Our neighbors tonight
retirement activity
Out in the world again
Sher and I are fully vaccinated. Whew. The CDC advice for folks like us has been very encouraging, and we were able to enjoy going to a winery with our son and his fiancé near Columbus, Ohio.
The Wyandotte Winery is a well established family owned winery with a pleasant and comfortable facility. Tasting was easy, with a dollar per taste cost. We also added cheese and cracker and meat and cheese plates to munch on and accompanying our sampling.
We enjoyed the tasting and bought a couple of bottles and even got a couple of glasses for our collection. But mostly we enjoyed being out in the world again. Seeing and interacting with people is something we haven’t done in, well, a while now. And of course it was wonderful to see our son and our grandkids who we haven’t seen in well over a year. Before we headed to Ohio we also visited another son and his family. There we were introduced to our newest grandson who was born December 20th. What a treat to hug family again!
Call to the Post
Indiana Grand Racing and Casino
2021 season will have 120 racing days April 13th through November 4th
The horse on the far side is escorting the competing #4 racehorse to the starting gate. These escort horses are usually called Pony Horses and are a vital part of the horse racing business. They help calm the racehorse while on the way to the starting gate, and also aid in training the racehorse, among other tasks.
Sunset over the desert
There are few things on Earth that are more stunning than a colorful sunset view of the Sonoran Desert. This image was taken west of Tucson, Arizona.
Dolly in bronze
Dolly Parton’s statue is located on the courthouse yard of Sevierville, Tennessee, her home town. The statue was placed in 1987, and shows Dolly as a young lady before she gained international fame and fortune.
Sevierville is right next to Pigeon Forge, where Dolly World and Dolly Parton’s Stampede show is located.
Beauty and function
Seattle’s Puget Sound is home to 13 working lighthouses
The Alki Point lighthouse is an operational fully automated facility operated by the US Coast Guard. It is the southernmost of the 13 lighthouses on the Sound. This is a beautiful structure when seen from any angle, and is often open for free tours. Sorry, you can’t take your dog to this one. We got this shot on a cruise from Seattle to Tillicum Island.
Pay attention…for real
Yellowstone, beauty with some danger
They mean it!
The geysers cover the walkways with steam
Bison in Hayden Valley
Yellowstone National Park is 3500 square miles of Earth’s magnificence, mostly in Wyoming but there are parts in Montana and Idaho. We would recommend a trip to Yellowstone. Keep in mind that during “peak tourist” season there are thousands of people in the park. You’ll still be able to enjoy the park, the geothermal features, the scenery and the wildlife.
Pricey but worth it
Our site was about a 3 minute walk from the bus stop
Did you know that Orlando’s Disney World has a great RV and tent campground? Called Fort Wilderness, it offers a first class facility for an RV Disney experience. The RV sites are full hookup, paved and most have room for an RV and a tent. Rules allow up to ten people per site, so a great family vacation is possible. The campground is quite large, but shuttle busses run to the bus station that goes to all the Disney Parks, or to Bay Lake where you can catch a boat ride to one of the theme parks.
This boat runs the same times as the buses, and goes from Ft. Wilderness to the Magic Kingdom about every 15 minutes
Keep in mind that the sites at Fort Wilderness are pricey, to say the least. Most are well north of $120 per night. However it is a great way to “do Disney”. Walk to the shuttle, go to the bus station or Bay Lake for a ride to one of the parks. A while ago we had a nice family get together at Disney World. Sher and I stayed at the RV park, and our kids and their families were in the other hotels. Sher and I really enjoyed our vacation there. We loved taking the boat rides and sharing time with family.
Remember the Alamo… and other stuff
We’ve been to San Antonio a couple of times. Once was over New Years and was it cold! However, San Antonio is a wonderful spot to visit. The River Walk gives you a chance to stroll along the river and have a great meal. You can also take a fun boat tour of the river. There’s lots to enjoy along the River Walk.
View of the River Walk from a pedestrian bridge
It was a nice warm day to explore downtown
The Alamo, a special place
The Alamo is just one of the many historic sites to explore and enjoy. Be advised the Alamo is one of the most important and revered places in Texas. No pictures are allowed in the edifice. And men, be sure to remove your hat upon entering.
S&H Green Stamps sign on Route 66
Sher and I were here back in 2016.
When traveling east on Interstate 40 into Oklahoma from Texas you should take Exit 7 and head south into the town of Erick and Old Route 66. This former boom town was founded in 1901 but fell into trouble after WW II. The main street is filled with several nice old brick buildings that unfortunately are mostly empty.
Of special interest in Erick is the relic adorned “City Meat Market” building. This brick is covered in old signs the likes of which would make any antique picker green with envy. This is the current home to the Sand Hill Curiosity Shop. We did not hit Erick on a day that the shop was open. A local shared that the shop is owned and operated by a pair of characters named Annabelle and Harley, AKA the Mediocre Musicians. They will play and sing for you if you catch them there.
