Cajuns!

We had our giant send-off with the Cajuns-- a huge pot of gumbo chock full of crab and shrimp, potato salad, bread pudding. In typical Cajun fashion, they pulled about 8 couples together and made it look effortless. It was both Katie and Cheryl's birthdays- so I bought a red velvet cake for them. They were thrilled.

St Paul and the wild opossum

Our Minneapolis/St Paul annual visit has typically been scheduled for July/August, but this year, because of the eye surgery, we were coming through in October. We didn’t even think about weather issues (I had conveniently forgotten the memories of my 30 years in the “north country” and those brisk fall days). We realized that we might be looking at some cool nights when Rick and Sue, the campground owners, told us that they closed for the season on October 7th. Since we wanted to be in the area to help out Mom and E.D. close up the lake house, we decided to brave the chilly weather. We spent a weekend in Wisconsin at the lake.

These visits are always a bit boring for John. I had my annual dinner with Kathy and Jane and caught up on their lives, their kids and now grandkids, and all of the trials and tribulations of old high school friends.

This year I also re-discovered an old Ziff colleague- Dianne – who I had lost touch with for all these years. She and her husband had been transferred to Athens, then to Brussels and had just returned to the States and their home in Woodbury- just a few miles from our campground. We decided to get together for lunch and catch up. Di’s life is crazy- two kids with impossible schedules. Between football, hockey, tennis, youth group meetings and car pooling- and her ‘baking business’ – she leads an absolutely insane life. After meeting Chloe (and John), we took a ride to her house to meet her ‘babies’- Lester and Leo, her shitz-tzu’s. When Di let Lester outside, he raced out- and under their deck. We heard mad barking and Di said that she was sure there was a dead animal under the deck. She got out a broom and tried to get both the animal carcass and Lester out from under the deck. Then we heard not only barking from Lester, but a very different growling from some other creature. It was unnerving and then there was silence. Di looked up at me and said, “Do you think he’s dead?”….and we both had visions of trying to get a bloodied Lester out from under the deck while fighting off some other wild creature. Then, we heard the barks again and Lester raced out from under the deck. Di appeared with a dead animal carcass that looked like something from Jurrasic Park. As only a Viking woman could do- she came in to the kitchen, triumphantly holding the carcass – and smiled.

Then, she tried to figure out how to place the carcass in the garage to get the maximum impact when her husband arrived home that night… Her 9 year old son, meanwhile, was trying to convince her to let him take it to school. Postscript—the living creature under the deck was there for several days. After calls to Animal Control (no help), they decided to try to trap it. Days later, I got an email- it was a 0possum and they were able to trap it and set it free in the wild.

Cleveland- A Trip Down Memory Lane

This year our Cleveland trip was a little less stressful- the parking lot was sold and now just a part of family history. But, we were “hosting” a visit from John’s sisters, Alice and Mary. They wanted to come in to their hometown to look at it from a different perspective- a walk back through time and family history. With all of the research on all of the family lines, John had been able to identify family property in Cleveland dating back to the 1800’s. So, we took the girls on a 3 day walk through history.




Alice (or, ‘the worm’- known for her ability to talk her way into anyone’s house) was in great form on this trip- on our first morning, we were able to get into 3 of the old family homes.


Imagine 4 strangers (and a dog) knocking on your door and worming their way into your house for a tour down memory lane. It was really interesting--lots of old stories and I think that the current homeowners enjoyed the visit as much as we did. One of the homeowners even gave the girls 4 hand-painted doors from their parent's bedroom closet (sounds strange- but they were quite lovely- and I think they plan to convert them into serving trays).

John did an amazing job of pulling together old family photos- then taking the girls to the sites and using the photos to bring the sites to life. They were thrilled- seeing places where their parents, grandparents and great-great grandparents lived - and seeing the old photos and taking pictures of themselves in the same sites. We even stopped by a popcorn factory that had family connections back to the 1880's.

The Humphrey Popcorn Company had ties back to John's Harlow relatives and there were stories passed down in the family about a popcorn stand. So, we were given the grand tour- and walked out with bags of popcorn balls and taffy. All in all, a very successful - but exhausting trip

.

