Friday - October 18

Cloudy all day with rain showers occasionally - we left Cordele at 7:30 and for the most part, good travel day (340 miles with a stop along the turnpike for lunch).   We know this storm/depression is coming so hoping to beat it and we did arriving at Sanlan RV and Golf Resort at 1:30.

Got Flo set up and we were good to go!    This has been our Lakeland "home" whenever we're in town to visit my brothers and wives.  Nice park and also where Ron and Bob play golf sometimes.

It was 79 when we arrived but it seems ominous like "something" is coming - rain, high winds?/?   Not sure where "Nestor" will hit???

We left around 2:30 for Ron and Vicki's - LOVE their new home!!!   It is so spacious and just lovely!!!    We had a good visit with Vicki and me enjoying delicious sangrias.    Then we were off to Texas Cattle Co. which was delicious (Mark and I had the filet with 6 grilled shrimp)!    Excellent salad, bread, loaded baked potato - plenty of leftovers!

Awesome dinner  

Vicki and Ron

The rain started around 7....

Luke (up front in grey jacket) and classmates having a tour of the firetruck

Maeve's class got to join in the fun, too - she's 2nd from left

Enjoy your weekend

Thursday - October 17

Hello from Cordele, Georgia arriving at 3 this afternoon at the KOA Campground..     Good day of travel (350 miles) after leaving Fairfield Glade at 7:09 this morning.    Atlanta traffic was good going thru around noonish (actually taking the 285 bypass). 

Stopped in Jackson, GA for lunch and nice to have the temperature keep climbing all the way to 74.    It was 35 when we left this morning and heavy frost on Big Red's windshield.

We walked around the park and felt good to stretch our legs.    There are quite a few RV's and trailers and 5th wheels here for a weekday and the same for Spring Lake which was very full - Tuesday/Wednesday in mid October?

Liam.....an official member of the Sharks hockey team

(area high schools)

When I think there are no more tears left inside me......I read the tributes to Patrick posted on his obituary for the first time today and oh my........he was so loved and well thought of!   

 Bring on the tears.....

Keeping an eye on the weather as a tropical depression is coming to LA, GA and FL with heavy rain and strong winds this weekend.    If it should develop into a tropical storm, it will be "Nestor". Tomorrow....Lakeland, here we come!

Wednesday - October 16

This area of eastern Tennessee has been very dry but last night we had a wonderful gentle rain come down all night long!    Made for great sleeping on Flo.   Chilly and dreary all morning - I slept in, Mark made pancakes and bacon and we tidied Flo up a bit and did some correspondence.    Went for a short walk but not liking this weather.....and then, the sun came out around noon - much better!

There was a brisk wind with temps in the 50's - we picked up a few groceries and then visited with our fellow campers in the afternoon.     Bill and Nancy put on a nice wiener roast and Sandy joined us.     Topped off the hot dogs and fixins' with apple crisp and hot cider.

Sandy and Heather

Nancy and Bill 

Jen and Tom  

Pretty Spring Lake

We said our good byes after supper as it was getting colder and we are leaving fairly early tomorrow.    Great fall camping trip with Bill, Nancy, Heather, Tom, Jen, Vince and Sandy!    Till next year!

Today was the ceremony and  dedication of a tree and plaque in memory of Patrick at CCHS - here are some pics taken....

Dedication with Anne and boys looking on... (far right)

CCHS football team 

Planted near baseball field

plaque

What a nice tribute!

Tuesday - October 15

The Lukester spent the night on Flo

Mark and Luke met Annette and Maeve at 7:20 this morning and off to school they went.

Philip came to help us with getting Flo off the concrete pad (Brady's basketball court) and onto the gravel (Ryan helped with the set up last Tuesday).    Sure appreciated their help and at 9:30 we were on our way with a quick stop (and call ahead order of coffee, hot tea and breakfast sandwich from Drew's Diner).

Hello from Fairfield Glade, TN and the Spring Lake Campground where we are settled for the next 2 nights with friends from long ago (former boating and then RV connection).

Major back- up just before TN border which involved a semi on its side and cab completely ripped off.    Not a pretty site and hope driver is ok......we don't think another vehicle was involved but a crane, several wreckers and other emergency vehicles on the scene.    That was a 50 minute delay and then closer to our turn off we had another delay of 20 minutes cause of construction.     But we were on no set schedule and got to take back that hour for the central time zone.    We arrived at 2:30 and met our friends who were gathered on the patio - Bill and Nancy from Fairfield Glade, Heather from Crossville and her son Tom and daughter-in-law, Jen (nomads like us and formerly from Iowa City.)  Lots of chatter and then tie to clean up and off we go...

We all left at 4:40 for Vince and Sandy's who live about 10 miles away.     We were together in May and had such a good time - and back again for happy hour on the deck overlooking their lake (drinks and fresh smoked trout on crackers) and then a delicious meal (Rosemary chicken, roasted red potatoes, green beans, bread and topped off with apple crisp and whipped cream.).   We sat around the dining room table and laughed, reminisced, toasted Bill and Charmaine who are so missed this camping trip, and tears for Patrick.    It was a wonderful evening....

Jen, Tom, Sandy, Heather, Nancy, Bill, Mark, Vince

Back to Flo.....nighty night - rain is coming, but so good to be back with these dear friends!

Monday - October 14

Beautiful day in North Carolina.    Annette took Luke to school and Mark and I enjoyed our little overnight guests, Blair and Maeve.......

Good nights sleep on Flo

I did a load of laundry and we had BLT's for lunch at Annette's.   Brooke met her friend Kelly for lunch.    Said our good byes to Brooke and Blair and they went on home to Newton - back to school tomorrow.    The guys arrived home around 4ish from Iowa City.

This afternoon Grandpa and I were "mystery readers" for Luke's class - we read "Here Comes Trouble" and Luke said we did a good job!!!

 

Classmates

Luke and Mrs. Chue

We took Luke after school to Ingles for a few groceries for Flo and then home.    Philip was home and the kiddos were very happy to see Daddy after being gone (working and Iowa City guy time) for 8 days.   Annette had a delicious lasagna dinner with salad, garlic toast and stuffed mushrooms.

It was a beautiful evening - enjoyed a nice roaring fire and then brought Luke back to Flo to spend the night.

Tomorrow we are off to Tennessee camping with friends.

Glamour Girl