Vicksburg....A History Lesson about America

This is another late post.....Left Pensacola on Wednesday, about 0700 . heading west on I-10 until. we got to Mobile Al....took I-65 north for a few feet and then got on US-84, a secondary road about  90% of the time it was a 4 lane divided highway....couple pit stops, fed the angry bears, and before you know it we where pulling into River View RV Park and Resort, Vidalia, Ms....it sits right on the Mississippi River...I've been here a couple of times and enjoy the park...Passport America for one night and also Good Sams...rate without is about $38.00...Has Wi-Fi, cement slabs(level), TV channels,( I don't use), pool...great for the Boys...



 

The Night of the Smores

 

Registered, got organized and guess what..."can we go to the pool"....after six plus hours in the car, they had some caged energy...so yes by all means....set some rules and off we go...two and half hours later we called it a day...why...lighting on the horizon...And a Blockbuster storm followed!!

 

 

 

 

Made Dinner and the rest of the evening was relaxing, playing games, a Skype call to Mom and Dad and a "Now I Lay me Down to Sleep Prayer".....why do they add.."please have Opi Drive safe"...

 

 

Horst Kelly Photographer

 

 

Next morning we get up about 0730...take a shower, that's for your benefit Daughter/Mother...they did switch underwear...just kidding, ate breakfast and by 0830 we where off to  the Vicksburg Battlefield...took about an hour plus...  arrived went to the office...oh no, the dreaded "Gift Shop", please  don't have the all popular "Marshmellow rifle"..note from  a previous post...they did, I didn't and we left with a cap, a book and a CD...

 

Horst Kelly Photographer

 

We took about two and a half hours doing a drive around...we had a map and the CD, so they learned as we drove...I think they enjoyed it...however as we where getting towards the end I could tell they had enough....I most admit it was probably more than I could handle at that age...no# 2 Gson took about 50+ photos, and No# 1 did a lot reading about each site...

Horst Kelly photographer

When we got back we relaxed, cleaned up and went to Taco Bell...one of their favorite places...came back, time for Skype and after that we took a walk on the side walk paralleling the Mississippi River...sat on a bench and watching the Barges bringing their goods up and down the River...Talked about that life style, . they saw clothes hanging on a line and asked if people live on the Barges..intuitive...

So that's been our day..leave tomorrow(which now is today) for Texas...heading Northwest to intersect with I-20...and by Saturday I'll arrive at the Homestead...until next time...Happy Trails....

Can I Be a "Top Gun" ...Opi

Ok, Ok...I have been delinquent in posting...But it happens from time to time ..I think we need to back up to the 16th...the day for the Naval Air Museum Adventure...we left after breakfast...another overcast to rainy day...got to Naval Air Station around 0900, and the fun began...the Boys where acting like they had just gone in their favorite Candy store...didn't know what to look at first....I must say they where in awe as to the variety or aircraft ...and the number...they where also intriqued at the  "period" displays of houses, and other scenes asking if those where two hundred year old kitchens...no 1942 vintage..but I do feel that old(the two hundred year date) lately...

Entrance of Museum

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We spent a good 3 hours looking at all the displays and being quizzed about the purpose of various aircraft...another terrific feature of the museum is their static displays of various sections of ships,ie, captains quarters, pharmacy, radio room, etc....of course they really enjoyed looking at the model of the Aircraft Carrier "Bush"...their father was assigned on it during its "Maiden Voyage"...Up to the Mezzanine..and another view of aircraft...especially the "Blue Angles 4 Ship"...then to ask if I ever flew one of those planes...it was one of the "Bi-Planes"...WW1 vintage aircraft...Ah, the aging process through the eyes of 9 and 11 year olds...

 

Future Blue Angles???

Thee NASA. Exhibits was also a hit with them as was the corridor of Navy Medal of. Honor recipients..


   

Moon Vehicle

As we where where winding down the tour...the eldest Gson said...can we try the simulator...for twenty dollar they can have a real experience in flying a F-18 or some sort of other Navy aircraft....I said OK,...and the short of it ...this became their "most favorite" event of the day...

