A trip down RV Memory LaneTak

In December, 2009, we purchased our first motor home, a 33 foot Class C Fleetwood Tioga.  It was named the "Rolling Turtle" by Anna and Evan.  We had some great times in the Tioga, including a trip to Orlando, Florida with Anna and Evan, a trip to Ohio to visit the Lantz's and a trip around Lake Michigan.

Taking delivery of our first motor home

On our trip to Florida with Anna and Evan, we stayed our first night in a Wal Mart Parking lot, which the kids thought was pretty neat.  We have since stayed in Wal Mart parking lots all across the country.  They are clean, safe and save a lot of time and money when deadheading from one place to another.

We took Dad on his first RV trip from Beaufort to Ocracoke.  One of our favorite stories is that when we returned from Beaufort, the next morning Dad was very frustrated.  As he was getting ready to shave, he realized he didn't have his shaving kit.  He told Clara, "I'm afraid I left my shaving kit at that place we stayed over in Ocracoke!"  Of course we all got a big laugh when we told him "Dad, the place we stayed over in Ocracoke is sitting out in the driveway". 

Anna practices the bowed psaltery

The Lantz's, Archbold, Ohio

As we were returning from our second trip to Florida where we had temporarily left Eureka, our sailboat, Clara was driving and all of a sudden pulled off at an intersection near St Augustine with no warning..  "Why are we stopping here?" "I just saw a sign for a RV dealer, and I want to stop and look at motor homes"

The next thing I know, I'm writing a check and we're taking delivery of our second motor home, a 2006 33 foot National Tropi-Cal diesel engine Class A bus.

Our "new to us" motor home

Over the past four years, we have enjoyed many hours, many miles and many places in the Tropi-Cal.

Our first stop in our new motor home, Mayport Naval Station, Jacksonville, Florida

Cape Hatteras, NC

Cades Cove, Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Kansas

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Air Force Academy

Rocky Mountain National Park

Snow Mountain Ranch and Camp Chief Ouray, where Slade was a counselor as a teenager

Tilted Rock Wilderness, Colorado

Albuquerque Balloon Festival, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Kirkland AFB, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Petrified National Forest, Arizona

Davis Monthan AFB, Tucson, Arizona

Tombstone, Arizona.  Not our favorite RV Park, but an interesting town

Storing the motor home in Albuquerque, New Mexico

A new TOAD (towed vehicle)

Sedona,  Arizona

The Bass's have been a part of much of our adult life, and here, after two weeks traveling with us in our motor home through New Mexico and Arizona, they take delivery of  the "Big House", their 34 foot Monaco.  Our 33 foot motor home became known as the "Little House"

Great Basin National Park, Nevada

The "Big House" and "Little House", Lake Havasu, Arizona

Yosemite National Park, California

Sequoia National Park

Moab, Utah

At Tony and Jill's, Wichita, Kansas

An unusual RV park in Tennessee

At home in Spruce Pine, NC

At the Lantz's in Archbold, Ohio

In storage, Scranton, Pennsyvania

Our 47th Anniversary in Maine

Fresh lobster in Maine

At Tony and Jill's at their Maine home

Anna joined us for a memorable trip to Maine and Canada

On the banks of the Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada

Traveling to Campbello, Canada

This is my favorite of all pictures of the motor home.  Anna was helping me repair the flap on the motor home.

At Slade's condo, Cary North Carolina

Ready for the next trip in Beaufort

Headed to Ocracoke

Front Street, Beaufort

Moody AFB, Georgia

Gulf Islands National Park, Pensacola, Florida

Everglades National Park, Florida

Upriver RV Resort, Fort Myers, Florida

Cades Cove, Smoky Mountain National Park, Tennessee

Cherokee, North Carolina

The end of the road, so to speak.  Our last days on our beloved Tropi-Cal, which has taken us over 30,000 miles around the USA and Canada are spent here at Upriver Resort, Fort Myers, Florida.