Author: Lisa

One of those multi-part wonderful days!
First, I had a terrific breakfast with my new Roadtrek friends. Although we said “see you later” today, I know I will see them once again – soon, I hope! – on the road. 
Next, I went to the John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art, exploring the opulent gardens, gorgeous art museum, and whimsical circus museum. 
Finally, I get the honor of being the first house guest of my SLO friend Anna and her husband Donny, who recently bought a condo in Sarasota so they can spend time in Florida with family. We met others for dinner and drinks before the main event: Escape to Margaritaville! My friends Lisa and Rob’s daughter Ruby is in the production of this traveling musical theater extravaganza! It was serendipitous that Anna, Donny, and I were all in Sarasota at the same time Ruby was in Sarasota. Not only was the play was AMAZING, but also spending time with Ruby before and after the show totally ROCKED! So proud of and happy for her success!
Only a few of the Roadtreks at the Rally.

 

Banyan trees.

 

Coquina – beautiful crushed shell concrete.

 

A summer cottage for the Ringlings!

 

Guardian figure, Ting dynasty, 8th century.

 

A cabinet with beautiful paintings on each surface! Antwerp, 1600s.

 

A promenade.

 

Circus car.

 

Someone is missing… 

 

With Anna and Donny.

 

With Ruby and Anna.

 

Mazel tov, Ruby!

Totally different kind of day! After breakfast, I hung out in Addie for a while due to wild thunderstorms. When the storms warranted tornado watches, three of us stayed in the Roadtrek closest to the bathhouse in case we had to take shelter. A few minutes later, our phones went crazy with a tornado warning – and off to the bathhouse we went! We stayed in the shower room, along with other adults, children, and dogs, until the warning was called off.
For the final evening of the rally, post-dinner entertainment consisted of a barber shop quartet. Given they hadn’t performed since the start of the pandemic, they weren’t horrible…
This RV park encompasses many acres, with a variety of spots for full-timers, snowbirds, and other campers – like us! With the thunderstorms over, friends and I roamed the park after dinner, getting in our steps and sharing more stories.
Watching the rainstorm from Addie’s windows.  (Click on the photo for a four-second video.)

 

Heeding the tornado warning by sheltering in the shower.

 

Breakfast with friends. 🙂

 

Tonight’s entertainment…

OMG! Such a fun day! With two new friends, we explored the #1 Beach in the USA – Siesta Key. Gorgeous white sand, clear water, and snowy egrets galore. Wowza! To top it off, lobster crepe and gelato for lunch!!!
After the official rally dinner, five of us snuck out of the room to talk, share, and laugh. This is only the beginning of long wonderful friendships!
#1 Beach in the USA!

 

My toes loved the water.

 

Gorgeous beach.

 

We found two dead puffer fish!

 

The sky through a natural frame.

 

There’s nothing like gelato! The shop owner is from Rome.

 

Siesta Key.

 

Fabulous cloud formations. Tonight, a big storm is moving in…

 

One of many snowy egrets!

 

This is only the beginning!

With high temps and lots of humidity, I walked early-ish to the Celery Fields. The marshland, ponds, pools, and canals provided a surprise – sighting of a Purple Gallinule, a rare bird according to bird watchers who pointed it out to me. Hey, I even broke out my binoculars to see it! 
Upon returning to Addie and turning up the a/c, I relaxed for a bit – really, so hot and tired I couldn’t move!  Finally, I had lunch, drank lots of water, and headed to the pool. 
After dinner – note: the meals at this rally leave A LOT to be desired! – friends and I gathered in Addie to chat and share stories about our rigs, travel, life, etc. A very nice end to a terrific day! 🙂

 

 

 

 

I did NOT get a picture of the bird, so this is downloaded from the internet. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/…/Purple…/photo-gallery

 

With friends hanging out in Addie! 🙂

 

Talk about a total change! After my resort-like retreat with my brother Eric, sis-in-law Ang, and niece London (already miss all y’all!), I drove to the other side of Florida for a Roadtrek Rally! Fifty-four Roadtreks, 23 owned by solo trekkers, at a big Florida RV campground. One of the reasons I bought a Roadtrek was when Joel and I rented a Cruise America RV in 2020, we saw several Roadtreks, all driven by “older” solo women. I’ve already met a group of solo women. We’ll see how the week unfolds, but I’m quite pleased so far!

