Saturday, March 9 was the 42nd Annual McGuire’s St. Patrick’s Day Prediction 5K Run taking place in Pensacola Florida. Over ten thousand runners and walkers took part in this annual event. This was a 5K (3.1 miles) that started and finished at McGuire’s Irish Pub in downtown Pensacola, Florida. McGuire’s Bagpipers https://youtu.be/vhEwtRJtI-Ehttps://youtu.be/Xv4GpCEULBY Off They Go And They Keep Coming
As seniors, we all grew up with Davy Crockett! (well, Fess Parker) He was brave enough to fight bears, courageous enough to tame the frontier and stood for always doing what is right. He was also a real American. This particular senior travel was meaningful to us because Davy is a childhood hero of ours. My brother and I actually had a Davy Crockett clubhouse in our backyard! We decided to track Davy Crockett through Tennessee to learn more about the man who preferred to be called David Crockett! HOW DO YOU TRACK Davy Crockett IN TENNESSEE? We tracked Davy to four locations in the state….
The Amish purposely include a mistake in their quilts because only God is perfect. During the Dust Bowl, worn-out clothing was re-purposed into quilts to keep families warm. Like you, I have quilts made by my grandmothers, great aunts, and my mom. Growing up, I snuggled under the quilts, tracing the pattern and fabrics with my finger as I settled down for the night. One family quilt went to my daughter and son in-law as a wedding gift. Quilts are family heirlooms; symbols of the creativity and strength of women. Quilting Circles find women (and some men) “solving” world problems and sharing the warmth of friendship while creating works…
One of the greatest thrills of taking back roads is when we happen upon something interesting and unusual completely by accident! We call these finds “roadside wonders.” They are not historically significant or tourist destinations. Sometimes, they are colorful, at times ugly, kitsch, and even hilarious. We love sharing some of our favorites with you! We stopped at a drugstore while driving through Sylva, North Carolina and look at the colorful “roadside wonder” we found! Hiding on a side street was CT Auto Service, Inc., a three-generation business that offers car repairs, towing and more. When we stopped, Anthony told us that his grandfather began covering the building with license…
We just HAD to follow the footsteps of Sgt. Alvin C. York in Pall Mall, Tennessee! We wanted to learn more and pay homage to Sgt. York-one of the most decorated American heroes of WWI. New generations of Americans became familiar with York through a 1940s biographical Hollywood movie, starring Gary Cooper. Gary Cooper won an Oscar for best actor for his portrayal of Sgt. York. York’s military service in WWI and the movie (made much later) made Alvin York a household name. For we seniors, Sgt. York’s story has been a part of our growing up years. So, who was Alvin C. York? YORK’S BACKGROUND Alvin C….
There are times when we see a sign by the side of the road that leads to an American treasure! Judaculla Rock is just such a find! We were driving 107 N in Jackson County, North Carolina when we noticed a silver road sign which said, “Judaculla Rock.” We had never heard of Judaculla Rock and were uncertain if the sign actually referred to a rock. Boy, does it ever! Judaculla Rock is approximately 16 feet long by eleven feet wide and is a soapstone boulder covered with strange drawings that have been studied by researchers worldwide. Quarry tools were found nearby and scientists have speculated that Judaculla Rock…
Gypsum sands sparkle during sunset and the views are absolutely amazing! The dunes of White Sands National Monument begin at the park road and go on like a sea of sand! White Sands National Monument turned out to be a spiritual stop in our travels and should be a true bucket list destination for retirement travel. Huge dunes of gypsum extend over 275 square miles of desert in New Mexico. White Sands was established as a National Monument in 1933 and is said to be the largest gypsum dune field in the world. The gypsum is from 250 million years ago when the southwestern U.S. was covered by the…
If you want to experience other-worldly terrain, take a backroads trip to the Petrified Forest and Painted Desert! The Petrified Forest National Park’s headquarters are located about 26 miles east of Holbrook, Az along Interstate 40, which parallels the BNSF Railway’s Southern Transcon, the Puerto River, and historic Route 66. In fact, the Petrified Forest National Park is the only national park site that contains a segment of the Historic Route 66 alignment. The northern portion of the park extends into the Painted Desert. Teddy Roosevelt created the Petrified Forest National Monument in 1906. It has over 50,000 acres of designated wilderness. We drove…
Are you a romantic? Do you love pirate tales and swashbuckling movies? How about Oceanographic Research? Sail away at Tall Ship Festivals, Races, Regattas, Challenges and Celebrations! Stu and I spent three days exploring Tall Ships in Pensacola, Florida at the Tall Ships Festival. There are Tall Ship events in North America each year as well as races and celebrations around the globe. One source for finding a Tall Ship Event near you is the Tall Ships Network. C’mon senior travelers! In 2019 alone, you can see Tall Ships in such American cities as: …
I was so surprised when Stu turned into the driveway of the Bellingrath Gardens! I am a Master Gardener and LOVE gardening. Stu had told me our next stop was a surprise but, I had no idea it would be the 65-acre splendiferous Bellingrath Gardens! Walter Bellingrath was one of the first Coca Cola bottlers in the southeastern United States. The gardens surrounding his home were opened to the public in 1932 and is the oldest public garden in Alabama. The Gardens are listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage and on the National Register of Historic Places. The gardens were originally used as a fishing camp by…
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