A stellar day yesterday was.

Polly and I visited with another Brent Browning yesterday. We had met him in Nashville Tennessee a few years ago, and I'd read about him years before when I made my Facebook page, his name same as mine, so my page had to be different. 

We have been friends for a few years now, but like a few friends I have on FB, I just don't get to run into them again. But this time I couldn't pass by without stopping in and say "Hi Y'all!" To Brent. 

When we got here to the campground in Brunswick Georgia I messaged him to ask if he was playing in town, In a short time he called and said yes he was playing at the Village Inn and pub St Simon's Island, about 1/2 hour away, if we wanted to come and see him tonight. I asked if he'd be playing the next night, as we were kinda beat from traveling that day. Yep, Saturday night at same place. After a bit of yak, he said do ya wanna meet for lunch on Saturday. That be great, I did want to get to know him just a little better. 

Well that turned out to be a really good time, getting to know Brent was great, after seeing his post's on FB for the last few years, the latest fun post was about the approaching hurry-cane he called it, he was really funny doing that. Posed as a weather man in the pouring rain, made me 😂 lol. 

Polly and I met Brent by the Inn, after we parked the truck, handshakes and some talking to get a little comfortable, then to lunch in a restaurant close, that had really good food. Brent sings here often, as it's relatively close to his home, and often has many people that are looking for a good time come to stay on the weekend. So he knows all the best restaurants close. 

Once we got to a table, and got a coffee, we started to yak it up really good, learning about each other, and Polly asking her questions too. Just a good ole boy from the south, singing for his $$ and enjoying it too. He has a family, along with other jobs he does, jobs he's created himself, as his gig in Nashville Tennessee ended when covid came, as it basically cleared out Nashville. Brent and his family tried to continue, but aft 7 months, at high rent, he had to leave before his savings ran out. 

I saw this on FB, as he tried really hard to stay, playing online, often trying to gather his fans as he played, all donating as he played, but that just wasn't enough to keep him there, he had to packup and go back home to Georgia. I remember he lived close, just didn't remember exactly where, I knew he had a family, just not the particulars. I know a little more now, as he knows more about mine and Paulette's lives. 

  A sailing ship went by as we at the Pier 

We had a nice stroll after lunch, down to the Pier at the end of a couple blocks of the down town of St. Simon's Island, Brent pointing out good restaurants, and Polly looking in the stores as we strolled along. Was a warm sunny day, perfect for a good ole yak. 

We all got to know each other just a little bit better, and gained knowledge about each other, so many things ya just don't know unless you talk, and best talking in person, not in a message. Brent was genuinely happy we stopped in, as we were that he had time to get together and get to know each other. 

Polly did shop, she found a shirt 👕 for me, tired of clothes I have that might have a stain, or a hole 🕳️, I'm not too particular about my clothes. Polly says she's got to have some nice clothes on me as we are going on a cruise in March, she wants to have nice clothes on me. Me, a tee shirt 👕 and a pair of shorts 🩳 and I'm good to go. She bought the shirt, I'm sure there are more to buy yet. 

Brent and I stood outside, in the sun and yaked, I said I liked how he often said to others, "Thank you for your service" after that I learned he'd served in the Air Force, two tours in Iraq. I understand now why he says "Thank you", he has his own experience. 

Thank you Brent Browning for your Service.

I don't want to say too much about our time together, just say we learned a lot about each other in a short time, enough to know we'd be happy to see each other again. One day I think we will in the future. 

Polly and I went back to our trailer, Polly got some super ready while I had a snooze, we knew we were up for a music 🎶 🎵 night tonight so didn't want to eat too much, fried chicken was the menu tonight, and was it ever good 👍. I'm a very lucky man. 

Brent started playing at 8, and we got there not long after, we could hear the music 🎵 🎶 from outside, was packed inside, we stood by the door, for about a half hour listening and drinking a 

Yuengling beer, watching so many people, none we knew, both Polly and I eyes wide open. The dance floor was about an 8'x10' little space in front of Brent, and it got used up fast when a good song played, and Brent played many. 

       Brent sings in front of his screen 

People were really ready to party here, there was a golf tournament on this weekend, and many here having fun. We were happy when another couple was going to leave, they came and asked if we'd like their table, well that was really nice 👍. We then got to sit and watch the going on's with our back to the wall, and close up, our table became the dropping place for drinks, as people would be heading to the dance floor, was fun for us guarding a drink or two, as we then got to know the people here. 

One big guy, I never did get his name, he bought us a beer for using the table, inconveniencing us he said. Was nice of him. He showed us a photo of his daughter with a deer she'd shot that night, he was so proud of her. 

We met a few people just sitting and listening, but for me was very hard to really hear, as Brent's music filled the room. It's hard to describe, but the bar was behind us, and was like a house party going on, as the building was and old house I think, and we sat with the fireplace behind us all decorated up for Christmas. Music played, Brent all by himself up there, well not up really, no stage, just him his amplifier, and his guitar, giving everyone what they wanted, music they all could dance to and sing to. Was a lovely sight for us, as we only knew a few of the songs, but some of the songs were planted deep in the souls of the people here. 

