Summer Travel 2024

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Jan and I have been RVing since 1971. Our first unit was an Apache popup tow behind marketed as a solid-state unit with a hard top and hard sides that flipped up. We were so excited. It slept 8, had an ice box and a water tank with a hand pump. The quality and durability left something to be desired. But, after a year it went back to the dealer along with a large box of pieces and parts that had fallen loose. The replacement was an 18.5 FT Nomad that followed us through many adventures over the years towed behind a 1970 Chevrolet Impala. The travel bug had bitten us and from then on, we were never content just staying home. Over the years there has been at least 5 more RVs in many configurations fitting our life-style at the time.

For the last decade we have enjoyed a much-favored Airstream 23ft Flying Cloud. It served us well. The smaller footprint got us easily into many national parks. However, after our travels last year we came to the realization, our life-style is changing once again as we approach that 80-year mark. Instead of extended road trips, our travels are more destination oriented with longer stays. To make a long story short, this spring we found our perfect next RV. A 27 ft Front Bedroom Flying Cloud Airstream, now outfitted with 600 watts of solar, has twin beds, a large bathroom and a much larger galley kitchen.

Ready to start our travels with a new summer home, a bit more spacious than the old one

Relaxing after breakfast, last morning in our summer home for the last 15 years!

First night in the new RV. We actually have a real table.

Here we are once again packed, ready to hit the road for two months. We love South Carolina except maybe for July and August. This trip will take us north to escape the heat and humidly. One of the highlights will be meeting up with our immediate family in the Catskill Mountains. Check out the photos taken along the way. The highlights are the Shenandoah National Park, Green Mountains of Vermont, the White Mountains of New Hampshire, Acadia National Park and exploring in the State of West Viriginia.

Packed and ready to hit the road. The plan, head as far north as Maine and then wander back to South Carolina over the next two months.

It is tough to leave our comfortable home and yard behind but the call of the road is still louder.

Being on the road calls but will still miss sitting on the deck enjoying the view.

The garden is coming along nicely, Angie our nextdoor neighbor is now in charge.

The first week of the trip was enjoying the towns, scenery, and vistas along the Blue Ridge Highway. This is a favored destination with its peace and tranquility.

Whenever we travel the Blue Ridge Parkway, Blowing Rock is always a must do stop.

The Blue Ridge has way too many distractions. The analogy “one must stop and smell the roses” comes to mind. By the way the kayaks are on their way to a new home at Mark and Kevins.

Here is one of those Blue Ridge distractions.

Here is why we like the Blue Ridge Mountain Drive.

These views just seem to go on forever.

A favorite stop on The Blue Ridge is the Cradle of Forestry. It was established by George Vanderbilt, before the turn of the century, to support his reforestation initiative on his Asheville estate which had been logged and farmed. The setting is in the Pisgah mountains. His effort set the stage for the creation of state and national forestry initiative. The historic site restoration is outstanding, well curated and a fun stop for a few hours.

It is always a fun to stop at the Cradle of Forestry in America site. It was born out of the development and creation of the Biltmore Estate grounds. Check it out if you get the chance.

The grounds are well maintained, educational plus it is a fun experience.

There were so many pictures to choose from, this one caught my attention.

The Blue Ridge Parkway connects with the Skyline drive in Virginia. The Skyline is similar with more urban vistas. One of our stops was to check out a lock system along the James River.

Skyline drive attraction, the James River.

Skyline Drive stop. Battery Creek Lock Built 1848. It is humbling to see how things have changed.

We spent several days in the Shenandoah National Park. Well, we did not stay in the park as planned as the new RV was too long. The park is large and diverse, we spent time exploring the mountains and many trails. The plan is to go back again next year to pick up what we missed on this trip.

This is a great park. Planning to come back again next year.

Skyline Drive view, short scramble to the top for a quick photo.

Jan enjoying the State of Virginia view.

Creative shot! A spot in the Shenandoah Mountains.

Long view Shenandoah Mountains

Shenandoah Mountains

Dark Hollow Falls, Shenandoah National Park

Our next adventures were in the Green Mountains, staying at Vermont State Parks, Emerald Lake and Bradbury. The trails and experience did not disappoint.

Great camp site Emerald Lake State Park in Vermont

Hike along the water at Emerald Lake State Park.

Next, we headed to the White Mountains of New Hampshire. These mountains quickly became a favorite. We have already picked that perfect RV site for next summer. The Crawford Notch State Park along the Dry River is a perfect base camp to continue the exploration of the wilds of New Hampshire White Mountains.

Another hike, this one in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Our camp site was across the lake.

Loved the time we spent at Crawford Notch SP, White Mountains in New Hampshire. We will be back again next year.

We were looking forward to spending some quality time at the Acadia National Park in Maine. Booked plenty of time, only to have plans dashed with lots and lots of rain. On the positive side of life, a Dell computer service technician caught up with us to fix an ailing laptop much to the relief of one frustrated photographer. This was our fourth trip to the park. Not sure we will be back soon as finding RV sites is very competitive and the traffic is almost overwhelming.

Made it to Acadia National Park. Hurricane Debby had us dodging rain drops.

Acadia National Park drive has plenty of diversity.

Iconic view along the drive

It was a rainy day, had to work to get an acceptable shot.

Better day for Acadia photos, more sun than rain.

View along the Park Loop Road

The tide was out for this shot

Acadia Carriage Road Bridge. Forty-five miles of rustic carriage roads provided by John D. Rockefeller through out the park.

Next, we wandered to the Catskill Mountains, Kenneth L Wilson State Park. It was an outstanding place to catch up with our family. We had not been together since last fall. If interested, the get-together Blog Post follows this one. Here is the link: https://larry-jan-tvc.net/2024/10/19/snyder-summer-gathering-2024/

Snyder Summer Gathering – 2024

Next stop Kenneth Wilson State Park where we meet up with our family.

The last morning with a cozy camp fire.

The small lake at the Kenneth L Wilson State Park.

