Two weeks in LA

Saturday January 15, 2011
We have been here in LA (lower Alabama) just over two weeks now and the weather has been up and down. It was quite warm the first few days but then turned cold and dreary for the last week. It was below freezing the last 3 nights but that seems to have come to an end at least for now. Our furnace has certainly had a workout. Not to mention I’ve had to buy propane twice. The morning after the first fill up I woke to a temp of 45 degrees F. (that's about 8 degrees C. for those of you who are metric challenged) in the RV. Because I had not tightened the connection properly, the automatic tank switchover had not worked. I probably won't do that again.

Carolyn has been busy with various crafts at the clubhouse. This has been so far the most active year the clubhouse has ever seen so we were told. Next week there are expected to be over 50 events and classes. Not bad when you consider all classes are put on by volunteers. I even took a cooking class produced by a lady who used to be in the catering business. The topic was easy, inexpensive, fly off the table (her words, not mine) pot luck snacks. I’ve signed up for her next class already.
Speaking of events, next Tuesday after dinner of hamburger stroganoff, we will have a visit from Elvis himself. You didn’t know he was hiding out in Foley Alabama, did you?
The computer group meets here every Thursday morning. We just sit around (about 20 of us) and discuss computer problems. All except the guy who has an Apple Macintosh who says he never has any problems. So what fun is that?
Last Monday we went to the monthly meeting of the local Escapee chapter called The Gulf Possee. They're Planning a rally at the end of March just about when we will be heading home. Could be interesting. 

The past 2 Sundays we went to St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Foley. We went there last year for Christmas and guess what? They even remembered us. They get a fair number of snowbirds this time of year and they go out of their way to make us feel comfortable and welcome. A large number of the people from this park go to the Methodist Church in a little place called Marlo, just down the road from us. A group of us are going out for lunch tomorrow after church so we will give the Methodist Church a try too. We were there today for a catfish fry lunch and it was very nice indeed. We went to another Methodist church in Summerdale last Saturday for Gumbo and it was great too. On Monday we have been asked to go to the Shrimp Basket (another local eatery). Next Saturday there is a fried chicken dinner at the Masonic lodge in Summerdale as well. There seems to be a pattern developing. We did go for a ride on our bikes today, but probably not far enough.
It's almost time for dinner so, hope you are all well.


Pat and Carolyn

Happy New 2011

I've procrastinated too long in getting this blog going again, but now that we are back at what has become our second home (The Plantation Escapee Park near Summerdale Alabama) I have no excuse. Besides it's raining and has been for over 24 hours now. That's what happens this time of year when you get a big warm, humid air mass moving north from the Gulf of Mexico. The weather map on TV this morning shows it reaching all the was to the Great Lakes. I'm not complaining tho, after all it is 70+ degrees and shirt sleeve weather is one of the reasons we make this trek yearly. I could do without the tornado watches but that again is normal for the Gulf States
Speaking of the trek, we left our northern home in Hastings in cold windy sunshine on Dec. 27. Four fairly uneventful days later we arrived. Gas when we crossed the border was $2.99/ gal. or about .75/ ltr. Prices jumped to a high of $3.19 in the northern states then settled to $2.85 +/-  as we traveled south. Our gas mileage seemed much worse that in the past; something else I'll have to check out.
Weather was fairly good with  almost no precip. to speak of and very little traffic. Not like the mess that happened along the east coast. I found a great web site for RV'ers and other road travelers called Weather Underground (www.wunderground.com) They has a road trip planner that not only gives the routing  but also the weather you can expect along the way.
We just came back from a New Years Day tradition here were crazy people (about 8-12 this year) do a polar dip in the pool then have hot soup and drinks afterward. We helped them with finishing the soup.
Last night there was a New Years Dance with a live band. We went late and left early but had a good time.
Tonight there is pot luck Popin John dinner which we will know more about tomorrow. Carolyn has signed up for a cooking class, a teddy bear making class and says she will try line dancing. I know I'll go back to the computer club and will help out in the kitchen when needed.

 Hope this finds you well and have a Happy New Year

Pat and Carolyn