Layover in Gulf Breeze - 10/5 to 11/7

When in Gulf Breeze we park the motorhome in Ashley and Michael’s driveway. Their home has more than adequate shade cover with mature pine trees on their property as well as the corner lot that is owned by the local municipality. Being here for the nearly five weeks has allowed us to help with day-to-day tasks of caring for a new baby, a two-year-old, a four-year-old, and an 11-year-old. Grannie did get to have plenty of time with the grandchildren. Grandpa Byron did, too.

On our first Sunday in Gulf Breeze we attended Life Church with with Ashley, Michael and family. The church meets in the Gulf Breeze community center which houses meeting rooms and two gymnasiums.

On Sunday afternoon the church had a picnic on the the beach

which included the baptism of a new believer.

While in Gulf Breeze we had some work done on the motorhome at the Freightliner service facility on the north side of Pensacola. We were treated well though the service work took a few days. We stayed in the motorhome each night.

Since Jody’s father died during this time, Byron made a quick trip back to Kentucky to attend the visitation and sing at the funeral mass. It’s about a ten-hour trip but was worth it. Supporting family at times like that is essential to us.

We made an outing to the Naval Air Station Pensacola to see the lighthouse. Martha, Byron and Jada made the climb up the 177 steps after going through the museum in the old light-keeper’s house.

The historic Pensacola Lighthouse. It is still putting in active use with

the light being easily seen to the edge of the horizon.

This view is of the main runways (n the distance) of Naval Air Station

Pensacola. Note that the water tower, which seems high from the ground,

is actually below the viewing walk atop the lighthouse.

From the distance, we could see a ship moving on the horizon with

a large plume of water spray. By the time we climbed down and

walked to the beach, we saw this catamaran Navy vessel turn

and come into Pensacola Bay. The Joint High Speed Vessel is

built by Austal in the Mobile facility. It was on a sea test.

Often we’re asked how our English cockers, Redford and Julie, get along in the motorhome. They are good travelers. Julie usually sleeps on the couch and Redford usually sleeps on the floor between the captain’s chairs. When parked, they just act like they would in any place else. Sometimes they get next to each other and sometimes they’re on opposite ends, one in the living area and one in the bedroom.

Redford and Julie are half-siblings. Still, they don’t mind being

next to each other, especially on cool mornings.

Chapel and Ben enjoy looking at the iPad with Grammy. Martha is

wearing the head decoration she made for the Oktoberfest.

Time on the beach is always nice, even when it’s bright and windy.

Dressed and ready for Halloween.

While in the area we also attended Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church as well as First Baptist Church in Pensacola. We especially appreciated the service at Pensacola complete with a great message by the pastor, vocal solo by a choir member, choir anthem, handbell offertory, and the singing of hymns to organ and orchestra accompaniment.

The steeple and main edifice of First Baptist Church in Pensacola is easily

spotted on the skyline of the city since it sits on a bit of a hill near downtown.

Our last day with family in Gulf Breeze was on Thursday, November 6. Of course, we enjoyed our stay which included some time at the nice farmer’s market held each Saturday on Palafox Street in downtown Pensacola.

Oktoberfest and Grandparent Days - 9/24 to 10/4

Continuing our trip to the northwestern part of Wisconsin from Wisconsin Dells we often had experienced views like this out the windows of our Newmar Dutch Star motorhome. The contrast of distant hills with hardwoods and evergreen trees against some plains is quite interesting in this portion of Wisconsin. Fortunately, the weather agree and was equally beautiful, too.

In the foreground is the right-of-way along the interstate highway. Between it and

the line of colorful trees showing fall colors on the horizon is a field of corn

ripened and ready to be harvested either by picking or making silage.

We arrived in Chippewa Falls and the Northern Wisconsin Fairgrounds one day before the start of the convention. This allowed us to have a day to see the city and visit one of the local manufacturing facilities. This particular facility was the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in Chippewa Falls. While not beer drinkers ourselves, it’s always interesting to see the different processes and science used in making beverages of any variety whether wine, bourbon, or beer. Unfortunately, however, we visited the brewery on Friday. Leinenkugel’s begins brewing and works around the clock from Monday morning through Thursday night. Friday is the day for cleaning. Still we were taken on a fascinating tour which included an explanation of the history of the company as well as a presentation of the various styles produced over the years.

The Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company is a major brewery for Wisconsin

with it’s hometown being Chippewa Falls.

The main purpose for our being in Chippewa Falls was to attend the fall gathering for owners or former owners of classic GMC motorhomes. If you’re not aware, GMC wholly built and produced the recreational vehicle from 1973 through 1978. The drivetrain was based on the front wheel drive of the Oldsmobile Toronado. Units in two lengths were produced, 23-feet and 26-feet in length. We owned a 1978 model from 2007 through 2011.