A retirement project has been working on the family genealogy for the Snyder and the Neitzke lines. In 1700 our branch of Schneiders (Later Snyder) came to Colony New Amsterdam and worked at Livingston Manor owned by Robert Livingston. Our research goal was to learn more about the area to supplement what was already documented in our research. Our ancestors were German Palatines who came to America via England. What we found there was more than one Robert Livingston and more than one Livingston Manor. We were able to confirm the Livingston Manor tied to our ancestrally past is actually in Ulster County, New York (where Mark lives) not Columbia. Although we did not find what we expected, the stay was very enjoyable.

Genealogy research stop in Livingston Manor, NY. This stream runs through downtown.

Had lunch in the park next to the Livingston Manor covered bridge. Enjoyed the setting, especially the view.

Over the years we find it convenient to stay overnight in a Pennsylvania State Park as it is a long way across the state. This year it was Promised Land State Park, a 3,000-acre reserve. We stopped there both going and coming back. It was a nice stay with an excellent campground and plenty of places to hike and kick back.

Promised Lake State Park where we stopped going and heading home. A great 3,000-acre recreational area.

A view along the Promised Lake State Park trail.

West Virigina has never been on our travel itinerary, not sure why. This trip the plan was to spend a week exploring. The first stop was the Black Water State Park in the north part of the state. The tourist marketing info told us it was one of the most photographed areas in the state. That was not wrong as the water falls and views blew us away.

West Virginia Black Water Falls, the parks namesake. On the list as a designated stay for next year.

Caught my attention, had to take a photo or two.

The views in the Black Water state park are commanding…

This view is breath taking. This area is highly photographed.

Great hikes to go with the great views at Black Water

Heading south, the next West Virigina State Park was Babcock. We lucked out touring the Grist Mill which is a photographer’s dream setting. There was a caretaker who took the time to tell us all about the mill but he also gave us insights on what goes on the list for next year. The park is near the newly designated National Park, the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve. There are many outstanding views and hiking trails designated as extreme.

Early morning shot along the New River Gorge Parkway…

Babcock State Park, West Virigina. It was not hard to get a great shot of the Glade Creek Grist Mill.

Babcock State Park, the other end of the state from Black River had even more commanding views.

A new National Park and preserve, the New River Gorge.

The New River bridge, a sight to behold. Before the bridge was built, meant a trip down to the river and back up on a one lane road.

Heading home we stopped at Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina. The campground was excellent and there were plenty of good hikes to choose from. Jan and I hiked the Loop trail which has a historic farm serving several generations in the middle. The setting is truly fascinating.

Next stop was Stone Mountain State Park in North Carolina.

Widow Creek Falls, a tranquil short hike along the creek.

The Stone Mountain State Park Loop trail had a historic mid-century restored farmstead. This is the Hutchinson main house.

Hutchinson Farm Out Buildings, there were even more than this.

The farm field with the steep rock cliff alongside.

The Stone Mountain Loop trail has a water falls as a reward at the end.

Heading home to South Carolina, we found ourselves, once again, at the Smoky Mountain National Park near Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We manage to get to this park almost yearly. The park has a lot going for it. It was a good place to review our trip and gloomily start thinking about what has to be done when we get back.

Jan and I never seem to get tired of the Smoky Mountain National Park, especially the Little River.

The park service continues to improve the many houses in Daisy Town. It is an easy stop after our hike on the Little River Trail, a must do every time we are here to check out the progress.

Another Daisy Town shot of a newly painted house.

It had been several years since we climbed the Clingman Dome tower. Requires a good effort, a reminder of why we do not climb it every visit.

Clingman Dome view.

Settled in along the Little River at Smoky Mountain NP, our last stop before heading home.

A view from our campsite

Here are some photo taken along the road this summer

The new RV larger extra countertop space, truly a quality of life improvement. Larry making his famous Apple Crisp.

Enjoying the setting, not missing mowing the grass or cleaning the house.

Got making stir fry on the grill down to a science.

Popcorn and a campfire, just part of the good life on the road.

Larry with a brew in hand. This is somewhere in West Virigina.

Showing my artist side here some shots taken along the way…

Fun Street Art – Waynesville, North Carolina

More Waynesville!

Blowing Rock, North Carolina. Every time we come she is always reading.

A Blue Ridge Highway photo.

Along the Blue Ridge

Along the trail in Vermont!

Photo opt along some trail somewhere

An old tree stump with mother nature’s handiwork

Just before a Shenandoah NP storm…

Jan and I both had a great time this summer. There was plenty of rain along the way. The larger RV made life on the road much more pleasant.

Sadly, getting ready to head home

Jan and I so thankful that the Good Lord has given us the time and energy to enjoy this great country. Once we hit the road, we fall into the familiar travel routines and home just fades away. After 15 years of retirement, we find it is still a full-time job…

God bless,

Larry and Jan

Snyder Summer Gathering – 2024

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New York Hudson Valley looking from a Catskill Mountain Trail

Last year at our annual fall family gathering, the decision was made to meet up in the summer somewhere in Upstate New York. In July Jan and I traditionally head north for a cooler and dryer environment. The northeast easily fit into our travel strategies. Originally the plan was to find a house large enough to hold all of us. That was easier said than done. To make a long story short, we retreated to meeting at the Kenneth L Wilson state park in the Catskill Mountains. This is where Jan and I traditionally stay when visiting Mark and Kevin. The location is in easy reach. It worked great as everyone was able to come, except David who was on his own summer adventure.

The first challenge was Hurricane Debby who brushed by just before everyone got there. She brought plenty of rain and humid weather to keep us humble in so many ways. Her presence was front and center for the first few days but once she was done with us, we got some nice sunny days. However, she left a trail of downed trees which put the restroom facilities out of commission, leaving us with another challenge.

The crew all descended on Mark and Kevin the first day which was high and dry. This was great as we caught up with each other’s lives in a comfortable setting. Good conversation and great food made it all work. A surprise celebration of Dad’s (Larry) 80th birthday was a special highlight. It was gratifying to have everyone together again.

Mark and Kevin’s abode is easy to spot!

Paul and Marty hanging out with the family

Mark, Karl, Cully catching up

Marty and Jan staying in touch

Fiona and Cully catching up on their adventures

Jan, Karl and Mark checking out a game from the past

Surprise birthday party, celebrating Dad’s 80th…

The theme cake keeping in sync with Dad’s long-standing collection of giraffes

Behind the scenes cake prep!

