Quest For Spring - Day 2

March 2nd - Wednesday

Left Carlisle, PA at 11:00 AM after making some minor repairs to our hot water. Lou found the only way we could get hot water from our hot water tank to our sink our sink and shower was to put it through our winterization system, so for the time being this is the process we shall be using.

It is a bright sunny day with one sign of spring, no snow. We have noted many RV’s going north and we are in hopes this means there will be room for us in one of the many RV parks in sunny Florida, as many of the Military Base Parks do not take reservations. First come first serve basis.

We spotted the White Tail Ski Resort which is located in Antrim County 16 miles from the Maryland border. We had tried to tell our granddaughter, Michelle about it and couldn’t remember the name of it, this time I am writing it down, so we will remember, it looks like great slopes to ski.

Gasoline prices are $3.38 here. We arrived at the Maryland border at 11:50 and on into West Virginia at noon with a temperature of 59 degrees and a very strong wind. Estee was sleeping very peacefully in her bed located under the kitchen table.

We stopped at a Welcome Center in Virginia at 12:25 PM for a walk and to fix our lunch. We both agreed that was the nicest Welcome Center we have been in with the exception of the one in Mansfield. The bathrooms were very special --- with family restroom and toddles size potties and sinks. There were computer rooms, snack rooms and lounge rooms. While on our walk I picked Lou a dandelion and Estee grabbed it and ate it!!

We were back on the road at 2:10 and the temperature was 62. We stopped for gas at a Kroger gas station and it was $3.25 which was a bit cheaper and plenty of room to maneuver the RV around in.

The rest of our day was not the best, we started looking for a place to spend the night, Lou remembered a place he had stayed before but it was back at Natural Bridge and the only other place was 69 miles further south, so we decided to go back, well it got dark, and my DH is not fond of my GPS, but I decided it was time for some drastic measures, so I put the address in and off we went, only to arrive and find they were closed for the season. Feeling a little “miffed” Lou went into a campstore and asked for advice and they shared with him this was the first year they hade closed in the winter and they called three other places and found them closed also. He came back and told me the sad story and I programmed Walmart into the GPS and DH told me he had never stayed at a Walmart, my remark “hey, consider this your first time.” We pulled into Walmart in Salem, VA at 9:30 PM and were darn glad to be there.

We dined on left overs and called it good.

Day One Carlisle, PA

March 1st - Tuesday Sunny 44 degrees NO Snow

We left Benedicts at 10:30 this morning and drove to Williamsport to Sam's Club to fill the RV with gas, at $3.29 per gallon and then on to Western RV Village to spend the night. We got situated in our campsite and unhooked the car and drove to the base to pick up our medication for the next three months and grabbed a quick lunch at the PX and Lou got a hair cut. On to the Commissary to pick up a few groceries and back to the camp site.

Estee did really well at the RV while we were gone and was glad to see us and seemed to say, I remember this travelling thing, I get to take lots of walks and she was ready to go. Lou had purchased several new toys for her, a new ball and a new squeeky toy so she was a pleased puppy.

While I put things away Lou made a few adjustments to the RV and we received several phone calls, one from Lou's daughter and she and her family came out and brought our dinner to us. We enjoyed an evening eating and visiting with them. Brion and Casey were able to get our two televisions working, and that pleased Lou. They also brought us an electric cork screw extractor, which we will really enjoy, as Lou has problems with his wrists and struggles opening items, it seems that they always come up with very thoughtful gifts.

So tomorrow we are off for points further south. Don't know how far we will get, we are not going to hurry, taking our time and enjoy and rest as we go. Will post as we have internet available.

On The Way!

Hi folks!

This is Krista, Mom & Lou left for warmer weather today. They had wanted a new heading photo for the blog. (It may change as they haven't seen it yet ) So I took some snapshots and told Mother that I would post the pictures to her Blog for her today. Since she won't have Internet access for a while.

The were pulling out of the driveway at quarter of ten today and as of 3-ish they were at Carlisle. We only had one hitch getting them off this am, seems the front drivers side jack froze to the black top driveway!They felt that was a sure sign that it was time to head for warmer weather! But no worries, a little bit of man power (tapped on the foot with a hammer) took care of it, and we sent them on their way!

Kitchen is Done and More Snow

February 27th - Sunday - 30 degrees - Four inches of Snow

Folks, in the last six days we have had 26 inches of snow and Lou has shoveled, run the snow blower and shoveled some more. Last night when he came back from the barn, after shoveling to make sure we can get the motor home out today, he said he was hanging up the shovel for the year; however, we awoke to four inches of snow this morning. He finally agreed to let me go out with him to help him clear everything off. Once again, he got the snow blower out and did the drive way, and I did the decks and sidewalks and helped him scrape after he finished with the blower and of course, at that point the snow plow decided to go past and fill in the end of the drive way. Once again, we are ready here to bring the motor home over this afternoon. Krista and Steve are going to help us get it over here. Allyn plowed in front of the barn yesterday, so now Steve will help Lou shovel and then we can get the things out of the house and the basement and get them in the motor home and then we can leave from here on Tuesday morning.

Our plans are to leave here on Tuesday and drive to Carlisle to pick up our medication for three months from the base stay there overnight and then drive to Virginia on Wednesday, and plan on being in Tennessee on Friday to visit with Al's family in the afternoon and then to Fort Campbell in Tennessee on Friday night and spend the weekend there with Spencer and

leave from there to go to my sister's home in Live Oak, Florida on Monday, but I don't know when we will arrive there.

From the pictures you can see that the kitchen is finished. I will tell you that I have now found a black lamp shade for the lamp on the antique dresser in the kitchen. I didn't think we would find one, but leave it to my husband, he found one. The house is all cleaned, even the hobby room, all windows are washed, just have the kitchen floor to do and the carpet in the bedroom and our bathroom to do and will do that after we have everything else done.

Michelle, I want you to notice the picture of the cactus, that is yours. Remember when you brought that stragley little piece home to me years ago? The poor thing has had so many mishaps and finally has rewarded us with a bloom. I was so pleased and knew you would be also.

You can also see from the pictures just how high the snow is stacked up next to the garage, and remember that we had a weekend of melting, and in many places we could see the grass. Last Sunday when Brion and Janet were here I could see my daffodils, no chance of that now!!

Probably my next post will be on the road and that will be as we have internet coverage. I had wanted to get coverage that I could carry with me through T-Mobile; however, it is not sold around here, so will have to wait until I can pick it us further south.

If anyone locally would like to see our RV, it will be in our driveway until we leave on Tuesday morning, feel free to stop by for a peek.