Here we go!

 

I won the “award” – just a card! – for traveling the furthest. When given the mic, I said my true mileage is 13,912 -the miles I’ve driven since July 1!

Great day with my bro Eric!
Kayaking: We started the day kayaking in the canals surrounding Tortoise Island.
Car cleaning: Yesterday, we cleaned the outside of the cars. Today, we cleaned the insides. Addie is smiling at the TLC she’s receiving!
Cruising to lunch: Next up, we hopped in Eric’s boat and cruised to Grills for a late lunch – delicious shrimp Cuban sandwich and a cold beer! A band similar to SLO’s Unfinished Business played some favorite cover artists, such as the Eagles. When the water was calm and the speed was slow, Eric turned over the steering wheel to me. So fun!
Yep, a great day!
Morning coffee before the day’s activities.

 

Glass smooth water – perfect for kayaking.

 

Captain Eric!

 

Music – no comment on whether I danced. (Click on photo for 10 second video.)

 

Ice cold beer. Did I mention it was 87° today, felt like 97°?

 

Driving, singing, dancing – yay!!!

A relaxed day with my brother Eric, sis-in-law Ang, and niece London. After waking up late – I can’t believe I slept until 8:30am! – Eric and I washed cars. Addie is so happy her Uncle Eric gave her a bath!
This afternoon, we watched London’s soccer team beat, 1-0, the third ranked team in the state. Yay, London!
Dinner tonight – seafood at a restaurant on a dock with wonderful moonlight.
All in all, a GREAT day!
Morning coffee.

 

Gatsby and Finley guarding the couch.

 

London handling the ball.

 

Addie relishing her cleanliness.

 

Moonlight over the water.

 

With Ang and Eric.

Hanging out with my retired Marine brother means not only a gorgeous sunrise and sunset, but also completing a CrossFit session. (Oy! Am I going to hurt tomorrow!) Following the torture time, we went to CVS so I could get my Covid booster.
About an hour before sunset, we hopped into the boat and cruised over to a tiki bar for happy hour.
Yep, life on the Space Coast is really tough!
Sunrise.

 

CrossFit torture.  (Click on photo for 11 second video.)

 

With Ang and Eric.

 

Cruisin’ on up to the tiki bar.

 

With Eric. 

 

Sunset.

 

With Ang and Eric.

 

Cruising back to the house.  (Click on photo for 11 second video.)

 

Sunset.

Although the drive was long, the scenery down the Florida coast was beautiful. I drove around Amelia Island, Fort George Island, and St. Augustine before hopping onto the interstate to make time on my way to my brother Eric and sis-in-law Angila’s house in Satellite Beach. Time for some R&R – and laundry!

Fort George Island.

 

Fort George Island.

 

Eric and Ang’s retreat – I mean, house!

 

With Eric! 

 

Sunset from their backyard.

Following a relaxing morning at my lovely county park campground in Charleston, Addie and I rambled on down to Savannah. While Addie partook of the parking lot scenery, I strolled around the impressive squares, delightful buildings, and historic riverwalk of this remarkable city.

Madison Square

 

Monterey Square

 

Congregation Mickve Israel, synagogue founded in 1733 by a group of Spanish-Portuguese Jews who landed in Savannah five months after the establishment of the colony of Georgia.