East Haddam

More research on the Harlows—so it was time for a trip to East Haddam. We stayed in Lyme, CT and got to not only get some family research done, but also meet up with E.J. and Sharon (and Jolie)

The Dog Days of Salem

CHLOE.....


BAILEY....



AND STELLA..................

Summer in Salem

After a month of what seemed like non-stop rain and cold, the sunshine has come out and we are enjoying our waterfront view. Waking up every morning to this view just starts your day out right.

We've had a great time so far--catching up with old friends. John even caught up with an old army buddy, Charlie. A few bottles of wine and the army stories kept us in stitches.

And, best of all, we got to have an afternoon with Steph and Jim - before they took off for their holiday in Japan. They flew in from NYC for the afternoon and the weather cooperated- giving us a gorgeous sunny day for lunch on the Salem harbor.

No swimming, no hot tubs, no MASCARA --Eye Surgery

When I was in high school, we’d always ask the question, “What two things would you take with you on a deserted island?” My response was always books (or, if the island had electricity- my stereo and collection of albums and 45’s) and mascara! While my response to that question today would probably be more of “a Kindle and my PC” – mascara wouldn’t be one of my first choices. But, it is still one of those things that I count on every day. The Summer of ’09 however, was going to be my “Summer of no mascara”.

About 3 years ago during a routine eye exam, the doctor found some scarring on the cornea and sent me to a specialist in Boston. He diagnosed something called “Saltzmann’s nodular degeneration”. It’s basically the growth of nodules on the surface of the eye – a bit like a callous on skin. The condition isn’t usually treated unless the nodules start to get close to the center of the eye. Last year, I had another visit with Dr Talamo, the specialist, and he gave me the news that it was time to remove the nodules via superficial keratectomy (a Super K).
The procedure: “A superficial keratectomy is usually done under topical anesthesia (drops or ointments that numb the eye) and usually no shots or injections are needed nor is it done under general anesthesia. A special knife is inserted partially through the cornea and a dissection carried out to remove the growth. This leaves a raw spot on the cornea and a bandage contact lens is generally worn for 7-10 days while the tissue heals. Pain varies but usually is not severe and relived with medication.” (http://www.medhelp.org/)

Image courtesy of visionassociates.net
So, after putting off the inevitable as long as possible, we were in Salem/Boston for the summer and it was time for the procedure. No surgical gowns necessary- only little blue shoe covers and a blue cloth “shower cap”, some numbing drops in my eye and it was time. Laying down on the surgical table with my head firmly held in place, they rolled me under a machine with an orange blinking light. The doctor put a patch over my left eye and two pieces of what felt like scotch tape to hold my eyelashes/eyelids open. A few more numbing drops and he said, “You may feel a slight pressure on your eye”. It was almost an out-of-body experience—you knew that there was some hazy silver implement approaching your eye-then a feeling of a light touch. Within minutes, the cut was made and the “callous” was being peeled off and a “bandage contact lens” put on to cover the scraped surface. John was amazed when I walked over to him as he waited in the cafeteria and said, “It’s all done”. The next few days were tough- my eye was constantly tearing and it looked pretty awful, but my vision was relatively clear and there was no pain at all.
One eye down, one to go…

Chloe's Meeting with the Orthopedic Surgeon

It was time for Chloe's visit to the Orthopedic Surgeon... It had been so long since we'd been at Angell Memorial in Boston.. It's always been one of the most highly respected pet hospitals in the country. We were referred to Angell years ago when Sushi was at death's door and our local vet couldn't diagnose the problem. We took her in- literally almost dead- and with no time to do the proper testing, they suggested that it was probably Addison's Disease - and if we were willing, they'd try treating her for it. The next day, she was standing up and eating! It was a miracle! After that experience, it was the only place we'd take our dogs.
Back then, it was an old brick monstrosity--with a small waiting room, tiny examining rooms. We drove up today to see the old brick building still in place- but a new entrance and a huge new attached building.

