Every place we go, no matter how short or long of a stay… it’s always our home… at least for a while!
It won’t be long and it will be time to move on to new adventures. Our winter destination is the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola. We have had a good time here in Missouri this summer at the Mark Twain Landing Campground and water park… plus exploring the area and seeing new things. Learned a lot about Mark Twain and the area. Historic Hannibal, Missouri, where Sam grew up… the caves, riverboat cruises, haunted Hannibal and it’s history… and all the good places to eat. Just a quick note… while they may have lots of fish here, “seafood” comes from the “sea”… and it will be nice to get back to the gulf coast. The general lay of the land is a lot like Maryland, rolling hills, farm land for miles, and lots of green grass, trees, and bushes. A welcome change from the Florida to Texas scenery of mostly scrub trees, scrub grass, and scrub bushes… but upon reflection, the palm trees are a big plus in the south. We came here with 30 some other couples from Texas, so it’s been a great season being with lots of people that we knew in Texas and Virginia. But as with all things… change is the one constant… but as with all Rvers, the really aren’t goodbye’s… it’s so long until our paths cross again. Funny how that all works, sometimes you may not see each other for a year or more, maybe not even email, but when you meet again, it’s just like it’s only been a short time, and you pickup right where you left off. Looking forward to being back in Florida with family and friends. Looking forward to the beaches of the gulf and my toes in real beach sand… smelling the salt air… and watching the sunset over the beach and water. Looking forward to being closer to civilization… lots of shopping, restaurants, and places to explore. Monroe City and Hannibal are not exactly hot spots of big urban development. We were 25 miles out on the middle of the corn fields and small towns. The small towns, well… what can you say… they’re small country farm towns, seemingly just surviving the economic down turn, not much more to say… except that the folks have a greater appreciation for country living and the friendliness to match… just about everyone waves as you pass. Sometimes ya need a place like this to put it all into perspective. No doubt Mark Twain, as did many others, including Walt, drew a lot of inspiration from the hometown community country lifestyle. Down to earth country living… quite the contrast to big city or urban living with all the hustle-bustle and impersonal interactions of the the big cities. Never the less, looking forward to some urban civilization and everything at your fingertips. We had a nice day trip to Marceline, Missouri… one of Walt’s home towns and the inspiration for Main Street USA. I think the Disney World version is a bit more impressive then the real thing… but we had a great time seeing the museum and the town. We got to see and visit the farm when Walt lived and the “Dream Tree” where Walt dreamed and thought of things to come. The local ice cream parlor with it’s homemade ice cream was a true treasure to find… but the again… as we walked down Main Street, shopping in the stores, everyone was friendly and asked us if we had been to the ice cream parlor yet … something not to be missed. It’s nice to go places where the history and friendliness of the locals plays such a big part of the culture. They may not have the urban sprawl of places to go to… but they certainly have a great value in what they do have… openness, friendliness, and a love of social interaction and history. We will certainly miss the experiences and interactions of the staff and guests here at Mark Twain Landing. Having fun and enjoying interactions with people is certainly one of the pleasures in life… which seems all the more precious as you get older. Lots of great moments and memories… and I’ll miss a lot of the kids. Doing activities and having fun times with the kids is kinda a little like having a bunch of grandkids… which is really nice when you can’t be around your own grandkids and miss them so much. So one chapter ends, and another begins… new adventures to experience… new places to explore! Four relaxing driving days with a stop over in Nashville, and we plan to arrive in Florida by Sept 14th. It will be so nice to get to spend quality time with family and friends this coming year. Working fewer hours will also be nice. Perhaps a bit more time to be inspired, and make a few more blog entries. Well, farewell to those we are leaving behind… enjoy life and make the most of everyday. I’m often asked how I am today… My reply is that I have a good day when I wake up and breathe in & out… a great day when I smile and laugh… and a wonderful day when I can make others laugh and bring a smile to their face. Happy trails until we meet again.