We then went to the Light house, but by this time they where a little tired and their desire to walk up the stairs was less than enthusiastic...so we headed back to camp...not withstanding a trip to a fast food stop to get a quick fix... did their math, cleaned up..decided to grill chicken on the O grill..had a Skype section with Mom and Dad..hitched up for tomorrows travel day..and then built a fire and ended the day having smores on a open fire....


  

  

Strapped in the Simulator..below is their first roll out

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The team decided to skip the Space Center at Houston on this segment and we will do this as a day trip while at home...so we're off to Vidalia, La  tomorrow..will stay there until Friday...main event is the Vicksburg Battle Field..

We are Navy!!!

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A Crappy Start...but a Terriffic Finish

Woke this morning to the sound of Thunder...and the sun wasn't even trying to break over the horizon yet....what the....but after about an hour the lightening, thunder and rain shower subsided and all was right with the world...the Boys where still asleep, so I decided I would go ahead and get cleaned up and make a cup of outdoor java...By 0700 they where up...got them breakfast, they cleaned up and we where off to the beach for some early morning fun....the beach is different from the last and the "rip" was a little stronger...but they where having a ball... then we saw it...a small system moving in...after about 45 minutes I saw some lightening strikes...time to pack up and head for the safety of the camper.....

About an hour later the sun came out and it was time for another adventure..team decision...Go-Karts and then miniature golf...racing came first...I was going to let them race and my role was to be in the "Pit"...no. 2 Gson was not old enough by 2 months...so he and I had to ride together...Bummer..but it was a grand time...forgot my camera but used my phone camera...the winner will not be revealed....there   where no losers...

Next was miniature golf....no score card to record the scores....but to say the Guys where able to reinvent a putter into a driver...at the end it was no harm no foul...and all left smiling...another front was moving in so we headed for home....it didn't last long and we then decided to go to the Golf shores Zoo...not the largest Zoo...but we enjoyed it...a train ride then a walk around...two hours of fun...no. 2 Gson must have taken 100 photo's...

Horst Kelly Photographer

Horst Kelly Photographer

Got come about 430pm..did our math project, ate dinner and they are now watching a movie and getting ready for the 8pm Skype with parents...

Tomorrow its the Naval Museum and Light House...plus what ever...Happy Trails...Horst

ps...can't get my Droid 2 photos to download to windows 8...HELP is appreciated...that has the Go Kart and golf photos.

Ft Pickens

FT PIckens...and a Snow White Beach....Bring on the Fun

The day didn't start at O dark 30 as planned...by the time we got up and said ready, set, go it was 0730...but not to worry we gained an hour and arrived here around 1230...the drive was a non event...I-10 until exit 22, two pit stops, no rain and hardly any traffic...

Fire in the Hole....

However after leaving the Interstate the ride turned  into a real zoo...cars, pedestrians, folks that had one too many glasses of wine at this Sundays Communion, and of course the folks trying their best to show everyone what some good DNA will do for you...or what they bought at the Plastic Factory...and the traffic didn't stop there...going on the Ft Pickens road also became bumper to bumper ...and "Check-Point Charlie" was backed up at least a quarter mile...ok, I forgot...its the middle of summer on a weekend...the nerve of folks to infringe upon us Retired Opi's....

Got to the registration office about 45 minutes after getting off I-10, nice folks.....since the Boys have been locked up for two days do to rain I extended our stay here....got to our site and with 15 minutes we where all cooling off and relaxing...we made some team decisions...too hot to go to the beach, the Blue Angle stuff probably is closed today....so we decided to try a self walking tour of the Fort....By now You know a History lesson is next...

Thought I would try a video..couldn't get it to play do to the slow Wi-Fi I have here....if it's not beneficial let me know so I can delete and add something else....


Horst Kelly Photographer

 

We spent about an hour walking around....I didn't realize how hot it had gotten and forgot to bring water....that won't happen again....it was a very interesting Fort....and then to find out Geronimo was imprisoned here brought out a whole other History Lesson for the Boys...We plan to go back again...

