tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63788154232862579872024-02-02T08:41:25.260-05:00Boomers on the MoveTravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.comBlogger304125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-55228626232508216912017-02-12T09:50:00.000-05:002017-02-12T09:50:18.200-05:00Changing my blog site!Hello folks,<br />
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I've decided to change my Blogspot platform to Wordpress.com! Come and visit my site at <a href="https://2boomersonthemove.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/wintering-in-key-west-florida/">https://2boomersonthemove.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/wintering-in-key-west-florida/</a><br />
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Thanks for your support!<br />
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<i>TravelmanNH Aka Lucien F. Langlois</i>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-398378502346116692016-12-30T09:18:00.001-05:002017-01-01T19:52:17.703-05:00Christmas Day 2016<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Day</span></i></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Busy day visiting, eating, chatting with a couple who literately jogged into the campground, but were staying at the Navy Lodge. They were fascinated with us staying here for the entire winter. They are thinking of going into the RV mode, but didn’t know where to start. They had looked into RV’s, but none were occupied. We gave them a tour of ours and I think they got to see how we managed the stay for the six months that we occupy this site. Just another great experience meeting people!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This noon we had lunch downtown at a Chinese restaurant. We had figured that on Christmas Day, a Chinese restaurant would be the only place open. No so, apparently most restaurants are open, but we had our tastebuds set for Chinese and so stuck to our original plan. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Key West, FL has free on street parking for the three day holiday weekend, but it isn’t to well advertised and many people pay to park. The City Parking Lots still require $20 to $30 a day parking fee. That’s why we ride bikes across town. Getting back to the Chinese restaurant, they do have free parking and we’ve always had luck in parking on their lot. The big Ford fits perfect on their corner of the lot!</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Biking Challenge </span></i></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">If you remember reading an earlier blog, I had set a personal goal of riding 1,000 bike miles in Key West, Florida this winter! This is an update to where I’am at as of December 28, 2016. I have 618 miles to reach my challenge.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDBEE16QH8BT4uF6QcCBPtmZGJijF0B9vhansfauw70IpvQN56_NOkQEoudhpecbky8KUaouomCKuW9A6TPKoN-xYOeJ-16NFDl9pRZNBHL1UCbFc-POiFa1PY1iTwh2CELzRonSjsS0/s1600/My+Bird+Biking+Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDBEE16QH8BT4uF6QcCBPtmZGJijF0B9vhansfauw70IpvQN56_NOkQEoudhpecbky8KUaouomCKuW9A6TPKoN-xYOeJ-16NFDl9pRZNBHL1UCbFc-POiFa1PY1iTwh2CELzRonSjsS0/s640/My+Bird+Biking+Friends.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My Bird Biking Friends!</b></span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Let me explain a little about my bike and rides. I am using a mountain bike, not a road bike! The difference is the road bike weighs in around 15 pounds vs the mountain bike around 35 pounds. Hence over time, I do a mile, the road bike can do two. The difference is in the workout. I work a lot harder to get my miles than the guy on the road bike. Now, let’s talk about the actual guy on the road bike who passes me every morning like the rabbit. I being the turtle, like the old story goes. He is, I’m guessing around twenty-five years old. I being closer to 72 than 71 one makes him nearly three times younger. I watch his legs pumping at least twice as fast as mine. No problem, I’m not training for the “Tour de France”! I just want to stay in as good a shape as I can for my age. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I had a comment on Facebook the other day that my bike looked like a girls bike! Well, yes it does have a milk crate on the back. This is KW and bikes are used as a means of transportation and also to carry groceries, mail, tools, locking cables, not to mention headlights and tail lights that are stored, for security, in that milk crate. Oh yes, I did fabricate a cover for it, out of site out of mind, as well as rain protection. </span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">The Ride! </span></i></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">In years past, I used to ride around the Island. It’s ten miles around, but I wasn’t really getting the exercise I wanted, because of the pedestrians, crosswalks, traffic lights and many other distractions. Last year, I elected to train with the big boys! Instead of going into town, I stayed on base and decided to cross the channel bridge over to Fleming Key and train with the US Army Special Forces Underwater Operations. Well, I don’t actually train with them, I just use the two mile, one way road to their training facility. The routine is four miles up and back three times for a 12 miles daily routine. It’s nearly every day, the exceptions are days that are above 18 to 20 knots. The wind above that is nearly impossible to conquer, that is going into the wind. The ride back is fast!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Borring? Not so!</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Some might think that going back and forth along the ocean road would be very boring. “Not so”! What I imagine being boring would be going to the gym and riding a stationary bike! My usual ride happens between 6:30am and 8am. What’s so special about the time of day and the location? One big thing is the wildlife! Special, to me is the Osprey. They make their nest high on telephone poles, Florida Keys Energy, discourage this and has put up extra poles with wood skids atop. The Osprey soon pick these spots for nesting and raising <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnGwxpfC3KmQwnQgSnCjPfMVI92tH7E908aTK-q8ELq5tdSLFGw5b_fzKhyphenhyphenuLZtjZnjFfmOs1Bttt9FIWB-eRC7YvVIPKOpwPDXYNFKQ4CLoTlhM7XHtiB2MZi0-sjQBimJZTGgjYJPM/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnGwxpfC3KmQwnQgSnCjPfMVI92tH7E908aTK-q8ELq5tdSLFGw5b_fzKhyphenhyphenuLZtjZnjFfmOs1Bttt9FIWB-eRC7YvVIPKOpwPDXYNFKQ4CLoTlhM7XHtiB2MZi0-sjQBimJZTGgjYJPM/s640/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Before Sunrise Biking on Fleming Key!</b></i></span></td></tr>
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their young. Now my part in all of this is when I pedal by, I’ve picked up their distinct chirps that I’ve slowly began to copy. When I ride by, I whistle these chirps and low and behold they first started to respond by looking up out of their nest. Now, I often chirp and mother or father fly along the road with me until I’m a distance from the homestead. I wish I could video this, but unless I get a GoPro video camera mounted on my helmet that isn’t going to happen.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Other birds that I watch and who watch me are Turkey Vultures, Pelicans, White Heron, Great Egret, Anhinga (snakebird). In mid November, the Turkey Vultures and the Black Vultures show up in the Keys by the thousands. They are migrating back to South America. By the end of the month, the migration has waited for the right wind direction to continue their flight to the south across the Gulf of Mexico. A very few of these Vultures stay behind in Key West. Local folklore says that when the Turkey Vultures leave the Keys the Hurricane season in unofficially over!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another asset to biking on Fleming Key is the Ocean. Somedays the water is flat and calm, other days the waves are choppy, but unlike the ocean along the coast no continuous wave action along the breakwaters. No loud roar of the powerful ocean like on the East or Western seaboard. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In this time of the year, sunrise around 7:30am. I’m often on the road by than. I have a super powerful USB rechargeable bike flashlight along with two red taillights. One of them being mounted on my helmet and the other below the seat. In dawns early light, it’s cool to be biking up Fleming. By the time I reach my first two mile turn around the sun is lining the distant clouds that always seem to surround islands during the night. The clouds might be caused by the island warm landmass and the cooler ocean water condensing around the Coral reef. I remember watching old John Wayne movies filmed in the South Pacific with these similar clouds present offshore. Back to the sunrise! The sun breaks above these low clouds and magical beauty and warmth appears instantly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe I’ll continue with more of my biking memories in the next blog!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0Trumbo Point, Key West, FL 33040, USA24.5637577 -81.780924700000014-3.9986478000000005 -123.08951870000001 53.1261632 -40.472330700000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-64093650426328893062016-12-22T09:42:00.001-05:002016-12-22T10:09:45.411-05:00Retired ~ With No Time Off!<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">December 18, 2016</span></i></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">I’ve been slacking in my blog writing! I really enjoy documenting what we’ve been doing down here in the tropics, but I can’t believe how busy life has become. Week after week, one activity after another…it never seems to end.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn_dy9gwrmZ0JkSJ7YLR9j8HeMW9vpN60IpR1Yt1xX-vkAup3DtI9o-2I09GP0oRHWrBWD-kFMZ8MS3dHBo2IewxQrekBgkwi8NvPKlDI_ZZob8Qp6cEH0IYu1u0R8eelVRfxs5rg2Ss/s1600/Electrician%2527s+Christmas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjn_dy9gwrmZ0JkSJ7YLR9j8HeMW9vpN60IpR1Yt1xX-vkAup3DtI9o-2I09GP0oRHWrBWD-kFMZ8MS3dHBo2IewxQrekBgkwi8NvPKlDI_ZZob8Qp6cEH0IYu1u0R8eelVRfxs5rg2Ss/s640/Electrician%2527s+Christmas.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Electrician's Christmas!</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One of my longest parts of writing is working in the pictures of all of the activities. I’ve been taking hundreds of pics and someday, when I really retire, I’ll have to do something with those thousands of pictures I’ve taken and collected through the years. If anything else, I enjoy flipping the pages and recalling the fond memories!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In order to write more often, I will reduce the number of photos. I realize that pictures play an important part of telling a story. Maybe things will slow down and the pictures will flow back in.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas Week</span></i></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;">With Christmas coming up next weekend, the campground has been bustling. A couple of days ago, I helped our two camp-host Jan and Sabrina setup a real Christmas tree at the entrance to the <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDII2r1QJheQtI5-uv1rjjiWeqZEGVQ57jox8pY5AtDXKD5bB88xvrIaH_NT-JfjXfcnJxStZnXLrPLqUCoKOXvevwlnP6ERP1l4pmLpBz3QK63c8ku6ZPERUZb2HxrZ3Dw0rjcdnb_ok/s1600/Western+Union+Christmas.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDII2r1QJheQtI5-uv1rjjiWeqZEGVQ57jox8pY5AtDXKD5bB88xvrIaH_NT-JfjXfcnJxStZnXLrPLqUCoKOXvevwlnP6ERP1l4pmLpBz3QK63c8ku6ZPERUZb2HxrZ3Dw0rjcdnb_ok/s640/Western+Union+Christmas.jpeg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>Christmas at Western Union Wharf</b></i></span></td></tr>
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campground. Last night, the campers, brought food dishes at the pavilion for a good festive meal. This was followed by decorating the Christmas tree and finally a tree lighting ceremony just after dark. There are a handful of kids in the campground (active duty families) who got a thrill with the Christmas Tree lighting!</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Key West Holiday Lights!</span></i></b></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">It is strange for a northerner to come to a warm climate at Christmas time. Back home, everybody decorates with lights in windows and a few brave souls who venture out and hang lights on the outsides of their homes. I remember driving around town, Christmas week, at night, with the family, looking at all the lit decorations, in the different neighborhoods.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjS6aTWK-5X-mcSYFjFCT3w3JRmTfRe7Nn-_TQwmMuOk3P7TGKGzI5U6jzQd_a_2CgfL-miPSgBBjinxCXhjBkZ3ZSAD8wo9RFBQ4Z8ZIR7lUa3wAfuHCAY4wfgHgSmozPhvE2VdAyPTE/s1600/2nd+Place+Christmas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjS6aTWK-5X-mcSYFjFCT3w3JRmTfRe7Nn-_TQwmMuOk3P7TGKGzI5U6jzQd_a_2CgfL-miPSgBBjinxCXhjBkZ3ZSAD8wo9RFBQ4Z8ZIR7lUa3wAfuHCAY4wfgHgSmozPhvE2VdAyPTE/s640/2nd+Place+Christmas.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i><b>2nd Place Christmas Light Contest Winner...Our Favorite!</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jump down here in the Keys and it is a little different. Homes are covered with lights! That maybe expected, but what is unusual, for me, is having the home owners sitting outside and wishing passerby's a Merry Christmas. Background music playing Christmas Carols! All of this, with an outside evening temperature of around 74 degrees, which makes these outings very pleasant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0Key West, FL, USA24.55443475154679 -81.78479361855465924.496668751546789 -81.865474618554657 24.612200751546791 -81.70411261855466tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-35094385797142057382016-12-18T16:12:00.001-05:002016-12-18T18:48:25.632-05:00Social Life in the Keys<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Veterans Day November 11, 2016</span></i></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">We’ve been in Key West for approximately a month and a few days. It is a magical place to meet people. It’s like migrating birds that come from all over the country on a migration. The birds migrate further south into Central and South America. We humans, are tethered to the earth for the most part and wind up here at the end of the road on US 1 mile marker zero! The neat thing is that most of us didn’t know each other before this migration south. The nesting place, for us is Trumbo Point. We all park our campers here, close to one another, set up our little home away from home compounds and then start to notice our neighbors. A friendly, hi, hello, how are you doing and next thing, we have new friends! We all have different stories, different places of origins but the common bond is that we all, or at least half of the spouses, served in the military. This is what makes us nearly family. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I was in the Army their seemed to always be a rivalry between all branches of service. That doesn’t exist here! We are all “US Retired Military”. It doesn’t matter if we were privates or generals, we are retired military! Key West stands out as a military town that dates back well before the Civil War. The local economy does depend on tourist, but it also depends heavily on military and their dependents. A perfect example of this was November 11th, Veterans Day. It is without hesitation that I say that this was the finest military parade that I’ve seen! I was really impressed with the number of military personnel in the parade. We, here at Trumbo Point Campground, even had a float in the parade!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The parade naturally march down Duval Street. Key West has a beautiful monument park. On Veterans Day our fallen comrades were remembered at Bayview Park. The parade didn’t come close to Bayview, but flowers adored the memorial. After the parade we rode our bikes on the back streets to Bayview. A tour bus had just dropped tourist. Many of these were veterans who looked at the inspiring plaques with engraved scenes from all of the wars. I asked one vet, looking at the Vietnam plaque, “Where were you stationed?” He replied, “up north” another here in Bien Huh. We remembered many things from our active military careers.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Daily Routine</span></i></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">We have pretty much settled into daily routine now. </span><br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Early risers around 6:15am (Later than the 5:15am back home in NH)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Shower</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Breakfast around 7:30am</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Exercise (Helen walks with one or two girls…3 to 4-1/2 miles) I ride my bike on Fleming Key 12 miles…gold for this year is 1,000 miles…840 left to go.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Coffee break around 9:30 am </span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Depending on which day of the week it’s Bocce Mondays and Fridays 10am to 12noon Tuesday and Thursday our Tai Chi classes at 11:30 am</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Most everyday we bike to these classes and games. From the classes and/or game we bike another couple of miles to check our mailbox down on Whitehead Street.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Afternoon are reserved for groceries or anything that needs to be done.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: large;">Normally we eat at home in the evening, except for Friday nights when we make it a point to go out to a restaurant and reflect on the pass week.</span></li>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Volunteering </span></i></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">If there is one thing that you can do as much as you want in Key West is volunteering! Every single day there is another type of activity, parade, marathon. You name it and Key West has it! All this leads to the need for volunteers. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last week our latest volunteerism was the Key West Film Festival. Another free tee shirt to add to our collection. It is interesting and fun to do these events, we see and meet lots of people, both participants and spectators.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>ROTC Cadets!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJCTrfQEnLbsS3InFQDkxfgE06_VoH9VkYlEMWC2ak-tWxPohRfzf8bYCSnzUMScJAWKAk8WeK4H6qeRhFZOuU4VjHbU2Agks28BJOQ_5D4EjELZkgyLbLPFasqqFRJAP0SdV4HV-uPo/s1600/Trumbo+Point+Military+Retirees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicJCTrfQEnLbsS3InFQDkxfgE06_VoH9VkYlEMWC2ak-tWxPohRfzf8bYCSnzUMScJAWKAk8WeK4H6qeRhFZOuU4VjHbU2Agks28BJOQ_5D4EjELZkgyLbLPFasqqFRJAP0SdV4HV-uPo/s640/Trumbo+Point+Military+Retirees.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Trumbo Point ...Our Float!</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBMO-WuAq8masAQDsWj0Ny3PqH7T17bLZhXjGT7kzz08wn2djQKjM5Ncf7Ddutg3TxggAvdAGphtIieT-IAsXVeSFKltMCQOxC2OMSa3MzubQJn3SEjz41Pml6w-2F-P_ym8uimQySAM/s1600/KW+Sub+Base+%2522Years+Pass%2522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBMO-WuAq8masAQDsWj0Ny3PqH7T17bLZhXjGT7kzz08wn2djQKjM5Ncf7Ddutg3TxggAvdAGphtIieT-IAsXVeSFKltMCQOxC2OMSa3MzubQJn3SEjz41Pml6w-2F-P_ym8uimQySAM/s640/KW+Sub+Base+%2522Years+Pass%2522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>KW was a Sub Base in "Years Pass"</i></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhUbPbMU6KmQcH1lXF8GtjGK2mSTk4gHowgym9p7SRJERoM54Ll0f0BmuQrasANKYUTd7mHoDARi8TJRSf8ppaoxq7O5Oj2E06_46RaX74l_Rhsl62gzt3C7c7LPmKZvv_L1XVcGf9zY/s1600/Looking+Sharp+%2522NAS+KW%2522.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGhUbPbMU6KmQcH1lXF8GtjGK2mSTk4gHowgym9p7SRJERoM54Ll0f0BmuQrasANKYUTd7mHoDARi8TJRSf8ppaoxq7O5Oj2E06_46RaX74l_Rhsl62gzt3C7c7LPmKZvv_L1XVcGf9zY/s640/Looking+Sharp+%2522NAS+KW%2522.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Looking Sharp US Navy<br /><br /><br /></i></span></td></tr>
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TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-15265829658511037582016-11-19T08:26:00.001-05:002016-11-20T10:29:52.829-05:00And The Beat Goes On!<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
