Visiting Anne-Marie’s Grand Patron, pleasant memories 2012

 

We had a great time visiting with Don & Phyllis Brushaber while in the Orlando area.  It was our good fortune in this trip through the looking glass to draw them as neighbors for 7 days.

Our next stop brought us to a very nice park in Haines, Florida, Central Park could well become a spot to spend some long term time at.  It is quite large, has very friendly group of SnowBirds and is close to all required amenities.  During the evening, I often plant myself in front of the rig, read my book and dispense cookies to the local dogs that are walking their people.

We found George and Ruth Reed in great health and spirits, active in Church, Lodge and O.E.S. Chapter.   For the uninformed, George was Anne-Marie’s Grand Patron as she went up the Grand Officer line in Connecticut during the mid 90’s.  They report that their children and Grand Children are also thriving.

George and I went to his Lodge on Monday evening, Travelers Lodge #390 located in Lake Alfred, Florida.  We had wonderful pre meeting dinner.  They meet on the 1st Saturday at 9:00, preceded by a breakfast, on the 3rd Monday they meet at 7:30, proceeded by a dinner.  The name ‘Travelers’ implies correctly that most of their members are transplants. a very diverse group indeed.

 

I was greeted on the level and presented The Master with the last of my 2012 Grand Lodge pins from M.W.B. Gary Arseneau.  He in turn gifted me with a penny stuck with a S&C on one side and a Cane symbol on the other.  This gave me great pleasure as my Father gave me a 14k Cane when I was raised.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

W:. M:. William B. Stonecipher pictured above as we swap tokens of Brotherhood.  The Brother on the right is W:.B:. Jonathan P. Robinson hailing from Washington Lodge #4346 in the U.G.L.E..  He presented me with a pin depicting the flags of our 2 countries united.  There being no animosities with regards to our rebellion, he gave me the information that our founding father was named after the district that his Lodge is named for.

We are relocating today to Venice, Florida where will spend Thanksgiving with the Maier clan, brings back memories of the 70’s!

From the Cutting Room Floor 2012

OK, you caught me, I’m busted.  I do not have a ‘Cutting Room’.   Anne-Marie did find a bunch of picture on an SD card that was hiding under the seat of my truck.

In no particular order here they are.

Lots of well meaning fols will insist the George Washington Bridge is all but impassable.  I disagree we try to never cross at mid day of midnight.  Note the speed indicated on my G.P.S.

 

 

 

While visiting Gettysburg, we stopped to pay homage at the Memorial Stone dedicated to Arnold’s Battery.

 

The revision done to this park has brought a great deal of dignity back that was lost in the 60’s when we last visited.

 

 

 

You’ve got tp feel a little sorry for the Shriner with injured arm who shows up to find the Beer Booth is closed on the Sedalia Fair Ground.

The Lincoln Museum in Springfield {Illinois, not Mass.}  is not to be missed.

This made me a bit nuts,  The tornado proof room has a security lock!

This rather impressive monument on the wonderful Savanna waterfront is dedicated to all of our heroic war dead.  It symbolizes that our world came close to being split several time in the last century.

Relaxing to watch the river boats too.

 

 

For my Hot Rod Buddies, This is an original nonrestored Dave Strickler driven Chevy 409 Super Stock Car.  This car has had a roll bar installed so it meets current safey requirements to run in nostalgia events.  A major note, the car has 100% of it’s original interior and trim.  These cars were the terrors of the 1/4 mile drag strips, ‘Back in the Day’.  Made famous in song by our Beach Boys in My 409.

75° in Orlando, all is good 2012

 

Time to catch up with some events.  We have moved to a ‘Thousand Trails Preserve’ also in Orlando.  We just joined this system, this park is well organized and HUGE.

The site are close together but larger than some parks.  It is not uncommon to get a site that is so small that the truck doesn’t fit.

Moving on with our life means that we have the opportunity to meet new folks at the risk of leaving friends we have made behind. 

 

Such is the case with Don & Phyllis Brushaber who were are neighbors in Kissimmee.  Great couple, they are 3/4 full timers, originally from Wisconsin, now owning a stick & Brick home in Alabama that they visit 3 months a year.  I’m thinking the Alabama thing is effectively eroding this retired Master Electrician.  Note the security device being used on their bikes.

 

We taught them the fine art of playing Pegs & Jokers while I emptied his bottle of Ancient Age.  BTW, Phyllis taught me the wonderfulness of Blue Moon over ice cubes, is is very refreshing with a slice of native orange which our New England friends can just dream about.

We went to the Golden Corral for lunch, not one of my favorite places.  The food is good for a buffet, there is just too much for us leading me to overeat.

My opinion of the company changed when there appeared a line of 100+ folks ate 3:30.  At 4:00 they were let in to feast.  It was Veteran's Day and Vets ate FREE.

Orlando & Epcot 2012

OK, we are actually in Kissimmee at Sherwood Forest Resort.  This one of our Coast to Coast membership parks not that it helps too much as our cost is $37 day as compared to a rack rate of about $50.  State and local taxes and about 11% to that.  Well, at least our fuel is $3.81 here as compared to $4.25 in New England.

