Mother duck with her family. They live in our park.

So if you are watching the weather you know it is hurricane season and Bill is on his way. Luckily he is not heading to Florida but Tropical Storm Claudette hit the Panhandle yesterday. Reading the blog you know we arrived in that area 2 weeks ago. Hopefully the park we stayed did not have too much damage.
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Yesterday Chad and Marcy invited us over for a barbecue. Chad's brother, Chris also joined us. We had a great time. Keira has warmed up to me but is still a little skeptical of Pappap.
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On Saturday we all went to Heritage Village. It has a collection of over 25 historic structures and features moved here to create a 21-acre living history museum. We toured several older homes and enjoyed the museums. Then Chad and Marcy treated us to lunch at Cheddar's. We always enjoyed eating at Cheddar's when we lived in Iowa and both girls worked there for several years during high school and college.

Keira and a Friend

Thursday August 6th we arrived in Tampa to our new home for the next two months. We are staying at Bay Bayou. We always stay here went we visit Chad, Marcy and Keira. Marcy works a 10 hour 4 day week so she has all of Friday off. We spent the day just talking and helping to put things away in Keira's bedroom. They had gotten new carpet so, of course, everything is moved and packed up so a big job just to put everything back where it belongs.. We went with Marcy to pick up Keira on Thursday night and then went for pizza. She was so excited to see us. I know she remembered us. I talk to her several times a week and she had visited Arizona in April. She looks so much like Marcy. We are going to have a fun time. Mandy and Nolan are coming for Labor Day weekend. I know Nolan and Keira for have a lot of fun together. There will be some great pics from that visit.

August 8 Saturday



We all went to Busch Gardens. David and I bought a season pass. We can go as often as we want. With the pass you get free parking. We didn't pay much more for a season pass that if we would have bought a one day pass. Marcy, Chad and Keira have a pass so I am sure we will go several times .








Oh No. What happened to Keira??

Giraffes we saw on the train ride. You can see lots of animals. The ride is about 45 minutes.. Yes David Loved it..

Nana and Keira on the scary egg ride.

Keira riding the train

Popcorn Monster.

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We went through 3 buckets.. Buy the bucket then refills are $1.00..

Fun on the carousal

Click older posts for more pics

Keira and Pappap looking at the Gorillas

Sunday August 9th

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Nana, Pappap and Keira at Clearwater Beach

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Tough life but someone has to do it!!!

Clearwater Beach

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We all went to lunch at Frenchy's and had Grouper sandwiches. Yummy..

Views from our RV Park

Carrabelle, Florida located in the Panhandle.

Yes that is our truck and 5th wheel right on the beach..

Crane

Pelicans on the dock

Pelicans in Flight

This is who we are going to visit in Tampa.

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Marcy, Chad and Keira. Also Max the wonderdog.

Sunday August 2nd

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We got back on I-10 at Lafayette. There is about 25 miles of the road that really SUCKS. You can see where the joints are on the road. James Bond would love it "Shaken not stirred". It can loosen your fillings.. We have traveled on it several times in the last few years and it has never been improved..

Henderson Bridge is 18 miles long. It goes over the Atchafalaya Basin which is a swamp area.

Swamp under the bridge

SWAMP

Bridge over the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge

This is located at a Rest stop near Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. There are free tours to the center during the week.

LUNAR LANDER

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During the 1960's this vehicle was used as a trainer by the Apollo Austronauts for their moon missions.

This is also at the rest stop.

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Click older posts for more pics

Downtown Mobile, Alabama

Tunnel in Mobile under Mobile Bay.

USS Alabama in Mobile Bay

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Stopped for the night in Robertsdale. About 18 miles from the Florida border.

Monday August 3rd

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We got off of I-10 and took the scenic route on highway 98 along the gulf.

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Gulf Island National Seashore Visitor Center.

When we retired Steve and Mandy gave us a National Park passport. Each National Park has a special stamp. We try to stop at as many national parks as we can.

Gulf Island National Seashore Drive.

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Pensacola Beach, Florida

Fort Walton Beach

Shepard Smith's Mother lives here. You know from Fox News...

Click older post for more pics

Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City.

We saw several jets out doing training flights.

Bridge on highway 98.

View along highway 98.

View at sunset last night at our park in Carrabelle, Florida. Took this at our 5th wheel. We are right on the Gulf. There is a long pier to walk on or fish from.

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We will be here til Thursday morning Aug. 6th then to Tampa for a few months.

Monday
July 27th


Deming, New Mexico

Roadrunner..

Beautiful Texas sunset.

Friday and Saturday.

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We like to check out areas that most people don't visit. Example most people visit New Orleans but never go on other roads to see the rest of the state.

Hugh barge on the intercoastal waterway.

These are work platforms for oil rigs. The legs go down in the water to hold them in place.

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We saw several parking lots with cars from workers. They are air lifted by helicopter to the rigs for probably several weeks.

House abandoned after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Click older posts for more pics from today

Another abandoned home after Katrina.

Due to the high water table they don't bury very deep. We had seen cemeteries in New Orleans like this one in 2004.

The town has several live Oak Trees.

Gazebo in the town square flanked by magnolia trees.

Courthouse in Vermillion Parish in Abbeville.

Saint Mary Magdalen Church built in 1911.

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This is the 4th church dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalen that has stood on this site purchased from Joseph LeBlanc byPere Megret in 1843.

This is what is left of my dinner. Yummy. FRESH shrimp, and sweet potato fries. The best fries ever. We had fresh catfish appetizers. David had shrimp, etoufee(crawfish tails over a bed of rice) and corn grits. Of course, sweet tea!!

On to Alabama tomorrow..