It was like walking into a state of the art hospital. An impressive check-in desk, a huge Pharmacy, separate waiting rooms for dogs and cats.

We met a young couple in the lobby with their Maltese in a baby carriage- the dog has cancer- and they've spent $20,000 on chemo for her! This place is not for the faint-hearted...or the poverty stricken!

We met Dr Trout (born in Chester, England just outside Liverpool- and wasn't too happy when John called him a Scouser). He checked out Chloe- walking and did an exam. He confirmed that she has MPL (Median Patellar Luxation) in both rear legs and explained the surgical options. At this point, he suggested watching her- making note of any changes in severity or frequency of the skip in her walk or any discomfort. If it gets worse- he'd suggest surgery--with a 6 week recovery period (confined area, no jumping, no running, minimal walking...)

Dinner with the Amish

With my eye surgery delayed, we decided to make our trip north a bit less hectic. We stopped in Lancaster, PA for a visit with the Amish and a bit of family research. We spent a day in Columbia – visiting family gravesites. John spent the day at the Lancaster County Historical Society and unearthed some interesting family tidbits.
On Wednesday evening, we joined a group of Cajun motorhomers for an Amish dinner. We drove for what seemed like ages- passing large Amish farms, driving through towns like Blue Bell and Intercourse – and finally turned into the “Smucker” driveway.

The hostess of our evening was the widowed mother of 10 children- 6 of them still at home. We were ushered into her kitchen/dining room/living room- converted into a dining hall with tables seating 30 people. We got separated from our Cajun group and joined a table of New Jersey-ites – all from the same community in NJ and staying at a nearby B&B. They raved about the food, served family style. The dishes were passed- homemade applesauce and broccoli salad, roast beef and carrots, chicken tenders, sugar snap peas, green beans, mashed potatoes (no gravy- the men weren’t happy), and, of course, bread. It was a bit like a 1950’s suburban Sunday dinner- lots of well cooked food with absolutely no flavor.
The hostess did some table-touching- talking about leasing out their farm land and doing these family style group dinners to get by. Her unmarried daughters work at the local B&B doing house-cleaning and were busy most of the evening- serving food and cleaning plates. Her eldest son, however, sat at the head of the table and ate with the rest of the guests. Guess the feminist movement hasn’t reached the Amish community. After plates and plates of food, we were stuffed and ready to leave—but wait- there was dessert—strawberry and peanut butter pies – with huge bowls of ice cream. We did our patented early exit and headed home. Our first- and last- Amish dinner.

Lightning Strikes and Motorhomes!

We learned a hard lesson after our lightning stike in Florida. The lightning didn't directly strike our motorhome--but hit about 2 feet from our coach and the campground power. John saw the strike - and Chloe and I heard it - you'll never forget the sound - it was like an explosion(Poor Chloe- she's not been the same since- terrified when she hears thunder or sees lightning).

We were fortunate that we had our surge protector attached to the campground post- but didn't realize what damage a close lightning strike could do to our coach. One of the engine ECM's (computer modules) was destroyed, our backup camera was damaged, our front step motor failed....a very costly strike, to say the least.

We've been amazed that after all of our FMCA and Spartan rallies and all of our research on motorhomes, we had never heard anyone talking about what to do during a lightning storm. So, we decided to do a bit of research to find out how to avoid the disaster that we had just lived through. We hope that this will prevent someone else from living through this horrible experience..

Here's what we found at the South East Trek Fun Club web site: (the entire article can be found at: http://www.setrekclub.com/Lightening%20&%20RV

"…treat lightning like a snake: if you see it or hear it take evasive measures…

The short version of the paper is If parked and a lightning storm is nearby, make sure the RV jacks are retracted and the shore power lines are disconnected and stored.