<h2>
<b><i>36 annual Key West World Championships Super Boat International</i></b></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpqMojA4Jre39Ym4pWYti9Po-ujCq9OJGtIJ_iujN2QR6CVJUqiGV5p-rhTCmaadPxCq-NtexMUrNaELUiUD67cJlnEOwamfL4_c51IbO6XJegKxdtsVxpylhIT6l9F7TzOg-ZaIn2bU/s1600/Cooper+Standard+1st%252C+Little+Bird+2nd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPpqMojA4Jre39Ym4pWYti9Po-ujCq9OJGtIJ_iujN2QR6CVJUqiGV5p-rhTCmaadPxCq-NtexMUrNaELUiUD67cJlnEOwamfL4_c51IbO6XJegKxdtsVxpylhIT6l9F7TzOg-ZaIn2bU/s640/Cooper+Standard+1st%252C+Little+Bird+2nd.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Super Boat 1st ~ Little Bird ~ Helicopter 2nd!</b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I never realized how retelling one’s daily activities would be so difficult with all of the events that continuously happen on down here in Key West, Florida. We just finished Fantasy Fest week. Next, the International World Cup Speedboat Races this past week. I’m not a connoisseur of any boat racing, or, for that matter anything to do with boats. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyF6_AlFIf5ED-OzoRXxqjVBjR1_shTtIwbiIAkf2uUFPSu1Xsx00uIdQQb7UOxysBAegKkfw9QNxr0RL9WED0TjPnUpqPBMuhMZNcUhTTBXkpq-a_yaXH2GpAe3WOXYgarkoZsRAhyU/s1600/Race+Start.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFyF6_AlFIf5ED-OzoRXxqjVBjR1_shTtIwbiIAkf2uUFPSu1Xsx00uIdQQb7UOxysBAegKkfw9QNxr0RL9WED0TjPnUpqPBMuhMZNcUhTTBXkpq-a_yaXH2GpAe3WOXYgarkoZsRAhyU/s400/Race+Start.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Race Start</b></i></span></td></tr>
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It was truly an eye opener to view, not so much the races, but to explore the staging area where all of these boats and trailers, trucks and equipment parked. This was open to the public, but at an entry fee. This event took place on Navy property and with our, handy dandy, military ID we walked right in. On racing days, they charged $20.00 a person. “Thank you very much for the ID cards, Uncle Sam!” If you bought a pass for the week, it was a mere $800.00!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcNhJ7PUXCOp57vPc31Mb1DJcMbAPVHO8HFynKLW2UJuVIj4maN8cIjOQkDON2lscpDQFznSk5YcThcWuGmmhg3TGI1LOUbLs2vFIuk55LQakERGvvOvWb4_9sVhcUj-cfLzJiI44D5U/s1600/Tilt+Super+Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNcNhJ7PUXCOp57vPc31Mb1DJcMbAPVHO8HFynKLW2UJuVIj4maN8cIjOQkDON2lscpDQFznSk5YcThcWuGmmhg3TGI1LOUbLs2vFIuk55LQakERGvvOvWb4_9sVhcUj-cfLzJiI44D5U/s400/Tilt+Super+Boat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Tilt Super Boat</b></i></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">If you owned a boat, it was $$$$$, but who’s counting. Speaking of money, these racing boats do not cost thousands of dollars, but millions. They are not made of fiberglass, but of carbon fibre…same stuff as the stealth fighter planes. They have specially designed trailers that tilt the boats nearly vertical. so they can be transported down the highway. Why would they have to be tilted, you might ask? They are 12 feet wide and some 50 feet long. The trucks pulling them are show pieces in themselves. Some owners have matching color show cars that enhance both the boat, truck and poshness of the rigs. Most of these racing teams are large corporation sponsors, hence an advertisement right off. An example of this would be “Stihl”… you know, the chain saw people.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz043Y95N68iQMmPFm6xJqVbkhPjAyNWEIdJsZj5C1d9H9ucBXRReZiIWB93r9KZT7FBHJ3yrqFospwjvSKsZlechzQjaCEsyx90hWu2N-y4ylLD-8VFHWwwCNnjSjRBca8y3DtsJAjf8/s1600/Stihl+Super+Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz043Y95N68iQMmPFm6xJqVbkhPjAyNWEIdJsZj5C1d9H9ucBXRReZiIWB93r9KZT7FBHJ3yrqFospwjvSKsZlechzQjaCEsyx90hWu2N-y4ylLD-8VFHWwwCNnjSjRBca8y3DtsJAjf8/s400/Stihl+Super+Boat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Stihl Super Boat</b></i></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">They’ve been racing every other day with the last big event tomorrow. I’m not sure how everything is talied, but winning points play a big part in the scheme of the winning. The Super-boat heats are capable of hitting speeds of 180 miles per hour. On the day we watched, they were doing 140 miles per hour. It’s the wave conditions that limit the speed. Even at 140 mph, we often saw them getting airborne as they screamed by. There average speed was 111MPH on the 4.2 mile course. It was a cool sight to see! Actually, I should rephrase that and say it was a very hot sight to see, as we were on the Mole (pier) watching in the very <u>hot</u> sun!<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsazGUb-4-4EMedsYy2fG5NpJxUtu8otM5cCCKSmGf3vo4bxC_eQzUTGWeDFWH6Tux_x6V2tvoMcTex_ardb6CRo8PBRZD56HF9xMMmqeT8Kr419XMxQPJ-DAGMR9BLnTjlnNM0ht7W5I/s1600/Cow+Girl+%257E+Race+Fan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsazGUb-4-4EMedsYy2fG5NpJxUtu8otM5cCCKSmGf3vo4bxC_eQzUTGWeDFWH6Tux_x6V2tvoMcTex_ardb6CRo8PBRZD56HF9xMMmqeT8Kr419XMxQPJ-DAGMR9BLnTjlnNM0ht7W5I/s400/Cow+Girl+%257E+Race+Fan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>Cowgirl ~ Racing Fan</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Earlier during the week, in the early evening, the racing teams had a parade down Duval Street strutting their stuff, with trucks, trailers, cars and boats! Money, money and more money to advertise their companies and/or products! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday rolled around and the final day for racing was here. Before getting into the racing details, I have to mention that it’s not only the racing boats that show up for this week’s festivities, but several dozens, so called “Cigars” boats made their way down from the Miami area to watch and run around the Keys. These smaller boats are not your typical 75 HP outboards, but usually two automotive type engines “300HP” each. Even at idle, these guys sound very powerful! One night, at three in the morning, most likely after the bars on Duval Street closed, one of these “Cigar” boats, cruised the channel between Trumbo Point and Fleming Key. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyK2d-64QVEf4j_JkgWb3EevsChfonjyMYQBw4zzyBXMl8Wgf7d4iIL571B6E-GkjCe0PwuvtOYoEuVJKSRPnLApU4uJ_-IB1vqc5SrHqWoWGe0k084ZbaP2P8cJD9UFDpyQOoXMcBZw/s1600/The+Rescue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyK2d-64QVEf4j_JkgWb3EevsChfonjyMYQBw4zzyBXMl8Wgf7d4iIL571B6E-GkjCe0PwuvtOYoEuVJKSRPnLApU4uJ_-IB1vqc5SrHqWoWGe0k084ZbaP2P8cJD9UFDpyQOoXMcBZw/s640/The+Rescue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>The rescue</b></i></span></td></tr>
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At first it sounded very much like a diesel locomotive chugging along until it passsed the bridge pillions. It rounded the corner, parallel to Fleming Key with exhaust pointed towards the campground and the guy or girl hit the throttle. At three in the morning, with the windows opened, it sounded like I was at New England Drag-Way, with a Dragster coming off the line! </span><br />
<h3>
<b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Back to Sunday’s final race</span></i></b></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the morning, we weren’t sure if we were going to attend. The temperature would be very hot and little wind on that side of the island. This is such a difference from the Northeast side where the campground is located! <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZgfbyTZWrfWy4ELUIggTb63HiBqzE1LgbarE0PoZvAVcbUVleD0C4URI3xqjajLyNMzKvZzJmk2Pe0yRpxiy0IVMflls6HXxxAaYBdSaZJwVfKID4CKTaknGPint8cGYyGUgHAGQLnA/s1600/1500+HP+Super+Boat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiZgfbyTZWrfWy4ELUIggTb63HiBqzE1LgbarE0PoZvAVcbUVleD0C4URI3xqjajLyNMzKvZzJmk2Pe0yRpxiy0IVMflls6HXxxAaYBdSaZJwVfKID4CKTaknGPint8cGYyGUgHAGQLnA/s320/1500+HP+Super+Boat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>1500 HP Super Boat</b></i></span></td></tr>
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Well, our neighbor Lou Schadie came over and was telling us that some of the other Trumbo campers were there early to get good shady site at Fort Zachary Park. Before we knew it, we were pedaling over across the Island to the State Park. Lou, a disable veteran has a “Veterans Disability State Park Pass". He was able to get as many as eight people on his pass. Once in the park, we were amazed at how many thousands of people lined the beach!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The race started, with three helicopters flying low covering the boats as they flew by at ear piecing noise! With only a dozen boats in the race, the engine noise doesn’t last very long. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsoJ-eUK68NSNIKBBLfN_bhmkIqa5QnCZyimp6ZNGjNeaznG7ZFVSS5wKVWclbP0YaBjyxjwq4NgH-jWmEcDuYcFxHVqsvOPOmShUdKfctIxozsfgkWT1H_lCzHIfIwWGHsST9rC0fgw/s1600/Turn+Three+Super+Boats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsoJ-eUK68NSNIKBBLfN_bhmkIqa5QnCZyimp6ZNGjNeaznG7ZFVSS5wKVWclbP0YaBjyxjwq4NgH-jWmEcDuYcFxHVqsvOPOmShUdKfctIxozsfgkWT1H_lCzHIfIwWGHsST9rC0fgw/s400/Turn+Three+Super+Boats.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Turn Three</b></i></span></td></tr>
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The pack soon spread out as two boats took the lead. The 4.2 mile course is visible nearly from one end to the other. My 18 to 300MM lens got a good workout. From our position, I could get some good shots as they turned from turn three. I really won’t get to see exactly which photos will be the best of the hundreds that I took until I get home to my large monitor and Lightroom software.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjtJH1w4xXySETKrR7zv8xPxJ0-Qq3j4dKaw0FD8Zr5pGmfqPayNeRfMt-R6BzaLybHikvFx-mI_zdioCvSLjxf9wnr1V7f04SnyGjpyRUPGCCxL4TKDYMEMjIXRHoWpJxQ00sTvGM9w/s1600/Closing+In%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgjtJH1w4xXySETKrR7zv8xPxJ0-Qq3j4dKaw0FD8Zr5pGmfqPayNeRfMt-R6BzaLybHikvFx-mI_zdioCvSLjxf9wnr1V7f04SnyGjpyRUPGCCxL4TKDYMEMjIXRHoWpJxQ00sTvGM9w/s640/Closing+In%2521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Closing In !</b></i></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In turn two, I was able to get one of the boats getting air borne and flipping over! It was a mass confusion from the air as well as from the water. Rescue personnel, from one of helicopters performed the rescue of the two crew members. They (the rescue team) have things pretty well covered in that department. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we did and saw!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-20177508137898459672016-11-08T08:25:00.000-05:002016-11-08T08:29:33.283-05:00Rain in Paradise?<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thursday, Oct 27, 2016</i></span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqfl94vYDPQAEk7fd7WJbpjC8eex7oWcSMBwVnZB_iKSnAs9x_8UMuMzcrArfCvzv2MZQM25blY6q_6gz9afirN935OfHH3FqU8IrkMgjZQdz18Uwp1RbLRxcjUEyff4B9hN0zUdj5Yc/s1600/Fantasy+Fest+Eyes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqfl94vYDPQAEk7fd7WJbpjC8eex7oWcSMBwVnZB_iKSnAs9x_8UMuMzcrArfCvzv2MZQM25blY6q_6gz9afirN935OfHH3FqU8IrkMgjZQdz18Uwp1RbLRxcjUEyff4B9hN0zUdj5Yc/s320/Fantasy+Fest+Eyes.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>The Eyes have it!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The local radio station 104.1FM weather forecast this morning was for rain. A low pressure in the Caribbean to our East and a Hi pressure to our West in the Gulf met over the Key West today, resulting in rain off and on for the last few days! It hasn’t dampened the Fantasy Fest activities because they were able to have the daily parades without getting wet. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Last night, we saw the “Locals” parade. Very interesting! I always wondered why they called it “Fantasy Fest”. I don’t have to wonder any more. If you can get my drift about body painting, you’ll understand where I’m coming from. Using an expression from an old friend, “Unbelievable” is the least I can say. I took many pictures, but unfortunately, I can’t publish most of them for ethical and moral reasons!</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Saturday, October 29, 2016</i></span></h2>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs5kFApbIRCWOuHt56SbUeoqsDp-f09GY-IvjuIQZpq3rRyCe5Y6A10b6jcrQy1heJaNJMksdtqo0_s3_xd_dly21dZbmGYeGQsS-3Ni2QACx0Ed5EDqKzvcB86NXMwgiYLI-WgOuMhY/s1600/Fantasy+fest+Eyes+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSs5kFApbIRCWOuHt56SbUeoqsDp-f09GY-IvjuIQZpq3rRyCe5Y6A10b6jcrQy1heJaNJMksdtqo0_s3_xd_dly21dZbmGYeGQsS-3Ni2QACx0Ed5EDqKzvcB86NXMwgiYLI-WgOuMhY/s320/Fantasy+fest+Eyes+2.jpg" width="210" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Did I say the eyes have it?</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Finally, Saturday night has arrived. The “<i><b>Big Final Parade</b></i>”! The crowds predictions were to be arounds 80,000 people, but the latest estimate was around 60,000 spectators…whose counting. The parade went off smoothly with no rain! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One had to think, at the beginning of the parade, as two bomb sniffing dogs made their way along each side of the packed street. No devices were located and no major incidents occurred. I found a good place to take pictures, or, at least I thought it was a good place. Just as the parade started, an EMT, ATV type, vehicle parked right in front of us. I asked the guys if they could move and they said no matter where they parked they would be blocking someone’s view. So, I did get pictures, but mostly after they had gone by our location. Some of you would say, “why didn’t you move” the answer was that 60,000 people were standing next to me.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bGVpoB2uXNGaGl0rOuJqnOElmVswsk7Njb-bPXj1nj-YhI5Y6KCNj-yzL1w6mL_V1UXWtnQ42BG9fnvnVW1B5MjVVImuB41MGpHIUK3d_PXYyMv6F8FLG3FgNndPVsvvnAyAFTMh5iU/s1600/Fantasy+Fest+Costume.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="419" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4bGVpoB2uXNGaGl0rOuJqnOElmVswsk7Njb-bPXj1nj-YhI5Y6KCNj-yzL1w6mL_V1UXWtnQ42BG9fnvnVW1B5MjVVImuB41MGpHIUK3d_PXYyMv6F8FLG3FgNndPVsvvnAyAFTMh5iU/s640/Fantasy+Fest+Costume.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Colorful Costume</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The parade ended around nine-thirty, but we made another miscalculation earlier in the evening. We had crossed the street before the continuos barricades had been closed. We had to walk in a different direction from our campground, circle around towards the waterfront and then head home. Remember, we were walking, no bikes or vehicle tonight. It was a good experience in any event to witness Fantasy Fest for the first time.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh841tE0ZLXjjRXrQcVOTaE7ZRGYOkB3ySAaIQ4FiUbetcqWb1uNhldBWKWKBN2ltkt1X5a8WuQQjSw4zn9iIJGZzewPRZm0Jkgclj6S2T2SlqTSXJZZtbt-ukyaihnHjIJr4GaeOTB3ME/s1600/Fantasy+Fest+Float+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh841tE0ZLXjjRXrQcVOTaE7ZRGYOkB3ySAaIQ4FiUbetcqWb1uNhldBWKWKBN2ltkt1X5a8WuQQjSw4zn9iIJGZzewPRZm0Jkgclj6S2T2SlqTSXJZZtbt-ukyaihnHjIJr4GaeOTB3ME/s640/Fantasy+Fest+Float+1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>Floats...Fantasy Fest Parade 2016!</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></h2>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tuesday Nov. 1, 2016</i></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">A new adventure started today for both of us. I read an add in the paper that stated a Free Tai Chi class was starting on Tuesday and Thursday. I called and got us signed up! Tai Chi as explained by Will, our instructor, is a martial art that does nearly everything in slow motion. Unlike Con Fu, which relies on force and speed, Tai Chi relies on control balance and putting your opponent off balance. No, we are not looking for martial art for defense, but better body balance and muscle toning. Will is very good at explaining the warmup exercises, breathing required to improve body mobility. I think we are going to enjoy these classes! If we wanted to really get into the martial arts, he also does another class on Higgs Beach on Sunday morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Wednesday Nov. 2, 2016</i></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">I spent the morning cutting grass, removing sod from our rear concrete pathway and just getting things looking good. By mid morning, it was contagious! I was the first to mow grass since the campground opened and after I finished my lawn, all three mowers were going in the park for the rest of the morning. In the afternoon, I was beat and sat, in the shade, got my whittling tools out and did some carving on my Eagle Head Cane project. It is the first time I ever tackle wood carving. It is relaxing. I also enjoy being able to sharpen my tools razor sharp with the help of a buffing compound and a leather strap.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Thursday Nov 3, 2016</i></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Bright sunny, warm day, no or little humidity! Started the day by washing camper windows again. I like clean windows to lookout at the sunrises. It’s a 10 minute job with my squeegee. Next came the truck…Looks like “Coral Dust”…Better wash the truck! We are not allowed to wash vehicles with a hose in the park. Our alternative is to fill one pail with soapy water and another with rinse water for the other chamois. It does take very long to get that big F-250 shine up.</span><br />
<h2>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Tai Chi class at 11:30am</i></span></h2>
<span style="font-size: large;">Tai Chi… A Chinese martial arts and system of calisthenics consisting of sequences of very slow controlled movements. Will Soto, our instructor, is by profession a tight rope walker. Checkout his link: <a href="http://www.willsoto.net/">www.willsoto.net</a> Back to Tai Chi basics! I am very impressed with the class. It is very interesting to learn how balancing of your inner circle (body movement) can be used in either defense or offense. The warm up exercises stimulate your body. It is easer to balance one’s body actions. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span><br />
