One year ago Dylan and Dee Dee set out on their 6:30 am walk around the neighborhood in Panama City Beach. They started their walk as a crew of two but finished it as a crew of three. That morning Dora came into our lives. Nothing has been the same…W…
Anticipation
Dee Dee waiting for the bumper toss.
Visitors
Dylan, Dee Dee, and Dora had some visitors. What appeared to be a momma and a baby manatee hung out in the harbor for quite a while.The crew was fascinated.
January in Amsterdam
Our third month in Amsterdam, January, was a busy one. We visited local museums such as Anne Frank House and the Rijksmuseum, took in the Amsterdam Light Festival by tender, attended an Amsterdam Tigers ice hockey game, made day trips to Haarlem and Delft, hosted several visitors, completed a number of boat projects such as…
Jumpin’
Dylan and Dee Dee’s best buddy, Gracie, is the world champion when it comes to jumping the waves. The Red Head crew sure misses you sweet girl!
It’s not surprising Labs learn to handle the water and waves. Water is bred into their veins. Dee Dee loves jumping the waves.
So does Dylan.
Dora has taken a little time but she is also learning to handle herself in the sea. Who knows maybe there’s a bit of Lab in those veins. Or maybe she just has some great teachers.
28 February 2019 GRAND FINALE!!! So long to 13 years of blogging from Ocala, FL
This issue concludes 13 years of blogging. Now that we’ve become CLODS (Cruisers Living on Dirt), our lives are like everyone else’s so until we take flight in our coach, there’ll be no more blogging and maybe not even then. May just use Facebook as our way of letting you know if we’re doing anything other than living here in our Bubble.
Our eldest, Chadwick, Jr., and granddaughter, Izzi, both had early February birthdays. They just keep getting older yet I stay the same age. Don’t understand how that is.
Bill visited his 89 year old sister in upstate NY and, luckily, he was there for a week between blizzards. He just can’t tolerate temps below 60 degrees anymore so the weather seemed orchestrated with him in mind.
We love ABBA. Have seen the performance on Broadway, the ‘’official ABBA sanctioned’ troupe in Clayton, NY, and again here this month, as well as the movie a couple times. Great happy music!!!
I participated in several Martin Luther King and Black History Month events and learned so much as well as broadened my horizons. Unforgettable functions.
We celebrated Valentine’s Day quite festively, at our Beautiful Lodge. Great food, fun, libations, and music. It seemed as if all the women were in red!
Of course we had a Full Moon party hosted by neighbors, Terry and Barb. Thankfully, it wasn’t so cold this month, albeit it very cloudy so no moon could we see but that didn’t stop the fun, fellowship, and an excuse to gather with neighbors.
Friends, Cozette and John, from New Smyrna Beach, came for an overnight visit and we had a wonderful time listening to John play and sing his original songs and catching up since last we saw them so long ago.
While they were here, we went to view horse jumping–a new experience for the four of us.
Bill closed out the month with a trip to a Model T gathering in St. Augustine
while I attended an incredible presentation by an Emmy award-winning National Geographic film maker, Mark Emery. He presented his documentary film, highlighting the historic, economic, and environmental significance of Silver Springs. Through the eyes of 4 Americans who, incidentally, are black, and were the glass bottom boat drivers, who have a combined 200 years of experience on the river. Emery delivered an engaging story of Silver Springs, the history of segregation at the springs, and the coming of age of these remarkable ambassadors for nature. The film told the history and ecology of Silver Springs through the people who lived it as it unfolded. It is a film legacy with remaining boat drivers who are able to share this story. After the presentation, Emery and several of the boat captains, shared additional insights and stories about their experiences. This was a gem of a presentation and opportunity.
It’s difficult to believe that we end our first 5 months in our new home tomorrow. Time in certainly flying but we’re both extremely busy with Bill’s Old Car Club that he initiated, pickle ball to which he’s become addicted, his French class that he loves, and my swimming and working out with a great trainer.
Our weather is gorgeous but there always seems to be a freeze soon’s trees are budding and flowers blossoming. Tomorrow begins Spring and Daylight Savings Time is not far behind. Hope to see you on Facebook.
