I didn't want to carry a lot of extra "stuff" every time I wanted to take pictures.  So for the past several weeks we have been looking cameras, reading reviews and asking a few bloggers that we read their opinions.

I finally came to the conclusion that a small DSLR would be the best choice.   I chose a Canon SL1.  It is about the same size as my Sony, which was a big plus.  I have two lenses, the 18-55 mm and 75-300mm.  I will learn with these two lenses and probably use the 75-300 the most.  I still don't know a lot about DSLR cameras and terminology such as ISO, aperture and speed but if all else fails I can use the automatic setting.  I do want to learn more about how this camera works and how to make it do what it's designed to do.  But even on automatic I get good clear, crisp pictures with good color.

                          

It feels good to have a camera again!!!

I think he is looking for spring

             

Spring is truly right around the corner