The Views from my Campsite

Thought you would enjoy - and envy - the views I see from front, back and sides of Winnie.

The Residents of Custer State Park & Crazy Horse Memorial

Easter on the Beach

The weather cooperated and Easter weekend was fabulous!

Saturday friends Janet & Bob invited me over for a pre-Easter dinner and to meet all their wonderful and crazy neighbors and friends. Janet is one of those people who loves to decorate 'on a theme' and what better than bunnies? The chair covers were a hoot - as you can see! We each received our own, chocolate-filled basket (no Peeps) besides a delicious dinner served with much wine.

Sunday I woke, threw on my sweats and peddled to the beach for sunrise service at 6:30 a.m. The bright glowing ball of tangerine rose out of the sea while about 1000 people crowded the boardwalk to hear the message of Easter. A free pancake breakfast was being served for all those attending, but I had to rush back to Winnie, change into a more normal Easter outfit, as Eloise was picking me up at 8 a.m. to attend regular service at Unity. We were both so moved by the beautiful cantata that the choir performed and saddened that it was the last Sunday that our pastor would be overseeing the services here in Wilmington. Russell is off to become an associate pastor at a huge Unity Church in St. Petersburg. A wonderful opportunity - but he will be missed.

I met a very nice man at the Food Lion on Saturday while we were both digging through a pile of spiral-cut hams. He was bemoaning the fact that all the ones they had were so big - 10 lbs plus. I told him I had the same problem, and then asked if he would like to split one with me? Perfect solution, butcher did it in a flash and I got to have the yummy brown-sugar glaze in my 1/2 for coming up with the idea. So after church Eloise took me to her home where I baked ham, she did all the side dishes while we both sipped Bloody Marys and prepared to settle in front of the TV and watch The Masters. It was a wonderful day - we both even took a little nap, which a good round of golf on TV seems to always provide:) It was a perfect Easter weekend - thanks again to my dear and generous friends.

Now you might be saying, the picture of those two, curly, browned-eyed, sweet-looking things are not Easter bunnies! Nope - meet Harley (curly) and Angela (slick-haired). Brother & sister, 12-week old Chesapeake Bay retrievers who were my RV neighbors for the Easter weekend. Much better than bunnies - and what a pair of lovers and lickers. I wanted to steal at least one of them until I was told then would each weigh about 150 lbs when full-grown. Take a look at those paws and yep, they're going to be big puppies! Just a wee bit too big to be an RV dog.

I hope each of you had a wonderful Easter. Until next time...take care of each other.

ReAnn

Beachin' Time

Well, it's been 2 weeks since I arrived on Carolina Beach. First, the weather has been basically - - awful! The first week it rained and rained, poured and rained some more. The second week we had tornado watches and warnings and I just sat here, rocked back and forth - and prayed.

But it really has been a fun two weeks - showing off Winnie to all my girlfriends, who swear they are going to leave their spouses and come travel the country with me. Laura and Janet has been fantastic, giving me rides, feeding me, taking me places. Janet even loaned me her 3-wheel bicycle with big baskets to go to and from the grocery store. Believe me when I tell you this is not an easy bike to ride - wants to pull to the left and go through every ditch and hole it can find. But it will not tip - so that's a good thing and I just love the tall stick with the flag on the bag so the car-folks can't miss me!

Have thoroughly enjoyed having the library and a little grocery store in walking distance. Also the movie theater, a RedBox movie rental, the ABC store (NC's answer to liquor stores) a hardware store and lots of restaurants. My hairdresser, the wonderful and adorable JoDell has given me free use of her car whenever she's working and then there's my good friend Beth, who lets me come to her place every two weeks and do my laundry. This past Saturday, my ol' golfing buddy Bill, drove all the way from Brunswick Forest to Carolina Beach to pick me up so I could play a around of golf with my singles golf group. You learn very quickly how true the adage 'out-of-site, out-of-mind' means, and who your true friends are, especially when you are stuck and don't have a vehicle.

On Sunday my friend Page drove over from Raleigh (we've been friends for almost 40 years!) to be my first over-night guest. The sun had come out, so I finally unfurled the awning and put out the patio chairs and tables. That lasted about 3 hours until the wind started whipping at 30 mph - again. We took a long, very brisk walk on the beach, did some shopping at Unique Boutique (favorite island clothing store) and took me to pick up the HD box (finally got my coupon from the government). Easy installation and now can watch television - all except CBS. Of course, CBS is the station that broadcast the NCAA basketball tournament and has this coming weekend's Master's. So will spend Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoons in the local pub watching golf on their TV's. Saturday night I'm invited to Janet & Bob's to meet the neighbors and enjoy a pre-Easter dinner. Sunday Eloise will pick me up and we'll attend church, do lunch and then go back to her place to watch the final round of The Masters.

FYI - Page gives the L-couch a "9" for sleeping-comfort, loves Winnie's space, nooks and crannies

So as you can see, I have not just been lazin' around every day. Still reading an average of 2-3 books a week and enjoying catching up with all the latest DVD's, but spending time with my friends and hopefully soon seeing Son #2, has been so much fun. Next week I will have to unhook and drive across the bridge to the closest garage to have Winnie get her NC Inspection. Without that, no plates or registration. Then on-or-around the 15th will make her 'official.'

Originally had planned to stay on Carolina Beach until 5/1, but the cost is horrendous for no services whatsoever. Just electric, sewer and water. No cable, no showers or laundry. But...they are across the street from the Atlantic Ocean, so they charge as much, if not more, than some the nicest RV resorts I've stayed in so far. Considering departing the 23rd of April and just slowly rambling my way West. If you're on my way to Cody, WY (that means you are are in a reasonable distance (N/S/E/W) of the middle of the US, and have an electrical outlet in your garage I can plug into, just give me a holler - would love to stop by and show off my rig!

Until next time....take care of each other.

Re