Tuesday March 4th, 2008

Here are some pictures of the motor coach that we discussed yesterday. Don, you will love this one. It is a Freightliner with a Freightliner chassis. It's overall length is 53 feet. Made in PA, and painted in Michigan. If you notice the lift gate in the back. It is hydraulic with a remote control. He rides his bike on the lift and after pressing his remote, he is up and ready to enter the rear of the coach. The back ten feet is more like a garage that holds both his and his wife's Harley's.

Went to the RV dealer in Fort Meyers to finish up a few small things that needed fixing. Still did not fix a couple items, first, because the part did not come in and, 2nd because they broke a part that was not broken when we went in this morning. Oh well, for those who have had the joy of RVing, well you understand! Tomorrow we are headed to the Freightliner dealer to get a recall notice attended to. Nothing serious, just the brake system has a slight flaw. Eeeek!

After we drop the coach off, (which they say will only take one hour,.... right!) then on to discuss with a possible future builder the recent changes we made on their model of home. At 63 I wonder if I will ever see this to conclusion. Come on all of you, I need to sell our house in Cannon, and I mean real soon!!

Thursday we attend another Twins game, this time against Baltimore. It is fun because you sit really close to the field. Autographs? Not that I have seen. There goes that myth! 7800 people is a sell out and I understand that the Twins are the second best in spring training attendance in all of major leagues baseball behind the Yankees. It is unusual because you have fans from every team in the league. Fans are mostly Twins fans, but not exclusively. We will try and send you a few more pictures and give you more of a feeling of the atmosphere at these games.

You know the movie that I never take Kathy to? Well, we went and saw "The Bucket List". Now, don't think because this is only March that maybe there will be several more before the year is out. Don't count on that happening !!!! I go so seldom that when I see 10.00 tickets, 5.00 popcorn, and 5.00 pop, well, add that up and you have dinner at PF Chang's. You know what I would prefer to do don't you?
Never the less , we also went to PF Changs for dinner tonight. For those of you who read our blog, you know we went there last week with Al and Sue. We liked it so much we just had to return. For those of you in Minnesota, I believe we have one at Southdale. It is excellent food at a reasonable price. I would recommend it. Kathy says we must go there every night for a couple of weeks just to sample all of their menu.

Back home at eight and will be up again at 6:30 and at it again. Only going to be 76 tomorrow, so maybe we might have to wear a sweater!:) Just kidding, I see it is only going to be 9 degrees on Friday in Minnesota. Wow, what a winter to get out!!!! I guess you could say it was worth waiting 63 years for.

Monday March 3, 2008

Our neighbor with his hydraulic lift on his motorhome.
Hammond stadium from the outside.

Inside the stadium from our seats.

The first picture is our neighbor in Cypress Woods. I need to take a better picture of his motor home. It is a Kingsley. It has a semi truck front and motor home on the back. The paint job is remarkable! John said he would take better pictures of it tomorrow so you can see how awesome the paint is. (Wouldn't want to ding this paint job.)

We went to the Twins game today....it was packed...7,800 people. It was 84 degrees and we did fairly well until the last 3 innings and we were in the sun! We pretty much baked. It was tied 6-6 and going into the 10th inning and decided we had better leave before we were over-cooked bacon. We are still trying to find out the ending. We will have to watch the news tonight.

The players are a lot new. We knew Mauer, Morneau, Castilo, Cudhyer (sp?), but after that they were all new to us. It was fun seeing how they all shake out. Perkins started for us but was only in 2 innings. They really try out the newbies to see where they will fit in....if they'll fit in.

We got home about 4:30 and met some neighbors from Montreal, Quebec. Started our grill and had a great dinner...and now settling in for the night. Tomorrow we take the bus in to the shop for some parts that were ordered.

March 1, 2008 Cypress Woods RV Resort

We're here and would rather be there!!! This certainly isn't as nice as RiverBend...but, it is what it is. We got here around 1200 and set up...then I headed down into Ft Myers to Target and Bealls. Did a long awaited grocery run and just shopped around. Got home around 4:30. I took a bike ride around the park, it's just not as nice as the other park, but certainly not a dive! We grilled out salmon and steak and now are just watching some TV. I think tomorrow we will have a pool day and relax as we have a fairly busy week next week.