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TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-32649929992987285142016-10-26T07:29:00.001-04:002016-10-26T07:46:22.995-04:00Trumbo Point ~ Friends<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, Oct 19, 2016</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">In the last blog, we were waiting for Trumbo Point campground to open. We were the second campers to checkin. Our preferred site was waiting for us along with the 102 other sites. As I said, at 9am, only two of us were here, but by the end of the day 46 other retired military campers invaded the giant field. A couple of these campers are active military. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When you arrive, it seems that there is a million of chores to tackle for the setup. By late morning, I was well established on my site. I volunteered to help a few of the other guys. I gave Willy a ride back to Sigbee to pickup is car. He has a motor home and he was having a very difficult time of coming over here with three flat tires! Yes, I said (three) flat tires! Another guy needed a ride, but I had a conference call (Water Works Board meeting at 12pm). I did the meeting despite all of the commotion. The afternoon was spent helping and talking to old friends as they rolled in from all over the country. Helen and I actually talked to a gal from Australia. She is married to an American Navy guy. It is truly amazing to meet and chat with people from all over.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8TeQhJ2YSLubQTXv_PtnEWfU__9QcsklxgkxhgS7vPQMe_bTSLPzPO8MeZzBWBNGK8aoERQQ813f85KcIrsUTjwRAE7rudKb3jK2VWD3HYXYKv82qRSHMB02Dl4MoG3f3aSYU4x6tg8/s1600/DSC_5097.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO8TeQhJ2YSLubQTXv_PtnEWfU__9QcsklxgkxhgS7vPQMe_bTSLPzPO8MeZzBWBNGK8aoERQQ813f85KcIrsUTjwRAE7rudKb3jK2VWD3HYXYKv82qRSHMB02Dl4MoG3f3aSYU4x6tg8/s640/DSC_5097.jpg" width="420" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Horrifying </b></i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last night, I would put our GoWiFi internet to the test. I streamed the Presidential Debate live on my computer. From the computer I cabled the debate over a HDMI cable to our digital TV, for a larger screen view. I ran the sound to my Pioneer car stereo in the camper for a surround sound experience. Hillary and Donald came through loud and clear! I would say, that my site, literally next to the WiFi repeater, is going to work for me just fine. I even streamed a movie from Amazon Prime with no problem in buffering. I’m a happy camper so far. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">October 20, 2016</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">This morning, it was time to wash the camper windows and remove the road grime that followed us down that long road from New England. I have a squeegee that makes this a quick job of doing all the windows including the pickup truck. It seemed that the rest of the day just flew by. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">October 23, 2016</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The weather changed last night. The wind is out of the North and the humidity is gone. Temperature is in the mid 70’s…reminds me of New England weather in the fall. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This afternoon, I moved another 5th wheel from the storage area over on Fleming Key to here at Trumbo Point, a total of about 1,300 feet. This is the third 5th wheel that sat on my hitch. They all seem to pull alike. Paul, the owner, has a Ford 250 with a truck camper on it. With me moving his 5th wheel, he didn’t have to download the truck camper, just park it in his storage area.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Tt5Ekr9cmpQwOfWw9HOkdUKzAp4iTX88ITbmNhV1xwylGAs9r768nPbUIafyxlBRLTu7RStR3zt8rQEzCoU5b93pNfDU54jlsBTHwLdQ-7iI_0CbUDaTXlNiaNB3fo-Kng4EIjrXcIw/s1600/DSC_5080.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Tt5Ekr9cmpQwOfWw9HOkdUKzAp4iTX88ITbmNhV1xwylGAs9r768nPbUIafyxlBRLTu7RStR3zt8rQEzCoU5b93pNfDU54jlsBTHwLdQ-7iI_0CbUDaTXlNiaNB3fo-Kng4EIjrXcIw/s400/DSC_5080.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">Very Festive</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is the beginning of Fantasy Fest week in Key West! It is a crazy week with a lot of activity. Tonight it was the bike Zombie Parade with thousands of Zombies riding all kinds of bikes and wearing bloody costumes! We were there taking pictures for about an hour until it really was getting crowded. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Back at the campground, we were surprised with the arrival of two couples pulling in with their 5th wheel and motor home. John and Cheryl, who stopped in for a visit back in New Hampshire and Paula and Charles who have two Shar Pei show dogs. Shar Pei never has an “S” even in plural form. Paula explained that very clearly to me last year.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Monday Oct 24, 2016<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmMN4yn8aR3HuVoMHXOAXXl9qhHD26zQTXIvuUSps8nz29qiiYp4Vx4VQNqxSjmyu_Dd_Q_cZS8CVRnOeE-ntKIcmxE2jVPzxvQaHLd3q7cLdAoPHmNG3a-yjnJQ657WxoQvIaWBNtJQ/s1600/DSC_5072.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOmMN4yn8aR3HuVoMHXOAXXl9qhHD26zQTXIvuUSps8nz29qiiYp4Vx4VQNqxSjmyu_Dd_Q_cZS8CVRnOeE-ntKIcmxE2jVPzxvQaHLd3q7cLdAoPHmNG3a-yjnJQ657WxoQvIaWBNtJQ/s400/DSC_5072.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">You Name it...And They Came!</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The weather is still perfect. Low humidity, mid seventies, slight breeze still blowing from a northerly direction. A good day to play Bocce. We play Monday and Friday over at the end of White Street. They have outstanding courts which are City owned. It is our chance to meet and play with locals. Most of the locals belong to a league who play four nights a week. It is a lot more serious on those leagues than our 10 to noon play for fun. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi202x-OJZibLzIHwlQtneQsc1ZNkMeGpE7FYha8P44EMJIJcJoUy_jHcbHkK0lBmrtlT38UY4BaLPzIQkd7FxMOlibMJCjm_EIMnAgRHBfAwDuL4oOgRV9TGsGyy_2nqU2vnhmMKqn8uo/s1600/DSC_5089.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi202x-OJZibLzIHwlQtneQsc1ZNkMeGpE7FYha8P44EMJIJcJoUy_jHcbHkK0lBmrtlT38UY4BaLPzIQkd7FxMOlibMJCjm_EIMnAgRHBfAwDuL4oOgRV9TGsGyy_2nqU2vnhmMKqn8uo/s400/DSC_5089.jpg" width="262" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b><span style="font-size: small;">A Pretty Bloody Mess</span></b></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We spent the afternoon doing groceries, checking our Post Office Box for mail and then relaxing around the camper. I did manage to lube both bicycle chains and adjust and tighten odds and ends to keep both bikes in good shape. Tonight, was a good time to bike over to Truman Annex (the Navy Side) of the Island. To our surprise, the usual gate was shut down because of major construction, just outside the gate area. The City of Key West is building a large amphi theater and other improvements to the State Park entrance. Well with the gate closed (for a long time), we were directed to use the United St gate. We biked through the Bohemian village to get to the other gate. Now this could be a little scary, especially in early evening with a lot of people sitting on the sidewalk drinking. We’ve been there before and had no problems and we didn’t either on this occasion. The United Street gate is normally never open, so we got to ride into an area that we never had access to on the base. It brought us to “Southern Joint Force Command Headquarters” a highly restricted area. By now, it was already past sunset as we arrived at the Truman Annex beach. There was only one other couple sitting at one of the picnic tables. Even though the sun had set the blue/orange of the sky was mesmerizing. I had my backpack with my trusty D-7000 Nikon to grab a few memorable shots.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3Mf23YSQfasx040xCtpDrqb-fO8h5-rr8z6hxGhd5HrFMvoM_5WctVgwLmZ7rhJuY4j3P9Ub9BJCMfqRdg_OAuYgqTI8NnERd5VLAzu0QW1j06I6vbnI2uJyTiMIwwfCNjs78R3Qi00/s1600/DSC_5069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT3Mf23YSQfasx040xCtpDrqb-fO8h5-rr8z6hxGhd5HrFMvoM_5WctVgwLmZ7rhJuY4j3P9Ub9BJCMfqRdg_OAuYgqTI8NnERd5VLAzu0QW1j06I6vbnI2uJyTiMIwwfCNjs78R3Qi00/s400/DSC_5069.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><i>An Estimated 8,000 in the Parade</i></b></span></td></tr>
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, Oct 25, 2016</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Started the day, detailing my truck. It is such a joy for me to relax and tend to such activities. It took most of the day! Well, it works like this; someone walks by and a conversation starts up. A little later a neighbor needs help with his awning, and so goes the day. Life in Key West…the way it should be!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span><br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-54068940468714815982016-10-18T17:57:00.000-04:002019-08-25T06:18:44.613-04:00A Long Ride to "Mile 0"<span style="font-size: large;">We made Key West, Florida this morning at 9:30am. Wow, I was tired and still winding down from four and a half days of driving. I averaged over 500 miles everyday! My total for the trip was 2,153.7 miles. Last year it was 2,003 miles from Berlin, NH. The reason that it was 150 miles longer was the recent hurricane that havoc North Carolina. On the radio today, I heard that North Carolina still has 620 roads closed due to flooding. We stayed in the Appalachians Mountains on I-81 to skirt around the flood area. I-81 is a good road, but it is hilly and is also a heavy truck route. My F-250 Super Duty had no problem going up the mountain passes, but some Diesel trucks pulling larger 5th wheel up and over the passes left me chugging along at 38 miles an hour on some of the extreme mountain ascents!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX3iQM28A9sAw8FAMolfYsG80_eMSH191EyAMj3dZuD7a1iGvsJqy026lqfdNF2BouSRozJ3t2EwFBv5HF-27O1oTK-A1hkaks57yMOAMBEY9C30CfEIaQUxHqh7jC5sdRFu93YzCk5c/s1600/IMG_3853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIX3iQM28A9sAw8FAMolfYsG80_eMSH191EyAMj3dZuD7a1iGvsJqy026lqfdNF2BouSRozJ3t2EwFBv5HF-27O1oTK-A1hkaks57yMOAMBEY9C30CfEIaQUxHqh7jC5sdRFu93YzCk5c/s640/IMG_3853.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Sunset at Sigbee's Naval Air Station Key West, Florida</i></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I did have a few close calls with people drifting into my lane. I honked on the horn a couple of times and they moved over. Another time, I had to really stomp on the brakes to avoid a tractor trailer that just pulled out from a construction area. I smoked the trailer tires! No damage done. Other than that, the weather was good, the Cracker Barrel Restaurants that we selected were excellent! Quiet is the main requirement. We only rejected a couple that were located in large cities with no easy access for our RV parking. It is sometimes very stressful to be trying to maneuver a 53 foot truck and camper in city traffic, trying to turn into small parking lots with vehicles and curbs all over the place. In any event, we are here safe, sound and happy.<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGkIHACWCsjgX53oueaBqSx0FNf2QUAVNaYrxFRdB5Kp8iWd9uwcQwPPmuAM6rEbxuDKdFH1Q4ayzvh68_6C5o0IRjbCJNLaQr66WAKD2lXYzs1C0evxMrDMEd_MXRPFpA90TtKguo9A/s1600/IMG_3852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifGkIHACWCsjgX53oueaBqSx0FNf2QUAVNaYrxFRdB5Kp8iWd9uwcQwPPmuAM6rEbxuDKdFH1Q4ayzvh68_6C5o0IRjbCJNLaQr66WAKD2lXYzs1C0evxMrDMEd_MXRPFpA90TtKguo9A/s640/IMG_3852.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>It Doesn't Get Any Better !</i></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our arrival at Sigbees RV campground was another first experience for us. One of the whole ideas of coming early to the Keys was the chance to get a prime RV site at Trumbo Point campground. Some campers prefer different sites for different reasons. Some like to be next to water, some like being close to the restrooms. My favorite site was to be closer to the WiFi repeater to get good internet reception.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1ZFEX3to96l1XH672Z-eXwQUK2v_LYb4XFmpFmeygqk_2TzTFq7VaOxndpZZqLmtenT-r4NyIMbGrEsggBzFFNQU7Jrm5iDBsau-F3Useq9LWYRYofHEI-7z2Yeab1yvOE80XgvuhKM/s1600/IMG_0264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf1ZFEX3to96l1XH672Z-eXwQUK2v_LYb4XFmpFmeygqk_2TzTFq7VaOxndpZZqLmtenT-r4NyIMbGrEsggBzFFNQU7Jrm5iDBsau-F3Useq9LWYRYofHEI-7z2Yeab1yvOE80XgvuhKM/s640/IMG_0264.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Double Rainbow at Our Destination in Key West</i></span></td></tr>
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</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Here is how the process goes. You arrive and sign-up on a (non official) sign sheet and put your name and site number. The catch is that you have to stay at the signup station until they call your name on Monday at 9 am. Yes, that means sleeping at the office outside! That’s the price you pay for first come first served! So, sixteen of us spent the night sleeping in lounging chairs, trucks or what ever was comfortable. Helen was in the 5th wheel and I stayed and slept in the cab of the truck. It wasn’t that bad, I had a sleeping bag (not needed for being cold, more for added padding) I actually slept most of the night, only waking up when I rolled over. I sort of enjoyed looking straight up threw the windshield and watching the stars above. On Monday morning, at 9am, my name was called and we got our preferred site number 522. We can’t move over there until Wednesday when the campground opens, but I did manage to go checkout the site and mow the grass at our site. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our next to do, on our checklist was a few groceries. A stop at the Sigbees’ Exchange was to see if we could get a PO Box. The last box was sold just before we got there, but we are first on the standby list. The clerk said that if a guy didn’t call in by the end of the day, we would be next. Time will tell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thats what we saw and did!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0Key West, FL 33040, USA24.5550593 -81.77998709999997124.4972933 -81.86066809999997 24.6128253 -81.699306099999973tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-49074693565568444332016-10-15T06:42:00.001-04:002016-10-15T06:46:20.721-04:00"On The Road Again" The Journey!<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">October 12th and 13th</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Two days of 500 miles a day has put us on the Virginia~Tennessee border. This may sound like a long day behind the wheel, but in reality its just like a normal 6am to 5pm work day. It is about 8pm, sitting here in the camper at another Cracker Barrel restaurant, writing the first blog of the snowbird season. I can honestly say that last night’s stay was ultra quiet. I only mention this, because five minutes ago, a truck pulled up next to us here in the parking lot. A couple of guys went into the restaurant. I couldn’t imagine what kind of noise I was hearing from what I thought was a camper. Our shades were drawn and it was dark outside. Finally curiosity the best of me and I took a peak. It was an aluminum trailer filled with cattle! They weren’t mooing, but were walking around on the aluminum enclosed trailer deck. Thankfully, the cowboys had just gone in for a meal and weren’t staying the night. In the meantime, I turned the radio on, tuned in to a country western station and listened to cattle footsteps and country music! This is a sure sign of an adventuresome, upcoming season.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This trip south is a little different from in years past. Hurricane Matthew has flooded parts of Interstate I-95 near Lumberton, NC. This made us stay north and west of the coastal areas, at least until we were safe from detours and closed highways. Tomorrow, we will take a left and head into North Carolina and catch I-85 towards Atlanta, GA. We won’t enter the heavy traffic in Atlanta, but take the beltway and catch I-75 into northern Florida. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our plans are evolving as we move south. We are fortunate that we have friends (Lou and Sue) that are already Key West and are keeping us abreast of campground openings and other pertinent information. We also got a phone call from Fr Serious Gerkin (a former neighborhood neighbor) He lives in Inverness, Florida. We might stop in and say hello. He would only be 20 minutes out of our way. Maybe, if the arrival time there is late in the day, we might stay the night in the church parking lot.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We really don’t have an exact date on the opening of Trumbo Point campground. The fire department has to do a pressure test on all of the hydrants around the park. This has to be scheduled sometime next week. It isn’t like we would be out in the cold…that’s not right…it doesn’t get cold in Key West, FL. Well, what I meant was that we’d have to temporarily set up at Sigbee’s campground with full hookups!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thats what we saw and did!</span><br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0Lake Park, GA 31636, USA30.6846637 -83.18287320000001730.657352200000002 -83.223213700000017 30.7119752 -83.142532700000018tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-83602306229633356522016-04-19T12:49:00.001-04:002016-04-19T13:19:01.751-04:00After Action Review<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeT_K3XGXOeTczCg49o-UhF4E_j0GSkXC9pT0Ko4R1UaZO2ss29fYNd4Y7jq9kMbb3-F0OH6zqEHQI4CGqPPVsPsu0nWPmJ-s1mW1_EqhcP4xzsjRGp8ytyNt-q00bR7z_HD0llYUu1Q/s1600/Hanna+City+Park.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbeT_K3XGXOeTczCg49o-UhF4E_j0GSkXC9pT0Ko4R1UaZO2ss29fYNd4Y7jq9kMbb3-F0OH6zqEHQI4CGqPPVsPsu0nWPmJ-s1mW1_EqhcP4xzsjRGp8ytyNt-q00bR7z_HD0llYUu1Q/s640/Hanna+City+Park.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cooler than Key West, but still Sunny and still pleasant</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We’ve been home now for nearly a week. It always seems to take this long to settle down into a sense of normalcy. From unloading the 5th wheel camper, to mental reminders about little improvements that I wanted to tackle once home. The real good mind settling fact is that the weather is certainly cooperating! Sure, the nights are cool or even cold, but the sun has been shining and warming up just nicely. The afternoons are in the low 70’s degrees. This is perfect for outside work, play or just sitting by the outside fireplace and staring blankly at the brook, forest and wildlife.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It seems like it was ages ago that we were walking the beach, in Jacksonville, and thinking all of this was coming to an end. Our time, in Key West, was certainly a blessing this past winter. Our countless friends that we’ve met and continue to communicate with help from electronic devices keep the memories alive. Sally and her black Lab “Angel” took us to another level of friendship. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ6dPnCGXD2VUC7gaJt1Ec6CoENzdBTTQVM8CzkS7LpIphH9g8yu-BOkxs8Aks11qoeYdUDDubeq8fPXb3lwBDOTx-k8DLa7UAYLQQ8oVvS_mdJuN_FgVuj7M-DWOfdPYUzRndWkldGk/s1600/Angel+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJ6dPnCGXD2VUC7gaJt1Ec6CoENzdBTTQVM8CzkS7LpIphH9g8yu-BOkxs8Aks11qoeYdUDDubeq8fPXb3lwBDOTx-k8DLa7UAYLQQ8oVvS_mdJuN_FgVuj7M-DWOfdPYUzRndWkldGk/s400/Angel+.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How's the Fishing?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">All of this friendship, I attribute to our being banded together by our location on a military RV campground. With 172 sites and a potential of 344 spouses, we were exposed to a lot of same age military background people. This type of exposer has a different twist from being in the active military. Yes, I’m talking of spouses who play into the social mix of things. They are the organizers, doers who make things happen. Credit must be given to them! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeuraKtboUvhHuY7MhlzA8j-ngDxbuMUhqxwMph3z9J_9Dmer6lePepfC7u279kLqR7eaOVZvjdbGRoFlxE87fJhQztCFoauaSkhKS0T6UBIzhEi4iZ6DnFmKUJ-BlogcQjVjz6CvSa8/s1600/Blue+Angels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXeuraKtboUvhHuY7MhlzA8j-ngDxbuMUhqxwMph3z9J_9Dmer6lePepfC7u279kLqR7eaOVZvjdbGRoFlxE87fJhQztCFoauaSkhKS0T6UBIzhEi4iZ6DnFmKUJ-BlogcQjVjz6CvSa8/s640/Blue+Angels.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blue Angel "Our Protectors"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I can’t forget the active military, who train in Key West, FL. One does not see large groups of soldiers, airmen and sailors, but I can assure you there are many in the area or just off shore. Did I forget to mention the Marines? They are also here along with a healthy presence of Coast Guardsmen and Woman. My hat goes off to all and I salute you.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Along with the above, is the Border Patrol and the Joint Force Command, comprising of several nations from Central America. One of their big missions is drug interdiction in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Key West, FL is military! When one walks the streets here, you can’t help but notice most of the manhole covers have large 10 inch letters embossed with “US NAVY”. They have been here from the beginning. They own large portions of Key West. They have given a lot away, including a good portion of the docking areas.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The ride home was as expected. Slow to start, visiting places and relatives. Once we were not that far north and the weather decreased in temperature, it was a no brainer to continue driving north to our warm home in the White Mountains of New Hampshire.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0Key West, FL 33040, USA24.5550593 -81.77998709999997124.4972933 -81.86066809999997 24.6128253 -81.699306099999973tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-35648928609394000442016-04-05T06:51:00.000-04:002016-04-16T07:38:48.158-04:00The Last Full Week!<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Reflections</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0GgF9saRHdvRWX7FBBz3W7nrJjMg2YsvShalRueZlTKVJuLbGZsTXjGuomYmFoJ-ponVfgXlQutnwvIRoXQerNl283J7YLt0_-dgxLm6tlS5050T-2mw1Xk0rp4A_OiSWvVPKsJe75U/s1600/1%252C000+miles+in+KW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK0GgF9saRHdvRWX7FBBz3W7nrJjMg2YsvShalRueZlTKVJuLbGZsTXjGuomYmFoJ-ponVfgXlQutnwvIRoXQerNl283J7YLt0_-dgxLm6tlS5050T-2mw1Xk0rp4A_OiSWvVPKsJe75U/s320/1%252C000+miles+in+KW.