In the USA, central Florida experiences some 10-15 lightning strikes per sq. km./yr. Over the entire year, the highest frequency of cloud-to-ground lightning is in Florida between Tampa and Orlando. This is due to the presence, on many days during the year, of large moisture content in the atmosphere at low levels (below 5,000 feet), as well as high surface temperatures that produce strong sea breezes along the Florida coasts. The Rocky Mountain west has about two-thirds this activity. Half of the casualties of lightning strikes occur in open fields. The most common situation for a lightning death or injury in Florida was found NOT to be in the heaviest rain area with lots of flashes, but after or before the time when rain and lightning was the most intense. Essentially, the most dangerous times occur from a weak storm without too many flashes, at the edge of a larger storm, or early or late in the life of a storm. Much of a storm's lightning remains within the clouds, leaping from the negatively charged bottom of the clouds to the positively charged top. When an object on the ground, such as a tree, building or an RV, becomes positively charged, the lightning sparks to the ground. A bolt of lightning can be as great as 15 million volts.


Recreation Vehicles and Lightning What happens when lightning strikes a recreation vehicle? The answer, gleaned from anecdotal observations, is all the way from "nothing" to "Wow ! What a mess. . . my RV is a disaster." I have determined that few, if any, RVs get struck while mobile. They are mostly vulnerable when connected to shore power and/or when they have their jacks deployed without at least five inches of wood or some other insulator between the jacks and ground. I have noted that RVs are more susceptible to damage from induced lightning surges when connected to shore power and lightning hits nearby transformers. According to the NLSI, lightning's median amplitude is assumed to be about 20,000 Amps. Typically, a metal plate 3/16 inch thick will not be penetrated by that high of a current.


Some general recommendations for RV users include: If parked, make sure the RV jacks are retracted and the shore power lines are stored and disconnected. Do not store your power cable under your RV. Retract and store all deployed antenna. Disconnect external TV/Satellite antenna wiring. Reported incidents and related injuries make it clear that a person inside a fully enclosed metal vehicle must not be touching metallic objects connected to the outside of the vehicle. Door and window handles, radio dials, CB microphones, gearshifts, steering wheels and other inside-to-outside metal objects should be left alone during close-in lightning events. I suggest pulling off to the side of the road in a safe manner, turning on the emergency blinkers, turning off the engine, putting one's hands in one's lap, and waiting out the storm. Do not wash hands or take a shower during a storm. Do not get close to electrical appliances such as the TV or plug in laptop PCs. In no circumstances, during close-in lightning, should the passengers attempt to step off the RV to the ground in an attempt to find another shelter. Very dangerous Step Voltage and Touch Voltage situations are created when a "dual pathway to ground" is created. Lightning voltages will attempt to equalize and they may go through a person in order to do so. Do not get on the roof of your RV when a storm is nearby! Don't be an isolated tall object, and don't be connected to anything that may be an isolated tall object.
To further lower your odds, don't park your RV near the tallest trees or utility poles. Rubber tires provide zero safety from lightning. After all, lightning has traveled for miles through the sky: four or five inches of rubber are no insulation whatsoever. People should get into a safe shelter. If not possible, make sure all windows are closed and the "hands on laps" rule is observed. If you can't get to a safer location, avoid the most dangerous locations and activities. Avoid higher elevations, wide-open areas, tall isolated objects, and water-related activities. Avoid unprotected open structures like picnic pavilions, and rain shelters."

We hope that you take away some helpful information - thanks to the South East Trek Fun Club for this info from their web site...

Will we ever leave Florida?

Memorial Day weekend and the park finally got some life back. We were perfectly positioned- by the water slide and the mochachinno cart. Kids and bikes and lots of trailers.

