St Pete and the Beach

After a good nights rest we did laundry and then took off for the BEACH.
We also visited the PIER. Stopped by Jodies to see Kandy's pride and joy Josh. He is a keeper.
Then Jodie directed us to the bonefish restaurant and some very good food.
We are back at Kandy's and she is making a tea party.
Oh I almost forgot we stopped at a winery and got some mango wine.
Off tomorrow early and will follow the scenic route along the gulf to I -10.

Tampa traffic jam

We had a great day of sight seeing in St Augustine, Fl. Where Ponce De Leon discovered america and called it Florida in the 1500's. We were looking for the fountain of youth.
We hit Tampa at rush hour and there was a wreck on the bridge to St Pete so what should have taken us 20 minutes took us 2 1/2 hours from 5:30 until 8 to get to Kandys in stop and go traffic.
Got here and found a place to park the teardrop and flopped into bed.
We are headed to the beach today.

Florida welcome center

WE stopped at the velcome center just over the state line into Florida because of the slow traffic jam on I -95. We had tried to stop at a good sams and koa camp grounds but bothe were full.
This rest area has free wifi and has all night security. There were about 20 other RV's already settled in for the night so we did too.
WE had our best rest all week last night. And this morning all of florida must have returned home as the interstate is running smooth this morning.
Don is cooking his breakfast as I write this.
Heading to Tampa today.
Kathy

Historic Savanah

Left Jack's early this morning and traveled to Savanah, GA. First we went across the big bridge to SC just to say we went there. Then took a Grey Line Trolley tour of Historic Savanah. A lot of the houses were no more than a foot apart. The tour guide put the teardrop on the anounced tour; hows about that, huh. We left there down I95 South and got into a big parking lot. There first was construction where the lanes went from 3 down to 2 and a lot of dummy's wanted to stay in the lane that was closing and cut back in at the last minute not to mention the ones that decided to just drive on the sholder. Too bad I wasn't a cop..... Very slow going for a couple of hours. We decided to stop in a campground but the ones we saw were full up. Finaly we stopped just inside Florida at the welcome center. Funny but we were not the only ones who were using it as a camping spot. The teardrop looks like a baby of the real motor homes next to it.

Oh the Sights we've seen

Good Morning, Morning, Hello Sunshine, Wake up sleepy head. The little "drop" was at Superman's statue in Metropolis, IL; Quilters Museum and the Wall in Paducah; the Tennessee River and on to Agusta, GA for bar-b-que along with a visit to Jack's farm "Faux Hole Farm". Today were're getting ready to eat and head out. Don't want to overstay our welcome..... May go to SC, Savanah, then on to Florida today. See how firm our plans are, huh... Sorry you-all arn't here tooooooooo...
Kathy

At Jack's

Arrived here Saturday morning after loosing part of the trim on the teardrop hatch. Otherwise OK trip except for traffic tie up just north of Atlanta. It's been good to see Jack, Ivana, and Randy. We are heading out to see the farm now and probably head off to Florida tomorrow. Stay tuned......
Kathy

Christmas day 2008

We spent 2 whiteknuckle hours driving over 100% ice covered roads getting into and out of Tom's taking mom there for a 12 day visit.
We ran out of snow and the ground was brown just a few miles southof highway 36.
Not much traffic so had a good drive on to Vienna, Illinois to visit Dons sister Pat and His mom Blanche. All of Pat's family came to visit and see don's teardrop.
Pat warmed us up leftover christmas dinner and after a good nights resta nd Dons full meal breakfast we were on our way by 8 am.

Day one Christmas eve

We decided to travel to Leon Tuesday after Don got off work.
It took two hours to pack and we were loaded and on our way.
Uneventiful trip to Leon except for when we got there were no trailer lights.
It seems that there was too loose a loop in the connecting wire, it rubbed on the road and '
just wore it out. Had a lot of fun finding a repair kit and getting it back working.
Surprised that a "Legal Beagle" didn't stop us....

Today we delivered Christmas presents and visited friends and family and ready to celebrate tonight then head out early tomorrow morning.

Stay tuned..

Hawkeyes Tampa bound

Here is the car window flag to identify us as Iowa Hawkeye fans headed to Tampa, Florida for the Outback bowl.
The university of Iowa is hoping for an Outback bowl victory on new years day. Kandy is huge Iowa fan!
Go Hawkeyes!

'what we are leaving behind in Iowa

The last week before we were to leave the Iowa winter set in.
We have had little sunshine and snow or ice everyday with artic air from canada. This morning we awoke to minus zero temps and windchills to -40 degrees below . Burr! Burr! Florida here we come.
Don has spent over an hour trying to get the thick layer of ice off of the car windows and doors. He had to use a heat gun to open the door.
More snow predicted for tuesday and then suny on christmas eve and christmas day.
Tom's have icy roads so we are hoping for a thaw to get mom in and out of Tom's hills and hollars.
60 hours and counting until our great escape from frosty Iowa.

Packing to go

Packing what a hard job.
What to take? what to leave behind? How much to take ?
what will fit?
What will we need? What can we do without?
The hatch is small and will not hold too much stuff.
I 'm thinking we can stop and eat out but of course Don thinks we can cook every meal and save money.
I think we will be packed like the Beverly Hillbillys.
We have to take mother to Missouri so she will have extra stuff to take.
We are going toKims first for Christmas eve so will take stuff for that.
I have three plants to take for kim to enjoy while we are away.
I have christmas gifts to take and stuff to take to Toms and Jacks and Kandys.
Lots to do today.
Kathy

About teardrop

Here is the little teardrop Don made in 2008.

It is packed and ready to roll on our maiden adverture to florida.

As we enter new states we will photogragh and document the adventure.

Look out world here we come.

How it all began.

Don and Kathy met oct 6,2007.
They were married Jan 6, 2008.
They live in Oskaloosa ,IA
THis past year Don built a 1947 vintage teardrop travel trailer from scratch from trailer up. He used pland from a 1947 popular mechanic magazine.
They plan to tour the united states in it now and after Don retires.
First trip will take us from Iowa to Missouri and Illinois and on to Georgia and to Tampa Florida and back home.
Trip will happen Dec25,2008 to jan 4 ,2009.