CHRISTMAS EVE DINNER AT OUR WINTER HOME

We joined friends and neighbors at Gulf Waters RV Resort for a fun evening with fabulous food. It was organized as a potluck and there was a tremendous variety of favorite dishes from the great cooks at the RV Resort.

This is our dinner table. From left to right are our friends Darrell and Kathy Baldwin from Missouri, Teri next to our friends Mary Ann and Dell Weiland from Cadillac Michigan, and the next couple are friends of the Baldwins.

Below is the spread, attended by our good neighbors Brooks and Jean May. They join us from Ohio each winter for the season. Brooks has quite a voice and he entertained us with a fine rendition of Silent Night.

Here are Karen and Bruce seated at their table waiting to be called for their turn at the serving line. They are among the select few owners at Gulf Waters that are full-time RVers like us. Not only are they full-timers, but they also have a satellite internet system like ours, so we share an understanding of the joys and troubles with the technology.

SANIBEL ISLAND - FLORIDA - DECEMBER 2008

The thrill of crossing the new bridge is almost breathtaking. At the crest, the view of water to the left and right is magnificent. This view is of the arching effect after the crest as we drive toward Sanibel.

On the left is the Gulf of Mexico. This day was a beautiful sunny day with soft breezes and gentle waves.
Homes on the Sanibel shoreline overlooking the bay just below the Calusahachee River.

This is a panoramic view looking across the bay to Ft. Myers Beach to the left all the way down to Naples, Florida on the right. If you double click this picture it may be large enough to see the communities across the bay from Sanibel Island.

This is the southeast part of the island that includes the lighthouse. These folks are enjoying some early December fishing.

Walter is enjoying a walk along the beach as the afternoon clouds begin to roll in.

This is an unusual picture in that to the left is the lighthouse and across from it is an Osprey at its nest. A double click on this picture may also help to see the Osprey.

Walter has his back to the most southeastern section of the beach. This is a view from the fishing pier. There were quite a few folks fishing from the pier as birds looked for every opportunity to grab their catch.

One of many seagrape trees along the silky white sand.

This is a quiet part of the Island at least at this time of the year.

Darkening clouds rolling by. Another look at Ft Myers Beach to the left, Bonita Beach across from the beach walker and then Naples to the far right.

A view of the new bridge from the shore.

ELK RAPIDS, MICHIGAN

The Northwest region of Michigan is filled with Farmer's stands for fruits, vegetables, homemade baked goods, and jams, jellies, salsa, etc from their produce. This was a great stand where we purchased the most delicious apples called Honey Crisp, and they had wonderful cider. We asked if it was usual to be this warm in October (9), and she said that every year for the past 15 years, she was hoping to still be wearing shorts by October 1, and this was the first year that she could.
Along the streets of this quaint village. Many of the small towns and villages have this angled parking.

It is nice to shop where it is not crowded.

All the people were at Java Jones, a great Internet coffee shop and deli. This is a player piano where you put in your nickel and select a tune.
Enjoying my deli wrap. Across from where we were sitting were couches and easy chairs surrounding a cozy fireplace. I now know where everyone also goes in the winter.

The beginning of the village park. This was a lovely spot with a marina across the street.
This park is basically a boardwalk around this lake.

The village marina.

In the background, you can see a cascade delivering water from the bay that is a little higher in elevation. There are large fish in this lake, and on this day, there were a few folks fishing.
A group of Mallard ducks were also enjoying the lake.

Cavity Captain--could this boat belong to a dentist? We get the pain; they get the joy!
Behind Walter is the opening to Lake Michigan.

A small beach at Lake Michigan. We sat on a bench for a while and so enjoy the beautiful views looking out on the Lake.

Another great looking boat. We have the land RV and this is the floating RV.
A beautifully preserved wooden boat.

OLD MISSION PENINSULA - WOMP FESTIVAL

Traverse Bay RV Resort where we have purchased our RV lot, is about 3 miles East of East Grand Traverse Bay. The downtown area of Traverse City is on the water at the South end of West Grand Traverse Bay.

Old Mission Peninsula is eight miles long in the middle of Grand Traverse Bay. It is full of cherry and apple orchards, wineries, Bed and Breakfasts, restaurants, antique shops, and beautiful views of East and West Traverse Bay.



