Life On The Road With Niki | RVing solo

  Just off route 17, Florida Scenic Highway, near Dundee Florida is an unusual place where you can visit a railroad built on on old orange grove. Don’t think you can hop right on and travel to Tampa. This railroad is just for enthusiasts who are passionate about miniature trains. The rail line consists of over 7,400 feet of mainline track and and an additional 10,000 feet of sidings. The space between the rails is 7 1/2 inches to give you an idea of its size. Yes, you can actually ride a small train car around the loop. I was lucky enough to attend the Ridge Live Steamers Winter Meet in February. It happens that I know several members of this group so it was a pleasure to attend and be with my friends. I talked to many of the participants, some were from as far away as New York and Colorado. One individual was from Great Britain who is a Florida snowbird. The winter meet lasted for 4 days and trains were running even at night.   Click here to a link to their website Click here...

An Unforgettable Campsite Encounter My fall road trip took an unexpected turn at Anastasia State Park campground near Saint Augustine. While hoping to reconnect with my old fraternity brother Merlin, who was unfortunately out of town, fate intervened. A quick call to Earl, another fraternity brother living nearby, resulted in a warm reunion filled with years of catching up (and meeting his lovely friend Betty!). Back at the campground, serendipity struck again. My neighbor turned out to be Jeremy, an adventurous soul from Vancouver Island, Canada, traveling the US on his motorcycle with a tent for company. You could tell he loved adventure and was taking advantage of a time in his life for a grand trip. As we chatted, the topic of the evening's SpaceX launch came up. Knowing the beach offered a prime viewing spot, I invited Jeremy to join the celestial spectacle. That night, under the inky blackness of a Florida sky, the magic unfolded. The launch of the 70th Falcon 9 of 2023, carr...

  Chanhassen Auto Plex is a private garage condominium complex located in Chanhassen, Minnesota. It is known for its: Private Garage Condominiums: Chanhassen Auto Plex provides car enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to own their own private garage condominium. These garages range in size from 1,200 to 5,000 square feet and offer various amenities, including climate control, lifts, and workshops. Car and Cave Shows: Chanhassen Auto Plex is known for its annual Cars and Caves car shows, which take place on the last Saturday of every month from April to September. These shows showcase a wide variety of classic, collector, and exotic cars, as well as motorcycles. Man Caves: Many of the garage condominiums at Chanhassen Auto Plex feature elaborate "man caves" that are designed to be the ultimate hangout spot for car enthusiasts. These man caves often include features such as home theaters, game rooms, and bars. Events: Chanhassen Auto Plex also hosts a variety of other events t...

Here’s an utter unusual and unexpected place. Retrieving Freedom, Inc. near Sedalia Missouri is a a pleasant surprise. They are a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that trains and places Service Dogs for veterans with disabilities and children with autism nationwide, completely  free of charge to the recipients. Their brand new facility is located just out of town on a stunning property with a lake and hiking trails designed for the physically disabled. They train and have placed over 300 Service Dogs to assist with specific tasks for their clients, such as mobility assistance, seizure alert, and emotional support. In addition volunteers provide loving homes and basic training to future Service Dogs during the first stage of their journey. They partner with colleges, universities, and correctional facilities to provide training opportunities and raise awareness about Service Dogs. In their career development program they hire and train local residents to become Service Animal trai...

  My cousin Bob and his wife Betsy invited me over to play a card game called Hand and Foot with a group of friends he had been playing with for years. I had never heard of the game before, but Bob assured me that it was easy to learn and a lot of fun. When I arrived at Bob's house, I was introduced to the group of players. They were all very friendly and welcoming, even though I was a newbie. Bob took the time to explain the rules of the game to me before we started playing. The game was actually quite simple to learn, and I was able to pick it up quickly. I enjoyed playing the game, but I wasn't very good at it. The other players were much more experienced than me, and by helping me, I was able to win the first hand.  The next day Bob took me to his farm to show me his new Bad Boy brush hog and his new shed to house it.  I was impressed by how well-maintained his farm was. He had mowed the areas around his fields, and it looked like a beautiful park. Bob told me that he...

One of the best things about traveling is having time to visit with friends and family so I was able to have lunch with my step sister Evelyn and my step brother Grif. Evelyn is a retired teacher and horse show judge and Grif trains horses. We don’t get to visit in person too much so it was fun to catch up on our favorite activities.  Cousin Bob knew that I liked antique cars so we went to see his friend JR who had a 1931 Ford that he restored.  Finally before I left I had to pay my respects to my father, mother and my wife Dee who passed away and are buried near Sedalia in a little country cemetery. Niki went with me to pay her respects. She misses her “mommy” too. 

  Sedalia, Missouri is a small town with a lot to offer visitors. It's home to the Missouri State Fairgrounds, which hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the Missouri State Fair, one of the largest agricultural fairs in the country. My grandparents lived nearby and I have many happy childhood memories of attending the fail. If you're planning a trip to Sedalia, I highly recommend camping at the Missouri State Fairgrounds Campground. It's a great place to stay, especially if you're on a budget. The campground has over 300 full hookup sites, all of which are first come, first served. The nightly rate is $35, cash or check only. The campground is located on a gently sloping hill, with thick grass covering all of the sites. I recommend choosing a spot near the top of the slope in case it rains. There is no shade, so in the summertime, you'll need air conditioning. The campground is also within walking distance of the Missouri State Fairgrounds, so it...