We were looking forward to our departure on Sunday morning- it was just time to leave the Crusher. We got everything slid in, tanks drained, the jacks were up and the GPS was programmed. John wanted to start the engine—and I saw his face fall as the horns blared and the engine would not turn over. We pulled out the phone lists and started calling—trying to find anyone to answer the phone on a Sunday on a holiday weekend. We finally got to a technician at Cummins who could only guess that it was probably the “ECM” (translation- the engine computer….real translation-$$$$$$). Our only option was to set up a tow truck to get us to the closest Cummins dealership—in Ocala, 50 miles away. We opted to set up the tow truck for Tuesday morning. No sense spending the rest of the weekend in the Cummins parking lot – or being the entertainment for all of the campers as we are being towed out.
Tuesday finally came, the weekend campers were gone and we were alone at Rock Crusher again. We got up at 7 AM to call Good Sam Emergency Road Service and were told that the tow company would be there within the hour. After emphasizing the we are a 45 foot motorhome- and that they needed to find a company with equipment capable of towing a 50,000 pound vehicle, we waited…and waited… We got their automated call to confirm that service was complete—and still no word from the tow company. Back on the phone to Good Sam, they checked with the tow company…an hour delay. We once again asked them to confirm that the tow truck could handle our motorhome. No problem… At 10:00, we finally heard from the tow company- the driver was on the way. We asked about the truck and it’s ability to tow our motorhome. They hadn’t been told anything about towing a 45’ motorhome- and didn’t have any equipment to do it. So, three hours later and we were back to square one. The service group at Cummins in Ocala (where we were being towed) gave us the name of Revis Towing- and said that they were the only company in the area that could handle our motorhome. We called Good Sam and gave them that info—but they wouldn’t even listen. They insisted that they had another company available- and if we didn’t accept that company, we were on our own. Well, one thing we will be doing after all this- GETTING RID OF GOOD SAM EMERGENCY ROAD SERVICE. What a joke they are – they are probably a fine company for towing travel trailers and fifth wheels- but they don’t have a clue about what it takes to tow a motorhome.
So, we called Revis and within an hour, a 60,000 pound truck was at our site.

According to our new friend, Chris, this monster truck is the only truck that can tow a 50,000 pound motorhome- and the only one available in Central Florida.

It was quite a feat--it took this 3 tour Iraq War vet about 3 hours to get the motorhome ready to tow (with John helping). He had to disconnect the 200 pound drive shaft--located UNDERNEATH the engine.

He had to secure the front axle on a massive hydraulic boom. After the 3 hour connect time, we still had an hour drive to the Cummins dealership in Ocala (about 60 miles away) --just in time to watch this guy back his truck with our coach attached into the Cummins maintenance bay.

We got the diagnosis - evidently it was caused by the lighting stike that hit about 2 feet from our motorhome and 4 feet from the window that John was looking out. The discharge from the strike fried one of the computers that control the engine. So, we were "homeless". We found the closest motel- the pet friendly "Red Roof Inn". We were told that, unlike most of the other smelly, moldy trucker motel rooms in the area, this one was relatively new and still smell free. We splurged the following day and upgraded to the "King Inclusive" room that gave us Wi-Fi access.
Time passes so slowly – we had our motel breakfast and would amble over to check on the progress at Cummins – find some place for lunch – go back to Cummins… We were SO bored. Finally on Thursday afternoon, the engine started, the test drive was done and we were good to go (more or less- we still had an ABS light flashing- but the dealership didn’t have the diagnostic tool to check it), cruise control wasn’t working – but the coach was drivable. We got ready to leave – at last. But our nightmare wasn’t over—the backup camera was in-op. Our hearts sank- especially when we were told that we’d have to go to a Newmar dealership to get the camera fixed. So, we were off to Orlando to Independence RV.
On Friday, we drove to Orlando and discovered that not only has the lightning knocked out our backup camera- but also our step motor. $762.00 later- and we were drivable again—still with an ABS problem, but we had our “get out of Florida” card. It was 2PM and we were going to drive as far as we could away from Florida. We made it to the southern edge of Savannah that night. The next day, we were heading north- making our way to Salem, MA.

