People made the trip for us

[GeneF]

Dw and I saw many great things that this country has to offer but it was the people that we met and camped with along the way that made this trip so special.

We started by camping with ForestCreature, Bearbait and CampingCop in Michigan over the Labor Day weekend. We had a chance to renew friendships that started at PUT and at the Tennessee Rally. It was great to meet many of their family members and friends.

We then camped with ForestCreature and her husband for about 6 days in Michigan's Upper Penninsula. Marcy shared her love of waterfalls with us and we did many hikes to explore them. They even taught us to play Eucher and shared many laughs around the campfire.

In Minnesota, DW reunited with an 85 year old lady that had known her mother during her college years. She graciously had us for lunch and showed us a great city park.

While there, we were able to have a potluck dinner at our campsite with Kelly, Rae and Stacy. Three great ladies that I have chatted with over the years but had never met. It was like we had known each other for years. Time flew by and the ranger came over and mentioned that it was time for our guests to leave abou 10:30 pm.

Our next visit with friends was in Casa Grande, Arizona. The person we visited was also a retired teacher that both DW and I had worked with. He has recently moved to an RV Resort for the winter. DW and I found this to be a very interesting setup.

You can purchase a park model mobile home (12 x 35) that also comes with a carport big enough for 2 cars. Cost started at about $30,000 set up on your 50 by 60 site.

Once the mobile home is set up, you can add on to it to suit your needs. They had added a 17 x 17 foot living room with a second bath.

There was a great pool, golf course and a building for several different types of activities.

Each site had a palm tree and all of the homes were lined up exactly even. In fact, we camped there and had to line our unit up with the next one. They normally charge about $30 a night but had a special going for about $15 a night with full hookups and cable.

Eventual plan is for about 1600 units in the park. Rent was about $250 to $300 plus electricity per month.

Our next friend joined us in Salt Lake City and camped with us for 6 days through several of the national parks and flew back from Las Vegas.   We actually camped at Circus Circus. (KOA now on the Strip) It was fun to have her along and an easy guest to camp with.

Then on to San Antonio, Texas to visit a guy that I had stood up for in 1961. We had not seen each other since 1964 but had emailed each other over the past couple of years.

It was easy to rekindle an old friendship. He and his wife had us to dinner and also drove us around San Antonio to the Alamo and the Riverwalk.

DW had a teaching partner before she retired and he had suggested that she look up his brother in San Antonio who is a retired AF chaplain. Surprise, Surprise. When she contacted his brother, she learned that her teaching partner had flown down to San Antonio to visit his brother. We had a great dinner with them which included filet mignon and some good wine supplied by our gracious host.. It was a very pleasant and surprising evening.

Then it was on to Tampa, FL to visit Dw's Aunt and cousin. Very nice visit with the cousin giving us a grand tour of Tampa. Glad she was doing the driving. We also managed to take a tour on our own to Tarpon Springs.

Dw's Aunt insisted on taking us out to dinner. At the restaurant, dw's cousin suggested that I try the Snow Crab legs so I ordered them until the waitress said "Yes, they are available but the cost is $48.95." There was a noticeable sigh of relief from DW's Aunt when I changed my order to something considerably less expensive.

In Jacksonville, we managed to spend an evening with Mowalker and her family at a great city campground. Felt like we were in the tropics with all the palm trees. Dw had some fun trying to take pictures of some armadillos at night. I think she got one good one. I think we convinced them that a hybrid is a good deal.

In Virginia, we hooked up with Campnfan for a few hours and enjoyed some great conversation. We had a rough time finding the campground he had suggested because it was on the wrong place on our map.

Waiters, waitresses, campground office staff, welcome center staff and other various people that we met along the way, (many only briefly) helped to make this a very memorable trip.

[debbiedee1957]

Wow what a nice trip, I enjoyed just reading about it!

[ForestCreature]

We started by camping with ForestCreature, Bearbait and CampingCop in Michigan over the Labor Day weekend. We had a chance to renew friendships that started at PUT and at the Tennessee Rally. It was great to meet many of their family members and friends.
 
 We then camped with ForestCreature and her husband for about 6 days in Michigan's Upper Penninsula. Marcy shared her love of waterfalls with us and we did many hikes to explore them. They even taught us to play Eucher and shared many laughs around the campfire.

 If any of you ever have the opportunity to meet and camp with Gene & Terry DO NOT pass it up!  They are some of the finest 2 people to camp and travel with there are.  We enjoyed their company for 10 days & could have easily for 10 more.  It was an honor to start their long trek off on the right foot !
 
 We dragged them all over the western UP & barely put a dent in it, still trying to decide if we hiked more or laughed more!  Watch out for Gene, he's a pretty mean Eucher player...he caught on fast!
 And they carry a well stocked first aid kit too
 
 Gene, does Terry have any more of that Calumet fudge left?  Believe it or not I do!!
 

[tlhdoc]

We camped with Gene and Terry a couple of time and have to agree, they are great people, and they do have agood first aid kit.  

[Kelly]

 Gene, does Terry have any more of that Calumet fudge left?  Believe it or not I do!!
 

I dropped really big hints Marcy trying to score some of that fudge and it didn't work ... she either ate it all or is hoarding it!!  LOL

Couldn't say enough nice things about Gene and Terry.  Marcy is right ~ NEVER pass up a chance to meet them.  They are wonderful people!  We had a great time ~ it's about the only time I can think of that I wish campgrounds DIDN'T enforce quiet time!  I would have stayed a whole lot later than 10:30