ANNO III: THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES

 

Happy New Year! Well, here we are embarking on our third year of livin' Our Last Quarter in the BoomerBus. Thanks to all y'all who followed us and follow us now on this third chapter. I truly enjoy writing about our adventures and it is a great reward to know y'all find this blog amusing, informative and humorous. Please keep the comments coming. Thanks again.

So, we're still in RI with our daughter Gaiya, her husband Kevin and our grandkids Lola and Luca. We arrived here -sans BoomerBus- on 22 December and we'll pick it up on 13 February 2026 from NIRVC Nashville where it is currently stored and undergoing maintenance. We'll be heading to Florida. Specifically:

Feb 14 - Mar 7: Laguna Caribe RV Resort, Fort Myers

Mar 15 - Mar 20: Champions Run RV Resort, Ocala

Mar 21 - Apr 5: Sugarloaf Key KOA, Key West

Apr 7 - May 1: Margaritaville, Auburndale

Oct 1 - Oct 31: Splash RV Resort, Milton

In between our Florida sojourn we'll also attend the New Cornerstone Line Pre-Launch Rally at The Ridge RV resort in Sevierville, TN from 10 - 13 March. We've never really spent time in Florida. We've flown in and out during our professional years, attended a wedding in Orlando, visited Ybor City while in Tampa for business but never really had the chance to visit and explore the state. So, this year our goal is to spend some time in the snowbird state.

Over the holidays I had time to read blogs, magazine articles, internet posts and other RV lifestyle-related musings. I discovered most of these posts contain tons of very useful information. However, most of these postings target an audience which is not fully retired, Medicare & Social Security eligible and full time RVing. We're not RVing: we live full time in our MotorHome except when it is being maintained, repaired or improved.

Work? Again, while the information is useful to many if not most RVrs, it does not apply to us. Reasons for us to live full time in our MotorHome are to explore places we've never been to, visit old friends, make new experiences, meet new people. We approach every day with the anticipation for what it will bring. Work is not one of them. 

Our long range plans for the rest of 2026 are:

Memorial Day Week in Lake George RV Park, NY to attend our grandson's annual baseball tournament.

Attend the NIRVC Music City Expo in Nashville, TN in early June.

Visit friends in Wilmington, NC for a week after the Music City Expo.

Normandy Farms Campground, Foxboro, MA from 6/15 - 7/14

Visit family & friends at the Washington DC/Capitol KOA, 7/15 - 7/25

Relax at the Swan Bay RV Resort, Alexandria, NY, 7/28 - 8/27

That's all for now folks!

Oooops...forgot to mention we'll certainly make the de rigueur pilgrimage to Red Bay at some time during 2026.

January 30, 2026: Plans Change

Howdy y'all! So, plans change: we won't be heading to the snowbird state as planned. Instead we'll be parked in the Jellystone Watts Bar RV Resort in Loudon, TN from 12 February to 19 March. However, we'll be in Sugarloaf Key KOA, FL on 21 March. See y'all then!

PS: found this in a Dove chocolate. Seems appropriate.

February 14, 2026: Jellystone Watts Bar CG, Loudon, TN:

We are parked here in Jellystone in site 177 until 19 March. Unfortunately I have medical 'issue' which requires treatment for the next month. Fortunately, we found it early and we are near some of the best medical centers in the country. We plan to depart here the 19th of March and head down to Sugarloaf Key KOA in Key West, FL.

During the three months the BoomerBus was stored at NIRVC Nashville, we had several maintenance items addressed and a few repair items. However, as usual, there were some SNAFUs along the way.

Lessons learned:

1. Ensure you prioritize the list of maintenance and repair items and ensure the customer service rep understands what's most important to you. The temptation is to pick low hanging fruit first and leave the hard-to-do later and run out of time because the parts haven't arrived.

2. Insist on constant communication. At least weekly phone calls, text or email.

3. Ensure you understand what has been completed, what has not and why and where needed parts are in the supply chain. While it's great to have access to the Repair Order online, assuming it is clear what the status of your bus is can be a mistake and lead to an unpleasant surprise.

4. Ensure everyone involved in taking care of the BoomerBus knows ALL the information wrt the BoomerBus departure date and time.

5. Parts! Surprise, surprise! Long lead time. Prepare for it.

March 8, 2026: Still in Jellystone Watts Bar.

So, we've made confirmed reservations at Newport RV CG in the same site as last year, 401, from 8/27 - 9/03. We've reserved the Bellevue Grand Rail Dining Experience for 8/29. Wanted to do this last year but didn't do it in time. Got it this year. 

March 16, 2026: Still in Jellystone Watts Bar.

Yep, we're still here taking care of my medical issue but chomping at the bit to get on the road! We'll be leaving here on Thursday, 19 March in direction of Sugarloaf Key KOA Resort, FL. Crazy weather here today. Check these photos.

Yes, rain, sleet, snow & sunshine the same day.

March 22, Sugaloaf Key, Florida

Yes! We finally arrived here yesterday after three days of travel from Loudon, TN with stops in Tifton, GA and Fort Pierce, FL. We followed I-75S to the FL Turnpike in Wildwood, FL and finally on US1in Key Largo, known as the Overseas Highway, thru the Keys to Sugarloaf Key. Except for traffic near Atlanta and Orlando, the drive was without issues. Now we're ensconced in site 616 and about to start this part of our adventure. Livin' Our Last Quarter in The BoomerBus.

                                                         

March 24, Sugarloaf Key, Florida

We've been here a coupe of days and have begun to explore the surrounding area and venture outside the CG. These Key Deer are native to this area and are about the size of a fawn when fully grown.

We drove to Key West to the Naval Air Station Key West/Sigbee to pick up some essentials and just wander about before stopping for late lunch at Geiger RV and Marina Bar & Grill. Later we enjoyed Aperol Spritz at our campsite. 

Today we spent a couple of hours at the pool and were visited by 'Fred' the friendly iguana.

March 29, Sugarloaf Key, FL

We are still in Sugarloaf Key enjoying the laid back, relaxed and no plans lifestyle here. 

