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We're Baaaack! Missed Us? "Who They?" Got MOONSHINE-itis now!?!
About 1 month ago we wrote our last Blog. At the time we were in Grant, Florida. THEN, our home in Escondido that was, and now once again, is back on sale, went into a 30-day escrow. We scheduled our trip for home shortly thereafter, but rather unexpectedly we also decided to leave even earlier than planned and drive back to Alabama to have some work done on the Motorhome at the factory and then leave it there until we returned from Escondido. So, we just ran out of time and didn't have a chance to update in our Blog.
So to help fill in some blanks in time, before visiting Grant, we were 'living da life' in and around Miami, then we started our journey Northward. First stop, Hollywood, Fl. Laura had a great time reconnecting with Mitch (not our son), an 'old' colleague from her Rancho La Puerta Days. He is currently the spa director at a really nice condominium complex. Mitch asked Laura to play her crystal bowls in a private Yoga class. It was so fun for her seeing Mitch and working a little too. He is one comedic guy!
While in Hollywood, Fl., Laura also was so excited to connect with a high school friend, Nancy! Needless to say they loved reconnecting after these many years! After our brief stay, we then continued north to Grant which is along Florida's Central Coast, just south of Melbourne and north of Vero Beach. Why Grant? Well, way back in November '14 in "Ya-all" country, El Paso, Tx. to be exact, in a Camping World parking lot, we met Michael and Nenita, fellow Tiffin Phaeton RV owners. We talked for awhile, followed each other another 400 miles south and stayed in a Campground together in the middle of "No Where" Texas. We talked over dinner, and then the next morning drove in each other's shadow for another couple hundred miles, then honked goodbye, and parted ways on the Interstate with each of us driving to a new adventure.
Our new friends invited us to their home in Grant, Fl. It was really great! We visited them in their lovely home on two acres, and camped just a mile away at their nearby waterfront property that came complete with electric and water hook-ups. Life doesn't get another better than this! Michael is a longtime and passionate RV'er and handyguy who set up his waterfront property to share with RV friends. His wife, Nenita is equally outgoing and very charming. They showed us all around the area, it's beautiful, very low key > much to our liking. We continue to stay in touch.
BTW: RV'ers are UNITED - one of our most pleasant surprises 'On The Road" has been how very friendly and conversational (NO agendas) most fellow campers have been. In hotel settings it's been our experience that it's almost always "strangers passing in the day 'n night". However on the road and in campsites, we are constantly meeting new people, sharing information, sometimes even a campfire and sometimes even making new friends. It's WONDERFUL!!
Just south of Grant, there is the idyllic town of Sebastian. Well, as we were getting off the Interstate to go visit our new friends, I spotted a Veterinary Sign (these things still always catch my eye) and noticed the name, Jeff Slade, DVM. He's a former veterinary classmate of mine from UC Davis. Jeff is a great guy, has a wonderful well-established practice and spent a lot of time with us. We were excited to find him since our Hop needed a "tune-up" He also cleaned her teeth (dental prophy) and a few other things. It's a small world… So between Michael, Nenita and Jeff we were kept very busy and got to have an insiders look at the surrounding areas. It was really fun. Fish, fish, everywhere!
We dropped off the motorhome for service and flew out of Birmingham and up to NYC first. It was Passover, and for the past several years our tradition has been to enjoy this holiday at the beautiful Manhattan home of Laura's brother Art, his wife Ilene and their three kids. Mitch also flew down from Boston to join us. We stayed 4 days in the 'big apple', then left for home.
It had been over 3 months and we were excited about heading home. But, no sooner had we touched down in LA, got our feet on the ground, waiting for our connection to SD, that we got word that our home "fell out" of Escrow. As you can well imagine, we were very disappointed. Well, we needed to go home anyway to take care of a few things, see "Grandma Sally" (Gary's mom), our kids, Laura and Eric, and some friends.
After 3 weeks, we returned to Alabama, the heart of the "Confederacy," late last week and have already re-started our adventures. More about this a little later.
So now we're up to date, almost. Phew!!! When we flew back from Escondido and landed in Birmingham, we picked up Hop who almost started doing aerial somersaults when she spotted us from her Doggie Day Camp Digs, then drove a short ways to another new friends home, just outside of town. Sometime ago, Laura got an email forwarded to her about the "Grandmother's Speak Meditation Group" with an affiliate in Birmingham. Mary Ellen, a psychologist was head of it. Her Yoginess (remember, my nickname for Laura) responded and before you could say 'Namaste' she was scheduled to lead a Sound Healing Meditation to this eclectic, charming group of ladies in the heart of Confederacy Country (who woulda thought…). Anyway, one thing led to another, and we all became fast friends and even spent the night at her and her husband Bill's beautiful roaring creek-side home.
Next morning, we traveled two hours to Red Bay, Al., picked up our coach, exchanged niceties with our new "pig stabbing" (refer to previous blog) cowgirl friend, and drove 350 miles east through Tennessee, over to Moonshine Country. We're now staying at the very beautiful and quant "Moonshine Creek Campground."
To be continued in next Blog.
The LAST, fast & loose thoughts…
Hollywood, Fl.: Bike riding, with Hop of course, on their 8-mile ocean front Board Walk. "No Dogs Allowed" but in our Dog Carriage, no problem, just got lots of 'oohs, aahs, 'n smiles. No ocean waves, still very strange to me.
Sebastian, Fl.: Catching crabs, in crab traps, off "our" pier.
-Kayaking and exploring the "jungle-like" St. Sebastian River
-Driving around the Sport Shooting Range in a golf cart with -Jeff shooting flying Clay Pigeons. It was a blast and would love to shoot again another day!!
Great Smoky National Park (yep, NO "e" in smoky, suspect 'Moonshine-itis' while spelling) We are here now > see next blog for highlights. And FINALLY, just before our bodies slump over and heads flop down on the bar countertop, we can be heard saying, "Hey Bartender, bring on another round of that backcountry -brewed Corn Whisky stuff! Burp…
Best to All
Your favorite "Road Warriers,"
Gary & Laura
- comments
Steven Dias So happy you are back on the road and enjoying the sights, people, while making lifelong memories! Thank you for sharing!
Nancy Rubin (Franco) So wonderful of you to share this adventure!
Laura Gallerstein Thanks Steve and Nancy for your comments! We appreciate them!
butchhiller Enjoyed your update..safe travels..
Pattie glad you made it back to get Hop and back on the road again. See you when you get back! Enjoy the united-hood of the RVers!