Kev n Jens Adventures

Saturday, January 15, 2022

It's Time to Head to Florida

Thursday January 14, 2022 - I finally caved into Kevin's pleas that we leave early for Florida. I found a state park in the panhandle that had a few sites available. We decided to drive part way on Thursday, and we stayed at a rest area in Alabama. Friday morning we only had a 4.5 hour drive, and got there a little after noon. Three Rivers State Park, has a small campground (only 30 sites) and the camping is located right on Lake Seminole, which is formed from the two rivers that empty into it (Chatahoochee and Flint) and the third (Apalachicola) that empties from it. The majority of the lake is located in Georgia. Most of the campgrounds we will be staying at, on this 2.5 month trip, are on either a river or a lake, so we decided to buy Florida freshwater fishing licenses ($47/yearly out of state). At the campground there was a nice fishing dock that we checked out at at sunset. It was a beautiful spot to fish, but that's all we did...no catching.

Yay!! We're on the road again!

The Saturn 1B rocket at the Alabama Welcome Center. The fuel tanks of the Saturn rocket were built at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville Alabama for NASA. The rocket is 168 ft tall.

The Gov Guy Hunt Rest Area in Hanceville Alabama where we stayed Thursday night. It was a busy overnight spot

Nice peach water tower in Clanton AL, who knew that peaches were grown in Alabama?

Lake Seminole, Florida

Soaking up that Florida sun

Nice campsite, at Three Rivers State Park, with a view of the lake

Fishing dock at the campground

Sunset over Lake Seminole

Saturday January 15, 2022 - We got up early and headed out for a 3.5 mile hike around the park. The trail out of the campground went along the lake and then headed out to the ranger station. We saw a bald eagle and a few deer. After lunch we went for a quick bike ride and then did a little more fishing. The wind picked up in the afternoon, and the sun gave way to lots of clouds and rain. Good thing we have the wild card games to watch tonight.

Eagle viewing

The park was very affected by Hurricane Michael in 2018...lots of trees broken off about 30 feet up.

Our new campsite for the next two nights. We had to switch sites since none were open for 3 days in a row. Another nice view of the lake.

Thursday, December 2, 2021

Thanksgiving in NYC

Wednesday, November 24, 2021- We left my Mom's early Wednesday morning for NYC and had a beautiful drive across PA. We had decided to drive to Basking Ridge so we could leave our car at the Booth's. Parking during the week is tough in Manhattan and we weren't sure what the parking situation would be like due to the Macy's Day Parade. Maddy dropped us at the train station and once in NYC we took the subway to Meg's apartment. Meg was able to get off work a little early so we met her for the Balloon inflation which goes on from 12-6:00 the day before the parade. At 75th St we found Meg and piled in with the masses of people to wind our way to the balloon inflation (6 blocks of back and forth). We had to show ID and vaccine cards and then they checked bags and wanded us before we could enter the queue. It took about an hour to make it to the Natural History Museum where the inflation was taking place. I've wanted to go to the inflation for years, so I was very very happy to finally get there!!

PA sunrise

waiting for the subway

Lots of people for the balloon inflation

we found Meg!

almost there...

lots of NYPD

Ronald McDonald's leg

Astronaut Snoopy

Baby Yoda

Relaxing at Meg's apartment

Thursday, November 25, 2021-We got up early and headed down the street to see what we could see of the parade. All the floats were lined up on Central Park West and we were able to walk up and down the sidewalk and see quite a few of the floats. As we walked south around 75th St it got so crowded on the sidewalk that we had to turn back. We decided that seeing the balloons the night before and the floats the day of was kind of like seeing the parade and we headed back to the apartment to get ready for our Thanksgiving dinner.

early morning walk along Central Park West

The singing Christmas tree did lots of practicing while we were there.

Santa's float (the last one of the parade) was lined up at the end of Meg's block

The last float of the parade

Meg's block

119 West 85th St

A pumpkin pie and a mini apple (for me) with Meg's penguin creation

good looking Thanksgiving dinner

football and turkey!

A walk in Central Park to get ready for pie

cute bench built into the fence

The Dakota in the distance

We took a break in front of the Natural History Museum

Friday, November 26, 2021-We took the subway/train back to Basking Ridge to have a day with the Booth's. We went Christmas tree shopping, learned to play Paddle and had a nice time hanging out with Maddy's family. Around 7:00 we drove back to the city and after one lap around Meg's block found a parking spot on the street! Since it's the weekend, the car doesn't have to be moved until we leave Sunday afternoon.

On the walk to the subway station, down the street from Meg's, we passed the building used in the TV show "Only Murders in the Building". Had to get a quick selfie (along with the people across the street also getting a selfie)

Meg and Maddy's tree

The Booth's tree

staying hydrated for the Paddle tournament

Meg and Maddy playing Sally and Jon for the championship

Paddle Pros

Saturday, November 27, 2021- Today was a sightseeing day. I've been wanting to see the new train station, so we took the Subway to Penn and walked across the street to the Moynihan Train Hall. Then we walked to Macy's to see the windows, hit the shops at Bryant Park, stopped at a few bars to warm up and then headed to Rockefeller Center to see the tree. Maddy came back to the city, so we headed home to get ready for dinner, which was at a great little Indian Restaurant about 10 blocks north of their apartment. It was such a great weekend! I was so happy to get to get to hang with Meg, while getting some much needed NYC time in! Oh, and it's a really good weekend when you get a GOOD bagel, 3 days in a row, for breakfast!! Already looking forward to our next visit!

The old post office that has been turned into the new Moynihan Amtrak/LI RR train station

Above the columns it says "Neither snow nor rain nor heat not gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds"