Began our East Coast trip on Jun 18, 2014. Leg one was Atlanta, GA to visit with Michele, Chad and Juli. Could not believe it had been 2 years since the last visit with them! Now that we are retired, our visits will be more frequent. Enjoying a lot of Chad’s cooking, watching the World Cup Games, relaxing and doing some gardening. It’s a great visit and everyone is doing well.

After 6 days in Ga. we headed for NJ where we spent 3 days with my sister, Connie and her husband Bob. The weather was outstanding – yes in NJ it was beautiful! We even made it to Seaside Heights – our favorite hangout on the Jersey Shore. No humidity, no frizzy hair, I consider that good weather. We were able to see our cousin Michael and his wife Marilyn – good food, good visit.

Next stop Cranford, NJ where we stayed with my brother Jimmy and his wife Cindy. Yankee baseball game at Yankee Stadium on Sat. 7th row behind home plate with our Japanese friends and another Yankee game on Sun. 24 row 3rd base where the Jeter shots were awesome. My brother caught a foul ball by Brett Gardner and he gave it to me! Was I happy? Oh yeah – we had a blast. Even got to see my niece Sarah – what a doll!

Took mom to lunch with Uncle Gil and we had a very nice visit. Mom was in good spirits and was singing to us in Italian – yeah it was a great day! When mom is happy, we are happy, she’s doing well at 90 years old.Next leg Pittsboro, NC where we spent the night with Judy and Bob Jackson. Judy introduced Jim and I and I have to say that was a very good move on her part – after 45 years of togetherness:) we are still enjoying each other and life in general! Travels are great and life is good.

A few photos from our trip so far.

South Carolina Segment

A fantastic visit with Jim’s sister and family, Janet, Clay, Leslie, Rick and Ryker in upper South Carolina near Greenville! All are doing well and the visit was so much fun. Janet and Clay’s home is beautiful and on a gorgeous piece of property. Leslie and Rick also have a nice home with great landscaping and a most productive garden. We did a little shooting, learned a few more techniques from Clay and totally improved my shooting pattern. WOW it was amazing! Clay and I did some Italian cooking together and basically we are eating our way through SC as we did GA – time for a serious diet!

Got to see Niece Leslie, Rick and their son Ryker. It really was a good visit.

The weather has been unbelievably beautiful the whole trip. We expected hot and humid but it’s been dryer and not as hot – so it’s been tolerable.

Headed to Charleston for 2 days, staying at a beautiful Southern B&B with Chad and Juli on Broad Street in downtown Charleston just blocks from the harbor.

Our two days in downtown Charleston with Chad and Juli were wonderful. Stayed at an historic inn (B&B) that is just beautiful. Walked in town, down to the Battery where the old, new and very large homes sit just off the water in Historic Charleston, famous for trade and the first shot fired in the Civil War.

Left on Saturday to visit with our friends from NH who are now residing in Charleston, West of the Ashley River as they say here. Dick and Lucia live in a beautiful new Charleston style home. Great to visit with them and of course it seemed like we were never apart, just like old times! Lucky for them, their daughter Alexis lives nearby so we got to see her as well.

Next stop Isle of Palms where we joined Chad and Juli for the Abbott family reunion (Juli’s family.) 24 people in 2 large beach houses where cooking was shared, tours were taken, tons of swimming in the ocean and lots of relaxing. It was nice catching up with the family members we know and nice to meet the ones we didn’t know. It was a wonderful time and now we are back in GA staying at Chad and Juli’s home and visiting and caring for the kitties until Chad and Juli come home tomorrow.

Had a good visit with Jim’s brother Mark and his wife Jeanette, went to dinner and caught up on what has happened over the last couple of years.

Jim, Fran, Jeanette and Mark in Summerville, SC

After this it was back to Atlanta to stay with the kids for the last of the east coast trip. Finished up the yard work at Michele’s so her yard looks all spiffy now. Went to dinner the last night of our stay in Atlanta and here are a few more photos.

Michele and Mom

Back in Tucson tying up a few loose ends for our Germany / Italy trip which begins 18 August. Please continue to follow us in our travels and feel free to comment along the way! I hope you enjoy the blog!