Off Again, Jiggity Jog

Carnival Pride cruise ship passing by the Sandy Point Shoal Light in front of rising Worm Moon by Walter Dorsett
MUST SEE video on Facebook

Yes, we're off again. Another week (our last this year, sniff) in the Southern Caribbean. New ship, old destinations but that's fine since Stu gets to scuba dive in three of the ports. The fourth is Belize where we plan to go zip-lining and cave tubing with several members of our favorite band, Six Appeal.

We'll be gone a week, come back and get a shed delivered to our RV lot, and on Thursday we head out. We have reservations in Chattanooga for the weekend so we can attend the annual Cruise-In sponsored by Coker Tire. This will be our first time attending and I know we'll both enjoy it.

Once we arrive at home in Tennessee, we have a lot to do. If I manage to get the first draft of Paradise Dead completed on the cruise, then I have to tackle the editing so I can get it to my proof readers. I have a publication deadline of May first. Once that's done, I will be tackling the edits of Almost a Touch. Phew!

If you don't follow my writing blog, you might want to take a peek in April. For the first time in several years, I'm participating in the April A to Z Blog Challenge. I think my theme is one you'll enjoy. The reveal will be posted on Monday. Here's a little hint....

April A to Z Blog Challenge

Ciao for now!

Zippo & Zion

I know, I've already done Zion so it will be the bonus link (to photos). Zippo is new, even thought we covered PA before.

Zippo Lighters have been around for a long time and even though they aren't used much in the US anymore, they are overseas and they have a HUGE collector base. They are located in Bradford, PA and the tour is free. But even if there were a small charge, it would be worth it to see the collections and displays.

The first time I visited Zippo, my late husband and I were living just outside Bradford. In fact our first ever motorcycle poker run started out at Zippo. But back to the tour, this was around 2001 and the main display was WWII and Korea based as well as a movie section. Amazing display.

When Stu and I visited in 2008, the movie section had been expanded and the war display updated. It was still amazing and worth the time to visit.

BONUS: Zion National Park

Yearly and Yellowstone

There are a couple of things we try to do yearly, while some we've only done once and might or might not do again (Quartzsite, Daytona Bike Week, Sturgis Bike Week to name a few).

Both of our annual events are related to Stu's career as a firefighter for Anne Arundel County (MD). The first is the annual Retired Anne Arundel County Firefighter Reunion, traditionally held in Kissimmee, FL. This works well for us when we winter in Florida but we have also flown in from San Diego when we were staying in Yuma one winter.

2009 ~ 2010 ~ 2011 ~ 2012

The other annual event is the Red Helmet Ride in honor of all the fallen firefighters. The ride starts at one gathering spot, Walkersville has been used the last few years, and the group (usually over 500 bikes) continue to the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, MD on a police escorted ride. The ride is open to all motorcyclists. The ride is always in October, done on Saturday of the survivor family weekend. From their website:

All bikers are invited to participate in this show of support for America's fallen fire heroes and their survivors.

2008 ~ 2009 ~ 2010 ~ 2011 

BONUS: Yellowstone 2005 Donna by motorcycle, by RV 2008, 2010

Xotic and Xtreme

Okay, so I'm stretching things a bit but 'X' was definitely the tough one.

Xotic - our cruises to Panama and the Western Caribbean can certainly be considered exotic. The flowers, the native residents, the food, the animals, the cultures, the activities. I hope you will take time to view some of the amazing photos I've linked to.

What are your Xotic and Xtreme adventures?


BONUS: Zip-line in Hoonah, Alaska

Weather and Wall SD

We all love our lifestyle because we can move easily, at least most of the time. But sometimes we can't move or can't move quickly enough and we get exposed to some nasty weather.

We've sat or driven through:

• Hail
• Snow
• Earthquakes
• Heavy rain
• Wind
• Fog
• Driving the RV in snow

What about you? Have you had to deal with severe weather or have you been able to move/out run it?

BONUS: Wall, SD

Vacations and Vermont

"Why are you going on vacation? You don't need a vacation? Your life is a vacation?" If you're an RVer, you've heard this before.

The truth is, while we have a wonderful life that enables us to travel and see the country, daily life always intervenes. Repairs and maintenance, health and other medical issues, family times - both the good and the bad.

So, we like to plan at least one vacation a year, sometimes we manage to eke out two. Here are some of our favorites.

• Cancun, Mexico [timeshare]
• Cabo San Lucas, Mexico [timeshare - honeymoon]
• Panama Cruise
• Alaska Cruise
• Western Caribbean Cruise
• Las Vegas via RV [Garth Brooks]
• Las Vegas via air
• Key West via motorcycles
• Disney and Universal Studios with grandkids

BONUS: Vermont

Utah and Universal

I don't know if this is right but I swear Utah has the greatest number of amazing National Parks in the US. We had planned to visit three of them, Zion - Bryce Canyon - Arches, but the weather refused to cooperate. We had a great time visiting Zion but had to leave early due to rain and then cold weather forced us to drop plans to visit Moab.