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">1,000 mile mark ~ 500 this season 500 last season</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, as I sit here composing my words, on Easter Sunday, I can’t help thinking how short of a time we have here in Key West. My mind is racing of things we’ve done and things I wanted to do, but just couldn’t find a minute in the so called “Island Time” schedule. My biggest “to do” is to complete my bike odometer reading of 1000 miles. That’s actually 500 hundred bike miles here in Key West this season and 500 miles last season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday, March 29, 2016</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKB6foJdVk8rCnQZeB83eMTxinVF-qL7olB_7tJNKS0Ko6_AkYGucCdINX7K6FkxdE_cHVV42cMcRp39Ly_ESwUx39Uos-wSQ-AbJgoOuuJOgb0UhH515DWqCE12iqP2JtA4_JinRdME/s1600/Happy+Biker.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKB6foJdVk8rCnQZeB83eMTxinVF-qL7olB_7tJNKS0Ko6_AkYGucCdINX7K6FkxdE_cHVV42cMcRp39Ly_ESwUx39Uos-wSQ-AbJgoOuuJOgb0UhH515DWqCE12iqP2JtA4_JinRdME/s400/Happy+Biker.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Happy Biker ~ 1000 miles in Key West</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The last two days, I’ve been pushing hard on the bike. I’ve covered 50 plus miles in roughly four hours. I’m running out of time! The wind picked up late this afternoon. This is not the ideal biking weather. The wind did wonders to cool things down, but as for biking, well it would be great going in one direction, but not so in the other. If the wind is blowing at 20mph and I’m pedaling at 10mph that’s a 30 mph head wind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, March 30, 2016</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Another early run on the bike. Started at 6:45am after breakfast. Goal for today another 50 miles which I completed by 9:15am. I can now see the finish line! The weather looks promising, at least in the wind forecast. By Friday, I should be up to and over my 1000 mile goal. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This workout is doing the trick, because after the 50 mile jaunt, I tackled some of the pre-packing chores without any lost of stamina. I took everything out of the truck, installed my homemade tondo cover, packed away the BBQ grill, stored a half dozen folding chairs, dismantled an old radio and many other little to do things on the check list. I was careful not to dehydrate and drank plenty of water. This afternoon, we went over to Truman Annex (Navy side) and walked the beach. The ocean water is getting perfectly warm to the touch! My kind of water to swim in. I collected more coral sample to bring home. Oh, on the way to the beach, Helen stopped in to Kino’s and finally got a red pair of sandals. She had gone there three times, but her size was always out. For those of you that don’t know about Kino’s, they make leather sandals right there in the store.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">April 2, 2016</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Air Show at Boca Chica NAS! Great air show, got interesting photos! On the down side, it was boiling hot! In the 90’s with a humidity to match. The skies were hazy white, not the best for a Blue Angle background. A crowd estimated at 36,000 endured the heat and watch the show. Besides the Blue Angles, several outstanding stunt planes performed unbelievable maneuvers in the sky above. My face got sunburned, even though I was wearing a large bream hat, but it was worth it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Sunday April 3, 2016 </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Went to mass this morning and spent the rest of the day picking up odds and ends around the 5th wheel. Still recovering from sun exposure, but not in any discomfort. Went for a long walk in late afternoon around the permanent military housing area here at Trumbo Point. Watched videos on You Tube Sunday evening. Also watched our local, back home, TV stations on the internet. Time is really winding down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Monday April 4th, 2016</span></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0wLnIgw1k8dTJvlh_O-uHFQlORgI4BLFQoeuwexfFS9S3jilgFYDulghMvLz24o1cuFJcsKIKG2OOZhg4BPxf29n_INRAavmAFAuQqe8S5PQ6-8-eGk-e00SJmrtCiGQe9O9NXAFb_g/s1600/Last+Happy+Hour+%257E+KW.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0wLnIgw1k8dTJvlh_O-uHFQlORgI4BLFQoeuwexfFS9S3jilgFYDulghMvLz24o1cuFJcsKIKG2OOZhg4BPxf29n_INRAavmAFAuQqe8S5PQ6-8-eGk-e00SJmrtCiGQe9O9NXAFb_g/s400/Last+Happy+Hour+%257E+KW.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Last Happy Hour at Thai Restaurant ~ Garrison Bight, KW</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Programed our RV GPS for our trip home. This time I divided the trip into segments to better adjust more stops and options, in case we want to divert from our planned route. I’m still experimenting with the software. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We might be joining up with our camping friend Sally in Jacksonville and convoy North together for a ways up I-95. We might also divert to Columbia, SC to visit Helen’s aunt Simone and cousins Chris and Sandy. Ironically, we might visit with another KW camping friend, Joannah, who lives a mile and a quarter from Chris and Sandy. It’s not that we are not anxious to head home to New England, but as I type this blog update, the forecast for New Hampshire is 4 inches of predicted snow. No rush to get into shoveling!</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday April 5th, 2016 (3:30am)</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">As I had planned a few days ago, we would be leaving mighty early and we did at 3:30am. The plan was to drive up through the Florida Keys before the invasion and exodus of hundreds of cars that come and go into and out of paradise everyday. I also wanted to make it all the way to Mayport Naval Station. Our friend, Sally, said she would be there and we could link up and possibly convoy home for part of the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The trip was 513 miles and took, give or take 12 hours. Upon arriving at the Naval Station, at Pelican Roost, we discovered that they were booked solid with no sites available. I asked what we could do and the office girl said that Walmart was available or we could drive out the main gate and take a left to the “Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park Campground” (City Park) next door. We did and were surprised at the 420 acre campground. Full hookups and needless to say happy campers tonight.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sally, who was at her cousin’s home, 20 minutes away, drove over the next day and we got sites next to each other. That evening we ate at Singleton Seafood Shack down on the waterfront. The next morning, we headed out together for Fort McAllister State Park on the South side of Savannah, GA. The campground was well laid out with large, tall pine trees and live oaks trees. A large visitor center, with a historical museum was at the entrance to the Fort. This Fort was strategically placed along the Ogeechee River. From this location, the river bends back and forth three times in front of Ft McAllister. Its cannons could engage enemy ships three times before reaching Savannah.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The guided tour was long and a major drawback was the no-see-ams that attacked us tourist who were wearing shorts. We finally retreated to our campsites. After going to dinner and coming back to the campground, we all did some exploring down at the river, walked the many loops of the campground and finally hit the sack.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span><br />
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TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0Unknown location.30.902224705171442 -82.00195312500005724.022507705171442 -92.32910162500005 37.781941705171441 -71.674804625000064tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-85382610498222711702016-03-25T07:44:00.001-04:002016-04-07T15:07:02.609-04:00Waning Days in Key West<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Waning Days of Key West</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0ksIIVrMjMegt2pO9dmDEdahSpbUZMhcFpa7UPWhSgOfXSz8zHGoLgSXWpKiQq2T2CVaJyNfMr8JclQ3oOJ8F8xR-B0-QiXsP79c3v9iqFyxp1sW11DYs9b5n2og7lAMWx4-N_fwAY4/s1600/Lunch+At+Salutee.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhm0ksIIVrMjMegt2pO9dmDEdahSpbUZMhcFpa7UPWhSgOfXSz8zHGoLgSXWpKiQq2T2CVaJyNfMr8JclQ3oOJ8F8xR-B0-QiXsP79c3v9iqFyxp1sW11DYs9b5n2og7lAMWx4-N_fwAY4/s640/Lunch+At+Salutee.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch at Salute Restaurant with L-R Me, Helen, Georgio, Paul, Sharon, Jan & Rich</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It seems that over night Key West has changed, at least in the weather department. The wind is now out of East and very steady and strong, I mean a good 20 miles per hour with gust to 30 mph. This isn’t totally bad because the temperature now climbs to the upper 80’s and the strong wind keeps us cool. Because we are located on the easterly side of the campground, next to the paved tarmac, we don’t experience the slight dusting of Coral dust that blows off the gravel streets downwind from us.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I have mentioned, in a previous blog, that our friends are leaving daily for their homes, in the southern parts of the US. I believe that about half of the park is now vacant. It is sad to see them leave! I know that leaving early would be a mistake because even thought it was a mild winter in New England, winter isn’t over until the middle of April. Maybe April will be wet in New England?</span><br />
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Night Riders</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Now that the weather is hotter during the day, it is a perfect time to bike in town at night. People are out and exploring the inner city neighborhoods and this gives one a completely different perspective of the homes and landscaping. Many have landscape lighting that is very cool. Some have stained glass front doors that pop with Key West colors. Most of these back or interior streets have little or no traffic. Our bikes are well lit front and rear. We set all of our LED lights to a blinking pattern. If they can’t see us, it is because they are blind!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Tonight, we biked across town over to the end of White Street to the Bocce courts. At night, the pros gather for intense games. Unlike our leisurely morning games these are serious and cut-throat. Sharon & Georgio play on Thursday nights. I was amazed to see how many teams and people playing. I counted over a hundred players. After watching for a short period of time, we headed towards our campground. Helen’s headlight unclipped from the handlebar at an intersection, I was able to pick up the pieces before any vehicles destroyed the five pieces on the roadway. I couldn’t get it to work, so I had Helen follow me closely. Her red blinking rear light along with mine kept us safe. Back at the ranch, I was able to reassemble the light and got it to work perfectly.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">The William Trump</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlN_163xiTEKlyW5epdPzTVk-DoG7tbZTCtHe0mrsQe7aOfVfijdpFw_mDF-l04E0QfG9f6L2K7o4KvPfYtgXb5iY32pymXnFLt0azw-MuiKqbhETpB1PcNU9dPf0zwiYw_UMLo4IkcN0/s1600/USCG+Tour+Guide.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlN_163xiTEKlyW5epdPzTVk-DoG7tbZTCtHe0mrsQe7aOfVfijdpFw_mDF-l04E0QfG9f6L2K7o4KvPfYtgXb5iY32pymXnFLt0azw-MuiKqbhETpB1PcNU9dPf0zwiYw_UMLo4IkcN0/s400/USCG+Tour+Guide.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Tour Guide</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I had heard from the camp host that one could setup a tour of one of the Coast Guard Cutters. Well, I went over to the Coast Guard Headquarters and the tour was setup for last Friday at 11 am. I had three couples going on the tour. Friday morning was hectic! Before the tour, I moved our 5th wheel to a new site closer to the internet repeater. I did manage to be ready for the 11am tour. One couple backed out, but four of us showed up. Our Coast Guard guide started by explaining what their mission was down here in Key West, the Gulf and even on the Atlantic side. He then started at the bow of the ship and explained all of the surface compartments and functions. Entering the ship, I was sort of surprised that most of the interior was air conditioned. As we continued the tour, I was also surprised to see what powered this “Intercepter Cutter”…two four thousand horse power turbos with each having twin turbo chargers. On the electrical end, the William Trump can produce enough electrical power to power three sister ships at once. We were allowed to take some photos, but on the bridge, which is pretty sophisticated, we could only look and gawk! Impressive, I would say best describes the bridge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dS5rcxkyPq8LJpFe00ihwAg7-C-QQIfycW-qs5WneRK8a4VUddTBoSMFCCYj7BkjUa7zg3I6cP9ShtExV4p3q50uGxrTq96vhpK_JSPZIV54Uq_6gV3lJ-WRYYCM0Bqo10U0UfOYcYk/s1600/USCG+%257E+Ready+for+Launch.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3dS5rcxkyPq8LJpFe00ihwAg7-C-QQIfycW-qs5WneRK8a4VUddTBoSMFCCYj7BkjUa7zg3I6cP9ShtExV4p3q50uGxrTq96vhpK_JSPZIV54Uq_6gV3lJ-WRYYCM0Bqo10U0UfOYcYk/s640/USCG+%257E+Ready+for+Launch.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ready to launch!</span></td></tr>
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<br /></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our tour ended on the aft deck. This happened to be at the exact time of a launch of their well boat from the interior of the ship. The rear gate opened and the powerful fast water craft moved out into the water. I was allowed to video this part of the tour. Hopefully, I will be able to insert the link to this launch in this blog.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did! </span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-71554718447515055952016-03-10T08:54:00.001-05:002016-03-10T16:17:06.523-05:00US Coast Guard ~ "The Boarding"<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">US Coast Guard ~ Boarding</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMSyA9e2_o8buxL8zDc8oCJCNaw8nuzDjxEBoaw6o21UDjWt9aESV2Zp3TV1bz1ebTXSf-rfLq0Zv4_J0-ZNr_uRbxTqO9pToXSsDkyVY_KdSSEmXrdpNouldyuabQDiGEqINJbMBEck/s1600/US+Coast+Guard+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWMSyA9e2_o8buxL8zDc8oCJCNaw8nuzDjxEBoaw6o21UDjWt9aESV2Zp3TV1bz1ebTXSf-rfLq0Zv4_J0-ZNr_uRbxTqO9pToXSsDkyVY_KdSSEmXrdpNouldyuabQDiGEqINJbMBEck/s640/US+Coast+Guard+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">US Coast Guard ~Safety Inspection</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDekTY4YVuKwv3FO3uyT0yyIsIaJkQSNiIxd_juy0TtZiAk7JWch0uBI6aLW2to-H2rU5QVdLvKV2YEkjLcXywpU8daJjNmglZOHrxt0LTqpRa7_HnzggCpTPwQj94doGxPGLEevD6-I/s1600/KW+Pano.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipDekTY4YVuKwv3FO3uyT0yyIsIaJkQSNiIxd_juy0TtZiAk7JWch0uBI6aLW2to-H2rU5QVdLvKV2YEkjLcXywpU8daJjNmglZOHrxt0LTqpRa7_HnzggCpTPwQj94doGxPGLEevD6-I/s640/KW+Pano.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pano View of Key West</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Last Friday, after our Bocce game, we were invited by Sharon and Georgio, our local Bocce leaders/organizers, to an outing on their pontoon boat “The Captain Groovy” . Eight of us were onboard as we left the Stock Island Marina. A quick note about the Marina; The docking area is somewhat limited, but through clever design, it accommodates many vessels of different types. A giant forklift wheels around and picks your boat from large enclosed buildings. It then brings your boat to the water’s edge and lowers it down some ten feet into the water. It is a neat operation!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Leaving the Marina, I got my bearings as to where it is located in relation to Key West and Boca Chica, to the North. Georgio headed along the Easterly side towards Key West. This gave us a good view of the beaches along Atlantic Boulevard. By now the munchies were out along with drinks, which we all brought. The ocean was relatively calm and as things settled down we could appreciate the clear water below. I asked Georgio how deep the water below us was and he looked at his depth gauge, he said, “17 feet". We could see the bottom like it was only two feet deep!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbGL2_5DskMUpLYQtg7KpJ2B5gP6WGi0BuoiIfq3JSJaZmNmZxayxlusA1id_Ev_anpItqJKu_msaYhw0OzHPaqwuXH2SNxX00ZdJyuB45tO9BiGcRF4jz4w9IVTpNxWGsrEkYiY_KUw/s1600/Let+Me+See+your+Papers%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbGL2_5DskMUpLYQtg7KpJ2B5gP6WGi0BuoiIfq3JSJaZmNmZxayxlusA1id_Ev_anpItqJKu_msaYhw0OzHPaqwuXH2SNxX00ZdJyuB45tO9BiGcRF4jz4w9IVTpNxWGsrEkYiY_KUw/s640/Let+Me+See+your+Papers%2521.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">My mind was racing with these thoughts</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Looking around, one could also see several types of boats on the water… jet skis, fishing boats, sailboats and a little further out, a Coast Guard patrol boat. It was apparent that the patrol boat was also eyeing us. It was quickly closing in on our pontoon boat. US Coast Guard safety check came over the loud speaker. Georgio shutoff our 75 horsepower motor. The Coast Guard idled their 900 horsepower three outboard motors. A Coast Guard crew member hollered out. “Any weapons on board”, “No” replied Georgio. What followed was a routine Coast Guard Safety Check, but my mind was racing with all kinds of scenarios! Would they send us back to Cuba like the refugees that don’t make land? Helen asked if we could take pictures of the safety check. They said, “yes, no problem”! That was my cue to start taking pictures. The pictures that I took were of a serious nature at the time, but as I started to look at them later my mind exploded with all kinds of bullet statements!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In all seriousness, the US Coast Guard crew were very professional and did an outstanding job of keeping us safe with all of the requirement papers and safety devices! </span><br />
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Key West ~ From the Gulf to Atlantic </span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">After the boarding and a good safety check experience, it was time to get back to exploring the rest of Key West, from the water side. When one rounds the point, by Fort Zachary Taylor, where the two bodies of water meet, it became a little choppy for about three or four minutes. At this time, we, who were sitting towards the bow of the pontoon got a few splashing waves. I’m glad I had left my wallet back in the truck! My iPhone was secured in a plastic baggy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Two cruise ships were docked down by Mallory Square and made for a nice panorama picture. We continued to Sunset Key across from Mallory Square. Sunset Key is where the rich and famous live. A restricted ferry is the only access to this Key. There are roads, but no vehicles allowed. There is a restaurant which you can make reservations for, but if you’re not on the restaurant reservation list, you not going on the ferry. It’s easy to lay down $100 for lunch! I’ll stick to “Five Guys”.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZbYPUqSHdHPhLeeZPvTPbabU0dZmhI8ZaBCpNRB7_1iUqijZ0sqzvWHfz1Tr_yPowBa45l_3qzD8hLqRzxonxymNxnOF6nwxEIQdJ46i6MzF0B30M0ekvOs4-RXrGhVnxff-o6HHQug/s1600/African+Queen+Rehersal%2521.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZbYPUqSHdHPhLeeZPvTPbabU0dZmhI8ZaBCpNRB7_1iUqijZ0sqzvWHfz1Tr_yPowBa45l_3qzD8hLqRzxonxymNxnOF6nwxEIQdJ46i6MzF0B30M0ekvOs4-RXrGhVnxff-o6HHQug/s400/African+Queen+Rehersal%2521.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Doesn't Paul remind you of the<br />
movie "African Queen"</td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The next closest Key is Christmas Island. Ironically, this is inhabited by vagrants. Go figure! From the richest to the poorest, nearly within shouting distance.</span><br />
<h3>
