FRIDAY NIGHT CONFERENCE BASEBALL GAME

April 23 - My grandson, Michael, was playing in a Conference Baseball game at the High School on Friday night. We met them at the game. Stasia works with Seniors at Goldsboro Parks and Recreation, and when she told me it was “Senior” night at the game, I thought she meant it was a special night for us old folks. She, of course, meant High School Seniors!!

The back windshield of Michael's car announcing Senior Night!


Arriving at the game, we saw the Senior sign. Michael is No. 10.



The Seniors designated Senior night aa Black-Out night – they would all wear black. The baseball team wore black jerseys sent to them from by former player who is now with the Pittsburg Pirates farm team!

A group of students sitting in front of us wore black Warrior tee shirts that were sold by the Seniors as a money-making project.

Stasia called all the mothers of Seniors on the team and the Senior parents also wore black.

The nine Seniors on the team and their parents were honored on Friday night. They were each introduced as they were caled out to the field.

Michael in action!!

And in the Goldsboro newspaper!! "Michael Fields gobbles up a ground ball..."

It was a great game – one of the best -- with the Warriors winning over their archrivals, Aycock, by one to nothing, making the two teams tied for First in Conference Play. There are two more Conference games to play to determine the ultimate Conference Winner for 2010.

After game pictures. Ken and Faye.

Gene and Stasia.

Michael and his girlfriend, Jessica who is also a Senior this year.

OVERNIGHT IN WALTERBORO, SC

April 22 - Ken did not want to stay overnight at that Wal-Mart. Only 60 miles north on I-95, was the Walterboro Wal-Mart Supercenter, our usual stop-over when traveling North or South on I-95. We know Mark and Chris (Pheaton Place) have stayed here in their travels also.

We filled up the RV at Murphy USA, as usual, before finding a “site” for the night. Tonight there were at least a dozen other rigs in the parking lot. It’s a good thing we like the area near the auto service area – that was about the only place left. Have never seen so many RV’s here before!!

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC

April 22 – We have never been to Hilton Head Island, SC. It is something I have always wanted to do and since we did not go with Barb and Mitch to the Rally in Tennessee after all, we had some extra travel time on our hands. This was a great opportunity to go to Hilton Head. We checked out the two RV resorts on the island. The cost to stay one night was exorbitant!! What should we do??

We called our friend Dennis back home in Richmond. He and Karen have been to Hilton Head many times. What should we do, Dennis? He suggested that we stay somewhere off the Island and drive in for the day. We took his advice and found a Wal-Mart Supercenter about 15 miles outside the Island. We left the RV at Wal-Mart and drove in.

Hilton Head was beautiful, lush and green but it was not at all as we expected. We thought it would something like Nags Head with lots of beaches, lots of sand, lots of ocean. Instead it was more an exclusive residential island with an abundance of foliage, trees and plants. In fact, the foliage was so thick we couldn’t see the island for the trees!!

We stopped at the first Visitor Center we saw for directions to the beaches!!

Flyers received at the Visitor's Center.

What she did not mention is that we would have to pay for a Pass into Sea Pines to get to the Beach. Ken was blocking traffic at the guard station trying to dig out his wallet to buy a Pass!

After paying the $5 pass fee to enter Sea Pines, we drove through more trees and villas with forest green mail boxes. My eyes hurt from seeing so much beautiful green scenery; but no beach! As we drove along, we couldn’t help but noticed how clean the entire Island was – not a piece of trash, not a weed, not even a cigarette butt!! We finally found the Beach!!

Here I am, Beach Beauty, posing right in front of not one but three trash cans!!

Views of the people on the beach.

Faye again with the people!

Ken is a Beach Beauty, too!

But, since we had not brought bathing suits or chairs with us, we just sat in a swing and enjoyed the sun, the breeze, and the view.

Views of the "Boardwalk". Actually, it was a small walkway from local shops to the beach.

Our swing - on the opposite side of the Boardwalk.

Since there was no boardwalk to walk along, and no scenic coastal drive, we decided we might as well have a late lunch/early dinner. After spending a little more time swinging at the beach, we went to the Lighthouse in Harbor Town.

We ate outside on the deck of The Quarterdeck Restaurant,

in front of the Lighthouse,

overlooking the marina.

We enjoyed their fried oysters and “chips”, UUUMMMMM!!

There were birds flying around and sitting on the chairs at the restaurant, but not a drop of bird poop allowed here!!

After eating we decided we had had enough of this All Too Perfect Island and went back to the RV.

I’m really glad we finally got to visit Hilton Head Island, but that’s something we don’t have to do again!!

CANCELLED!!!

April 21 – We left Cummins at about 12:20 PM and met up with Barb and Mitch at the Rest Area north of Ocala on I-75. Right on schedule! We got together in their coach and discussed plans for our trip to the On-Liners Rally in Sevierville, TN. We would head up I-75, stop at the Flying J in Valdosta, GA. Consider staying for the night at the Wal-Mart in Perry. We know that Wal-Mart well from attending the FMCA Rally in Perry in April 2009.

Since the On-Liners Rally did not begin until Friday, April 23rd, we had plenty of time and could dilly dally along the way.

