My poor RAV4
Our 2023 trip’s highlights
On the road again with John and Lilo
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Jun 12 2023
So not a tooth problem in sight this year BUT….we started the trip with a BANG..no, make that a CRASH!
Kelly, Ethan and Julie were going to do one last day at Universal and traffic was stopped on I-4. We saw the guy not stopping in our rear view mirrors. He was coming toward us at 40-45 mph without slowing down. CRUNCH! \240With four days before our take-off, our whole schedule was thrown off not to mention our backs! ACK! Luckily, we have an incredible family support system. A huge shout out to Kyle who helped tremendously on Sunday. We were able to get everything done and have family dinner/pool party complete with Florida Blackened Mahi and Shrimp and Grits!
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Jun 14 2023
We made it to the Lumberton KOA without any hiccups and only one quick stop for gas at Bucee’s. Diesel is running $3.32 this year about $1.50+ less than 2022. We will take it!
After arriving, we drove into Fayetteville, NC, home of Fort Bragg and the Special Ops Museum. We noticed this museum after we went to the Cape Fear Botanical Gardens. Snooze you lose.
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Jun 15 2023
Spent the whole day with Chenna. We had lunch at the Golden Horseshoe and then off to Norfolk Botanical Gardens. Rated #3 Botanical Garden in all of the US!! If it wasn’t for tunnel and bridge work, we would have been able to spend a lot more time. \240This garden is a gem and so was the wonderful company!
At the Golden Horseshoe in Williamsburg.
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Jun 16 2023
So for the next couple of days we will be doing everthing family. Connie and Donny are celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary! Dennis and Jill flew in from Adelaide, Australia.Peter flew in from Colorado. Julie, John and Laura are all up Florida.
Also in the news, Carol is purchasing a new gorgeous house in Williamsburg close to Chenna with marvelous garden areas. Something that will keep her busy for years to come.
The back porch of Carol’s new home
Some of the gardens
In the main living room
Chenna cannot believe she ate the whole ice cream
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Jun 17 2023
Took an early morning bike ride while waiting to change campsites. A big front moved through last night and the temperature this morning was 69. Unfortunately, the no-seeums are so bad here we couldn’t open our windows because they came through the screen holes. The first night we were here we had hundreds biting and bothering us.
A little windblown…
Timber Lake House 1793
Visited the Timberneck house which is being restored inside of Machicomoco State Park. The house was built in 1793 by John Catlett. \240Got a bit of a tour that was really interesting.
Burn to protect the house from burning down, \240seems to have worked so far.
In the basement, the tour guide pointed out these burn marks on the main beam of the house. \240These marks are called witchedy (sp?) marks and were common at least as far back as medieval times. \240The mark here was to prevent the house from burning down. \240As soon as the first beam of a structure was placed people would set the beam on fire with a candle then slap it out. \240They have found this mark in the Tower of London. \240Other marks in the house around doorways are to ward off evil spirits.
Numbering for tenons to mate with the main beam of the house. Notice the incorrect Roman Numerals
A little further down you can see Roman numerals marking where the intersecting beams were to be placed. \240The craftsmen made the marks when they cut the log prior to moving it to the house. Here the number 9 was written as XIIII instead of IX. \240Supposedly the subtractive method for 4 (IV) and 9 (IX) was something that clockmakers came up during the 1500s.
I guess builders in the late 1790s were still doing things the old fashioned way. \240(I have my doubts about this as I think I’ve seen Roman numerals in Europe that were REALLY old using the subtractive method)
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Jun 17 2023
Had a wonderful time at Connie and Donny’s 50th anniversary party at Goshen. We had a bubbly toast using family wine from Freddie Johnson’s Estates in New York, music and filet mignon and crab cake dinner. We also cut a wedding cake, played the “Oldiewed” game and broke a 50th piñata.
A toast to the bride and groom!
Throwing the bouquet!
There goes the piñata!
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Jun 24 2023
Had an incredible day in DC with Claire and Scott. Since the windows were done we were finally able to have some fun.
We started the day by taking a bike ride on the C&O canal past several old locks and up to Great Falls (Not the same one as in Montana) There were puddles and people everywhere, but Julie made it through with getting only a little muddy and not hitting anyone or falling in the canal! ( This was only the second or third time I ever road on a surface other than pavement)
Part of the falls.. Scott told us in high watermark years the whole island we were standing on is underwater.
Since it was the summer solstice, all of the Smithsonian museums were open until midnight.. several had bands, drinks and a lot of fun activities. Scott got us timed entry for the Air and Space museum.
we spent the rest of the evening soaking up moon and rocket facts
Had a great dinner at the Royal, a Michelin restaurant followed by frozen drinks at Electric Cool Aid.. an outside bar that is only open in the summer ..
The x-wing…
The museum hung it right outside the planetarium and IMAX ..
So not technically an exhibit…also have on display Star Trek Enterprise
DC traffic leaving the city at 11:30 pm…..boy, do we like Brevard roads!
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Jun 25 2023
Started our last day in DC having brunch with Tommye and Jason. We sure miss them being just around the corner. They have decided to purchase the house on Mockernut Court.. the train table is going up and Rowdy has a new home to guard!
Rowdy and his new home!
Spent the rest of the day at the 31st annual Barbecue Battle. When we arrived all of the competitors had their booths closed, “what no barbecue?” it was only noon and the event was supposed to run until 7 pm.
We started wandering down Pennsylvania Avenue and found that the whole rest of the festival -4 city blocks of booths were handing out free samples..
It was like Costco on crack…because of Saturdays rain, vendors were unloading literally full plate samples. At one booth we received 7 golden kiwis 🥝, at another salmon with noodles. Yet another booth had Jamaican Jerk chicken a made with Walkers wood.
Mr. Peanut \240was there and so was the Weinermobile!
BMX bikers
Scott having a great time with his hot dog hat!
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