Welcome to my blog
Don’t expect a report every day, nor should you expect professional writing skills. I am no journalist.
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Please leave a comment in our guest book, we would love to 'hear' from you.
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Click here for our 2009 Blog
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***Most of the pictures are ‘clickable’ and some are not, and look for some links within the text.***
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July 24th 2010

Dennis and family are for the weekend and we are having a great time. We went to Knoebels and are just relaxing most of the weekend. The heat is unbearable and that kind of put a damper on things.
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July 21st 2010

We had a pretty bad thunderstorm with and all that rain water didn’t know where to go. The kids at the campground had a blast running in the puddles. This was the Christmas in July weekend and we were not in a Christmas mood, so we visited the Yuengling Brewery. I always wanted to go there and this was a good day to do so. We had an awesome time and we found the plant, as well as the history of it very interesting

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July 12th 2010
We’ve been pretty busy with ‘stuff’ and when we are not, we are just chillaxing in front of our camper - we love the peace and quiet during the week. Well, not today, ‘cuz it was raining this afternoon. I realize that we need the rain, but I really can’t stand rain. Especially not since we have Kia. LOL
Instead of cooking, we went and picked up subs from Subway. Yummy! Got to go early to bed....nighty-night! Got to get up REAL early tomorrow morning for a 6:45AM appointment at Geisingers. It never ends..........oh those Golden Years.......
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July 10th 2010
We went to the Surplus Outlet, and........I am starting to like the place because I think that they shaped up their act and are a lot cleaner than last year. We got some great sausage that tasted better than the Johnson Brats, Cooper cheese, a water melon for $2 and tomatoes on the vine for 99¢ a pound. The best part in the store was that we met our friends Deb and Pud there. Of course they had their beautiful little grandson Aiden with them.

Back at the campground, we admired Jeff's new 'golf cart'......is it really a golf card or a golf limo? In any case.......it is an awesome vehicle and very sharp looking. At night we watched the fire works, they were real nice. Surprisingly, Kia stayed calm. I guess she is OK when it comes to fireworks so far. I know she hates loud music and gets nervous when she is around a crowd.

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July 4th 2010

We had a great Independence Day celebration. The whole family went to church to watch the kids perform in a play that they learned at Vacation Bible School. It was very nice and afterwards we joined the church's annual picnic. The rest of the day we spent over Tammy and Dan's. It was over 100 F and the pool felt great. The kids surprised me with a 'belated' birthday cake from DQ......yum, and I got great presents that I LOVE!
Dan BBQd later and we had corn on the cob, baked beans, pasta salad, broccoli salad, chicken kabobs, hamburgers, and ribs. For dessert, there were cupcakes, Rice Krispies treats and water melon.
As soon as started to get dark, we took our chairs and walked to the beach to watch the fireworks, which was a great display and a pretty ending for a wonderful day.
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July 2nd 2010

We were over Dennis and Chrissy's to baby-sit Luke and Elisabeth yesterday. It is amazing how nice those two play together. We had a great time. Elisabeth and I went through all her books and she explained them all to me. She is only 2 1/2 years old and counts to 15. She knew all the animals, colors, etc. Luke had the greatest time with his pirate ship. He can play with it for hours. We had a good time.
Today Peter was invited to go fishing with Dennis, Don and Don's father-in-law. They had a real great time and caught about 70 fish out of which only 4 were keepers. 1 nice fluke and the other three were sea bass. Dennis filet them right away and we all had a feast. Nice day for the guys!
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June 30th 2010

We went to the city to see the show 'The Lion King'. It was fabulous! The costumes were amazing, the stage was full of life, and the music and acting were great. Anna and Ave enjoyed it and so did Tammy an I.
We had lunch at Sofia's which was not bad. The price was reasonable and the food wasn't bad either. We ordered a seafood pasta. I forget the name. It was with a light red sauce, crab meat, little scallops, and shrimps. It was good. Not 'fine dining' good, but we enjoyed the food.
Didn't like that my daughter had to wait 5 minutes longer for the same dish that I had. Anna loved her chicken and vegetable dish and Ava finished her whole plate of spaghetti. The offered half price pasta for kids. We stuck with our water and didn't order any beverages, but the waiter brought two Shirley Temples for the kids, free of charge and he topped their meal off with two scoops of ice cream. No charge either. The total bill came to $45 and I thought that is was VERY reasonable for NYC.
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June 28th 2010

Another nice weekend has passed. We spent most of the time at our site just chatting with friends and enjoying the summer. Candice started a fire on her and Jeff's site. Why do I mention this? Because we believe the never had a fire yet.....well, that is what I was told anyway, and that is why Peter took a pictured of Candice collecting wood. Jeff showed up with his newly painted great looking truck. It was red before, but it looks so much nicer in black.
At night we had a fire too and nice company. The campground had a 'Glow in the Dark' parade and it looked like the kids had a blast.
Talking about company, Marie and Steve have their grandkids and their parents over. The boys are very cute. Too bad I didn't meet Marie's daughter.
That's all folks...you probably won't read anything here until after the fourth.
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June 24th 2010

Happy Summer!
All I can say it's a darn good summer so far. After last year's disappointment, I am enjoying this heat and I wished that it would stay like this for the rest of the season. We had a few good days. I think I perfected my Margarita skills and declared it my favorite drink of this season.
Judy and Paul had their granddaughter Aspen with her girlfriend Kelly here for the weekend. The girls had a good time. We locked them up in the dog pen. Isn't that what you do with kids? LOL
The best part of this week was that our Anna made the honor roll once again. We are so proud!!! As soon as I have the pictures of that event, I will post them on our 'grandchildren' page. I will let you all know when.
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June 19th 2010


We had a great couple of days. Thursday we went to Ric-Mar for dinner and once again, it was delicious. After dinner we went to Henry and Leslie's site to drink Leslies famous Vodka Espresso. Hmmmm....very good! I took a few pictures of the sunset and Henry couldn't wait to be in one of the pictures. LOL
Friday night at the Tiki Bar, but not for long, because we were exhausted and just wanted to relax at the campsite.
Today is Saturday and 90 degrees. I went with Paul on his wave runner today and we tipped over.  I never laughed so much in my life.  Too bad no-one took a picture.  It happened in the middle of the river, right in front of the campground.  We turned the thing back, went on it again and drove back to the campsite. Since I was wet already, I went in the pool for a while.  We had a great day and it ended with friends relaxing at our campsite.

