Dinner with Joe & Diane

Joe phoned last night asking if we would like to get together for dinner.

(Joe & Diane are on the picture to the left of me and Wilma in the picture of "Our Camping Friends" to the left of this Blog)

I said sure, where would you like to go? Joe named a few restaurants, and we both decided on Dimetre's Rendevous, (not sure of the spelling). So the plan was to meet there at 5pm this evening.

As Wilma and I pulled out of our driveway, on our way to the restaurant, she made a comment that Joe has not seen our new car yet. I realized that it was just too full of salt from the roads so I stopped at a car wash. Yep that did the trick...it's looking like a new car again. It doesn't take much road salt on a dark blue car to make it look really bad.

We arrived about 15 minutes early. While pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant, I told Wilma to keep a look out for Joe's Chevy Van or Diane's Buick Century. Neither vehicle was there yet so we sat in the warm car waiting.

In 10 minutes Joe pulls up in a (new to him) 2006 Chevy Denali. A white vehicle, and he didn't think to get a car wash, to show it off to us. But that's ok, it is a beautiful vehicle. He said it has all the options that Chevy could put on it. So for a couple minutes we both examined each others new vehicles. Then we all went inside to eat as we were all pretty hungry.

Our meals were delicious, the bill was not bad for the quality of food we received, and after we paid our bills we remained to chat for almost a half hour.

We did notice that the restaurant wasn't filling up like it usually does this time of day, and that there wasn't a line of patrons waiting for a table. Another sign that times are getting bad and people are cutting back saving their cash.

Tomorrow evening we are taking Mom & Dad out to Red Lobster for Mom's 81st. birthday.

I called her this morning around 9am to wish her a happy birthday, as today is her actual birthday. I then proceeded to tell her we where going to take them to Red Lobster for dinner tomorrow. Did she ever get excited, she just loves shrimp. The local "family style" restaurants that they usually go to just have the pre-frozen sea food. You know the type of food I'm talking about. It's the type that if you close your eyes you really can't tell what your eating because of the heavy coating of batter.

So tomorrow evening around 6pm, Mom & Dad should be returning home from Church, and Wilma and I will be waiting to take them out to Red Lobster. I think we all are looking forward to it except Dad. He isn't a big fan of sea food, but I told him they must have other choices on the menu. Now let's hope I'm right!

Until our next adventure, be safe and God Bless.

Visiting Friends Day

Last night we wanted to see the sunset, so Wilma made us each a sub, along with a couple bottles of water, packed the camera and off we went to one of the many beaches.
The wind was blowing pretty hard, so after a couple pictures of us outside we just stayed in the car. After sundown we came home and went to bed.

This morning we had planned on going to see a couple friends of ours. First was Floyd Huetteman. I have known him for about 5 years now from the Lodge. After his wife died of Cancer, Floyd was by himself with his family all living in Florida. Then tragedy struck Floyd. He had a stroke and it was a neighbor who found him a couple days later laying on his condo's kitchen floor. His daughter came up to Michigan from Florida to take care of him and make arrangements to take him back to Florida with her. The last time I saw Floyd in Michigan he was in a wheel chair and could not speak.

This is Floyd now, doing much much better. He stays active with the Masonic Lodge in Florida and also the Shriners.

From seeing Floyd we went to see "RD". One of the friends Wilma knows from the Chat Room. This guy is pretty neat! A true Floridian, born and raised in Florida. Has many of the same beliefs as I do, so we hit it off pretty good. Wilma really enjoyed meeting and talking with him today. And I did also.

As both Floyd and RD live in Lakeland, Florida, and we are in Dunedin, we had about a 53 mile each way trip. We relied on Sleezy Sally, (my GPS) to get us there safe and sound. Well she got us there but coming back she blew it pretty good and got us a trifle lost. Dang it and I didn't have a paper map as a back up. Thanks to Wilma and her good instinct for identifying landmarks we got back without too many extra miles.

Before supper our neighbors told us of a "Comedy Show" being held in our RV Park. So we decided to go see it. Cost us only $10.00 for the two of us, for a 2 hour show. The comic was really good! Didn't stop for the full 2 hours. Not only a comedian but a great musician playing several different instruments. Also did some great impressionist of several well known actors, Dean Martin, Elvis, are two that come to mind.


Until tomorrow, take care and God bless.

Rifle River Camp Out

Thursday, September 13, 2007

We arrived at Rifle River around 3pm, Gary & Cheryl already had their camp set up. They arrived about 3 hours prior. Boy oh boy...did they ever get us a great camp site. It seemed that we were the only ones in the park.

A few hours after we arrived, Joe & Diane arrived. Poor Diane was stressed pretty bad as they just spent at least an hour in traffic. An accident on I-75 delayed them. Plus she told us that a couple days ago, Steven, their son, had removed their rear tire to inspect the brakes and noticed the tire had a large slice on the inner sidewall. So they had to purchase a new tire. Thank God he spotted the slice....that could have been a blow out for sure!

First thing for Joe to unload......FIREWOOD. More Wood Joe, More Wood.
(This is a standing joke among us, and I know that he is laughing as he reads this)

We had a great fire and as the evening progressed the wind picked up and we all turned in early.

Friday, Sept. 14th.

The day started with sunny skies and no wind. Perfect for a walk in the Campground.

Had to take some shots of the 6 of us together.

As we walked around the campground, we found this tree.
Wilma stood in front of it so you could get an idea of it's size.

We arrived at the River and had a sit on the dock to take it all in and relax a bit.

Heading back to the Camp, had to go up "The Hill"




Along the trail back to the Camp, Wilma spots a beautiful wild flower.




Just before dinner, Wilma goes for a bike ride.




All set, ready to go.




Say good bye...and be safe!




When they returned we all sat down for a great dinner of chili, brats, and an assortment of other dishes. Thanks Diane for the great Chili. Thanks Gary & Cheryl for preparing the peppers to spice up the chili.




Afterward we sat around the fire until the eye-lids said it was time to go to bed.


Saturday, September 15th.

Wilma was first to arise and decided to take a walk around the campground.




The "Chapel in the Woods"
There are 5 campgrounds owned by the organization we belong to and each one has a Chapel.




Our campsite. Wilma & I are in the middle.



Later in the morning everyone decided to go for a ride and see a friend of ours cottage on a river near our campground. He really has a beautiful place.
This is the road coming toward the river.




Dave's dock and looking up stream of the river.




We left and headed to the Eagles Lodge for lunch.




Back at the Campground a game of "Washers" was in order.




Evening came, so did the campfire.
Campfire pies and sandwiches were on order.
Mmm Good!


Sunday, September 16

After breakfast we started getting ready to head for home. Joe & Diane left first, we took our time no big hurry to get home. About a half hour before we left, the cell phone rang. It was Diane; they were broke down on the side of I-75 with a burned out wheel bearing on the trailer. A tow truck on the way.
As we left the campground and headed home we kept an eye out for them. When I saw them I pulled over. Joe said they were taking it to an RV repair facility a few miles down the road and he would be picking it up later in the week. They both were alright so we pulled away and headed home.
Gary being retired decided to stay until Thursday, enjoying the area.
He and Cheryl were planning a bike ride the next day and enjoying the peace of the campground.

Yet another great week-end with friends. Many laughs and a good time was had by all.
Another adventure in our lives.
Come back again....until then, God Bless & keep you safe.