As we were traveling up I-75 in Florida, Barb called their friends who were also attending the Rally. Barb made a STARTLINGING discovery!!! The Rally did not actually begin until Sunday, April 25th!! We were all invited us to spend the extra nights before the Rally at the home of their friends who have several 50 amp hook-ups and could easily accommodate us.

Ken and I were trying to decide what to do when suddenly I-10 East was upon us. We made a quick decision to turn right and take I-10 toward Jacksonville and I-95 north.. In that moment we CANCELLED out on Barb and Mitch and the On-Liners Rally!!

Now what would we do??? We found a Passport America campground I-95, Exit 7 in Woodbine, GA. We made a quick reservation and when we checked in we discovered we had 50 amp service and FREE WiFi in our rig!!! I can record line dance music all night!!!

So sorry we bailed on you, Barb and Mitch!! Enjoy the Rally. Post pictures on your Blog!!

CAMPING WORLD FOR NEW AWNING

April 20 – We left TT Orlando this morning. We had an appointment at Camping World, Kissimmee, FL to have our awning fabric replaced. The old awning was discolored and had deteriorated. Ken had wanted to have vinyl this time, instead of the fabric, but we were told we could not use vinyl because the metal awning cover we have would cut the vinyl.

Here is the Highway Runner in the service bay. Gary is removing the old fabric.


Gary finishing the installation of the new fabric.

The new awning out!!

Guess what. Gary said we could have used the vinyl. He has never heard the theory that the awning cover would damage vinyl. Oh well, too late now. And who’s to say Gary knows more than Barry at Camping World or the Service Technicians at Tiffin Motor Homes!!


CUMMINS IN OCALA FOR OIL CHANGE

April 20-21 - We left Camping World Tuesday afternoon and headed north to Ocala where we have an appointment with Cummins for an oil change, lube job, etc. We found this Cummins dealer on our way south in November when our Alternator went bad. They have plenty of 50 amp hook-ups for motor homes needing service.

Before leaving Camping World, I keyed the address for Cummins into our GPS and away we went. When we approached Ocala, the instructions said to take SR 475 north. We could not understand that, but had to follow the instruction. We drove up the most beautiful, peaceful country road, through horse country. Then we turned up a road in the woods!! Something was wrong!! I checked the address again. I had selected 52nd STREET instead of 52nd AVENUE!!!

We unhooked the car, turned around and backtracked fifteen miles, back to I-75. Our correct exit was Exit 352! Now, it has started to rain. And here we are driving up the highway with all the tractor trailers in the pouring down rain in our newly washed motor home, AND, it’s beginning to get dark!!!

We did make it to Cummins on 52nd AVENUE before dark where we hooked up and stayed the night. AND, we were able to watch A-L-L of our Direct TV Shows!!!


Next morning - Highway Runner in another service bay.

I, myself, spent the day upstairs in the Cummins lobby creating postings for Highway Runner BLOG!!

When we leave Cummins, we are heading north on I-75 to meet up with Barb and Mitch at the Rest Area on I-75, heading for the On-Liners Rally in Tennessee!!

DINNER AT SANTA FE CATTLE COMPANY, CLERMONT, FL

April 19 – We got together with friends for the Santa Fe Two for $12.99 Special! It was a lot of fun, and delicious!! I keep telling Ken that my Club Steak was so tender it melted in my mouth. In fact, my steak was so tender it was like eating butter!! Next time I think I’ll ask if they will serve the Teriyaki Glaze and Pineapple on the side. While it was delicious, I’d like to try the steak without the glaze. Sally got the Texas Tips. Stan said he like that flavor better than the Teriyaki Glaze.


Around the table: Pat, Keith, Faye, Ken, Stan, Sally, Mitch and Barb.

The last time we were together with Stan and Sally and Mitch and Barb, Mitch drove us all to Cheyenne’s in Church Street Station, Orlando, for Nickel Beer!! A few pictures from that outing as a reminder!!

Too bad Cheyenne’s is closed down now!!!

THE LAST (LINE) DANCE!!!

April 19 – This is the last day I’ll be able to line dance at TT Orlando. Ken came and took a few pictures.

Karen and I are dancing “Swamp Thang”, a dance that requires that we clap our hands.

Here is the group of us that we had today. Of the six dancers, four of us also play Pickleball (Names are in bold.) See below the picture. The courts were wet this morning from last night’s rain. so we danced instead of playing.

Karen - provides most of the music on her computer and does some teaching, too!! Karen has been at TT Orlando every time I have danced there.
Barb - and her husband, Mitch, spent the winter at a campground in Homestead. She said the line dance classes on were taught in French!! When we leave TT Orlando, the four of us are heading to a rally in Tennessee.
Faye – Well, you all know me!
Sally - and her husband, Stan, are heading home to Michigan, near Detroit. They stopped by TT Orlando on their way. We have spent the entire winter season with them; now, these are the last few days before we split company.
Marva – I remember Marva from line dancing at TT Orlando last year.
Dottie - taught a lot of line dance classes at TT Orlando and also at TT Peace River. She taught the class today with Karen’s help.

I learned so many new dances at TT Orlando this winter, I will surely miss it when I'm gone!!