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June 16th 2010

I can't believe that it's been almost two weeks since I have posted last. I guess we are having too much fun. LOL We do have a good time, but it's mostly just relaxing and shopping. Kohl's had some great sales and we got a few good deals. Shopped with my $40 gift card at Giant, which I won at Bunco. Good deal...got a few steaks, pork loins and other groceries.
Some sad news....Charlene and Mike left Pennsylvania to move back to California. We are all pretty sad about it, but yet, happy for Charlene, because she was very homesick and now she is back with her children.
Our Ava graduated from her pre-school and she is ready for kindergarden. Our grandchildren are getting big. I just found out that out little Elisabeth sleeps in a big bed now. Yup, time goes by too fast.
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My Birthday - June 3rd 2010

It was quiet. The funny part is, the older I get, the less I care about my own Birthday. I did miss my kids, it was weird, but I still had a nice day. Peter offered to take me out for breakfast and I decided that I'd rather have it at home. I made scrambled eggs and toast. It was good enough. Later in the morning I wanted to just drive through the area and discover areas we haven't seen yet. Kia of course went with us, because she loves riding the car. It is unbelievable what a good little traveling dog she is. She is so f&^%$*& adorable (inside joke)! As long as we take her along, she is happy. After we got back, we freshened up and then we went out to eat at the Ric-Mar restaurant. I can't believe we didn't know about this place earlier! Thanks, Leslie! Good home style food for a great price and the portions....oh my....

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Memorial Day weekend - 2010
The weekend could not have been any nicer. It was hot and sunny. Just the way I like it. At one point it got so hot, that even we broke down and turned on the air conditioner. It takes a long time for me to decide whether or not I should turn it on, but even I draw the line somewhere and the line was 92 degrees in the camper. There were two bands. Saturday the Jazz Me band played everything from Sinatra to Santana. Jazz, Blues, Motown and more…

Sunday night is was Deuce who entertained us all. Great band with a nice variety of songs. People were dancing and I think that most had a good time.

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May 26, 2010

We had a wonderful day on the Barnegat Bay. The weather was super and what can be better than spending time with your kids and grandkids?
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May 22, 2010

We celebrated Luke's 4th Birthday today. What a great time the kids, as well as the adults had. We all first went to BounceU in Lakewood. I highly recommend it. Beside being tons of fun, the place was clean and well organized.
Peter and I went home afterwards to get Kia and off we went to Luke's house to continue the party. The kids had a lot of fun playing in the yard. Dennis and Chrissy served (as always) great food and Tammy's noodle salad was superb. After all the 'eating' it was time for Luke to open all his presents and I think he was a little overwhelmed. There were a lot of presents. Some clothes and some toys. He sure made out like a bandit.
Great day - great company!
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May 20, 2010

What a wonderful day today! The weather was perfect. Missed writing yesterday, so I am going to tell you first all about Judy and Paul's new coach...yup....I said COACH, like in motor home....like in Diesel pusher. Click on Coach for some pictures. It is an awesome RV and we wish the Hummels good luck and happy traveling.
Today, in this gorgeous sunshine, we took a ride to Debbie and Pud's house and had a delicious lunch and a good time. We miss them here at Fantasy Island, but are happy for them that they will enjoy their pool this summer and their new little grand baby Aiden.
Tonight we sat outside with Steve and Marie, Char and Mike, Judy and Paul, and Ben. Nice ending of a great day.
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May 16, 2010

The ice cream maker didn't work out, but I will try it one more time. I think that the freezer was not cold enough. Anyway, we had (still have, as I write this) a good weekend. The one man entertainer was actually very good and it seemed like everyone that was there enjoyed listening to him.
David Jacob's family and friends shared his feast with us and it was wonderful. Thank you so much, Dave. Peter and I enjoyed it very much.

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May 12, 2010


If I wouldn't take pictures, nobody would probably believe that peter catches fish. Three today. Again, can't eat any of them. :-( Went shopping to Aldi today and bought an ice cream maker. (Watch my hips grow!)
The property owner from across the street cut down another tree. It almost went into the power lines. It touched them when it went down. Oh well...those three items were the excitement of the day......sigh....
Oh no...I almost forget. Our daughter was interviewed on CNN today. The questions was: "What is the name of the new Prime Minister of Great Britain?"
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May 10, 2010

Some of the readers here might think.....'oh boy, they must be bored, nothing is going on!' We are not bored, just relaxing. It was gorgeous weather when we first got here, but right now it is very cold. It is a couple of days early for the three Saints' Days, which are from May 12th to the 14th. After those days it should get a little warmer - one can only hope.
Yesterday was Mother's Day. The kids sent cards with gift certificates for my favorite store....THANKS!! Peter took me out for breakfast and dinner and we just chilled the whole day. Too cold to do anything outside so we watched movies the whole day.
Peter went fishing today and YES, he caught two fish. I took a picture of the first one. The second one was larger. Of course he threw them back in. By law you can't keep them right now. Between April 17 and June 11 is catch and immediate release only.
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May 4, 2010