Went for bike ride along the old overseas highway which parallels the 'new' Route 1 Overseas Highway. Pic of our CG from the bridge.

Yep, here we are at the Bent Prop restaurant. Right on a canal. We watched folks come to eat by boat. I had the grilled octopus while Linda had Maryland Crab Soup....with cocktails of course. The next day we purchased stone crab claws and enjoyed them on the BoomerBus.

Went to the Broil restaurant yesterday, 31 March, with new friends Ron & Steph with Tony and Ellie. Broil is a restaurant on Cudjoe Key, just a couple of miles from our CG, well known in the Keys as the place to go for steak and seafood. Reputation deserved! I had a monster 14oz NY strip with diver scallops while Linda enjoyed a 6oz petite filet mignon. Both were superb. We washed everything down with a bottle of Lemberg's 2018 Spencer Pinotage from South Africa. The earthy and fruity aroma evoked memories of the bulldogs greeting us at the tasting room in Tulbagh, South Africa. Yes, we have leftovers which Linda will incorporate into a tasty meal at some point.

Our new friends are from MA. Listening to them chat was almost like another language with their thick New England accent. Tony races dragsters in the Bradenton, FL area and tows them in a 30' enclosed trailer with their super-C Renegade motorhome. Ron and Steph have been coming to Sugarloaf for the past five years and usually in the same site. They are parked across the road but in front of us. They gave us some valuable advice regarding routes we should follow when heading north. We exchanged contact info and hope to see each other on the road in the near future.

Tony, Steph, Ron, moi, Linda (partially obscured) and Ellie at Broil on Cudjoe Key.

We returned to Geiger's Bar & Grill for a late lunch yesterday. Here are some pics.

April 5, 2026, Sugarloaf Key, FL

We returned to Broil restaurant last night for our 'farewell' dinner. We just had a hankerin' for seafood and the menu listed a linguine seafood feast which we simply couldn't leave without tryin'. Lola, the bartender, prepared the Caesar salad as we watched. The Linguine Tuttomare had rock lobster -local to FL-, big, juicy and sweet scallops, shrimp and crab meat in a lobster caper sauce. We washed it down with a bottle of 2022 MAN Chardonnay from South Africa, of course!

Today, Easter Sunday, we'll prepare for departure tomorrow morning to Margaritaville Auburndale, FL where we'll be for approx three weeks.

Lola preparing the Caesar salads and us at the bar, as usual.

The bar and the restaurant tables.

April 10, 2026, Camp Margaritaville, Auburndale, FL

Hello y'all! We are in Camp Margaritaville, Auburndale, FL for the next three weeks. It's an awesome CG with 400 large sites, two pools, splash pad, tiki bars and that laid back, 5 o'clock somewhere feel you expect from a Jimmy Buffet inspired vacation destination. We are super excited to be here.

We departed Sugarloaf Key and followed US1, known as the Overseas Highway, and marveled at the turquoise blue waters on each side of the road. We'll be back next year in March and April and meet up with Ron and Steph. Reservations booked!

As we reached the outskirts of Miami we followed US27, also known as the "Backbone of Florida" as it connects Miami to Tallahassee. The road is also known as the notorious "Bloody 27". Roadside memorials to those souls who have lost their lives on "Bloody 27" dot the highway at regular intervals. After an overnight stop in Moore Haven KOA CG where we endured a hellacious thunder and lightning storm, we made our way to Auburndale.

Yesterday we celebrated my birthday and went to dinner at Aria Steakhouse in Winter Haven, FL. First, we enjoyed cocktails at the Vitrum Lounge where Cassy crafted an awesome Old Fashioned with smoked cinnamon. Thank you. Then we were escorted to the restaurant proper where Victor, our server, listened to our stories of adventures on the road. He then had the sommelier, Sal discuss a wine choice to pair with the steak. Turns out Sal, is Salvatore! Yes, another Italian but born in New Jersey and grew up in Italy. However, he speaks accent free Italian and English like me. His Italian is perfect with a Roman accent while he commented that mine had the northern twang of which I'm proud. He and Victor made my birthday celebration special. Thanks guys. There it is: SERENDIPITY.

The past couple of days have been rainy and windy whereas the forecast now calls for sunshine and calm conditions for the next two weeks. So, we'll set up our camp, take photos and update the blog.

The BoomerBus in site 153 at Camp Margaritaville Auburndale, FL.

The family pool and splash pad. I'll post pics of the adults only pool later.

Me & Salvatore at Aria Steakhouse in West Haven, FL.

Pics of the adults only pool from a camp site overlooking the pool, Chill Bar & lake in the background. These four sites are "premier" and pull in so that you overlook everything. These sites also include a "green egg" (although it's clearly red/orange in the pic), a refer and two hammocks in addition to the grill and bar. We might consider one of these next year. Haven't made up our minds yet.

April 22, 2026, Margaritaville, Auburndale, FL

We are still parked in Camp Margaritaville in Auburndale, FL and enjoying the lifestyle and soaking in the sunshine. Pretty much sunny & 80F during the day and 65-70F during the night. Somedays the wind picks up in the late morning and blows at about 15MPH. We visited Lakeland, just a few miles from here and found a couple of eating establishments which we'll try in the next week.

A park in downtown Lakeland, FL.

One of the most unique tax collection buildings we've ever seen. Lakeland, FL.

Gillian and Katerina, artists & muralists, painting a mural at the intersection of streets in downtown Lakeland, FL. Their artwork is scattered throughout Lakeland. Their mantra is "Creating Community Through Color". Beautiful art.

Yeah, it's five o'clock somewhere, Spanish moss & a Florida sunset.

Charm City Restaurant: "Authentic Maryland Cuisine"

Not so much! We went for a late lunch/early dinner to Charm City based on a recommendation. The menu advertised authentic Maryland crab cakes and other seafood delicacies. You order at the counter and the food is brought to your table. The owners, originally from Maryland, also owned a restaurant in Maryland. Well, we were both excited -actually drooling- to sink our teeth into "authentic Maryland cuisine". Yeah, not so much. The "authentic crab cakes" contained more filler than meat and were simply soaked in Old Bay seasoning and salt. Could not taste the little crab meat there was. The scallops and shrimp (I chose grilled), while cooked to perfect tenderness were also drowned in Old Bay seasoning and salt. Just inedible.

It is not often we strike out with our food establishments. We've enjoyed lavish meals in fancy restaurants as well as simple food joints. Some meals are expensive and others are not but, most of the time, the food is excellent. So, after an $80 food bill and $20 tip, the $100 leaves us with a very SALTY after taste. 😡

24 April 2026, Carnaval do Brasil 

Just across our campsite we heard the infectious sounds and rhythms of Brazilian samba and karaoke voices singing with an enthusiasm which made it impossible not to move your body to the beat. The laughter and music just swept us up to the power of a Brazilian Carnival.  During the past week we met Jeronimo & Sinthia, Jaison & Bruna and Renato & Marianna and other friends who entered and exited the group at various times. Great people originally from Brazil.  While the affection for each other is clear, the love for each other is rooted in decades of friendship. Truly a Band of Brothers. They welcomed us into their circle without hesitation nor preconception. They shared their churrasco-style grilling featuring tender, flavorful cuts of beef seasoned with coarse salt and grilled mozzarella. They are the poster board of making every minute count. Grazie! 💕

A Great Visit  

Kevin and Christine arrived this morning and it seemed like we were back in the late 90's when we first met. They now live in Dunedin, FL but we were neighbors in NoVA (northern Virginia) for almost a decade. A small, "Washington DC bedroom community" of approx 50 homes became our safe haven from the DC work-style and where Friday "porch beers" gave us the the chance to decompress and become normal again. When Kevin & Christine moved into the neighborhood they were the "young ones" but became an integral part of the Sandalwood Family from day one. Over the course of several hours we reminisced, caught up on news and just enjoyed talking with each other. Time flew. We'll meet up again dear friends.

30 April 2026

Well, our stay here at Camp Margaritaville Auburndale, FL is almost over. We will depart here on Saturday, 2 May and head toward Loudon, TN for Jellystone Watts Bar CG. We'll be there for a couple of weeks for our semi-annual medical tuneups. 

So, it's the season of the Florida Lovebug! Yesterday, a Tiffin Allegro Open Road motorhome pulled in next to our site. I simply HAD to get this photo and post it. The owners worked a couple of hours to clean it. 

May 5, 2026: Jellystone CG Watts Bar Lake, Loudon, TN

Howdy y'all! Yes, we're back in our old stompin' grounds of Loudon, TN for our semi-annual medical tuneups. Our first medical review was a successful one. No adjustments required. We'll be here for approx two weeks, departing on 16 May to Lake George, NY to watch our grandson play baseball in his annual tournament. We are scheduled to arrive in Lake George on 21 May.

Yesterday the campground was filled with shrieks of joy and laughter as Jellystone hosted an elementary school from the Loudon Public Schools system. Despite the temps hovering in the low 70sF, kids were splashing and soaking each other with the water guns as they enjoyed time away from the classroom and playing with friends. Our site offered prime viewing.

May 14, 2026: Jellystone CG Watts Bar Lake, Loudon, TN

Howdy everyone! Yes, we're still here taking care of our medical tuneups, seeing friends and spending time with family. In an earlier post I said one of the most frequent questions we get is "what do you miss" from the previous lifestyle. Well, again, we miss the people who enriched our lives not the 'stuff'. We can't even remember half the 'stuff' we owned in our previous lifestyle. However, we are living the best of both: full time RVing and spend time with friends and family during our semi-annual medical tuneups and Christmas holidays with our daughter's family in RI. Yes, we are fortunate.

Recently, our story was made public in an article written by Madison Hoff and published in Business Insider magazine. That story is legit. Madison worked with us over a period of a month to get her facts. However, several other articles, piggybacking on Madison's version, have been written and published online in Moneywise, AOL, MSN, etc. Those are NOT legit nor approved by us. We contacted the editor of Moneywise to address the misleading, inaccurate and false statements in the article by Amanda Smith. The editor apologized for Amanda's version and promptly edited her article, made the corrections and published a new version and an editor's note. Editorial integrity and ethical reporting are essential, especially in today's online world.

We will heading to Lake George, NY on Saturday and expect to arrive on 21 May to attend our grandson's Memorial Day baseball tournament. Afterwards we'll be heading back to Nashville for the third annual Music City Expo sponsored by NIRVC from 29 May to 4 June. For the rest of June, we'll be in Wilmington, NC visiting friends, Red Bay, AL for the required visit to Tiffin and finally in Normandy Farms, MA til 14 July. Yes, lots of travel but just more adventures for us.

These are my poker buddies. We've been meeting once a month for almost 20 years now to smoke cigars, drink booze, tell lies and play some poker. Yes, these are people I miss while Livin' Our Last Quarter in the BoomerBus. However, while rotating the location of each monthly game, they schedule at least one game to fit our schedule when we're in town.

Marty, Joe, Neil, Russell, Barry, me, Andy & Ron. Y'all enrich my life. Thank you & see y'all in November.

May 20, 2026: Matamoras, PA
Howdy y'all! We are parked in the Matamoras RV CG in Matamoras, PA. Yeah, this is a glorified gravel parking lot with some grassy areas within 150' of I-84. I mean I could throw a rock and hit a passing car. I posted a pic below. Great location for a stop while traveling to Lake George, NY. However, the traffic noise was incessant! It gets crossed off our list.

The BoomerBus & toad in site #46, Matamoras RV CG, Matamoras, PA.

Traveling on our roads and highways we've witnessed numerous examples of what we call "road insanity". A group of motorcyclists on their bullet bikes ignoring all rules of the road and weaving through traffic at hair curling speeds. Jacked-up pickup trucks with monster wheels spewing black diesel smoke as they straddle two travel lanes. A car weaving through traffic at speeds exceeding 100 MPH. Cars and trucks -even 18 wheelers!- tailgating so close you couldn't see where one vehicle ended and the other began. Insanity!