Always someone stacking their glasses 

"Dixie line delight", that was a huge song,  everyone singing to this one. There were many others that people loved, many I didn't know, but you could tell when a good one was played, as everybody lips were moving, they were singing it. 

Polly and I laughed and joked with people, and enjoy a really good night out, we didn't try dancing on the small dance floor, just watching and talking was enough for us last night. We thanked the big guy for the beer, and showing us his daughter and her deer. Then went up and Polly gave Brent a hug, I gave a handshake, said we hoped to see him again, maybe next time meet his family. His one daughter I remember Charlotte, I'm not sure the other, Amelia maybe, I never did ask his wife's name. One day, be nice to come back again. 

Was a really good experience, getting to know the other Brent Browning, and experience his singing again in a different venue, as last time we saw him it was in Nashville Tennessee, at Tootsies. 

Thanks Brent for taking the time to get to know y'all, next time be even better.

Great memories we have, just created a few more ❤️

Sure do love this life ❤️ 

Very calm this morning at Myrtle Beach.

I didn't feel like getting going early today, I did yesterday as was the first morning here. Today after a night of heartburn keeping me awake, I don't have the same jump. Going to be a little cloudy today forecast says, so I'll go after I write today. 

My subject today is how when we travel I see so much I can't take a photo of, I can't stop as the shoulder of the road has no pull outs, and the scenes I see go by just not able to get pictures of. On Sunday when we drove here from Chesapeake Virginia, the sights we wonderful. 

Cotton in huge and small field's is something that excited us both, because on our way to Chesapeake we saw the same, and no pull outs where it was. The other crop we saw was Peanuts 🥜 Fields of Peanuts 🥜🥜🥜, so many of them. Not as nice looking as cotton, but still interesting for me. Of course I'd like to see how they harvest them? 

Polly tried to get a few photos of the cotton all bailed up in huge round bails. I just asked her to send to me, yep she got 2, not as prolific a photographer as I am😂

          Here are the bails Polly got 

 A truck full of cotton heading to the mill 

Not as interesting as the cotton on the branches in the field's. As for the peanuts, never saw one field harvested. 

The last thing here i did notice being grown and harvested is trees, pine trees. Many trees plantations here, really healthy pine forest's, all private land I'm told, and well taken care of. I didn't take any photos of these either. 

Also on our way I noticed and pointed out to Polly the marshes, and flooded areas here, the water table close to the surface, roads most all raised above the surrounding ground, with huge ditches. I really like looking into the bayos here in the South, so different from where we grew up. 

Is quite and peaceful this morning, just writing and drinking a coffee ☕. I'm going to go for a walk now, take my second cup with me, see what I can see here that's New to me, meet another friend, see another sight! Birds here are different, some I saw yesterday are red, I'm on the lookout for few more of them, camera ready. Squirrel's are all about here too. 

Still have yet to pick out next place to stay, and we leave tomorrow. I like that way of traveling here, a little nonchalant, no big hurry no big deal! I think the saying is mañana, tomorrow.

Love this quiet, love our life ❤️ 

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki, a volcano mountain I'd never heard of before.

Here I sit in the home of our friends in Virginia early before anyone wakes, reading FB posts on my phone when I see a post about a volcano eruption. The photo is amazing. I had to get the name of the volcano and do some homework, is this real? Where exactly was it? My first questions. 

Yep it really happened, on November 3 at 23:57 hours, it continues erupting today. The photo was taken, where?  I can't find out where, I looked through many photos, but this photo I saw, I couldn't find anywhere. 

My thoughts as I saw this photo was that I'm, or WE are out of touch with what happens on the other side of the world. 

I told Polly and Christy when they got up and nope, they never heard of this either. 

Am I that outta touch, or is it the news media that doesn't report on things we should see. I'm not sure, but this was a shocker for me. 

I do try to keep informed, and will continue to. Some of what is news I avoid, as I just don't need to read all the politics of our country, but the events that change the world, I'm always interested in. 

History, that's also something I'm always interested in, here where we are now a huge amount of history. Really all the east coast has been a trip through history. 

Next on my list of research is the place called Kitty Hawk, where the Wright brothers first developed the first airplane that flew. So much history here. 

We are fortunate to have friends here that put us up, and tour us around. Williamsburg this weekend Christy tells me, another bit of history I'm looking forward to. 

Never really know what's next.

Sure love this life ❤️

Today we head out of the New York area towards Virginia 😁

Travel days we always look forward to, so close we are as we travel, do radio, just our GPS on the dash and in the front seat. Polly helps me often, I don't see everything, and hear not as good when trying to figure out exactly where the dash GPS is showing me and telling me to go. 

Virginia our destination, will be at least two days before we get there, we have friends there we'll be visiting, looking forward to seeing them again, their whole family. So much has changed since we were here last, with us, and with their family. Be nice to talk and catch up. 

Leaving Croton Park campground will be nice, yet wanted to stay a few more days, and I didn't look at the rules here for staying, November only allowed 1 week, this is the first time I had ever seen this in a campground. Reason they say is because only a few sites available due to them restricting use, as only so many open due to only a few really ready for winter. Insulation on the water pipes. 