We had a great day and the storm didn't ruin it! Judy, a long time friend, came to visit is here at the campground and stayed the night. We went a little sightseeing and of course we drove up the the Shikellamy State Park Overlook and Adam T. Bower Memorial Dam. The pictures from the dam are from last year. We went to the Garden Terrace for lunch and for dinner I made ham stroganoff with noodles. Great time...good company. Thanks for coming, Judy.
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May 1, 2010
Wow....we are back on the island! What a great feeling to be welcomed by so many friends! After we arrived yesterday, I straightened the inside and Peter did the outside and now we are pretty much set. The ride to Sunbury went smooth, except after we got here the car didn't start. We are towing a Ford Fusion and had a few problems with the installation at Camping Word.  The problems were fixed and yesterday we drove here and wanted to start the car and the battery was dead as a door nail.  We didn't not know that there was no hook-up or feeding wire that recharges the battery from the RV to the car.  So I called them (Camping World) and they gave be this big speech that we should have stopped every two hours and let the car run for 5 minutes.  I never heard about this. All I knew was that we have to let the car run after 5-6 hours of towing so that the transmission gets oiled, because we are towing on four wheels.  Big argument between Peter and the service manager.  My husband hung up on him, because the service manager talked to us like we were idiots.  So now he going to look in to add a feeding wire or harness to charge the battery while driving. Hey, we have a camera and can see our car being pulled! Now that is cool!

Tonight was 'Meet 'n' Greet' potluck dinner. It was good to see everyone and the food was just great. There were hamburgers and hot dogs, salads, baked beans, macaroni and cheese, desserts.....you name it, it was there.
The highlight of the evening was a gift from Jerry and Michelle in memory of Tim Ritzman. It was a wonderful surprise.

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April 24, 2010


Haven't added anything in a few days, because nothing major was going on. Peter had a real bad cold, he got over it and yeah....guess who's turn it is now....I guess I'll get over it, but it really stinks, because we are getting ready for the camping season and it is no fun when you don't feel good.
We had a nice evening at the Ocean County Library last Wednesday. Anna's class had a beautiful art display, which was all about colors and kaleidoscopes. They also sang a pretty song and once the presentation was over, there was a reception for everyone. Well done, Anna!
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April 19, 2010

Tammy and I went to A.C. last night for our annual 'Happy Birthday, Omi'.
Omi is my mother and she passed away 2002, the same year my dad died. Anyway, on April 11 was her birthday and we started the tradition to celebrate her birthday every year in Atlantic City. My mom was a gambler and we do this to celebrate her life. Chrissy, Tammy and I are usually going, but this year our Chrissy wasn't able to come....hopefully she'll be with us next year again.
We browsed the outlets first, then we ate at Longhorns and, last but not least, we gambled a little. As usual, we didn't win.
BTW...the deer pictures on this link were shot the day after, right in our back yard.
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April 15, 2010

Wow, what a nice afternoon we had over Annegret's! Good food, good time and good company. Thanks Annegret!
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April 14, 2010
Ahhh.....the Fortune Buffett - our favorite Chinese restaurant. We arrived with 13 people and it took them about half an hour to get us tables, even though the place was really not as crowded as it always is. Anyway....Peter and I we both were very disappointed. Their food was not as top-notch as usual. The string beans were wilted on the ends and the king crab legs were mushy. I sure hope it is not an indication that they now get greedy and are starting to get sloppy, as all the other buffets in this area who started out with excellent food and then, after they established a good reputation, they slagged off. For pictures of us at the restaurant, click on the April 12th picture. I just added them there.
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April 12, 2010

We went to Tammy and Dan's today for a visit. My cousin's daughter Silvi and her cute little daughter Lea are staying for a few days to visit. We had a wonderful time and it was great to see them again, especially little Lea, since I only saw her pictures and never met her in person before. She is a little sweetheart and Anna, Ava, Luke and Elisabeth had a good time with their little cousin from Germany. The language barrier was not a problem.
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April 10, 2010
Calling all soccer fans!
Soccer season began and both Anna and Ava are playing again.
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April 9, 2010

What a gorgeous week we had! 85 degrees, sunshine...it couldn't have been any better. Unfortunately all good things come to an end and today it is raining and much cooler. We took advantage of the nice weather though. Peter added solar panels to the camper and I was sitting outside a lot. Kia was out there as well, right next to me in her pen. So far the pen works out pretty good and it'll will sure make my life easier when we are at the campground sitting outside. Ava wanted to come over to visit yesterday and needless to say that the only reason she wanted to come over is Kia. She had a good time though and after she left Kia flopped on the couch next to me and never moved for the rest of the evening.
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April 5, 2010

Easter was great. Everyone was here and we enjoyed the kids as well as the grandkids a lot. Dinner and dessert was great and everyone left stuffed....at least I hope they did. I set the table in the sun room and it worked out wonderful. So much more comfortable than in the dining room.
We did have some bad news on Easter Sunday morning. Rolf Resenhoeft, a good friend of ours, died in a horrible car accident. His wife Sandy survived, but she is in pretty bad shape. The prognosis is hopeful though.
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April 1, 2010
Busy, busy...there is something going on every single day and the next person that says: "How come you are so busy? You are retired" gets a fist in his face. I want you all to know for retired people, there are just not enough hours in the day to do all the things that you want to get done.
Anyway, I did manage to take a few pictures. Just click on the tulips.
In case I don't write anymore before Easter, have a very Happy Easter, everyone!

