Our Time Volunteering at Acadia N.P.

Our Cruise aboard the"Margaret Todd" Schooner

  

The Gilly and Stanton family cemetary on Baker Island

        Baker Island Lighthouse

Making our Way to Hunting Island, S C

While in San Antonio, grandson, Brandon earned his yellow belt with Tai Kwan Do which he is getting very skilled at. (see photo below) We left San Antonio on March 18th heading east to begin our volunteer position at the lighthouse at Hunting Island State Park.  We had four weeks working as lighthouse docents, collecting fees, sharing the history of the lighthouse, and assisting visitors with the climb. We left on April 27, heading to Fair Play, SC for a two week visit at the first of our Thousand Trails parks. Next stop was visit to another of our Thousand Trails parks in Advance, NC. While there we visited the Childress Winery to have a little liquid refreshments and a fine bistro meal. 

Hunting Island Lighthouse

Brandon's Tai Kwan Do class     

Childress Winery in Advance, NCA

Our Stay in San Antonio - December 2012 - April 2013

We left Hunting Island on Dec 14th, traveling the southern route on I-10 to arrive in San Antonio on Dec 18th. Mark, our son, flew in to spend the holidays with family. This year was both emotional and sad as our son-in-law was now on dialysis and not fairing well. We got through the Christmas week trying to make it joyful for grandson, Brandon, who always enjoys family visits. Mark assembled a used computer for Brandon and we provided a few new games for his X-Box 360 from last year's Christmas in Florida. David was keeping his scheduled appointments for dialysis and taking Brandon to his TKD classes as best he could. We all enjoyed a nice Italian meal at Zio's Restaurant and said goodbye to Mark as he returned home to Boston. David was scheduled for dialysis the afternoon of New Year's Day and needed resting that evening so Jenn and Brandon spent the evening with us in the motor home ringing in the New Year. Unfortunately David passed away at home later that evening. Mark flew back to San Antonio and sister, Gay and brother-in-law Paul Ingram drove down from Big Sandy, Texas for the service. It was attended by many, many of David's friends and co-workers at American Airlines. He was very much respected as a boss and co-worker.We stayed on in San Antonio until mid-March to help Jenn with the service and all the details that needed attending to. It was a difficult time but with prayers and help from friends and neighbors we all got through the first few months. One very nice part of staying on longer was spending some time with grandson, Brandon and our daughter which is very rare when we're constantly traveling.

Brandon learns to ride his new bike!

One March 18th, we said our goodbyes and we were off to Hunting Island State Park for a short four week volunteer job at the lighthouse.

Winter in the south.....

After spending summer in New England, we  headed south at a snail's pace in order to arrive at Hunting Island State Park for October 10th. We're once again camp-hosting at the state park for two months and hoping for a lighthouse keeper's position in the spring. This is a very busy time of the year with holidays each month. Lots to see and do! The park is centrally located between Charleston to the north and Savannah to the south. Immediately following our "stint" we'll be heading to San Antonio, Texas for the Christmas holidays with family. 

A Week in Bar Harbor, Maine

Maine has over 60 lighthouses but we've found out most are private and not open for visitation or climbing. Bass Harbor Lighthouse (left) is located in Southwest Harbor in Acadia N.P.
On our return trip home we'll visit Burnt Island Lighthouse which is located on an island
approachable only by ferry.  You can climb the lighthouse, visit the museum, and talk to
the "family" living on the island that portrays life in the early twentieth century.

Our days are filled with biking the carriage roads, (around Jordan Pond and Eagle Lake) hiking along the cliff trails, and locating out-of-the-way geo-caches. We found one at Thompson Island where a wedding was taking place. Another at Indian Point Conservancy. (a 3.8 mile round trip hike through a heavy forest, ending at a beautiful bay where seals hangout.)  Our goal is to drop off two travel bugs where they'll be safe and able to move on.  

July 20, 2012...On Golden Pond We enjoyed watching the afternoon production of "On Golden Pond" at the Pittman's Freight Room Theatre in Laconia, New Hampshire. The author of the book, Ernest Thompson, who portrayed the mailman, Charlie in the play, directed it and is the winner of an Oscar, a  Golden Globe, and a Writer's Guild Award.  The movie was filmed at Squam Lake in Holderness, N.H. We thoroughly enjoyed the play and the acting was very professional and believable.

Hiking off the Kankamagus Highway!

July 18, 20112...While hiking the Lincoln Woods Trail to Franconia Falls off the Kankamagas Highway in New Hampshire, we met up with Roberta (Trapper) May and her dog, Riffle. She's from Alaska and is hiking the Appalachian Trail from Maine to Georgia. She and her husband run a gold mine in Fairbanks. 

2012 - Summer in New England

We're spending the summer in our native territory. (Connecticut,Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine) We've been away too long. But, to no avail, it's familiarity comes right back and surrounds me with nostalgia. I miss you New England. Everything from the shoreline--to--the mountains of New Hampshire. This
month, June, we're staying at Newfound Lake in Bridgewater, N.H. A beautiful lake with pristine surroundings.
We've already hiked to Welton Falls and up to Inspiration Point in Bristol. We soaked our feet in the cold spring 
waters of Sculpted Rocks and floated our tubes on the lake at Wellington State Park. Summer is just beginning......... 

April 2009 - On The Road Again!

Things are looking up. Don's condition has stabilized with medicatiion and physical therapy. We spent a very nice Easter with David, Jen, and Brandon. (this was Brandon's first Easter egg hunt)
We were on our way to Florida on April 13th with a week's stay at 1000 Trails-Tawakoni near Dallas in order to visit with Paul and Gay in Big Sandy, Texas and arrived at Mt. Olive Shores North in Polk City, Florida on April 24th to spend three nights with Don's brother, Ray. They took us to the famous Parksdale Farm where we posed as
as king and queen and enjoyed a strawberry milk shake. We arrived
at 1000 Trails-Orlando on April 27th for a month's stay.