October Rally Update

In case you haven't checked out the "Future Rallies" tab above, we wanted to let you know we have arranged for the October Officer's meet to be at the Hammondsport Firemen's Field in Hammondsport, NY (the "Coolest Small Town" in the US).
More details will be available as the year progresses.

Roule's Travels

We left western NY on January 10th. This year we chose to take I81 out of Harrisburg all the way to the end in Tennessee. Scenery was great and the weather cooperative. 
We discovered the first night out our digital TV converter had "bit the dust". Visiting one of the largest Walmarts we have seen, they had them - $50. An LED TV is about $200. Soooo, buy and figure out how to install a TV OR a new converter.
Cheap and Lazy won. We have a new converter and good reception.
Picking up I75 in Tennessee brought us to Leesburg, FL arriving on the 13th. We are at Holiday Travel Resort. 
The route is about 185 miles further than the coast route, but worth it.
We look forward to seeing everyone on February 16th at the Golden Corral.

Linden's 6th Travel Report

December 25, 2012 - Two volunteer couples went with us to Longhorn Steak and Ale for Christmas dinner. The food was very good. The weather was a little cool but the sun was shinning brightly.
The wind is still blowing and the temperatures are below normal for this time of year here in Texas. It gets down to the 40s at night and only up into the 60s in the daytime.
I haven't been fishing due to the cool temps and rough sea.
December 29th. - One of the park employees moved into a condo and invited all the volunteers to her house for a get together. We were asked to bring a dish to pass and our own chairs as she doesn't have any furniture. We all had a good time.
The couple that do bird tours at the park are leaving the same day that we are. We were presented with "Certificate of Appreciation" certificates and a $50 gift certificate. Ours is for Cracker Barrel which will come in handy as we travel.
December 31st - We spent the evening visiting other volunteers. After the ball dropped in New York City (11:00PM here) we headed for home. Old people don't stay up to late.
We are staying at Padre Island for a few days to just hang out.
January 5, 2013 - We left Corpus Christi in the morning. We were on the road less than an hour and missed seeing a head on fatal accident happen. Other motorists were just getting out of their cars to help. It was a narrow 2 lane road. We were lucky to get by before the police arrived. The road was closed for four hours and there was no place to turn around. Later heard on the news that three of the five people in the cars were killed.
January 6th - We went to dinner with friends from East Bethany, NY and then spent most of the day sightseeing and visiting with them.
We went to a War Memorial in McAllen, TX. The Memorial honors all branches of service since WW1. It's not finished yet but it looks great.
January 7th - We went to the "No Name Restaurant" for lunch. They only sell hamburgers, onion rings and french fries. A fully dressed hamburger is $5.50 and is on a bun that is 6 inches in diameter. I measured the burger after it was cooked. It was 1/2 inch thick and hung over all edges of the bun. I forced mine down, but Beryl couldn't finish hers.
The reason it is called the "No Name Restaurant" is because there is no name on the building. You have to know that it is on Silver Street in Donna, TX. Starting at 11:30 AM you can find the place by the number of cars parked along the street in front of the place and the line of people waiting to go into a place that looks like a store front. They stop serving when they run out of hamburgers.
While at the No Name Restaurant a Police Chief, a couple of local cops and some homeland security people came to our table and introduced themselves and wished us a good stay in Texas. They asked usto enjoy ourselves and to come back next year. Everyone here in Texas is very friendly.

Walt & Beryl Linden

I give UP !

When we wished for a white Christmas, we didn't mean 2 feet of snow. 'Tis pretty, though - because I don't have to drive to work. We hope to be dug out by the 8th.

We wish every one a Happy New Year.

Linden's 5th Report (from Corpus Christie)

November 24, 2012  -  One of the campers landed a 40 inch shark while surf fishing here in the park along with several other kinds of fish.  Fishing has been very good here in at the park.

November 25  -  A 48 inch red drum was taken today.  I fished for about an hour and a half and caught the smallest whiting that I ever caught.  After catching 2 more I quit.  The three fish I caught in total wouldn’t have made a decent fish sandwich. A camper came in with a helicopter in his trailer.  He expected to fly it right out of our parking lot.  Of cause that isn’t going to happen.