Yesterday, while traveling from Williamsport, MD to Matamoras, PA on our way to Lake George, NY we merged onto I-84, lanes going left, at the I-81 and I-84 split. Just as we merged onto the far right lane, an 18 wheeler decided to pass us on the shoulder! He barely made it -we thought- before the shoulder narrowed. We never felt his 'love tap' but the damage is quite visible in the pics below. I'm guessing his rear tire rubbed against the BoomerBus while another part of his rig twisted the Zephyr rock guard. I've since removed the rock guard and will try to repair it, as best possible, when we reach Lake George. In retrospect, his 'love tap' could have had disastrous results. We are fortunate.

So, during the third year of our adventure, I've replaced the motor which runs the BoomerBus steps, the black and grey water discharge valves and I serviced the Blue Ox tow bar system. FM! Well, YouTube is really helpful.

NOTE: I also replaced the lid of the half bath toilet with a soft close one.

The motor for the BoomerBus steps. Yeah, apparently it is common to replace it every two years or so! Whaaaa??

The black and grey water discharge valves. A very small crack at one of the bolts resulted in a small, but stinky, leak.

The Blue Ox tow bar system. I had to disassemble it, replace washers and lock nuts and lube the tow bars & reassemble everything. Tolleson YouTube: 30 mins; Me: 3 hours. 😡

Polka Palooza: Anda One, Anda Two...
Yesterday, 20 May, we participated in the Polka Palooza event hosted by the Riverview Inn on the grounds of the Matamoras RV CG. When we checked into the CG the owner invited us to the event and gave us two complimentary tickets. We had no clue but we accepted. The afternoon event included a meal, beverages including wine and beer and entertainment MC'd by JoJo. When we saw the sound setup we assumed this was a DJ who would play some polka music for the crowd which consisted mostly of members of social clubs from the surrounding area brought in by tour bus.

Well, JoJo turned out to be more than just a DJ. He is an entertainer who sang tunes, DJ'd a variety of music from Glen Miller to Kool & The Gang, led the crowd in sing alongs, got folks on the dance floor  and engaged the crowd in humorous question and answer segments. However, what made JoJo stand out was his outfit. A black suit with silver sequined trimmings, silver sequined cap and, the coup de grace...black quilted shoes. The Dude! 
The Riverview Inn hosts similar events from April through October, twice a month. If you stay in the CG, bring earplugs.

May 22, 2026: Lake George RV Park, NY

Here we are, for the third year in a row, ensconced in site #89 in Lake George RV Park, Lake George, NY. Here to watch our grandson, Luca, play in the annual Memorial Day baseball tournament. An uneventful drive from Matamoras, PA, we arrived here at 12:30PM on Thursday and, as we did in previous years, we went to the Log Jam restaurant in town for dinner. As usual, the bar was packed with regulars and the bartender never stops talking but has all orders under complete control. It was such a comforting feeling, as if we had been doing this for years. 

We both slept a deep sleep and woke up to chirping birds, woodpeckers pecking at trees, a light breeze which made the leaves on the trees sing and trees sway. Just two others trailers several hundred yards down the road. It's like being in the middle of the woods. So relaxing. 

Tuesday, 26 May, 2026: Pine Hill RV Park, Kutztown, PA

So, we attended Luca's baseball games on Saturday, 23 May. His team lost the first one but redeemed themselves by winning the second and capturing the Wild Card spot for the semi-finals. The weather was just barely tolerable for the first game but the second game, which began at 3PM, was played with a steady drizzle and 55F! As the Wild Card, they were schduled to play on Sunday afternoon. However, the weather was nasty but the forecasters called for a break in the winter-weather-like conditions so the organizers decided to play the elimination game. Luca's team played very well, determined to not just rollover to the #1 seeded team. They lost by one run in a time shortened game. They acquitted themselves very well and certainly deserved to be recognized as the second best team in the tournament. The #1 seed team had given up just 1 run in the previous games. They gave up 5 against Luca's team! His play improves every time we watch him. Here's a pic of us at the second game! 

😱😱😱😱

We later found comfort at The Olde Bryan Inn, est. 1773, in Saratoga Springs, where we enjoyed hot soup, alcoholic beverages and some hearty food!

Now we're in Kutztown, PA at the Pine Hill RV Park for an overnight  en route to the NIRVC EXPO in Nashville, TN. Two more overnights and we'll be there!

29 May 2026, NIRVC EXPO, Wilson County Fairgrounds, TN

Well, here we are again! After two overnights, an hellacious day-long thunderstorm which followed us along I-81S, a fuel stop where the BoomerBus gulped down 122 gals of diesel, we finally arrived today at the NIRVC EXPO. Our Open Roads fuel card saved us 55 cents/gal. We arrived on the "early arrival" day, quickly set up and took Izzy to the Vet. She's having an issue with blister-like stuff on her eyes. We'll see how the medication does for her. Anyhow, here are some pics of the fairgrounds as the RVs arrive and begin to set up. The EXPO starts tomorrow, May 30th.

**Official: The Music City Motorhome Expo - often referred to in the region- was held from May 30 through June 4 2026. Hosted by National Indoors RV Centers (NIRVC), this major VIP showcase took place at the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN.**

Howdy y'all! So, here's a link to a YouTube video by RV Business Magazine which really shows what the 2026 Music City Motorhome Expo sponsored by NIRVC was all about. Hundreds of motorhomes to view and test drive, entertainment by Unfazed, The Band Perry and Chris Young, food & drinks and meeting old friends, making new ones and having a good time.

We came this close to trading our BoomerBus for a new 2027 Tiffin Zephyr. However, at 4AM emotions faded and our rational brains -what's left of them!- talked us out of the decision. Yeah, we're settled in the BoomerBus....and we LOVE IT! 💗💗💗

courtesy RV Business Magazine

We departed the Wilson County Fairgrounds in Lebanon, TN on Wednesday, 3 June and traveled to the Atlanta South RV CG in McDonough, GA. Here's a couple of pics of us driving the BoomerBus & toad thru Atlanta.

NOTE: It's actually quicker and easier to drive straight through the heart of Atlanta provided you don't hit rush hour. We've now done it several times with the same result. 