Mid 70’s is nice during the afternoon.  High 30’s require heat at night which is no problem when we have hook-ups.  Last week in Daytona, I put 5 Gallons of gas thru the genny keeping our batteries charged.  Next week we will purchase 2 T-150 batteries (Think Golf Cart) which will double our capacity.

Hoping Santa will bring us 2000 watts of solar which will help in Arizona and Mexico trip.

St. Cloud Lodge #221 Visit

I was most cordially received as a visitor at St. Cloud Lodge #221 on on Thursday evening.  This Lodge draws much attention to it self thru its web site and excellent web site.  The Grand Lodge’s web site is the best I have used, being searchable by Lodge Numbers, Location or Zip Codes.  This allows a visitor to find if there is a Lodge in an adjacent town.

The meetings at St. Cloud Lodge #221 are always proceeded by a dinner which is covered by an offering.  These dinners are most valuable as they are a primary source of Fellowship.  During the meeting I was introduced.  I presented the Worshipful Master with one of M.W.B. Gary Arsenault’s pins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Thursday we visited Epcot.  This has always been an enjoyable day for us.  We walked from 10:00 to 8:45.  You can plan on a cost of $140 per adult if you eat lunch and have a beer.

Got to admire the folks (not youngsters) who work the cranberry bog as sponsored by Ocean Spray.

 

 

Anne-Marie and I visited in October 2002.  While we were there we purchased a placard to be placed in their ‘Legands Garden’.  The photo’s were etched onto large Stainless Steel plates and attached to granite slabs.  We were happy to locate ours.

 

Anne-Marie is shown pointing to the etchings.  The panel next to the etching says, ‘All we ask of you is to remember us as loving you.’

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can tell by our picture we were both very tired and somewhat out of sorts after trying to behave like kids for 8 hours.

Good Sam Rally at Daytona Speedway 2012

We arrive at the Daytona Speedway for thee Good Sam Rally on Nov. 1st.

Last summer while in St Louis, it appeared that this rally was in serious trouble with very low reservations.  The C.E.O. of Good Sam dropped the price to $49 for dry camping.  We have no problem with dry camping if we do not need A/C so we jumped at it.  The Rally absolute blew out, there were about 3,000 rigs there.  I guestimate that 1,000 were parked outside the gates.We were parked trackside in the 3rd corner. 

Picture is our early morning view.  Folks were allowed to run/walk or bike the track. Due to the banking you cannot get up onto the track.  I chose to drink coffee.

Some of us chose to relax, we are very good at this!

 

On Friday evening Kenney Rogers was in Concert, did all the good old stuff which was appreciated buy the huge crowd.  Concert was outside so a light windbreaker was in order.

Reba McEntire took to the stage on Saturday evening to the crowds enjoyment.  While it was enjoyed by most, I do wonder how the the Simon & Garfunkel tribute music of Aztec Two Step would be received.

How cool is a ‘53 Oldsmobile Convertible pulling an Airsteam?  The car had been repowered and the entire rig was gorgeous.  There were several of the retro-rigs present.

We’re off to Orlando for a visit to ‘The Mouse House’

Fort Monroe at Hampton Virginia, a great Brown Sign!

When we were young and frugal by necessity, our vacations usually included a heavy dose to visiting National Parks where there was good cheap entertainment.  Our girls coined these, ‘Brown Sign Vacations’.

Well, we are no longer young but we do enjoy Brown Signs.  We found a great one at The Casement Museum at Fort Henry in Hampton, Virginia.  This is a photo of the lighthouse that stands outside the walls of the fort.  The fort was first built in 1609 and was decommissioned as a fortification in the 1970’s.

Notice in the view below that the fort is surrounded by a moat.    The green area in the center is the parade ground.  This is surrounded by administrative building and soldier housing.  Since decommissioning these have been converted to private housing in the form of condos, apartments and private homes.  Upscale and very well done.

The walls are 18’ thick having a flat grassy top with is about 12’ wide. We walked the perimeter which was 2 miles and was full of serendipity as shown by the lighthouse.

I took this photo from the top of the wall.  The house is inside the walls.

Our moment of serendipity came when we came upon these Memorial Stones dedicated to the resident pets.  There were perhaps hundreds ranging from polished granite to crude chiseled stones.

Forte Monroe’s most famous resident may have been Jeff Davis.  After the Civil War, Jeff was incarcerated here for 3 years while the Union Officials determined his fate.  Pictured is his cell, where he spent most of his time.  He was shackled at one time and resisted despite his age and poor health.  This was followed by outrage, his shackles released and he and his wife given quarters in the compound.

The Museum is within the walls of the forte.  Those walls are supported by internal arches which are 5’ 6” high.  Ask me how I know, I’ll show you the bump on me head!

 

Sandy is coming up the coast, we are going to evacuate to Dilion, SC and honker down for 3 days.  This will put us about 75 miles inland in a relatively safe location.