Dad and Mark posing for the photographer

All smiles group shot

There is always a hike or two when we get together. This time we took on the North-South trail in the Catskills overlooking the Hudson Valley. The weather was good, after the rain we were up to an outing. The trail had just the right challenge for the group. It was a fun outing resulting in some good pictures to remember it by

Hudson Valley from the North South Trail taken on the family hike

The Hudson Valley views are eye catching

The trail was a bit of a scramble at times. Everyone made it.

Mark enjoying the family adventure

Paul taking a break…

Fiona enjoying the outdoors and family time together

Looks serious…

Time for a break

Liked this view with the valley in the background

Nice group shot with the valley in the background

There is always at least one shot with this group showing our theatrical tendencies…

The next outing was near Saugerties, Opus 40. The setting is a bluestone quarry. It is an artistic work developed and created by one man, Harvey Fite. He was a sculptor and Professor at Bard College. It is an amazing body of work done over several decades. His work was influenced by Mayan art and technics. He purchased the property in 1938 and died in 1976, just short of his goal of completion 40 years. Enjoy the photos…

Truly fun visit to the Opus 40 Sculpture Park. Impressive that all of this was done by one man.

Opus 40 sculpture tower

The artist vision and work are incredible to see and experience.

There were so many photo opts. This one reminded me of the slot canyons in Utah

The duck weed in this pool was eye catching

The Catskill Mountains in the background, awesome setting

Paul and Mark enjoying one last look

As is tradition, we can always find a spot with good food and good brews. This time the Woodstock Brewing near Phoenicia.

After the hike stop to refresh and refuel at the Woodstock Brewing Phoenicia New York. The food and drinks were just what we needed.

Woodstock Brewing family shot…

The campground setting was a hit. Already planning next year, time and place to be determined. Here are a few shots taken along the way.

Finally, a break from the persistent rain brought to us by Hurricane Debby.

This was our last morning together as everyone headed home and back to work.

Dad doing breakfast…

All good things come to an end as we say see you soon…

Family time is important. As Jan and I, the aging parents, we find we cherish these moments!

God Bless,
Larry and Jan

Christmas 2023

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Merry Christmas! Jan and I send holiday greetings to one and all. We are looking forward to enjoying the holidays here with friends and family. This has been a good year for us as we move beyond the Covid world and the heavy-handed health issues that are now a thing of the past. Although, Larry has managed a couple embarrassing side-steps recently, drawing attention and mandatory timeouts. It seems like staying out of harms-way has become a full-time job. Ending this year in good shape and looking forward to what comes next. Already planning next year with a balance of travel and other fun actives.

Still loving the South Carolina upstate area. So many recreational opportunities. We enjoy checking out the little southern towns as well as quality time in the bigger cities. The first half of this year was spent taking care of the ever-demanding yard and to do list, balanced with just the right number of fun outings to make us feel a bit guilty. With our interest in gardening, wood working, photography, genealogy, tapestry, hiking and traveling in our RV there is never enough time. Retirement is one of the best jobs ever and as we near 80 we like to think we are just getting started.

At the end of July, we hit the road in the RV heading to Michigan for six weeks. It had been five years since we had been back. Along the way we caught up with friends and family. It was good to reconnect and catch up one on one. The trip started exploring the Lake Michigan side of the state, ending up in Petoskey. Over Labor Day weekend the Snyder siblings gathered at Forest Lake near Alger for their annual reunion. Early this month the New York contingent of our family flew in for holiday fun, interesting food and good times. As usual there was more food than we could eat. The planned outings were hampered by rain and unseasonable cold weather. The rebound was a nice micro-brewery to fill the gap with more face time. It was good to have everyone here. There are now plans to meet somewhere in New York next summer

Larry and Jan on the Treat Trail Sleeping Bear NP

If you want to catch a glimpse into our life for the past year, take in the photos that follow.

Both of us enjoy the garden. There was a good return even after fending off the rabbits and deer. When we travel the gardening keys are turned over to Angie. She also takes on the care and feeding of our house full of plants.

Our garden in all its glory. Love the herbs, a key ingredients in our famous Plant-Based dishes.

View from above. This shot sometime in June.

These lilies came from Michigan. Jan sister-in-law, Ginger saved them for us. There are well traveled from Michigan to Missouri ending up in South Carolina where they now thrive again.

One of Jan’s favorite flowers.

Our horse friends next door are interesting company. We keep close tabs on them from our deck, a favorite hangout for us year-round.

Our close friends next door. They do love to eat…

The planters have become an integral part of our deck’s summer landscaping. In the winter the geraniums are replaced with pansies.

Here are two photos taken from our great room.

Rainbow captured from the inside.

Fun photo from the inside out.

There is always something happening at the Biltmore. Our annual membership gives the opportunity to go whenever the mood strikes. The spring flowers are striking, during the summer great place to ride your bike and the holiday decorations are outstanding this time of the year. If you are ever in Asheville, check it out.

Biltmore in the spring.

This is called the Azalea path in all its glory…

Really liked this natural view of the forest. The Biltmore Estate at its best.

This lake was on the Biltmore master plan and has withstood the test of time. The sun makes this a fun photograph on this day.

Here are fall photos taken in the Caesar’s Head State Park. There are so many good mountain views plus challenging hikes that call us back. If you are in the area, check it out.

Caesar’s Head in the fall.

Caesar’s Head view. South Carolina fall view.

This fall we checked in with the white squirrel in Brevard, North Carolina. We like to see him a couple times of the year. Brevard is one of our favorite places to hang-out.

Famous Brevard white squirrel who loves to pose for photographs.

Jan had to check out the Southeastern Animal Fiber Fair, our first time. Jan is into the yarn scene with her love of tapestry. It is on our list for next year.

Southeastern Animal Fiber Show – pulls in a lot of vendors with outstanding wares.

Fiber Show temptations

Two Fiber Show friends…

This guy was engaging.

Here we are once again ready to get out of “Dodge”. The RV is packed, the GPS set and there is a reservation for every night for the next 45 days. The old RV is hanging in there as it hits its 13th birthday. It is now back in the hands of the Airstream folks who are giving it a renewed lease on life for next years adventures. Really miss seeing it in the its parking place in our yard.

