Goodness gracious sakes alive it was cold this morning!  The outside thermometer was showing 38 degrees at 7 am.  This is definitely not Florida weather.  More of the same tonight.  Yet they are saying that by Sunday the temperatures will be pushing 90 degrees!

No time for breakfast work was calling and we were up late.  Grab a quick cup of coffee, a protein bar and away we went.  Went with winter wool cap and gloves!  I just can’t take

the cold weather anymore.  One more day and we’ll be back in the 80’s pushing 90.

Three hours of work, meaning clean the clean bathrooms, move a few chairs and tables, dust the floor and dump the trash.  Easy morning and done in the blink of an eye.

Work out of the way it was off to my last appointment at the doctors – I sure hope so!  He gave me a clean bill of health.  He also gave me his cell phone number and office number and stated if I run into issues on the road to give him a call.  That makes me feel pretty good knowing I have a contact wherever I go in this great land of ours.

At this point we were both as hungry as can be since neither of us had eaten any breakfast.  Where to go?  We both had a hankering for hot dogs but no Sonic.  However,

we found this new to us hot dog joint in Brooksville.  They had to have a chili dog – yup!

They also had this, a little too small for me or I would have tried.

How about this sign?

So, two chili dogs and some fries later, tummy full it was time to finally head for home.

Back home we hunkered down and watched the Hall Mark Mystery Movie we had tapped last night.  It’s so much better tapping them and then watching them later.  It’s amazing how many commercials there are.   It seems like we can get through a 2 hour show in just a little over an hour if it’s tapped and played back.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  We once again did it our way, traveling along, hand in hand, singing our song.  Thanks again for joining us on our journey.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road

What a difference a day makes.  When you are used to temperatures in the 80’s and you awake to temperatures in the 50’s if just feels down right cold.  Throw in some rain and it was just a gloomy, un-Florida like morning.  I know, all you up North probably find this a bit humorous.  Tonight is supposed to go even lower, like in the mid 30’s.  Time for extra blankets, maybe even a watch cap and a pair of gloves!

Breakfast was another winner.  Barbara made me a chili cheese omelette with some sausage on the side.  As always a glass of juice and a couple of cups of coffee were added to it.  A perfect way to start the day.

First order of the day was a quick trip to Lowe’s for some bits and pieces to make jack

pads for Graybeard.  My friend Steve didn’t like the ones I was using and decided he could make a better mouse trap.  Actually, he wanted to take what I was using and make them better.  He had already done the same with his. So all of us, Barbara and myself as well as Steve and Patti took a short ride to the store.

Once finished there it was lunchtime so we moved over to Darrell’s Diner for a quick

lunch.  The food was good, the time spent together was even better.  Good friends one and all.

Back home time to make the jack pads.  Steve took the lead since he had already built several pairs for his rig.  All total it took about an hour from beginning to end and they are just what the doctor ordered.  Anything to make arrival and departure easier is a winner in my book.

I finally found the part to fix the bathroom door.  Don’t even ask what this 6 inch piece of piano hinge with springs cost.  It should be gold plated.  Should be here in about a week.

The day ended with the sun out and clear, well almost clear skies.  The temperature did get into the mid 60’s.  Now, though, at 9 pm the temperature is rapidly falling once again.  Yes, it is going to be a really cold night!

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  A little bit of this and that and a whole lot of time spent with really good friends.  We will miss them when we leave here.  Thanks again for joining us and hope all is well with you.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road

This past weekend was a whirlwind of activity.  We put in two 9 hour days each.  Barbara got the worse of it since she by her own choice wanted kitchen duty.  Yours truly was assigned to the field crew meaning whatever needed to be done was ours to do.  We carted trash, made sure the bathrooms were stocked and clean, we saw to it that traffic flowed, and the best duty of all – we provided escort duty for the attending WW II Veterans.  Here we go, the weekend in review.

It began with the reenactors from both sides – American and German–  assembling on the parade field before the raising of the American flag.

Then came the raising of the American flag.

A little later in the morning the troops passed in review.

Jeeps of the day with a young admirer hitching a ride.

Then there was this, a Humber Light Reconnaissance Car- or is it?  More on this later.

There were encampments around the grounds, this of a typical American camp.

A closer look at a typical American tent.

Check out the inside – look closely to the right of the typewriter.  This guy was prepared

Even more firepower.

Moving to the German side, their field hospital.

Their mess tent.

Now, remember that Humber?  The Humber Light Reconnaissance Car, also known as Humberette or Ironside, was a British armoured car produced during the Second World War.

This, though, is actually a Jeep Cherokee!  The vehicle is a reproduction body made of plywood!  Authentic in every way.

The very best part of the day for me was yet to come.  The opportunity to meet those who truly made this country great.  Not some politician speaking out of both sides of their mouth and twisting the truth to suite their needs.

I’m talking about real men of courage, conviction and integrity.  There was Ted who served from 1943 to 1969.   He fought in WW II, Korea, and Vietnam.

There was Fred who served in Korea.

Then there was George.

Today, George is 94 years young (that’s his wife to the right in the picture).  He was a US Army bomber pilot who flew 30 missions over Germany.   Think about that for a moment.  Many never made it past 1 or 2.  The stories he told and the memories he shared about the missions he flew kept us all gathered around him.  He stated there was never any question of not flying a mission.  If you were told to go, you went.  That was it.  Because of him and so many others like him we today are still the land of the free.  In my mind George is a true hero.

Come 4 pm and the park was quite for Saturday.  But the day was not over.  At 7 pm there was a an old fashioned USO show for all the volunteers and reenactors.

We had a packed house for the night’s entertainment.

There was the Pascal High School Jazz Band – what a fantastic group!  They played a selection of songs from the Big Band Era.  They were absolutely great!

The USO radio announcer.

And of course. . . . . .give me your money or its your life

who’s on first, what is on second, and I don’t know on third

There was a young woman singing songs from Nat King Cole.

And plenty of opportunity to dance if you so desired.

There you go.  The weekend was an absolute blast.  Would I do it again?  In a minute!

Thanks again for joining us on The Road of Retirement.  We were dead tired when the weekend came to a close but we were also extremely thankful to have been a part of all that went on.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road

 

Going to have to give me some time to get things together regarding today and probably tomorrow.  So many pictures, so much to get organized.  We started at 7:30 am and I finally got home at 9 pm.

Not all work.  There was a fantastic USO style show tonight with music provided by the Pascal High School Jazz Band.  This is one fantastic High School Band.  It’s a shame that I could not tape their music for you.

OK, I’m falling asleep as I’m typing so I”m calling it quits as of now. Stay tuned for the full on version of the days events in the next day of two.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road