Catching Up the Blog

The weather has finally started to improve.  For the second day in a row, we are wearing shorts.

We meet with Jim and Wanda about once a week for either lunch or dinner.  Last week we went to the new Toby Keith restaurant.

We were the only people there until almost 12:45p, and we met at 11:30.  Food was good, but there was someone else's hair in my sandwich so I had to send it back for a new one.  Hopefully they didn't spit in it! 

 The canal was full of pelicans when we first arrived in January.  A month later, they are gone.  Butch loved to bark at them.

Last week's full moon.  I haven't figured out my new camera to get a good picture of the moon.  I keep trying though.

Too bad I can't remember what settings I used for this one.

Last Friday was the annual fish fry in the park.  The owner provides the fish; this year it was talapia. Everyone who attended brought a dish to share.  A good time was had by all.  We were stuffed when we left.

Part of the activities at the fish fry was crowning the Mardi Gras king and queen.  This honor gets a lifetime opportunity to be first in line at all park activities, a lifetime opportunity to ride on the Mardi Gras float, and most importantly, a free week of camping in the park.

Walt and Sue after being crowned.

Sunday afternoon we finally got to ride the bikes.  We had attempted on Saturday, but acquaintances showed up, and didn't leave until too late in the day.  We ended up riding 15 miles. 

Yesterday we went back to the Naval Air Station to golf. Mark's back was finally feeling better and he shot a good score. It was a perfect day.  Great views around the course. 

We biked down to the beach this morning after Zumba class.  I guess with the warm weather, you get the fog.

Your Plan Worked Pam and Dennis!

It took phone calls, numerous texts, and emails from Pam and Dennis, but we finally did it.  We went to visit them in Port Charlotte, Florida last week.  Our forecast was not good, so we left Gulf Shores at 6:00am last Thursday with clothes stuffed into shopping bags, Butch, and directions to the hotel.  A mere 11 hours later, we arrived to a very nice "pet friendly" hotel, 75 degrees, sunshine, and a whole lot of very friendly people, and of course, my sis and her hubby. 

Butch very happy to be with Pam again, especially since her dog, Darla, is at the breeder after having puppies

Butch loves to harass Smudge, who does not like Butch at all

As luck would have it, it was "ice cream social" night, followed by entertainment.

A band made up of RVers

We met up with Pam and Dennis in the morning to get a good look at their park.  We walked the two miles through it, stopping to meet new people every 50 feet, dragging Butch the whole way.  They took us to visit two other RV parks nearby, and then lunch outside at Navi-Gator restaurant.  The giant fish sandwich was great, as was the 75 sunny day.

Pam, Dennis, and I headed to the heated pool for a game of pool volleyball while Mark headed to the hot tub.  After that Mark says to me, "This is where I want to spend next winter."  We were hooked, which was the plan all along by Pam and Dennis.  

Pam hosted a happy hour, and then made us dinner again  

The next morning we got up way too early and decided we had seen enough.  We headed back to Riverside RV Park, filled out the appropriate forms, picked out a few spots we might be interested in, left a deposit, said goodbyes, and headed north.  We drove through rain for the first 4 hours, but made it back to Gulf Shores in 10 hours.

New sign we saw at the Florida rest areas.  What next??

Butch driving, wanting to get us back to Gulf Shores in a hurry.  Too much car time, in too short time

It's hard to stay in this park now after visiting an active, pet-friendly park.  We let the park know yesterday that we would not be back next winter.  Even if we don't get in the park in Port Charlotte, we will find somewhere warmer for next year.  The girls in the office were shocked, but we didn't retire to wear coats, gloves, and scarves while paying to winter somewhere warm.  

I've been cleaning all morning since Mark left for the chiropractor.  Now he owes me lunch out!  So much for austerity and dieting.

We Just Keep Eating!

It's been quiet here since the weather changed for the better. We had a visit with friends from Texas, Mike and Pam Cotton. We also got to spend some time with their son who works with unmanned aircraft for the Air Force. We learned some very interesting things but we can't repeat anything!

We did a little checking to find out if Gulf Shores has any equipment at all for snow removal if there is another stretch of bad weather. It turns out they do have one piece of gear but it's very limited in how effective it might be.

The only other thing we have done is eat. The annual weight loss plan over the winter season is already in jeopardy. We have revisited McGuires, DeSotos and several others. It wouldn't be so bad but we keep ordering desert.

Diane's desert at McGuires

Tonight we went to the Original Oyster House for the RV park dinner. This is one event on the RV park social calendar that everyone attends. The posted time was 5 pm but as usual, the cars were rolling out of the park at 4. We arrived at 4:50 and were one of the last ones to get there. Great food and great company. 

Time to start the austerity program and cut the spending!!!