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March 22, 2010
Busy, busy....we unpacked most of the stuff from the RV, not done yet, though. Still didn't start to wash all the dirty laundry and the new one is piling up already. Ran errands, doctors office, bought a new car, saw the kids, went shopping, got papers ready for the accountant, went to the bank....I need a vacation!!
For anyone that wants to know, we bought a 2010 Ford Fusion SEL. OMG...I absolutely love the car! It has ALL the luxuries that my Chrysler 300C had and then some. It even has an HD on which I can upload my songs from my iPod. Now that is the coolest feature.

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March 20, 2010
We are home...I will report and post later.....give me a few days....
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March 18, 2010
We spent a few nice days with Paul and Judy, shopping, eating, relaxing, and just good company and conversation. During the night with stayed at the Morrow Mountain State Park. We were first trying to find a commercial campground, but they only had two in the area and both were not acceptable. When we ended up in the park, we were happy that we did. I didn't take a lot of pictures, but below are a few from the boys and Kia, as well as our view from the camper window.

Paul giving out treats

The puppies stayed in the garage when we went shopping

Deer all over and they weren't shy
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March 14, 2010
We are in Marion, Mississippi for the night. Campground is decent and we have cable and WiFi. I unloaded some random pictures from my memory cards and since have nothing interesting to report, I figured I share the pictures here.

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March 10, 2010
Here are the rest of the Tombstone pictures:

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March 9, 2010

We finally left the dealer and hopefully every problem is taken care off. We drove to Tombstone, AZ. We are staying at the Stampede RV Park. The park is in walking distance to everything, which makes it very convenient. We got there around 3:30 pm and went to town. I took a handful of pictures with my small camera. When we go back tomorrow, I will take the SLR and shoot a few better ones. So please come back soon to see the rest of the Tombstone pictures.
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March 7, 2010

We had a nice time with our neighbors yesterday night. It seemed like we knew each other for ever already and that is what made it even nicer. Today we went back to Yuma. There are a few things wrong with the RV and we need them to be fixed before we go home. We only have a 30 day warranty and this way we make sure it is taken care of. It was raining the whole day and as we got to Yuma, it started hailing. The Skye was totally black and there also was thunder and lightening. Very scary and poor Kia didn't know what was happening and got somewhat nervous. On Highway 95, the route from Quartzsite to Yuma are quite a few warning signs that you should not drive through certain parts of the road when it is flooded. These areas are called called a wash, a dry creek bed or gulch that temporarily fills with water after a heavy rain. They are very dangerous and many people died getting flushed away in those. We went through a few of them today and were lucky that they weren't deep. Government trucks where there to guide you over and to make sure it is safe.
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March 5, 2010

Lots of things happened since I posted last. We traded in our 5th wheel and bought a 2006 Fleetwood Bounder 35E. Peter and I are both excited and we were able to pick it up yesterday. On the way from Quartzsite to Yuma, where the dealer is located, I noticed how green the desert turned from all the rain we had here. It actually looked very beautiful, as you can see by the pictures.
Today we are back at the campground and almost done with re-arranging and loading. This RV has no doubt less storage than our 5th wheel and it required a little more organization. I will take inside pictures as soon as we are done inside.
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February 27, 2010

After a VERY lazy morning we ventured out to find the 'Reader's Oasis Books' store that everyone talks about. I was told that the owner wears no clothes, except a thong and it is true. Unfortunately, the day we visited him, he had to wear a jacket. It was pretty cold and I can't even blame him. (I think it actually was a good thing, because he is old and wrinkly.) If you click on the above link, you can see him in his birthday suit. I, the one that takes pictures of practically everything, couldn't really catch him, he was talking to customers and I didn't want to interrupt to take a picture. So you just have to look at the pictures that come with the page in the link. We also visited the 'Last Camp of Hi Jolly' while downtown, just a few minutes though. It started raining.
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February 25, 2010

We took a 125 mile ride to Oatman, AZ today and it was excellent. Just alone the scenic drive getting there on Rt. 66 was wonderful. Once we arrived in the town of Oatman, we were greeted by the local wild burros. It sure was a sight to see. Kia liked the donkeys too. We were told to be care full, because the burros might think that a little dog like this may be a coyote. Most of the time we carried her, just to be cautious. Oh that reminds we, when we drove home last night in the dark from the camper place, we saw a coyote crossing the road. It was the first time I ever saw one, except on TV of course. The baby burros in town were still nursing and they shouldn't be fed. A sticker on their forehead indicated that. The town was full of tourist and it was fun to stroll through. I found a nice little purse in one of the shops and I had an ice creme in a waffle cone, which was truly delicious.
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February 24, 2010

What a day! We bought a new camper and we are pretty excited about it and that is really all I have to say for now. Go and take a look at the pictures, but they are not my usual quality. They were taken during the sale transaction and I didn't pay attention to what I was doing.
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February 22, 2010
Waking up to rain is not exactly what I wished for, but we'll just relax today and wait for the sun to come out. Stay tuned......
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February 21, 2010
Our time in El Centro was over today. We left and drove (2 hrs.) to Quartzsite, AZ where we found a pretty nice campground. Very reasonable! We paid $150 + tax for one week, which includes WiFi, Cable, Spa, Car Self Wash, Electric, and .....friendly people. Not bad at all.
We did like the campground in El Centro. However, what we didn't like was the pile of junk that we had to look at every day when we stepped out of our camper. Some campers, including myself, did complain in the office during our stay but nothing was done about it. Management was not very friendly, but two ladies that worked there, were. One other lady that worked there, needs to learn how to smile, because that would make good customer service.