6 June 2026: Atlanta South RV, McDonough, GA

We were here for three days to visit with Cathy, a dear friend and former colleague of Linda's when they worked in the Pentagon. They bear the invisible scars of that day, 9/11. They share the burden of the loss of friends and colleagues and comfort each other, knowing exactly what the other feels. While 9/11 affected everyone's life, those who were there relive that day in a way which cannot be explained. Thank you Cathy for being the rock Linda leans on every year on that day. Luv ya. 💞

We reminisced about the "old days", caught up on news of friends and exchanged stories of health challenges most folks our age -Boomers!- face.

Today, Saturday, we're on the move toward Wilmington, NC to visit another friend, Joanie. 

8 June 2026: Wilmington KOA, Wilmington, NC

So, we're parked at this KOA for a few days to visit another friend from the past: Joanie. Linda first met her in 1985 when I was assigned to Washington, DC with the Army. They worked in the same office at Ft. Belvoir, VA. We've remained friends since. She and her spouse live in Leland, NC, not far from this campground.

Last night we celebrated our anniversary at Circa 1922, a former bank transformed into a restaurant in old town Wilmington which has received numerous culinary awards. Linda chose the pork cutlet Milanese style while I indulged in the scallops with caviar. We washed it all down with a bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Yum, yum, yum!

BTW: we are celebrating EVERY day of our anniversary month! 

😱😱😱😱💕💕💕💕

Joanie & Bill came to visit us at the Wilmington CG and stayed for dinner. Yeah, that's a Boomer trying to take a selfie! 😂

The next day Linda & I visited Joanie & Bill at their house in Leland and they treated us to a seafood feast. We will plan to make this a stop for next year. So much fun.

Tomorrow, June 12, we begin our trek toward Normandy Farms, MA. We are scheduled to arrive there on the 15th of June and depart on the 15th of July when we head to Washington DC/Millersville,  MD KOA.

Our next planned adventures:

7/27 - 8/27    Swan Bay RV Resort, Alexandria, NY

8/27 - 9/3      Newport RV CG, Portsmouth, RI

9/3 - 9/13      Bayley's RV CG, Scarborough, ME

9/13 - 9/23    Fantasy RV Tours Autumn Harvest

10/2 - 10/8    Margaritaville Auburndale, FL for the Tiffin Rally

10/8 - 11/1    Splash RV resort, Milton, FL*

*10/28 - 11/10 Red Bay, AL for BoomerBus maintenance, repairs & modifications

16 June 2026: Normandy Farms CG, Foxboro, MA

We arrived here yesterday after three and a half days drive from Wilmington, NC. After setting up the inside of the BoomeBus, we had dinner, showered and collapsed in our rocking chairs outside, listening to Simply Red. Exhausted. We'll set up the outside for living in the coming days. 

The journey from Wilmington was tiring. We believe the accumulation of driving on roads (mostly interstate highways) which shake the BoomerBus like an earthquake, stop-n-go traffic, the five to six hour drives, the weather during the first two days (105F as we drove thru Richmond, VA!) and other seemingly small things wear on us both physically and mentally. We're going to reconsider our plans for future overnight stops. 

Normandy Farms CG is huge and consistently rated in the top five CGs in the country. With 400 sites which range from tent sites and yurts to long, level pull thrus which can easily accommodate the BoomerBus with toad and still have room for another vehicle in front or back. The CG includes amenities such as four pools (one heated indoors), a wellness center (yeah, we're getting a massage), on site food court, various sports fields, a huge dog park and the usual laundry and restroom/shower facilities. We are here for a month.

The BoomerBus in site 816 at Normandy Farms Campground in Foxboro, MA.

20 June 2026: Normandy Farms CG, Foxboro, MA

Howdy y'all! So, some of the 2026 FIFA matches are played at Gillette Stadium, just 5 miles down the road from here. All around the region, there's futbol madness. Bars have run out of beer after fans from Scotland invaded the area. They're everywhere! The campground is all decked out with flags from the participating countries and campers are adorned with the favorite team colors. Scotland lost last night against Morocco so there are quite a number of somber fans here. I'm certain many with hangovers.

He's back! Yes, Tugboat is out for his morning stroll and stopped by to say HEY! We met him last year when we were camped here. 

A Camper is a Camper is a Camper....Well....

I took a bike ride around the CG and noticed the variety of campers so I took photos to show y'all the variety. There are also tents, cabins and  yurts but I omitted those.

Pop-ups, r-pods & Scamps.

Rows of pull-behind trailers.

Beautiful shiny Airstreams.

Old motorhomes and new motorhomes.

Wanna-be C-Class and a typical C-Class...

...almost a super C...

the real Super C-Class.

...and one who hopes for Scottish redemption.

Typical 5th wheel. 

The ultimate 5th wheel with two porches! Yeah, needs a semi truck to haul it.

And folks who plan to be here for a while!

Father's Day

We spent the day at Gaiya & Kevin's house with the g'kids and Gaiya. Kevin is away on a business trip. Just a great day with family. Gaiya presented us with our contact cards. We've met RVrs on a regular basis who hand out cards with their contact information. It's convenient, especially with photos. So, Gaiya designed the cards and had them printed. Here they are:

NOTE: yeah, the white border is my fault. Placed the cards on a white sheet of paper and took the photos for the blog. However, I couldn't get rid of the white from the lower photo. Oooops!

Afternoon nap time.

I-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-z-Y

The Celebration Continues...

Yesterday, June 24, we indulged ourselves. After a relaxing massage by Jennifer (who has a massage room on site) we sat outside in our rocking chairs enjoying the birds chirping and a gentle breeze blowing through pine trees. So peaceful it seemed as if we were in the middle of a forest.

In the early afternoon we proceeded to Patriot Place -decked out with flags from every nation in the World Cup- at Gillette Stadium. Great place! We are in between futbol matches, so very thin crowds. We stopped in for an early dinner at Davio's, a "Northern Italian Steakhouse". WOW! We were well taken care of by Gene who not only explained every detail of our meal but engaged us in conversation. He obviously has experience in this industry but he's also just a nice guy. The food, both seafood and steaks were superb. Yep, we celebrated another day of our anniversary month.

