Timmy and I had decided that we would do a "Big" trip again, much like the very first trip we took 5 years ago to the East Coast.  We were celebrating our 30th wedding anniversary and although I have many things on my bucket list yet to see and do.... this trip would allow us to cross off a few

 of those wishes on the list.

Key West and Ground Zero

Timmy puts me in charge... (well kinda) ... when it comes to planning our route... and our goal was to head out the first of  of June and make Key West to celebrate our 30th.

We had several friends and family to visit along the way, so we just knew this trip was going to be special. 

It takes a lot of time and energy to plan and pack for this kind of trip.  We have found that we need to have the RV parked in our driveway for at least 3 days to get it ready for take off.

  A sort of pre-flight check list if you will. 

Before I go any further, I would like to tell all of you fine friends and family, that I came up with a myriad of excuses 

to not write this blog.  Timmy insisted that I do,.... and I asked him,... "Are you sure ?"  "You know, I have to write the story and be true to my words.  Some of the things we get ourselves into, well,... it might be kind of embarrassing."   He said.... "'I'll just edit the blog"..... I firmly said.... "There is no editing in blogging!!"

   It takes time to write a blog, and quite honestly, after 5 years,... you would think we had conquered anything that could possibly happen to the Jetson Mobile.

Not True.

We hadn't even pulled out of the driveway, 

and we already had problems. 

Timmy had parked the RV and somehow he miscalculated where the doors on the lower part of the rig would pop open.

The compartment underneath the rig is actually called the basement, .... and one of the basement doors had been having trouble staying shut,... and this particular day.... in this very particular spot, it decided to pop open..... and as it did this,.. the force was so strong that it knocked over 

the fire hydrant in our front yard. 

All the while I am in the house finishing some work, Timmy runs in and proceeds to tell me we have
 a slight problem.

I run outside and the entire street is flooded.... and the fire trucks and maintenance people are all working frantically 

to get the water to stop. 

I decided it would be best for me to just go inside and pretend I didn't see what was happening.

I was going to take a picture of the incident,...but I just didn't have the heart to take a picture 
of a retired fireman being rescued 
by the local hook and ladder company. 

I didn' t say a word.

We headed out the next morning and it appeared most of the water that had been gushing like Ole Geyser had settled into the earth and the crowds were gone.

It was finally time for the Jetson Mobile to take flight.

Good bye Borrego Springs.... until we meet again.

Just for clarification this is our beautiful little lake on the 6th hole of the golf course in Borrego Springs.  
(my sister in law Teresa and I love this hole).
It is half a  block from our home.

This is not our street.  I repeat,.... this is not our street.
 Although a day before they looked quite similar.   

On to Tuscon

 We wanted to keep south with  quick stops 

in Tuscon, and  El Paso as we wanted to spend
 a few nights in San Antonio 

to visit my YaYa Sister Marcia (Eslick) and 

her husband Lon Culbertson. 

As the Jetson Mobile was rolling along,...I noticed it started getting warm.  
I knew it was hot outside, as the forecast called for up to 100 degrees while we traveled across the desert toward Tuscon. 
Timmy proceeds to tell me that the transmission computer had an electrical short and it was shutting everything down.... including the use of our air conditioner!

Well we're  having fun now!!

Basically any time the electrical short would shut down/cut the fuses... my job was to  jump up and turn the master switch off that controls 
the Air Conditioner.  
(if I don't,... is something going to blow up?)
 

Timmy said not to worry, as it doesn't affect the engine... and just kept cruising along.
"Really?"   


We had this problem in Montana a few years back... but that was because we needed a new generator. 
Now we have a transmission computer problem?
Since when did a transmission start having a computer?

I did my part, and made sure the controls were in the off position.

As the temperatures started to rise... I knew it was going to be a long afternoon.

I could just hear Bandit saying.....
"Get the frozen  blue icee bag out of the freezer....and other than that,.. don't even think  I am interested in anything else you might have to say...."

Bandit and I thoroughly enjoying
 our first hour into the trip 

Life is wonderful 

A few hours later...

 If looks could kill......

The one redeeming factor is we will always have cool air as soon as we arrive and "plug in" to the

 resort/campgrounds electricity. 

We knew we wanted to spend a few days in San Antonio, so Timmy made an appointment to have the rig serviced outside of Houston, after we leave San Antonio.
I was disappointed we had to cut our time short in San Antonio but our lives depended on it.   :)  

The key was to just be able to travel the next day 
early before the heat sets in.

Plus , I  don't think I could handle 

any more of the rude and constant glares 
being thrown my way by Bandit. 

***


We arrived in San Antonio safe and sound and looked forward to spending the following day with Marcia and Lon at the famous River Walk.

Lon and Marcia Culbertson

Aren' t they just the cutest couple!

