Lake Marion

Posted on April 5, 2011 by larry

We left Florida amid some torrential rains by the week’s end, heading north for the spring. We only made it to South Carolina. We pulled into Lakeside Marina and RV Resort on beautiful Lake Marion. The campground has no “it” factor. It contains only about a dozen sites along with some newly constucted rental cottages. But the lake lies out our front window, only a bit obscured by a lineal posing of a variety of pontoon and other fishing vessels. Jim, the host and owner, has provided help beyond expectations. A learned man that stories us on the aspects of the area, his hospitality has given us reason to want to stay for awhile. With moving in and doing the usual scouting of the area, the morning walks and bike rides have given way to cruising. Life is much slower here. Not only is anyone not in a hurry, but even normal speed seems a stretch. But I’m understanding why as time passes. There is no where to go, no place to be, as the economy has halted activity here to a crawl. We visited the Alpine for breakfast on two occasions. Enough food to last for much of the day and the total bill didn’t yet reach $15. A visit to Chef’s Choice on Saturday night found the most mouth watering steaks in a long time, cooked on the grill right in front of us, by a throng of black teenagers.  I notice that a lot. Adorned in a cowboy hat, vest, boots, and string tie, all emblazoned with more bling-bling than a corner pimp, Fast Freddie DeeJayed the room while patrons feasted on steak and shrimp. This took me by surprise a bit. I’ve never been serenaded by a DJ at dinner. The Commodores, Earth, Wind, and Fire, along with KC and the Sunshine Band seemed to be the mainstay of Freddies stash of music. However, an occasional fight song of Clemson and the South Carolina Gamecocks was thrown in. While all of the attendees were white, all of the kitchen help here is black. I”m noticing that a lot. It’s unsettling to me. I’ve been watching once again Ken Burns PBS series, “The Civil War”. From where we sit, there doesn’t seem to be a great degree of cultural change since this epic campaign of hostilities.

Robin has a cracked wisdom tooth. Our back home dentist suggested it’s removal. We found an oral surgeon in Summerville. A forty minute ride this morning was to no avail. The dentist informed her that it was still funtioning, assisting in her chewing and wouldn’t remove it. He suggested a root canal, followed three weeks later by a crown. CHA CHING! CHA CHING! That won’t work. We’ll be in the Keystone state by that time. She’ll just have to bear with it and get it done by our regular dentist. The visit didn’t prove altogether fruitless. I found a Walgreens and filled prescriptions, had the oil changed in the car as well as the transmission fluid flushed and replaced. The latter has alleviated our problem of a slight miss in the engine acceleration. Good news there as I’m a bit retarded when it comes to vehicle diagnosis and fixing mechanical problems. In the meantime, we’ve been enjoying the mid 80’s temperatures and spending many hours exploring the lake in search of wildlife in front of the lens to enhance more the most glorious of days. We’re enjoying this part of the Palmetto State right now and have decided to stay for a bit longer than expected.

 

 

 

 

Categories: Campgrounds, Full Time RVing | 5 Comments

Cedar Key and Two Guys from Back Home

Posted on March 30, 2011 by larry

Almost Sunset on the Suwanee

I had been hankering for a diversion. I get bored easily and I’d had enough fishing and lying poolside for awhile. I thought it would be a nice trip to Segway the town of Cedar Key. I had been there a few weeks ago on my own but Robin needed to see what drew me to the area. We arrived at the Low Key Hideaway, managed by friends Pat and Cindy Bonish. I have followed their blog, “Every Miles A Memory” for sometime now and wanted to share some photo chat with them. They both possess excellent photographic skills. Pat allowed us to park in his drive while we motored around the peninsula. Our first destination was to head to the old Cedar Key cemetery as I heard about the young horned owls nestled in the treetops within the graveyard. We did spot a few osprey along with the baby owls but mother was no where to be seen. We then headed out to airport road checking on some waterfront property. We were able to view something that caught our eye but it was way out of our price range. Heading back into town my Segway died. Apparently I hadn’t charged it up for a few days and the battery just gave way. I borrowed Robin’s and headed back to the car while she waited roadside with my powerless man-carrier. Upon retrieving her we headed for some sustenance as we hadn’t eaten so far today. We parked at the wharf and headed to the Big Deck Raw Bar, and filled our bellies with wings, pulled pork and fries. We chatted with some other tourists from  Michigan, relishing in the fact that we were all enjoying sunshine that is so sorely missed up north.

“Magoo and Mouse McKee”

While heading out I overheard two gentleman at the bar speaking of Pennsylvania. The two fellows indeed were from the Keystone state, asking as well  of our hometown. It was then that “Magoo” and “Mouse” McKee, brothers in more than arms,  told us they were from Washington, PA., a mere seven miles down the road from our hometown. The more we talked, the greater we found similar interests as well as knowing some of the same people. We spent another twenty minutes with them, laughing heartily and fondly reminiscing of “back in the day”. We left them with hugs and handshakes, mesmerized in the fact that here we were, 12oo miles from home and by happenstance meeting two people from just down the road. Magoo (real name Harry) even made a point to let me know his auto was parked just in front of mine proudly boasting the six time Super Bowl champs. We then headed back to the Low Key Hideway as Pat had opened the Tiki Bar our back and I wanted Robin to take in the ambiance of such a place. We would have loved to be able to imbibe until the sun set but Brutus had been holed up all day. We did get back by dusk and I was able to snap a shot of the setting sun going down on the Suwanee once again. Enjoy todays slideshow. It’s not like being there but hopefully it can bring a smile to your face.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Full Time RVing, Fun Things To Do, People, Road Trips, RV | 2 Comments

Hope Springs Eternal

Posted on March 27, 2011 by larry

Hanging out in Florida this winter has been good for the soul, as well as the mental well being. So much for what sunlight can do for the psyche. However, it has been filled with it’s bevy of ominous occurences. It started with the major theft from our vehicle, losing computer and photography equipment. Then a leak in the shower sent us packing back to Lakeland, followed by another visit this week to repair damaged grouting. Hopefully that will be the last of the bathroom menaces and all behind us. Sure they proved costy in money and time, but then again it’s only money. No one was hurt. And just when we think bad luck has made a hasty exit, we learned just yesterday we that our daughter-in-law, Carolyn, fell on a wet hospital floor while making rounds. This was cause for major concern as she’s eight month pregnant. Admitted to the hospital for eight hours of surveillance and monitoring all proved well with the baby. I’m sure Carolyn’s a bit sore and a bit disheveled by all of this. In time this too shall pass but the fact this is our first granchild,  you can imagine our growing concern for her. Never a dull moment in this bus.I went out for another ten miler on my bike and all I could think of was my daughter-in-law and her unborn child. How could I be so concerned over a human being I have not yet met? My thought process was permeated and consumed by an entity that still is a mystery. In the recent past, I  would often scoff when others would tell me how a grandchild would change my life. Not mine, I would retort. I’ll be a great grandparent but not the normal one. And here I found myself eating my words, being consumed in thought by this unborn miracle. Wow!

We’ll leave Florida this week. Our quest is to be able to visit when the baby arrives in a few weeks. We know this is the time for just mom and dad so we won’t be pesty, however, I can’t comprehend what is in store when I hold that child in my arms for the first time.

We passed the week by doing the usual. Cycling in the morning, lying at the pool in the afternoon, and then taking the pontoon out on the Suwanee in search of some bass until the sun set on the waters. We’ve been bidding adieu to those who have left for more northern climes and by mid week we should be doing the same.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Categories: Full Time RVing, Health, People | 3 Comments