December 27-29 2019 Punta Gorda, Fla

Punta Gorda Fla. !!!! We have been invited for a visit here by Hiram and Cookie Brinegar and their friend Ray for a few days!!! Cookie and Hiram have been long time friends from Murrells Inlet, SC.
There were times when we ran the tour business Hiram and his boat motor quick repair ability sure kept our business running smoothly. They live the winter months in Punta Gorda along with their long time friend Ray (sorry Ray I can’t remember your last name). Ray went and made arrangements through his home owner association to allow us to park the motor home in the driveway at the house!!  THANK YOU RAY!!
We thoroughly enjoyed a few days of fun, good food, fellowship, and relaxation!!!
Cookie and I spent the largest part of the 2 days floating and swimming in the pool at the house.
Cookie fed us well with a night of baked ham, potato salad and green beans. The next night they invited some family over and Cookie, Hiram, and Ray had us all feasting on a Lowcountry Boil!!
DELICIOUS!!! Thanks guys for all the work and preparation!!
The guys spent the 2 days fishing in Hiram’s boat out in the coves of Punta Gorda right in the backyard of the house!! A few fish were keepers but the whole day was had by them all!!
Cookie and I just relaxed with Santa in the pool!!! Lol
Ray, what a pleasure to meet you and thank you for your hospitality!! Cookie, Hiram and Ray were wonderful host!! Thank you again!!😁 our last morning there Hiram went to a favorite bakery and brought back the BEST apple fritters ever!!! Yummy!! What a treat to end an incredible 2 days!!
Pics to share!! Love to all, Ms. Fran & Cap’n Rod

Dec 24-26 2018 Everglades, Fla.

wae arrived in the Everglades on Christmas Eve!! I could not believe how many people go camping on Christmas!! We met lots of great people and really enjoyed the this beautiful area. It was 38 miles from the entrance to the national park to the Flamingo RV camping resort. The ride was beautiful. We drove out 24 miles on Christmas Day and found a place that we had phone service and call family to wish them a Merry Christmas. I also post on FB that we had NO PHONE SERVICE in the park!! Lol
We went out the next day and visited the alligator park and took a short air boat ride.
We were told we had to go to Roberts vegetable stand located in Florida City just outside the park. What did everyone tell us we needed to get???? A milkshake!!!!  Lol
We did and believe me it was one of the best ever!! Each milkshake had 1/2 lb of fruit!! It was delicious!!!
We wore shorts and t shirts everyday as the temp was 80 degrees!!
We rode our bikes throughout a lot of the park and enjoyed the views of Biscayne Bay. You could see Key Largo across the bay from our camp site.
Pics to share!! Love to all, Ms. Fran & Cap’n Rod

December 21-22-23 2018 Sanford, Fla

We left Helen Georgia and headed to Sanford!! Paula and Jim was waiting for us when we arrived!! Thanks to their neighbor Mark for allowing us to park at his RV pad beside his home!!!
Always good times shared with our BBFs (best boater friends)!!
Being we stayed in Sanford for several years on the boat. Now having friends that live there (on land now) it’s still a great place to visit.
Rod wanted to spend Christmas Day in the Everglades so we left Paula and Jim Christmas Eve and headed south!! We arrived at the Flamingo RV Park in the Everglades National Park in about 4-5 hours. What a beautiful place. When we entered the park “ Everglades National Park” sign it said 38 miles to Flamingo RV Park 😂!!!. See tomorrow’s post for more to come,,,
Ms. Fran & Cap’n Rod

December 18-20-2018 Helen Ga

I now need to completed the trip in Helen Ga. John, Linda and Myleah left us yesterday. We only had a day and half with them but we sure had a great time.
We visited Anna Ruby Falls and hiked the 1 1/2 mile trail there but man was the trip worth it!! I will post some pics! The next day we drove up the mountain to Brasshead Bald and again hiked the 3 miles up to the point!!! We stopped on the way back to the campground and visited Nora Mills and purchased stone ground grits and porridge!! As I am writing this almost 2 weeks later I am glad I have pics to remember!!
See attached!!
Love to all, Ms. Fran & Cap’n Rod

12-16-18 to 12-20-18 Helen Ga.

We arrived in Helen Ga late afternoon on Sunday morning the 16th. Our friends Linda and John Maiden was already there waiting along with their granddaughter Myleah !!! I have not seen this young lady since she was probably 3 maybe 4 years old and now she is 15!!!!
After setting up the motor home at the campsite in Creekwood RV Resort we bearded for the town of Helen. if you have never visited this beautiful little town you have missed out on a great treat. It’s a German theme town that has festivals of all kinds all year long. Of course now it is Christmas!! We ate at many of the restaurants, shopped many of the stores and really enjoyed the Christmas lights throughout the town!
they had to leave us on Monday to head home to Bristol, Tn. But we stayed another 3 days!!
I’ll post more on those adventures!!
Love to alll, Ms. Fran & Cap’n Rod

Helen Ga.

Christmas Lights in Helen Ga

Helen Ga

Rod and Myleah dancing to Christmas music!!!

ready for supper

John and Linda 💖

selfies!! With 

Sweet Myleah

We were on the Chattahooche River!!!

Myleah,s bunking the Motor Home!!,

James Island Festival of Lights

November is our month to begin Christmas!!! The day after Thanksgiving and I am ready to begin the Christmas season!!
We decided to go spend the day in Charleston SC and the evening went to James Island!! The most incredible 6miles of display of lights I have experienced. We drove through once and I took 100 pics!, lol. Next trip through we just enjoyed the scenes. What a great evening with Rod and Lexie went as well! If you ever on the area plan to go see the Festival of Lights in Charleston.

4,17,18 Santee River Georgetown, SC

We unhooked from the mooring ball in south Beaufort at 6:50am this morning and headed toward home. We figured we would anchor tonight in Charleston. We had a good tide pushing us most of the day and arrived in Charleston at 1:45pm. Just to early to stop so we kept going and we were so glad as the Charleston Bay was incredibly smooth and we were across in about an hour. We then decided to push on and make it to Santee river just short of being home. We traveled the longest day ever in all of our years of traveling up and down this waterway, 115 miles!!!!! That’s 12 hours and 15 mins of traveling!! I kept Rod fed and watered all day!! Lol.  He was tired when we anchored at 7:15pm. I had fixed supper and he ate while he drove. We sat on the back deck and watched the most beautiful sunset ever!!! We talked about this was the last sunset we would see on our boat Sursum Corda!! Our last voyage!!!! Excited about new adventures but sad to let her go!!! She has been a great home for us for 9 years!! And has given us many great trips south to Florida and the Keys!! She is officially up for sale!!! A new chapter begins in our life!! I know God has a plan!!!

We will be in our docking slip in Georgetown by noon tomorrow!! It’s been an incredible first 6 months of retirement!! We feel so blessed!!!

Thanks to everyone for reading my blog!! And especially thanks for all the safe traveling prayers, they have all been felt and we know without a doubt God has been present with us every mile of our journeys!! We have made lots of new friends and treasure them all. 

We love you all, Ms. Fran & Cap’n Rod 

Our beautiful last sunset aboard SursumCorda

Lexie is a great traveling pup!!

She knows she is not suppose to lay on this table, but daddy’s jacket was to tempting!!