National Museum of the US Air Force--WOW!

We went to Dayton with the Halsteads and the Campbells for the day to see all of the planes at the US Air Force Museum. What a huge, air conditioned facility with so much to see and it was FREE. WOW, I highly recommend visiting if you are in this area of the country. Here are just a few of the highlights:

Bockscar

B-2 Stealth Bomber

Here's the perfect Golf Cart for Crystal Lake folks to take to go to dinner at the nearby restaurants! LarryH--do you think you can find us one?

Donna & Mem

www.wpafb.af.mil/museum Dayton, OH

PS. RalphP and JimM--we talked about how long it would take you two to go thru this museum if you read all of the placards and looked at every display! It would probably take you 3 days. Wish you were here with us!

Discovery Rally, KOA, Wapakoneta, OH

We are here at the KOA in Wapakoneta, OH along with 16 other Discovery Coaches. Karen and John Didich are our Discovery hosts for this rally. It is really nice to see "old" friends and also get to meet some of the newer members like Karen & Bob Beyer (GA), Phyllis & Bob Kreiner (FL), Brenda & Jim Lerud (IN) and Bekki & Ed Ripper (NC), who own the newest coach--a 2009. After setting up and getting some hugs, we met at the enclosed pavillion for Happy Hour and snacks and then pizza for dinner. The first day of a rally is catch up time to find out what folks have been up to, who's done something new to their coach (or had problems) and future travel plans or who's going to attend the next few rallies.

This is a very nice KOA--very clean and well manicured--though very small camping sites. But we know all of our neighbors, so it's ok!

Wapakoneta OH Discovery Rally Here We Come

Monday--July 13th

We headed out today about 8:30 a.m. to meet up with our traveling companions, Mem and Larry Halstead at the Truck Stop in Opal, VA. After breakfast there at the Truck Stop, we headed out. Our destination today is the Wal-Mart "campground" in Cambridge, OH.

Noisy Cambridge Ohio Wal-Mart Campground

After happy hour there next to our coach, Larry Halstead unhooked his tow car and we headed to the Cracker Barrel for dinner--chicken and dumplings for Mem and I, of course! After, we did our usual Wal-Mart shopping. As we came back to the coaches, we noticed that more and more young people had gathered in their cars at our end of the camping, ah parking lot. As the evening wore on, they got louder and louder and even used the road beside our coaches as a drag strip with screeching tires included. It finally quieted down about 1:00 a.m. We had stayed at this Wal-Mart a few times before and it was very quiet. Not any more.

Grandson's Graduation from High School

No. 3 grandchild graduates from King George VA High School--7 more to go!

Donna & Grandson John Smith, Jr. after Graduation Ceremony

Kim (my #1 daughter) & Son John After Graduation

John & Step Dad, Charlie

John & Cousin Scott

Beckley WV Camping

On our way home from the Discovery Rally in Renfro Valley, the Parsons, Halsteads and Tolsons decided to spend a few days in the Beckly WV area. We seem to pass thru this area going here or there, but had not stopped to do any sightseeing. So this time we decided to stop! What a wonderful time we had exploring the area with wonderful fall weather and good friends.

Here's our Camping Spot--no noise, no traffic, no grass! We had water and electric.

Campground Dog--This mangy guy came around each evening to visit while we were sitting outside. He was well fed, as he never begged for food. He sure needed a bath!

Beautiful Wild Flower & Bee

New River Gorge Bridge looking up from the old Bridge.

[Mem & Larry Halstead, Donna, Janice & Ralph Parsons]

Glade Creek Grist Mill

Hinton, WV Train Museum--We enjoyed seeing this wood carved display of the railroad; this is just a small portion of the whole thing. Great museum and worth the stop!

We stopped at the Sandstone Falls on our way to Hinton, WV.

Here we [Larry, Chuck, Janice, Ralph and Mem] are on the porch of a restaurant over looking the New River in Hinton, WV. It was a beautiful day, BUT the yellow jackets were terrible!

Renfro Valley & Discovery Club Rally

From Oct 8 thru the 11, we enjoyed spending time with our Discovery club "family" at a rally in Renfro Valley KY www.renfrovalley.com/, hosted by Bob and Carol Baugh and Bob Nelson. We had wonderful weather for the whole rally and didn't lack for food either! Breakfast was served all 3 mornings and we enjoyed a family style dinner (fried chicken, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, etc.) but on by the restaurant there in Renfro Valley. Some folks went to see Loretta Lynn perform either Friday or Saturday night and then we the rest of us went to the "Renfro Valley Barn Dance" on Saturday night. Wonderful show!

Breakfast Cooks--Bob Baugh (Host) Martha Palasota and Bob Nelson (Host)

Facing: Ralph Parsons (our SOB guest) & Jim Campbell

Breakfast Time! Halsteads, Karen Didich & the Kreiners

Lollie, Janice, Mem and LaVerne at the Berea KY Artisan Center

www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov/

Time to eat! Get plenty of syrup now!
Cliff Newton, Bob Foerster, Carol Baugh (Host) & Pete Palasota

Janice Parsons and Mem Halstead learning how to compose music

Donna getting a ride on Newtons' Trike

Discovery Members Attending the Renfro Valley, KY Rally

What do you do when you are waiting for your food at Cracker Barrel?

Outside the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame and Museum

Ralph & Janice Parsons, Nelsons, Harry & Mary Condrey,

Chuck Tolson, Mem & Larry Halstead

www.kymusichalloffame.com/

Several of us women went to a couple of local (out in the country!) potterys where the artists spoke to us about their techniques--Bybee Pottery and Tater Knob www.taterknob.com/, where several of us bought some pottery. We also spent some time at the KY Guild of Artists and Craftsmen Fall Fair at the Memorial Park in Berea, where Mem and I bought several pieces of jewelry.

Cumberland Gap Area

What a beautiful sunny day we had to visit the Cumberland Gap Area. The Halsteads, Parsons and us were traveling together to go to a Discovery International Club rally in Renfro Valley, KY. This will be the Halsteads first Discovery rally since joining and the Parsons will be our SOB (Some Other Brand) guests.

Cumberland Gap Tunnel

Parking at Cumberland Gap Visitor Center

We watched a couple of films about Daniel Boone and the Westward Movement and one about Cumberland Gap

Red Leaves at Pinnacle Overlook in Cumberland Gap

We all piled into Larry & Mem's car and took a ride up to the Pinnacle Overlook.

Mem & Willey the Portuguese Water Dog at Pinnacle Overlook

(The couple that owned Willey had a second dog named Otis for Otis Redding who sang "The Dock of the Bay". I forget who Willey is named for, but it isn't Willey Nelson!)

We spent the night at one of our favorite campgrounds--Wal-Mart in Middlesboro, KY.