One of seven vineyards on the Peninsula. The Peninsula is mainly rolling hills.
The WOMP Festival is held at Bowers Harbor Park in the middle of the Peninsula. Five wineries and four restaurants from the Peninsula are represented. Each winery offers three of their varieties for wine tasting and the restaurants offer three items from their menu. We tasted for the first time, from Chateau Chantal Winery, a sparkling cherry wine which was absolutely delicious. We have since purchased several bottles of this wine. We didn't know that Michigan had wineries let alone outstanding wines.

There was a local band playing soft rock with a backdrop of orchards and vineyards.

At the very tip of the Peninsula, we walked this beach that once had water caressing the shore. At this point, you are looking at Lake Michigan which has dropped 24 inches in the last couple of years. Now a walk of about one mile gets you to a place where you can stick your toes in the water.

This is the view were land and water now meet and where you can touch Lake Michigan waters. Along the peninsula, we spotted houses with docks, but their boats are now anchored about 1/2 mile or more out from their property. Now that must be an inconvenient truth!

This is the former light house and keeper's home on the tip of the peninsula where many a ship has sunk in strong storms with waves hitting the ships again and again with no chance for the ship to right itself.
Standing on the 45 parallel as the sign says. The tip is at the same parallel as Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Toronto, Bangor (Maine), Nova Scotia, and Zurich (Switzerland).

1800s cabin built by Americans moving westward.

This side of the cabin shows the bedroom area. They made their own clothes, grew what vegetables they could, and fished and hunted for meat.
This area has the warming and cooking stove, table, and rocking chair. There was a loft for the children to sleep.

This is Chateau Chantal winery, bed and breakfast, and spa.

This vineyard reaches to the shore of West Grand Traverse Bay.

TRAVESE BAY RV RESORT - OUR SUMMER HOME

This is our summer home (mid-May to mid-October) These are the ponds directly behind our RV. This park has 3 sections (South [which is beyond this group of RVs], Center [the group of RVs in the picture is where our site is], and North. There are 172 sites at this time, and the park can grow to 350 sites with adding another section. We have woods to our south and north, and across the pond and road is a meadow and another group of woods. The woods can be enjoyed by the walking paths through them.

Across the street from this lot, our truck and rv can be seen. Most sites are landscaped. Ours has minimal landscaping at present, but over the next two years, we will put pavers and landscaping.

This picture was taken from our back yard. The building to the left is the office and clubhouse. This clubhouse, on the bottom level, is used for breakfast, dinners, movies, and other entertainment.

The upper level has the office, main library, weight room and lounge. The lounge is actually in a sunroom/porch. When doing exercises, you are looking out at the beautiful forest.

This is typical of the many landscaped common areas. This one divides the road going to the office--right is for entering and left is exiting. They have a full time landscaper as the park has about 90 acres.

This is the pond in the south section. There are a number of apple trees which have been filled with apples this year.

There are many apple orchards in the area, and we have been eating a variety called Honey Crisp, and it is the most delicious apples I have ever had. Their fresh pressed apple cider is soooooo good.

This is the north side view of our site. This huge evergreen graces our front yard. Behind it is their standard shed which is wonderful to have. Our site is 50' wide and 80' deep. We have a small grass lawn in the backyard that ends about one foot from the pond. We have six or so ducks that have been spending time in the pond. We even had a blue heron and a seagull visiting.

This is the south side of our site, and as you can see, our neighbor has really landscaped their site nicely and have a special eating area with grill on the side and in the backyard a patio which faces the pond.
This is another view of the ponds behind us. The pond beyond this one abuts our property, and we so enjoy the sound of cascading water from the water fountain.

This is the south clubhouse. Another just like it is at the north end of the park. The windows in the center is where the laundry is and to the left of the door is where private bathrooms with showers are. The windows to the right is where there are tables and chairs for cards and other games, a big screen TV, mini library and a game center with puzzles, board games, and cards.

When I walk Wubie, he loves to stop at the side of the clubhouse and roll around on the smooth concrete. He also likes walking on the various paths through the woods.

This is the view of the tables and chairs side of the room. To the left of this picture is a mini kitchen so that folks can have drinks and snacks while here.

Another view of the south pond. Walking around each of the three sections is a good 30 minute walk.