Our trip out West, Spring 2008

We've been home way too long. We're both anxious to get on the road again.
This coming weekend we're going to Disney World to meet the people who are buying our 2000 Lazy Daze. Steve & Carol Crisp from New Hampshire. They're flying in and we're camping at Fort Wilderness on Sunday & Monday. They bought the motorhome sight unseen so they are, understandably, anxious to see it. We'll spend the weekend going over it from bumper to bumper.
Looking forward to the trip to Disney. Always a fun place to stay.
Spent a few hours today getting things ready for the Disney trip plus our big trip to pick up our new 2008 Lazy Daze. We were planning on keeping our 2000 LD forever but we just enjoy traveling so much, we decided to treat ourselves to a new one. It's being built now with an estimated completion date of mid-April. We're going to a Southeast Lazy Daze Get Together(GTG) at Hanna Park near Jacksonville from March 12 to the 15th then heading West. Carol & I formed the Southeast LD Club in 2006. The plan is to spend time in Texas, New Mexico & Arizona on the way to the Lazy Daze factory in Montclair, CA. The Southwest Lazy Daze Club is having a GTG at Theodore Roosevelt Lake east of Phoenix, AZ on April 4th. We're going to join them. It's always fun meeting other LD owners. After that, we'll see what the delivery schedule for our new LD is and plan accordingly. Some of the people from the Southwest Club are heading to Mexico after the Roosevelt Lake GTG. Depending on the delivery schedule, we may join them. The people who are buying our 2000, are picking it up at the LD factory on the same day we pick up our new one.
After picking up our new motorhome, we plan on touring California, Nevada, Oregon & Washington, then visiting with Suzanne & family in Longmont,CO then stopping by to see Johnny & Marge near Kansas city, KS, to be home by June 15th.
Well, that's the plan. We'll see how it all unfolds.
Carol is doing much better these days. Doesn't need her wheelchair anymore. Can get around for short distances with her cane. We'll be traveling with Gopher on this trip. Balou & Bagera are still with Jennifer. We'll be picking them up this summer.

Cape Breton Island

Cape Breton Island lies off the northeastern cost of Nova Scotia. It’s separated from the mainland of Nova Scotia by the Straight of Canso. The causeway connecting the two was built in 1955. Prior to that a ferry was used. There are three distinct cultures on the Island. The Mikmaq “Indians” or First Nations as they are referred to in Canada, the Gaelic/Scottish and the Acadians/French. Music & dance are the mainstay entertainment on Cape Breton.
On Monday the 13th, we drove from Halifax and spent the night at the Whycocomagh Provincial Park near Baddeck. A nice, well kept park in the middle of a pine forest. It rained most of the day. The next morning we drove to Baddeck and parked by the fishing dock. Walked around town for a while treating ourselves to a wonderful flax & carrot muffin. We ran into some friends we had made at a campground earlier in this trip. They too were touring Cape Breton.
We continued on to Louisbourg staying at the Village owner campground right downtown. Lucked out by getting the last campsite available. Louisbourg is a beautiful little town. Reminds us of the small coastal towns in Maine.
In the evening we went to a performance at the Louisbourg Playhouse. We say Lyrics & Laughter 2007. “A spirited performance of Cape Breton music and comedy in the historic atmosphere of the Playhouse”. We don’t recall ever attending a more entertaining event. The cast was composed of six of the most talented young singers & dancers. They are all local college students home for the summer. There was this one young women who played five different instruments, the fiddle, piano, guitar, bodhran (a type of drum), djembe (another drum), had a wonderful singing voice plus was the lead step dancer. Amazing. The weather today wasn’t much. Cool & misty. Rained hard most of the night.
On Wednesday we went to the Fortress of Louisbourg. The fort was founded by the French in 1713, captured by the British in 1745, returned to the French in 1748 by a treaty, captured again by the British in 1758 then abandoned by the British in 1768. When the local coal mines began shutting down in the 1960’s, Canada helped offset the very high unemployment rate by rebuilding the Fortress to appear as it did in 1744. “Each summer the Fortress springs to life as dozens of costumed animators become the town’s residents of the summer of 1744. Period homes and exhibits line the central streets of Rue Toulouse and Rue Royale, as well as along the busy waterfront”. A very enjoyable day. Bright & sunny.

