Jim and Jimmy go diving

I'm a member of the 80/80 club based on the principle that I love to scuba dive, but only when the water temperature is at least 80, AND the air temperature is also 80.

Jim is not a member of said club. He'll go diving any time.

His longtime dive buddy, Jimmy, is also not a member. So when Jimmy comes down to visit us from New jersey, in January, they go diving. Here they are sometime in 1983-84 as part of the Mobby Lobster club in Long Beach Island, New Jersey. I think the club was supposed to be the Moby Lobster club, but someone made a typo! Check out those huge lobsters! The story that Jimmy tells is that he -Jimmy- caught every one of these lobsters! What a guy, letting his friends hold 'em.

Left to Right: Mike Robinson, Bob Gale, Jimmy Lyon, Bob Hires, Don Southwick, Jim Guld

The water temp is in the mid to low 70s this time of year. The air temp has varied from 55 to 80. And the weather has generally been gorgeous. In the 10 days he was here, they went diving 5 days, 2 dives each day. 3 times with South Florida Diving Headquarters and twice with ScubaTyme.

All totaled, they caught 16 lobster.

I ate 2! We invited Jo Ellen to join us for dinner as well. Jo Ellen was Jim's wife at the time that old photo was taken. Jim often retells the story of calling her to say, "I caught dinner. Get out the BIG pot!"
Now he cooks them on the grill.

Architecture Cruise Around Manhattan

Our friend Dee told us about this New York City Architecture Cruise. 
We had a day between teaching gigs at Senior Planet in the city and this was a great way to relax and learn more ourselves.

It was a perfect September afternoon for a boat ride.

We were welcomed aboard the gorgeous 1920's themed yacht Manhattan II and cast off for our nearly three-hour tour. 

Our captain gave us the required Coast Guard safety briefing and turned us over to our fantastically knowledgeable guide, Joseph Lengeling, a member of the American Institute of Architects. He kept up an entertaining narration for the entire circumnavigation of the island of Manhattan. 

We were amazed at his expertise about old and new skyscrapers, architects names and dates, residential architecture, bridges, Art Deco and Beaux Arts styles as well as waterfront parks and infrastructure through the years. He told stories of history, biography, design and current events with an enthusiasm that showed his love of the subject. All without notes!

We had great views the entire tour. We took lots of pictures and met some nice folks.

We circumnavigated Manhattan!

The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge (George Washington Bridge)

We were treated to a complimentary beer, wine, or champagne and enjoyed some tasty snacks provided by the fine crew of two. 

You can't beat this tour for value. 5-Stars! Highly recommended. We'll be back.

Here is a link to more of our pictures. Enjoy!

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Saturday Fun

Yesterday was the last day for the Heartland Vendor Mart, so we broke down the booth and drove over to Wally World to get some fine box wine for dinner.  The pork chop meal was good and conversation with our table-mates was great.  After dessert, the entertainment was Dueling Pianos.  They did a bunch of familiar tunes and had everyone laughing with their antics and audience participation.

Chris scheduled an Asian Reflexology massage this morning with Jean Damon, so her husband Dave and I took a walk over to where a Soap Box Derby track was set up at the fairgrounds.  These are local trials in preparation for the finals held in Akron, Ohio every July.  The kids were having a blast!  This is serious business for some.

Goshen Soap Box Derby

 

The Heartland Rally attendees were all invited to a factory tour and luncheon today followed by a visit to the RV/MH Hall of Fame and Museum.  Our friend Al Hesselbart, the historian there asked Chris and me to help out when all the Heartlanders toured the museum.  We were glad to do it.  If you get the chance, it is a great place to visit in the Elkhart area.  Don’t wait too long though, if they don’t get some serious industry support soon, they may have to close their doors as early as September.  That would be a real shame.

Back at the fairgrounds, we joined the Heartland Owners Club members for another catered dinner.  The entertainment tonight was a hypnotist/comedian, but we didn’t stay long.  The PA system sounded bad where we were sitting.  Besides, we were beat from being on our feet all afternoon.  All in all, a very satisfying day.

Before I forget, Happy Fathers Day to all the dads out there.  Most especially my own wonderful dad in Fort Lauderdale. I love you.  For my son, Devon, Happy Fathers day too, father to my grandkids.  And to Chris’ dad, Tom Van in Dunnellon, a very happy day.

I now return control of this blog to Chris.

Oregon Beer Hopping

Phil and Tracey, from Techno RV, had a booth here at the FMCA Convention.  The day after the rally, we both decided to stay an extra day for some R&R.  Phil finds breweries wherever they travel, and there are several to wet his whistle right here around Redmond and Bend, Oregon.  They invited us to come along as they did a day trip on the ‘Bend Ale Trail.’  I’ve enjoyed visiting micro-breweries before, but this is the first time I’ve experienced a true ‘Beer Tasting.’  What they do is pour a small (these are only about 5” high) glass of each of the different types of beer brewed, and you pay about $1 per glass.  We would pass each one around and discuss it’s merits – then order a glass of our favorites.  Notice that each glass is sitting on a piece of paper on a spot identifying that particular beer. 