27 June 2026: Another Celebration!

Normandy Farms CG hosted the World Cup Wine & Brewfest with food trucks, wine & beer sales and various sport competitions. Great turnout! Barefoot Dan entertained everyone with music and furry friends were welcome everywhere. 

6 July 2026: Catching up!

We're still at Normandy Farms CG in Foxboro, MA but will depart here on 15 July. Since my last update we've enjoyed the visit from our nephew Jason and his family, Sara, Jensen & Felicity who flew into Boston from Vienna, Austria. We spent the 4th of July at Gaiya & Kevin's doin' the traditional 'stuff' for Independence Day. Today, Jason & family will fly to Orlando to visit Disney World.

During a thunder and lightening storm couple of nights ago, this tree was struck. The car parked next to it had all it's electronic components totally fried. It was towed the next day. 

7 July 2026: Normandy Farms CG, Foxboro, NY

I dropped off Jason & Co yesterday at Boston Logan International Airport to catch their flight to Orlando. I returned the golf cart to the campground office and we drove Izzy to see a Vet eye doctor in Newton, MA, just a few miles from Normandy Farms CG. The Vet diagnosed Izzy with some form of allergy. Possibly food related, possibly environmental, likely a combination of both.  The good news: it is not bacterial. With meds in hand we returned to the BoomerBus and laid down for a well deserved nap. The steady drizzle and sleep piano music worked their magic and quickly put all three of us to sleep. It rained all night and this morning a gentle breeze sways tree limbs, causing raindrops to fall onto the BoomerBus roof. The constant, almost rhythmic sound of the rain is soothing. With temps in the low 60sF, curling up with a blanket is comforting. 

As I write this, I look at a half empty (or half full?) campground. Many campers departed yesterday, after the last futbol matches. The only movement this morning are the maintenance staff, dressed in rain gear and driving their work carts checking the campground. Ahh, wait! There's someone walking their hound....or perhaps the hound is walking their human? Anyhow, today we're just going to chill, do laundry and piddle around the BoomerBus...inside.

13 July 2026: Still in Normandy Farms

Yesterday we began the process of breaking camp in preparation for our departure from here on Wednesday, 15 July. We repositioned items in the basement bays, washed the outdoor carpets and disposed of other not needed items. During this month we also performed basic maintenance on the BoomerBus. I repaired and refinished the Zephyr rock guard which had been damaged during our trip through Pennsylvania and replaced all hardware with stainless steel.

Before

After

I also replaced the windshield wiper blades and cleaned the slide rollers from the inside and cleaned the channel the rollers are in when the slides are extended. Matt's Tiffin Tech Talks You Tube video was very helpful. I also replaced a faulty LED light strip in the living room ceiling and replaced the cabin air filter for the BoomerBus. Next on the pre-departure maintenance agenda is to replace faulty Tire Pressure Monitoring System sensors on the BoomerBus tires and clean and lube the leveling jacks.

We'll visit Gaiya & Kevin and the grandkids later this evening to say our goodbyes until we return to Newport RV CG in Portsmouth, RI at the end of August. Yes, we're both anxious to get on the road to our next destination: Wash DC/Capitol KOA in Millersville, MD to visit family and friends and have some MD seafood.

16 July 2026: Pine Hill CG, Kutztown, PA

We departed Normandy Farms yesterday and are here for just an over night on our way to the Wash DC/Capitol KOA in Millersville, MD. Yesterday was miserable! The haze and humidity blanketed everything. While crossing the Mario Cuomo Bridge the haze was so thick you couldn't see the water! Traffic in CT was, as usual, a long line of stop-and-go vehicles all trying to gain a few feet in front of the BoomerBus. Ugh! As we traveled along I-278 & I-78, the dash air conditioner couldn't keep up with the heat and the roof mounted front AC, powered by solar panels, struggled to keep up. We stopped at a rest stop and the temp was 103F! The glue on the EZPass sensor mounted on the windshield melted. Our phones kept sending warning messages regarding the heat and air quality. The day reminded us of the time we fled raging fires in Idaho in 2024. Miserable!

17 July 2026: Wash DC/Capitol KOA, Millersville, MD

Howdy y'all! So we made it here yesterday afternoon with 100F heat. We stopped at a Love's on I-78 and fed the BoomerBus with diesel. 107 gals=$594 with our Open Roads card. Anyhow, what we thought was haze caused by heat turns out to be smoke from distant wildfires. The weather channel explained most of the NE is covered by smoke and the air quality reading is unhealthy for humans. Great! We've been chased by tornadoes and now by smoke. What an adventure! We are here until Sunday, 26 July when we head towards Swan Bay RV Resort in Alexandria Bay, NY for a month.

20 July 2026: still at the Wash DC/Capitol KOA, Millersville, MD

Yesterday we satisfied our craving for crab cakes at the G&M Restaurant in Linthicum Heights, MD. Consistently superbly prepared crab cakes. We've been enjoying their crab cakes for decades now. When we lived in TN, we ordered their uncooked crab cakes packed in dry ice and sent via air. Linda would then bake them. Costly, yes but worth every $. 

I gorged myself on a crab stuffed giant shrimp while Linda enjoyed the fist-sized crab cake. Awesome! Lump crab meat held together with just enough filler and doused with Old Bay. Yum, yum, yum! We took what we couldn't finish back to the BoomerBus where we'll vacuum pack the leftovers for another day. 

This afternoon we're expecting a visit from Michael, Maya and their girls Cora & Cala. Tomorrow, Mary (Michael's mom) & Bill will join us for lunch.

BTW: smoke has finally cleared and the heat is bearable in the upper 80sF. The humidity is typical for July in the DELMARVA. A tornado touched down near Stony Creek where Franny lives on 18 July causing minor damage. Fortunately, nobody was injured.

