birthday bash

I'm back!!!!! I've been on the road, lot's to tell, several trips under my belt , and can't wait to tell.I am going to grow my blog,I hope everyone reading will comment back to me, share info and advice,, let's travel together. We, my girlfriend and myself,, just returned from a two month wandering about. We flew to California, spent some time with our daughter and her family, and more,,picked up her little Honda Fit,and hit the road.Driving accross America in Dec., on I 80 can be touchy, we were lucky, clear roads all the way to Ohio. Picked up my camping gear and cameras ,and off to Fla. we went. Time to celebrate my and my son Terry's big B day,, 75 and 50 , dec 6, we had fun. Brother Doug was there also. He pulled his little camper down from Ga.,set it up in Terry's back yard, and was good to go. We all like to travel on the low buck side. My girlfriend and I went swamp walking in the Big Cypress Preserve,south Fla., what a great experence. You must do this. From the visitors center,a park ranger leads a FREE swamp walk tour, about a dozen folks or so, lots of info, sometimes your waist deep in mud and water, still a must do. From there I always go to Everglades City, I found a small outdoor cafe at the boat docks that serves a Grouper chowder, and a cup of black beans and rice,,so good,a treat after getting wet and muddy in the swamp. Then on to the gulf side of Fla., Naples,to Vanderbuilt Beach,,a place we "found" a neat older Motel, "Lighthouse"  and good rates. [pick up a coupon flier at rest areas on the innerstate]. We stayed 2 days,watched the sun set over the Gulf each day,,so beautiful, we could have stayed forever.
       Then it was time to move on,Vising, my girlfriend,,[we go back to my Navy days,40 plus years],,
wanted to spend Christmas with her oldest son,Eddie, and his family in Charleston S.C. We had the best of time,, a very merry and fun Christmas.
       We made it back to Ohio in time for New Years,been here since,,planning a trip back to the west coast again soon,, I missed seeing several friends and family members on my last trip.
        So goes a two month odyssey,only 6 nights in Motels,,some meals prepared on the road by us,lots of shared meals, we fished a little ,had lots of fun and can't wait to do it again.SOON!!
        So much for now,,next I'll tell about our One Month Amtrack journey,,we loved it.  

Italy

Just returned from Italy,,awsome,awsome trip,must return.also spent 3 days in Rota,Spain.loved it.Have you been there? any advice? I will go back.Still tired,need more sleep.It's been to long since I've posted here,will try harder.also,I have photos, I took over 600,and i'll share some of them here. all are for sale as art work,I hope all enjoy.

June 1st ,still in Ohio,longing to travel.bit cool this am,thinking about putting my for sale sign on the motel??? Where will I live next? I like Oak Harbor Wa. maybe Or.,or Cal.

Sat.,5/16 nice day yesterday,I rode about 15 miles,I need to get mi milage up.Doing yard work waiting for info on sail week on Whidby Isl.,I would love to be there. Might get a chance to crew.I havent sailed in a long time.Call me LJF, let me know the dates.

may 14 I'm still arround,hanging in Ohio.I plan on going back out to the west coast in mid., July.I joined facebook in Jan., cool site. I will be able to keep track of my Coast Guard Grandson and what he is doing.I like that.

Dec., and I'm back in Ohio,cold and snow. What a snafu returning,connecting flight canceled,and to the bottom of the pond I go. Almost impossible at times to get to your destination.Two days at Philly Int,, settled for Pitt. Pa instead of Erie. Just part of traveling in the modern world. My suitcase did go to Erie,and the airline had it delivered to my door 3 hours after I returned home. Nice.
Good to see family,we had a family Xmas dinner at a local church hall,Lot's of us. several new baby's ,a new generation to carry on for all of us. I've watched all of these kids grow up,mostly in stages,as I've spent a lot of time on the road. No regrets, I still look for new adventures all the time.
I need to look into a new travel plan for the winter.Must be warm, sandy nearby, inexpensive,and good food as in healthy. And transportation friendly. Walking is best.