WE sold 160 12th Place SE in July 2015. Serviced the BGB and took off north to visit the grandkids in Toronto Canada and Clinton. NY.
WE stayed at Birch Haven RV for 2 months. Jenn and Andrew came and stayed in a rented cottage next to our Campground. WE had a brilliant time and ended driving them back to Toronto in the truck.
September 2015 we took off west through Elkhart IN to Colorado Springs CO. We drove up Pikes Peak in the truck .1 week later we drove south to Albuquerque NM for the Balloon Festival.
While there we found the bar that the movie Wild Hogs made famous in Madrid NM. Maggies !!
After watching the balloon festival we drove NW to Durango CO Alpen Rose RV Park for a week and rode the Silverton Railroad C1850 to Silverton and back. Pretty cool day.
Then we drove north to Moab UT and saw The Arches National Park. Awesome. Then west to Zion National Park . Also awesome ! We also saw Bryce Canyon and Mesa Verde !!
Next stop was Las Vegas. Bad pedestal wiring in the RV Park blew our transfer switch and some circuit boards . Installation of a new transfer switch /surge protector was paid for by the RV Park.
Then south west to Palm Springs
November 2015 saw us driving east ,leaving the truck in storage we drove to Morehead City NC
where we picked up the MGB and Jane's Hyundai Santa Fe Sport T that we left in the same storage as the house furniture. On our way back to FT Pierce Florida we sold the Hyundai to Carmax .
We spent the month of December thru Jan 2nd at Nettles Island Fl and celebrated Jane's Mum's 95th Birthday.
January 2016 saw us heading west to rendezvous with Baha Winters in Chula Vista CA near San Diego after attending the Beaver Rally at Quartzsite AZ which was a blast !
February 28th 2016 saw us heading across the Mexican Border with Baha Winters Caravan of 15 rigs of all shapes and sizes. It was a great trip ,that saw us driving all the way down to Cabo San Lucas and back. On the way back we stopped at Hotel Malarimo in Guerro Negro where we went on a memorable Whale Watching expedition. This was our second time and as it was later in the year the whales were very cooperative bringing their babies right up to the boat !! I touched a grey whale .!!!
Back in San Diego CA after seeing the last Prairie Home Companion hosted by Garrison Keeler, and a scallop luncheon at the famous Hotel Coronado we planned a trip to The Galapagos Islands .
April 2016 ....10 days ......wow......awesome doesn't even come near.....just want to go again.
Big thank you to Xavier and his wife who run www.galapagosalternatives.com for all their help in planning our island trips.
Teddy and Roxy our 2 cocker spaniels were very happy to have their people back as we then continued north to Long Beach CA for a visit to RMS Queen Mary. Well worth the time to visit.
Then continuing north we stopped at Pismo Beach.CA. ...huge sand dunes then north to Monterrey CA for 4 days . We drove the Pacific Highway over the Bixby Creek Bridge . We dined in Carmel and Monterrey.
Then north to the Pacifica RV Park right on the clifftop overlooking the ocean just south of San Francisco. My son Andrew flew down from Toronto . He slept on board the BGB . We drove east into the Sierra Nevada Mountains and spent 4 nights camped at Yosemite Pines RV Park. We drove into Yosemite National Park twice . This was the most amazing National Park we have ever visited. I know it left and indelible memory on my son Andrew as did The Golden Gate Bridge and Muir Woods Nat Park where the Redwoods blew us away.
After Andrew flew home we took off NE thru Sacramento up the infamous Donner Pass 10,000 ft to Elko Nevada where we gave the BGB a well earned rest !!
Driving north east again to Pocatello we stopped for a 3 day break before heading towards Yellowstone Park. WY where we camped for 1 week. Driving into the park over the week we saw amazing herds of Buffalo , hot springs and Old Faithfull ,the 100ft volcanic geyser , that performs every 90 minutes. You felt the ground shake as it erupted.
Leaving Yellowstone NP we drove south past Jackson Hole and the Teton Mountain Range. Fabulous view parked by the Lake with the saw tooth shaped mountains back of the lake.
South again then east passing The Bonneville Salt Flats to Cheyenne. WY where we stayed at the Bison Ranch for 3 nights R&R.
Now driving north we headed up to Mount Rushmore and Rapid City. SD. where we stayed 1 week. Mount Rushmore was very crowded but still very impressive. The US history of this area is saddened by the way the Indians were treated.......Google "The Trail of Tears "
General Custer was a murderer who had his last stand here. at The Battle of Little Big Horn.
A week later we headed east to Pender Nebraska where we managed to swing a deal on a brand new Blue OX tow bar that attaches the Ford F250 6.0 diesel truck to the coach.
Passing thru Toledo Ohio we ended up at Youngstown OH where we replaced the Caterpillar C12 engine's starter motor twice...
Then onto Uniontown PA where we found we could'nt start the BGB !! .The dealer had installed a 24 volt starter and we needed a 12 volt one ! On a Sunday the tech drove the 80 miles to us and installed the correct 12 volt starter.
Meanwhile we traded the Ford F250 diesel truck for a 2101 Toyota FJ Cruiser 4x4. Leaving Uniontown PA with Jane driving the Toyota we headed towards Toledo OH and then Syracuse NY to have the Toyota's baseplate installed so we could hook it to the BGB.