We have 3 more couples from New York in the park.  One from Baldwinsville, one from Rochester and one from Lakeville.  Tom Roule and I met the one from Lakeville when we held the first rally at the Lakeville Firemens field.  He is the electrician who helped us get electric working. 

December 10^th  -  A couple from Montana arrived in a 42 foot long 5^th wheel.  They also had a van that they use for sightseeing.   Nine kids are traveling with them. Three more stayed home in Montana.  All the kids are very well behaved.

December 16^th  -  Two German girls came into the park today with a “made in Germany”  motor home.  (Picture attached)  They landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia, traveled across Canada to Vancouver and then south on US 1 through California and then to Corpus Christi and Padre Island National Seashore.  They are on their way to Key West.  They’re on a one year vacation.

Had two big doings today.  A big grass fire in the park during the day.  In the evening a

drunk ran into the barrier around the Homeland security cameras at the entrance to the park.  He took out three 12x12 posts that hold up the 4x12 planks that are backed by ½ inch thick steel that is 12 inches wide.  Held together with inch thick bolts.  He smashed the planks, bent the steel plate and bent all the bolts.  Being drunk he didn’t get hurt too bad although he put his head through the windshield and ended up in the hospital.

December 20^th  -  We are experiencing very high winds.  Gale force winds woke us up during the night and we pulled in the slides.  We rocked and rolled for around 7 hours.  Temperature dropped from 80* in the day time to 60* at night.  Wind gusts were as much as 45 MPH.

There are two pictures shown.  Both motorhomes were made in Germany and shipped to North America.

Walt and Beryl Linden

wlinden@juno.com

Christmas wishes from the Fadales

As you know, Tom and Joanne's house burned while they were in Arizona last winter. They send their best wishes. TR

Merry Christmas to All of Our Motorhome Friends,

This year we find ourselves in our hometown for the holidays.  We cannot thank everyone enough  for all their thoughts, prayers, cards, calls and emails.  They have surely kept us focused on the task of the house build as well as realize that we really miss being on the road with anyone of you.  We want to wish you and your families the most blessed of Christmas wishes and hopes for the New Year. 

Attached are pictures of the house at this point, they even gift wrapped it for the holidays.  Not really! but they had to cover everything yesterday so the inside isn't filled with snow until the windows are installed.  Things moved slowly up to the point of the house demolition but have really moved now. Everyday we are somewhere picking out something. We will keep you updated. 

Please take care, travel safely and keep in touch.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Thomas and Joanne

 

We're Dreamin' of a white Christmas

Tonight, we barbeque, like real
 campers

To folks who head south, it's ok to be jealous. 
You with green grass, synthesized holiday ornaments wishing for the real thing - well, we have it.

  

Wishing everyone a 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

and

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Tom & Sharon

Southeast Area FMCA Rally Info

The Southeast Area Rally is from February 6th to February 10th with early arrival Feb. 3rd. 

Day Passes are $7 per person for one day, $10 for 3 days for vendor tents and displays.

Rally passes are below. 

Before 1/13 - After     

	GENERAL PARKING 2 PEOPLE	$140	$155
	HANDICAP PARKING 2 PEOPLE	$140	$155
	30 AMP GENERATOR 2 PEOPLE	$305	$320
	HANDICAP 30 AMP GEN 2 PEOPLE	$305	$320
	NO GENERATOR DRY CAMPING	$140	$155
	FULL GENERATOR 2 PEOPLE	$140	$155
	PASSPORT - ALL ACTIVITIES NO COACH PARKING ON GROUNDS	$109	$124
	GUEST OR CHILDREN OVER 12	$60	$75
	CHILDREN UNDER 12	FREE	FREE

Tampa RV Show

Folks in Florida might be interested in the Tampa RV Show. 2012 attendance was over 54000.
Dates are January 16-20, 2013. 
Location:
Florida State Fairgrounds
4800 US Highway 301 North
Tampa, FL 33610

Cost ain't cheap, $10 per person plus $6 parking. There is a $1 coupon on the web site. Site is:

http://www.frvta.org/rv-shows/2013-florida-rv-supershow/