Ready to hit the road. This will be our home away for several weeks.

The summer trip started in the Smoky Mountains at the National Park Elkmont campground. We found Mrs. Owl waiting for us telling us to stay clear of her young ones. Lots of good hikes with Gatlinburg just fifteen minutes away. A yearly stop…

Mrs. Owl

We could hear this creek from our Smoky Mountain National Park campsite.

Love the characters we find in Gatlinburg.

Downtown Gatlinburg…

This was a first time at the Holland, Michigan State Park. Nice campground although a bit like a parking lot. Had a great time checking out the city with a side trip to Grand Rapids for a quick lunch and beer at the Founders Brewery.

Found these lovers in downtown Holland.

…more Holland!

Love the Holland beach. These folks were just hanging out.

Holland light house…

One of the favored Holland photos…

Ileana and Larry enjoying the path along Lake Macatawa in Holland.

There was a three day stop in Breckenridge area, the area where Jan and I grew up. Found a campground on the Pine River which was just two miles from the Neitzke farm. This area was considered the “other side” of the tracks when we grew up so reluctantly made reservation. In the end it was a good choice with a new respect for the area and the Pine River. We used the campground as a basecamp. The objective was to check out some small township cemeteries to fill in holes in our never-ending genealogy project including the Snyder and Neitzke branches.

This was our campsite on the Pine River in Midland County, Michigan

Pine River. Our RV trips always include electronics with ebooks for Jan and audiobooks for Larry.

Next stop was the Sleeping Bear National Park. This was our old stomping grounds. Had a fun time checking out the trails and views in the park.

Great campsite at the Platt River Campground at Sleeping Bear. The only issue was no electricity and no generators allowed. Really had to rough it…

This is a favorite trail to Lake Michigan called the Treat Farm Trail.

This is the trail to the Treat Farm in the Sleeping Bear NP. Great walk back from Lake Michigan through the open fields to the old homestead. I think the purple flower is a type of Phlox.

Love this photogenic view at Sleeping Bear. Surprised at the amount of erosion since our last visit. Great reward at the end of a two mile hike.

Jan enjoying the Lake Michigan view. Great view with lots of wind to mess up her hair.

Larry enjoying the same view, note his hair is not blowing as much…

The iconic sand dune climb is not as high as I remember it.

Attended the Buckley Old Engine Show. It had been a while since we had attended. This is a great show, brings back fond memories. Lots of old red and green equipment lovingly cared for. The problem was we can remember when much of it was new.

The Old Engine Show at Buckley was a fun side excursion. Jan remembers threshing time on the Neitzke farm back in the early 50s. The amount of vintage equipment and the real time demonstrations was impressive.

This JP model of John Deere was used on our farm through the 60s. It was my Grandpa Snyder’s first mechanical tractor back in the 20s.

This International Harvester reminded me of my Grandpa Woodards last tractor purchased in 1948 after World War II. I fondly remember that he would wipe it down at the end of day.

Our next stop was the Petoskey State Park. Trips to Harbor Springs, Cross Village, the county fair and downtown kept us busy for two weeks. Looking forward to going back soon.

A stop in Harbor Springs is always warranted. The homes are outstanding plus checking out all the boats is totally impressive.

…more Harbor Springs.

The trip from Petoskey on M119 to Cross Village is a must when we are in the area. Discovered the Legs Inn back in the 60s when we were camping at the Wildness State Park nearby. Note the namesake stove legs on the roof. Polish based food is always fun and interesting.

Legs Inn tree root-based interior is unique to the point of being awesome. This shot is above the bar. Lots of other interesting wood sculptures to take in.

The Legs Inn grounds and outside dinning overlooking Lake Michigan is just plain cool!

As luck would have it the Emmet County Fair was in in Petoskey during our visit. We had not been to a fair in over 20 years, so it was a walk back in time…

Many of the rides were new to us. Fun to look at but way too old to take any of them on. Well, maybe the merry go round would be ok.

Found that the 4H clubs are still alive and well. Fun exhibits and displays.

Walking out the pier in Petoskey is fun and there is always an opportunity for a photo or two.

What is a trip to Northwest Michigan without a stop in Mackinaw to take a picture of the bridge?

Next stop was the Snyder reunion on Forest Lake. It is always fun to catch with everyone. It seems like we can just pick up where we last left off. The only issue was we are starting to look like our grandparents…how did that happen?

Yes, we are all smiling. The Snyder siblings are still having fun. Not often you can get them in the same place at the same time!

Aunt Bonnie’s garden(s) are impressive, always a photo opt or two. This young lady drew my attention.

Our Snyder host has an impressive fire pit. Master fire builders at work.

Great place to catch up and maybe even solve the world’s problems.

A good campfire will keep you warm on a cold evening.

Uncle Duane enjoying the banter.

When in Michigan we always have to catch up with niece Betty and Husband Tom.

Catching up with niece Betty and husband Tom a highlight of the trip.

Every year our sons and granddaughter make their way to South Carolina from New York. It is one of the highlights of our year. There are always good times with plenty of laughs.

The group shot of the Snyder annual holiday South Carolina get together. Another great time together with good food and lots of laughs.

Presents under the tree, a sign we are getting in the spirit of the season. Finding a “real” Christmas tree takes a lot of work in this part of the world. This tree does not have any needles as you can see.

One thing the majority of this group can agree on is life is good if you can find a great micro-brewery.

Fun stop with some outstanding brews and good food.

Hanging out…

These two are tuned in to the camera.

It was so good to have granddaughter Fiona and David with us this year!

Really enjoyed seeing Mark and Kevin at this wonderful time of the year!

Just enjoying the action.

The one thing we do well is the food. Getting ready for breakfast on a cold and rainy morning.

I think the photographer lost control. All I can say is this was not the first time! At least it is not a boring group shot.

Love taking sunset or sunrise photographs. Here are some from this year’s collection.

Sunset photo are a favorite of mine. Taken from the deck in the spring.

This was taken in Holland while enjoying the end of the day on the Lake Michigan beach.

Sunset on Lake Michigan.