 The River Walk has hundreds of shops

 and restaurants along the way

Both Lon and I agreed that this was a type of replica 

on the River Walk, representing 

the Mission San Francisca de La Espada,

 which is known for its unique stoned arches and bells.

It was beautiful seeing this as we cruised the river.

 The  famous Alamo was once a Roman Catholic Mission which was originally built to convert
 the local Indians to Christianity.
And of course we all know
"Remember the Alamo" in the 13 day siege 
by the Mexican Army, 
killing all the brave Texian defenders. 
A few months later Texas won their 
independance at the battle of 
San Jacinto... and the rest is history.

  For  some reason I thought the Alamo 
would be bigger, 

but beautiful just the same!

It sure seems Texans take great pride
 in their "Alamo" 
It is quite a treasure!

***

 

We had a great time on the famous River Walk, 
and it is amazing how many quaint little restaurants
 you can visit along the river.

Of course Marcia and I giggled the day away.... 
and the 4 of us had a lovely dinner, 
and shared stories.

I feel so blessed to have Marcia and Lon as friends...
and Marcia , a ya ya sister... 
it just doesn't get any better!

 




On to New Orleans

We knew we had a scheduled appointment with the shop in Houston to fix the computer or transmission or whatever the heck the problem was.
We unhooked the jeep and spent a few hours running errands while the Jetson Mobile was getting fixed. 
Luckily, we didn't have too far to drive that day, as we stayed in a small little town called  Port Arthur, Texas right on the Gulf before you hit the Louisiana border.
We felt relieved that the issue was fixed and that we would have no more problems as we headed to New Orleans.

We had made plans while in New Orleans to spend 3 days with an old high school friend, Randy Dickerson and to finally meet his amazing wife Dale.  I took a chance and asked them since we were not going to be traveling through his part of Texas, if they wanted to join us in New Orleans. They immediately jumped on the idea of meeting us in New Orleans.   We were so excited.
Dale loves New Orleans and hooked us up big time. She made reservations for us and we took a 4 hour tour 
of the city on Segways!  

What better way to experience "The Big Easy" than on a Segway.  It was a blast tooling around the French Quarter and all that New Orleans has to offer... especially since Timmy and I have never been to New Orleans.

I never really knew why New Orleans 
was called "The Big Easy", but legend has it
 that in the early 1900's there was a dance hall in the city,... but apparently the name didn't stick
 until the 1970's, when a gossip columnist 
from New York used the phrase 
"The Big Easy".... as in
 "The Big Apple....
to signify the easy going life
 compared to the fast and hectic paced life
 in New York City.

 I thought it was pretty fast and hectic in the Big Easy!

We "segwayed"  our way around New Orleans, 
as our guided tour stopped at the historic locations.
One of my favorites was the beautiful 
St Louis Cathedral 

This magnificent Cathedral is the oldest Roman Catholic Cathedral in continuous use in the United States. 
It faces the famous Jackson Square, 
named for Andrew Jackson who is considered
 the hero of the Battle of New Orleans
 and later became our 7th President. 

Pictures simply do not capture the beauty
 and artistry of this Cathedral. 

Timmy lighting a candle... 
and praying ...
for the Jetson Mobile

 ***


Dale introduced us to the famous "Hurrican drinks" 
at the famous Pat O'Briens,...
which I believe has a " little bit "of rum in it.

They were so yummy... and Dale and I might 
have had a few extra drinks...
 but even Big Tim enjoyed the "Hurricanes" !

We spent the rest of the day catching up and sharing stories.  It was so wonderful to see Randy after all these years. 
He was always one of my favorites in High School,...
 and I love love love Dale....
Her and I could get into some serious trouble...
we caught ourselves wondering off 
deep in laughter and conversation 
and luckily our "guys" kept an eye on us.

We had a wonderful dinner, with great food 
and great company. 
What a wonderful day.

Dale,... you are a real kick!


We met up with the Dickersons the following night 
for our last round in the city 
and picked up where we left off the night before.
 Found some great clubs and listened to great jazz.
It was so magical and for a few brief hours... 
I felt like a little kid experiencing something for the first time.

The streets were filled with images
 of Mardi Gras in all its glory

We missed the great cemeteries and haunted tours,
 and put that on the bucket list for our next trip.


***


I thought it was so sweet when Dale got Randy
 up to dance with her, in the neatest piano bar 
I have ever seen..... 
Just the two of them dancing.... 
(it was there anniversary week)
and everyone was singing the Alabama song... 
which is where Dale is from.
A lovely night that I will never forget.

We are already planning another trip with them.....
and I will miss them ,... but I thank God 
we were able to spend such great time 
 with them.

On to Panama City 



Our next stop was Panama City Florida, and we were scheduled to be there for 4 days.  I wanted to have a few extra days there, as I remember how beautiful it was when I first experienced Panama City. My dear friend Amy Lukehart Davis ( who is also my oldest friend, as we grew up next door to each other) was getting married on the beach. 

