After watching the year in review for the last 24+ hours I thought I would list the highlights of 2008 from the RV Lifestyle perspective. These are some of our 2008 highlights. Add yours we would enjoy it.
Swimming with the Stingrays on a sandbar off the Kayman Islands - we took a cruise.
Snowcapped Mt Ranier on July 1 - awesome.
Catching Kokanee Salmon on Heron Lake while watching the sun set on Tres Piedras.
Peaceful starry nights at Rifle Falls while listening the roar of the water tumbling over the falls.
Hiking through the awesome aspen colors in the Colorado Rockies.
Enjoying new friends and places every day.
We are really looking forward to 2009 after a fabulous 2008. Happy New Year, Larry and Jacki
leno said
12:39 PM Jan 1, 2009
The highlight of our year was meeting and becoming part of the RV-Dreams family at the rally in Branson, Mo. We so look forward to many future get togethers with this fine group of people.
Old Snipe said
01:15 PM Jan 1, 2009
We had a very emotional, roller coaster year in 2008. It started out with a trip to Disney's Fort Wilderness with our daughter, son-in-law and two grandsons (4 &1). We had planned the trip back in summer of 2007, never thinking that our SiL, Brian, a Navy Reserve LT, would be called up in Oct 2007 to serve with the U.S. Army (!?) in Afghanistan.
We were thankful that he was able to get leave and enjoy 2 days at Disney with us, but then he had to fly out from Orlando and then on to Afghanistan. This begain our helping our daughter, Heather cope with his absence and trying to fill the void with our two grandsons. Even though the rest of our time at Disney was great, it was also very sad.
June found me taking my son Ryan, and his family (DIL Amber and our two grandaughters, 2 & 1) cross country in the motorhome. Ryan, a Coast Guard Petty Officer, was transferred from his cutter in Bayonne, NJ to a new duty station in Astoria, OR. I rented a tow dolly to pull their car and we did a 14 day trip to OR while enjoying sites such as Wall Drug, Mt Rushmore, Custer Battlefield, Devil's Tower and others along the way.
Upon arrival, we got them settled and my bonnie bride, Marti, flew in to spend the weekend. She was not able to get off from work, so enjoyed the quick visit. I dropped her off at the Portland, OR airport and picked up my 86 year old father, who flew into OR to accompany me back on my 5 1/2 day return trip from OR to VA. It was really a windshield tour, but he and I both enjoyed the time together. I would have liked to have taken longer, but as an active duty Coast Guard Officer, I had to get back to work. I'm thankful I was able to take as much leave as I did.
We used the MH again in August to take Heather and the boys to Sesame Place in PA. GS Andrew got me to go on the water slides again and again (and again!). We had a ball and I came home really soggy!
Thanksgiving was really special as we welcomed home Brian from Afghanistan. He had used his engineering skills to help build security infastructure for the Afghan Army and Police. He returned home safe and sound despite several really close calls. We had a great Welcome Home party with over 150 friends and relatives turning out.
So we look forward to 2009 and are leaving on the 14th of January for Fort Wilderness with Brian, Heather and the gransons to finish the Disney World vaction that was upset in 2008!
Wishing all the RV Dreams Family a Happy New Year and wonderful miles ahead!
Best Regards!
-- Edited by Old Snipe at 13:16, 2009-01-01
-- Edited by Old Snipe at 13:16, 2009-01-01
subra1228 said
07:11 PM Jan 1, 2009
Our biggest highlight ~ Hitting the road in July!
We've enjoyed many hikes in Banff, Jasper, Glacier, BC and all over California. We've enjoyed trying lots of restaurants & meeting some wonderful people along the way. Seeing Barack Obama elected was a huge highlight (not to start anything political....). Went to a live taping of Jay Leno with Hugh Jackman - People's Sexiest Man of 2008. ( He'seasy on the eyes, Ladies!) So much more...............and looking forward to even more!
I guess the biggest highlite in our year was just being able to be a part of this great bunch of people. Knowing this we look forward to this year and once more getting to be included with the RV Dreams family. It was so much fun meeting up with Mac and Netters..Bill and Debbie..
