June 2011

From Alabama, we continued our way north.  A stop on the Natchez Trace was quite enjoyable.  We stayed close to the site where Meriwether Lewis, of Lewis and Clark fame, died and was buried.  Also drove the trace to Nashville with lots of stops to see waterfalls and historical sites.  We were very lucky to be in Tennessee during the 13 year emergence of  the cicada.  The trails were covered with them and the noise was defeaning at times.

Meriwether Lewis memorial

Waterfall on the Trace

Cicada emerging from his shell

Double Arch Bridge on Natchez Trace

Beautiful views from the Trace

It was then on to the Land Between the Lakes in Kentucky.  Stayed at Hillman Ferry, a beautiful campground    on Lake Kentucky.  We got a chance to visit with our friends Wren and Michael who we first met in Ft. Myers where they winter each year.  They took us to Paducah where we got to see the murals on the flood walls.  Had a wonderful dinner at their home too.

Cheryl and Wren relaxing at the campground

Beautiful murals on the Paducah floodwalls

Old Iron works furnace in LBL

We had a great three days in Rockford, IL.  We rode the Rock River Recreation Trail and did some hiking in Rock Cut State Park.  

The Rock Guardians of Rockford, IL

Made our way to Lake Shelbyville.  Had a chance to visit Denny and Mary K Craig, friends we met in Arizona.  They have a beautiful home in St. Joseph, IL.  Played some Pegs and Jokers and had a great lunch.

Cheryl, Steve, Mary K and Denny

We then headed north to Madison, WI.  Unfortunately, we had a terrible shock with the death of Steve's cousin, Paula Smith.  If you read our previous blog, you saw pictures of Paula and Steve at his birthday party early in May.  We flew back to Pensacola from Madison for the funeral.  After returning to Madison, we got to spend lots of time with our friends, Harlan and Gwen Olson, who live just west of Madison in Mt. Horeb.  They have a beautiful farm and we loved seeing the farmhouse.  100 years old and so charming.  Gwen and Harlan brought their motorhome to the RV park where we were and we had  great days of biking the Capital City Trail and touring Madison.  The Saturday farmer's market was awesome.  Madison is a maze of paved bike paths and beautiful lakes.  We had a wonderful surprise visit from Nan and John Banks who live in NW Wisconsin.  They decided they needed a Pegs and Jokers fix (a board game we all learned while in Ft. Myers this past fall) so they drove down for an afternoon and evening visit.  We all had to spend about an hour in the campground shower due to a very severe thunderstorm, but made the best of it and had a great time.

Steve, Cheryl, Gwen and Harlan Olson at their farm

Capitol building in Madison

Riding the Capital City Trail

Dinner at the Botts' RV

Continuing to party in the shower room

Harlan, Steve and John monkeying around in downtown Madison

More from Wisconsin on the next blog installment....

Cheryl and Steve's 2011

We had another wonderful winter in Arizona.  Had great fun at all the dances, games, hiking, biking and golf at Pueblo El Mirage.

Hiking in White Tank Mountains

At the Ships Ahoy Dance

Biking to Arizona Falls

In mid-March we got to spend three days with our friends Trevor and Liz Atkinson in Sedona.  We went on quite a few beautiful hikes, enjoyed great dinners and getting to know them much better.

Trevor, Liz and Steve in Sedona

 In April we spent a week in Palm Springs golfing with our friends Jerry and Loretta Cutrer and meeting Andy and Joanne Paterno for the first time.  We all took a day trip to Joshua Tree National Park and could not believe its beauty.  A ride up the Palm Springs Tramway was also a highlight.

Rock Formations in Joshua Tree

Jerry and Loretta at Joshua Tree

At top of Palm Springs Tramway

We returned to Tallahassee the beginning of May to visit our children and grandchildren and to celebrate Steve's 70th birthday. Steve was so happy to have his cousin Paula Smith and her husband Dewey with him for the special occasion.  Also visits from our Rving friends Bob and Robi Watkinson as well as Jerry and Loretta Cutrer from Hilton Head Island, SC was a treat. Steve had an opportunity to see his Pi Kapp fraternity brothers too.  Steve's daughter, Stacy, put together a great slide show of Steve's life.  Everyone seemed to enjoy seeing Steve with all that hair!!   We enjoyed all our grandchildren too and I was so happy to be with my son on Mother's Day this year.  He along with his father in law cooked a wonderful meal for the Moms.

The hotel TV and some of our guests at Steve's 70th

Steve with the Watkinsons and with our son Bryan

Steve and his fraternity brothers

Steve, Cheryl, Paula and Dewey Smith

Steve and his daughter, Stacy

Steve with Dove, Tabith, Sarai and James

Cheryl and Bree

Cheryl with son Bryan on Mother's Day

We are now on our way to the Upper Peninsular of Michigan with many stops along the way.  Our first two stops were in Alabama.  Our stays at Oak Mountain State Park and Joe Wheeler State Park were wonderful.  We did some hiking and golfing.  Cheryl was able to spend a day with her dear friend, Elandra Harris.  They have known each other since 3rd grade so that is a long and lasting friendship.

Golf at Greystone CC in Birmingham area

Cheryl and her childhood friend, Elandra Harris