NFL Football in Jacksonville

Sunday, Nov. 30, 2014

Pecan Park RV Resort

Jacksonville, Florida

Lecia and Justin took us to the Jacksonville Jaguar vs New York Giants football game at Ever Bank Field in downtown Jacksonville.  This was Becky's first time at an NFL game.

Parking a long way from the field required a bike taxi to take us to the gate.  These guys are tough, pulling 4 people to and from parking lots.

Home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Justin found the ticket brokers and snagged us tickets in the lower tier for a good price. He says the way to do it is to arrive just as the game starts to get the best prices.  Unfortunately he was not able to get 4 seats together so we were seated in two different sections.

We made our way up to our seats.

We were seated just 3 rows up from the field at the south end zone.  A great view to watch the Jaguars come on the field.

The Jaguars enter through smoke, fireworks...

and cheerleaders.

A good closeup view of the players.

After the national anthem..

The mascot zip-lined onto the field from the light tower at the top of the stadium,

for a perfect landing.  Pretty amazing!

Cheerleaders are ready...

and the game begins.

Mascot zipping around the field.  Did we mention what a perfect day it was for a game.  75 degrees and sunshine.

Quarterback for the New York Giants #10 Eli Manning.

Eli Manning

Oops, an injured Giant is taken off the field....

and the action begins again.

 Cheerleaders are more entertaining than commercials on TV.

It was interesting to see the camera crews hustling around the field.  You don't see that on your TV.

The start of the 3rd quarter is not looking too good with Giants 21 and Jaguars 3.  Note the BIG screen to see the game and replays.

Things started getting interesting as Jaguars make a touchdown right in front of us.  It was way cool to watch him running right towards us into the end zone.

The Jaguars pulled off a field goal in the last minute to win the game 25 to 24.  Pretty exciting! We felt proud to be at the second winning game they've had this season.

Our mail did not arrive yesterday so we'll be staying over another day here in Jacksonville to get the mail before we hit the road on Tuesday.

Lonnie and Becky

Thanksgiving in Jacksonville

Thursday, Nov. 27, 2014
Pecan Park RV Resort
Jacksonville, FL

Lonnie and daughter Lecia Vogel.

We arrived in Jacksonville for Thanksgiving with Lonnie's daughter.  We discovered Don and Sharon Del Rosario parked here also, so we spent a day with them at the movies and a dinner while the rain poured down for 24 hours.

Nancy Vogel and Lecia created the cutest turkey napkins for the table.

Turkey Napkins...

and turkey centerpiece out of napkins.

The kids table (those under 45).  Lecia's friend Lisa in the background.

Other guests were Jessica Hodges, Randy Olhausen, and Shane Livensparger.

Lecia and Justin basting the turkey.

Yummm!!!

Justin Vogel with his mother Nancy Vogel.

Our hosts Justin and Lecia Vogel.

Dinner is served.

Stuffing, turkey, mashed potatoes,

Yams, green bean casserole, squash casserole, cranberries and rolls.

The men got cleanup duty while the women sat back and enjoy the fun.

Randy gets beer from Justin while washing dishes.

It was a fun day together of food, football, pie and no one went home hungry.  We hope all of you had an equally delightful day.  We'll be in Jacksonville through the weekend to spend more time with Justin and Lecia by attending Becky's first NFL game on Sunday.  We'll let you know where we go from here when we depart on Monday.

Becky and Lonnie

Jekyll Island, Georgia

Wednesday, Nov. 19-20, 2014

Golden Isles Vacation Resort

Brunswick, GA

JEKYLL ISLAND

It was a short hop today with only 95 miles from Savannah to Brunswick.  We arrived early afternoon and went straight to the Blue Beacon Truck Wash to give the RV a much needed bath before settling into the campground.  Thursday morning we headed over to Jekyll Island on the Georgia coast to find Anne and Archie Chisholm.

There is a great campground where Anne & Archie are camped on the north end of the island with biking trails to all parts of the Island.  We tried to get a spot but they were full.  After visiting with Anne we went for a view of Driftwood Beach... 

 and the bridge to Brunswick.

