We are back in the Buffalo, NY area, after leaving Leesburg, FL, on May 2, 2009. Getting ready to go is the hardest part of packing up to leave home for about 5 months. We have to pack warm clothes for cool weather and summer. Weight is a problem in the motor home also. So we have to be careful how much we take, and to be sure we have enough clothing, food, and any supplies that we would need while traveling.

We made our first stop on I-75 rest stop where our group the ROAD RUNNERS RV CLUB agreed to meet for the first leg of the trip. Nine motor homes met there, and caravaned together to our next destination, a camp spot off of I-10 where we stayed the night.

The next day, May 3, we continued on to our destination. TOP SAIL PRESERVE in the GREGORY E. MOORE STATE PARK. This park is beautiful! Nice spacious spots with tall trees and shrubs surrounding each spot so you have privacy. A tram runs all day and makes designated stops at designated times to take you to the beach. The water is so pretty an aqua blue, the sand is white like sugar. Very fine and called sugar sand. This is right on the Gulf of Mexico near Santa Rosa Beach.

The Chapter had use of the wonderful fully equipped Club House. While we were there with the group we celebrated Marilyn Farr's birthday with birthday cake and ice cream, and I almost forgot, Champagne. We shared a pot luck night. Another night there was hot dogs and fixings for everyone. Usually we played games each night at the club house. I found a new game at Walmart called Farkel. Some call it Chicken and others Zonk. A fun game, played with 6 dice.

All went well until it was time to fold up the motor home and get ready to move on, but...........a little problem happened. The back leveler jack would not come up, which meant we could not move. We called Good Sam and two hours later someone was out to fix it. Wrong! It wound up he and Cal had to take the jack completely off. Now we would not be able to put our rooms out until that jack was repaired..

Nest stop was Perry, GA, to see brother Steve and Starr at Warner Robins, GA. We spent an evening and the next day with them. Starr made a wonderful dinner and we had a great visit with them.

Next stop was Stone Mountain, GA to brother Keith's home. Dorothy was not there as she had just left on a trip to Ireland with some of her sibling's. So the three of us batched it, until it was time to leave on Monday. Keith decided to travel with us, so we are now three. I gave up my navigation seat to him. He drove some of the time and that was great. A nice relief for Cal. We stayed at the Kentucky Horse Park, in Lexington that night. Keith says he loves this life, while sitting and drinking his Martini with Cal on a chair outside the motor home on a nice night in Kentucky. He also liked his 3:00 snack each day on the road. We enjoyed his company and had a great time with him. Brother's bonding together once again. I enjoyed watching them talk, work, and do things together.

Next stop after 538 miles of driving was Cathlene's home in Williamsville, NY. Normally we only drive 350 miles in a day, but with Cal and Keith taking turns driving, the weather was good and we made good time, but it is still a long ways to drive. We arrived a bout 8:00 PM.

It was so good to see Cathlene and Eric. We parked in Cathlene's driveway until Friday when we moved to Leisurewood, our campsite about 15 miles from her house. While parked in the driveway it was a constant flow of family. I love it. Children, grandchildren. Just wonderful. I am so very blessed to have such a wonderful family.

After hugs and kisses at Cathlene's we headed to Charlene and Earl's house. Charlene had fixed a delicious supper. Crab salad. So good and we were hungry. Earl was out of town for a food show and Ryan was working. We headed back to Cathlene's and bed. Keith slept in the house and we slept in the motor home with only the bedroom slide out. Cal was worried about it being out and no jack. The next day the guys found the part needed to fix it and repaired it and put it back on the motor home. So Leisurewood here we come.

Cleaned our spot of dead branches and winter dirt etc. and the motor home backed in pretty good. Keith helped get the big picnic table out of the shed, set up chairs and we are back in business. He was a great help. A nice cold beer and a few minutes of rest and back in the car to head over to Arthur and Gina's for dinner. To be continued.