Photo by The Joneses Ah ... serenity, with a view! Here's a look at the front yard at Rhetta & Tony’s friends’ house on the Mob Jack Bay in Virginia. — — — E-mail Gisela — — — SLIDE SHOW: Making our way back to Florida!
ARCHIVES: You wouldn't believe how beautiful Canada is! Wouldn't change a thing Who knew there was so much to see in South Dakota? Time is flying by — but at least we're having fun! I (heart) Hart Ranch, South Dakota Rallyin' in Goshen, Indiana A special day From friends to work to warmer temps, we're still having fun in Florida Traveling to Texas Finally, we're in Alaska! On the way to Canada Boise sure has changed a lot Escapees Rally in Wyoming Bittersweet trip through the southeast From Boy Scouts to ‘Stars on Ice’ Michigan is full of treasures Arriving in Florida Earning our ears Celebrating Christmas and New Year's in Florida and the Disney Parks Down in the Lowcountry Making our way through Minn., Wisc. and Ill. The holidays in Florida Our time in Lakeland has come to an end Couldn't have had a better time in Omaha! Arriving in Charleston A day with friends from Frederick 'Life is good' in Lakeland, Fla. Leaving Florida, and heading north Our final days in Kentucky Into the Keys Out of Charleston and off to Indiana Dreams come true in Vermont You never know what you'll see or who you'll meet in Alaska Leaving Indiana, but not before taking some of the state's best sites Idaho is full of natural treasures — and moon-like craters, too It's all about the theme parks From prairie country to beautiful views to grand 'ol Yellowstone Thunderstorms, flooding, tornados and a visit with the 'Duke' And so it begins ... Moving days for Greg and his family The gang's all here! Happy to be in Florida again Strawberries, and more strawberries 'The RV Capital of the World' From the beautiful Maine coastline down to southern Connecticut Training for our jobs at Disney World Chillin' out at 'Camp Monaco' Under the weather Back in Florida At long last, back in the area Lots to see in the 'Show Me' state With family and spectacular sights in Hailey, Idaho Look back, look ahead Back in the Lower 48 The cold weather is hitting Florida From Dallas to devastation Back on the road again Leaving Idaho and heading east Beautiful Alaska A memorable visit to Alaska's Kenai Peninsula Watch out for flying dinner rolls

Before we traveled to Florida we spent a few days in a Thousand Trails RV Park near Gloucester, Va. Gloucester is a small historic town on the York River. We spent one afternoon there to see the old buildings from the Colonial days including the Courthouse built in 1766. The area reminded me a little of Colonial Williamsburg; in fact the courthouse looked very much like the one there. Unfortunately I forgot to take my camera and wasn’t able to take any pictures.

The RV Park is located on the shores of the Piankatank River. This river is one of several (I think there are five) rivers that empty into that lower part of the Chesapeake Bay, just before the Bay empties into the Atlantic Ocean. The whole area there is called Tidewater Virginia.

We stopped at his RV Park mainly to get together with friends Rhetta and Tony who we met at the "Camp Monaco" — the Monaco service center in Indiana. We also wanted to ‘check out’ the park for future travel plans. I am glad we did, because I am sure we will come back here again. It looked like there are plenty of fishing, crapping, boating and other water sports opportunities here in the summer. It was a bit cold for any of those when we were there.

Rhetta and Tony are what we call "Half-timers."

They live in Richmond, travel during the summer and spend some of the winter months in Florida. Their RV was parked at their friends’ place on a small bay off the Rappahannock River, “Da Riva” as the people from Richmond call it. We met them there and then drove to another friend’s house for an Oyster Roast Party.

This house was on the Mob Jack Bay. The Oyster Roast Party was great. The oysters were steamed right there. The host’s father had harvested them that morning. Fortunately for Ralph, who does not eat oysters, there was a lot of other food.

The host was a young man who loves to cook. He stays at this house situated directly at the water only on the weekends. During the week he works in Alexandria.

I, however, went for the oysters. I love them and this was the best oyster eating experience I have ever had. Nothing like sitting at a table in beautiful surroundings and eating fresh steamed oysters. I have no idea how many I ate, but it was at least two dozens or more; didn’t eat much of the other food though. Great afternoon!

Another excitement I had while in Virginia was going to a book signing at Barnes & Nobles in Norfolk. Steve Doocy from "Fox & Friends" was there signing his book “Tales from the Dad Side.” I am, what Ralph calls, a "Fox News Junkie" and watch "Fox & Friends" every morning, so seeing and talking to Steve Doocy was a thrill for me. He is a very charming and personable guy and funny too, just like he is on TV.

Our next destination was Radcliff, Ky., to pick up our items in storage there and haul them to Florida to put in storage there. These are items we — better I — just couldn’t part with and will want to have once we settle down again.

While driving through West Virginia we had a surprise — a white surprise called snow.

At first I was all excited to see the snow on the side of the road— I really like snow and it looked beautiful. However, as we traveled on it started snowing very hard. Ralph was NOT a happy camper!! He did very well, but we both agreed, this is NOT the kind of weather you want to drive through in an RV.

We managed to load all the boxes from the storage unit into our car (C-RV) and the RV. After two days of travel we arrived safely in sunny Florida.