Sea Life at Jekyll Island

A crab the kids thought was dead...he wasn't, but he was still cool to play with.
A Horseshoe Crab...it really was dead. The crab that are left stranded on the beach when the tide goes out are at the mercy of the birds. The birds will roll the crabs over and eat their legs. Apparently they enjoy crab legs too. Everything else on the crab is left in tact. We did not get to see a living Horseshoe Crab- although Jay did trip over one while trying to video tape the dolpin you see below.
A beautiful dolphin just off the shore. It swam along side the kids and did some fishing while we attempted to get some good pictures and video tape it.
This was about as close at it got...only about 10ft off shore...it was very cool!

Sights at Jekyll Island

The Keyhole Sand Dollar-the first we have found.
The top of a boat...we assume it sank and was buried by the sand in a hurricane.
One of the larger sand crabs at the beach-we saw hundreds of tiny ones.

At one point there were so many it look like the beach was moving...kinda freaked some of the Hohn's out!
A shot of the vegetation at the beach.

Jekyll Island

Entering into Jekyll Island +27 Novermber 26th
Shrimping Boats trolling along the shore.
Shrimping People trolling even closer to the shore.
The Hohn kids saving mullet that were caught in the shrimp net - they had to hurry to save them before the sea gulls ate the fish.

Day 100 an We's Still in the South

We all want to get a few things off our chests ‘fore we get started with the Bloggin’. We reckon that them folks ‘round here don’t speak funny anymore ‘cause we’s soundin’ jus’ like’m.

A big ole YeeHaa goes out the Roughriders and their fans on winnin’ that big ole’ Grey Cup- that’s mighty fine playin’ with the pigskin! Pretty handy, Jay’s just ‘bout as handy at rustlin’ up grup fer supper- reason I say just ‘bout is ‘cause we been havin’ to make do with possum lately and I reckon it’s not the kind been bought at the grocery store. Other than the possum-we been eaten mighty fine down here. Why -it wuz jus’ the other evenin’ when we had ourselves a nice helpin’ of the best darn Pecan Pie you ever did taste. Mmm Mmmm. We also been startin’ our day with the kind porridge our mama’s did make – Grits! Aint nobody eatin’ southern food ‘til you done did eat Grits.

If any of ya’ll wanna visit- we’ll offer the same hospitality that we dun offered the French’s (Happy Birthday Curtis!) if you can make it. We'll all be there waitin’ and whip up a big heapin' of grits for ya'll! Jay thinks that the south is startin' to have an effect on us. I dun know ‘bout that, but I do know fer sure that we's all going to the flea market today to git Kass a new dress to wear for church next Sunday. Jimmey-John Mathews is gonna be there and he sure is sweet on Kass. Ya'll know that Kass is nearly 10 and half and soon be ready for marryin' off. Jimmey-John is a great catch an all to, he has a great worm farm that his daddy done did leave him and he is fixin' for a misses to help him tend it.

Well…best be gettin’ and ya’ll don’t worry none…as my friend Billy-Bob said at the last campground…

“We ain’t country, we just look that way!” Gawsh, sounds like that there poetry dudn’t it??? Ya’ll feel free to look at them there pictures we posted of Jay lookin’ fer sum food and don’t even bother askin’ ‘bout the one of the kids in the Laundromat, but they sure did have sore necks the next mornin’ . We's jus funnin’ ya’ ll!

Various Photos

The Best of the First 100 days!

…according to Triana, Kassidy, and Ryley.

Triana: “My favorite thing on the trip so far is everything to with the ocean, the sea animals, and the water. We saw dolphins, whales, and seals. It was really cool. I really like the water. Another one of my favorite things was Niagara Falls-it was cool too!”

Kassidy: “Today is the 100th day on our trip and my favorite part was EVERYTHING! My favorite, favorite thing was the ocean, although I am scared to death of water that has sharks in it. Even though I am scared I went into the ocean up to my waist. I love seeing dolphins, seals, and whales. I love the waves, building sand castles, and playing with our beach dolphins in the water. I love the water!”

Ryley: “The thing that I have enjoyed the most in the first 100 days of our trip is…………………
…………………………………………..I’m thinkin, I’m thinkin…………………………………………..Oh, I know! It is when we stay in Wal¤Mart! Just Kiddin’- got ya didn’t I? It’s actually the ocean and the beaches. I love going to the beach, looking out into the ocean and seeing just water! It’s amazing! And the waves, I love going waist deep in the water and trying to jump higher than the waves. One time, we even brought an inflatable boat/raft out into the water and surfed the waves. It was pretty cool…except when I fell out. That was not good."

Mom & Dad: “No reason to go to Disney World now…we’ll just go to the beach instead!”

Triana's Wild Ride

What We Have Learned

We have begun to realize some of the many benefits to living in a traveling home that is less than 200 square feet. You can hear a mosquito from any point of the trailer although it does not make it easier to kill it. Living in a small space also makes us realize there are so many things that we really do not need-not to say that we don’t look forward to a larger home again, but it sure is easy to sweep and wash the floor ~ takes 10 minutes – tops.

While sitting at the table Jay has the ability to easily reach the fridge, stove, and sink.
We never have to raise our voices to speak to anyone in the family…from any point in the trailer...unless of course there is “reason” to raise our voice.
We can also use one small electric space heater to heat our entire home to a toasty 23 degrees even when it is near 0 outside. In a pinch making muffins will also increase the temperature to about 28 degrees (that’s not always popular with the family though).
We can always hear the kids if they get up in the night (there will be no sneaking out in our house) and if they think have to get sick in the night they are less than 20 steps away.

