GatorNationals - NHRA Drags - March 18, 2007

WOW - What a fun day! - We got up this morning at 6:40 a.m. to temperatures in the high 30's in Ocala, Florida - We were toasting warm in the RV, but boy was the air cold when we hit the road on the Bike at 8:20 a.m. and traveling at speeds near 65 miles per hour down State Road 301 to Waldo, Florida to the NHRA GatorNationals. We arrive almost frozen, at the Drag Strip around 9:15. I was sure happy for the new "gator" face mask, my chaps, long sleeve turtleneck shirt (and two other shirts), gloves and leather jacket. It took me awhile to warm up because even sitting up in the stands the wind was fierce and very chilly as we watched the qualifications for the finals in the all the classes of drag cars.

I was able to get some great pictures of the cars staging, racing and letting out the "chutes" to come to a stop with my 300 zoom lens as long as people would stay sitting down and not stand up in front of my lens.

We had a great time again this 2nd year that we've attended. We headed back to the campground to pack up and head home around 4 p.m. and arrived home around 6:30, unpacked the RV and started a couple loads of laundry as we settled in to watch the NASCAR race on DVR from earlier in the day!

Another fun trip on the road for the Florida Travelers while looking ahead to Thursday, March 22nd when we head north again to Bristol, Tennessee to the NASCAR race and camping with our friend Cully.

See ya later!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Today finds Rudy and me in Ocala, Florida camping at a RV Resort just off of I-75 at exit 352. We are here this weekend and on our way to the NHRA Gatornational Drag Races in Waldo, Florida about 35 miles from here up State Road 301.

When we arrived on Friday about Noon we set up as a fine mist fell from the cloudy skies. We settled in and as the afternoon slipped by the sun fought to come out and shine for us. Around 4 p.m. we decided to hit the road on the bike and explore this area that is known as the "horse capital of the State". We saw some awesome ranches as we took turn after turn on the back roads around Ocala. We stopped at the Harley Davidson shop and browsed, then saw an RV store and stopped and looked at a 34' 2002 Coachman Aurora, checked it out and actually made an offer on the unit. Now it is a wait & see if the original owners accept our offer (it was on consignment at the RV place) and see if Rudy and I will own a new RV with two slides. Hopefully we will know something by Monday.

It's been quite chilly here so we are planning to wear our full leather including jackets, chaps, face masks, and gloves for the ride tomorrow to the Drag Strip. I am hoping this year to get some great pictures of those Drag Cars going down the strip and deploying their chutes as they come to the end of the 1/4 mile.

Got to go find my earplugs. This is a very loud event as you can imagine.

March 14, 2007

Oh My - It's March already - Where has this year gone to already - We've been so busy and going here and there, the time is just flying by.
We just returned from a week-long vacation in the mountains of North Carolina in a beautiful cabin 2 miles up on the side of a mountain situated overlooking Maggie Valley with Mt. Setzer on one side of us. It was an absolutely breath-taking view and I mean breath-taking, especially for me, the one who is not excited about heights and high places. I was white-knuckled and hanging on for dear life as we drove up those two miles in the skinny, winding, dirt mountain trails. But when we arrived at the top and I got out of the car and saw this magnificent cabin with 6 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and the window view of the valley below, the hot tub on the balcony, and the fireplace, I was in awe! I can only imagine what it would be like in the spring when all is green and budding or in the fall with the color of the leaves glowing.
Our friends, GJ and Jan joined us for the first couple of days in the mountains and we made a day trip to Asheville, NC, about an hour's drive from the cabin and did a little sight-seeing of the city. We took lots of pictures of us altogether too on the balcony of the cabin and along the mountain side. Snow fell too on Saturday morning which was a pleasant surprise because it was only a 1/2 inch and it didn't stay long.
After they left on Sunday night Rudy and I relaxed and did absolutely nothing on Monday except a walk on the trails around the cabin for some more pictures.
Tuesday we went through the mountains to Gatlinburg, TN. Neither of us had ever been there so we did all the tourist things like having an old fashion picture made of us, bought some fudge, visited the shops, had lunch in a local Italian place and took in the scenery of the city between the mountains. On the way there and back we stopped several times to take breath-taking pictures of the mountains and valleys as we traveled the 53 miles to Gatlinburg. I made sure that we were back at the cabin before night-fall. I certainly didn't want to be on those mountain roads in the dark!
Wednesday afternoon we decided to be spontaneous and try something different, so we packed up and hit the road, ending up in Winston-Salem for the evening, touring Evernham Race Shop and then on Thursday we toured Richard Childress Race Shop and Museum, met Chocolate Meyers (long time pit crew member of Dale Earnhardt, Sr.) and also took a tour of Childress Winery on our way to Charlotte. The winery was magnificent and it was quite educational to learn about the processes to make wine. After lunch we headed to Charlotte where we got a motel for the night, went and saw a movie - "Wild Hogs" - [You've got to see it!] and had dinner at Quaker Steak & Lube, a famous and excellent place to eat while in Charlotte.
Friday morning we went to Lowe's Motor Speedway and took a tour of the infield area of the Track and got some shopping deals in the gift shop and then headed home. We left Charlotte at 1:30 pm and pulled into our driveway at 9:30 pm. Great traveling weather, not a lot of traffic and we made excellent time.
Whew - we were tired and slept quite well in our own bed.
Elani was very excited to see us, too, as was I to see her.

Wednesday - Feb. 21, 2007

It's one of those days..... long...... at work.......typing my little fingers to the bone......

It always seems like the days after a long weekend away are so much longer and the rest of the week just drags on.

