Sunday - Race Day in Talladega

April 27, 2008

I was up as usual bright and early and I sat outside for an hour or so to let the guys sleep in a little before getting them up and moving.

At 10:30 we were dressed, fed, bags packed and heading to our seats for the Aaron's 499 NASCAR Sprint Cup Race.

I got to meet up with a friend from JGN and we chatted for awhile before the race started.

It was a great race. 55 lead changes among 22 different drivers, bump-drafting, and wrecked cars. A few blown tires and the "Big One" happened on the last lap that took out a lot of the front running cars. Kyle Busch won with lots of help from Juan Pablo Montoya.

The skies were cloudy and gray most all of the day, but it was still warm. The forecast was for rain in the afternoon, but it didn't happen until we were back to the RV after the race. In fact, Rudy was grilling our dinner and it started to pour. It rained most of the evening and throughout the night, too.

Monday - April 28

We woke up at 5:30 CT and got dressed and packed up and we were on the road by 6:00. Unfortunately, 20 miles down the road we lost an hour with the time change into EST, and we ran into some rain on the drive home in several locations and lots of road construction to slow us down. All is well, though and we should be safe and sound at home no later than 5:30 p.m.

We had a great weekend and can't wait to be on the road again real soon.

Next Trip: Charlotte, NC -for the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's MotorSpeedway!

See ya on the Road!

Friday & Saturday @ 'Dega

We arrived at the Campground after awaking, stopping for breakfast and gas and set up our campsite. We were changed and ready to head to the Track at 10:30 a.m. (remember, we gained an hour when we crossed the Louisianna State Line earlier @ 7:30 CT.

We got a ride from a nice man on a golf cart to the ONMC sign-up booth where I got my wristband and checked in. We made our way to watch Practice and I got some 160+ pictures!

We checked out the merchandise trailers and exhibits and then came back to the RV where Rudy fixed our supper and we relaxed outside under the awning watching Race Fans return from the track!

Cully arrived at midnight.

I woke up early Saturday morning and got up and dressed and left for my 9:00 a.m. Garage Tour with ONMC. It was a great tour. We got to stay in the Garage area for over 45 minutes looking for drivers and crew chiefs and my favorite cars. I got my picture taken with Chad Knause, we saw Sterling Marlin, Tony Eury, Jr., Jeff Hammond, Robbie Loomis, Pat Tryson & others. They all were watching as their cars went through inspection for Qualifying.
After the Tour I came back to the RV and had some lunch, a nap and then I read in the sunshine and breeze.

It's time now for Rudy to start grilling our dinner. So got to go for now.

Tomorrow is RACE DAY in 'DEGA!! Jeff Gordon starts 12th. We'll be there watching and waiting for Jeff to take the Checkers and WIN Three in a ROW here.

Later!

Thursday- April 24, Talladega, AL Bound

It is 9:23 pm and we are well on our way to Talladega, we left Apopka, FL this afternoon at 1:30 pm, filled the gas tank of the RV with $75 worth of Gas at $3.52 per gallon and didn't stop again until we were in Tifton, GA. We stopped and put $100 worth of gas in the tank at $3.49 a gallon. GAS PRICES ARE OUTRAGEOUS! Do I hear an AMEN??
We also had a nice dinner at Cracker Barrel to get Rudy from behind the windshield for an hour or so, but we are back on the road and about 50 miles south of Atlanta. The plan is to get on I-20 (on the otherside of Atlanta) and stop for some shut-eye and then hit Talladega, fresh in the morning light to set up our RV and camping spot. We will be there in plenty of time to be at Practice on Friday (at 1:30 pm). I've got to see those cars on the Track. My driver, JEFF GORDON, has a PEPSI paint scheme for this race. Can't wait to see it. We don't have any other plans for Friday so we will have some quiet relaxing time before Cully arrives in the late evening.

More to follow. . . . . . on Friday!

April 18-20, 2008 Weekend Events

After we picked up Elani on Thursday evening after work, it was a whirl-wind of events and our weekend was jam-packed, almost non-stop with activities.

Friday Elani and I drove to Sebring for haircuts. Elani got her first haircut (with permission from momma & papa-of course) after 3 years 9 months of growing her hair (which by the way is almost down to her waist). So it was time for a trim and a trim is all she got. She wouldn't let Diane wash her hair so she just did a little trim of the ends.

Saturday after church we went to Ponce Inlet Marine Science Center for "Turtle Day". This place is amazing with all kinds of wild Florida-native animals to see and touch. Aquariums galore, sea turtles everywhere and on this special day they had a Butterfly Garden where the butterflies landed on you and you could get up-close & personal. Elani was amazed at the SeaHorse Aquarium. It was a great way to spend the afternoon on an absolutely gorgeous day.

Sunday we went to the Maitland Arts Festival for a short time and walked around Lake Lily Park, then we came home and Elani and I hit the pool for some sun and fun! Elani loves the water and playing with other children and of course paddling around in her "swim-ring". Later that afternoon we sat on the patio while Elani played with her new baby animal toys and her bike until it was time to take her home. You can only imagine that we had one tuckered out little girl with us on the way back to her home.

This week (Thursday) we hit the road for Talladega, Alabama to our next NASCAR Sprint Cup Race of this season. Looking forward to a another great weekend and a WIN from Jeff Gordon and the 24 TEAM!

See ya on the Road!

April 4 - Oooops - Happy Birthday, Travis!

I think I forgot to mention that we celebrated my youngest son's 29th Birthday on April 4. We took him, Rosa and Elani out for dinner to Olive Garden (his choice) and had a nice dinner and dessert. Nothing spectacular, just nice family time with good food!

Oh yea, pictures too. I wouldn't be caught somewhere without my camera at my side!!

April 11-13 Weekend Adventures

It was another beautiful weekend to be camping in the great outdoors of northern Florida and we were smack dab in the middle of it. We couldn't have asked for better weather to just sit in the chairs under the awning with a good book and my camera of course and enjoy the sweet songs of birds, crickets and bull frogs. The occasional call of the sand crane was the only interruption that is worth speaking of. We had Elani with us mostly because she loves being outside and this is the perfect place for her to play outside until her heart is content (which is usually from sun-up to sun-down). We had a great time in fellowship with our camping friends and enjoying the peace and quiet of the outdoors. We always come home so rested and relaxed and full of thankfulness for all of God's creation that He made just for our pleasure.

I snapped a few pictures of Elani playing in the distance as I sat with my book under the awning. She didn't even know I was watching her. I am thankful also for these memories and moments that I am building with her. I hope she is remembering all of these good times with her Grammi and Paway!