Sat, Dec 6:  KOA Tallahassee West, Tallahassee, FL, to KOA, Wildwood, FL:  A short, easy drive today.  Left at around 10:15 and arrived at our new destination by 2:30.  Wildwood is just south of The Villages in central Florida.  Mike is all happy because he’s watching the SEC Championship game between Mizzou and Alabama.  And it’s 85 degrees.  That’s more like it!

Back to where palm trees grow.

Fri, Dec 5:  Birmingham South RV Park, Birmingham, AL, to KOA Tallahassee West, Tallahassee, FL:  Had a little trouble getting out of our site this morning.  I didn’t make the turn wide enough and the tire on the fifth wheel was going to hit the corner of our patio.  So, I had to back up and try again.  In the meantime, someone from the office came over and told me the bedroom slide was still out.  Great!  First time that happened—honest!  Back in and put the slide in and we were on our way.  Continued on I65 south and then picked up Rt. 231 south just outside Montgomery.  This is a limited-access, four-lane highway which we’ll be on all the way to I10 in Florida.  A really good road which is maintained beautifully—unlike I65 through Birmingham—which was so rough the rod in my closet came undone and fell down, along with all my clothes.  Time to get rid of some clothes I guess..  Stopped just outside Dothan, AL, for food and fuel and Mike took over driving.  Got here in Tallahassee and were set up by 4:30 or so.  We lost an hour since we’re now on Eastern Time (ugh!).  Hit 80 again today.  Yes!

The pretty and historic state capital in Tallahassee.
(The new one is the high-rise behind the old capital building.  Thankfully, they didn't tear the old one down!)

Pretty little park a couple of blocks from the capital.

Thu, Dec. 4:  KOA, W. Memphis, AR, to Birmingham South RV Park, Birmingham, AL:  Got on the road this morning by 9:30 under cloudy skies.  Continued south on I55 and then east on Rt. 302 which turned into Rt. 78 through the rolling hills of rural Mississippi and Alabama.  The temperature climbed through the 70s and reached 80 by the time we were close to Birmingham.  Nice!  Arrived and were set up by 4:00.  

Sunshine!

Yay!  Note the smile on Mike's face!

Wed, Dec. 3:   St. Louis, MO, to KOA, W. Memphis, AR:  After a month-long delay so Mike could have some surgery, we were finally on our way south.  But not without some angst since at 9:00 last night our kitchen sink backed up.  We called the emergency number for our plumber, but they didn’t call back until after 10:00.  So, we decided to have him come out this morning first thing.  He showed up at 7:30 and had it fixed by 8:30.  We then cleaned up the mess, closed up and picked up the fifth wheel and headed out by 9:30.  Not too bad considering.  A beautiful, sunny day until we reached Sikeston and then it clouded up.  The rest of the way to Memphis was under a grey, dismal sky.  After stopping in Sikeston for fuel and food, we were in the KOA at W. Memphis and set up by 4:30.  We pulled in at 3:15, but had to de-winterize which took some time.  This is the first time we’ve had to winterize the fifth wheel in 10 years.  The high today was 49.  It’s raining right now and will probably continue all night. 

Memphis, TN

Beautiful St. Louis Fall:  On a beautiful fall day not too long ago we headed out on the Great River Road which follows the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers into the cute little river town of Grafton, IL.  There we had a long lunch on the deck at the Grafton Winery on the Illinois River.  A beautiful day to be outside.

 

Trees starting to put on their fall colors.

Bluffs along the Great River Road

 

This old farm along the Great River Road dates back to the late 1800s.

 

It's also right on the bike path that runs from Pere Marquette to Grafton, which we enjoyed biking whenever we stayed at the campground at Pere Marquette State Park.

New York City, August 15-19, 2014:  Off to NYC to meet my daughter and took my step-daughter, Laurie, with me.  We had a great time and the weather was perfect.

Schlepping around Central Park.

Lunch at the Boat House Restaurant in Central Park.
Picture by Laurie

Grand Central Station

With my daughter Michele.
Picture by Laurie.

NY Public Library--5th Avenue.

Laurie and I somewhere around World Trade.

Freedom Tower

Times Square

Fountain in City Hall Park with City Hall in background.

Beautiful New York skyline and Brooklyn Bridge.

Out for a sail in New York Harbor.

NY skyline dominated by the Freedom Tower.

Bethesda Fountain--Central Park.
Picture by Laurie

Water Lilies in the Bethesda Fountain.



We were told this fountain is the one from the opening credits of the TV show, "Friends".  Not true.  That fountain is in a Burbank studio.  Beautiful fountain though.  Originally a watering trough for horses.

Cottonwood RV Park, Columbia, MO, to St. Louis:  Left this morning at 8:00 and were home and unpacked by 10:30.  It’s great to be home from this trip.  We may go back to Door County for a few weeks.  Not sure yet.  Just great to be home.

 

St. Louis Arch