Back Home Again

Tuesday, April 28 - back in Beverly!

All good things must end, as the saying goes, and so it is with us. Our travels have finally brought us full-circle back to where it all began so many months ago. Be not disheartened, though, as the adventure continues. We will shortly be moving into a new "home" with son, Chris, daughter-in-law, Jen, and grandson, Aaron. This we are looking forward to with eager anticipation. K and I will have "our own space" in the new house, which is, in a word, gorgeous! At this time, we are all "busy beavers", getting the "old homestead" ready for the new owners, packing, trying to decide what to keep and where it will fit in the new house. Pretty exciting stuff. As another saying goes, "Life is good!"


Our return trip to Beverly brought is through some very interesting places, as you know (if you followed the "blog" regularly). I believe my last blog entry was from Tennessee, where we spent a couple of days. From there, we traveled east into North Carolina, stopping in Winston-Salem to visit an RV Dealer there. We next traveled to Virginia Beach to visit friends who own a B & B there (Barclay Cottage). On the way, we experienced a bit of difficulty with our "toad" (vehicle in tow). Actually, the problem was the tow bar. At one point, I looked in the left-side mirror and I could see my Odyssey!! That's NOT supposed to happen. As a result, we had to buy a new tow bar in Virginia Beach. We unhooked the Odyssey in Emporia, VA, and K drove it the rest of the way into Virginia Beach, while I drove the motor home (about 100 miles). Here's a picture of the new tow bar:


I may not have any new posts for a couple of weeks, due to the fact that we will be very busy preparing for the "move", which happens on May 23. After that, be sure to check back for news on the move, the new house, and/or anything else that comes up!

Weekend in Tennessee

Monday, April 20 - Winston-Salem, NC

We had a great weekend on Tennessee! We arrived at "The Dell" RV resort at about 12:30PM, and, after being led to our lots, settled in, then we all headed out to do some sightseeing. Little did we know that this was the first of two "Rod Runner" weekends in Eastern Tennessee. The traffic was horrendous! It took us about one hour to cover the two-mile trek down US 441 through Pigeon Forge! We did get to see quite a number of "vintage" automobiles, some beautifully restored, some in the process of being restored. We also got to see a few "home-made" vehicles, which were quite interesting, to say the least.

Once we made it through the traffic tie-up, we stopped in to the Gatlinburg Visitor's Center to get information on what to see and do in the area. We decided to take a short (11 mile) scenic loop, which would take us up into the Smokies, where we could see actual homes which date back into the late 1700s/early 1800s. See the web album for these photos.

The weather on Sunday was not very cooperative (rain most of the day). We started out by attending Mass at a local Catholic Church in Pigeon Forge, TN (the home of Dolly Parton). After Mass, we picked up the Burch's and Desmet's back at the resort, and headed down the road for breakfast before starting the days touring of the area. We breakfasted at the "Apple Barn", a noted restaurant, where they served us a basket of apple muffins and apple fritters, with a couple of dishes of apple butter - delicious! Immediately after breakfast, we again headed out into the traffic, which had subsided quite a bit since Saturday afternoon. This time we had decided to take a longer scenic route in the hopes of seeing some wild life along the way! However, all we managed to see was a couple of wild turkeys and a few Canadian Geese. It was a very scenic trip, though, and we all enjoyed the scenery despite the constant drizzle.

Upon returning to the resort, the girls decided to go shopping at the local "outlet mall", such as it was, while the guys stayed back to "nap"! Later on, we all got together at the Burch's coach for a wonderful, delicious dinner.

This morning, K and I packed up and left Tennessee, headed for Winston-Salem, NC, to visit an RV dealer in the area, whom we met in Perry, GA last month at the FMCA convention (www.billplemmonsrv.com). We arrived in Winston-Salem at about 2:45PM, met with the dealer and went over a few items, then we parked the coach and headed down into Winston-Salem to do some scouting of the area. We were not able to get any photographs in W-S, so don't look for any. Dinner back at the coach. Tomorrow morning we will head east to Virginia Beach, where we will visit with the LaFond's. On Wednesday morning we will begin the 13-hour trip north to MA. Don't know when we will arrive in Beverly - will either be late on Wednesday, or during the day on Thursday.

That's all for this entry. Be sure to check the web album.

Here's the link to today's web album:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cbenoitiii/WeekendInTennessee?feat=directlink

Visiting Asheville, NC and the Biltmore Estate

Friday, April 17 - Asheville, NC

We arrived here in Asheville, NC, after a short (2-1/2 hour) drive from Columbia, SC, at noon. We are staying at a local campground, which is located about 2-1/2 miles from the Biltmore Estate.

I have to say, right now, that this was one of the best attractions we have visited, other than the National Parks last fall. The Biltmore house and grounds are magnificent! The only regrettable thing about our visit was that we were not able to take any photos inside the house, and that is a crying shame! This house contains 255 rooms, including 43 bathroom, and is 7 stories tall, from basement (finished) to attic (not finished). The basement contains a very large indoor swimming pool with an adjoining weight room/shower room. Also found in the basement were several different food pantries, kitchens, and servant's quarters (there were also servant's quarters up on the fourth floor). Every room we saw was meticulously restored, with period wall coverings, draperies, furniture, etc.

The house construction began in 1889 and was completed in time for Christmas, 1895. George Vanderbilt, the original owner of the house, brought his new bride, Edith, to live at Biltmore in 1898. Their only child, a daughter, Cornelia, was born there a couple of years later. After George died, Edith and Cornelia lived there, alone, until Cornelia was married, in 1924, to a Mr. Cecil (I forgot his name). Cornelia Vanderbilt Cecil gave birth to two sons at Biltmore, one of which, William A. V. Cecil, is the current owner, and the person responsible for much of the restoration.

