Linda's Blog

Flower Show

2010-03-09T12:12:00.000-08:00

Welcome to 2010!!!

I know that it has been some time since I have written anything on this Blog! I trust all of you are as glad as I am that all the snowy weather is behind us and Spring is just around the corner!!! YAHOO!!! If you do not have one of our 2010 tour books, please give us a call and we will be glad to send one to you.

As most of you know, I attend the School of Hard Knocks!! The school colors are Black and Blue and I would like to think that I will graduate with a degree in Common Sense. However, I have also learned that I am a "Lifelong Learner" which means that I will always, always, always have something to learn from what happens to me on my adventure as I travel this road of life!

I cannot believe that March is here already! Last Monday & Tuesday we had our first trips for 2010 and we went to the Philadelphia Flower Show. Fortunately the weather was good for both days – I thanked the Lord for giving us great weather. [Last year we had snow to deal with on the Monday trip.]

Our first stop was at the Entenmanns Bakery in Exton. It is always a great stop there to shop and see all the folks come out with their bags of goodies! They have fantastic prices and a wide selection of things to buy. [Elite Coach usually puts in a request that we bring back some goodies for their office!] Then we were on our way to the King of Prussia mall to get our noon meal and browse through the stores. We had found out that there was going to be a traveling Norman Rockwell display there at the mall so I checked it out on Monday - it was fabulous!!! It only cost $5.00 to go through – I told the folks that it was the best $5.00 I had spent in a long time. Since I had checked it out on Monday I was able to recommend it to the folks on Tuesday. Quite a few of the folks on both days did go through and enjoyed it immensely.

Then we were off to the Flower Show at the Convention Center. The theme this year was “Passport To The World.” The displays were fabulous. You have to understand that I have no creative genes – no green thumb whatsoever! There were so many different ideas and creations and they were all fantastic. Our schedule had us arriving at the Flower Show around 2:15 PM and that works well because the people that were there since early that day were tired and started to head home! Crowds are smaller in the late afternoon and early evening. We were there until 7:15 PM and then headed home.

Both days were great and seeing all the beauty of the show once again reminded me of how awesome God is to create all that beauty for us to enjoy. Again, how anyone could go to the Flower Show and come away with no belief in God – I will never be able to understand that. It was a fantastic day and we already know the dates we will be going next year – Monday, March 7 and Tuesday, March 8, 2011.

Happy Spring!
Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

Eastern Quartet Convention

2009-11-06T08:22:00.000-08:00

This was the 11th year we have attended the Eastern Quartet Convention, but this was the first year it was held at the Hidden Valley Resort near Somerset, PA. It was a fantastic weekend: a beautiful location, inspiring gospel music, delicious food and an absolutely bunch of fantastic and flexible Fun Time Tourists!!!! Quite a few of the group have been along with us year after year but we also had some folks who were along for the very first time.

We enjoyed a buffet meal before arriving at the Hidden Valley Resort. The first concert was Friday evening, where we heard about ten different quartet groups plus other singers. This was a great show that started off our amazing weekend! Now let me tell you ...... the weather was not the best but since all of our events were being held indoors, the weather did not bother us at all!!!

Saturday morning our Fun Time Tours group had breakfast together and Barry Shirk (formerly of the Higher Ground Trio) had a mini-concert for us. One of the couples was celebrating their 64th wedding anniversary and two of the fellas were celebrating birthdays. It was a wonderful time and we all encouraged Barry to make a CD with some of the songs he sang for us.

Another treat for us was a trio made up of Barry, Jeff (from Valor III) and Mike (from Forgiven). They sang, "I Bowed On My Knees And Cried Holy" and it was outstanding!! Their voices blended very well and we were glad that Jeff and Mike agreed to come and sing with Barry! In addition to the beautiful music, the dining room where we were being entertained had large windows the whole way around and it gave us a beautiful view of the ski slopes and surrounding areas of the resort.

Saturday afternoon we enjoyed a Quartet Extravaganza where we heard more singing by groups that were quartets - there is just something about 4-part harmony!! After some free time in the afternoon we attended the grand finale that evening, which brought to a close our fantastic musical weekend.

Sunday morning as the luggage was loaded and we were ready to leave Hidden Valley, it was overcast and a chilly 32 degrees! We enjoyed the fall colors as we headed for home. When we stopped for our noon meal in Breezewood, it was sunny and 50 degrees!!! It was amazing how the weather changed in such a short time. We enjoyed nice weather the rest of the way home and arrived back in Lancaster in the late afternoon.

We are looking forward to returning to Hidden Valley Resort next year for the Eastern Quartet Convention being held there again in October. We were very impressed with the staff at the Resort because they were very nice and friendly and went out of their way to accommodate all of us. It was great to have Barry travel on the bus with our folks and we thank him for sharing his gift of music with us.