A drive to Wisconsin

We celebrated John’s birthday a day early—dinner at the Havana House, with Chloe at her appointed seat. On his birthday, it was packing day. In hot, humid Florida, packing is a real chore, but we finally finished up and made it an early bedtime—with a 6:30 planned start the next morning. Right on time, we were off with clear skies. The weather forecast for the entire drive wasn’t great- lots of rain forecast, but we lucked out on day one and got into Athens, AL at 4:30. We had a little happy hour in the motel then found a local restaurant for dinner. I was out by 9:00 while Mom stayed up to watch the finale of Grey’s Anatomy.
Up the next morning at 5:30, breakfast at 6:00 and we were on the road again. We had great weather for most of the trip- until the last hour. With 60 miles to go, the skies poured on us. We made a brief stop, thought about calling it quits for the day—then the rain let up and we decided to give it a shot. We finally made it to Mendota, IL and it was freezing! Cold, damp and chilly. The hotel clerk told us to give the truckstop/restaurant across the road a try for dinner. They had a buffet and menu option. What she didn’t tell us about was the side-show we’d have watching the largest people in the world gorging themselves on the buffet. We were amazed at the never ending parade of really big people. We were truly in mid-America.
Our last day- a shorter drive – and we made it to Lake Viola at 1:30. We got the car unpacked and thought we were ahead of the game…until, we found that the furnace wasn’t turning on. With a forecast of freezing weather for the night, we were depressed. It was Saturday night and we had to try to find a repairman. We finally found someone willing to come out – it was a process of bleeding the air out of the lines. While he worked, we stopped at the hamburger bar and picked up some burgers for dinner.
With 3 days to go, we attacked the boxes room by room and by Tuesday afternoon, we were all done and it was feeling like “home” again. On Wednesday- it was a nuclear start—we had to be in Rice Lake by 6:45 am for me to catch the shuttle to the MSP airport. It was an uneventful trip—just lots of spare time in the airport. We arrived at the airport at 8:30 and the flight didn’t take off until 12;55. Memories of those awful travel days when we were working….unending hours at the airport. We finally took off, had a minor maintenance issue keeping us on the runway for 20 minutes, and had a nice flight- until we hit Florida. The thunderstorms bounced the plane like an amusement park ride and it was a white-knuckled ride all the way into Orlando. Then, I still had 2 hours of drive time to get home. Rock Crusher never looked so good.

Cruising the Hall's River

We made it back from Orange Beach to Florida- with Jean declaring that Alabama was now her favorite U.S. state! The Gulf Shores were a surprise for all of us--it was one of the highlights of our trip. We were fortunate to have a few days to "chill out" before the Brits left for home. The weather was still sunny and beautiful so we decided to rent a pontoon for the afternoon.

Gordon was designated Captain for the day and we headed off, exploring the Hall's River. After our crazed schedule the past few weeks, it was great to drift along and relax.

The Florabama Annual Mullet Toss!

Jean's Florabama journal...


Today was the day of the Annual Florabama Mullet Toss. The bar, the Florabama, is apparently right on the Florida/Alabama border, hence the name, and thousands of people congregate there to throw dead mullets across the border from one State to the other.



They also come to show off their silicone boobs, sunbathe and get drunk, though fortunately not in the morning which is when we went. In view of the crowds, we parked up and took a tram to the venue which was driven by a huge woman who apparently used to drive an 18-wheeler truck. She was a character and in her deep Southern drawl told us about when she was asked to deliver something to a prison. She agreed to go but only if it was a man's prison - "If I'm gonna get raped, it ain't gonna be by no woman!"

The Mullet Toss itself was badly organised and there was a lot of hanging around for them to begin but it was all good humoured and the entertainment - folk singers and the likes - was brilliant and a right laugh. Not to be missed!
The entertainment was pure redneck "Bama"- with tunes like, "She put a Louisiana liplock on my Alabama porkchop", "No one can make love like my Sister can", "She Cut the Cheese", Tequila makes my clothes fall off", "Made love to your mother", and "Critter up my sh**tter". Needless to say, the boys and I loved the music.. The "posh" one, Jean, was appalled.

The rest of the day and evening was spent lazily. We made friends with a newcomer parked on the site and ate a Greek salad, courtesy of Gordon.

Fresh shrimp and good friends

Jean's journal continues...
Another baking hot day. After an early rising but a lazy start, we drove to an outlet mall as I wanted some perfume. John & Debs dropped us off as they wanted to visit another store. This place was huge but several of the outlets had closed and there were very few customers around - America is really feeling the effects of the recession.