I just had to share this picture...

 it was such a lovely day in Panama City.

Our RV park/resort was across the street 
from the beach, so everything was quite convenient. 

When we arrived in Panama City,
 Timmy calmly mentioned that the rig
 needed to get fixed again.

Um,,.... I am confused...
 didn't we just have it fixed in Houston?   

He tried to explain that this was a new problem, 
but similar.....

Huh?.... apparently we now had an electrical problem with the throttle..... and it was still shutting things down.

He had already made an appointment 
with the Napa store 

 to have it looked at in Panama City. 

I think he was trying to spare me
 any more stress or concern, 
and must have made the appointment with Napa 
at the last gas stop,.. while I was out walking Bandit, 
because I had no clue we
 were having more problems.

I was given permission to hang back and either beach it or pool it.... and he took Bandit with him. 

He was gone for a few hours, 
but apparently it got fixed again.

I think.

 

There were large crowds at the beach ,
 so I spent a few days floating in the pool 
and enjoying the same views.... 
without less salt in the water! 

We reserved beach time for our sunset walks

 and "happy hour" hopping!

Schooners Restaurant was a must stop,
 and is where Amy and Steve had there
 wedding reception... so we took the motorbike 
for a spin and had the best spicy shrimp ever....

 with views that took my breath away.

Timmy's bike for some strange reason
 always draws a crowd....

its just an old bike.... whats the big deal....?

We spent the next few days exploring and 
of course our "happy hour hopping"

We had heard some great old music the night before 
 where we were parked, and found out one of the oldest bars in the area was right across the street. 
 Timmy and I walked over and walked in and 
everyone yells.... "Welcome to Patches!!"   
and after about 10 minutes both Timmy and I 
were yelling "Welcome to Patches!"every 5 minutes 
as new customers walked through the doors!

 It was fun... and it was Bingo night...
and it was packed.

Two spots opened up right at the bar when we walked in... and we were seated right next to the gal
 running the bingo balls.

She hooked us up with cards and made sure 
we were good to go... 
and we won jello shots and met some great people. 
 Turns out... 
she and her husband were the owners.
She called the numbers, and his job was
 to run around and pass out prizes.  
Very cute. 

Timmy and I drank a few margaritas and I think they felt sorry for us cause we were clueless....and just trying to keep up with the bingo calling... 

gosh... there are so many different kinds of bingo,
 and one must always be paying attention......

Timmy and I were too busy eating tacos and drinking margaritas, but these people
 were really into their bingo nights.

And these people were younger than us!

Go figure!

Timmy preparing for the Bingo Games

Timmy winning the Bingo Games

just plain silly

This bar was such a cool place, and we had sent
 a few pics to our brother in law Joe Kingsbury,
 Retired Master Diver in the Navy who told us...... 
he spent so much time in Panama City and this little bar.

They catored to the military... as they should... 

the bar ain't called "Patches" for nothing....

 ...look at the wall......
 and this was just one wall of patches...
 there were hundreds of patches 

honoring so many who serve and protect.

Cool place and we will definitely go back again some day.

We also got to meet up with Debbie Dixon who has been friends with Amy for years and actually lives in Panama City.

We met at Schooners and had another great shrimp dinner.

I am bummed cause I couldn't download the pic she posted on facebook of us.... but it was a great night! 

Good Bye Panama City...

until we meet again.....

***

On to Key West

We had a one night stop in the Tampa Area

 before heading
 to Key West.
It is a beautiful day
 and the anticipation of finally getting to Key West
 is starting to become a reality.

I hear Timmy say.... "oh crap...."

"What?"

"What do you mean .... oh crap....?"

(as my heart started palpatating)

"I think the generator fuel pump is gone"

"What"... where did it go... 
what do you mean it's gone...?"

It was only a matter of minutes... 
 and I knew what it meant... 
no air conditioning again.

This is about the time when I was looking
 for the hidden cameras.....  
and I was secretly praying it was 
 a new episode for 
"Candid Camera" 
But Allen Funt never appeared
 and the reality
 faded away as I headed to the freezer 
for the blue icee bags.

Well, of course we had to make our daily visit 
to the nearest RV repair shop, because that is what we do.

This RV Shop was in a small little town 
called Perry Florida, and they were nice enough
 to take our rig in for a look.

(especially since it was a Friday,
 and I am sure they all wanted to get on with their weekend)

It took them about 2 hours to repair the generator fuel pump.... and I think my husband actually enjoys these little mishaps.... as he gets right under the rig with all these guys.... and I am sure he is learning as much as he can,... he just sees these break down episodes as a great way to learn more about the rig, meet new people and get under the rig and get dirty.

