Priceless Once in a Lifetime RV Adventures

One thing for sure is that we have adventures that we would have never had if we stayed in a regular stick and brick home. We visit places in the RV that we probably would have not visited if we were on a regular one week style trip. Here are some of our more memorable adventures.

KEY WEST,FL. On our way to Key West we stopped at Bahia Honda State Park and got the opportunity to snorkeling and participate in the mini lobster season. I got to be the boat Capt. and Kathy got to help measure the lobster to verify they were of legal size. Along with our friends, Tim and Judy we caught 48 lobster! The boat belonged to Mario and Luis who were kind enough to take us all with them.

While enjoying the snorkeling experience, this reef shark swam below us, Talk about getting your attention!

We were volunteers/workampers at Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park and one night some illegal Cubans came ashore at the park. They were apprehended and shipped off to Miami for documenting, which is exactly what they wanted to happen. Now we get to haul off their rickety boat that surprisingly survived the journey from Cuba. Strangely, we discovered a large amount of condoms on the ground in the park. Not sure why, or what they were used for, but we really don't believe they had some big beach orgy to celebrate their arrival to America. We learned that if Cubans reach land, they get to stay, unlike Mexicans or others who can be deported.

PANAMA CITY,FL

While volunteering at St. Andrews State Park in Panama City, FL we got to witness and assist in a turtle hatching on the beach. Now that was such a special experience! We hatched 125 babies that night. Aren't they so cute?

CANON CITY,CO. While we were working at Mountain View RV Resort in Canon City, Co we had the opportunity to visit the Rock Mountain Wolf Preserve in Guffey. Wow, what a hair raising experience getting into cages with real live wolves! Volunteers or interns gave us the free tour, it is a great experience and they do appreciate a donation to help them run this facility.

This little hummingbird was found on the ground exhausted and couldn't fly. Now I am not a veterinarian but we happened to have a hummingbird feeder, so we held it to the feeding tube and it started feeding. After about ten minutes the little bird started to move again and then flew away. It was such a wonderful experience to help the little bird.We put out new hummingbird feeders and really enjoyed our daily visits. I wish I could be 100% certain this same bird kept returning, but I am not. This also occurred in Canon City, Co.

BRAZOS BEND STATE PARK,TX

I will never forget finding this alligator that caught a large turtle for lunch while working the trails at Brazos Bend State Park in Texas. I felt bad for the turtle, but it made for a spectacular photo opportunity and it is the circle of life. Those orange balls are eggs from the female.

We also found a snake that caught a frog for lunch...yummy!

Even in the civilized world of fancy RV resorts, the circle of life goes on. This hawk caught and killed this dove for dinner. The kill took place on a guest's patio. I also saw hawk's snatch a dove off of a overhead power line, it was amazing how fast that occurs.

One of the most beautiful places we have visited is Glacier National Park, Mt. There you can see all types of beautiful animals including big horn sheep and mountain goats,etc. 

This cool guy seemed to just stop and pose for us.

Florence, CO and Bishop's Castle

Fun, Fun day with our friends, Tom and Mary Ann! We started our day at 8:00 am with breakfast at Big Daddy's Diner in Canon City, CO. This is our 3rd time there to eat and great food and service! From there we drove to Florence, CO for the opening day of their Farmer's Market. We did buy some nice looking tomatoes and got to meet this beauties!

   

Rocky Mountain Wildlife Foundation  had brought a couple of their wolves, Apache and Cherokee, to demonstrate that they can be tame if they do not imprint with their mother. This occurs by them not seeing their mother the first thing upon opening their eyes. It was very interesting and they have a sanctuary in Guffey, CO that I hope we can go visit. These are pictures of them that I borrowed from their website.