</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYja1pWFhDvZELtPNxNmAGrNx8gByx7wEMG75Wtpdsx3vj7kULfwUaovXXDjRUJu0CcB0Xl5Za6YOHVBCBXt7dcwC9E641-9pv5bTtUZFaFaANPS6nuucDG3bVc1RFkWPbTOFhJBNQJO0/s1600/Come+On+In+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYja1pWFhDvZELtPNxNmAGrNx8gByx7wEMG75Wtpdsx3vj7kULfwUaovXXDjRUJu0CcB0Xl5Za6YOHVBCBXt7dcwC9E641-9pv5bTtUZFaFaANPS6nuucDG3bVc1RFkWPbTOFhJBNQJO0/s320/Come+On+In+.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">"Angel" come on in!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqYux3RYr2gEI44nRrR-fPICqgIyhumUsG2Z1cROncpS7M8cSzcA9A7r4mNiO0G6WKpawFUW8JUKx7EeH7Xf2wBKd9gDOIJBXChE5eCZnK4831b2kOk2Y8due_yvjv0AyljyMZ5Y_mkc/s1600/Sunset+Key+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyqYux3RYr2gEI44nRrR-fPICqgIyhumUsG2Z1cROncpS7M8cSzcA9A7r4mNiO0G6WKpawFUW8JUKx7EeH7Xf2wBKd9gDOIJBXChE5eCZnK4831b2kOk2Y8due_yvjv0AyljyMZ5Y_mkc/s640/Sunset+Key+.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sunset Key to the right!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pJVYYzvKNuzoG225buJXeDcUL92elh0wZpLnIube41xVQlnDjIb7nA9G-eziczvkcJCB8l8Uya6c12H8eg5c_JTaPai-Nl_1OpO6ViuYboGPv3vgsSm7K_sjBfXmBhLmfXdsP_CPxtw/s1600/Sandbar+Play+Ground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5pJVYYzvKNuzoG225buJXeDcUL92elh0wZpLnIube41xVQlnDjIb7nA9G-eziczvkcJCB8l8Uya6c12H8eg5c_JTaPai-Nl_1OpO6ViuYboGPv3vgsSm7K_sjBfXmBhLmfXdsP_CPxtw/s640/Sandbar+Play+Ground.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Angel the retriever! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">From the tour around the westerly tip of Key West, we headed back towards Stock Island, but with another destination. Georgio took us to a sand bar. Unfortunately, the tide was higher and about two feet of water was over the sand bar. This didn’t deter our sand bar adventure. Paul took charge and jumped in. He grabbed the anchor and pulled us in closer and set the anchor into the sand. A few of us got off the pontoon boat and walked and explored this “island in the sea”. Angel, the Lab, was pacing back and forth and finally took the plunge and joined into the fun. Sally had brought a ball catapult and Angel had a “ball” retrieving. Reed, Ginny, Sharon, Helen and I stayed on board to take pictures. We weren’t the only ones on the sand bar. A bunch of jet skis were on the far side and were also frolicking in the knee deep water. I’m told that when the tide is at the low point, one can actually have a picnic on the pure sand bar. It’s ironic that Key West doesn’t really have any sand beaches. The sand is brought in, I’m told, but just off shore there is plenty of this commodity. Go figure!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></span>
<br />
<div class="h4">
<i><span style="font-size: large;">That what we saw and did! </span></i></div>
<div class="h3">
<i><br data-mce-bogus="1" /></i></div>
TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-80750101563296541232016-03-04T06:58:00.001-05:002016-03-04T07:10:18.387-05:00Dusk to Dawn<br />
<blockquote>
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Reflections</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfJbg0Hxwhcs-XSO28z9A9nJlQZd5x8p5cmmlqDFUhpTtnIvWjImJ7_xTQUTNJTfP_V2uBROEg5EJ8tL8v2GfJXrxPZr1pYbkMKxNcSMwCjAnAFjN_YZW7wndBNK5fCwb4kkPvdYUzGg/s1600/Picture+Window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfJbg0Hxwhcs-XSO28z9A9nJlQZd5x8p5cmmlqDFUhpTtnIvWjImJ7_xTQUTNJTfP_V2uBROEg5EJ8tL8v2GfJXrxPZr1pYbkMKxNcSMwCjAnAFjN_YZW7wndBNK5fCwb4kkPvdYUzGg/s640/Picture+Window.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Living Room ~ Reflection</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">One of the most enjoyable “private of times” that I’ve experienced, here in the Key West, is my early, early morning walk to the washroom. What I’m talking about, is walking out of the camper door and looking up! The moon and stars are crisp and bright. The horizon has some dim city lights, but for the most part, the heavens are clearly visible. It was brought to my attention that the Keys are a perfect place to view the stars and firmament. This statement was said by 600 Astronomers, who recently descended on the Keys to view the planets. For a time, a long time, in the month of February, the planets were all lined up in a vertical line from due East to the West. Another reason for viewing the stars is the simple fact that the nights are not cold. I know if I was home up in New Hampshire, I certainly wouldn’t be outside at six in the morning with the temperature down to 18 degrees. In any event, I enjoy my little three minute walk up the shower room. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After doing my morning duties, the walk back to the camper is also rewarding. By now the sun has not risen, but the horizon is now glowing a very bright orange! Its even better if a few scattered clouds are present. The colors explode! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQzVBc9nkVGYQLhtOnoBU1W3mD8kVR707zQP0tmidn1OK3Bo3RRsA3sLJJmx9KIzEcHx-oT-76vXWz_nybWJ2nsqV7LP2z1kEIA5xZDx3kBR5WaL9petf4ykwpgfRiwqO1JQFZ_BPNtg/s1600/Trumbo+Point+%257E+Sunrise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQzVBc9nkVGYQLhtOnoBU1W3mD8kVR707zQP0tmidn1OK3Bo3RRsA3sLJJmx9KIzEcHx-oT-76vXWz_nybWJ2nsqV7LP2z1kEIA5xZDx3kBR5WaL9petf4ykwpgfRiwqO1JQFZ_BPNtg/s400/Trumbo+Point+%257E+Sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">From the Bridge to Fleming Key</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Back at the camper, Helen is usually already gone to the shower room. I like to cook my own breakfast and get that started. Coffee on, getting the frying pan on the stove and I like to “pan grill” my toast! I always have to decide what’s on the menu for this morning’s breakfast. Cereal, oatmeal, maybe eggsover easy with hash browns, it always works out. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">By this time, I’ve got all the shades up and the sun is exploding light all over the living room, my breakfast is finished and than I take to my recliner in the living room and sip on my hot coffee and relax watching the birds start their day. Pelicans start in small groups of three and soar above the channel between Trumbo Point and Fleming Key. These Pelicans are juveniles, I’m told, and are just learning the migration ritual. They will be here until the end of March before migrating North. Soon many other species are flying above the campground. All are silhouetted against the bright morning sun light.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Daily Routine</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">During Lent, we attend 7:30 mass at Basilica St Mary Star of the Sea before starting the days activities. If other commitments don’t interfere, I will do my power bike run on Fleming Key. This involves pedaling hard for 12 miles, nonstop. This may sound grueling, but I’m getting used to it now and this 12 mile run takes around 50 minutes. My personal goal is to break the 1000 miles on the bike’s odometer. That’s not 1000 miles this winter, but a good 500 doubling last year’s goal. I feel confident that I will meet my goal. I’ve got over halfway completed already. If I ride another eleven days, I will be over my goal.</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">On the Beach or Lecture Room</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZnQL5pJi_dduOhfrUYSekw9EcpnL56Mm1CMTxa5NrVq0s8-fZBOGssGVo5igvTCJ4BWgC8Aw6i9SBDD_dmX0xFOmuKJgKejertxz8p4ma-T_jpWVEnpoQ_9GQ-ePmMJgiFezcltgP_o/s1600/F-15+Eagle+NAS+KW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGZnQL5pJi_dduOhfrUYSekw9EcpnL56Mm1CMTxa5NrVq0s8-fZBOGssGVo5igvTCJ4BWgC8Aw6i9SBDD_dmX0xFOmuKJgKejertxz8p4ma-T_jpWVEnpoQ_9GQ-ePmMJgiFezcltgP_o/s640/F-15+Eagle+NAS+KW.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Gated Community Security</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">One would think that we would be sitting on the beach all day soaking up the sun! That is not the case. Amazingly we are busy attending different activities from Bocce, computer classes at the Monroe County Library (free), meeting friends for lunch, maybe helping fellow RV campers with maintenance issues and so fort. We have also been interested in going to different lectures on different topics from photography of Cuba to history topics such as the “Spanish American War” which was very prominent in Key West history. The sinking of the “Battleship Maine” (which now is disputed…more likely an internal explosion in a coal bunker which further exploded the ammunition magazine.) I never realized that the Spanish American War resulted in our acquisition or influence of Hawaii, Philippines, Puerto Rico and Cuba. It’s interesting stuff, in that we are living in this area of history. As a quote, Harry Truman once said, “The only new history is what you haven’t read!”</span><br />
<h3>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Snowbirds are North Bound</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Yes, it may be still winter in New England, but the mid and lower States must be warming. The annual snowbird departure has started. The camp host, Janet told me today that we now have 30 sites available here at Trumbo Point. Our departure won’t be until mid April (tentatively). </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">When and If ~ Not Cuba</span></i></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our minds are made up! We will not go on the “When and If” sailboat to Cuba this year. Instead, we will put in our names for a trip next year with a garden group!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That what we saw and did!</span><br />
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<br data-mce-bogus="1" />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-41382341280276598922016-02-25T08:49:00.001-05:002016-02-25T09:35:50.890-05:00Appledore Key West Sail<br data-mce-bogus="1" />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-position="3" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMIJ5iXtgyDD-wrkeL_pRrQ1EvJVi3wUfvwoBY7f7nTItoSp274H3e9FcQfF7_XxzsgHN5ay3NYts5-WhikVC0Jlh9aPJ_v5UnoCMlT1JDbmd7aWINaOc60lyIbn_As_zHW5gGGJWkmWA/I/1_JackCarolLeadersofthePack.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"> Jack & Carol </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On my last blog, I wrote about the “When and If”. I was actually, at the time, doing a recon, dry run, to find the “Appledore Jeff” , the ticket guy, and a place to park and secure the bikes. This was in preparation for our sailing trip around Key West. Jeff was right in front of the windjammer “Appledore II” .</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Who brought us to the “Appledore II” ? Jack and Carol! They are the guru organizers, not only on this sail, but they seem to be putting together some function of this sort or another all the time. From the Key West Half Marathon Volunteers, to pre and post marathon parties. They are a great asset to the military retirees and to Key West.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPvulO3FQpF5RC5yfqtKjb4RYEZrGUN90mJXNwJRayRNRBd4eOydD93_VGhTIdUk1S-FfLDd-MexVqOmc-P2HHbfxizniwOQXb99WY3kMYXAw5GlVWLz27XfxZiR43iEjeRiMIcQ_Hzo/I/1_OnTheHighSeas.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our Gang!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I have to give a little more history on the Appledore II taken from “Wikipedia"</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU7O3Y0Yee4OUCBJ6CMlGcYI_Eg4LggPaBpvPFosINRLPzUR_WQUljmjI724KRu41YalU_DlCDNKg6gF4Ao6hPXWcwnkOR4HQ0APE30neNGw6Bq4p3SvcunRCaYcP55d_lwEyuyib0XN4/I/JackCarolCruiseKW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dolphins Port Side! </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Launched on August 22, 1978, Appledore II is the largest of her four sister ships, Appledore I, III, IV, and V. Appledore II was the last schooner custom built by the Harvey Gamage Shipyard in South Bristol, Maine, which had previously built the tall ships Mary Day, Harvey Gamage, Shenandoah, Bowdoin and Spirit of Massachusetts, among others. Designed by Bud McIntosh, she was structured to endure heavy weather and the open ocean.[1]Appledore II is gaff rigged on both her masts, with a hull speed of 10.5 knots and a length of 86 feet (26 m) overall.[2]</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her maiden voyage was an 18-month circumnavigation, which commenced in November 1978 from Portsmouth, New Hampshire and concluded there after the Appledore II visited many ports of call around the world. This voyage has bee chronicled in two books, Dreams of Natural Places, A New England Schooner Odyssey and Sailing Three Oceans, both authored by Herbert Smith.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since that time, Appledore II has sailed extensively throughout the Caribbean, conducting educational and private tourism. For a number of years she served as the Semester At Sea vessel for marine biology majors from Southampton College of LIU. For the past 20 years she has been offering day sails from her home ports of Camden, Maine and Key West, Florida. Twice a year, Appledore II makes a 2,000-mile (3,200 km) offshore voyage between these destinations. As a prime example of a historical wooden schooner, the Appledore II is regularly featured in books, movies, advertisements, and post cards evoking traditional coastal Maine sailing. The Appledore II regularly participates in the Key West Wrecker's Cup Race (a regatta she has won on numerous occasions) and is a mainstay of the annual 'Windjammer Weekend' in Camden, Maine.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img data-position="3" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5gObpO2ZbWgMk-NTRVz0XkrN_tuH4DFZBE6TJ0Xc4lpH_u1k3J_uasUk4U2IS-smR4vhKR5VGQLMoTkNvg-GdYDkBHmMjBFtK83r4YCq8PkHFImEphF2Sgi_cX5SkvhD9HVDPiJPrYHI/I/300px-Schappledore1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" width="480" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Appledore II</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">United StatesName: Appledore IIOwner: John P. McKean, S.E.A., Ltd.Builder: Linwood Gamage, Gamage ShipyardLaunched: August 22, 1978Homeport: Camden, MaineGeneral characteristicsType: SchoonerDisplacement: 52 tonsLength: 86 ft (26 m) overall, 65 ft (20 m) on deckBeam: 18 ft 9 in (5.72 m)Draft: 10 ft (3.0 m)Propulsion: Sail, auxiliary engineSail plan: Gaff-rigged, two-masted topsail schoonerSpeed: 10.5-knot (19.4 km/h) hull speedComplement: 49 passengers, 4 crew</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Our sail began promptly at 1:30pm with Captain Chris giving the commands to untie and push off from the dock. It was fascinating to watch the crew turn this mighty big sailing ship around the bay area with millions or billions of dollar boats and ships in close proximity. The Appledore II cleared the jetty and headed for open water. What we saw next was totally unexpected. I counted at least six sail boats underwater on the jetty and other nearby islands. I know last month was rough and windy weather wise, but I didn’t think it tossed sailboats enough to free them from their mourings and or anchors. The Captain said the State would most likely cover the salvage cost and settle with the insurance companies in the end. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkraE4BA0nuBA5Oo8i9ofxZun8KlZn9YPZWbPsFd0DR7_1WQCjfsrzc_EWgDPcdhe4jbvvSw2OOls8l3LlF0gDfyY9y87Hw4CmbIUdvwV4QR9FwCdm1s9PLEOI0CiPbqPADAmKA7xErVE/I/CruisingwithAppledore.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Calm Sea!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The wind and ocean was so calm that we didn’t do much sailing until we cleared the point at Fort Zachary Taylor. That didn’t deter us admiring the shore line and a cruise ship tied up at one of the larger docks. As soon as the Appledore cleared the point, Captain Chris hollered, “Dolphins port side”! Several were feeding in a large circle around the Appledore. I didn’t have my large Nikon to capture the moment, but I did my best with my little Nikon point and shoot. No, I didn’t get a good Dolphin photo. With 49 people on board, about half were spouses, who prepared enough munchies to feed 98! Shrimp, fruit, sandwiches not mention deserts were enjoyed by us and smiles were coming from the crew also.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A few of us, who were at the stern of the sail ship, even got a chance at the helm. It turned out to be an exciting afternoon in the waters around Key West!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we did and saw!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-38180264460407372252016-02-20T11:11:00.001-05:002016-02-20T15:34:40.173-05:00When & If ~ Cuba??<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj60fkdr5ZeDBehJ0jOmMxsQOxoFpxqw2FFKWRKqywdNRu9PanAxdQO0E-tUPGseVVEyTE82-ODfeb9DVmH0c8xgoeiDjOt-ykxBBxHMubztfmBZWKUMSbhqkyP_F9vI1asXGCw_BElQP8/I/WhenandIf.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The "When and If"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This blog update starts off from the next upcoming blog! Confused? A few days ago, we did a dry run to the dock area to find the Appledore and Jeff. Jeff sold the tickets for our sail around Key West. I struck up a conversation with Jeff about going to Cuba. It was on my bucket list. What developed from the conversation proved to be very interesting. His son, Seth, is Captain on the schooner “When & If”, which is going to Cuba in late March. They will be taking six passengers along with a crew of four. Jeff gave us his son’s business card and location of the “When & If” over at the Stock Island Marina. We biked back over to Trumbo Point for lunch and you know the conversation was on a sailing trip to Cuba.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">After lunch, our curiosity got the best of us and off we went in search of the schooner. I drove into the marina and parked the truck. The marina has hundreds of sail boats, but, to our luck, right there along the main dock was the “When & If”. A young male person walked by us and jumped onto When & If! I asked, “Are you Seth”? “No”, he said, but “He’s onboard”. I mentioned the Cuba trip and soon we were talking to the young Captain Seth. He explained the details of the trip, from the legality of the trip to accommodations. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A little about the “When & If”: Built in 1939 for General George Patton to sail around the world <i>“When the War is over, and If I survive”. </i></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXs5ForY35eQryZhWFj9wUBEfyzhyphenhyphenQYkxd2sVecAxWigkDzrnWSGqKjoOM5iyn8ADEMXoor8q2QJ4STJ2R_qc4fXX0WF5r7OkHkClnCCyL_0bSzFL3UY2b78xHt3DYhMcd9izymlYjYsU/I/WhenIf%25257EStockIslandMarina.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anchored at Stock Island Marina</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">When and If has just undergone a two-year restoration and is open to the public for the first time this summer. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Designer: John G. Alden</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Year: 1939</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Length On Deck: 63ft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Length Overall: 80ft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Beam: 15ft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Draft: 9ft</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sail Area 1,700 sq. ft </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIDLFvboqM-2FLtU90XUFQBUgsiage1e-QT6M9y9fkIzaXHXyqz-u0ZO6K4n0Y6ptBr20q4FWImabWdkz71A9xjo4v-sHp98U94l5l5Yj_Kj0F6kIk7AT9e_ZyK4-dtfPoNm5N9FBDKHE/I/GeneralGeorgePatton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"When the war is over and If I survive"</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Just walking on the “When and If" was inspiring. I would have not, in my entire life, thought or dreamt that I would have walked the same deck as the famous WWII General. He didn’t get to sail around the world with his wife Bee, but did sail on the “When and If" before the war. For those of you who did not know, General George Patton was killed in a vehicle accident in Germany, after the war. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Captain Seth told us that we should change our American dollars into either Euros or Canadian dollars. American dollars are exchanged in Cuba at 13%. We have our passports and a Visa is available as we enter Cuba. Until recently, when Americans entered the country, the Cuban Customs would give Americans a paper stating that they entered Cuba legally. Today, with relaxed regulations, Americans can get their passport stamped without a problem coming back into the United States. It is still not 100% travel free restriction. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The trip down there would be a ten day trip, give or take, depending on the weather. At the end of March, the winds change from Northeast to the Easterlies, favorable for a good fast return to Key West, Fl. On the other hand, if the winds are still northeast the return trip would be slower. Normally going down to Cuba is about an 18 hour sail. On a return trip, the last time they made a nearly record 8 hour return trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wJtzQ8Wn0IQH5pR3LSVrqXZ7z2onj2mnlCtcjgR1R5T0AtVlp5qEMKwBPvlbUXM3shQLvNN5lFGZTo6TVul7dHsuKK9gWRRXJJUhL_wZJkaPXNK4beIjc321kpUcRmV7VaRBstbT2-A/I/WhenandIfHelm.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">At The Helm</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Now comes the not so positive aspect of the trip. The cost and even worse…”The Obama Visit”. Yes, President Obama plans to visit Cuba on March 20th and the 21st. We would be leaving on the 28th. Knowing Obama, he will screw something up and could possibly effect our entry into Cuba or for that matter our return. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The cost per person for the sail is $2,200 per person. We could stay on board the “When and If" while there, but there is no A/C onboard and it could get buggy at times. Capt. Seth said that we could get a hotel room for $100 a night or rent a house for $300 a night. We could easily run up a $6,000 bill for just wanting to cross off a check mark on my bucket list!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">The trip is not dead yet! I will keep options open and see if the “When and If" has its six passengers before sailing. Things will work out one way or another. As I always say, “We are in a canoe going down a river without paddles. Let’s see where it brings us”!</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-size: large;">Captain Seth also mentioned that we would be going into three or four other ports in Cuba including Hemingway’s port of call. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span><br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-2109083603348028812016-02-13T15:41:00.000-05:002016-02-18T14:48:06.046-05:00Presidential Families<div class="h3">