Today, Thursday, was a down day. Cleaned up the camper, did some maintenance stuff, took walks and went out for dinner.

April 10th James Island County Park

We had a very nice day today. Took two long walks. Stopped at the off-leash area. Here are two pictures. The link is to the St. James Island County Park.
In the morning we head for Myrtle Beach State Park. About two hours from here.

April 6th through the 9th

On the 6th & 7th, we stayed at the Dynasty Campground near Springfield, GA. The owner breeds, and trains, Australian Shepherds. I found the place on the internet. Overall, we were disappointed with our stay. The advertising played up a great dog park with an obstacle course, off leash area, etc. Turns out the place was not well kept, the facility was much overrated and the dogs she raised didn't didn't look any better than Gopher. On the other hand, we met a very nice couple from Michigan. He coaches ice hockey at the University of Michigan. Oh well. Some winners, some losers.
On Sunday, we headed out to Charleston, SC to stay a the St. James Island County Park. This place is great. We'll be back. Full hookups, three miles of paved multi-use trails, perfect for Carol's scooter, and very well kept. There is a shuttle that will take you into downtown Charleston for the day. We didn't take it because the trip lasts all day. At this point Carol felt that would be a bit much. Next time perhaps. This place has the biggest off-leash dog area imaginable. Must be the size of a football field. It fronts onto a beautiful, clear lake. Stopped there once yesterday and twice today. A tired dog is a well behaved dog. We drove the RV to nearby Folly Beach today. Managed to find a parking place and had a real good seafood lunch.
We're really enjoying the trip so far. Staying here again tomorrow then heading for Myrtle Beach on Wednesday. There have been times we wish we towed a car with us. When we get back from this trip I'm going to look into it. Would be nice to go out to eat more often, explore local sites on our time frame, etc. Carol's need for a wheelchair does limit our activities. A car would help a lot.
Still cool by our standards. A low of 42* last night.

Huguenot Memorial Park

April 4th & 5th, 2007
rrived at noon on the 4th. A beautiful day. At low tide we drove the motorhome onto the beach and spent the rest of the day reading, relaxing and walking along the beach. Our campsite looks directly onto the St. John's river. We watch the cargo and navy ships come & go. The aircraft carrier, USS John F. Kennedy is in Mayport for decommisioning. We saw her final voyage into Mayport during the Lazy Daze rally at Hanna Park in March. While I was walking Gopher on the morning of the 5th, Carol got herself up and completely dressed. Another first in her recovery. Today, the 5th, we took a ride to Fort Clinch State Park near Fernandina Beach. The campground was full. It's Easter/Spring break week. We returned to Huguenot Park and drove onto the beach again. A windy & cool day.

Spring Trip, 2007

We are about to set out on our first major trip since the out-west trip of the summer of 2006. Leaving on Wednesday, April 5th, returning about June 5th.
As you recall, Carol had a heart attack and then a stroke on June 13, 2006 while we were camping in Rock Springs, WY. Almost nine months of constant contact with hospitals, nursing homes, doctors and therapists have past. Carol still has very limited use of her right arm or leg but, true to form, her spirits are high. Just sitting home is not one of the options. Off we go. Carol's physical change has necessitated a modification in our planning of camping trips. We have a mobility scooter we carry on a cargo carrier attached to the rear of the Lazy Daze. This allows Carol a considerable amount of freedom of movement but still limits us to "hiking" on paved or well compacted paths. This trip is just with one dog; Gopher. Jennifer & Karen are doing us a tremendous service by caring for Balou & Bagera as Carol continues to recover.
From now on, all posts to this blog will be mostly done by Carol since starting a blog was her idea.
In general we will be slowly working our way to visit with Alex & Britta in Annandale, VA to see our newest grandchild, Teagan. Stoping in Jacksonville,FL then Springfield, Georgia, Charleston, SC then north along the Outer Banks of North Carolina then to Annandale. In May we will be attending two Lazy Daze rallys. One in Gettysburg, PA another at Tuckahoe State Park in Maryland.

