FMCA Convention Perry GA

Heading north from Valdosta we arrived at Perry GA for the Family Motor Coach Association national convention. There were about 3,000 coaches in attendance.

At this event we looked at new motor homes and actually test drove a 37 ft. Tiffin Allegro Bus which we saw as a possible lateral move from our present coach. However, although the interior is modern and attractive, we found the quality of the cabinetry and interior woodwork, fasteners and fixtures not a match for our Country Coach. The coach drove well, but did not have as solid a feel as Country Coach. We also enjoyed seeing all the coach vendors in attendance, and attended several educational seminars..

The association hosts entertainment in the evenings. One of the headliner groups we heard was the Texas Tenors, winners of “America’s Got Talent.” We sat with friends Jack and Mary Lou, who had seen them perform before and knew that at one point in the show performer Marcus Collins would circulate in the audience, put his arm around people, and talk to them. It was Mary Lou’s dream to be so selected. When the time came in the show, George came up with a plan to make it happen. When Marcus got near, George shined a powerful LED flashlight in Mary Lou’s face like a spotlight. Marcus took the bait and went straight for her. George also managed to get the famous photo with his smart phone.

                

                                       

             

The Azalea City Trail

We made a stop at Valdosta to visit Irene’s niece and her girls, but they were sick. So, we spent the afternoon checking out Valdosta’s recreational trail. The trail runs SW to NE.and is generally located in the Valdosta State University area. It is quite convoluted with many turns and sometimes use of sidewalks. We started at the SW end in a residential area. The trail then follows a creek to the VSU campus and runs along the north side of Sunset Hill Cemetery and Drexel Park. It then crosses N. Ashley Street and ends just the other side of Vallotton Park, a total distance just short of 3 miles.

             

           

Back to Jacksonville

We retraced I-10 all the way back to Jacksonville from Pensacola. There we attended a joint Country Coach International/Southeast Country Coachers rally.

One day we biked the Jacksonville-Baldwin trail with friends Jack and Mary Lou.

              

            

After the ride Irene and George went downtown to ride the water front trail.

              

             

George was pleased to see some train action.

            

            

Pensacola

From the Florida Grande we headed to Pensacola to take Irene to a flower show judges’ symposium for additional training and accreditation.
While there we took the opportunity to visit the excellent naval air museum located at the Pensacola Naval Air Station. We called upon the museum director, Captain Bob Rasmussen, and thanked him for the statue of Admiral John Towers that he did for Rome.
Captain Rasmussen is a former Blue Angels pilot who is also an accomplished artist. He made a statute of Admiral John Towers for the City of Rome.  Below is a picture of Captain Rasmussen:
           
 

                                 


Admiral Towers, a native of Rome, was a pioneer of Naval aviation.
Admiral Towers Plaza in Rome:
            
Admiral Towers proposed and planned the first air crossing of the Atlantic with intermediate stops during WW I. He commanded a flotilla of three Curtiss NC flying boats, and we saw his NC-4 at the museum.
            
                          
                                                        "Touchable" Display

                       

Strawberry Festival at Floral City

Moving north from Lakeland we visited our friends Wilson and Delores who have a “pad” at the Florida Grande Resort in central Florida at Webster. This was our base for a visit to the Withlacoochee Trail.

          

From Webster we headed west to Floral City. We parked north of town at Fort Cooper State Park and rode south to Floral city and had an obligatory lunch at the Shamrock Inn.

                

Then we continued south on the Withlacoochee Trail for a visit to the local strawberry festival.

                 

              

Unfortunately, though a staunch member of Funnel Cakes Anonymous, George fell off the wagon again.