Horst Kelly Photographer

we then went to the first grocery store we could find to get provisions.....I didn't feel like grilling, so we got some ready made hoagies, salad, desert for the Boys and where Homeward Bound...ate, played computer games, walked around to see where stuff was ...Skyped the parents and now  looking at going to dreamland.

Just did some research on hours of operation for the Navy Air Museum....found out it was closed on Mondays do to the Furlough...so we'll do that Tuesday....tomorrow its the beach, go karts, putt putt golf and who knows what else.....So until the next post....and thanks for stopping by.....BTW, we didn't get a chance to start the new section yet.....Horst sends

Is this how far we have traveled....WOW

No more Stinkin' Rain...Please

Rain drops on fiberglass woke me up this morning about 0500, my lower back old age problems where acting up,  I figured this was going to be a "Grumpy Old Man" day....I decided I'd get cleaned up and do some Laundry since it was at the same location....I'm thinking that I forgot my soap but remembered the words of fellow blogger and Casita owner Lynn about "overrated"...So I thinking ...Soap is highly overrated for doing laundry...only kidding #one  daughter....

Got finished...Gkids where looking outside and not happy campers...had them take a shower and brush their teeth, etc...since we where in the car, I took them to Uncle MacD., instead of trying to make something inside the camper...came back and settled in for a Looooooong  boring, rainy day...

Boring and Sad..all this rain

They do have a computer,  Dvd's, Ipods, 3DDS, movies, Wii's ... and the list goes on....even with that, KIDS do get bored...its what they do, 'cause they have all that energy and no place to use it....and when they try to lose it in the camper, the "Grumpy Old Man" tries to jump in the middle...at the end of the Day we all built a little "Character".....

By mid afternoon the rain had pretty much died down, though it was too wet to hike or play, etc....we decided on a Wal-Mart run...got a couple of necessities but did get some junk food...don't you two frown, daughter and SIL...they earned it today...they then did their math projects, snacked and got back to playing games.

Doing Math Project

Younger Gkid and I went for a short walk....as we where walking he  looked at me and said "Ahh, the sounds of Nature"..he was serious...and he's only 8, going on 9 in Sept.....I think he'll do just fine!!!...they both are well balanced boys....from reading to taking karate, and everything in between..

So tomorrow we are going to leave at O dark thirty...the trip is about 275 miles...I didn't want segments to be more then 160 miles, but this one didn't work out...oh well, hopefully we'll be their by mid afternoon and that the weather will get better... Blue Angles, Ft. Pickens, Beach....sun and fun...we're ready...

At The End of the Day...Happy Campers

One final note..tomorrow will bring a new segment to the Blog...so come back and see what's new and amusing...Happy Trails...Horst sends

Travel Day and Rain...The 3 Amigos are NOT Happy Campers

I had hitched up yesterday in anticipation of the "60 %" chance of rain today..The day started at 0630 the  sky was clear and the sun was smiling at us...it was a short trip today..less than 160 miles...didn't want to depart too early as we would get caught in the Jacksonville rush hour traffic...well we got antsy and left a little after 0800 ...rush hour be damned..we made the trek around the north end of the city and got on I-10 west without incident...and where rolling free and clear , reflecting on recent memories...

(c) Horst Kelly Photographer

At about 1000 hours we made a gas stop and the boys wanted to get their mid morning snack/sugar high ..I had a better idea...I happened to see a Cracker Barrel, their new favorite place...not so much for the food but rather for the gift shop.  When I mentioned what I had found and if they where interested...they where starting the Xterra..we ordered and they went to the gift shop until the food came...if they had their way, three quarters of the items would have been in the Casita by checkout time...everything from helicopters to ant farms, from a marshmallow rifle to Civil War union Military cap ...and all things interesting or  not so interesting....