Ellie and Jim...Mark and Dortha...Weldon and Sandy...and I know that this coming year we will be able to meet up with more of you when we retire in June. Knowing that no matter which road we travel we will have a friend near by that we can set down and talk about things that we both have in common.
Thanks Dreamers
Joe and Sherri
thebearII said
09:56 AM Jan 2, 2009
Ours was the trip to the Grand Canyon by train to celebrate my Dad's 89th birthday. For more detail see:
http://www.rv-dreams-lifestyles.com/articles/75/1/To-The-Grand-Canyon-by-Train/Page1.html
The scenery was breathtaking due to an overnight snow fall. A great time spent with my Dad, wife, two brothers and their wives.
foxriverguy said
01:53 PM Jan 2, 2009
Buying our motorhome in late summer was our big event for 2008.
This year will be filled with milestones.
Tylersamma said
03:31 PM Jan 2, 2009
It is impossible for us to name any certain highlight of 2008, except that it was our first full year on the road as fulltimers. Every stop along the way has been memorable - and there have been many!!!! We have met (and re-met a few) a lot of wonderful folks during our travels. We miss our family and friends back home, but have found a new family of travelers, and we treasure them as well.
Luvglass said
05:57 PM Jan 2, 2009
Our highlight has to be the summer we spent in Alaska, despite the fact that it was the coldest, wettest on record. We're already planning on a return trip and we'll leave earlier in the spring the next time.
wmalefyt said
08:39 PM Jan 2, 2009
Our 2008 highlight was celebrating our 40th wedding anniversary on a 7 night cruise from Miami to Puerto Rico, St. Maarten and Labadee, Haiti. We had a great time on the Liberty of the Seas along with 3500 of our closest friends !
For us, cruising is the next best thing to RVing! We sure hope to be on the road as fulltimers before we hit our 50th anniversary!! We hope 2009 will be the year we can sell our condo and hit the road, but so far I haven't heard any encouraging words about the real estate market.
Happy New Year everybody!
-- Edited by wmalefyt at 20:40, 2009-01-02
pierreandcolleen said
11:11 PM Jan 2, 2009
The highlights of 2008:
1. Getting the courage to quit the 9-to-5, sell most of our belonging, and hit the road on July 1st. 2. Visiting Prince Edward Island and Cape Bretton Island 3. Boondocking next to a beautiful, quiet lake near Topsfield, Maine 4. Exploring the carriage roads at Acadia National Park 5. Travelling on the Blue Ridge Parkway 6. Visiting St. Augustine, FL 7. Camping on the beach in Carrabbelle Beach, FL 8. Visiting Big Bend National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park 9. Spending Thanksgiving with friends 10. Visiting with old friends and new friends all across the country 11. Being able to share our experiences with family and friends.
Guiler85 said
10:11 AM Jan 3, 2009
Gosh, how do you fit all the wonderful things of this life in one blurb? A couple of highlights:
--our son's marriage to a wonderful young woman
--celebrating our granddaughter's 3rd birthday
--making new friends via this forum and then meeting them in person! (yes, that would be you, Dortha & Mark and Jim & Ellie!)
--reuniting with old friends in Alabama
--planning our first trip to the west coast in 2009
jimdee said
11:50 AM Jan 3, 2009
I agree with Speedy! The RV-Dreams rally was our turning point. We had the date of June 2012 all set for full time, but with the seminars and talking to the RV-Dream family in Branson, MO we've decided 2009/2010 will be our starting time. We're hoping to get the 5er in June this year.
See you on the road. Jim & Dee
Natasha said
10:52 PM Jan 5, 2009
We had three standout highlights of 2008: Our first ever RV trip -- 10 days in a rented rig to the Grand Canyon and Zion. We caught the bug -- bad!; the day 7 weeks later when we bought our first-ever, brand spanking new motorhome; and the day this fall when my DH and I looked at each other and declared, "We're going fulltiming next year!"
Gotta love it!