23 July 2026: Wash DC/Capitol KOA, Millersville, MD

Yesterday we satisfied another one of our cravings: steamed crabs. In the early afternoon we drove to The Point Crab House & Grill, an "award winning river front dining" establishment with outdoor tables along Mill Creek, a tributary to the Magothy River. We watched various boats, both sail and motorized, arrive and depart the attached marina. However, the stars of the show are the crabs. Large, perfectly steamed and seasoned with Old Bay, we consumed a dozen of the large after enjoying crab soup and deviled eggs with bacon bits as appetizers. All washed down with National Bohemian (aka Natty Bo) beer on tap. We agreed how great it feels afterward when your expectations are met. Check the box.

24 July 2026: Wash DC/Capitol KOA, Millersville, MD

Yesterday we visited Franny and were joined by her life long friend Liotta, affectionately known as Lotzi. We spent a couple of hours with them, sitting outside in the yard enjoying the beautiful weather. As cars drove by everyone waved or honked their horn. Both Franny and Liotta are well known and loved elders in the Lombardee Beach neighborhood. Both in their mid 80s now, they've lived there since they were little girls. They know everyone and everyone knows them.

Afterward, we drove to Lauer's Supermarket, now known as Green Valley Marketplace, to purchase marshmallow donuts. These donuts, filled with whipped marshmallow and heavily dusted with powdered sugar,  are an institution in Baltimore and Linda's family has purchased them from Lauer's Supermarket Bakeshoppe for decades. These donuts are decadent and once you bite into one, you can't resist. You'll want another. Lauer's Bakery is one of the many bakeries started by immigrants to the region such as Herman's, Simon's, Fenwick and Woodlea. Only a handful remain and still offer sweet delicacies which harken back to the country of origin. Yeah, try one. You'll see!

Typical box of marshmallow donuts.

🎶 ...just one bite, that's all it took yeah, just one bite... 🎶

27 July 2026: Turning Stone RV Resort and Casino, Verona, NY

Howdy y'all! So we decided to stop here for three nights to break up the trip from Wash DC/Capitol KOA in Millersville, MD to Swan Bay RV Resort in Alexandria Bay, NY. This is a first class resort. The RV resort, called The Villages at Turning Stone, is associated with the Turning Stone Resort and Casino, an Oneida Indian Nation run operation. The RV resort consists of many back in sites as well as many long, level pull-thru RV sites with several ponds for fishing, paddle boating as well as the usual swimming pool and sports amenities. Mature trees everywhere which provide welcoming shade. 

Yesterday we had dinner at the Peach Blossom restaurant inside the casino complex. The beef teriyaki skewers appetizer were enough for a meal. Chunks of beef tips, prepared medium and seasoned perfectly! Yum! We shared the sizzling beef entree` as it consisted of four -YES! four- filets with vegetables. 

This morning we arose early and went for a massage at the ska:na: spa. Later this evening we are dining at the Wildflowers restaurant in The Lodge complex of the Turning Stone Resort & Casino. Tomorrow we're back on the road to Swan Bay RV Resort. We'll be there for a month.

I chose the Beet salad (a work of art!) and the Dover Sole a la Meunie`re

while Linda chose the Dungeness Crab & Corn Chowder and Green Circle Chicken all washed down with a bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne. We're still celebrating.

31 July 2026: Swan Bay RV Resort, Alexandria Bay, NY

We arrived here on Tuesday afternoon. It rained all day Wednesday so we're still in the process of getting our campsite set up for the month we are going to be here. However, I've taken some pics which provide some information about the campground.

So, approx three times daily, these ships transit the St. Lawrence in front of the campground. The blue ship, carrying wind turbine blades, is heading towards the Great Lakes while the other ship is heading towards the Atlantic Ocean. This is our view from the BoomerBus.

Hey Jeff H, is that you driving one of these babies?

On our way to Swan Bay, we stopped at a rest area and, as usual, turned on the generator to give it some recommended use. That's when I noticed the genset exhaust tip was missing! Somewhere during our recent adventures, the chrome tip fell off. So, ordered a new stainless steel one and installed it following a video on Tolleson Life You Tube. Thanks Daryl.

5 Aug 2026: Swan Bay RV Resort, Alexandria Bay, NY

Still here enjoying the campground, sights on the water and town of Alexandria Bay. There's a small pier next to us which boaters use to stop and tie up while they do some shopping at the local grocery store which is just a 10 min walk.  Shoppers return with grocery carts which are then deposited along the walkway for the grocery store staff to retrieve once a week. We are in the middle of the 1000 Islands so we assume many of these folks are staying on an island and need to stock up on supplies. Kids and adults also fish from this pier while seagulls are always above looking for an easy meal.

We ventured into Alexandria Bay, a 10 min drive from here, and stopped for pizza at a waterfront joint. The slope of the floors hinted to the age of the building but the pizza was HUGE and very tasty. Froze the leftovers for another day.

this is our site and the path to the small pier

check out another ship passing just in front of our site

We also ran into Alain & Natalie in the campground, walking their two Italian greyhounds. We met them in Crystal Beach, TX last year! Unfortunately they were here just for two days and left the next day for home in Montreal. Hopefully we can keep in touch and meet again, but they're still employed and take short vacations when they can, usually without long term planning, unlike us. Such a pleasant surprise.

8 August 2026: Swan Bay RV, Alexandria Bay, NY: Pirates Days! Yes, folks here take their Pirates Days celebration serious. The debauchery starts next week and lasts for three days. Alexandria Bay's Bill Johnston's Pirate Days is an exciting annual event that brings the legend of Bill Johnston, a notorious 19th-century pirate, to life.  This fun-filled celebration takes over the village with pirate-themed activities, parades, reenactments and contests. Some folks in the CG have already begun to decorate their pirate ships....er...RVs.

11 August 2026: Clayton, NY

Yesterday we visited Clayton, NY. The village lies on the St. Lawrence Seaway and is just about 15 miles west of our CG. We visited the Antique Boat Museum, took an hour ride on an antique motorboat and then enjoyed a great dinner at DiPrinzio's restaurant. 

The main building of the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton Village.

The grayish canoe, second from the bottom is an authentic, early 1800s birchbark canoe made by a Native American tribe of the area. Recovered abandoned on the banks of a river and then stored in an attic for over 100 years! All boats in the pics are authentic and most were donated to the museum. Awesome collection!

The following pics are sights from our boat ride.