Oh...to be Young Again



Suwannee River Horst Kelly Photographer

Breakfast for one was two pancakes with sausage, other had 4 slices of French toast with bacon...both had  hot chocolate milk, I had the diet breakfast, lol..biscuits with sausage gravy and hot coffee...we rolled out of there about 45 minutes later and about 15 minutes later the sky opened up with a good steady rain..got to the Suwannee River State Park and no one was around...found our site which to me should have been for a tent...very tight to get into even with the small platform I have...very wooded and a blanket of pine needles, which means I now have a gross of them in the camper..it was still raining so you had 3 eager men itching to do something, and that's not a good thing in a confined space...I started looking for other campgrounds...and am not finding anything...we might have to bed down here another night...and if it rains I can't be held responsible for what we three might do to the General Population in this area ..lol

Suwannee River Horst Kelly Photographer

Hopefully you won't see us on CNN news tomorrow...until the Happy Trails...Horst

Surfing in the morning and Alligators at Okefenokee in the Afternoon... How much Better can it Get...

Early morning surfing 

I was told by Gkids to let you know that if you click on the photos they will be enlarged...woe is me!!

The Team was up by 0600...we where ready for some early morning surfing...by 0700 we had breakfast...pop tarts and stick pretzels..we opted not to have the Beef Jerky dipped in honey mustard...we where driving through the gate to the beach by 0700 , though the sign stated opens at 0800...I felt its better to ask for "forgiveness" than for "permission"....the next two plus hours where more than we could have anticipated..warm water, tide coming in, great wave action, no clouds,..but not hot...did have a rip tide...so I had them not go out too far...I saying this for my Daughters benefit....it was two plus hours of great fun...

Gator head

They decided they had enough and where ready for the next adventure of the day..a trip to Okefenokee Swamp Park..some 70 miles north..only hiccup was I thought we where going to the National Park, which I had been to in 2010...which got me in free and did a self guided tour...this was not it...ended up with a 43 dollar tab...but it included a talk/exhibition, train tour, etc....you can't put a price tag on adventure with your Grand Kids...the interactive talk was fun...the lady brought out  live snakes and 'Gators...of course Gson had to have the gator sit on his head...

First ones on the beach....

We then walked around the park, saw several large Gators, went into the Museum, and then off for a 45 minute train ride into the swamp....I think we saw "Bigfoot"...that's our story and we're sticking to it.....we finished the tour mid afternoon, and got back at dinner time...cleaned up, hitched up and are ready for tomorrows departure...Had our nightly Skype session with Mom and Dad...its amazing we can get a connection, there is no campground wifi...so what it is , is my smart phone, a Wilson sleek and PDA.net and without the Wilson I can't even make a cell phone call...life is good..until  next time..Horst sends

South to Florida....and the sun is smiling on us

My eyes opened at 0530...went out and made some coffee and watched Mother Nature do her wake up call...several deer came by along with various other animals...The Gkids just didn't want to come out of dream land, so I decided to hitch up by myself...I have given them chores during hitching...ie, guide the tow vehicle to Ms. Casita, connect to the ball, check my work as it pertains to the weight distribution hitch and sway bar..get the chocks, do a walk around...but today was their day off....or maybe it was their Federal Government "Furlough" Day...


Ft. McAllister..photo by Gson  Eric

We all had breakfast, cleaned up and changed clothes...by 0830 it was wheels in the well and we where heading south on I-95, one pit stop at Loves and another at the Florida Visitors Center...160 miles later we arrived at Little Talbot State Park....had to wait an hour before we could check in...took a walk to the beach...and I forgot my camera...back to the camper for a ham and cheese sandwich and returned to check in...its a wooded site, back in...close a marsh and across the street from the beach.

The Boys where tired and took a nap...a team decision was made to wait until tomorrow morning to go swimming and seek out a fort...,so we went to look for a Wal-Mart ...it was getting close to dinner time and what do we find...a Cracker Barrel....sure can't pass that up, don't care what Opi was going to fix for dinner...we will chow down at CR!!!