Sunset over Lake Michigan at the Sleeping Bear NP.

Have an enjoyable holiday. Jan and I miss everyone at this time of the year.
Happy New Year and God Bless!

Larry and Jan

Christmas 2022

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Merry Christmas! Wishing all of you a happy holiday. Celebrating the reason for the season brings this holiday celebration into focus for us, especially this year. Our web presence is still a comfortable way, on this end, to send our holiday greetings and to share what has happened in our lives. My compulsion to document life with photos provides a level of detail that is awe-inspiring and takes some determination to work through.

Another year, another Christmas picture! Agreed we look another year older.

A look behind the scenes. Hanging out with our tablets in front of a cozy fire.

Our retirement strategy is to see as much of this great country as we possibly can. In the last thirteen years Jan and I have spent time in every state, Canadian Province, and explored the majority of National Parks. Next up on the travel bucket list was to explore the Great Mississippi River, set for the summer of 2022. The idea was to meander along the River from the Gulf to the headwaters in Minnesota with some quality down time in New Orleans. Reservations were made early for a stop in Petoskey for a month to catch up with life in Northwest Michigan. Finally, on the way back home catch up with family and friends for some quality one on one time long overdue.

I think Robert Burns said it best in his poem “To a Mouse”. “The best laid schemes o’ mice an men often go awry” (well something like that anyway). Last October my doctor threw the red flag that called for a timeout, totally interrupting our lives. To make a long story short, a diagnosis of prostate cancer took precedence. Little did we know what lie in wait. With the help of great doctors, awesome technology and proven treatments life is getting back on track. If the body cooperates (and with the blessing of the good Lord) the expectation is to be back on the road by spring. Plenty of ups and downs along the way but neither Jan or I have ever lost faith. Timeouts like this bring into focus what is really important in life.

This is where I spent the better part of this year…

We are traveling this path together, mostly with a smile. There are so many milestones along the way. Here we mark the completion of radiation treatments with the ringing of bell.

Being grounded kept us hanging at home. Not as many waterfalls or mountain pictures to share.

Trying out the new porch swing. It soon became a go to place to kick back and relax.

Peaceful scene from last January. The only snow for the winter.

For a minute, I thought we were back in Michigan.

These guys are wondering where the grass had gone.

Getting our hand dirty was good therapy. Both of us love working in the garden. Summer produce was good, now working a fall gardening adventure.

The spring garden is off to a good start. The black ground cloth will help keep the weeds in check.

This early summer shot shows off our very successful vegetable garden. Tomatoes anyone?

Audio books became my friend. Jan and I spent countless hours enjoying the summer weather and the view from our deck. Then there was our ever presence equine friends next door who always seemed to be posing for that next camera shot.

Spring view from the deck. Spring flowers getting off to a good start.

By fall the landscape is more colorful.

Still enjoy following our friends next door. At the moment the horse in the middle has been banned to another pasture due to poor behavior.

Here are two fun pictures that caught my eye from the oversized digital pile.

These are common visitor to our garden. This guy did a great job posing for this shot.

Sharing a bit of our summer color with a photo shot of the Crepe Myrtles in full bloom.

Celebrated the summer holidays with good food and fun music in the comfort of home.

Grounded at home for a few weeks in the spring trying to stay out of harms way. However, that did not prevent donning the chef hat to create a fun Easter Breakfast. Jan did the Wool Roll, a filled pulled apart bread.

4th of July, blue skies, sunshine, what could be better…

Finally, in late September we were able to hit the road. Local hikes, a trip to the Blue Ridge Mountain in North Carolina and ending up in the Smoky Mountains.

It was fall when the travel light turned green. Pulled the RV out of storage with plans to hit the road. After a little TLC plus some spit and polish we were ready to go.

A yearly adventure is a hike at the South Carolina Botantical Gardens. This is a fun trail.

Another stop along the trail. Great old building with cool landscaping.

Another fun shot taken on a really fun hike.

Here we are back in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Never tire of these expansive views.

Another Blue Ridge Mountain scene taken near the end of September.

The Blue Ridge Highway called us back. Love fences with character. Hardly a cloud in the sky.

A popular stop along the Blue Ridge Highway is the Linville Falls. This stop actually exceeded expectations.

Another Linville Falls…just a bit of hiking to get a view.

A return visit to the Moses Cone Estate near Boone, North Carolina. I think I took this same shot last year.

Lots of trails to choose from at the Cone Estate. This time was a trip around the lake as climbing the mountain sounded like a lot of work.

They grow their Golden Rod very tall here in North Carolina as you can see from this shot.

Great trail around Price Lake. Just had to stop to enjoy this view.

We found ourselves back in the Smoky Mountains enjoying the Little River Trail. This trail was just right for a day hike.

This is our fifth year for an annual visit to the Smoky Mountain National Park. We have found several favored campgrounds. This time setup in the Elkmont Campground, near Gatlinburg, TN. The National Park Service has been restoring Daisy Town. This log cabin goes back to the 1890s.

Here is an example of a successful restoration. There are so many interesting stops here in Daisy Town.

Fall is not complete without a stop at Grandad’s Apple Farm in Hendersonville, NC. Again, we got our yearly apple fix. Two months later we are still working through the bounty.

“Grandad is ready for Halloween with a large inventory of pumpkins and a corn maze.

The green machine on top of the silo always gets my attention.

Blowing Rock, NC is a great stop in the fall, if you like flowers plus the mircobrewery is not bad either.

Jan and I wish everyone a happy holiday. Looking forward to seeing or hearing from you soon.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from South Carolina!

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Link To Our Family Fall Gathering…

Fall Family Gathering – 2022

Fall Family Gathering – 2022

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Getting together at the holidays can be complicated. The suggestion for a family gathering in early November became reality with some herculean effort on the part of the travelers. Getting ahead of the holiday travel rush proved to be a bonus in scheduling travel plans.

It was so good to see everyone. It was fun finding things to do as well as enjoying good food. Putting our Plant Based Chef skills to the test was an adventure, well at least for the chefs. Finding things to do was easy. The final list came down to enjoying time together, a trip to the Biltmore Estate, a hike on the Brasstown falls trails and capping it all off with a brew at the Jocassee Valley Brewing Company.