<i>Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016</i></div>
<h3>
My dear wife Helen said, “Why don’t we go over to the ‘Little Truman White House’ and see the ‘Presidential Families Symposium’…Harry & Ike: The Partnership that Transformed the World!” I said, “Sounds pretty interesting and the cost was reasonable.</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD81Adfi2AKZPl9mFKs0xsjACRXAiHyIBY29vepqu20oKvY3Lz7nJZo0VZf3n-ywFOHYxuUuLWR5qmOZZp4lkVL3zt0mpHqub3igLo36HjxbgHmEfImlITLBe01exVMyLCwF3lH5v-lY/s1600/Clifton+Truman+Daniels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMD81Adfi2AKZPl9mFKs0xsjACRXAiHyIBY29vepqu20oKvY3Lz7nJZo0VZf3n-ywFOHYxuUuLWR5qmOZZp4lkVL3zt0mpHqub3igLo36HjxbgHmEfImlITLBe01exVMyLCwF3lH5v-lY/s640/Clifton+Truman+Daniels.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Clifton Truman Daniels, Mary Lou Pfieffer and <br />Mary Jean Eisenhower</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
Mary Jean Eisenhower and Clifton Truman Daniel spoke about their grandparents. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but to my surprise it was truly informative and interesting. Their grandfather’s roots as farm children growing up in the 1880s, the desire to serve in the military, their common views on rebuilding Europe following the war, multiple offers of Truman’s support for Ike as a presidential candidate and the feud during the 1952 election and the eventual reunion as close friends. </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtITQkqTytbf7QzRowXOGffAxMdVnxr2SEboSxJZp78nlCF_y9Dvib_JMuDu_-v1kggvfk1-bpkeXEkyhHvxPd7lvGeH6xBqgum7a-KEhLJ5t9EugPoN9_emX2v0lGzyGsY0nyrihzoU/s1600/Mary+Jean+Eisenhower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOtITQkqTytbf7QzRowXOGffAxMdVnxr2SEboSxJZp78nlCF_y9Dvib_JMuDu_-v1kggvfk1-bpkeXEkyhHvxPd7lvGeH6xBqgum7a-KEhLJ5t9EugPoN9_emX2v0lGzyGsY0nyrihzoU/s400/Mary+Jean+Eisenhower.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mary Jean Eisenhower with the grey sweater<br />looks a lot like her grandfather Ike!</span></td></tr>
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Professor Mary Lou Pfieffer, of Florida University, was the moderator. The information that was presented was too numerous to detail here in this blog, but I can tell you we listened to some neat stories about their grandparents! Mary Lou did a marvelous job as a moderator. </h3>
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What I found the most fascinating was Mary Jean and Clifton’s recollections of meeting the grand children of famous world leaders: Nikita Kruschef (sp), President of Russia, Charles DeGault, President of France and Stalin’s grandson. </h3>
<h3>
General McArthur’s putdown answer when asked what he thought of General Eisenhower running for president. His answer was. “He was a great clerk”! </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrkHJ_7htTYIm04w-c36aCLbic4Xv9rOlA3UOeGEimpUMmHbVM-AllbyJGmggDqW2k1GGJ4cqBQDqw9c_FILkRoI1wvz_-ZWpU_6Nl9i3tV4ide5EABsmq28Oo72plavmABtnoAqSljM/s1600/FDR+Goliath+Grouper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVrkHJ_7htTYIm04w-c36aCLbic4Xv9rOlA3UOeGEimpUMmHbVM-AllbyJGmggDqW2k1GGJ4cqBQDqw9c_FILkRoI1wvz_-ZWpU_6Nl9i3tV4ide5EABsmq28Oo72plavmABtnoAqSljM/s400/FDR+Goliath+Grouper.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">When fishing was GOOD!</span></td></tr>
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Mary Jean recounted that when McArthur was asked by the president of the Philippines to help buildup the Philippines Armed Forces, before WWII, he said, “If am going to act like a president, I should have better living accommodations. She said she visited his super luxurious living quarters at the best hotel in Manila. She couldn’t believe how much luxury he had swallowed up for himself.</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZSjvF_8anbrLa71F6MgydnH76ib_zPen8dGIj_uZE0UdnXuX9hzf3i8eE50mkbLh-KBCPw6ilZrqPjRJ6ivne39x0OQan1X4rlkvxXB9T53NCzUHah4DbbW9xBqQLYEx9jhn-RVBWU0/s1600/JFK+Cuban+Missile+Crisis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZSjvF_8anbrLa71F6MgydnH76ib_zPen8dGIj_uZE0UdnXuX9hzf3i8eE50mkbLh-KBCPw6ilZrqPjRJ6ivne39x0OQan1X4rlkvxXB9T53NCzUHah4DbbW9xBqQLYEx9jhn-RVBWU0/s400/JFK+Cuban+Missile+Crisis.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">JFK On tour after the Cuban Missile Crisis</span></td></tr>
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Clifton recalled how Ike’s son was serving in the military in Korea during the conflict and he (the son) didn’t want to leave his post when his father was sworn in as president. Both Ike and his son didn’t want him to come, but Harry Truman said, “As president I ordered him to come”. That started a rift between Ike and Harry that lasted a long time. Eventually, both men became friends again. During the Eisenhower era, the Interstate Highway system was built. As one section from Harry Truman’s home state of Missouri to Eisenhower’s home state of Maryland was built, the name on the Truman end was called “The Truman and Eisenhower Interstate Highway”. On the Eisenhower end it was “Eisenhower and Truman Interstate Highway”. One wonders if this was still a tiny part of the rift between the two presidents?</h3>
<h3>
The symposium atmosphere was very casual. I felt like both Clifton and Mary Jean were sitting in my living room having a quiet evening chat. Of course, my living room doesn’t hold 100 people, but the hundred were quiet as church mice.</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65Pj9itujn5FNXuWkRllblKg_KwkuA2WdD8r4aS2XfpDn1miS2H8YDuPakgQ1JMr9k-h55n-Ar68m__MMQRPlphohKSBuN8YyCLbbfsZe5lB-ST9SdL4P-hWhAp3peZx2wF2LO7Iqj1I/s1600/Jimmy+Carter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh65Pj9itujn5FNXuWkRllblKg_KwkuA2WdD8r4aS2XfpDn1miS2H8YDuPakgQ1JMr9k-h55n-Ar68m__MMQRPlphohKSBuN8YyCLbbfsZe5lB-ST9SdL4P-hWhAp3peZx2wF2LO7Iqj1I/s400/Jimmy+Carter.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">President Jimmy Carter</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
One has to stop and think of how many world leaders have sat in this very garden. How treaties and world problems were discussed and resolved and some not. </h3>
<h3>
The Little White House was built by the U. S. Navy in 1890 as the home, on the waterfront, to house the base commander and paymaster. Truman used the house for 175 days as both a retreat and functioning White House. He did this when the Big White House in Washington was being totally rebuilt. </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5wUPQE9mWTOpOjQQ00o2N1Bkt_OrkJP-rjQX6bCI14pQGmPw-ffsr1BPxutMt8EYUoFO0Ey974vtjvLV6OaiUDig9R0Ep3raTg3vhRIXWdUiRJr-K9UjzcCNeJxZYRIPlnO4rsPTOkw/s1600/Colin+Powell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE5wUPQE9mWTOpOjQQ00o2N1Bkt_OrkJP-rjQX6bCI14pQGmPw-ffsr1BPxutMt8EYUoFO0Ey974vtjvLV6OaiUDig9R0Ep3raTg3vhRIXWdUiRJr-K9UjzcCNeJxZYRIPlnO4rsPTOkw/s400/Colin+Powell.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Secretary of State Colin Powell</span></td></tr>
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<h3>
I discovered why John F. Kennedy, Dwight D. Eisenhower and Colin Powell visited and why the Little White House became a working Presidential Office where new policies and the Department of Defense came into being. </h3>
<h3>
In March of 1918, Thomas Edison resided at the “Little White House” at the time known as Quarters A&B, while donating his services to the Navy. In 1912, President William Howard Taft visited the Naval Station on route to inspect the Panama Canal. There aren’t many dignitaries that haven’t been or stayed at this historic building (now a museum).</h3>
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In summing up, we were impressed!</h3>
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That is what we saw and did!</h3>
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<i>The first two top pictures are mine, the rest were taken from "The Little White House" publication</i></div>
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TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-43485913166306258872016-02-09T13:48:00.001-05:002016-02-09T14:04:21.537-05:00Band of Brothers & Sisters!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_SWrdBpjxWI9jpK0XlLrxoia0i2-ttW8bJhut4M5W5oQSlX8wFAfmUx-m6a89CDu9DMvO7oX3BJD6eIQcNuNdnmHlWU6L54ESlaGvTUOk_i64-Y1mtKklbcTlJC5yiE6uuBA9cKvugw/s1600/Dog+Beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5_SWrdBpjxWI9jpK0XlLrxoia0i2-ttW8bJhut4M5W5oQSlX8wFAfmUx-m6a89CDu9DMvO7oX3BJD6eIQcNuNdnmHlWU6L54ESlaGvTUOk_i64-Y1mtKklbcTlJC5yiE6uuBA9cKvugw/s640/Dog+Beach.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Biking our way to Fitness!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It just amazing to be here at a military campground and meet so many interesting people, all with different stories, but nearly all related to the military directly or indirectly through marriage. From enlisted ranks to officers, they all have a unique story. The common ground here is that we are all on the same playing field now that we are retired. Some, like Captain Troy, still have a direct active roll in the military. He is the Captain of a support ship (US Navy) here in Key West. He his not in the Navy at present, but under contract until July as the ship’s Captain. His ship goes out in the Gulf and does support work with Navy Seals. Can’t say what they do because I don’t know, but I think submarines are involved! Another guy is an instructor at the US Army Underwater Diving and Survival School, right next door on Fleming Key. Those are some of the active stories that I know of. I am curious to hear what Janet (One of the two camp host) story is. I’m told she was a Gunny Sergeant in the Marine Corps. It just fascinates me to meet these people and listen to their stories and of their careers.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">John, a former helicopter pilot, flew Hueys in Vietnam. Dustoff (Medical evacuation helo.) Ironically he was stationed in place Fubuy, Vietnam (SP) in 1969. A buddy of mine, Dick, was wounded in Fubuy (SP) and could have been airlifted out, maybe by John? </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sally was a Navy (Operating Room) nurse and served in the Middle East. What great people we have met here in Key West! Their stories and accomplishments are of the unsung heroes of our great Nation!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Fitness</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Needless to say, I have been lagging behind my expected exercise. Mainly, the cause is the unfavorable weather conditions. Wind and rain were the culprits. Nearly a month has expired with the weather not being in our favor. This morning was sunny, but cold. I showered early at the campground restroom and headed back to the camper. Helen followed a little after. I made a decision to up the ante a little with the bike portion of our exercise routing. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of going around the island and having to stop for traffic lights, pedestrians and stop signs in our ten mile loop, we would instead cross the bridge over to Fleming Key and exercise with the Special Forces! Well, not exactly with them, but exercise on the same road that they jog on in the early morning. From the bridge, at the campground, to the gated compound on the far end of Fleming Key is a mere two miles. Going to and from four miles, times three would give us 12 nonstop hard pumping miles! Helen did the first round, but the incredible wind encountered put the muscles to the test. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Since I’ve started this routine I now feel I’m getting my duly needed exercise and finally starting to notice a little weight lost. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A little insight into Fleming Key route. Starting on the bridge that sits high above the channel that lets many charter fishing boats out into the Gulf, one can get a view of dozens of sail boats anchored just off shore. This view is on both sides of the bridge. Descending on the Fleming Key, the road takes a right and sharp left following the ocean. On the left, stands a barbed wire fence with an old ammunition dump with its bunkers separated by hundreds of feet between bunkers. Further down, the ammo dump appears to be still active. The road is paved and straight for the next mile and a half. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ddw4dsKcgKZv4kEB89lEEk4c_Ac_qmqFLAMCnUfN_PF9yTIz2dSiAeiyP9VHiAREjFbbwq6cBwZd5MAz81X6dc-kY0tz-8XfLUjAANAEkBS2WCAMcMTVU6toRVHnbVYMuTbc1V3P8lQ/s1600/SGM+Jerry+Patton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1ddw4dsKcgKZv4kEB89lEEk4c_Ac_qmqFLAMCnUfN_PF9yTIz2dSiAeiyP9VHiAREjFbbwq6cBwZd5MAz81X6dc-kY0tz-8XfLUjAANAEkBS2WCAMcMTVU6toRVHnbVYMuTbc1V3P8lQ/s640/SGM+Jerry+Patton.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">SGM Jerry Patton</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">About a mile down the road, sitting on top of an old telephone pole, lies a very large bird nest. It is a Hawk, who owns the nest and she is feeding her young. To the right, is a Navy materials testing laboratory. From this point forward, the trees narrow to the road for about a quarter mile. The next field of vision is the beginning of the United States Army Special Forces Underwater Training School. The road does an “S” curve and here on the straight-away is the memorial to a great soldier. SGM Jerry Patton! As I pedal by, I hand him a salute and say, “ Good morning Jerry”. My only wish was to have met him in person. Take a minute and read his memorial on the accompanying photo.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The locked gate is just ahead…the turn around point for me. The return ride is another two miles back to the starting point. On the return run, I often get to see six Hawks soaring thirty feet above me. If I wear a black hoody with the hood on, the Hawks will check me out a little closer. They will soar within 25 feet, with their heads definitely looking down on me. They give out a distinct chirp and move on, “no food here” is what they are saying to the others.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did! </span><br />
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<br data-mce-bogus="1" />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-51360322419209213982016-01-25T15:34:00.001-05:002016-01-25T15:40:29.549-05:00Cold Days in Key West!Why blog about the weather! You can’t do anything about it but move south! Well, if we move further south, we will have to swim! Last night was cold for Key West. It dropped to 63 degrees here at Trumbo Point campground. At the airport, I’m told, it was a mere 56 degrees. The problem with this is the constant wind. The same wind that makes us comfortable when it’s 87 degrees, also makes us feel cold at 63 degrees. This morning at 5 am, I got up and fired up the furnace for the first time. It worked flawlessly. I had it set to 67 degrees and that was just enough to take the chill out of the camper. I got breakfast going and with the water on for coffee and a frying pan going for grilled toast it was toasty!<br />
Offshore the weather was even worse. Twenty to twenty-five knot wind, with three to five foot waves inside the reef. On the Gulf side of the reef, the waves ranged from eight to ten feet. Not a pleasant place to be. The Coast Guard rescued two guys on a sailboat way offshore in 20 foot swells. The two had to jump off the sailboat into the water and swam to the Coast Guardsman tethered to the helicopter. A commercial salvage company is going to recover the sailboat.<br />
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<i>Action in the sky</i></h3>
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<i><img data-mce-style="margin: 5px;" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgATz7INY-TrPdzUlhQEQwLIGUMBsqQqEXRx7qganRaEs-t8KB_fnHIjz10f5mvB0iyzh-270oON9dNT0k8CdS6DrO0okCGDCWCitvD192PFtCw-8ZyiHDnBs4AK2UAojabjT_LZ398C7g/I/SandBagDrop.jpg" style="margin: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /></i></h3>
<h3>
<span style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">This morning I was outside when I noticed another one of those C130J Super Hercules flying over the water near Fleming Key. A sure sign that they were going to parachute into the water. Four safety boats were spread across a broad area and a Coast Guard rubber rescue craft with several crew members came up the channel from the other direction. Oh yeah, a sure sign for a drop zone off shore. The pattern is nearly always the same. They do several dry run flybys. You’ve got to be patient, if you want a really good photo. After several passes and 45 minutes of waiting, I zoomed in towards the rear of the C130J and spotted five or six objects coming out and straight down into the water. Maybe sandbags or something similar to see how the wind was blowing. Another half-hour and no jumpers out of the plane. Ok, I’ve had it and leave, so did the C130J.</span><img data-mce-style="margin: 5px;" data-position="3" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc-VcVwXi2F5oq-TUiRCH2Fpz-z7zkuiGmQrWCxO1SVNuqI1Nll9Gq_-xEi8jut4xZjLVDvSif7ip8xsigZOj26Bb5tpVHw5yCUXxFjkeIESD5j1qjhla4rFxJW-xQ8nRhJu8wR6fAAuc/I/1_LandSeaAir.jpg" style="margin: 5px; max-height: none; max-width: 100%;" /><br /><i>The WiFi Repeater Test</i></h3>
We left the campground and headed for my new antenna/repeater wifi system test. We would do the test first by login into my new personal network (Travelnet1). Than do a site survey and select a WiFi free hotspot such as McDonald, Wendy’s or in this case Publix’s Supermarket. My login went flawlessly. Now comes Helen’s iPad which at 400 feet would not be able to access the hotspot. My repeater was set to WPS which enabled Helen’s iPad to sync in quickly. One more login with my iPhone and now we were ready for the ultimate test. I went on line and went to YouTube and streamed a video. Helen did her thing and put the phone through its paces. Success! We continued for a good half-hour with no drop in speed. I’m happy! We’ll be able to access free WiFi hotspots easily in the truck camper as we head out to the West Coast next summer. <br />