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February 17, 2010

78 degrees and loving it! We went to Celexico today. We didn't go over the border because of Kia, but that is OK, once you are in Celexico, you think you ARE in Mexico. We went to a flea market and there and it was interesting to say the least. After that we explored the area a little, went for Diesel at $2.69 (yeah) and then back to the camper to relax and enjoy the sun. After supper we went to the whirlpool and a dip in the pool.

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February 16, 2010
Our neighbors Vicki and Dave moved on and Ron, Dee, Peter and I were seeing them off. Sad to see them leave. We had a good time.

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February 14, 2010 - San Diego

We drove to San Diego today. On the way we stopped at the Desert Tower. San Diego was beautiful and we really enjoyed the day there. Kia was walking with us like a trooper. When we first got there, I really wanted to see the San Diego Gas Lamp Quarter. It was not a good idea though, because there are a lot of little stores and other indoor places to see and it would have been a little difficult with Kia. We decided to drive to the waterfront, and I was glad we did. It was OK to walk there to walk a dog. Lot of ships, people, and so many things to see. Sadly, there were a lot of homeless people and beggars. When visiting San Diego, CA, everybody should check out the Greatest Generation Walk located in Seaport Village in Downtown San Diego. It was really very nice and the sculptures are very interesting. Especially "That Immortal Kiss". If you look close at one of my pictures, you will see a couple that just got engaged, while we were there and witnessed their special day. Nice touch for Valentine's Day. Another nice sculpture/s was 'A Tribute to Bob Hope." We then went on to "Cabrillo National Monument". What a sight to see! The view of San Diego Bay was breathtaking. Unfortunately we were not allowed to let Kia walk in the park. We did put her into her carrier and rolled her all over, but it wasn't as easy as just walking her on the leash and she just was not herself. We met up there with Vicki and Dave, but because of Kia, we left earlier. It was a great day.
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February 13, 2010

Today was Anna's 10th Birthday. I missed her a lot today, but we talked on the phone a couple of times and pretty soon we are home and I can give her lots of hugs and kisses.
I went to the campground manager today to ask if we could extend our stay for one week. It was like pulling teeth and they offered us another site somewhere else. They said our site is taken after we leave. We didn't want another site. If we have to hook up anyway, we might as well move on. Our last day here is on the 21st. It is a shame, because our neighbor asked twice for another week on his campsite. They also told him it was taken, but then they gave it to him anyway and moved the new people somewhere else. I did notice that the camp manager caters more the Canadian people than the Americans. 80% of their clients are from Canada. Not that there is something wrong with it, but they should treat everyone equal.
We took a ride to Yuma, AZ today to see if we could find a campground that we like there. The ones we looked at were so cramped that we left Yuma and went on to Quartzsite. That is were we will go on the 21st. We inquired about a site in a few campgrounds and were told that we shouldn't worry about reservations, because there will be something open. Their busy time is in January. I think we will like Quartzsite. There are lots of things to do and see.
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February 12, 2010

We relaxed and just chilled at the campsite. I took a few pretty sunrise pictures and at night we had a yummy steak dinner.
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February 11, 2010 Joshua Tree National Park

When we first arrived at the park, we were a little disappointed. It appeared to be very 'plain' and after seeing other parks that were breathtaking as soon as you arrived, Joshua Tree National Park seemed very boring. However, we were so wrong. After driving about an hour into the park we saw many beautiful cactuses, boulders, Joshua Trees, and the Key's View which was the highlight. It is one of the most popular spots in the park, and once you see the view, you'll know why. Depending on the air quality, you can see as far as Mexico, though more likely you can see at least the Salton Sea. There's a very short path that leads to various overlooks and plaques describing the views you are taking in. Though the road to Keys View is a dead end, it's one of the spots you cannot miss on your trip to Joshua Tree.
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February 9, 2010

We went to San Diego today to help our neighbor's pick up their camper that they purchased. So far, Ron and Dee camped in a slide-in that fits on their truck camper. Being Canadian, they are not able to pull their new camper here in the states until they have some kind of temporary permit. Peter and I went with them to pull their new camper to the campground. The town we had to drive to is in the outskirts of San Diego. La Mesa was the name. We liked the ride to San Diego and planed on driving back for some more sight seeing. Most of the pictures that I took were during driving and I sure would love some more, especially when we drive direct to San Diego.
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February 6, 2010

This morning we had a new visitor (a duck) on our campsite and it seemed like she was not shy at all and even posed for pictures.
It was raining most of the day. After a pretty lazy morning we went to Wal-Mart for a few grocery items. We got back in pouring rain, unpacked quick and got together in Vicki's and Dave's motor home for a relaxing afternoon with snacks and drinks. Life is good.
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February 5, 2010

We spent the day today driving with our neighbors Vicky and Dave to the Slabs. (see January 16, to January 20)
On the way we stopped the car to see a cattle farm (if you can call it that) because I always meant to take pictures of the cattle that is located between Niland and Brawley. It is disgusting how the thousand of cattle a squashed together standing and laying there in filth and shit. Really, the stuff is more than knee high and the stench is unbearable. I really am surprised that the animal rights people aren't there to protest.
OK...it is my bitching day......even at the Slabs....I do like them and I find it more than interesting there. However, there is so much garbage laying around that people just dumped there. That is wrong and that is what I don't like about the Slabs! Another thing that bothered me today was the burning of the fields. Once the harvest is done, the farmers burn their fields. Sure, ashes do fertilize the grounds, but turning it over does the same thing. When the fields burn, pollution is sent into the air and doesn't California have enough smog and pollution already? On one side they have those strict laws about certain things and then they are polluting the air like there is no tomorrow. OK, I am done venting.
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February 4, 2010 Yuma, AR