What is a family gathering without good food. Would you believe all of this is plant based?

A campfire on the deck, great way to catch up and to finish off the dinner dessert.

Nothing can beat a warm evening, a campfire and a little wine to end the day.

Our timing for the Biltmore was right on. The Christmas exhibits had officially kicked off the day before. The day of our visit, it rained so staying dry became a full-time job. The bright spot was the house tour, the holiday decorations and enjoying the botanical gardens.

Back at the Biltmore Estate to enjoy the Christmas exhibits. The weather forecast double crossed us with a dreary rain instead of the expected sunshine!

Here we are just trying to stay dry.

Colorful shot of the waning fall landscape, in spite of the weather.

Still smiling – looking forward to a fun day.

Touring the house, the highlight of the day.

Of course, a tour of the gardens is part of the visit.

Found someone to take a photo of this smiling group.

Being in the conservatory was a good way to keep dry…

Is everyone ready for this shot!

The Biltmore Estate Stable Restaurant an excellent choice for a late lunch.

There is always a hike or two in our times together. This year was no exception. Traveled to Long Creek to hike the Brasstown Trail taking in the three falls. This is an enjoyable easy hike with impressive waterfalls. Took in a new brewery which was a great way to end that day.

Then there was an outing to the Brasstown Falls an impressive stop.

Good hiking trails makes it easy to see all the different falls.

Loved our time together.

More camera opportunities.

So much fun to have visitors from the north.

The pull to get your feet wet was irresistible for some.

Looking forward to next year.

Link To:

Christmas 2022

Christmas – 2021

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Love this time of the year. It gives us a chance to stop time to reach out to friends and family near and wide to wish each of you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Years. Growing up in central Michigan life was community centric. Everyone who was important in our lives was within easier reach. Memories are still strong of those large family gatherings and local holiday events. Times have certainly changed over the last 70 years changing the way we think and view life.

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

We are in good health (although a little older and hopefully wiser) with more than enough to do. Our to do list is pretty much self-inflicted doing the things we like. This year, it was good to be out from under as many Covid restrictions. We got to hitch up the RV to hit the road after a summer off. Still being on the cautious side, we spent our time exploring close to home. Our revised travel plans took us beyond South Carolina to North Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee. The plan was to spend a week on the road then be home for a week providing a nice balance to our lives.

Today, life is good for us. We are not missing the Michigan snow and cold weather. Most winter days here in the Upstate area the sun shines and the temps average around 50 during the day. Getting snow for a couple days in January or February works for us. No snow shovels required. Spring and fall are the best times here. Summers are easy although they can be on the hot side during the day. The mountain are minutes away an easy escape to cooler temperatures. This summer got our hands dirty with a bit of gardening. Keeping track of the three new horses provides us with plenty of entertainment. Plus, there is always one more photo to take…

Looking for snow pictures had to go back to last February

Love our little garden. Our travel schedule was built around keeping track of everything green plus fending off our four-legged friends! This fall we had a repeat performance providing even more goodies.

These three friends next door keep our interest. Our deck is a great spot for viewing all that goes in in the pasture.

These guys are always on the run. It seems they are playing or maybe a bit on the competitive side.

You can learn a lot living next door to horses. Never knew they slept standing up. They stand perfectly still for long periods of time. The newest addition (on the right) is a Haflinger, a laidback workhorse..

Close up of a garden visitor. These Swallowtails are attracted by our Zinnas and ultimately parsley as their lifecycle plays out in the chrysalis stage.

This rainbow came late in the summer and in the north.

It was good to get the RV prepped and road worthy. There are so many wonderful sites in this part of the South. The summer schedule was built around our stays at State or National Parks. Being on the road making new friends is an important part of our life. There were so many pictures taken over the summer. It was hard to chose which ones to share with all of you.

Packed, ready to hit the road. The plan to explore the surrounding States takes the right gear. Kayaks, bikes along with good hiking shoes are key to successful exploration.

What could be better than a bit of history with some character.

A stop at the zoo is always worthwhile. Enjoying a beautiful summer day in Columbia.

These feisty feathered friends were both loud and colorful.

Stopped here 50 years ago, also with a RV in tow.

The Foxfire campus is an Appalachian treasure. This heritage center is dedicated to preserving and documenting the unique lifestyle. Plan a stop if you like history and learning about the arts and crafts from the past. The old church is a very photogenic.

The Etowah Indian Mounds caught our interest. Great job on curating. Using your imagination, you can visualize life here a thousand years ago.

Liked this photo, a lot going on! Chattanooga and the Tennessee River never disappoints. It is easy to spend a day on the extensive river walk.

Caught this young lady deep in thought…Blowing Rock, North Carolina.

Beautiful spring day in the Smoky Mountain National Park! Sunshine and warm weather, what could be nicer…

Peaceful scene in the mountains of Georgia. Quiet time stop on an early morning hike.

Blue Ridge Highway has amazing vistas.

What do you think of this shot taken somewhere in North Carolina? The dead tree caught my interest.

Found the stone fence supports eye catching. My take is they have survived the test of time. This trail took us to even greater views.

This is the “great” view. The Georgia Cloudland State Park exceeded our expectations. Plan a return trip next year.

Idyllic setting…

This trail goes under the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is actually the beginning of a five mile to the top of the mountain

These two are enjoying life by taking time to take in the commanding view.

This scene could be picture for a jigsaw puzzle.

Another mountain view that demanded a stop and look. The clouds being the attention getter.

Never get tired of these sunset pictures.

It seems like waterfalls are a magnet for us…so many falls, so little time. More photos to follow:

Love this river in the Smoky Mountain National Park… Perfect place to set up a tent.

Rainbow Falls at the Jones Gap State Park is a new favorite. Bit of climb to get here but well worth it.

Spring brings more impressive waterfalls.

Nice place to stop to enjoy the scenery.

The big drop adds to the drama here…

Had to work to get this shot…

Mark and Kevin met us in North Carolina for a few days. Good to catch up with them after Covid.

Mark and Kevin catch us on the road… Managed a couple of hikes to enjoy our time together.

Stopping to take pictures along the trail come easily.