Serengeti2001 said
05:52 AM Jan 6, 2009
We had a great 2008 As workampers we did have a bad job the first three months, but that didn't lower our spirits. We than spend about 1 month near our families in PA. Leaving there we went to Life on Wheels (which is now out of business), got to meet Gaylord Maxwell (prior to his passing). We than went to work in MT. for the summer, on the way we went to Badlands NP, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, drove Spearfish canyon, Devil's Tower. While in MT. Kathleen's granddaughter was graduating from high school and we went to Seattle/Tacoma area and on the way we spent time in Glacier NP. In the Seattle area we visited the Beoing plant did a tour of the city on a DUCK, and drove around MT. Ranier. While in MT. we visited Yellowstone NP about 6 times and spend two days in the Grand Teton's, along with touring Virginia City, MT and the Earthquake area in MT. several times. On the way back east we visited Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Capital Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP. Did a tour on Boulder Dam, went to the Grand Canyon, got our picture taken in Four Corners (while in four states) drove over Wolf Creek Pass. On the way east we passed the Arch in St. Louis. We also spent a great week in Celina, OH at the Gypsy Journal Rally and met several RV Dreamers there. Spent another month with our families in PA. upon leaving there went did Punkin Chunkin in DE. The last two months we are at a great RV Resort in Avon Park, FL. We were so blessed this past year, as all of our travels were safe.
travelinbob said
06:17 AM Jan 6, 2009
We enjoyed the year traveling from coast to coast from Pismo Beach, Ca to Myrtle Beach and then down to Florida where we are now. We had fun visits to San Francisco, Yosemite, Placerville and other memorable places. We stayed a month during the summer in our old home town of Rio Rancho, NM and that was a treat even though we were doing doctor visits and that sort of thing. We visited with daughter Dianne in PA for a month before it got cold and are enjoying a stay near other daughter in Florida for the winter. Life is good.
Bob
Terry and Jo said
12:46 PM Jan 6, 2009
Oh, my. So much to say and so little room. So, just the important ones to me.
February: birth of second grandson, Liam Scott.
May/June timeframe: discovery of RV Dreams website and all the friends thereon.
December 25: Celebration of 40 years of marriage with lovely wife, Jo. (That's right. Got married on Christmas Day so I could buy one gift and two cards. Hee, Hee.)
There could be many more, I'm sure, but this is not the place to bore everyone.
Swimming with the Stingrays on a sandbar off the Kayman Islands - we took a cruise.
Snowcapped Mt Ranier on July 1 - awesome.
Catching Kokanee Salmon on Heron Lake while watching the sun set on Tres Piedras.
Peaceful starry nights at Rifle Falls while listening the roar of the water tumbling over the falls.
Hiking through the awesome aspen colors in the Colorado Rockies.
Enjoying new friends and places every day.
We are really looking forward to 2009 after a fabulous 2008.
Happy New Year,
Larry and Jacki
We were thankful that he was able to get leave and enjoy 2 days at Disney with us, but then he had to fly out from Orlando and then on to Afghanistan. This begain our helping our daughter, Heather cope with his absence and trying to fill the void with our two grandsons. Even though the rest of our time at Disney was great, it was also very sad.
June found me taking my son Ryan, and his family (DIL Amber and our two grandaughters, 2 & 1) cross country in the motorhome. Ryan, a Coast Guard Petty Officer, was transferred from his cutter in Bayonne, NJ to a new duty station in Astoria, OR. I rented a tow dolly to pull their car and we did a 14 day trip to OR while enjoying sites such as Wall Drug, Mt Rushmore, Custer Battlefield, Devil's Tower and others along the way.
Upon arrival, we got them settled and my bonnie bride, Marti, flew in to spend the weekend. She was not able to get off from work, so enjoyed the quick visit. I dropped her off at the Portland, OR airport and picked up my 86 year old father, who flew into OR to accompany me back on my 5 1/2 day return trip from OR to VA. It was really a windshield tour, but he and I both enjoyed the time together. I would have liked to have taken longer, but as an active duty Coast Guard Officer, I had to get back to work. I'm thankful I was able to take as much leave as I did.
We used the MH again in August to take Heather and the boys to Sesame Place in PA. GS Andrew got me to go on the water slides again and again (and again!). We had a ball and I came home really soggy!