From Syracuse NY we drove to Birch Haven RV Park near Clayton NY for one month. We rented a cabin for Jenn, Luke and Andrew who we picked up the next weekend from the Via Rail Station in Kingston Ontario. Campfires and mashmellows, beer, wine and steaks etc After Andrew,Jenn and Luke left by Via Rail from Kingston Ontario Jane's son Bill, Marie and Grandaughter Mia came up for a weekend from Clinton NY . We took them to Boldt Castle at Alexandria Bay by boat. A very enjoyable trip.
September 2016 saw us driving SE to Washington DC where we camped for 1 week. We took a boat tour on the Potomac River and a bus tour of the City that covered all the major attractions, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, The Washington Monument was closed after the earthquake, the White House , Library of Congress and the Capitol Building. It rained a lot but we had ponchos to keep us dry.
After Washington DC we drove to Morehead City NC and camped at Cherry Point MCAS for 1 month to look at houses and take some well earned R&R. We intended relocating to this area.
Hurricane Mathew paid us a visit which was noisy. The BGB 's 22 tons rocked around a bit; trees came down but not near us.
November 2016 saw us heading south to Bushnell Florida so Jane could vote in the election.
Then to the Port Saint Lucie RV Resort where we booked in for 1 week before heading to Tanglewood RV Park in Vero Beach Fl for the winter.
Jane's brother Pete and Sue hosted Christmas Dinner.
2017 . We were house hunting again and in April we decided 315 10th Street SW ,in Vero Beach FL would be our next home. The deal closed May 1st. 2017 The week before closing we had to drive a huge UHaul truck to Morehead City NC to pick up all our furniture. We hired labour to load the truck and after driving back on the 29th /30th April 2017 we parked the truck at Tanglewood RV Park and went to the closing on May 1st.
We hired guys to unload the truck at the house on May 2nd 2017.
We are still sorting out stuff having downsized from 2900 sq ft to 1900 sq ft and now have 2 bedrooms set up and one bedroom still chock full of boxes as storage !!
In September 2017 I had a stent installed in my left carotid artery which was 90% blocked. Dr Eric Peterson at Jackson Memorial Hospital , part of The University of Miami performed the operation.
So far so good.
I have fixed the pool equipment; the airconditioning system was thoroughly cleaned by Stanley Steamer; all lights are now LED; but the garden needs much work still .
We have weathered Hurricane Irma ; in December 2017 we traded the BGB on a 2018 Lance 2285 travel trailer and the Toyota FJ Cruiser on a 2009 Dodge Ram 2500 2wd Cummins 6.7 turbo diesel Mega cab to tow the trailer. Jane got jealous and now runs a 2012 BMW X5 XDrive 35i .
Big project is still to install the rebuilt Yanmar 4JHTE diesel engine sitting in the garage in Two Pelicans and make her seaworthy again maybe this year this year.
We drove 80,000 miles in the BGB ; Baja Mexico( San Diego to Cabo San Lucas 3 times) ; mainland Mexico ( Laredo Texas to Puerto Vallarta and back) plus 9 trips across the USA hallway up the west coast and everything in between in our beloved 2000 Beaver Marquis Amethyst which never let us down once on the road. Gotta love that big old C12 Caterpillar 450 HP turbo diesel.
Once we get Two Pelicans back in the water our adventures will continue. Meanwhile we have joined a local RV Club , The Treasure Coasters and enjoy monthly outings with the gang. We are hoping to take the trailer north and spend 2 months in Toronto, Canada and Clayton. NY visiting the grand kids et al in August/September. 2018
Stay safe my friends !!Keep it real !!
The Cathedral Bluffs Yacht Club,Scarborough,Ontario,Canada.
My home from 1979 to 2005.
Pelican 1 hauled out at Bluffers Park Marina 2003
There have been some changes since then !!
Haulout 2003
My good friend Joe.....Captain of La Reine Brenda.
Daysailing on Lake Ontario 2003
My daughter and her fiancee . The last sail in freshwater!
Two Pelicans aka Pelican 1 refitting at Beaufort NC
The new inner forestay fitting is visible below my foot
Launch Day December 8th at Bock Marine
The completely repainted and rewired rig plus new windgenerator.
In the slings at Bock Marine
Jeremy having a "moment" !
Two Pelicans
First time in saltwater....wondering if she will be on her lines after all the extra gear we added!!!
Alongside at Bock Marine Dec 2006
A little bow heavy still !!
The Skipper
On a break during refit at Bock Marine. NC
Peter (yachtmaster) from the UK.
My sole remaining intrepid crew !
My other Crew!!
Derek, who jumped ship for the lovely Karen ! Who can blame him eh?
A toast after a successful launching.
Manadatory equipment: beer,kneepads and a Piggly Wiggly sweatshirt !!
Resting at Masonboro Inlet en route to Charleston. SC
The new Lofrans windlass and bowsprit.
at anchor in Charleston.SC
Water on the lens? A very enjoyable stop.
Great Harbour Cay in the Berry Islands.
Landfall in The Bahamas where we cleared in with Customs. Jan 2007.
Nassau.
Labour Day Parade
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