Our last four trips were cancelled with a time out for some back physical therapy. This gave us time to stay close to home catching some fall color.

To start fall, out travels took us to Missouri. The color is just starting to pop.

Here is a fall shot along the Ocoee River which is part of the TVA project.

Strong fall color found along a trail somewhere this fall…

The Maple Trees along our driveway doing their fall thing! Love Fall in the South Carolina foothills.

Our plan for the holidays is to hang out around home. Hopefully there will be a visitor or two from the North.

Dressed for the holidays…first time for a suit in two years.

The decorations are hung…

Each of our trips are each documented in the following eight post. Feel free to check them out to follow our adventures. Use the travel link on the right.

Happy Holiday,

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Summer Travel 2021 Number 8 – Blowing Rock North Carolina

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Here we are starting trip eight of twelve. This summer is on fast forward. The schedule of out one week then home the next is keeping us busy. After a week at home, we are always ready to hit the road. This schedule has been good for the garden and keeping the yard mowed.

For trip eight we head to North Carolina, again staying in a campground along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The campground is Julian Price Memorial Park near Boone and Blowing Rock North Carolina. This will be a first time visit to this area.

Splendid scenery from the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina.

The Julian Price Memorial Park has a lot going for it. Nice access to trails, fun lake, and a comfortable campground. Once we get set up the RV routine falls into place. Again, we brought the kayaks, but they never got off the truck.

Julian Price Memorial Park has lots of recreational offerings. Great campground too!

Calm and peaceful morning along the lakeside trail…

The best part of this trip, Mark and Kevin joining us from the Hudson Valley in New York. After the two years of Covid it was great to catch up with family again. Lots of road time for them. Our time together was rewarding hiking, sharing good food, and just catching up.

Fun side of RVing…cooking outdoors.

Mark and Kevin join us for a plant-based lunch. Yes, they are still smiling.

The Park has a nice hiking trail around the lake. A good time was had by all…

Mark and Kevin joined us for a North Carolina mountain hike.

On the trail…

Sun shining through the trees added highlights to this river crossing photo.

Tree roots added interest to hiking this trail around the lake.

Another face along the trail, can you see it? I think my imagination may be working overtime.

The Moses Cone Estate was an unexpected find. This is an early 20th century estate. This was the summer home for Moses and Bertha Cone and is now part Historic Park Service. The estate has miles of carriage trails for hiking, running, or just enjoying the long-range mountain views. When we were there the main house was undergoing major repairs. Our trail of choice was to the top of the mountain where there is a tower to climb to get a 360 view.

Tunnel under the Blue Ridge Pwky on a Moses Cone Estate trail.

Had to stop to take in this view along the trail.

Carriage trail inclines are comfortable. The old fences along the trail are fun!

As we reached the top the question becomes, where is the rain gear.

Took a quick side trip to check out the original Mast General Store. The Mast stores are found in Georgia, North and South Carolina.

Mast General Store a southern shopping tradition. It all started here in Sugar Grove, North Carolina.

Mast General Store…

An old Ferguson tractor brings back memories from farm days. Mast displays take you back in time.

Blowing Rock has a vibrant downtown. We found that it is a great destination with plans to return. Good shopping, good food and plenty of places of interest. Found an enjoyable micro-brewery to end our time here.

Blowing Rock North Carolina is a popular tourist stop.

Downtown has a lot going for it…

Walk along Main Street with a stop at the library.

Group Hug!

This trip is coming to an end. One last photo to remember our time spent here!

Looking forward to coming back. There is still a lot to do plus it is just beautiful country.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Summer Travel 2021 Number 7 – Black Rock Mountain State Park Georgia

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Black Rock Mountain State Park Georgia

This is a return visit to the Black Rock Mountain State Park. After moving to the Carolinas this was one of our first southern adventures. It drew our attention as this part of Georgia is known for its recreational opportunities and mountain vistas. Although the campground is older with smaller RV sites, we found one available that would fit. The Park is just 50 miles from our home making it an easy trip, although the winding mountain highway does take some extra time.

Great RV spot. It was hard to find one that fit our rig.

Checked out several of the hiking trails. The various mountain trails gave us a chance to climb a bit, take in some good views, and bring home some memories on the camera. There is a small lake with an easy hiking trail. This will be a good place to catch some fall color. As usual we dodged the afternoon rain drops.

Took advantage of the several hiking trails.

Outstanding view from the trail…

On the trail in the afternoon means dealing with a mountain thunder storm.

Even along the sidewalk you can find nature

Great day to be out with a camera and hiking poles.

Great trail to stop and enjoy the view.

The foreground, background and clouds makes this nice photo.

One of the campground trails takes you around the lake.

From the lake trail…you should see what is on the other side of the dam

It is short mountain drive across the state line to Highlands, NC. I did a blog post years ago after a visit. Highlands has a vibrant downtown. After checking things out we found a great place to eat. Last time we checked out the surrounding waterfalls. There are four of them within easy reach. We had heard good things about a Micro-brewery in Clayton. Had to check it out on the way back to the campground.

Highlands, North Carolina has a fun downtown…

Lots of city sponsored flower displays

Great old buildings in Highlands…check them out for yourself!

Found a new favorite microbrewery on this trip in Clayton.

Have you heard of the Foxfire Center? We remember their books from the sixties and seventies. A local school back in the sixties started an effort to document and preserve the mountain heritage. This led to a magazine and books. The royalties provided funding to start the center. We found the center interesting, educational, and entertaining being from the north.

There are now 22 buildings. There is also an impressive paper archive plus the audio, and video recordings. The center provides heritage skill classes that look interesting. The blacksmithing and carving classes caught my interest. Jan was drawn to music, making brooms and weaving. Looks like we will be back soon.

The Foxfire Center dedicated to preserving the mountain heritage

The displays in the buildings are well done.

A team of artists keep the mountain arts alive with classes and in person demos.

Creative and colorful displays…

Mountain toys!

Impressive…

Mountain folks are proud and self-sufficient

This display was curated as a typical kitchen during world War II

The buildings are well maintained. The downloadable app added to the walking tour. The mountain lifestyle comes clearly into view by the end.

Most of the buildings are original to the area and were moved to the center

Fun stilts available to the brave and coordinated.