Oh by the way..... While in Daytona last weekend the temps never got above 60 degrees during the day and were about 30-35 at night with lots of wind. And Monday when we returned home, it was starting to warm up already and the last couple of days here have been absolutely gorgeous, sunny, blue skies and highs in the upper 70's..... Perfect weather......Not at all like last Friday when we were at the Beach with Cully (from Tennessee) in our winter coats, long pants and gloves..... Unbelievable!

This coming weekend is another busy one. Thursday I will be visiting my aunt and uncle in Avon Park and then Friday morning getting a haircut in Sebring. Coming straight back to go to a Praise Team Rehearsal at The Gathering Place in Sanford for the Adventist Health System Conference on Missions. Our Praise Team will sing for two services on Saturday. It is lots of fun and I get to see and meet all the AHS V.P.'s that I talk to daily at work!

Sunday, Rudy wants to got to an RV Show in Volusia County - and then come home and watch the second race of the season from California.

Daytona 500 Weekend

Brrrr.... it was cold in Daytona this weekend, but we had a great time, camping in the RV at CrazyHorse Campgrounds and attending all kinds of NASCAR racing events at the Track. I will try to give you a few highlights of the long weekend! We arrived Thursday and set up camp and then headed over to the Track for the Gator Duels - 2 races - 60 laps each and Jeff Gordon won the second race - The first was exciting with lots of yellow caution flags thrown and Tony Stewart winning! The second was fast and furious with less cautions and Jeff came from behind (15th place or so) to win in the last 5 laps or less. It's hard to remember.

Friday, we went to the Flea Market and found a few bargains and went through the Driver Trailers at the Track and some of the exhibits to0.

Saturday - Jeff Gordon was on the Pepsi Stage at Noon, so Rudy and I made our way over there to get some pictures of Jeff on the Stage. Then we returned to the RV to meet Janine and Ashley and fix some dinner.

Sunday = Race Day! It was finally here.... Daytona 500..... We got up early in the morning because Cully and I were chosen through the Official Nascar Members Club to be along the Stage in the infield for Driver Intros! How exciting. Along with this came passes to the Fan Zone in the infield. We got to see the cars going into and coming out of pre-race inspection, Daytona USA giving back the # 48 to Jimmie Johnson & Rick Hendrick (last year's 500 winner), and watch the crews as they got ready for inspection, take peak at some of the Pit areas and see a little of the behind the scenes preparation for the 500.

As the Drivers were introduced they walked off the stage straight towards us and shook our hands or gave High-5's as they walked by. It was great seeing each of them so close!

Cully and I then made our way to our seats where we found Rudy and we got ready for the start of the Daytona 500 with the Invocation, National Anthem and those 4 words that we've been waiting to hear since last November, "GENTLEMEN, START YOUR ENGINES".

Janine and Ashley were seated one row up and at the other end of the row from us, but caught a glimpse of them now and then.

# 29 Kevin Harvick Won the race and so on Monday morning we went to Daytona USA to have our traditional commemorative tag made and he just happened to be there giving a radio interview so we got to take some pictures of him there too!. It was a great weekend and we are all so happy that Race Season is finally here. Our next NASCAR race that we will be attending is March 25 in Bristol, TN! (probably another cold one)

February Itinerary

This month is chucked full of RV destinations. Two weekends ago, we took Elani and headed south to Avon Park on Friday for a one-nighter in my aunt and uncle's backyard. This was Elani's first overnight trip in the RV and we didn't want to go far. So we spent some time with family. Elani did great and we had a good time too. She took a little nap in the afternoon on Friday along side Grammy and then at night she went right to bed in the "big girl bed" and not a peep out of her. She woke up bright and cheery the next day too. Except for the nasty rainy, cold, wet weather we had, it was enjoyable and I foresee longer trips with Elani in tow in the RV with us.
Last weekend we left Friday before Noon to our monthly destination north of Clermont to camp with a group of friends and enjoy the quiet solitude of the woods, and listen to the sand cranes and owls chat at night. We enjoy good food, fellowship and relaxation on these days.

This week, Thursday, we head to Daytona International Speedway for the Gator Duels and the Daytona 500. We are camping at Crazy Horse Campground behind the airport that sits behind the Speedway. We will rely on the generator for power for this 5 day, 4 night excursion. Our friend, Cully from Tennessee is flying in to join us and we expect a couple more to come for part of the time too (at least to visit and eat with us). This is the start of the 2007 NASCAR CUP Race Season and I am ready!

So, three of the four weekends in February we've taken up residency in the RV. I love it!

Elani Says "I Lub U"

And she said it first to her Grammy! YEAH - I can't smile big enough! Elani and I were out shopping on Sunday, January 21, 2007 and we were in the car driving to the Mall. Usually when we get on I-4 Elani sees things that she recognizes, but we were going a different way, so the usual retention ponds and billboards of "SHREK" were not on this route. As she asked and I had to keep telling her "not, we won't see them today", she got a little discouraged. So I reached my hand to the back seat and gave her little leg a squeeze and a shake as I said, "I LOVE YOU"!
And then I heard those three magic words come out so sweetly and cute. "I LUB U". I almost cried right there on the spot. I was thrilled...... so I did it again and she replied the same way!
Who knew, those words could touch the depths of my heart with such intensity and make such an impact on me. It was just what I needed that morning! After doing a little shopping we played in the Mall playground to play, had Elani's favorite lunch in the Mall (chicken nuggets and fries) before heading home for a nap. It was the best time. I love shopping with Elani and sharing lunch with her. In fact, I love anytime I get to spend with Elani and just me.