Bill and Laura Bender
9128 SW 82nd Lane
Ocala, FL 34481
864 525 5236
http://kindredspiritiii.blogspot.com
28 February 2019 GRAND FINALE!!! So long to 13 years of blogging from Ocala, FL
This issue concludes 13 years of blogging. Now that we’ve become CLODS (Cruisers Living on Dirt), our lives are like everyone else’s so until we take flight in our coach, there’ll be no more blogging and maybe not even then. May just use Facebook as our way of letting you know if we’re doing anything other than living here in our Bubble.
Our eldest, Chadwick, Jr., and granddaughter, Izzi, both had early February birthdays. They just keep getting older yet I stay the same age. Don’t understand how that is.
Bill visited his 89 year old sister in upstate NY and, luckily, he was there for a week between blizzards. He just can’t tolerate temps below 60 degrees anymore so the weather seemed orchestrated with him in mind.
We love ABBA. Have seen the performance on Broadway, the ‘’official ABBA sanctioned’ troupe in Clayton, NY, and again here this month, as well as the movie a couple times. Great happy music!!!
I participated in several Martin Luther King and Black History Month events and learned so much as well as broadened my horizons. Unforgettable functions.
We celebrated Valentine’s Day quite festively, at our Beautiful Lodge. Great food, fun, libations, and music. It seemed as if all the women were in red!
Of course we had a Full Moon party hosted by neighbors, Terry and Barb. Thankfully, it wasn’t so cold this month, albeit it very cloudy so no moon could we see but that didn’t stop the fun, fellowship, and an excuse to gather with neighbors.
Friends, Cozette and John, from New Smyrna Beach, came for an overnight visit and we had a wonderful time listening to John play and sing his original songs and catching up since last we saw them so long ago.
While they were here, we went to view horse jumping–a new experience for the four of us.
Bill closed out the month with a trip to a Model T gathering in St. Augustine
while I attended an incredible presentation by an Emmy award-winning National Geographic film maker, Mark Emery. He presented his documentary film, highlighting the historic, economic, and environmental significance of Silver Springs. Through the eyes of 4 Americans who, incidentally, are black, and were the glass bottom boat drivers, who have a combined 200 years of experience on the river. Emery delivered an engaging story of Silver Springs, the history of segregation at the springs, and the coming of age of these remarkable ambassadors for nature. The film told the history and ecology of Silver Springs through the people who lived it as it unfolded. It is a film legacy with remaining boat drivers who are able to share this story. After the presentation, Emery and several of the boat captains, shared additional insights and stories about their experiences. This was a gem of a presentation and opportunity.
It’s difficult to believe that we end our first 5 months in our new home tomorrow. Time in certainly flying but we’re both extremely busy with Bill’s Old Car Club that he initiated, pickle ball to which he’s become addicted, his French class that he loves, and my swimming and working out with a great trainer.
Our weather is gorgeous but there always seems to be a freeze soon’s trees are budding and flowers blossoming. Tomorrow begins Spring and Daylight Savings Time is not far behind. Hope to see you on Facebook.
Bill and Laura Bender
9128 SW 82nd Lane
Ocala, FL 34481
864 525 5236
http://kindredspiritiii.blogspot.com
Tethered
For those who have followed the blog for some time, you might remember that Dee Dee, in her youth, had to be tethered at the beach. She seemed to think she could swim to Portugal.
Dora is following in Dee Dee’s footsteps but she has decided maybe she can run down the beach to Portugal. Dad has decided to tether her instead.
It’s not slowing her down a bit.
She’s even taking a lesson from Dee Dee on handling waves. Air Dora?
January Trip to Seattle
In late January, we left a cold and snowy Amsterdam to make another return trip to Seattle. While there we spent time at the Seattle Boat Show and attended our first Nordhavn Owner’s gathering since leaving Seattle in 2012. During the evening, PAE president Dan Streech presented us with two special pennants: one for having…
Niagara Falls Day Trip
During your visit to Toronto it’s worth the trip Niagara Falls just to see these majestic falls – which ranks as one of the top 10 most visited attractions in the world. Although they are not the world’s highest falls, they … Continue reading →