To me seems like not good decision, but hey, not my Park, so just go along my merry way. I'll make sure I warn others as I go about this, as most wouldn't know. 

Been a really interesting time here in New York, what we had left to do can be either done another time, or not done at all. No big deal. 

Onward and upward 👆 

Love our travel Life ❤️ 

Tired visitor's today.

Yesterday was day 3 of our New York City visit, we planned to Walk over the Brooklyn bridge as this was the warmest day of this week. 79°f or 26°c that's nice and warm. Although walking up the Manhattan side of the bridge was pretty darn warm, Polly said after about 10 minutes, should have brought water, and a hat. Reality of this adventure had struck, and I was thinking maybe too much for Polly. 

I said we could go back, but no, not Polly. Her right knee a problem, my left knee a problem, we make quite a couple of gimps shuffling along amongst mostly younger, more able people. So many people, I didn't think there would be so many. We'd stop often, take a break, then after awhile there were benches, we'd had have a sit for awhile, then off we'd go again. Once we got to the half way point, was level walking then, made it a little easier. The center of the bridge walkway was all wood boards, made of teak or mahogany, weather proof kinda wood, all screwed down. Well done USA! 👍 

The bridge towers were massive, also gave some welcome shade for us as we stopped for a rest. The lady selling fruit and water was a very good stop, we were on the last bit, heading down to the city of Brooklyn now. Down is even harder on our knees. Yep, we are feeling old now for sure, no skipping and jumping around, but we made it to the Dumbo area, some food trucks, a nice park on the water, a big carousel 🎠🎠,

we didn't go on this time, too far to walk 😆.

We stopped at a place called "time out market" yep, we needed a time out, Polly always concerned about I should eat! So we went inside, and so many different places to eat here, and different ways to order. I tried to get the menu on my phone, but a no go, then after awhile I looked down the way, and darn if the didn't have a real menu up high. I ordered a bacon 🥓 cheese 🧀 burger 🍔, Polly she left, went to another place, got a scone, and a chi-latte something she's grown find of.

We sat outside,where we could see the Manhattan bridge,

with it's subway train going back and forth over it regularly. Watched others, and ate our lunch and rested. We were pretty beat by this time. I just looked up Dumbo, it's "Down Under the Manhattan Bridge Overpass" LoL, I thought something special 🤣 now I know. 

We didn't think too much of this place, we went to what I thought was a market of different vendors, but was only a grocery store. Well next we had to go back, so I asked a group of young people what was the best way to the other side, we were not about to walk back across. They suggested the ferry, which way I asked, and so good about showing us exactly which way to go. 

Off to the ferry we went, not too far, but both of us kinda done for the walking. The ride was really nice, I wanted to see the city from the water sometime, and this was just right. 

The ferry gave us a ride right to the place we wanted to continue our walk,

well not exactly, about 8 more blocks to the rooftop restaurant/pub I planned to have dinner. The walk there wasn't too bad, but Polly was waining. When we did get there, of course no elevator, 3 floors up, stairs! I'm sure Polly was thinking "u shit, yer trying to kill me" but she made it up under duress, and we enjoyed a really nice dinner. Happy hour was on, and surrounded by young people, most just off work, yaking so intensely, was fun to listen to. 

Polly & I enjoyed a cheese burger and a Heineken as well as very good conversation about what we saw, what we did, and what was next. The views from here looking towards the Empire State building were beautiful.

Was really nice to just sit awhile and plan ahead. The Chrysler Building, we could take a look inside as next to Grand Central station where we'll catch our train home. 

An Uber was my next plan as we left the pub, I searched and ordered one. This is my first time in New York getting and Uber, but we have used this service many times before. He came right to where we were, but on the other side of the street, I didn't understand why, he said where we were wasn't a good place to pick us up as a right turn, and needed to pickup on other side for safety. 

All worked out great, to the Chrysler building we went, except the building was open door, but we were not aloud to tour it, only open to public 8am to 5 pm. Hmm, oh well another time then, so a short walk now to Grand Central station. Getting on the train went smoothly, got a nice big seat, and off we went to Croton Harmon, our destination. Oops, we both fell asleep, looking up I noticed our stop as we pulled out, ahh shit, we missed our stop 😳 what now, I thought maybe get a ride back with someone? What next! 

Asking the conductor as he came by, he printed out a ticket for the train going the opposite direction, we got off at the next stop, and crossed over on the platform, and not long and we were back to Croton Harmon station. Weef, that was close, thought was big trouble, but the conductor said, happens all the time. Well a first for us, Polly almost never falls asleep, was a real shocker for us. 

Once we got home, we both not long to bed, what a day! Today Polly says take a day off, will see I'm thinking a Broadway show be our rest day today. See how it goes. I'm just about over the cold I got in Quebec, Polly thinking she might be getting it now? I sure hope not. 

Having a home to go back to, our own bed, and just a place we call home, where ever we are, gives us security knowing it's here when we are finished, and tired. 

Today will likely be a rest day, see how Polly's feeling as the morning goes. Good place for a walkabout for me anyway, beautiful place to stay here at Croton Park campground. 

Loving this way of touring a city,

 Love our life ❤️