We ended up spending some time in Green River, UT at a campground that was right behind the hotel where I spent several days waiting out the rain on my 2005 motorcycle trips! We will go back and hit some of those great hot spots.

Oh, never been there? Be sure to try US 89 for a scenic drive.

BONUS: Visiting Universal Studios with grandgirls

• Day Two at Universal & Final Thoughts
• Day One at Universal
• Universal Studios

Texas and Tombstone

Ahhh, Texas...what a diverse state. We've spent time in:

• Livingston (the Escapees mecca)
• South Padre Island
• Mission
• Marathon
• Paris
• Dallas - Museum of Fligh
• Dallas area - Audie Murphy Museum
• Flint
• Pharr where the BRAT Rack was made
• Victoria (with the neatest Harley dealer)

There is still a lot of Texas to see...we'd especially like to stay in the Hill Country area and get in some riding there.

BONUS: Tombstone 2008 / Tombstone 2010

Solar and Scuba

Solar, the sun and harnessing its power. What a perfect thing for RVers. I got my solar system after my first Quartzsite visit and after boondocking there, Stu decided to do the same. Here are the posts about our installations and our setups.

• Donna - installation in Class C
• Donna - final setup
• Stu - installation in 41' 5th wheel (their largest install)
• Stu - final setup

BONUS: Scuba

Repairs and Redwoods

Living on the road doesn't mean real life goes away. Repairs on our rolling homes can come more frequently, think of it as driving your house through an earthquake and a hurricane...every time you drive down the highway. Things break plus there is always some sort of scheduled maintenance to be done.

I am so lucky to be married to someone who has good mechanical skills and who isn't afraid to tackle some pretty nasty roadside repairs. We've survived the following replacements/repairs:

• Serpentine belt
• Water pump and A/C belt
• Broken shackles
• Broken brake line due to broken shackles
• Tire blow out due to frozen wheel bearing
• Tire blow out due to ???
• Torn electrical and propane lines due to tire blow out
• Another broken brake line
• Radiator hose
• Fuel filter leak

BONUS: Redwoods

Quartzsite and Quirky

When I started on this A to Z of US, I worried that the letter Q would stump me. How could I have forgotten the RVing mecca of Quartzsite? It's the essence of quirky, with a dash of flea market, a splash of RV dealers and a splosh of RV/camping vendors all mixed with thousands of RVs either in the local RV parks or boondocking in the desert.

Everyone needs to experience it at least once. Most either love it or hate it. I loved it and couldn't wait to introduce it to Stu. Here are some blog posts and photo links from my visit as well as ours.

• Addicted to Dust
  
• Full Moon Over Quartzsite
• My kind of town....Quirksite, AZ
• We made it to Quartzsite....

BONUS: Quirky

Pennsylvania and Panama

Before Stu, my late husband and I spent several years living in the Allegheny National Forest in north central Pennsylvania. It's a beautiful part of the country. We've done a little exploring there, here are some photo links to enjoy.

• 2008 Staying in McKean County PA
• 2009 Misc TN/VA/PA/MD Travel Pics
• 2011 Visiting Coudersport PA & Surrounding Areas
• 2011 Grand Canyon of PA and area
• 2011 Visiting Friends in Marshburg PA
• 2011 Visiting Dave and Anne, Warfordsburg PA

I'm hoping we can make another run through the area on our way from the Gypsy Journal Rally in Celina, OH this September back to Maryland.

BONUS: Panama Cruise

Options, Opinions and Oregon

We are blessed to be able to live the full-timing lifestyle, it provides us a multitude of options. We can move every day, flitting from place to place like hummingbirds. Or we can opt to stay for longer periods, maybe a week, a month or several months. We can snow-bird and spent half the year in one spot and the rest in another similar to the geese migrating south for the winter.

I think we have become quarters in the last year or two, mostly out of necessity. We've been spending 3 months in the south, 6 months in TN (fall and spring) and 3 months in the northeast. Wondering what bird does that?

The good thing is that we have the option, the ability to move when we need or want to. Don't like the weather? Move. Don't like the scenery? Move. Don't like the neighbors or their opinions? Move. Life is good!

BONUS: Oregon

Nature and New Orleans

One of the wonderful side benefits of the RVing lifestyle is visiting spots where we can view nature in all it's glory. We've been to Yellowstone National Park several times, Glacier National Park, Zion National Park, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainier, Joshua Tree National Park, Grand Tetons National Park and the Grand Canyon to name just a few spots.

We've seen black bear, grizzly bear, osprey, eagles, deer, antelope, elk, mountain goats, big horn sheep, whales, sea lions, dolphins, gophers, prairie dogs, ground squirrel and yes, even the elusive moose. I'll let you search through the links above to see what you can spot. ;-)

BONUS: New Orleans & National D Day Museum

Montana, Micro-Brews and Motorcycles

We like our micro-brews and try to visit as many as we can. We've been a bit lax lately but here are some of our past visits in various states:

• VT - More Vermont travels....and breweries.
  