Linda
"Fun Time Sunshine"

Autumn in Coastal Maine

2009-10-02T12:26:00.000-07:00

September 22 - 26, 2009

I am going to do my best to describe this fabulous 5-day trip during which we saw many sights in Coastal Maine!

We left on Tuesday, September 22nd, and ended our travel day in Woburn, Massachusetts. The next morning we entered Maine!!! It was a gorgeous and sunny day. We began our visit to the "Pine Tree State" with a stop at the Maine Welcome Center. Then we browsed through the amazing Lighthouse Depot. If you want anything to do with lighthouses, and could not find it at this shop, then you would not find it anywhere! At Len Libby Chocolates we saw “Lenny,” the world's only life-size chocolate moose!

We then visited the Portland Headlight which provided many wonderful picture-taking opportunities. What a gorgeous place to enjoy God's awesome creation. While at this lighthouse I met Tim Janis who is a composer, musician, conductor and arranger. Tim is a young man who has traveled all over the world sharing his inspirational music that he feels can heal and bring peace. We watched one of Tim's DVD's later on our trip and I have been enjoying listening to his CD's.

Wednesday afternoon we visited the DeLorme headquarters which featured “Eartha.” It holds the title of "The World's Largest Rotating Globe." It is a 3-dimensional scale model of earth as seen from space, and was amazing to see our planet displayed this way.

We then headed for the Maine Maritime Museum where we were able to explore Maine's maritime heritage and culture. We also saw a life-sized sculptural representation of the largest wooden sailing vessel ever built. After checking into our hotel in Brunswick, we headed into the downtown area to eat dinner. As I was walking down the street with one of the couples along on the tour, we met another couple. We talked for a few minutes and found out that they were from Lancaster! They continued to explain that they live near Calvary Fellowship Homes, and I told them that my mom lived at Calvary Homes! They asked my mom’s name, and when I told them they said that they have known her for years! What are the chances??? It also turned out that the woman’s brother had sung in a quartet with my dad, and knew me when I was just a baby. Needless to say, it was an amazing evening and I couldn't wait to tell my mom what had happened!

Later that evening, the Amish girls who were traveling with us told me that they had searched all night for some ice cream and couldn’t find any. So I surprised them by stopping at a McDonald's on the way back to the hotel! Then Ralph surprised all of us by announcing that he would pay for anyone who wanted ice cream because he was celebrating his 85th birthday! Thank you Ralph!

Thursday morning we visited Windsor Chairmakers where we watched the craftsmen making their furniture. We enjoyed their showrooms, where we saw beautiful tables, chairs, beds, stools, and benches.

One of the most-loved views on the Maine coast is from the summit of Mount Battie. Today we were especially thankful that the Lord blessed us with another gorgeous day, since were able to enjoy an outstanding panoramic view of the Penobscot Bay and the town of Camden. Our next stop was at the State of Maine Cheese Company nestled in the heart of Mid-coast Maine. Here they have been hand-crafting fine cheeses from local farms for over 25 years. We took a tour of their production area, and then sampled some of their cheeses in the store.

Afterwards, we headed for Rockland where we had some time for shopping and to get our own lunch. Rockland is a picturesque harbor town and has been named as one of "The 100 Best Small Towns in America." We enjoyed our time here, and then headed to the Maine State Prison Showroom, which is the largest retailer of over 600 unique handcrafted products put together by local Maine inmates.
We then returned to Rockland where we boarded the restored vintage railcars of the Maine Eastern Railroad for our relaxing ride through the spectacular scenery of mid-coast Maine. We enjoyed wonderful foliage as we went past the towns of Wiscasset & Bath on our way back to Brunswick. Our bus met us and we headed to the restaurant for our delicious evening dinner before returning to the Motel for our night's lodging.

Friday morning we were going to visit the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, which is the largest botanical garden in New England. The knowledgeable tour guides gave us a wonderful overview of these magnificent gardens. Along with the gorgeous flowers were unique wildlife sculptures made from recycled industrial salvage - such as deer, elk, wolves, fox, and porcupine. We also had lunch in their lovely Garden Cafe as we looked out at the gorgeous surroundings. We then headed to Boothbay Harbor for our 2 1/2 hour scenic nature boat cruise. It was an absolutely sunny and beautiful afternoon as we enjoyed the many sights pointed out to us by our captain. One of my favorites was the majestic Pemaquid Point Lighthouse that has been photographed by countless visitors.
After our cruise we had time to browse in some of the quaint shops there at the waterfront before leaving that area. Our destination for our evening dinner and overnight accommodations was Portsmouth, New Hampshire.