We took a ride to Yuma today. We actually wanted to visit this huge flea market in Yuma and ended up at a totally different one the other end of town. The one we saw was small and disappointing. As always, we made the best of it and walked around a little. Afterwards we drove around town and explored the area. Kind of a little joy riding to see the sights. We were very close to the Mexican border and it was kind of weird to see fences and barb wires. I kind of got Deja Vu flashes of my life in East Germany way back. We also saw a lot of cabbage and lettuce fields, as well as orange and lemon groves. The ATVs were riding in the dunes and the border control was on the search for people that don't belong here.
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February 2, 2010

Every morning (usually around 6:30 a.m.) when I take Kia for a walk, I see those birds all hovered in a tree by Sunbeam Lake. Today I finally managed not to forget to take my camera with me. The birds are called 'Cattle Egrets' and it is pretty interesting to see them all sitting there on this single tree.
For the past four days, I had a little virus and we pretty much were hanging around the camper doing nothing, which actually is fine with me. I am enjoying sitting in the sun, browsing the net or chatting with the neighbors.
At night we went to see AVETAR. I have to say that this movie by far, is the best I have seen in a very long time. I am not a movie goer, usually I wait for the DVD to come out, but this time I am so happy that we went. Trust me when I tell you......the movie is AWESOME! If you haven't seen it yet, this movie is a 'must see' and if you don't listen to me, it's your own fault to miss out on such a great film.
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January 31, 2010
Just chilling at the campsite with the neighbors today and later Les, a friend that I knew from one of the Yahoo groups stopped by. He is staying at a campground on the Naval base. We had a nice time and one day while we are still here in El Centro, he will show us around on the base and we will be able to see the Blue Angels a little closer.
At night we went to the Golden Coral with our neighbors. Besides having a great meal dirt cheap, we had an excellent time with good company.

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January 30, 2010 - Holtville, CA

What a great day. The temperature was perfect with 70 degrees and the sun was doing what it was supposed to do. We got up early to attend the Annual Rib Cook-off in Holtville. On the way there we stopped by the Naval Airport because we thought that we can get a better shot of the Blue Angels. It was pretty much the same view that we had at the campground, but at least I got a nice shot of the gate. There were sheep herds all over in that area. After we had our Blue Angel fix, we went to the cook-off. It started at 10 a.m. and they weren't kidding when they said in the TV commercial: "You better come early, because when they are gone....they are gone!" We took Kia with us in her traveler. She liked it and there was no problem. We went with friends from the campground and after we had our ribs, we went to get some delicious lemonade and ice cream. We also took home some ribs and had them for dinner.
A quick dip in the hot tub and pool and the day was over.
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January 28, 2010

Kia got a hair cut today. It was not a nice experience. The ***woman (owner) had an attitude and I should have just walked out, but Kia was so filthy that I said the hell with her attitude and so I left her there. I wanted Kia's face and feet clipped as short as possible because we are camping and sometimes it's sandy and not always clean where she walks, and this woman said: "If you want your dog to look like a poodle, you should have bought a poodle." I answered that I didn't purchase Kia because I wanted a Shih Tzu, I got Kia because I fell in love with her. She did shut up after this and she did give her the cut that I wanted. Not without charging me $7 more, though. When we picked up Kia, she was in a cage and the cage was covered up with towels. When I questioned it, the woman said that Kia was too loud and she also mentioned that she was not easy to clip. Kia was not herself when we picked her up and I can't prove it, but I really think that she was a little doped up.
Anyway...live and learn. Petco would have probably the better choice.
Our campground is located right next to the Naval Air Facility in El Centro. That is where the Blue Angel are practice for their air shows. Every morning....7 a.m. (YES, I TYPED 7 AM) they are flying over our camper. Boy, it is loud!! Two people told me that this is the sound of freedom. I think, they should let the pilots sleep an hour longer! Anyhow, it is great to see them fly over your head. I will try to get better pictures. I was told they practice even more next week.
We had a nice cocktail hour at three o'clock and ended it with a relaxing evening alternating in the hot tub (109 degrees) and the pool (90 degrees). It was awesome.
***I won't call her 'lady'.
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January 26, 2010

We went to Wal-Mart, did a little shopping and rode trough the 'neighborhood'. I noticed that the Wal-Marts through-out the country adjust the merchandise to please their shoppers here in the area.
There are lot of things in Wal-Marts all over the country available that you can't get in our Wal-Mart in Toms River, yet everything our Wal-Mart has, is available here and everywhere as well.
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January 25, 2010
Right now we are enjoying some quiet time at Sunbeam Lake RV Resort
Stay tuned.
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January 23, 2010 Slab City USA - Talent Show

It was a gorgeous day. Sunny and warmer than in days. It felt good to walk in dry grounds. After breakfast we went back to Slab City to attend the talent show. There were all kind of different people and it was quite interesting to say the least. Kia did not like being there and she acted very funny. I could tell she was very uncomfortable and we left a little earlier than planned. I did try Ken's funnel cakes. They were good, but it is now 7 hours later and they are still talking to me. LOL
Today's pictures were uploaded on to Picasa because somehow I wasn't able to get them onto my server. I guess it is OK. I do like Jalbum better though.
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January 21, 2010 El Centro, CA

It rained all night. We were not able to go to our site as it was flooded. Management gave us another site that became empty this morning. We will be here until our site is dried out. It still pours. Poor Kia, she gets so wet every time I take her out.....
I do have problems with the Internet and thank God for my data card. Got to talk to the office tomorrow to see what's up with that. I will upload the blog, but the links to the pictures won't work until the Internet situation is straightened out. I don't want to upload all the pictures on my card, because Verizon only allows 5 GB per month. So please check back in a day or two. I was told it had to do with the weather.
Every ten minutes the programs on TV were interrupted with a weather alert. From tornado to thunder and flash flood warnings. Pretty scary.
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January 20, 2010 Slab City - Salvation Mountain

