My Travel Log
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85. Closing Out 2007
Every year about this time, I try to create something big to end the year. I usually do it in the newsletter, but this year decided to sort of combine several of my writing endeavors. Within this chapter, then, you'll find links to by Blog, Newsletter, and my high school class website.They're all related in one way or another, and are intended to end my year with a bang ... or splat ... or whatever.
This chapter just kind of rambles through what I've been doing October, November, and December 2007. I've included some photos I took along the way. Some relates to RVing, which is my primary topic on this website, but some just show what's going on around our house.
Let's start with October ... more specifically, Biketoberfest, that motorcycle gathering that happens in Daytona each year about this time. My cousin, Bruce, from California, was visiting and he's somewhat of a biker, so we decided to wander up to Daytona, about an hour away. We didn't start out until mid-afternoon Sunday, which was the last day of the event. About halfway up, it started to rain and we started to have doubts about how many Biketoberfesters we'd find if/when we got there. We pulled off the interstate to get something at a little market and below is what we saw. CLICK ANY PHOTO FOR LARGER VIEW
We soon decided that continuing to Daytona was probably not worth our time. Luckily, I knew of a biker bar on the St. Johns River nearby, where they had airboat rides and sold platters of frog legs and gator tail. We drove there, had a pitcher and some snacks, watched the airboats, then went inside where a band was playing and enjoyed the festivities there for a while. Bruce wandered outside a couple of times and got more motorcycle photos, chatted with some of the bikers, and had a generally good time. We sort of had our own mini-version of Biketoberfest. For photos of the actual Biketoberfest, visit the Daytona Chamber of Commerce website.
Later in the month, I took a little trip to a Central Florida park to talk about WiFi. They provided me with a campsite right on the inland waterway - a really beautiful spot. That photo on the right shows my view out the front window of the RV. Now that's the way to camp!
And on your left, another Shuttle Launch one day in November. Even though we've seen several, it's still exciting and we always run out front to watch.
Cousin Bruce taking in the music
Ibis invasion?
This last photo is a common sight in our neighborhood. This flock of Ibis (Ibises?) wandered through the other day. These long-beaked birds pick their way across each yard, scooping up bugs or worms or whatever it is that they eat. I saw one snap a geico right off the side of a tree .. that was a surprise! Even though I've seen them many times, it's always fascinating to me to have these tropical-looking birds wandering around the yard. I guess it's sort of like the idea of having an Orange tree in your yard ... kind of a Florida-unique thing.
So, that brings us to December. As I'll tell in my December newsletter, we had talked about a trip to Disneyworld (30 minutes away), then we backed off to maybe a St. Augustine trip, then decided we'd probably just stay around home for Christmas and go visit Joyce's son Steve in Ft. Lauderdale for New Years. And are we decorating? Nope. We haven't done much decorating for a couple of years. Not sure how we got out of the habit. The first couple of years in our house, we really went wild, covering the front of the house and several trees with lights, red and green garlands strung here and there, and our Santa, etc. cutouts spotlighted out front. I'm not sure if it was my complaining about having to set it up and take it down, or the lack of holiday visitors to marvel at the decorations, or if we're just getting older, but we no longer do much more than a wreath on the front door.
And now for my big finish!
Quite often, I write one of these that includes just stuff happening around the house and it looks really boring, even to me, so I question the value of spending the time writing the chapter. In this chapter, I at least have a little RVing included, so maybe it qualifies as semi-worthwhile, but I've done some that are just a collection of what happened around our house recently. Are these interesting to anyone but me? I dunno ... but I have devised a way of finding out.
In my RV-Blog, I've just written an entry entitled Closing Out 2007 - Sell 50 or Stop Wasting Time. Please go read it, then let me know if you think I should continue my efforts at updating this Travel Log or if maybe I should find something more productive to do. If the vote goes negative, this may well be my last chapter. Between the rest of my RetirementTips.com website and this Travel Log, I've written 327 pages with a total of 270737 words. Maybe that's enough ... if so, I'll spend my time elsewhere in 2008 :) It's up to you!
Bikes being put on trucks and trailers
Bike hiding from the rain
Bikers under overpass waiting for rain to stop
Joyce and other award-winning artists onstage
November was a big month for Joyce, as the chairperson of the Heritage Isle Art Show in Viera. She spent most of October planning the event, answering artists' questions, and deciding what of her art she would include. I helped in the setup and visited now and then during the 3 days of the show. It started on a real high note, with Joyce taking a third place ribbon for her painting "Cowboy." On the left, you can see Joyce with the other award winners. That's her in the white blouse and blonde hair, next to her winning Cowboy. For a closeup of the painting and more info on the show, visit her website ArtByJHoffman.com.
On the last day of the show, there was a classic car show just outside the art show location, so I visited there and took the photos below.
Great view from the RV!