Thanksgiving was really special as we welcomed home Brian from Afghanistan. He had used his engineering skills to help build security infastructure for the Afghan Army and Police. He returned home safe and sound despite several really close calls. We had a great Welcome Home party with over 150 friends and relatives turning out.
So we look forward to 2009 and are leaving on the 14th of January for Fort Wilderness with Brian, Heather and the gransons to finish the Disney World vaction that was upset in 2008!
Wishing all the RV Dreams Family a Happy New Year and wonderful miles ahead!
Best Regards!
-- Edited by Old Snipe at 13:16, 2009-01-01
-- Edited by Old Snipe at 13:16, 2009-01-01
Our biggest highlight ~ Hitting the road in July!
We've enjoyed many hikes in Banff, Jasper, Glacier, BC and all over California. We've enjoyed trying lots of restaurants & meeting some wonderful people along the way. Seeing Barack Obama elected was a huge highlight (not to start anything political....). Went to a live taping of Jay Leno with Hugh Jackman - People's Sexiest Man of 2008. ( He'seasy on the eyes, Ladies!) So much more...............and looking forward to even more!
Happy New Year!
Suzanne
http://campingandtravels.blogspot.com
This year will be filled with milestones.
For us, cruising is the next best thing to RVing! We sure hope to be on the road as fulltimers before we hit our 50th anniversary!!
Happy New Year everybody!
-- Edited by wmalefyt at 20:40, 2009-01-02
1. Getting the courage to quit the 9-to-5, sell most of our belonging, and hit the road on July 1st.
2. Visiting Prince Edward Island and Cape Bretton Island
3. Boondocking next to a beautiful, quiet lake near Topsfield, Maine
4. Exploring the carriage roads at Acadia National Park
5. Travelling on the Blue Ridge Parkway
6. Visiting St. Augustine, FL
7. Camping on the beach in Carrabbelle Beach, FL
8. Visiting Big Bend National Park and Carlsbad Caverns National Park
9. Spending Thanksgiving with friends
10. Visiting with old friends and new friends all across the country
11. Being able to share our experiences with family and friends.
See you on the road.
Jim & Dee
We had three standout highlights of 2008: Our first ever RV trip -- 10 days in a rented rig to the Grand Canyon and Zion. We caught the bug -- bad!; the day 7 weeks later when we bought our first-ever, brand spanking new motorhome; and the day this fall when my DH and I looked at each other and declared, "We're going fulltiming next year!"
Gotta love it!
As workampers we did have a bad job the first three months, but that didn't lower our spirits.
We than spend about 1 month near our families in PA.
Leaving there we went to Life on Wheels (which is now out of business), got to meet Gaylord Maxwell (prior to his passing).
We than went to work in MT. for the summer, on the way we went to Badlands NP, Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Custer State Park, drove Spearfish canyon, Devil's Tower.
While in MT. Kathleen's granddaughter was graduating from high school and we went to Seattle/Tacoma area and on the way we spent time in Glacier NP. In the Seattle area we visited the Beoing plant did a tour of the city on a DUCK, and drove around MT. Ranier.
While in MT. we visited Yellowstone NP about 6 times and spend two days in the Grand Teton's, along with touring Virginia City, MT and the Earthquake area in MT. several times.
On the way back east we visited Arches NP, Canyonlands NP, Capital Reef NP, Bryce Canyon NP.
Did a tour on Boulder Dam, went to the Grand Canyon, got our picture taken in Four Corners (while in four states) drove over Wolf Creek Pass.
On the way east we passed the Arch in St. Louis.
We also spent a great week in Celina, OH at the Gypsy Journal Rally and met several RV Dreamers there.
Spent another month with our families in PA. upon leaving there went did Punkin Chunkin in DE.
The last two months we are at a great RV Resort in Avon Park, FL.
We were so blessed this past year, as all of our travels were safe.
February: birth of second grandson, Liam Scott.
May/June timeframe: discovery of RV Dreams website and all the friends thereon.
December 25: Celebration of 40 years of marriage with lovely wife, Jo. (That's right. Got married on Christmas Day so I could buy one gift and two cards. Hee, Hee.)
There could be many more, I'm sure, but this is not the place to bore everyone.