 

Forsyth Fountain

 

Calhoun Square

 

Lafayette Square

 

Oglethorpe Square

 

Columbia Square

 

Warren Square

 

Old building along the riverwalk – I love the ivy/plant growing up the outside wall

 

Ellis Square with a rainbow

 

Orleans Square

Woke up this morning by the water and dock at my Hipcamp. Since I arrived after dark last night, I hadn’t taken a good look at my surroundings. Very nice view!
Next, I headed to the beach itself and walked along the shore and on the boardwalk. Although calm prevailed this morning at the beach, the tall hotels, funky shops, and amusement rides shed light on the shenanigans of Myrtle Beach during the summer. I’m glad I saw Myrtle Beach during a mellow fall morning!
Following Myrtle Beach, Addie and I drove to Charleston and our campsite at James Island County Park – where I took a nap!
Now reenergized, I drove into Charleston itself. Having been here several years ago, I felt no compulsion to see “everything” and instead I wandered the streets and alleyways for a couple of hours. One cool encounter: I met an awesome older African-American woman showing her teenaged granddaughter sights around Charleston. We chatted and she suggested a few places to visit.
For dinner, I met my niece Madison and her fiancé Martin. Over a delicious dinner, we chatted, laughed, and plotted their future (haha!).
Yes, another good day!
View from my campsite in Myrtle Beach.

 

Had to walk in the Atlantic Ocean!

 

The “carnival” atmosphere of Myrtle Beach.

 

Myrtle Beach sculpture with Ferris Wheel behind it.

 

Charleston.

 

Charleston.

 

Charleston.

 

Charleston.

 

With Martin and Madison.

 

Driving into my campsite after dinner, this owl greeted me at the campground gate!

One of those mixed kind of days. This morning, I slowly explored Airlie Gardens, created in 1886 as a private garden for the Pembroke Jones family. Whimsical fun at Airlie: nine owls scattered around the gardens. SLO friends, the owls reminded me of the fish and cows spread throughout SLO. 
After the excitement of “owl hunting,” I headed to AAA for maps and books. To my surprise, this AAA had an auto service department attached. Since my tire pressure was low and my next errand was to find a tire shop to get more air, I had the mechanic check my tire pressure. And…he pointed out that my tires had dry rot. From my reading, I know that RV tires last for about five years. They wear out often before the tread disappears due to heat exposure and vehicle weight. With five year old tires toward the end of their safety range, I spent the remainder of the afternoon having my tires replaced. A bunch of money and several hours later, Addie has new tires – and I feel much more confident driving the rest of my adventure.
Airlie Gardens.

 

Airlie Gardens.

 

In front of the Airlie Oak, a 400 year old tree.

 

Butterfly at Airlie Gardens.

 

Airlie Gardens.

 

Airlie Gardens.

 

Now for the OWL SERIES in nine pics! 1/9

 

2/9

 

3/9

 

4/9

 

5/9

 

6/9

 

7/9

 

8/9

 

9/9. (The brochure states there were ten owls, but I searched and searched and couldn’t find the tenth owl!)

 

Guess where I am in this pic?!

 

I woke up early this morning so I could catch the 7:30 am ferry from Ocracoke to Cesar Island. On the road, a BIG Class A (think BUS) RV towing a car pulls out in front of me and nearly cuts me off. Lo and behold, getting onto the ferry I had to squeeze in between this BUS and the side of the ferry. The guy guiding me onto the ferry complimented me on my driving skill! There was no way to exit Addie, so I relaxed and read during the 2.5 hour ferry ride.
Once safely off of the ferry, I drove down North Carolina’s scenic coast and arrived just after lunch in Wilmington. My nephew Parker, who recently graduated from Marine Corps flight school in Pensacola and is now in training to fly CH53s at Camp Lejeune, joined me for the rest of the day. We went into Wilmington, walked around the darling city and caught up on each other’s lives. Of course, we had to try out the products at a brewery (tasty beer and yummy fried green tomatoes)! After watching the sunset, we had delicious cioppino for dinner. And, no visit would’ve been complete without a trip to Trader Joe’s!
Sunrise from Ocracoke National Park campground.