After a disappointing lunch, we drove to where the fishing boats come in and bought about 10 pounds of very fresh shrimps

'

After freezing some, Gordon prepared the rest with chilli and garlic which we ate with more roasted vegetables. A quiet night for a change.

Jean's most brilliant day- Bushwackers at Pirate's Cove

Jean's most brilliant day...her journal of our trip continues...

A brilliant day, in every way. After a lazy start, Gordon and I headed over to the beach and for 2 hours sat watching the Gulf of Mexico in the hot sunshine. We watched squadrons of pelicans drifting by on the thermals and diving birds crashing briefly into the sea then rising again and flying off. We were completely alone on the white sand though there was a beach bar and showers etc nearby.

At about 1.30 we headed back to the RV and at about 3, Gary pitched up to take us to the Pirates Bar. Gary lives on a very exclusive island named Ono Island where the homes cost in excess of $1million. He led the way past some beautiful houses to his place which he shares with his business partner. Wow - what a place - we were blown away! We went up a flight of bleached wooden stairs and Gary left us to look around while he went to get changed - the house was fabulous, very comfortable but tasteful and with a view overlooking the ocean. There was a deck leading from the fitness and entertainment room to the swimming pool and beyond that, another deck leading to the boat - a beautiful 32' cruiser with white leather upholstery.

We got aboard, he lowered the boat lift and we were off. Oh my, this is how to live!!

Chloe, surprisingly, seemed to love it especially when Gary picked up speed and she felt the wind in her little face.

We spotted some dolphins en route and after about 20 minutes, pulled into Pirates Cove, a divey little bar set right on the beach.

There were quite a few dogs around and a sign hung above a trough of water stating IF YOU DON'T WASH YOUR FEET IN OUR WATER, WE WON'T PEE IN YOUR DRINKS!

We had Bushwackers - Kahlua, Malibu and something that tasted like ice-cream - maybe it was but whatever was in them, they nearly blew our heads off!

One of the dogs roaming around was a huge Bull Mastiff who apparently lived up the road but called into the bar most days. He seemed to regard it as part of his patch and at that size, who was going to argue with him?

We left at about 6.30 just as the sun was setting and the whole scene was breathtaking.

Gary was leaving for Birmingham the next day so we said our goodbyes and promised to send photos - how kind of him to treat us to all that on such a short friendship - Southerners can be so hospitable.

Supper was at Tacky Jacks, a semi-dive bar where we sat on the deck overlooking a lake and then it was back to the RV site where we sat in one of the Florida rooms and drank some wine. A fabulous day that I shall remember for a long time.

Jean falls in love with Alabama....her journal continues (My comments in italics)

Road trip! Left lovely Natchez at about 9 a.m. for a 324 mile trip to the Gulf Shores. Stopped briefly on the Alabama border at a beautiful rest stop then found our way to Orange Beach, which is right on the Alabama/Florida border.
When we were at the Cajun rally, a company had been handing out free Margueritas as a promo for this new RV site. Debs had chatted to one of the guys, Gary, and got herself (and us) a free stay and this was the site we were now headed for. (Note- Buena Vista on the Beach--one of the most gorgeous motorhome resorts we've ever seen)

It was a brand new resort and had a lot going for it - each plot had a beautiful, lavishly furnished stone built cottage where owners of RVs could sleep, cook, etc while their RV was parked securely outside.

The plots are all built around a lake and plans include a large pool with Jacuzzi etc but when we stayed, we were one of only 2 RVs. It was right opposite the white-sandy beach though and we were sure we'd struck lucky.

After about an hour, Gary showed up - he was from Birmingham, Alabama, in his late 30s probably, quite dishy and very laid back and friendly. He offered to show us round so we all piled into his SUV and off we went. Orange Beach was a gorgeous place, right on the edge of the sea with white sand and million dollar homes. Gary pointed out the best restaurants and of more interest to us, the best dives. He then offered to meet us the next day and take us to a particularly good dive in his boat. Can't wait!