Our October, 2006 trip

After the great Lazy Daze rally in Georgia, we headed north through North Carolina. Stopped at the Davisdon River National Forest campground then at the 4 Paws Kingdom campground. 4 Paws, as the name implies, is primarily for dog people. They have several off leash areas, hiking trails, etc. We all had a nice time.
Then it was on to visit with the girls in Virginia. We had just a great time with them.
The weather was cold by our standards; low to mid-30's at night. Brrrrr.
We're spending Christmas in VA this year.
All in all, it was a very nice first post-stroke trip. We both learned a lot about RVing with a disability.
I just finished cleaning the RV up today. We're ready to go again. Can't wait.

Nana, Alex & Finn

 

Parked in front of Alex's house in Virginia

 

4 Paws Kingdom near Rutherforton,NC

 

Lazy Daze rally. F.D. Roosevelt S.P., Pine Mountain, GA. Carol & Joe on a chilly day. 

Getting ready for the pot luck supper. Lazy Daze rally. 

Stephen Foster State Park. October 18, 2006 

Ed and Carol Lazy Daze Travels

Ed and Carol Lazy Daze Travels
ON THE ROAD AGAIN.
We left home on October 17th for a three week trip. Our first trip since my heart attack and stroke in Rock Springs, WY on June 13th of this year. At this point I can't walk well at all or use my right arm. Ed & I practiced at home getting into and out of the motorhome. I manage just fine. I have a small electric scooter I use to get around the campground. It works very well. On the 17th we spent the night at the Stephen Foster State Park near Live Oak, FL. On the 18th we met with 20 other people at a Lazy Daze rally at the F.D. Roosevelt State Park near Pine Mountain Georgia. Having just a wonderful time. It's wonderful to be out of the house and travelling again.

Sept. 15, 2006

We are going out in moterhome in Oct. I'm recoved from a stoke

I HAD ON JUNE 13. I'll keep you posted. Carol

Bear that Ed saw and that walked by our campsite.

 

Bear was on table while Ed and Gopher were in the water

 

June 11 and 12 Ed and the Bear

Sunday, June 11, 2006

This morning was bright & sunny and for the first time in a few weeks, it stayed that way all day. Shorts weather. We took a leisurely drive to the Coulter Village campground in the Grand Teton National Park. It’s only about 35 miles from where we were in Yellowstone. The campground is within an easy walk of Jackson Lake. Gopher had a ball swimming and chasing a stick. Today was planned to be a day of rest. Mostly just hung out, walked here & there and read our books. We met another Lazy Daze owner. They are from Ohio. Steve ?.
Monday, June 12, 2006

We moved to the Signal Mountain Campground. Very rustic. Located on Jackson Lake. The BIG NEWS was the bear. I was in the water throwing a stick for Gopher to swim after. I turned around and there was a black bear about ten feet away sniffing at the wood picnic tables. Looking for food I suppose. I waved my arms and called to Gopher and the bear ambled away. There were two couples setting up their tents in the direction the bear was headed so I called out to warn them. They got in their cars. (It’s 8:30pm right now. We just walked the dogs. The two couples in the tents are no longer there. J ) The bear wandered past the tents, crossed the road and walked behind and around the other RV’s. By this time I had returned to our camper to tell Carol to stay inside until the bear was gone. The bear walked behind our camper then walked around the motorhome parked next to us. Got some good pictures. All “black” bears are not black. This one was tan. Probably 4’ high at the shoulder. Carol & I were talking to a man this evening. He & his wife were on a hike earlier today and turned the bend and there was a bear walking down the trail. They turned around and did not finish the hike.
This is a really beautiful campground. The view across Jackson Lake is the primary mountain range in the Grand Teton Park.

West Thumb Geyser this morning

 

Ed Carol and dogs