Traveling back to the campground, what do you think I spotted floating down from the sky? Yeah, six parachutes and the plane banking to the left. No camera in the truck! Oh well, maybe next time I’ll be lucky.<br />
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That is what we saw and did!<br />
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<br />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-44040573752044097672016-01-18T18:59:00.001-05:002016-01-18T19:29:17.326-05:00Winter in the Keys!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIgeW0Nddw6a8j4ysknSHNUGwO73yrK152FdgqTCFbQD5q3hdxOH5dlCyMBI5wGjH3gIj0IPuJ3AQ50ileOOmVKaZJnA0J73_-ARKHzdwyyVLgAybxE6_h3VbsD7aa7GvMut5OiWYEM8/s1600/Storm+Clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihIgeW0Nddw6a8j4ysknSHNUGwO73yrK152FdgqTCFbQD5q3hdxOH5dlCyMBI5wGjH3gIj0IPuJ3AQ50ileOOmVKaZJnA0J73_-ARKHzdwyyVLgAybxE6_h3VbsD7aa7GvMut5OiWYEM8/s400/Storm+Clouds.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Storm Clouds over Key West</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Amazing how connected we are in this small world! I just finished texting two old friends, Rod and Jerry. Actually, they texted me. We haven’t connected in a long time for reasons of just being busy in our own little worlds. We certainly have had some good times being in the military and also in civilian life! The above, is just the moment’s thoughts, as I sat down to start the next blog. Another good reason for wintering in Key West…The ability to stop and reflect ones ideas!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WFHs81cj1Yf6llwglEPebRKrj2xNB4ss7X5wbyskRZ3EB21y1UcfsbEetgJ7ieywDSqdmfHdQ1n35z1oO5NBn_DPcKDgLq2WWpEaYunsH2v0rxXHPj8tDqNezeuYJjWkltZ31rKCoX8/s1600/Seaweed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9WFHs81cj1Yf6llwglEPebRKrj2xNB4ss7X5wbyskRZ3EB21y1UcfsbEetgJ7ieywDSqdmfHdQ1n35z1oO5NBn_DPcKDgLq2WWpEaYunsH2v0rxXHPj8tDqNezeuYJjWkltZ31rKCoX8/s400/Seaweed.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Seaweed making a slippery mess</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The one really good thing about Key West is our commitment not to watch TV. We do have a TV in the camper, but no satellite which makes it easy. I’m able to write my blog, take time to read books, which never happens back home and do so many more healthy activities. Maybe this state is setup for retirees! Don’t get me wrong, when we do need to see what is happening around the world, we just “walk” about a quarter mile to the Fly Navy Lodge building and sit in the lobby and tune in to the news. Where else can you sit in an easy chair and talk to Navy pilots, in their off duty hours about world affairs! They all come here at one time or another for training. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Key West Half Marathon 13.12 miles </span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">This afternoon we did a recon of where we will be standing giving out water to the runners. Now let me explain that this past week, the weather here in the Keys has been raining, with extra strong winds. This has pushed seawater and sea weed over the sea walls. The running surface is covered with three to four inches of sea weed along with hundreds of jelly fish. I’m sure the city will have to deploy their sweepers to clean and pickup this mess! This is also the same bikeway, walkway, that we use, when we do our tour around KW ride every other day. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Marathon Update Jan. 17th</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">I had set the alarm for 5:30am. We had been told to be on our dedicated water station for 6:30am to setup tables, four of them 200 feet or so apart and wait for the first fast runners in about an hour or so. So much for plans! </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwAqdf0BBLOzCf_7I_nXkidxXub3dMcZ0mAa0nLQGB2fUHklh9JF_2Dpa2cA7yn_55TL_tGVlTLNF3q0YCR3Syg53o27Xnu1lZCcvsDCIUiRYU9aXNqNfi2qvDBZDXnlbj0iRhjldD4E/s1600/Toni+Selfie.JPEG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOwAqdf0BBLOzCf_7I_nXkidxXub3dMcZ0mAa0nLQGB2fUHklh9JF_2Dpa2cA7yn_55TL_tGVlTLNF3q0YCR3Syg53o27Xnu1lZCcvsDCIUiRYU9aXNqNfi2qvDBZDXnlbj0iRhjldD4E/s400/Toni+Selfie.JPEG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Toni's Selfie during the race!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The winds started picking up during the night. The 5th wheel camper which weighs 13,000 lbs., or 6-1/2 tons, was wiggling from the gust. It was predicted that we would get wind and thunder storms during the night and day. At 5am, we both had enough tossing and turning and got up. After morning duties and breakfast, we decided to head to our assigned station and wait. We brought reading materials. As we walked out the door, our neighbor Toni came out and asked if we could give her a ride to the starting line. She is an Army veteran and not retired but AGR. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">We got into the truck and Helen’s phone rang. Carol, our water station leader, informed us that the race was to be delayed one hour because of a severe storm coming our way. I started the truck and we decided, all three of us, that we were up and going to our individual points would be better than hanging around the camper. I dropped off Toni at the Half Shell start point and headed to the other side of the Island to our station. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This is where it gets interesting! After a few turns, I was on South Roosevelt Ave. Wow, even before getting there, down at the famous Buoy, the ocean waves were hitting the sea wall and spraying the houses across the street some 75 feet away! Back on S. Roosevelt, the highway had orange cones every 50 feet to keep the runners and cars separated. The cones were flying all over the place. We came across two Porto Potties that had slid across the highway. One had flipped over. The seaweed covered much of the runners’ lane. This was all on the windward side of the Island. Our station was on the leeward side, with little wind. I found a spot to park the truck and settled in, for what I thought a long wait. Jack and Carol, our team leaders showed up soon and we were quickly setting up four stations with water and Gator Aid. The race started about an hour after the scheduled start time.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DqaILOfuINXNPYZAjJeMB9F2-XJF46k-qFS5l448ME5K-4TPvhdbQ2vn-ti1KEsPBanKO4KGLmCeFNL1JiTxf1RTBZ7OPxArPaSdrCYcq6Lm18gXuJRMOGdyBjn6v5Fto896WGK73qc/s1600/Toni.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2DqaILOfuINXNPYZAjJeMB9F2-XJF46k-qFS5l448ME5K-4TPvhdbQ2vn-ti1KEsPBanKO4KGLmCeFNL1JiTxf1RTBZ7OPxArPaSdrCYcq6Lm18gXuJRMOGdyBjn6v5Fto896WGK73qc/s320/Toni.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here She Comes...Halfway Home!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">They run rain or shine. Luckily, the heavy rain fell in that one hour delay. I was shocked to see the first runner coming towards us! No one else was even in site. No water for him! He was on a mission. The halfway turn around point was just a short distance up the road. The runners have their numbers and a special digital tag that registers as they go by different check points. No cheating here!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Jack warned us that it would get very busy when the bulk of runners started to show up. He was so very right! Four thousand runners is a lot of water cups to fill and give out. They didn’t all take water, but most did and surprisingly many stopped for a potty break. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">How many gallons does it take for that many runners? Well, I didn’t count, but a U-Haul truck was filled with milk style crates. I’m going to guess around 250 gallons. Thousand of cups and dozens of trash bags! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our neighbor, Toni, came through and was gracious enough to stop for a selfie with us! Go Toni!! The real nice thing about the Key West “Military” campground is the nice people you get to meet! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Once the 99% of runners came by, we still had a few chores to handle. Remember those thousand of cups? Well, 99% of them were on the ground. My exercise for today was thousands of “squats” for those “bend and reach” to those cups. Surprisingly, it didn’t take that long for the cleanup.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjVtet14d7iYJ7B__veCJcuYcyy2fVGjQK3qlUgxpZ1JaY8kkFimTZMRuPaXyk1PVnL3kG8fRDkKyY5ByR_PE9-GEcUrIIkIq0KnaUnSXhqBejSfoXIsMqx_NkS_TIzj_hk0clVh_iWM/s1600/IMG_2574.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjVtet14d7iYJ7B__veCJcuYcyy2fVGjQK3qlUgxpZ1JaY8kkFimTZMRuPaXyk1PVnL3kG8fRDkKyY5ByR_PE9-GEcUrIIkIq0KnaUnSXhqBejSfoXIsMqx_NkS_TIzj_hk0clVh_iWM/s400/IMG_2574.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Our Volunteer Team at the<br />New York Pasta Garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Jack and Carol said, “You’ve got to come to breakfast”. This was at New York Pasta Garden. Arrangement were previously made and the restaurant was waiting for our team to arrive. Around thirty-six of us were on hand. Drinks were on the house, well we are not big drinkers especially in mid morning, but a Bloody Mary did go well with the breakfast. We spent some time chatting about everything from the race to hurricanes. Jack invited us to go sailing on sailing ship, which for the life of me, I can’t remember the name. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This was a memorable day for our “first official" Half Marathon volunteering day!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did! </span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-73370833747324380282016-01-15T13:32:00.001-05:002016-01-17T18:12:42.973-05:00Holidays Behind Us..2016 Head<span style="font-size: large;">Friday, Jan. 1st 2016</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Usually, New Year’s Day for me is a quiet day sitting at home, maybe watching a parade, a football game or visiting relatives. What we did here, was to go to our Bocce court for a game. This was pre-planned from the week before. Sharon, Georgio’s wife's sister was coming to town. Sharon and Georgio are locals who run the Bocce games for us “rv-ers”. Sharon wanted to have her sister see and play Bocce, so Bocce was scheduled for this day. We had a good turnout and both Helen and I won each a game. Helen, scored the winning point for her game. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXcH9mlyTkdbvoYjrWEgpED-gDWXVV6if-Q1AFuFBQ92mX2bTYYsGutCpALX8N-rH5pVImfzmhZMmKzU0wYETXYG61sC82_6fznviX6sPwyIUA28hI4KWax-mCtGfnMtvYDIWzR1mXuw/s1600/IMG_2482.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOXcH9mlyTkdbvoYjrWEgpED-gDWXVV6if-Q1AFuFBQ92mX2bTYYsGutCpALX8N-rH5pVImfzmhZMmKzU0wYETXYG61sC82_6fznviX6sPwyIUA28hI4KWax-mCtGfnMtvYDIWzR1mXuw/s320/IMG_2482.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch with the Bocce Gang at Salute</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The game started at ten and ended around twelve. The time frame makes for two games. Eight of us decided to have lunch at Salute Restaurante. We should have broken the group into fours’ as it took a long time to get a large table. In any event, we had another good time chatting not to mentioned a tasty lunch. Oh, I forgot to mention that Sally had her dog with her and “Angel” was quiet as a mouse. (Black Lab) Angel is being trained as a service dog and is doing very well in learning commands. I’ve mentioned before that there are many dogs at Trumbo Point campground. 99% are super good! We have one guy “Jose” who used to be a military dog trainer specializing in bomb sniffing dogs. He is retired now and has a dog (part German Shepherd and something else) that is amazing to watch, as he walks around the camp on a leash. I’m getting off track on our activities of the day. After lunch, we headed back to the ranch and I spent some time trying to get my new WiFi antenna up and running.</span><br />
<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Technology…Great or Not So Great!</i> </span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The antenna problem! I have a Mac Air laptop with <u><b>no</b></u> CD disk drive and Mac OS X version 10.10.5 What this means is I would have to download from the Internet the driver to enable the Mac to use the antenna. I’m still working on it! For the fun of it, I installed the driver on Sally’s laptop (Windows OS) and it works flawlessly. She can stream Net Flicks without any buffering problems. The antenna works up to 1500 feet away (over a quarter mile away from the camp repeater). I know I’ll get it up and running, but I’ll just have to go through the hassle of getting a “Certificate of Authenticity” in order for Apple to let me install the driver. Amen!</span><br />
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<h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Update January 6th</span></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">The antenna problem will not go away. My update... Mac software</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">is so new that the drivers for the antenna haven’t been created and will not be for some to time to come. I sold the antenna and the 32 foot extension. I have found a solution to the dilemma. Another manufacture makes an antenna which will also not work on my Mac, but here is the best solution</span><span style="font-size: large;"> I could have ever come up with. They sell the same antenna with a repeating router at the end. No drivers are needed and with this set up we’ll be able to get to Wifi with all our devices. This will be a great benefit when on the road with access to free wifi such as McDonald, Dunking Donuts and such. The antenna will reach a mile away providing it is in line of site. We will be able to be parked a good distance from the WiFi location and get on line easily. Here in Key West, we will be in our fifth wheel camper and not have to be sitting outside facing the GoWIFi antenna. Of course, all of this comes at a price, but in the long run we will save on phone data usage. This unit will also work in our truck camper. Pacific Coast Highway, next summer, here we come!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Update on Technology; 15 January 2016!</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-size: large;">Patiently waiting for my wonder “Super USB WiFi” antenna and repeater to arrive by Fed X, from California, I’ve busy doing other projects such as selling antennas and installing them on RV’s here in the campground. No, I haven’t started a new business, but just selling my first antenna and also selling another guy’s antenna, who also had the same problem with the new Mac OS X 10.10.5 upgrade software. Well, to make a long story a little shorter, I received the antenna a couple of days ago and set it up. The antenna and repeater works fine except for one little problem. It doesn’t work here at the campground because the Navy “GoWiFi” does allow more than one Mac ID. I needed one for the Mac, one for the antenna and one for the repeater . I called GoWiFi Tech support and they will not budge on giving me more than one Mac ID. So I have a choice of keeping the antenna/router, or returning it to CCrane which will take it back. I did spend over an hour with them on the phone and they were very helpful in determining that everything was working correctly on their end. I will take the unit into town this afternoon and see how it works login in at a McDonalds. If it does work, I might keep it for the truck camper. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Weather Crimping our Style?</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs6D4Vi1kubSrClNeWd34z651LbmOkeAA9LO5RP2OT98F5FuP_6d787wdIQvL8B-Aml_XRG8Qkdn5faWxNuXOhkngeS1Tm99NxlJTg24g7aKxtHMZ_bfhQ9ULSW_rruHQbfSv5muWZQY/s1600/Young+Wounded+Warrior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAs6D4Vi1kubSrClNeWd34z651LbmOkeAA9LO5RP2OT98F5FuP_6d787wdIQvL8B-Aml_XRG8Qkdn5faWxNuXOhkngeS1Tm99NxlJTg24g7aKxtHMZ_bfhQ9ULSW_rruHQbfSv5muWZQY/s320/Young+Wounded+Warrior.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Wounded Warrior taking a break for lunch</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Two days of clouds and showers…I’ll take that back, it’s been now nearly a week of overcast with rain off and on. Can you believe the temperature has gone down to 64 degrees at night! I know all of you (non) snow birds up north are laughing hysterically! It’s no laughing matter here in Key West when one has to wear long pants and a hoody!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When you are in a camping mode down here, most of your activities are outside based! So what does one do if the weather is inclement? For starters, we down load books from our public library both from Berlin, NH and from the Navy’s online library system. Next, we gather up some of our cabin fever friends and skip over to Truman Annex to the Beach Patio Recreation and fitness center to select and watch a movie in their large comfortable recliners. Our latest movie view was “Steve Jobs” Apple computer story. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3O4Rvjh0UY2g-73Rc5_7K0ZPGtZ9lEiJBHbBl08NcBOhRPaRbeT1BtGkBpqw1m_Jk6O9S1fUqsvv8ToP2ovTMUmeyyxEd4fiCkQj8NtfryBljo6XiNqEBJnd-WQ_CObrxScLE609D9A/s1600/Amputies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3O4Rvjh0UY2g-73Rc5_7K0ZPGtZ9lEiJBHbBl08NcBOhRPaRbeT1BtGkBpqw1m_Jk6O9S1fUqsvv8ToP2ovTMUmeyyxEd4fiCkQj8NtfryBljo6XiNqEBJnd-WQ_CObrxScLE609D9A/s320/Amputies.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lunch Break</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">In between the rain showers, we went and cheered the “Wounded Warriors Marathon”and got to talk to some very courageous warriors. One girl, with a leg missing, didn’t look older than 19 years old. It just makes you think of their sacrifice they endured for us.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxN_C8781jbFTmO9gsIoJ38JxXYy0b4BMEW3Mmtwnr1aDWjm93b_pFI3sXLSxfYaLPERjU0ntF__EQ1bk6_SGoqJPRC_LVjlg8wGiAZ0EruswwBU3YZTywmRTFja55XmWuLXh9NgXdfY/s1600/Double+Amputy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaxN_C8781jbFTmO9gsIoJ38JxXYy0b4BMEW3Mmtwnr1aDWjm93b_pFI3sXLSxfYaLPERjU0ntF__EQ1bk6_SGoqJPRC_LVjlg8wGiAZ0EruswwBU3YZTywmRTFja55XmWuLXh9NgXdfY/s320/Double+Amputy.jpg" width="189" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Each Has a Story</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We volunteered for the Key West Half Marathon coming up this Sunday. We will be giving out water at the half way point. To our surprise, we went to a pre-marathon gathering at Viva’s Bar on Duval Street. Drink tickets, meal and a very nice commemorative tee shirt was included. We were told that there will be an after marathon party at some pizza restaurant on Sunday afternoon. The marathon is rain or shine. We’ll be ready either way. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Rapping up this “what are we up to blog” well, I’m here typing in our comfortable camper watching large flocks of birds enjoying the strong breeze, soaring nearly still in a distance. The warm front has brought back warm temperatures (75 degrees) at 10:50 this Friday morning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-68675223558901711902015-12-31T09:29:00.000-05:002016-01-04T18:45:33.569-05:00 A New Year of Adventures<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_SU2OlWPzVe6-EzW1YOxUtC5cKE3iQCdUm1FBajsUdvRR8zNPEkJKtbwQ_8N0EcWDlYHGMCSyD7JSTKigE1eVgM8BuMnq_qBNEBwCzkjed3vUaFvR2ZwFIo4Yh9_zny5WyLfIl44HCE/s1600/Lunch+at+Pepe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz_SU2OlWPzVe6-EzW1YOxUtC5cKE3iQCdUm1FBajsUdvRR8zNPEkJKtbwQ_8N0EcWDlYHGMCSyD7JSTKigE1eVgM8BuMnq_qBNEBwCzkjed3vUaFvR2ZwFIo4Yh9_zny5WyLfIl44HCE/s320/Lunch+at+Pepe.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Helen, Me and John</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Wednesday, or was it Tuesday or Thursday? Where does the time go? I guess I have to recall some of the events of the past few days. My old coworker, John MacDougall, spent some time with us exploring Key West. Lunch at Pepe’s (the oldest restaurant in KW est.1909) was the spot we picked for lunch. John’s dog Pappy came with us to the restaurant. Yes, most dogs are allowed in restaurants in Key West! Pappy is well behaved and was very quiet until the chickens started to come into the restaurant. Yes, chickens in Key West roam into restaurant at will. Pappy became the bouncer near the front door. One bark and a quick jump and the chickens retreated to the street in a hurry. The restaurant was crowded and we had a good half hour wait for a table. I had a pull pork sandwich with coleslaw…delicious! The wait gave us a chance to reminisce about our old working days for Brennan Inc. back in Berlin, NH. We talked about our coworkers who have passed on and the ones who are still kicking around.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i>Aqua Aerobics</i></span></h4>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3V9FuVNoblQWvyC-S3ZIMNkCC-iLnqZkE8No1C4nAFd6NcibEUMxFJo3VBx5ehl19hu8ZsT4SHFKCtC2BVnhQe18q_tngD5CEQLj8V4iFzigFSP-MPJbpHCBYVbaKrMhC0pwIaPXh2w/s1600/Aerobics+Class.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs3V9FuVNoblQWvyC-S3ZIMNkCC-iLnqZkE8No1C4nAFd6NcibEUMxFJo3VBx5ehl19hu8ZsT4SHFKCtC2BVnhQe18q_tngD5CEQLj8V4iFzigFSP-MPJbpHCBYVbaKrMhC0pwIaPXh2w/s320/Aerobics+Class.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Lori (Our Instructor) on the far side</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The following day John spent some time on the beach and we went to our aqua aerobic class here on base. Our instructor, Lori, is one fit gal! She does this boxing routine with us, who are in the water and she on the deck. She’s got the jab, punch, hook and upper cut down to a science. I wouldn’t be surprised if she was into kick boxing. She can catapult herself with both feet in the air. I feel healthier just watching her do those moves. We have an hour of aerobics with her and after 45 minutes, we keep checking the clock thinking that time must be up. It is a real good workout! When we come out of the water, we feel like astronauts coming back to earth’s gravity. This is a MWR (Moral Welfare Recreation) activity and is free. A military ID card is all that is necessary to enroll in the class. The class varies, but on this day 34 was the enrollment. Eleven were men.</span><br />