Take your boat to get your mail at the post office.

Dinner at DiPrinzio's Kitchen: Chicken Marsala with house made angel hair pasta and house made rigatoni in a rich Bolognese sauce.

12 August 2026: Alexandria Bay, NY

Yesterday we drove to ABay, as Alexandria Bay is called around here, to catch one of the Uncle Sam sightseeing cruise boats which sail these waters. It really is the Land of a 1000 Islands! Furthermore, most of the islands are inhabited, mostly by folks who come here for the summer season. The border between the US and Canada winds around the islands so as we sailed around the islands we crossed into and out of Canada and the US. We viewed a private residence on an island in the US which connected by small bridge walkway to another island in Canada! The following pics are of our most recent adventure sailing around the Land of a 1000 Islands.

Alexandria Bay waterfront and a state park.

Boldt Castle, a "summer home" built by George Boldt, who owned the Waldorf Astoria in NYC.

17 Aug 2026: Swan Bay RV Resort & Marina

While it has become a common sight to see ships of various colors, sizes and types to transit the St. Lawrence in front of our BoomerBus, it is not common to see two ships passing...

20 August 2026: Clayton, NY

Yesterday we drove to Clayton Village, just 15 minutes along NY-12 from Swan Bay, to indulge ourselves in another great meal at DiPrinzio's Kitchen. Along the way I noticed the remains of this covered bridge which straddled the original dirt road. It looks as if a slight breeze could blow it down. Anyhow, I found it interesting but know nothing of it's history.

As we strolled around the downtown waterfront, I snapped a few pics of Clayton Village.

back in Swan Bay another ship passes in front of our site

sitting in our lawn chairs and watching the kayakers, we also watched the bald eagle

🎶🎶...Somewhere, over the rainbow...🎶🎶

26 August 2026: Indian Castle Rest Area

We departed Swan bay RV this morning and followed I-81S to the New York Thruway Toll Road (aka I-90E). We stopped at the Indian Castle Rest Area after a four hour drive and will spend the night here.  Tomorrow, we should have another four drive hour to the Newport RV CG in Portsmouth, RI. Later y'all.

Here we are parked in the truck overnight parking area. BTW: Burger King, 2 grilled chicken sandwiches with cheese, (their broiler wasn't working so no beef!) 2 fries & 2 medium cokes = $36. Yeah, in a rest area on the NY Thruway Toll Road. But, c'mon man!

30 August 2026: Newport RV Campground, Portsmouth, RI

We arrived here on Thursday afternoon, 27 August and, after setting up, we promptly headed for Pasta E Vino restaurant in Middletown, just a few miles down the road. As usual, we sat at the bar and Matt, the bartender remembered us from last year. Yes, the cocktails were superb and the food was excellent as well. My house made Tonnarelli Frutti di Mare (house made pasta with a variety of seafood) was simply excellent! Shrimp, clams, mussels, squid and octopus overflowed the plate. Linda chose the chicken marsala and said it was also superb. 

Here we are at the Newport RV CG in site 401, same as last year.

The next morning we drove just across the road to Jax's Diner. Again, the breakfast was lip smacking good and Mike, the owner/chef recognized us and chatted briefly with us. 

Mike (the big dude) and his brand new assistant were churning out meals at a dizzying pace. It is like a choreographed ballet watching them move in synch as one starts a plate and the other completes it.

On Friday we visited with Gaiya & Co for a few hours. Saturday evening we boarded the Newport & Narragansett Bay Railroad for the Grand Bellevue Rail Dining Experience. The line is no longer connected to the national rail system so the pace is relaxed and slow and reaches it's end point at Sakonnet River Causeway and then returns to the start point without turning around. We missed this last year because I tried too late to reserve a spot. So glad we made it this year! What a wonderful experience. The food and beverages were first class, prepared on site but the star of the event were the views along the route. We boarded at 5:30PM and were back at the Portsmouth Junction Station at 9:15PM. Along the way we passed history: the Battle of Rhode Island was fought on the grounds of Portsmouth Abbey School, clearly visible from the train. Afew miles further on we pass the Bristol Ferry Town Common, established in 1714 for farmers awating the ferry to transport their livestock. We also saw Founder's Brook where the first settlement was established on Aquidneck Island in 1638.

Beautiful sunset as we traveled along the route.

4 September 2026: Departing Newport RV CG

Our stay here is over and we are preparing The BoomerBus for departure. We are heading to Bayley's RV CG in Scarborough, ME. Yesterday we visited Second Beach in Middletown, RI and later, based on Gaiya's suggestion, enjoyed an exceptional dinner at Flora Restaurant in the Gardiner Hotel in downtown Newport. Wow! What views! We sat at the bar in the main dining room and were treated to a vista of yachts of all kind and size. We arrived at 5PM and pretty much had the room for ourselves. By 6PM, the dining room, bar and outside dining areas were packed with people.

Alison took care of us at the bar with Katy helping other customers. Executive Chef Miguel came over and chatted with us for a few minutes. What a treat! His wife, Catherine, and Gaiya are friends and their daughter Violet attends the same school as Lola and they are friends! Yes, there it is folks: SERENDIPITY!

I gorged myself on seafood: oysters, grilled sardines and seafood paella chock full of octopus, scallops, lobster, squid and shrimp. It was a perfect end to our stay in Rhode Island.

Images of Second Beach as it is colloquially known. It's formal name is Sachuest Beach and National Wildlife Refuge.

The view from our seats at the bar.

Executive Chef Miguel who is from Madrid, Spain. He infused Spanish flavors into the menu. delizioso!

Here we are, Boomers tryin' to take a selfie! Alison & Katy are in the background.

5 September 2026: Bayley's RV Campground, Scarborough, ME

We arrived here yesterday afternoon after a five hour drive from Newport. The drive should have taken 3-3.5 hours but traffic on I-95 near Boston and then in New Hampshire at times slowed to crawl. We also stopped for fuel and that took way longer than any other previous fuel stops. Bottom line: Linda parked The BoomerBus, we set up and got a bite to eat before crashing in our theater seats to continue our binge of the West Wing.

Here we are in site 513.