It was hard to believe it was Saturday already but that meant this was the last day of our trip. On our way home we stopped to visit The New England Carousel Museum in Bristol, Connecticut, which houses one of the largest collections of antique carousel pieces in the country. Our very knowledgeable tour guide told us about the history of these beautiful hand-carved animals. Also at this stop was a Museum of Fire History where a gentleman donated his fire equipment and memorabilia to create this splendid collection. We then continued homeward bound, enjoying a delicious evening dinner before returning to Lancaster & Ephrata.

The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather, delightful traveling companions, a safe trip, comfortable lodging, great meals, wonderful places to visit, and the opportunity to enjoy His amazing creation. We all came home with hearts overflowing with thankfulness.

Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

Natural Bridge & Green Valley Book Fair

2009-09-02T13:51:00.000-07:00

August 21 & 22, 2009

This 2-day tour began with breakfast at Bob Evans before heading down to Virginia. After our lunch stop in Staunton, VA, we encountered a sign letting us know that there was an accident ahead. Traffic was slowly creeping along -- bumper to bumper!

We eventually got off the Interstate and took Route 11, and headed towards Natural Bridge. That afternoon, we had fun visiting the Natural Bridge Wax Museum and Toy Museum. We later checked into our hotel and enjoyed a delicious buffet dinner.

We were all anticipating an inspirational evening as we went down to the Natural Bridge to experience the "Drama of Creation." It was a beautiful summer evening! At 9 PM all the lights went out and the Drama began. The first 4 days of Creation were narrated, accompanied by beautifully colored lights and outstanding music. We were then told to walk to the other side of the bridge for the remainder of the presentation, where they would narrate days 5 through 7 of Creation.

The most absolutely amazing part of the evening was the view we had looking through the Natural Bridge to see some distant lightning along with Planet Jupiter. The scene was absolutely awesome! How could anyone walk away from that spectacular evening and say there is no God? In addition to the wonderful Drama, the Lord gave us an evening sky with His show that was perfect. Creation was evident all around us and we felt privileged to have been there!

The next morning, we met in the lobby to enjoy the hotel’s breakfast buffet. We left at 8:15 AM to head for the Green Valley Book Fair in Mt. Crawford, Virginia. The Book Fair is held 6 times a year for 2 weeks each time. Although last year we were there the second week of the sale, this year we wanted to be there on the opening day. We arrived right around 9:30 AM (it opened at 9) and there were already lots and lots of cars in the parking lot. Fortunately, everything was very organized and we were able to unload from the bus right at the entrance to the building. Some folks were already walking out with bags and boxes of books -- they must have been there early!

The Book Fair is amazing - everyone there is very organized and helpful. They advertise that they have more than 500,000 books -- and I can believe it! In our several hours there, we shopped and got our own lunch through a church that sold food under a tent outside. It was raining by lunchtime, so it was a challenge to get our food and stay dry! We had a lot of fun with the folks selling the food.

One of the items they were selling was “Chili Cheese Nachos,” but one of our ladies wondered if they would sell her just a bowl of chili. They said they had never done that before but they would be glad to do it that day. I gave the money to the "cashier" and she asked what I was paying for. I told her, “A bowl of chili,” and she said, "But we don't sell that." I replied, “You are today!” and then I added, “Blessed are the flexible for they will not get bent out of shape!” They loved that and decided to make that their motto for the day.

When we left the Book Fair, we headed towards the Shenandoah Valley to enjoy the views on the Skyline Drive. The weather was not the best, but we still enjoyed our ride north. For dinner, we enjoyed a delicious buffet before returning home.

This was a great 2-day trip and we hope to return to the Book Fair again next year. Once again I was privileged to have a wonderful bunch of folks along on this trip. I thanked the Lord for a safe trip and the opportunity we had to experience His creation!

In Awe,

Linda

4 - Day Mystery Trip

2009-08-14T12:31:00.000-07:00

August 8 - 11, 2009

As with all Mystery Trips, our only two pick up locations were Ephrata and Lancaster (any additional stops would have given our folks an idea what direction we were going and then it would not be a mystery trip!!). Our "motorcoach commander" was new to me, but he was a team player with customer service at the top of his list! Before long, we realized that we had a coach full of folks who were anxiously wondering where we were taking them!

There were a few delays to start our morning but we were finally off on our adventure! During breakfast in York, our driver said that he could already understand why it was called "Fun" Time Tours!! After breakfast we were traveling on the Baltimore/Washington Parkway when all the lanes of traffic came to a stop. We could see flashing lights ahead and eventually we could see a vehicle off to the side of the road. As we got closer, a police office stopped the coach and asked us if we could help him. We said we would be glad to do whatever we could. Apparently, the vehicle for about 14 international foreign exchange students had broken down and he was wondering if we could give them transportation to an exit down the road. We told him we would be glad to do that and he had the students board the coach (we really crammed them in!!!). We found out that these students were staying in Hershey, PA and were heading to Washington, DC to spend the day sightseeing. We followed the policeman to an exit ramp where the students got off the coach - each one saying "Thank you!" We have no idea how the rest of their day was; but we were glad to be of help. All of that excitement sure added to the fact that we were on a “mystery” trip!! (that was a SURPRISE!!!)