The island is covered with Live Oak trees draping with spanish moss.  It makes a very relaxing atmosphere along the roads and bike trails.

We stopped into the Georgia Sea Turtle Center to learn more about Sea Turtles.

They have a very informative center on the life of sea turtles from egg to adulthood.  The odds of any of the five different species of sea turtles reaching adulthood are 1 in 4000.

The Center is also a Turtle hospital that takes in injured and sick turtles until they are ready to be released.

This one had a severely cracked shell and will be there for a year or so, as they work to heal the shell, or carapace, before releasing it back into the wild.  Many are injured by boats and cars.

After lunch we headed the Jekyll Island Museum to book a tour of the historical area.  In the beginning Jekyll Island was a plantation but in 1886 it was sold to the Jekyll Island Club as hunting and recreational club for $125,000. Jekyll Island Clubhouse was completed in 1888.  The Club thrived through the early 20th century with limited membership consisting of many of the world's wealthiest families at the time, most notably JP Morgan, William Rockefeller, Chas. Crane and William Vanderbilt, who had their own "cottages" built to reside in fir the winter season. 

San Souci, an early condominium complex, built in 1896, contains only 6 apartments.  

Courtyard at the Clubhouse that is now a hotel.  They were busy putting Christmas touches on everything.

duBignon Cottage

Moss Cottage, which we toured the inside.  They have restored it to it's 1900's splendor.

Back of the Moss Cottage.  

Cherokee built in 1904.

Indian Mound was the home of the Rockefeller's who liked to visit with 9 grandchildren.

Mr. & Mrs. William Rockefeller presided over this lovely cottage, located directly across from the Clubhouse.  Purchasing the cottage in 1905, the Rockefellers began to make numerous alterations and renovations to their new winter home.  It was completed for their stay for the 1917 season.

Indian Mound porch.

View from Indian Mound of the Clubhouse.

These little battery powered cars were a favorite of the residents for recreation.  Even the women were encouraged to hunt, ride and camp.  When the club started out, a gamekeeper was hired to keep the island well stocked with pheasants, turkey, quail and deer.  All members were to report daily what they had killed and turn it over to the club.  Wild game was a common sight on the menu of the clubhouse.  A taxidermist shop was located within the club compound, specifically for mounting the prize game.

Crochet is still played on the lawn of the Clubhouse in the afternoons.  Golf eventually took over in the 1920's, an ocean side course was built.  A portion of this historical golf course is still intact, and can be played.

This was the first telephone installed on the island for the residents.

Goodyear built in 1906 in the early Mediterranean revival style.  You can rent rooms here to stay on the Island.

Villa Ospo built in 1927

Crane Cottage built in 1918 had a beautiful fountain in the front.

Villa Marrianna built in 1929

Faith Chapel built in 1918...

has beautiful stain glass windows but we didn't get to tour inside the Chapel.

The gargoyle downspouts were cool.

Dormitory quarters for servants and employees that worked at the Club.

The Great Depression in 1929 caused great changes on Jekyll Island.  Membership dropped slowly through the 1930's as the depression continued.  1942 was the last season as workers went into WWII.  In 1946 the state of Georgia entered the picture and purchased the island through a condemnation order for $675,000 and turned it into a public resort.  It was made a historical landmark in 1978 and is currently operates as the Jekyll Island Club Hotel.  Anne and Archie loved their week

stay and said they might come back for an entire winter in the future.

Friday, Nov. 21, 2014

HERITAGE OAKS GOLF COURSE

The weather was getting warmer (65 degrees) so Anne, Archie, and Becky scheduled a golf game in the afternoon.

It was only $15 for a cart and 9 holes of golf, what a deal!

Lonnie came along to drive the golf cart...

and we had a great time in the sunshine.

We are off to Jacksonville, FL tomorrow to visit Lonnie's daughter Lecia and spend Thanksgiving with them.

Lonnie and Becky