Bill's Oklahoma City Tour

RIVERSPORT Rapids, Oklahoma City’s new $45.2 million whitewater rafting and kayaking center just opened in early May.  The Road to Rio continued in Oklahoma City at the newly constructed RIVERSPORT Rapids whitewater rafting & kayaking center on May 7-8, 2016. The best whitewater slalom athletes in the nation  positioned themselves for a spot on the 2016 U.S. Olympic Team.

The Boathouse District is located adjacent to downtown Oklahoma City and the Bricktown entertainment district.

The Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark is located in the vibrant Bricktown District immediately east of downtown Oklahoma City. 

At the center is statue of Johnny Bench, baseball Hall of Fame catcher.....

Catch a carriage ride from Bricktown Ballpark...

One of the Oklahoma City's most notable destinations, the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum stands as a celebrated example of a living monument to honor those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever by the April 19, 1995, bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

The Outdoor Symbolic Memorial includes the Field of Empty Chairs with each chair honoring one of the 168 people who were killed, which you can see on the left in the distance.

Construction is underway on 21c Museum Hotels’ redevelopment of downtown Oklahoma City’s historic Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant. The nearly 100-year-old, four story brick building was built by Henry Ford as a Model T assembly plant. 

The Oklahoma City Ford Motor Company Assembly Plant , a four-story brick structure in downtown Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Opened in 1916 by the Ford Motor Company as a Model T manufacturing facility, it was one of 24 such plants built by Ford between 1910 and 1915.

Visit with Nancy and Bill in Oklahoma City

Nancy, my teaching buddy, from my days in Okinawa with Dept of Defense Schools came to the campground to pick us up and chauffeur us around OKC. In the back ground Nancy's newest baby, her sporty Mercedes.

Nancy and Bill took us to the famous Earl's Rib Palace for dinner. 

Born and bred in OKC, Earl’s Rib Palace has been the definition of Oklahoma BBQ since 1996. The BBQ is based on the recipes of Earlywine "Earl" Jackson. Earl’s most famous admirer was none other than The King (Elvis) himself. Earl took great pride in the fact that while traveling as The King’s personal chef, the rock-n-roller gained over 50 pounds. Earl considered it his greatest life’s work!

Nancy had the world famous ribs and Jan had what is pictured below....large load baked potato, with chopped brisket. 

COE Old Post Campground in Russellville, AR on Lake Dardanelle

We took a 2 day break in our trip West and stayed at a very nice Army Corps of Engineers campground on the shores of Lake Dardanelle near Russellville, AR.  Our site backed up to Lake Dardanelle and was a beautiful quit location.

View from the overlook above the Arkansas River Visitor Center....

Scenes from the Arkansa River Visitor Center, which is located near the midpoint of the 450 mile McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation system.

For thousands of years, the Arkansas River Valley served as a bountiful homeland for America's only true natives, the American Indians.

Georgia WIT Rally 2016 Brunswick, GA

GA State Winnebago Rally held at Coastal GA RV Resort right off I 95.

The resort has a wonderful open air pavilion where all the meals and meetings were held.

Jan waiting in line for dinner.....

Tuco and Jan in "Dog Parade".  Tuco won "Best Behaved"

The dog "Stella", she knew tricks...

The theme of the rally was "A Pirate's Life For Me". This was Friday nights costume contest.

Auction with a chance to buy anything including the kitchen sink!!!

After the rally we are heading WEST to Grand Lake and the Rocky Mountains! And hopefully cooler temperatures...we were at 94 degrees Friday!    Westward Ho!

Brunswick, GA, Lunch and Sightseeing

Patti, Doug, Jan and Ted enjoyed lunch at the highly recommended "Indigo Coastal Shanty" in downtown Brunswick, GA.

(above) Historic Brunswick City Hall and (below) the famous "Lover's Oak" in old town Brunswick.

Our 2nd lunch out was at "Bubba Jax Crab Shack" where we had another topnotch meal. 

Block Party 83rd Loop & 86 Court Rd in "On Top of the World" Community, Ocala, FL

It was our neighborhood's 1st get together and it was a great success..

Thanks to the social committee for planning the event. It was so nice to meet and mingle with our new neighbors.

Everyone was to bring  "munchies to share"...there was so much great food no one need to eat dinner Tuesday night.

ABBA Sung by "Arrival from Sweden"

Another SOLD OUT show at Circle Square Cultural Center at "On Top of the World Communities" in Ocala, FL.

"Waterloo" ABBA's first single hit performed by the group Arrival from Sweden on May 6th, 2016.

The song won ABBA the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest on 6 April and began their path to worldwide fame.

 ARRIVAL From Sweden is one of the world’s most popular and bestselling ABBA show bands and since the start in 1995, the production has toured 48 nations and appeared in several TV – and radio shows all over the world.

"The Music of ABBA" with Arrival from Sweden

"“Arrival did not disappoint, playing all of the legendary group’s biggest hits well into the night. It was a time warp of the most entertaining kind — they looked like ABBA, they sounded like ABBA, they dressed like ABBA, for all intents and purposes, they were ABBA.”"

Before the concert Jan and Ted went to the Candler Hills Club for a pre-show dinner.

Right outside the window next to us a rabbit was enjoying flower banquet...

"Circle Square", next to the Cultural Center, was busy with pre-show activity...

Fused Glass with Terry Andrews at "Master the Possibilities"

Terry Andrews is a native Floridian from the Tampa area, Terry Andrews pursued a career in music through 1994. Always having an interest in glass, he began to dabble with the medium first through blown glass and lamp work glass, creating large, flat and carved glass sculptures. His most recent work has evolved to include the use of copper and fused glass. The fusing happens in a kiln, then the fused pieces are used as accents on the formed, cut and welded copper structures. Some are decorated with lamp work glass to create more whimsical treasures.

Work station at the Master the Possibilities studio...

Jan's beginning fused glass class work using stack method. Above are unfired pieces and below are pieces after firing...coasters, yard stake, and slumped spoon holder

Intermediate pieces made with bullseye and dichroic glass include yard stake, jewelry pieces, and coaster set.

Fused glass is glass that has been fired (heat-processed) in a kiln at a range of high temperatures from 593 °C (1,099 °F) to 816 °C (1,501 °F).