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<h4>
<i><span style="font-size: large;">Pre-New Year’s Eve Party</span></i></h4>
<span style="font-size: large;">Like the Christmas Eve party at the Pavilion, everyone brought a dish and our fellow camper DJ was on hand with the Karaoke for entertainment. This gathering was even larger than the Christmas gathering. Some old friends had just come into Trumbo campground and came to the party. Wow, we had a good time remembering last years’ gatherings. Many of the ladies were up dancing the night away. The party was a pre-New Years Eve party because KW is a wild place downtown on the actual eve event. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">New Year’s Eve</span></i></h4>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The End of 2015 &<br />A New 2016!</i></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">On Thursday morning, aerobics class was our time to workout again. The afternoon was spent doing chores around the camper. John wanted to spend the day hanging around the beach and soaking in sun and the breeze. We had made plans to join other couples and have a picnic dinner over at Truman Annex (The Navy Side) and watch the last sunset of 2015. We had the beach to ourselves. The girls setup the food at one of the shelters and we all had chairs to line up on the beach and watch the sailboats sailing around in front of the setting sun. I feel we are so blessed to be able to share this type of moment not only with ourselves, but also with new found friends from all over our country. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Downtown Key West</span></i></h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSTEnEcjS-M2uwLLTa-UYbxrFZ6hVlAHVcOQIO5mH5GbhNWO2jznlAx723_TO0nA8S5eeWviJmohyphenhyphenlHLgbysXCeB8pDcCAt5tGkzm2zLT1oKytMWCQSoeaTvnCfLzMIM7O9VJUZcXn7c/s1600/Only+in+Key+West.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBSTEnEcjS-M2uwLLTa-UYbxrFZ6hVlAHVcOQIO5mH5GbhNWO2jznlAx723_TO0nA8S5eeWviJmohyphenhyphenlHLgbysXCeB8pDcCAt5tGkzm2zLT1oKytMWCQSoeaTvnCfLzMIM7O9VJUZcXn7c/s400/Only+in+Key+West.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, someone drives that van<br />in Key West!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">As expected, Key West has some pretty wild New Years’ Eve parties. Thousands and thousands of revelers crowd the streets in front of bars and along the docks to see many things drop at the stroke of midnight. It is very similar to Mardi Gras in New Orleans. All of this, I’m told from people who have braved the crowds and were there. We didn’t attend! After our sunset dinner with friends, on a private beach, we elected to stay away from the crazy crowds and head back to the ranch. Are we getting old? You bet, we are and not scarred to admit it. I just didn’t need to get into the pushing of the throngs. The fireworks were appreciated from the secure comfort of Naval Air Station Trumbo Point campground.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-90209469496114949572015-12-29T07:35:00.000-05:002016-01-01T17:07:25.105-05:00Unschedule Adventure ~ Sailling!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV_KKCt0Xblb-77I314K9lSHaFzVuRCsOem7iiIaAgVNUM-orvhbvA9qCPc-WNymwGsjRK7UY9IS5_bhi5ZmRABYWCSRfuTAU-61i2ovGj7xd7_hQQMUgPdU8MJJTLLA_UKistyLF8JM/s1600/25+Foot+Catalina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfV_KKCt0Xblb-77I314K9lSHaFzVuRCsOem7iiIaAgVNUM-orvhbvA9qCPc-WNymwGsjRK7UY9IS5_bhi5ZmRABYWCSRfuTAU-61i2ovGj7xd7_hQQMUgPdU8MJJTLLA_UKistyLF8JM/s400/25+Foot+Catalina.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">25 foot Catalina</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjf9Dx0WlPqyXAMRoL-ytGgesRVM212tBLAY5eZIGLl4zbrzhuISwHMKgderi9iycNcnfxC3QFCqoAFaK49h3nR2bVkGlSu33ixXGelbOxxoec2tNyorGMzSZEvNUyOCLLvzfaQ5ptT8/s1600/Boca+Chica.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjf9Dx0WlPqyXAMRoL-ytGgesRVM212tBLAY5eZIGLl4zbrzhuISwHMKgderi9iycNcnfxC3QFCqoAFaK49h3nR2bVkGlSu33ixXGelbOxxoec2tNyorGMzSZEvNUyOCLLvzfaQ5ptT8/s400/Boca+Chica.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Leaving the Marina</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfTXjIUNkPADPNyqRzu66xzSRWCXgnSAqTKMA_0JIYZROEQ9WYsRIhz9bNowOrqhJHGPPj13MylBkrFeloYnFB1SDSMYyDuOp1SnyogNbg90nTpeLmtW6APINEN4gej75wUWtrA7T5Fo/s1600/Days+to+Land.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwfTXjIUNkPADPNyqRzu66xzSRWCXgnSAqTKMA_0JIYZROEQ9WYsRIhz9bNowOrqhJHGPPj13MylBkrFeloYnFB1SDSMYyDuOp1SnyogNbg90nTpeLmtW6APINEN4gej75wUWtrA7T5Fo/s320/Days+to+Land.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sailing, Sailing!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">On Tuesday, Dan our neighbor needed a ride up to Boca Chica Marina. He needed to exercise is sailboat. I said I’d be glad to give him a ride considering that I was expecting a package at the Boca Chica Post Office. My package didn’t arrive and I drove Dan over to the Marina. Dan said, “Do you want to go for a sailboat ride”, I said, “sure why not”. I got on board and the first thing Dan says to me, “Take you wallet and phone and put into the cabin”. I’m thinking, “What I’m I getting into now?” It was incredibly hot sitting there while Dan untied about a hundred ropes holding the sails and rigging. He next started the engine and checked the gauges. We backed out of the slip and turned around towards the channel. He said to me, “Do you want to steer the boat?” I answered “Ha”, what do I do”? He said, Steer between the red and green buoys”. An alarm sounds and the depth finder warns of shallow water. He said we need at least four feet of water before we hit bottom, steer more into the middle of the channel. Like a helicopter, if you move the rudder to the right you’ll go left. It sort of like rubbing you stomach and the top of your head at the same time. got the hang of things pretty quickly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">He had now raised one sail, but because of the islands to our left, we were shielded from the wind. The Boca Chica Channel is about two miles long. Once we cleared the islands and the channel, things changed quickly. Now that the wind caught the sail, the boat leaned over to the right. Dan trimmed the sail and it felt better. The next amazing thing happened all of a sudden He shut off the engine and I felt like we were in outer space! Quietly, gently sailing along Stock Island and further unto the Key West coast. He said, "It's even better when sailing at night with the stars above." </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk3K6CGjTLxYsndYRUniSaxRmHAYYyXIyQbddvFWMruwS6YL5JrUrBwWObc-Tkc31MbeITPbY9u5Uged7rt6TDAs1bS6DMT0ZGA_fvJmCAXAdvCwtE7CCRLbTH_vYtDQjMN8wKVFi4RI/s1600/IMG_2450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEk3K6CGjTLxYsndYRUniSaxRmHAYYyXIyQbddvFWMruwS6YL5JrUrBwWObc-Tkc31MbeITPbY9u5Uged7rt6TDAs1bS6DMT0ZGA_fvJmCAXAdvCwtE7CCRLbTH_vYtDQjMN8wKVFi4RI/s400/IMG_2450.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Juan Valdez heading North</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now, he was teaching me how to really sail. He pointed to little strands of rope five inches long sewed into the sail. When they are tight and horizontal, you are sailing at its best. He then pointed to a feathered triangle, high on the mast. Above the triangle was an arrow, also with a feather. When the arrow feather is to the left you are sailing at top efficiency, at about five and a half knots. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Now comes another encounter. When you want to head for a, let's say, buoy, you can’t always just point and sail to it. Wow, there is more to sailing than walking the plank! He said, “Head for those shrimp boats, several miles away”. I gently turned the rudder to the right and headed left towards the shrimp boats. All of this time, Dan is explaining rules of sailing, shrimp boat, no, no’s (they have authority if their nets are out). He said they feel that they are working and careless about sailboats. "Hence stay clear to be safe".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">It was time to turn around. He said, "When I tell you turn the rudder hard to the right and keep it there". I knew enough that the one and only sail would be shifting to the other side. We had enough wind that he didn't even have the main sail up. He hollered and I moved the rudder. In a flawless moment, we came about 180 degrees. Wow, I’m thinking how does he do all of this when he’s all alone? He did give me all the details, but he’s been sailing for a long time and he didn't go around the world to get back to the slip at the dock!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Boca Chica Channel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">It was hard to take pictures, but Dan did use my iPhone to document me at the helm. I hadn’t brought my wide bream hat because it doesn’t have a string to keep it on my head. Dan loaned me one from the sailboat. I look like Juan Valdez bringing coffee up from Columbia!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">I can now see how one can have the love of the sea! I had a feeling like being in outer space on the space station. Quiet, peaceful, all alone and I was still insight of land! Thank You “Captain Dan”.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">That is what I saw and did. </span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-8590224883455695562015-12-28T18:31:00.000-05:002016-01-01T17:09:29.939-05:00Things have changed...The New Security<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Sunday Dec. 27, 2015<br /><br />The security situation has changed since our last year’s visit to say the least. Number one on the list is a directive from the Pentagon. If a gate isn’t manned 24/7 with armed guards, it is to be locked and secured. (This directive is military wide) So how does this effect us? Well, first of all the man gate down on the West end of Trumbo Point was manned by the Coast Guard from 6 or 7am to 10pm with unarmed Coasties. Hence this gate is closed permanently. We now can’t walk to KW tourist districts as quick. It is about a 15 minute walk or 5 minutes by bike. We’re here for sun and exercise hence, thank you the extra security and health benefits. Up at Sigsbees, the other campground the Navy now mans their gate 24/7 with armed guards. The Navy hospital even has locked gates. For the life of me I can’t figure how they operate! It is still open, but the main gates are locked shut. <br /><br />Another major step in our campground is the elimination of one huge overflow field. What this means is that many, many campers who head down here after the holidays will be turned back. Last year, at one point there were 750 camping units here. Only around 400 units will make the cut this year. I really feel good that we came down early in mid December! This last down sizing of the campground area is in part from, as the gossip goes, a retired Admiral who was parked in motor coach over in the 700 area, refused to move when sites became available in the 500 and 600 block areas. The base commander took care of that this year. <br /><br />Another issue came up concerning campers walking along the former seaplane landing zone. They said that helicopter operations would be happening and this might be a safety issue. So, Helen and Carol won’t be walking the shore and looking for Conch Shells at least in this restricted zone. <br /><br />We’ve also noticed more vehicle patrols around the fence lines. That makes us feel safe. Of course, there is three tanks filled with three million gals of aviation fuel just feet away from the campground. We wouldn’t feel a thing if that went off. </span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">A Good Biking Day!</span></i></h3>
<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br />Enough on security, this morning we set out early for a round, around the island. This gave us ten miles with another mile of cruising around the Bohemian back street just below Duval and Thomas Streets. Things were pretty quiet in the neighborhood. At a corner stood two women and a man, nothing unusual, as the man took a swig from a giant bottle of Budweiser protruding from a brown paper bag. Moving along, we pedaled toward the community swimming pool and the first class public park. The city has put a large chunck of money in this section of town. With the new there is always the old. Here the old stands out with Bohemian art that adorns a home here and there. Of course there is a fine line between art and just plain junk. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Cruise Ship leaving just after sunset!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">How the other half lives!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">This afternoon we went up to the Navy Gateway Lodge to watch the Patriots and Jets, but a few southern boys were already watching some sun belt teams playing. No problem, we plugged in our computers and did stuff online. This evening, it cooled down a few degrees to the low 80’s and we were due for a night ride with the bikes. This year we decided to wear some reflective vest for extra safety. Our lights, front and rear were flashing, our helmets on, and we set out for our first ride down to Mallory Square. The sunset was history, but we did manage to see a cruise ship pulling away from the dock. I snapped a couple of photos for the blog. The ride continued past the waterfront to where the super rich yachts are moored. A stop for another picture of how the other side lives. Our attention quickly turned to the street just beyond the Westin Hotel. A fire truck, ambulance, police were gathering around an injured pedal biker. We never did find out if he got bumped or took a flop. He was holding his left shoulder. One has to be careful in KW both in the day time and especially at night. Soon our illuminated bikes, vests were heading north towards the campground.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />That is what we saw and did.<br /><br /></span>TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6378815423286257987.post-81055930481928045792015-12-25T14:48:00.000-05:002015-12-29T18:59:19.256-05:00Christmas Day 2015December 25, 2015<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Christmas Eve at NAS (Naval Air Station) Trumbo Campground!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKn6M4s0oGGWbrwraPDnjMOqxkJobmEXDFF3DjOMGjxeWTO3ZoI9pWvUsBXxVKBJlVpdrgwn0fsZBfKBaa28UgtxeJNSQdo6Su6xYGw3ugxjjplU8bFyP4ZA6WstYYcw2yRir2geeGQ4/s1600/IMG_2422.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDKn6M4s0oGGWbrwraPDnjMOqxkJobmEXDFF3DjOMGjxeWTO3ZoI9pWvUsBXxVKBJlVpdrgwn0fsZBfKBaa28UgtxeJNSQdo6Su6xYGw3ugxjjplU8bFyP4ZA6WstYYcw2yRir2geeGQ4/s320/IMG_2422.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dancing the night away!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8xpLm40S3tj8ySJLHGd7LXx9OYSuzPgnlguhzuCgSIy1Qy2uiFaroao4_ZTTV723TZgMd9_ZeWiLPHpp4C2DnZjUuLM66YOAJtwo42WPc3lDJDTF-SHblXMrq11FIXo3JML2fA5OPAo/s1600/IMG_2400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH8xpLm40S3tj8ySJLHGd7LXx9OYSuzPgnlguhzuCgSIy1Qy2uiFaroao4_ZTTV723TZgMd9_ZeWiLPHpp4C2DnZjUuLM66YOAJtwo42WPc3lDJDTF-SHblXMrq11FIXo3JML2fA5OPAo/s320/IMG_2400.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Our little 5th wheel! (neighbors decorations)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">This is our first Christmas away from family, up in New Hampshire, since we’ve been married (1970). Christmas Eve turned out to be a pleasant surprise for us and I think many of our fellow Trumbo campers. About a week ago, we had a community meeting and it was decided to try and do something at our pavilion. We would all bring appetizers and byob or drinks. No one knew how this would all turnout. I think the key to the evening success was a fellow retired military camper who does karaoke down in several places here in Key West. His music and his excellent voice got everyone in the groove. A few brave Trumbonians got up and did karaoke. Great time was had by all, not to mention tons of food and merriment all night. It was mentioned that we should do this again for New Years! It was a marvelous evening with a full moon! The temperature was 76 degrees with a gentle breeze from the East. We sat at a table with now, new found friends. One couple had lived in Alaska and we had plenty to talk about. Another couple was in our aerobic class and Chila (spelled correctly) recognized us. They sounded interested in trying Bocce. We’ll see if they show on Mondays and Fridays. Our schedule is starting to fill-up. Bocce on Mondays and Fridays, Aerobic classes Wednesday, Thursday and could be also on Friday, but we will stick with Bocce on that day. We haven’t checked in to the Soup Kitchen to see if they need volunteers for Sunday. We did see a couple of volunteers, who no longer work there for one reason or another. Things never stay the same and life goes on with or without us. We are grateful that we can live this vagabond lifestyle and meet interesting people. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF_fYwxdPgNSd3uDJjt2A7sCVxOWXVQawqfV3kSPwj-NlyaI-Yui3eqa76eka9lIN1UFJMScQX1nRX4BnLxhIRKq_1m1omsRuNkNbTpQRPwolz-e_f23VZHq3swwWZNzWAuhOB23fjqg/s1600/IMG_2424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF_fYwxdPgNSd3uDJjt2A7sCVxOWXVQawqfV3kSPwj-NlyaI-Yui3eqa76eka9lIN1UFJMScQX1nRX4BnLxhIRKq_1m1omsRuNkNbTpQRPwolz-e_f23VZHq3swwWZNzWAuhOB23fjqg/s320/IMG_2424.jpg" width="240" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">94 year old Col. Bill signing WWII songs</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of meeting interesting people, our neighbors Pat and Dan are retired FedEx pilots. He flew 30 years and she 25 years for FedEx. They flew together for 8 years (pilot and co-pilot) It’s neat to hear them talk about their travels. They flew all over the world. She would shop, say in Dubai and he loved to shop in Hong Kong. She also had her own flight school in New Jersey. They have a brand new Bentley Motor Home along with a Yacht moored at Boca Chica Mariner. Just another amazing couple that we have met here in Key West!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That is what we saw and did!</span><br />
<br data-mce-bogus="1" />TravelmanNHhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12237001543018852006noreply@blogger.com0