For additional information on Biltmore and, possibly, pictures of the interior, go to www.biltmore.com.

Tomorrow morning we will head out for Tennessee. We will be staying at an RV Resort in Sevierville, TN, which is a little southeast of Knoxville. Stay tuned for pictures and a blog entry on that adventure.

Here's the link to today's web album. Enjoy!

http://picasaweb.google.com/cbenoitiii/AshevilleNC?feat=directlink

On the Road Again - GA

Thursday, April 16 - on the road in Georgia

We departed the resort in St. Lucie West yesterday noon and drove up to St. Augustine, where we spent the night. We parked at a Camping World store parking lot, which is located in the immediate vicinity of two Outlet Malls, so the girls had some time for shopping, while the boys napped.

After breakfast, we left St. Augustine and headed north on I-95 into Georgia. Although we had not planned to, we decided to stop in Pooler, GA, which is a suburb of Savannah, where we visited the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum, just off of the highway. We spent a couple of hours touring the museum and grounds before we headed out again. This is a museum which both Charlie and I had always wanted to see, since we pass it every time we come to Florida, or head home from Florida. Charlie, especially, is an "airplane museum" afficionado, and so he visits every aircraft museum he has an opportunity to visit. His knowledge of aircraft is phenominal, and I always learn so much from him on these visits. Be sure to check out the web album for all the photographs we took here. Lest I forget, both Kathys enjoyed the museum, as well.

Tomorrow morning we will again take to the road, destination Asheville, NC, where Kathy and I will visit the Biltmore Estate, since we have never been there before, and it is a "must see", so we have been told. Be sure to check the blog soon for photos of the "Biltmore".

It's late, and we have an early start tomorrow, so I'll sign off for today. Thanks for reading, and please let me know what you think of our travels as you follow along in the blog.


Here's the link to today's web album:

http://picasaweb.google.com/cbenoitiii/OnTheRoadAgainGA?feat=directlink

Enjoy!

Happy Easter!

Sunday, April 12 - Easter Sunday!

Happy Easter to all from sunny, hot and humid Florida's Treasure Coast. Our Easter began with a Sunrise Service at 6AM at Tradition Field. Because of the fact that our local parish is in the process of building a new church next to the current church, there is no room on the property to hold the service outside there. The manager of operations at Tradition Field offered to let the church use the field for the Sunrise Service, and, on top of that, they even provided breakfast and FREE tickets to the St. Lucie Mets game today at noon. Pretty good of them to do that.

The service was very well done, and there were over 300 people in attendance. K and I went with Charlie and Kathy Burch, then, since there were so many people lined up for the free breakfast, we headed off for breakfast elsewhere (not FREE, of course). At about 12:45, we headed over to the Burch's coach for Easter dinner. We enjoyed a delicious, spiral-sliced ham, Charlie's "party potatoes", corn, carrots and a salad. For dessert, K brought strawberry shortcake, featuring biscuits made from scratch - everything was delicious!!

After dinner, we sat around for a while chatting and watching the Masters Tournament on TV. We (K, me and Charlie) finished the day at the pool, relaxing in the warm sunshine and cool afternoon breezes.

Hope you all enjoyed your Easter Sunday as well as we did!

The End is Near!!!

Thursday, April 9 - St. Lucie West, Florida

The "end" is, indeed, near. We have less than one week left here in Florida. Hard to believe that the "snowbird" season is over! Most of the people have already left the resort. As of April 1, there have been an average of about 4 coaches per day leaving.

On a happier note, I started playing golf last week, as the "golf group" is losing members rapidly. I was asked to join the group last week, and have been playing ever since. My golf scores have improved steadily over the past week, until today, that is! I don't know why, but I completely "lost it" today, finishing with a dismal 44 for nine holes (par is 27). My best game came yesterday, when I shot a 36!

At this point, I have to pass along a funny story, which took place today, during our round of golf. One of our group, Gary, was attempting a putt on the 5th hole, when his putter suddenly, and inexplicably, broke. As he stroked the ball, the head of the putter broke away from the shaft as soon as he hit the ball. "What the f...?", he exclaimed, as he looked, incredulously, at his club. Needless to say, we didn't count that stroke, and he was able to salvage a "par 3" on the hole with a borrowed putter. I should also mention that, as the season is drawing closer to the end, the golf rules get laxer and laxer (is that a word?)! For example, if a player hits his ball into the water hazard, and any part of the ball remains "above water", he gets a "free lift"! I have seen a lot of strange things out there on the course over the past week - balls skipping over water hazards, balls hitting palm trees and bouncing out onto the fairway (or onto the green!), balls staying up in the palm trees, and other phenomena! However, I guess the strangest thing out on the golf course lately, has been MY PUTTER! I picked it up at a flea market for $2! My golf buddies keep referring to it as a "miniature golf" club, because it looks like it came from a miniature golf course! Strange thing is, it works!!

OK! Enough about golf. Good news! The Sox won their home opener on Tuesday, 5 - 3, against Tampa Bay. Beckett had 10 Ks over seven innings! I am going to see the Sox - Yankees on June 11th, compliments of Enzymatics! The tickets were donated to the Waldorf School auction, and Enzymatics bought them! Doesn't get much better than that!

Have to sign off for now! We are going to the Easter Vigil service at 8PM. Sorry that I have no pictures to post tonight. Keep checking back.