By the time we got back it was  down time and waiting to Skype Mom and Dad, that's if we can get it tonight....so we're signing off...waiting for the next adventure....starts  tomorrow....Horst sends


Sunset at Little Talbot Island, Fl. Campsite



Gson Camera. Florida Welcome Center




 

Tour the Area...and more

This morning started about 0600(OK its now the 10th, not the 9th...so its yesterday morning))...the Kids where still in dream land...I went outside made a cup of campfire Java and watched the sun rise above the Marsh land....since it was somewhat overcast..there where no photo ops...went back inside and the Grands started moving about ....fixed them breakfast...cereal and pop tart...breakfast of Champions...took our showers and at 0800 where paying the bill to see Ft McAllister...now for the history lesson:

Fort McAllister II   

"Other Names: None Location: Bryan County Campaign: Savannah Campaign (1864) Date(s): December 13, 1864 Principal Commanders: Brig. Gen. William B. Hazen [US]; Maj. George A. Anderson [CS] Forces Engaged: 2nd Division, XV Corps, Army of the Tennessee [US]; Fort McAllister Garrison (120 men) [CS] Estimated Casualties: 205 total (US 134; CS 71) Description: As Sherman’ s troops approached Savannah they sorely required supplies. Sherman determined that if he could take Fort McAllister, supply ships could reach him. Thus, he ordered Maj. Gen. O.O. Howard, commander of his right wing, to take the fort. Howard chose Brig. Gen. William B. Hazen to accomplish the task. Hazen, in the afternoon of December 13, had his men in line for the attack. Upon giving the order to attack, his men rushed forward through the various obstacles prepared for them, entered the fort, and captured it. With his supply line open, Sherman could now prepare for the siege and capture of Savannah."

We spent about an hour touring the Grounds...a lot of underground structures such as enlisted quarters, munitions storage areas, kitchens, etc...of course their favorite where the large Cannons...Eric(the younger one) took at least 50 photo's and the Boys both enjoyed all the old Civil War relics....Their favorite was the 15 inch Cannon....which each said they could get inside of....if you enjoy History this Fort is well worth going to....they also have a Small museum which includes the ships relics, various photo's, and also a recreation video of the fort....I know I missed a bunch....

After the tour we went to Bass Pro...three "Macho Men" can't bypass that store.... Got home...I mean camp, though the Kids said it reminded them of a cabin...relaxed, and the Boys did some reading...

Late afternoon did some hiking around...they then explored with the kids at the next site, ate dinner, nothing special, cleaned up and the folks from next door invited them for smores around the campfire.

Came in, got ready for the night and around 2115 hours they had their Skype section with Mom and Dad..lights out at 2200 hours...

Will do update of 10 July by tomorrow AM...if I get  this uploaded,  ..its very iffy..I'm online solely do to my Wilson Sleek...will see if I can post some photo's...Till next time Happy Trails...Horst sends

HI HO SILVER.... AWAY

It all started bright and early on the 8th...seems like the Grands where up before the rooster and by 0600 where ready to leave...Daughter and I did the last minute stuff....checked and rechecked and by 0900 she was leading me out of the drive way to US 17...daughter pulled off and we where now on our own...this was going to be like the first Apollo mission to the moon...or as the Star Track lead in use to say "Go where no Opi and two Gkids have gone before".we sang, they watch movies on their DVD's, they read books....and the napped....we made one pit stop and by early afternoon we where at Ft. McAlister looking for perfect site...and that was no.43...close to the water, bath house and playground....

Enjoying the camper...with modified table from Sams Club

The sites are all pull through with a grill and fire pit...as soon as we got out the kids saw a "herd" of Armadillos  meandering through our site...the Boys got their new fangled   something with camera ability....they took photo's of everything that moved...deer, squirrels, spiders, lizard...or was that geckos....and then highlight which they didn't have they camera...was a 'gator...right there in the marsh at the edge of the playground.....they met some playmates and explored till dinner time...grilled hamburgers and by that time it was getting dark...I forgot to get fire wood do no smores...will do tomorrow night, which now is tonite...


Ready to begin the Adventure 

No Wi-Fi here, but with my smart phone and the new pda.net which lets it become a Wi-Fi without tethering I got enough speed to even video Skype  the Daughter and Sil last evening...lights out about 2130...they went right to sleep and this morning we got up at 0630....Let me say, the Gkids are an absolute delight...very positive on what we are doing...enthusiasm is as high as it can be...have not whined, or gotten angry, I couldn't be happier about the trip...ok its only day one, but it has been a GREAT start!!

 Next segment coming this evening or tomorrow AM...thanks for stopping by...Happy Trails.....Horst