We strolled through all the antique shops in Florence and went to the ACE Hardware just to use their restrooms. We all ended up buying a couple of outdoor rocking chairs that were so comfortable and collapsible for easy travel. They made us one heck of a deal. Guess that will teach that antique store to not let me use her bathroom. LOL.
Our next stop was lunch at Maverick's in Silver Cliff, CO. Food was just as good as the first time but the serve was not. That was too bad since our first time there we had such a personable waiter. They do have a very interesting hamburger bun that we never seen before - a Pretzel Bun. It is a good place to eat, just do not be in a hurry!
We then drove over to Bishop's Castle. A very scenic drive but don't rush on the road! There were 3 cows walking out in the road and it is a very curvy road! Bishop's Castle is very hard to describe and I highly recommend if you are ever in the area just go see if for yourself. The story that I was told was that this guy, Jim Bishop, decided to build with rock that had fallen along the sides of the roads but that once the State of Colorado found out he was taking rock from the right of ways he was told to stop. He didn't like this so the battle began. He has built a "Castle" of rock and it is impressive yet a bit scary too. The walkways are welded metal grates that are a bit shaky in some places. One of the railings was missing so a wooden ladder was strapped in it's place. There are beautiful stained glass windows and impressive sky lights. Jim Bishop was there working on a new project, not sure what it is but my guess is that it was a moat. Will be interesting to see what it ends up being.

Bishop's Castle

His Proclamation

Steep, skinny steps!

Beautiful windows!

 

Interesting architecture throughout the castle

After we got back to the RV park, we grilled some steaks, had salad and a potato salad (which was very good Mary Ann!). I think I'll have to fast tomorrow, we ate so much today!  A few games of Corn Hole to round out a great day.

Mary Ann beating Kathy at a game of Corn Hole.

Bruce's Birthday and 50's Flashback in Canon City

May 18th, Bruce turned...another year older. Haha, thought I was going to tell his age weren't you? We went out for the evening with our friends, Steve, Linda and their daughter, Angie. Since we were on a 50's theme, we went to Big Daddy's Diner for dinner then to downtown Canon City for the Flashback. There was a car show and supposed to be a sock hop with the band Flash and the Cadillacs.  There were some nice cars in the show but the little bit of music we stayed to listen to was not 50s so we headed back to the RV so Bruce could watch the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball game.

Someone did a little decorating...

and some more decorating...

and there she is! Thanks Linda and Steve!!

Car was parked in front of Big Daddy's Diner

Hard to read but it says "Retired Chaffee County Law Enforcement"

The "Sockhop" 

Special year - Born in 56, is 56, with a 56 Chevy

Sky Line Dr., Canon City, CO

Sky Line Drive is a one-way single lane 3 mile road that starts out just west of Canon City, CO and ends on the west side of town. We took my SLK and even in a small car is was a scary ride! OK, I've been there done that.

Canon City, Colorado here we come! Heading to our summer destination at Mountain View RV Resort to camp host for 6 months. We've never stayed that long in one location since we started full timing 5 years ago so hopefully all goes well. After leaving Las Vegas we drove up I93 to I70. I was quite surprised by the beautiful scenery of south Utah! I was following Bruce in my car so was able to get pictures of our COW (Condo on Wheels) driving down the road.

Stopped at one of the scenic overlooks...

and drove on to our over night stop, Shady Acres RV Park in Green River, Utah. After we got there we found out that the temps drop below freezing during the night so they turn off the water at 8pm and don't turn it back on until 8am. Not a bad park but as you can see from the picture they line us up in a row instead of spacing us out a little, the park was no way near full or even half full.

Shady Acres RV Park, Green River, Utah

Burrrr, it sure was cold the next morning! The drive through Colorado on Highway 50 was nice but only a 2 lane. We arrived at Mountain View and received a nice welcome from the park owner, Carter. He helped us get backed in and even cleaned our picnic table and patio for us! A taste of the costumer service that he likes to give his RVers. Spent Friday relaxing before heading to Lawton to visit with our families.

Mountain View RV Resort, Canon City, Colorado