This building is a replicate built by the alumni and students of the Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School

Working blacksmith shop is a favorite stop for many

The grist mill was moved here…great old building

The Bell Grist Mill lives on…

The second floor of the grist mill…interesting pieces and parts

The Beck Barn

When hiking at Firefox wear your hiking boots

This was a nice adventure. Really enjoyed the time spent here. This area has a lot going for it. Now back home to “real” life for a week.

God Bless,

Larry and Jan

Summer Travel 2021 Number 6 – Red Top Mountain State Park Georgia

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Red Top Mountain State Park with Kayaks and Bikes in tow.

The first week of July we head off to Georgia again. This is trip number six, mid-way for the summer planned adventures. Looking toward to this trip to take advantage of the large lake and biking trails. Red Top gets its name from the red soil caused by high iron-ore content.

This Park was a different experience. Being close to Atlanta, the larger crowds took a bit to get use to. Again, the ailing back got in the way plus there was a lot of rain to work around. The Park itself has some outstanding sites for both tents and RVs. The Park is undergoing a major update with lots of construction all around. On the positive side, with all the rain the park landscape was lush. There were a lot of deer around to keep us company.

The refrain of this trip was rain and a grouchy back.

This is a great park. Plenty of space between sites. With all the rain, everything is lush.

The forest floor is impressive

At least there were two of us up for a morning walk…

This young guy tagged along too!

The Park trails are old forest roads, level and easy to hike. We enjoyed the hiking taking in the landscape and the views of the lake.

Managed a seven mile hike through the woods.

Flat trail, the greenery was went on forever…

Found cairns all along the trail. Someone has a sense of humor.

No long views but plenty of interesting attractions along the way.

No flowers along the trail today. These mushrooms caught my eyes.


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A local site of interest is the historic Etowah Indian Mounds which we wanted to check out. It is a State of Georgia Historic site. We found the museum and the grounds were both educational and interesting. There is an excellent video plus the walking tour is well documented and curated. Came away with a clearer understanding of life around 1000 A.D. Our visit ended with a nice walk on the riverside hiking trail.

Etowah Indian museum and mounds caught our attention.

This site was home to several thousand Native Americans from 1000 A.D. to 1550 A.D.

Replica of dwellings used by the Native Americans

Native Grasses under cultivation sponsored by the State of Georgia.

The grounds here are well maintain with access to six earthen mounds

The mounds were home for tribal leaders

Easy access via the stairs…

After exploring the mounds found a river walk

Along the river walk

Nice river walk…well done!

Next, we headed to the Pickett’s Mill Battlefield. This military historic site is described as one of the best-preserved Civil War battlefields. The visit was interrupted by a major thunderstorm forcing us to head back to the safety of the RV. This site is on the list for next time as our time here came to an end.

The Pickett’s Mill Battlefield recommend as a historic must do!

The summer marches on. Back home and ready for the next trip!

Back home unpacking and getting ready for the next trip

God bless,

Larry and Jan

Summer Travel 2021 Trip 5 – Cloudland Canyon State Park Georgia

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Cloudland Canyon State Park near Chattanooga Tennessee

For the 5th trip this summer, we head to Cloudland Canyon State Park in Northeast Georgia. This Park offers a wide variety of hiking opportunities and is within easy striking of Chattanooga, Tennessee. The reviews for this park and this part of the state gets high marks.

The start of our stay was quite rainy. In between the rain drops we found terrific views. Wide range of trails easy, moderate to challenging. The views along the rim trails are outstanding. There is an impressive falls on the canyon floor. Getting down was easy. Took a lot more effort to get back up.

Our arrival was rainy with plenty of low flying clouds

On a clear day you can see forever…

Impressive canyon trails. Prominent fencing with unique stone posts.

Easy hike to this scenic view just outside the campground.

The clouds added interest to this view

These stairs have withstood the test of time.

Lots of stairs to work your way down to the floor of the canyon

This bridge leads to the other side of the rim where the trail continues.

Takes a bit of work to get to this falls but worth it!

Always looking for that “interesting” friend along the trail. I think this fellow looks like an Eagle?

Guardian for anyone entering the campground

Then there was the side trip to Chattanooga. The city has done a great job with the Riverfront. The Riverwalk is extensive and well done. Checking it out was both fun and rewarding. The City Aquarium is outstanding then there is the Hunter Museum of America. The art along the trail kept us entertained. There is a pedestrian bridge making it easy to check out both side of the river. So many good places to have lunch, it was hard to decide.

Downtown Chattooga has a lot to offer

This is the other side of the impressive aquarium

The Hunter Museum of American Art is very impressive. This couple is celebrating the pile of money they are sitting on. The creator leaves it open as to where it came from?

There are eye catching and imaginative sculptures along this very pleasurable Tennessee River Trail.

This guy is keeping track of downtown Chattanooga.

A wheel chair friendly way to access the riverfront trail.

The Walnut Street pedestrian bridge is an asset to downtown Chattanooga. We crossed this bridge twice. The first time for fun and the second to get to the restaurant of choice on the other side.

The Walnut Bridge view that caught my eye.

This park has lots to offer. Fun stop for sure.

On our way to Florida in 1971, we stopped at Lookout Mountain. We repeated the Lookout Mountain Parkway drive, looking forward to its commanding views. One of our stops was Point Military Park where we had visited in 1971. Unexpectedly, it brought back a flood of memories. Life for us is certainly different for us now as we edge our way through our seventies. The military park is a historic treasure along with the impressive overlook of the city and river.

The Lookout Parkway has so many eye catching views.

Lookout Mountain Parkway a must do drive. Along the way we took in the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park at Point Park.

The park is well kept plus more importantly tells a rich historic story at a key point in time.

Jan and I were here in 1971 on our way to Florida…wow, was that 50 years ago!

The park has a commanding view of Chattanooga and the Tennessee River

Jan caught me taking one last look before we had to leave.

Jan and I really enjoyed the time here. There is a lot to do at the Cloudland Canyon State Park and in Chattanooga. The plan is to return soon. Now our thoughts turn to our next trip to Red Top Mountain in north Georgia.

God bless,

Larry and Jan