We planed on leaving on the 21st. However, because of the rain we felt it would be wiser to leave a day earlier. Going into the Slabs are a few dips in the road and they become washes when it rains heavy. Once that happens, we would not be able to leave until it is all dried out again. I called the campground, explained our situation, and they told us to come on over. They didn't have an empty site, but we were told that we can stay overnight in the parking lot.
We took advantage of the sunshine in the morning. First, I sent Peter on top of our camper to take some pictures from above. After that we went to the Salvation Mountain and The Range to shoot more pictures. Please make sure and look at the pictures by clicking on the date above. It is amazing what Leonard did. A little crazy.....but interesting.
We then hooked up and left. Once we were at the campground, it started raining and it hasn't stopped yet. We were glad that we left the Slabs just in time. Peter and I are planing on going back there on Saturday for a visit and to see a talent show at the range. I just hope that we can make it.
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January 19, 2010 Slab City USA

We drove to El Centro in the morning to find a campground that we can stay for a month. Just to relax and go sight-seeing. We did end up finding one we liked and reserved a site, starting January 21st. When we got back to the Slabs all hell broke loose. The wind was horrible and the rain was unbelievable. It was so bad that we had to drive in our slide-outs, because #1 of the noise and #2, we were worried that the awnings over the slide-out tear. It was quiet scary. To top it off, our generator went and I could re-charge anything, except the cell phone and my iTouch.
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January 18, 2010 Slab City USA
Just uploaded yesterdays pictures. Just click on yesterday's link. We drove to Indio. It's a pretty nice town with tons of shopping centers. So that is what we did, we browsed a little, had lunch from Jack in the Box and then drove back to Niland. No pictures. There was really nothing to take pictures of, you all know what shopping centers look like and Costco, Homedepot, etc., once you see one, you saw them all. I think that there might be a repeat of today tomorrow, just in the other direction.
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January 17, 2010 Slab City USA

We went to Wal-Mart shopping today and for dinner we all had Elk Swiss Steak over Mary and Rich's. It was real good After dinner we all enjoyed a nice chat by the fire. Took some pictures, but I am too tired to add them today.
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January 16, 2010 Slab City USA

We are here! It was everything I expected and then some. We drove into Niland, CA and Seann, a friend from my camping group met us at the filling station to show us the way to Slab City. We passed the Salvation Mountain, but didn't visit it yet. That will be on another day. Today Chili Bob drove us around to show us the area. (THANKS BOB!!) I took tons of pictures. We saw the library, the Oasis Cafe, the mud holes, the spring, the canal, and, and, and.....so much to take in in one day! We went to the Salton See and we also went to Bombay by the Salton Sea where there were deteriorated trailers from way back. They were stuck in the mud. We saw so much in one day as you can tell by the pictures and if you are into camping, Slab City is a 'must see'.
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January 14, 2010 El Paso, TX - Tucson, AZ

No-one better NEVER tells me that New Jersey is the arm pit of America!!! Who ever says this, has never been in El Paso. That city is horrible and I would rather live in New York City than there. Garbage landfills, refineries, dust, traffic, and the air quality is real bad as well. Not a place to raise children or be on vacation in. I was so glad when we finally left El Paso this morning. We had a nice ride to Tucson, AZ and once again we had to go through Border Control. Glad to see that they seem to be on top of things.
In New Mexico, we passed Stein's Ghost Town. We stopped there when we were here in 2006, so I just took pictures passing by. We arrived in Tucson about 3:30 pm. The campground is not too bad. The sites are kind of small, but the very friendly owner gave us two sites since the other side was empty and that enabled us to just pull through and we didn't have to unhook. The campground is called Whispering Palms RV Park and was reasonable at $25.
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January 13, 2010 On the way to El Paso

We left Alpine 9 a.m. and arrived in El Paso at 12:30 p.m. 255 miles in 3.5 hours??? Nope, not really. Once again we went into a different time zone. That worked out well, because it made the day longer. We got to the campground and unhooked to take a quick ride to the Homedepot for replacement hoses. Yeah....I got water again and I can shower in my camper instead of the campground's one. We also took a ride to Wal-Mart to pick up a few items, including dinner. (Hehehe, got away without cooking again)
The campground is called Mission RV Park and it is in the middle of wasteland. If I ever come in this area, I would try to find another place to stay over night. This park is what I like to call an RV Lot, the type of place that provides less than 6 feet between your front door and the back of the next guy’s rig, which dwindles to 3 or 4 feet if your neighbor happens to have a slide-out. Forget picnic tables, but there is room between the campers to sit comfortable anyway. Knowing that we will move on tomorrow, we didn't care.
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January 12, 2010 Big Bend National Park, TX

Today we took the ride through Big Bend National Park. I have to say that I was a little disappointed. Don't get me wrong, it is a wonderful park, but it is by far not as beautiful as Big Bend Ranch State Park. Yes, I know...it is pretty in a month or so when everything is blooming, but even though, it was not as I imagined it. Maybe I expected too much after I have seen Yosemite and Yellowstone. Big Bend's biggest attraction of the park were the Hot Springs. That was awesome and I regretted not having my bathing suit with me. 105 degrees! To get to the Hot Springs, you had to drive on a VERY narrow and brittle looking road. We opted to park the truck and walk. It was about a mile one way and our little Kia walked with us all the way.
Dinner for tonight: Pizza Hut. That wasn't even bad. You all might be wondering what is going on....why doesn't she cook? Well, I am telling you why. We have no running water and if I cook, I have to wash dishes, pots, etc. Once our water supply is fixed, I can't get away with it anymore. Some of the hoses broke while we were in deep freeze and we can't get them here in town. We'll try it in El Paso tomorrow.
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January 11, 2010 Big Bend State Park, TX