 

Tight squeeze onto the ferry.

 

Leaving Ocracoke. (Click on the photo for an eleven-second video.)

Hi, Parker!

 

Pretty Victorian homes in Wilmington.

 

Downtown Wilmington.

 

Lantern in front the the Cotton Exchange building.

 

Happy hour! It’s 5:00 somewhere, eh?!

 

Sunset.

 

There are so many extraordinary bridges in North Carolina.

I’m feeling like I’m a bit of a broken record…today was another AMAZING day!
Addie and I left Kill Devil Hills to travel southward on HWY 12 to experience the Cape Hatteras National Seashore. So many awesome sights! We stopped at Bodie Lighthouse, Oregon Inlet, Cape Hatteras, and Ocracoke Island. Climbing all lighthouses ceased last Monday, the end of the official “season.”
Interestingly, although I had to wait 2.5 hours for the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke, it didn’t feel like a long time. I walked, chatted with people, and wandered through the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum. During the hour long ferry ride, I talked with a woman from North Carolina, who gave me a great recommendation for dinner (locally caught mackerel). I’m finding North Carolinians to be very polite, nice, and helpful.
Bodie Island Lighthouse. Built 1872, still functioning.

 

Looking up Bodie Lighthouse.

 

Oregon Inlet is an inlet along North Carolina’s Outer Banks. It joins the Pamlico Sound with the Atlantic Ocean and separates Bodie Island from Pea Island, which are connected by the 2.8 mile Marc Basnight Bridge that spans the inlet.

 

This historic structure at the southern end of Oregon Inlet is an original U.S. Life-Saving station, (and later Coast Guard station), that was built in 1898.

 

Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Built 1870, the tallest brick lighthouse in the United States and measures 198.49 feet from the bottom of the foundation to the top of the pinnacle of the tower.

 

Addie patiently waiting for the ferry from Hatteras to Ocracoke. Did I mention this ferry is FREE?!

 

Video of Hatteras from the ferry (click on the photo to view the 11 second video).

On the ferry.

 

Ocracoke Lighthouse. Built 1823, 75 feet tall, still functioning.

 

Sunset from SMacNally’s Bar & Grill in Ocracoke.

Busy day exploring the Outer Banks!
First, I walked around the Wright Brothers National Memorial where I saw granite markers for the first four flights, the tall memorial, and the sculpture depicting the first flight.
At the memorial, I saw an older couple in matching Penn State Nittany Lions shirts and struck up a conversation with them since that’s where my parents. Ends up, she has been coming to the Outer Banks for forty years! I asked for their suggestions on what to do today and followed their recommendations for the second half of my terrific day.
The top of Roanoke Island encompassed my second stop. Here, I saw the Elizabethan Garden and Fort Raleigh National Historic Park where I learned about the Lost Colony, the Algonquin people, and the Freedmen’s Colony. Lots of history, some of it very sad and painful, and many beautiful sights.
My final destination lead me to the town of Manteo where I saw a lighthouse, visited Roanoke Island Festival Park, and had crab cakes for dinner.
Granite markers for the first four flights.

 

Tall monument.

 

View of Orville and Wilbur with Roanoke Sound in the background.

 

Sculpture depicting the first flight. Monument on Big Kill Devil Hill in the background. I went to Kitty Hawk and found nothing about the Wright Brothers! They flew in the town of Kill Devil Hills and not Kitty Hawk according to what I’ve read.

 

Statue of Queen Elizabeth I.

 

Elizabethan Garden fountain.

 

Gazebo at the Elizabethan Garden. In the background is Roanoke Sound. Can you see the Wright Memorial?!

 

Roanoke Marshes Light.

 

Replica of a 16th Century boat which traveled from England to Roanoke. This boat actually sails! The crew takes it out at least twice a year.

 

Woodworking 16th Century style!