We also made a stop to take in the sights in the picturesque town of Sisters.

Luckily, Tracey doesn’t like beer … so she drove.  What a fun day!

My favorite beer of the day was from 10 Barrel Brewing.  It was called Big Belgian Cabernet, and they poured it into a glass like a brandy snifter.  It is definitely beer – but it is aged in the same oak barrels that held Cabernet wine.  I *really* liked it!!  It was a refreshing beer, but with rich, mellowness from the cabernet that made you sip it like wine.

We spent all afternoon on the Ale Trail …. I think I still need another day to recover!

Cold and Windy

Well, what did I expect for March in the mountains?  But, OMG was it cold.  The temperature was around 40 and the icy wind was whipping!  The rocking chairs on the porch looked like they had ghosts sitting and rocking in them.

I think the altitude was affecting us too.  We’re at about 5,000 feet here.  We just couldn’t get enough sleep.  So we just hung out and napped on and off all day.

The big event was Taco soup for dinner.  I’d had this years ago while visiting Melinda.  Her son, Matt was the cook.  I remember thinking what a great meal that was, and one that could actually be accomplished in the RV, because it’s just a one big pot type of meal.  But, I couldn’t remember how it went together.  So, this time I took pictures along the way:

Taco Soup step one sautee onions, pepper, diced chicken etc and add to pot with beans, stewed tomatoes and chicken broth:

Then, the special part is to take some tortilla chips and crumble them in the bottom of your bowl before adding the soup:

Ladle the soup in the bowl, then top with grated cheese, diced avocados, and sour cream if you wish.  Everything that’s in a Taco but just a different configuration.  mmm mmm good

Labor Day party on the River

You’ve met Dianne in this blog before.  Most recently on a houseboat here in Long Beach Island.  And a few years ago at her house in Florida. 

 

Now you get to see her house on the river up here.  She invited us to come over for a Labor Day party.  Jimmy decided to go too even though, in 30 years of living here, he’s never left the Island on Labor Day.  Here’s why – all the thousands of people who came to LBI for the weekend, or the whole summer, are leaving that day:

 

But, we finally made it.  What a cool spot!  You see, in addition to the ocean and the bay, there are also rivers around here.  She is on the Mullica river, we paddled the nearby Batsto river when we were here in 2004.

 

What a great spot!

 

And, here’s our hostess showing off the view from her dining room.

 

Lots of clams to feast on – a local delicacy.

 

 

Here’s Dianne with her two daughters, Susan (left) and Carol (right):

 

It’s always good to get around families with kids.  The younger generation gives us a fresh perspective!

 

 

Here’s a view of the house from the dock.

 

Thanks Dianne!  We had a great time. 

 

and the traffic getting back onto the Island was non-existent!

Corned Ham Party

It’s tradition here at Jimmy’s house on Labor Day weekend.  See the post from 2004 for the story.

 

It was a 5-star day weather-wise on the island. Hot, sunny, great waves for body-surfing over at the ocean, and nice calm water on the bay.  We took advantage of all of it.

 

Even I got in the surf and let it put me thru the spin cycle.  Water temp was about 73, and the waves were perfect.  A few of them were big enough to grab you and toss you around, but they were all manageable.

 

Then we had some BLTs for lunch with scrumptious New Jersey tomatoes.  We played with the water in the bay for the rest of the day.  One of Jimmy’s old friends, who used to be a lifeguard here on the island is a master of the Stand Up Paddle board.  We had to try it.

 

Actually, Odie was the first to try – he just jumped right on and showed us how it’s done!  We told you our dog walks on water!

 

 

Then I tried it.  Believe it or not, these boards are inflatable!  So they have a little bit of give to them.  It took a few minutes to get my bearings, but then it was actually pretty easy.  At least on a flat calm day like this!

 

 

Then it was Jim’s turn.

 

 

They were really fun!  Chris K (who owns the boards) uses them to surf in the ocean.  Just, instead of laying down, he’s standing up all the time.  You can see photos of that on Jimmy’s web album.

 

Next up came kayaking!  Dianne and her daughter Carol came over for the party, and I took them out for a little bay tour on the kayaks first:

 

OK, now it’s time for the party.  The gorgeous weather held out the entire day, so all the festivities were outside.

 

 

Jim has to test the corned ham first!

 

Then there’s all the other dishes that people brought.

 

And even a soft-serv ice cream machine.

YUM

 

See lots more photos on Tom Pernal’s web album.

 

And then, to cap it off … you guessed it!  There was yet another beautiful sunset!

 

Hot Tub and Cioppino

Here’s where we are … and we’ll be here for a week.

 

Not only does this place (Erie Islands resort) have a working hot tub, they also have a Steam Room.

 

aaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh

 

We took full advantage of both of them yesterday morning before the weekend crowd got into full swing.  We went up to the recreation center for a repeat today but the crowds were a bit much, so we came back home and opened a bottle of wine which we drank while I worked on dinner.

 

I made one of our current favorites … my own version of Cioppino (Italian Fish Stew.)  I miss having lobster to put in it, but I’ve found that frozen salmon, shrimp, and scallops work pretty well.