I can hear him laughing under the rig.... 

while Bandit and I are inside the rig,
 exchanging glares
  with blue ice bags on us.

This RV repair shop was on the outskirts of town, and  it didn't really have paved roads. There were so many old junk  cars sitting all over... so I guess it was a place for all the cars that can't be fixed to retire.
 
I thought to myself.... I don't think this is the best way to advertise your business but again,... what do I know?

Once the work was done... we started to head out... and I asked Timmy...." Are you going this way..... cause I don't think you can make the turn...I think we will get stuck..."
The sea of junk cars and trucks was like a maze.  

Well sure enough ...we got stuck ....

Big Time!

I would bet we had about 1/2 inch to spare 
with our neighboring ambulance truck.  
I didn't know if it was still in operation cause we were in a car junk yard... but you never want to cause damage to a ambulance car!  The other side was a truck, 

which was just as close.

About this time.... All the workers have come out to watch the show... and Bandit and I are hiding on the sofa.

After several attempts,.. 
the Manager Lady comes out and decides to get the key
 and move the ambulance.

Cutting it a bit close Mr. Graber? 

The other side of the rig was just as close,
 but it was just an old pick up truck. 
 I wanted to get a picture of that as well, 
so you could see how truly stuck we were...
but all the workers had come out to watch the show
 so I stayed clear of the windows.

 (nothing like being stuck between a rock and hard place)
 
The lady drives the ambulance out of the way
and everyone starts clapping,...

probably because they know 
they can start their weekend now.

I bet they had some good conversation
 over beers that night... 

damn Californians.... 

Once again... I didn't say a word. 

We got settled in Tampa Bay. 

 It was late... and we got hooked up and crawled into bed.

On to Key West

Finally

Well the day had finally arrived.

we were Key West bound!

We had a beautiful drive while crossing the many miles of bridges and "Keys" to get to Key West.

There are over 1700 islands but only

43 are connected by bridges.

It is approximately 120 miles to cross all the bridges and 

it was an amazing experience!

When we arrived to the resort, 
we were over the top excited 
about our new home for the next week.

It was everything I had hoped for and more!

This was our "Talapa" and its view

and this....

this was our view from our dock....

It was just amazing!!!

First order of business...

get our feet wet.

The water was like bath water.... it was wonderful!

Timmy tied my raft to the dock

so I wouldn't drift away like "Wilson"

and we soaked up the sunshine and felt blessed 

we finally made it.

 

 We explored downtown Key West every night, 

which was only about 8 miles. 

It was fun experiencing the famous "Duval" Street 

and the wonderful shops and restaurants along the way.

There are hundreds of bars and restaurants in Key West, 

and we would walk the streets 

and find one that looked especially good to us that night.

The food was amazing...EVERY NIGHT!

For our 30 year wedding anniversay we decided to

find a quaint little Italian risorante.

The seafood fettucine was fabulous 
and they treated us

to the best Tiramasu ever!

It was a magical day!

It was a special day!

It was Our Day!

Happy Anniversary Big Tim...

love of my life

I love you and 

I thank you 

for this 

amazing and

dynamic 

life and journey.

Lets do 30 more!

 

***


Every morning we found our place under the Talapa 

and enjoyed our coffee

as we watched the most incredible sunrises.

We felt like we were the only 2 people
on the planet

simply breathtaking

***

The weather was perfect every day, and
we swam by day and explored by night.
Hey it was our 30 year wedding anniversary...
it was our time to celebrate.

*

Timmy wanted to do some laundry 
(because he doesn't pack as good as I do... 
or should I  say... as much as I do)


but I just think he wanted an excuse
 to jump on his 71 Honda. 


Timmy packed his laundry, soap and headed
 into the sunset to do his laundry....

I,... on the other hand, 
headed to the "sun" and
"set " myself on my raft.....

Timmy, you are such a kid.


***

We couldn't leave Key West without checking out

 Earnest Hemmingway's house.

Hemmingway happened upon Key West 

when he was returning home from Paris 

and fell in love with the island immediately. 

 I can understand why. 

They had tours of his house 

which is now a museum,

however we decided   

 we wanted to explore more of the town and 

continued to cruise in the jeep.

Every night hundreds of people gather at

Mallory Square for the celebration of the sunset.

People arrive at least 2 hours early

to watch street performers and 

shop the many vendors of

local artists and crafts.

Everyone claps when the sun sets.

It has been a  tradition for years.

No curtain calls though.  

*

Our time at Key West

was everything we had hoped for and more

We were sad to leave,

but we know for certain that

we will be back.

***

Now let's just pray that candle
 Timmy lit in the St. Louis Cathedral 
back in New Orleans
 is still lit...

 *


  Good Bye Key West

Until we meet again.

   

***

On to the 
Eastern Seaboard


***