Neuse River Campground, Croatan National Forest, New Bern, North Carolina

Our march north continues.  We left Calabash today and arrived at the Neuse River/Flanner Beach Campground located about 10 miles south of New Bern, NC.  The Neuse River is about 4 miles across where we are.  It flows out in to Pamlico Bay which helps to form part of the Outer Banks (click on the location link below).  It's a another beautiful location and a great campground.

Here's Wes at the head of the stairs leading down to the beach from the bluff the campground is located on.

Working on his "bump on a log" impression.

Brunswick Beaches RV Park, Calabash, North Carolina

Yesterday we arrived at Brunswick Beaches RV Park.  We're here to visit family & friends.  Dick & Michele Reger, our daughter Patty's in-laws, picked us up at the campground and brought us back to their home for a scrumptious dinner and fun visit.  While we were there we took a group shot to send off to our granddaughter Emily for her 15th birthday.

Happy Birthday Emily ! ! !

*******

This evening we went out to dinner with our old school chums from North Tarrytown (Sleepy Hollow) NY, John & Trudy Bermabo.  After dinner we went back to their house for coffee & dessert (ice cream & one of John's famous cakes).  Needless to say we had a great time catching up on family news and old friend reminiscing.

Trudy & Barb started school together in first grade at St. Teresa's.

Huntington Beach State Park, Murrells Inlet, South Carolina

Yesterday, we departed Hilton Head Island after the Powers delivered an al fresco breakfast to the Trunkos & the Reys at our RV resort.  What a great way to say "'till we meet again".  We headed north through Beaufort, Charleston (we waved to the See Wee Restaurant) and Georgetown, SC to Murrell's Inlet which is just south of Myrtle Beach.  We were lucky to snag a campsite via a last minute cancellation at Huntington Beach State Park (it's sold out on weekends from April to November) but the site was a hike from the beach.  Not to fear ....... we unhooked our trusty Lazy Daze and drove it to the day-use beach parking lot and used it as our mobile cabana during the day.

Barb relaxing by the surf after fixing a hearty brunch by the beach in our Lazy Daze.

******

You never know when you'll find people doing something nice ....

.... here's Boy Scouts and their families from Troop 360 in nearby Pawley's Island doing volunteer work building picnic benches for Hunting Island State Park.

Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Yesterday we arrived at the Hilton Head RV Resort & Marina.  We are here to meet with our life-long friends Jack & Louise Powers who live here on the Island.  Frank & Lois Rey, whose house we just left in Ormond Beach, decided to drive their RV up to join in the fun.  Louise prepared an excellent dinner and we all had such a great time talking about living and raising our families in North Tarrytown (now Sleepy Hollow, NY).  Today Jack & Louise gave us a tour of the Island, we had a great lunch at the "Salty Dog" restaurant, went to a neat farmers market in nearby Bluffton and finished the day (and evening) having drinks and treats at the Powers.  We all had a fabulous time.

Here are the six of us at Harbor Town on Hilton Head Island.

Ft. Clinch State Park, Amelia Island, Florida

Today we left Ormond Beach and began our trip back north.  We took the scenic route up Route A1A which goes right along the Atlantic coast through Flagler Beach, St. Augustine and Ponte Vedre to Jacksonville.  Barb has been wanting to go on a cruise so we took the Mayport Ferry across the St. John River.  It's 12 minutes of luxury but we did miss the stage show and midnight buffet.

Here we are on our grand Cruise

Barb on the Lido deck (actually the only deck) of the 

"SS Whatever".

Ft. Clinch is yet another beautiful Florida state park.  It's bounded by the Atlantic on the north & east and the Amelia River on the west.  Our RV site was right on the beach on the river.  Beautiful !

Barb on the beach with our RV in the background.

Sunset view from our RV.

Ormond Beach, FL

We've been staying at our friends Lois & Frank Rey's in Ormond Beach.  They have a lovely home.  The weather has been overcast and a little rainy but it hasn't effected our stay.  We've been doing a lot of chatting, relaxing, hanging out and shopping.  The highlight was a trip to Hobby Lobby and the Daytona Flea Market, a huge complex of vendors with all kinds of goods.

Here's a picture of the four of us overlooking the Rey's lanai. 

Yesterday we went to the Mango Sun cafe for a delicious brunch

Mango Sun Cafe, Ormond Beach

Farewell to The Villages

Today we bid farewell to The Villages and headed east to Ormond Beach.  Before we left we had lunch with our friends Gloria & Neil Martone.  We met at Cody's restaurant at Sumter Landing in The Villages.  It's a neat place where you throw your peanut shells on the floor, they have great burgers and cold beer.

Take a look at the door handles to Cody's ......

Here we are enjoying our lunch & visit.