Friday February 29, 2008

The neighborhood we bought our lot in.
Our lot.
Another view from our lot.
Pool in Royal Corinthian home.

Family room in Royal Corinthian home.
Family room and kitchen area in "Welsh" home.
Kitchen in Welsh home.
Family room in Welsh home.

Pool in Welsh home.
Courtyare in Welsh home.
Patio in Welsh home.


Welsh Home.

Bedroom in Welsh Home

I didn't get these pictures in the right order but.....these are pictures of two houses that we are really hot on to build. We bought a lot in the Verandah's which is a gated community in Ft. Myers. The two builders we liked are Royal Corinthian and Welsh. I think we like the Welsh home more but of course its a bit more money. I guess it will depend on what we can get for our home. Anyway, we have spent some time with these builders trying to make sure we know what we would like.

Yesterday evening we went out to dinner to PF Chang's with another couple, Sue and Al. It was so good. If you ever get a chance to eat there...do it!

Tonight is our last night here at RiverBend and we are going to an outdoor event. They have a band and food galore.

Our little PT Cruiser got a hole in the radiator and it has been in the shop all day. John just went to get it....he's hoping he'll get back in time to eat!

All for today, will let you know what our next place is like.

Tuesday February 26, 2008

Ruthie

Ed

We arrived back in Ft. Myers at around noon yesterday. We got the shuttle to our car and made it "home" with no problems!!! Yeah!! We tried to catch up with the goings on around here and I was sad to find out there was no Yoga this week because the yoga teacher's husband had a heart attack and died..the day after we left to go home. He was only 69...they had to get his body back to Illinois. Too sad. Anyway, then we hooked up with a couple we had met when we were in Naples. Sue and Al and John and I went to the clubhouse for happy hour and I played the piano a bit and we just chatted. Then we were all hungry so headed into LaBelle and had dinner.

Today John and I drove out to Sanibel to see Ruth and Ed...our old friends from our years in Sanibel. They are from Rice Lake, Wi...maybe you saw them at Jackie's wedding. Ruth made a delicious shrimp salad and we just chatted for 3 hours and solved all the world's problems.

Got home around 4:30 and made a tuna salad for dinner later...and we rode bikes for a while.

All for today, going to watch a little on the tube.

February 24th, 2008

We have been home since Feb 15 and have enjoyed the visit with most of our friends and family. John went up to the lake home for a couple of days to check everything out and it was great. Made a few adjustments at mats, business is really slow, and Kathy spent time with the choirs at church. Been a real fun visit but as you can see by the picture, WE ARE READY TO RETURN to our motor home and warm sunny Florida. Will be heading back to Fort Myers and Riverbend until the 1st of March and then to Cypress Woods in Fort Myers, attend a couple of Twins games and head to Orlando area on the 8th. Will update you later.

February 4, 2008

New site at RiverBend Motorcoach Park, Ft. Myers, Fla.

The pool

Dinner with Jack and Marie watching the SuperBowl.

Jack and Marie surprised us with their visit.

We arrived in RiverBend on Friday, after a terribly long day getting from Key West to Ft Myers to the RV dealer. Our satellite went out so are getting it fixed. (Yes, it is under warranty!) We were supposed to go to dinner with a couple (John and Rae Jean from Charleston) that we met in Key West but by the time we got all set up and showered....it would have been 8:30 before we could have met them...so postponed it.

On Saturday, we just bummed around the park and read etc.. Sunday we washed the beast (RV) and the little car. (They have these water bans down here and our water day is Sunday and Thursday). In the afternoon Jack Kelly called and said he was down at the gate waiting to get in!!! He and Marie spent the later afternoon with us and then we went out to eat at a sports bar and also got to watch the game. What a game!!!!!

Today, Monday, I went to a 3 mile walking class and an aerobic class after that! I have to start working out more...and eat and drink less. Then we went into Ft. Myers to meet John and Rae Jean for lunch before the headed out to the Tampa area. Then John and I went to a housing area called "The Verandah's" to look at houses. Wow!!! We'll keep you apprised on this adventure.

Well, I think that is all for now. Just thought I would let you know we were still alive and doing well.