Other things we have learned…
· Ryley prefers that Triana not sleep on the top bunk when she feels sick.
· No one makes fun of you (to your face) when you set up a clothes line beneath your awning.
· You really can go many days without having to do laundry
· It is NEVER too cold to go outside to use the computer – if there is Internet access outside.
· It is VERY difficult to have a bath in the trailer bath tub- seriously…who do they make those tubs for? Toddlers?
· Everything is funny to us!
· You can fit 5 good size Hohn’s on one small couch for family movie night (we don’t believe in personal space anymore)
· You don’t need a 52” television…one good little 13” is just fine!
· The kids can enjoy playing in one 4’X 3’ tent –with no complaints.
· We never have to worry about issues with neigbours-they either leave or pass away before there are any serious issues.
· Listening to Surius Satellite radio you can hear the same songs for months at a time! Anyone else sick of Umbrella?
· It is always better to go to the outhouse in “teams”.
· There is no such thing as too burnt when Jay has barbequed.
· Kids just do not appreciate the beauty (and convenience) of camping in Wal-Mart parking lots.
· Kids can get sick of “browsing” the toy aisle in Wal-Mart.
· Great Grandma Hohn is still hoping that we come home by Christmas.

Where We Are

November 12, 2007
Today we leave South Carolina, but before we move on we are going to stop by Bluffton. It is such a great community in Alberta – we hope it is the same in Carolina. Yesterday we visited the Magnolia Plantation. It was magnificent in beauty and certainly has a truly southern history. The plantation was built in 1676, grew Carolina Gold Rice and it still owned by the same family. Magnificent Oaks trees covered in Spanish Moss line the 500 acres and the property is filled with beautiful gardens and “crawling” wildlife …many birds, turtles, Banana Spiders (check them out on the Internet), and our favorite- the American Alligator- we saw 4 of them! We also had the opportunity to listen to an interpretive history of the slaves that were owned by the family. It was interesting that there is still a faint rationalization of slavery. Needless to say, the presentation was a great conversation starter in our house. One comment to note was, “The slaves of the Magnolia Plantation were better off than poor white folk”. We recently started a thematic unit on Slavery and we are all learning a lot.


Myrtle Beach was also a great destination and we enjoyed a lot of time on the beach. (The trailer has the sand to prove it!) People always know we are from Canada because we are the only ones (crazy enough) to go into the ocean in November!


We are currently looking for a hotshot service to deliver Ryley’s contacts. Jay’s parents are unable to visit us and bring his eye wear before Christmas - (darn them for being so good at their job)! We are still hoping to see them after Christmas. Passport – Leo???? Anyway- if anyone is interested-just let us know. Kendra- get a job and start savin!

The South with an Accent

Art at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Along the Way Photos

On the Move!

Nov 3rd, 2007
A BIG Happy Birthday to Grannie and MacKenzie!!!

We are currently feeling a little sorry for ourselves because as hard as we try to have fun-it is IMPOSSIBLE to not be learning everywhere we go. The kids hate it! We learned that upstate New York is full of quaint rural towns, family farms, and completed with beautiful rolling mountains. Pennsylvania is equally beautiful and rich with history (Jay and I are pretty certain it is info we were already “suppose” to know). It is the birthplace of the United States, the battleground of the final civil war battle in Gettysburg, and home to the model town of Hershey built by chocolate legend Milton Hershey. Mr. Hershey was a man who did a lot of good in the world…and it wasn’t only because he made chocolate bars! Jay was able to find a very happy place at the Chocolate Factory (see photo). We also learned that PA has some interesting names for its’ towns-I won’t mention them because it is a family blog (quick get your maps and look!)


As I write the blog we have just passed into Maryland and Jay has begun to curse a bit (not without just cause). He pulled off the Interstate to fuel up only to find the ONLY gas station in town closed...forever. We now find ourselves passing through a lovely little town (toward the countryside) with no place to turn around the truck and trailer. NOPE~I stand corrected! Jay turned the “rig” around in the middle of the road –SUCCESSFULLY! We are getting back on track and Jay is no longer cursing. It’s times like these when I practice my being a “quiet passenger” role.

The Past Few Days

Tuesday, October 30th, 2007
Time to Move On!

It is sneaking down around freezing these days. We have been holding out trying to stay near Salem, Massachusetts for Halloween. The site of the 1692 Witch Burnings is a perfect place to be entertained and scared at this time of year. We visited Salem today-one day early…as we learned there is no “appropriate” ticker treating in Salem on the 31st.

Along with our visit to Salem we enjoyed a haunted hayride a few nights ago as part of a local school fundraiser. Jay was put in charge of the safety of the wagon full of people…what were they thinking??? What was his weapon of defense against the crazy woods people you ask? A single can of silly string…hmmm. We lost a few children along the one, but we are happy to say that none of them belonged to us and no parents seemed concerned (must have been bad kids). Ryley, Kassidy, Triana and Allison (our campground friend) took part in the costume contest and entered their pumpkins in a carving contest. We are happy and a proud to announce that Ryley won for “scariest” costume- see attached picture (no that’s not his real face!). Ryley and Kassidy also won the pumpkin carving contest and as tourists in the community –they came away with 3 - $20.00 gift certificates to the movie theatre. Guess who is taking us to the movies?

October 31st, 2007

Halloween evening we tricker treated in Nottingham---how great! The campground owner and her daughter took us around- it was pretty fun! They have assigned times that kids can collect candy in each community. They also have two different days that they could give out candy...example the 30th in Barrington from 5-7 pm, Northwood (where we were staying) was the 31st 5-8pm and Nottingham was 31st 5-7pm. How weird is that??? Anyway...it was great!

Friday, November 2, 2007

We stay in a Wal-mart parking lot last night in NEW YORK! No...not the city- the state. It's safer than you think! We are moving toward Washington, DC and still liking the beautiful fall days!

Have a great weekend everyone!

The Hohn's