Sorry for all the posts dated Monday. I did not have internet connection for the past 2 days. We stayed at a state park last night and they do not have "tech" setup. Cell phones do work as the campground was very close to I95. It was wooded as so much more roomy than the previous campground. Today we picked up Kerry and headed to the Hugh Birch State Park. It is right along the ocean. We had lunch outdoors (sandwiches with pepper slaw and french fries on it) and then went biking around the park.

Once again the RV is failing us. Now it is running so poorly that we have to take it to a garage. Not sure what effect this will have on the rest of the trip. With having 2 dogs, we can't stay at many if any hotels in the area. WE have reservations for yet again a different campground close to the other ones we have been frequenting. The boys have tried to take the van to a garage and dumped Kerry and I at her Starbucks to wait it out. Kerry now has a bad headache from traveling with us and our motor vehicle dilema....This is how I am able to update my blog. I will report more on the RV and what we do tonight after talking with Tom when he calls.

Sunday, January 18, 2009Showered and ready to face the day. A dog park was located near our campground so we stopped and checked it out. It was very nice and Shaw and Ferbie met many beautiful dogs. It had hoses for filling water dishes, doggie bags, things to jump on and climb through and was beautifully landscaped around the parameter. There were separate sections for small dogs and big dogs. At least 4 owners had rescued their dogs. One couple has 3 beautiful huskies they adopted. I could not believe anyone could not want those dogs. Then headed to Starbucks for coffee and a visit with the working girl for a quick visit. Off to play 18 holes of golf. It was the best golf I ever played - then again I didn’t keep score the whole round. Tom and Bill kept theirs but since I am on vacation I didn’t feel the need to know how many times I struck the ball. It was sunny and warm 1st 10 holes but the clouds and wind picked up to make it cooler . It was great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Being outside all afternoon in mid-January was the best. We really enjoyed the round. Went Chinese for dinner. It was the fastest dinner I think we have ever had. IN and out in 1 hour MAX. Dinner was with Kerry, Jordan, Eric (Jordan’s brother) and Sandra (Eric’s wife). They were nice and treated us . Went to another campground which is actually wooded with some space between sites. Don’t feel so closed in. It is dark so I have no idea exactly what is out there. I know we drove quite a way into the park until we got to the RV area. I am sure the dogs will find it interesting in the morning when they can see the neighbors and any dogs they might have with them. We are near the bathroom/shower facilities. TV hooked up so watching PITT/BALT game. Bedtime is always earlier than would be at home on a Sunday night.

It is Saturday, January 17, 2009 – last night stayed at Motel 8 which was about 2 short blocks from Kerry’s apartment. Nice beds, hot shower, TV with many channels. Went to leave and RV would not start. After about 1 hr of fiddling with it, the boys got it running. Something with choke we think….now purchased starter fluid and filled tank with gas. Let’s hope tomorrow we don’t have any problems when trying to get on our way.
We plan to play golf tomorrow afternoon. Kerry is working every day but has schedule that she works early shift for a couple of days. The Pompano Gold Course is a wonderful public course with a fun bar and outdoor restaurant. Tom and I ate there several times last year when visiting Kerry. We made her come out with us one night. Definitely older crowd than she is accustom to. Also it has a 4.5 mile biking, hiking, jogging trail around the golf course. We went biking after eating lunch in the RV. Peanut butter and jelly for Bill and I. Tom ate leftovers as usual.
We are now at the Paradise Island RV Resort where we will be staying tonight. We could only stay one night as they don’t have any openings for tonight on – booked for the season. We are packed in like sardines – no woods, some trees – nothing like the camping I am use to in the north where the sites have plenty of room and you are not on top of each other. One “Older (they all are here) Gentleman” is washing his car which he must tow behind his very big motor home. You can stay here from 1 day to 1 year.
Will check out the place – I know there are shuffleboard that can be played and a laundry area. Going to locate showers and potties as that is the most important place at any campground.
Dinner with Kerry and Jordan was at a Mediterranean Restaurant. Bill was skeptical – told Kerry he doesn’t eat Chinese or Mexican right off the bat. As vegetarians and vegans, that is basically the kinds of food they eat. They would not pick Ruth Crist’s like us meat eater would. I had shrimp and chicken kabobs and they were very good. At 8:00 a VERY busty belly dancer began dancing for the evening entertainment. She danced very close to the gentleman (see attached picture). It was very interesting but we left after her second dance. We had finished up and paid the bill but we wanted to stick around for a couple of dances. Luckily there were no other customers waiting for a table so we could hang around.

Friday, January 16 - Left Northern Florida - cold and windy - more like in the high 40's if lucky. Headed to Pompano Beach, home of Kerry.
Arrived around 4:30 to slight mist, wind and 62ish. Not as nice as we had hoped but better than being in the northeast.

Kerry looks wonderful and we were so happy to see her again. Last saw her in June in North Carolina for the Mitterling Family Reunion.

Went to dinner for pizza. Tomorrow we are hoping for sun and preparing to head out on some new adventure - checking out beaches, parks, golf courses, swamp tours. Not sure what it will be but looking forward to being outside. I would like to get to wear shorts sometime soon. I have sworn off my winter coat until close to home.

Left New Bern at 9:00 a.m. heading SOUTH – too cold (around 35 degs.). Florida here we come. Kerry just texted me and is blaming us for the cool weather they are having (only around 65 there right now)
Had a great time visiting with Andrew and Liz. He looks great. It will be nice to be able to talk to him whenever we want . That 14 hr time difference really made it difficult to communicate too often. Mason is settling in but was whining most of first evening. Spoke to Liz today and she said he played a lot with Andrew last evening and was snuggled up on the couch with her as we spoke. Liz made us a wonderful “Christmas” dinner Tuesday night. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, really great cranberry sauce (not a fan of it but this was really good - made with cherry jello included in recipe), lots of vegetables – the works….. Tom and Bill were in heaven…….

Took Andrew, Liz, Brad, Danielle (his fiancée), Norman, Lane, and Marine buddies Sal, Ashley and her daughter - 11 adults, 1 3 yr old. We went to a nice restaurant in downtown New Bern – home of PEPSI.
We are now travelling on some very bumpy “shortcuts” to I95. The RV is bumping along. Shaw and Ferbie are not too comfortable with all the rattling and motion.

Finally arrived in Northern most Florida where the weather is better than NC but unusually cool like most of the rest of the country.

Turn in as we trek through Florida to our Pompano Beach destination to see Kerry.

Day 2

Finally meet up with Andrew and Liz. They both look great and happy to be together. Funny stuff for today - Liz picked us up for lunch, arrived at Ham's Restaurant, she closes the door of Andy's Dorango and the driver side window fell down inside door - oh did it say it was raining. So we continue on our adventure without too many incidents but with memory making moments. Tomorrow it will be getting too cold here so we will be setting out for destinations further south.

Check in tomorrow.

Day 1

Set out from PA - ten minutes into trip frozen items fly from freezer - OOPs forgot that there was a latch to lock it in place. Shortly thereafter, coffee cup went flying from holder into Ferby and Jackie. Hot, Hot, Hot.



6:20 p.m. made it to New Bern and dinner with Lane and Norman Mitterling. Back to their house to park the RV in their driveway. Had electricity