We drove to Big Bend State Park today. It was all together approximately 200 miles and every single mile was breathtaking. We even saw two ghost towns. The first one was Terlingua Ghost Town, where we stopped and walked around and then we passed Shafter Ghost Town. Coming from Europe, where half of the buildings and towns are 400+ years old, it always amazes me, that we have these fallen apart houses here in the states. Ruins that are not even 100 years old are being let go. It is alway interesting to see the different architectures though. Most of these homes were made from Stones, just like homes in Europe.
While driving through the park, we met a German couple. Olav and Heidi and they brought over their Fiat RV from Germany to the US to explore the country. It was funny when we noticed the Hamburg, Germany license plates. We chatted a while with them and found out that they are staying here for 18 months. On the way back to the campground we had to go through border control. They didn't even check our back seat....we could have made a couple of thousand bucks...darn..we should have known! How many Mexican do fit in the back if a Dodge truck? LOL (I hope that everyone knows that I am kidding!!) The Border Control guys were very nice and informative.
As you can see, Kia had her lunch in the car. We didn't eat anything until we got back to the camper. Once we were in town, we passed by the university and picked up subs from Subways. They were actually very good.
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January 10, 2010 Fort Davis, TX

WooHoo....53 degrees today! It was a gorgeous day. We took a ride downtown Alpine and
left ASAP because it was dead. Most of the stores were closed, except the grocery store. The town has a whole bunch of churches and their parking lots were filled. That explained the stillness of the town. We turned around and drove 23 miles to Fort Davis. Fort Davis is the town's name, but there also really is a Fort Davis. It is a National Historic Site and we enjoyed visiting it. Please excuse the quality of the inside pictures. Everything is behind glass. After our tour, we went to eat at The Chuck Wagon across the street from the fort. The food wasn't bad, but I was a little disappointed in the service (new waitress) and the fact that the food arrived together with the salad didn't thrill me. It wasn't hot either. Yet, we did enjoy it anyway.
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January 7, 2010 Alpine, TX

We decided to stay here a whole week. The campground is wonderful, the area is gorgeous, the people are nice and darned....we WILL see Big Bend National Park, even if we freeze to death! It's supposed to be getting a little warmer Saturday. We'll go downtown that day and I guess Sunday or Monday we'll start going to the park. Big Bend is too large to see in one day.
It is 5 p.m. and the sun finally came out. Didn't warm anything, but just looking at the sun makes you feel better. I took Kia for a walk around the campground and took the pictures that you'll see if you click on the date above.
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January 6, 2010 Braunfels, TX - Alpine, TX

Today we actually wanted to drive to Fort Stockton and ended up here at a very nice campground in Alpine, TX. We are only about 80 miles away from Big Bend National Park and decided to stay here three nights. We now can take day trips to the park without worrying about getting a campsite inside the park. It's supposed to be pretty cold, but heck, we went 7 days through brutal temperatures, what's three days more.
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January 5, 2010 Westlake LA - Braunfels, TX

We had a great trip and as we were driving further into Texas, the temperature kept climbing up. 51 degrees was the highest and I never thought that 51 degrees is a nice temperature. LOL
We wanted to meet our friends Pennie and Lenny near Houston, but we were actually fleeing from the colder area and when we saw that the temperatures are warmer closer to San Antonio, our minds were made up. We are staying here only one night and move on tomorrow. That faster we get out of the cold, the better my bones feel. The campground we are at today is OK. Too busy, but for one night it is good enough. It is a resort and there are a lot of permanent campers here. Lots of dogs and Kia is going nuts. She isn't used to too many other dogs.
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January 4, 2010 Alabama - Louisiana

It is still cold and there is no end in sight. We drove trough without a lunch break today. Of course we did stop at the few rest stops. The Mississippi welcome center was the most beautiful rest stop we have ever seen. It was spotless and as you walked in smiling faces offered you a cup of coffee and help. The decor was gorgeous and we truly felt welcome. The campground was near Lake Charles in a town called Westlake. It was a great campground. The owner is awesome! Very friendly and helpful. The sites are pull-through and the concrete is level. There is a fenced in dog run and everything is immaculate clean and manicured. Would defiantly come back if in the area.
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January 3, 2010 AL

Brrrrr, I cannot believe that we are actually sitting here in the camper with the electric heater and the furnace running and I am still freezing.
What the $%& is going on? We are in Alabama today and it was 42 degrees this afternoon and in the low 20's tonight. Enough already! I can have this crap in NJ! I am planing to spend next years winter vacation in Alaska. It is probably warmer there!
Anyway, the campground we are in today is OK for one night. It is called Wilderness RV Park and they claimed to be a member of Good Sam, but when I asked for my discount, I was told that they don't give them. I wasn't about to argue with them for $3, but right it is not.
Our little Kia absolutely loves to travel and gets all excited when the truck starts. When is is not on my lab, she lays in the middle between Peter and I.
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January 2, 2010 FL
Just driving today and we stayed overnight here:
http://www.suwanneevalleykoa.com/
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January 1, 2010 NC

We spent the day at Judy and Paul's and had a wonderful time. We went a little sigh-seeing, looked at the boat, admired the the area, the lake, the golf course and it's $$$ homes and then went back our friend's gorgeous home. The puppies played the whole time and Kia, Buddha and Simba where totally exhausted. We got back to the horrible KOA and went to bed around 11:30 pm.