Welcome to Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin and the fall

convention of classic GMC owners. This graphic, the ninth designed

by Byron for GMCMI, was used on t-shirts and

other promotional materials.

As active members of the organization, we have participated in the convention by leading a crew of volunteers in preparing a pancake, bacon, and sausage breakfast using a recipe Martha has used since we married. For GMCMI members it is billed as a breakfast featuring “Martha’s Famous Pancakes.” We’ve headed up the activity for eight conventions. Byron has also served as the music director for the worship services and has conducted seminars covering a variety of topics.

Midway through the convention there was a free afternoon to explore the area. We headed out on a drive around a large square with Chippewa Falls being at the lower left corner of the square. The drive took us to Bloomer, Cornell, and Cadott.

Caddot, Wisconsin has the distinct honor of being midway between

the longitude of the Equator and the North Pole.

Caddot is also on the legendary Yellowstone Trail as shown in

this roadside sign.

One night of the convention is designated as the “fun“ night when we enjoy a thematic dinner and entertainment. Since the observance of Oktoberfest begins in September in Germany and German communities, GMCMI honored the tradition by having an Oktoberfest celebration. For our celebration everyone was provided a stein filled with root beer and ice cream.

Martha and friends from Ohio enjoy the root beer floats at Oktoberfest.

The souvenir mug for our root beer floats.

Our hostess was dressed appropriately to introduce the

beer-drinking contest. When contestants signed up they had

no idea that they’d be drinking from baby bottles.

Another event was the sauerkraut eating contest. Byron had no die

that he was to be fed, from behind, by another contestant. He and

his partner, Lucy Weidner, were the winners.

Another treat for this fall’s convention was a night at the historic Mabel Tainter Memorial Theater in Menomonie, Wisconsin (not to be confused with Menomonie Falls). We enjoyed a private dinner and show featuring an excellent jazz group that is well-known in the area. Interestingly, the oldest member of the group is a saxophone/clarinet player who turned 87 on the following day. By the way, Byron’s kraut partner is on the board of the theater and formerly served as is Director.

The Mabel Tainter Memorial Theater was constructed in 1889 as a tribute to Mabel Tainter, a young woman who loved music and the arts. Mabel passed away in 1886 at the age of nineteen. The Memorial was commissioned by her parents, Captain and Mrs. Andrew Tainter. Captain Tainter was a lumber baron and silent partner with Knapp, Stout, & Co. The facility, renamed the Mabel Tainter Center for the Arts, now serves as a performing arts and cultural center.

The Victorian-era side and modern rear addition of the Mabel Tainter. The facility is

listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Mabel Tainter building includes a lavish 251-seat “crown jewel”

Victorian theater. It is a premier example of a restored,

vintage American theater. It also houses the original Steere & Turner

tracker pipe organ. The organ has a total of 1597 pipes and 28 stops.

Although the wind supply was originally water powered, it was

later converted to be driven by electricity. The organ was

first refurbished in 1957 and, since then, has been fully restored.

After the convention we headed toward Gulf Breeze, Florida by way of Belvidere, Illinois. Oddly, neither of has ever been to Belvidere but we found ourselves going through the campground there three times this year. We have no plan to return in the near future.

Our second stop on our trip to Florida was in Fairfield, Illinois. This allowed Byron to attend a planning meeting for the 50th anniversary reunion of his high school class.

Just before entering Alabama we found that the Caterpillar engine was blowing oil all over our Honda Accord. From there we drove to a Freightliner facility in Birmingham only to learn that they wouldn’t be able to attend to the situation until the next week. (Freightliner repair facilities always seem to be busy). So, we journeyed on adding a quart of oil or so every 150 miles. Our third night was spent on the road at the Flying J south of Montgomery, Alabama. We don’t mind the accommodations at a Flying J because they allow overnight parking in the RV area. Besides, it was late and we were tired.

Thankfully, our fourth day of travel was not to be very far; just another quart of oil. However, after exiting I-65 in Flomaton, Byron noticed that the voltage gauge was showing a negative charging situation. We had no cooling problem, had air brakes and power steering so he just monitored things until we arrived at Gulf Breeze and the home of our daughter, son-in-law and family. It was then that we saw the reason for the voltage situation, the serpentine belt had separated so the alternator wasn’t being turned. Fortunately, our engine is the 3126e and has a separate belt to drive the water pump.

Here’s what was awaiting us in Gulf Breeze — baby Luciana Caputa

who was born a few days before our arrival.

Our purpose for being in Gulf Breeze was to help in caring for the Ashley, Michael and the children during Luc’s first several weeks of life. The grandparenting days were in full swing minutes after our arrival. More on that in our next blog entry.