• ME - Another good day of riding....
  
• LA - Today was free beer day....
• MT - On our way to Glacier National Park...
  
• MT - Missoula to Butte Update
  
• AK - Cruise to Alaska - Day Eight - Seward
• AK - Day Fourteen: Victoria, B.C. Canada
• UT - Oh the places we've seen...take 2

Of course motorcycling is one of our biggest passions. When we got together, I had sold my last motorcycle and Stu had his first (since dirt bikes as a kid). I am on bike two and he is on bike three since then. I think these are our last....unless I move to a trike someday.

We've been on some amazing rides and been to some fun events since we met in 2008. Here are just a few samples.

• Gillette WY Updates - Escapade, SOLOS & Motorcycle...
• Yellowstone - Day Two
• Yellowstone - Day One
• Red Helmets Ride
• Family, Motorcycles & Northern Kentucky
• Rock Hall Bike Fest
• A great day for riding...
• Sturgis Roundup.....
• First day at Bike Week
• 10th Anniversary Ride to Remember 9/11

BONUS: Montana

Log Homes and Las Vegas

Anyone who has followed us for a while, knows that we plan to build a log home on our property in TN for when we hang up the keys (at least for full-timing). We have an RV site on the property and hope to get in utilities in this week, allowing us to move there from our current campground.

We don't have any firm plans on when we will build but that hasn't stopped us from visiting log home shows and even taking a factory tour with one company (who is our current choice of builder). We got Log Home magazine for a while but it was more ads than substance so swapped it out for one on scuba diving. ;-)

BONUS: Las Vegas - trip one (and two following posts) and trip two

Kites and Klassics

Okay, so I fudged a bit on the spelling of Klassics, but since that's a BONUS....LOL!

Kites - we're not into kiting but we did take in a huge kiting event at South Padre Island the winter we spent in Mission, TX. You can see a lot more photos here and some videos here.

BONUS: Klassic, cars that is....6 shows!

JELL-O, Joshua Tree, Jackson and Jerome

We are retired. We are full-timers. We set out plans in JELL-O, watery unset  JELL-O at times.

We had planned to have our property set up for our RV two years ago. We are almost there. We actually hope to move next week!

We planned to ride Route-66 in the spring of 2011 but we changed that to the fall.  That got changed when we brought Sadie into our lives and we wanted to wait till she was older, so we moved it to May of 2012. Twin granddaughters graduating high school meant moving it to Sep-Oct. Nope, not going to happen, got an important wedding to attend. We are determined to make it in Sep-oct of 2013, keep your fingers crossed for us!

We've had our planned changed due to family health, our health and the weather. How about you?

BONUS: Joshua Tree, Jackson and Jerome

Interests and International

After a short hiatus, we're resuming our A to Z of US posts. Check out the Blog Archive for the letters A through H.

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Between us, we have a wide range of interests. We both love music and in a previous A-Z post we mentioned music events. Theme parks are high on our list, especially Disney. Stu and his late wife had a tradition of taking grandkids to Disney when they turned five (sans parents). We have continued this tradition, taking Joshua and Olivia to Disney in October 2010. We've also done one day visits as we did in 2009 for Stu's birthday, he got in free.

We buy season passes to Dollywood since we are in TN every spring and fall (as well as summer this year). We've managed several visits and really enjoyed seeing it at Christmastime last year.

We couldn't talk about interests without mentioning my writing and Stu's renewed interest in scuba diving.

• My writing website
• My Write Spot blog
• My Write 4 Ten blog
• Stu's Scuba gear
• Stu's Scuba photos/videos

We have tried geo-caching and decided it just wasn't for us. Now that Stu's knees are better, I know we will be doing more hiking when we get back to traveling more. I bought some beginner jewelry making supplies but admit that has taken a backseat to my writing.

What are your interests?

BONUS: Cruise to Panama Canal

Health and Honeymoon

Dealing with major medical issues while traveling is one of the biggest issues, and fears, for RVers. When on the road we don't have access to our regular doctors and medical facilities that we were used to when living in a sticks and brick home. It can be a scary proposition, finding a doctor or hospital at the last minute.

Stu and I have been very fortunate. We were able to schedule his double knee replacement with a doctor he knew and a hospital he trusted. We have managed to return to Maryland at least once a year for all our annual checkups but we have also had a few issues on the road. Each time we were fortunate to have good experiences. 

• Infected wound: Urgent Care Clinic
• Dizziness and ear noise:  Urgent Care Clinic
• Severe abdominal pain (middle of night) - ER
• Severe bladder infection (weekend) - ER
• Severe chest pain (middle of night) - ER

Fellow RVing friends have had to deal with kidney stones, heart attacks, gallbladder attacks, cancer, bad falls and even an intestinal blockage. It's life and we do what we have to do. We just don't live in fear.

How have your experiences been with finding medical care while traveling? Do you return to one location annually for regular checkups?

BONUS: Honeymoon in Cabo San Lucas