Our attractions in Delaware and Maryland for the 4 days included: a tram tour of a wildlife refuge, a Southern Gospel concert and a Sunday Morning worship service, a boat ride, museums and lighthouses, and many delicious meals and wonderful accommodations! Beverly, who we had been working with to plan the trip, was wonderful as she met us at the hotel to take us to some of the places we were visiting there in Maryland. She also made us some chocolate chip cookies and served them with a special ice cream in order to celebrate Maryland's 375th birthday! We felt so welcomed there! There were tears when we had to say goodbye and part ways to start our homeward trek.

We went South, North, West and East; and then when the folks thought they had it all figured out, we went South again!! I was privileged to take an amazing bunch of folks on this exciting mystery trip; and I trust it was a memorable vacation experience for each and every one! Quite a few of these folks have traveled with me on previous mystery trips and I am grateful for the trust they put in Fun Time Tours year after year!

A Mysterious Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

PS - We already have 4 couples signed up for next year’s overnight mystery trip!!!

"A Day at the Shore"

2009-07-21T10:53:00.001-07:00

Ocean City New Jersey
Tuesday, July 14th

On July 14th we left on an absolutely beautiful Tuesday morning for Ocean City, NJ. The group consisted of mothers & daughters; co-workers; a father with daughters; son-in-law & grandchildren; aunts & nieces; and friends. All were looking forward to spending a relaxing day together!

After a breakfast stop we arrived in Ocean City mid-morning. The bus parked conveniently next to the boardwalk and bath house. Once everyone left the bus, they were free to do whatever they chose! Some took their chairs and headed straight for the beach. Others wanted to spend their time visiting the many shops and restaurants on the boardwalk. It was a perfect day to just walk on the boardwalk and "people watch"! I took a chair along and had decided that I was going to spend some time on the beach.

I must tell you that it was a most interesting day! There were lots of people at the beach; and since it was a gorgeous day, there were colorful umbrellas everywhere. I sat near a grandma, daughter and grandson and I really had fun watching the little guy play in te sand. I found out that he was almost 2 years old and he had a cute frog shirt on! It brought back memories of taking my two boys to the beach when they were little -- which was a long time ago!

I think the most astonishing thing for me was the (sometimes very inappropriate) attire of the people there on the beach! Fortunately, since the day was absolutely gorgeous, I was able to focus on the beautiful sky and the ocean ... instead of all the flesh!!! How about we just leave it at that!

We left Ocean City in the early evening, and on the way home we made an ice cream stop at Richmond's in Woodstown. Two of the ladies ordered a single cone and received 2 scoops and thought the server might have made a mistake. When we asked, we were told that a single is 2 scoops, double is 4 scoops, and a triple is 6 scoops!! Do you have any idea how high a cone with 6 scoops would be?? None of our folks ordered 6 scoops, so we did not have the privilege of watching anyone eating all that ice cream! We arrived home safe and sound -- very grateful for the Lord protecting us and giving us a beautiful day. I don't believe we could have asked for a more perfect day!

It is now Tuesday, July 21st -- exactly one week since our Ocean City trip and it is raining here in Lancaster. How grateful I am that the Lord gave us a perfect day to go to the shore. God is Good ... all the time! All the time ... God is Good!

Linda "Fun Time SUNSHINE!!!"

Riverdance

2009-07-07T11:47:00.000-07:00

Riverdance at Wolf Trap
Saturday, June 27

We had a glorious and beautiful sunny day for our trip to Vienna, Virginia to see Riverdance at Wolf Trap. Steve was our Elite Coach driver and every seat on the coach was full! The show was at 2 PM and we arrived there in plenty of time after making a stop to get lunch. I love going to Wolf Trap on a motorcoach because they park us rather close to the entrance gates and the coach was in the shade the whole time we were there.

We had center loge (balcony) seating and they were wonderful seats! The show was outstanding - the talent of those involved was amazing! I was out of breath and I was not dancing or singing!!! We have been going down to Wolf Trap for quite a few years to see Riverdance and I continue to appreciate the show every time I see it! As we sat there and watched the show, the Lord provided a lovely breeze that made the afternoon absolutely perfect!

When the show was over and we returned to the coach, Steve told us that he had just received a call from his son in Afghanistan and he was coming home!!!! Steve had planned to fly to Texas to be reunited with his son over the Fourth of July weekend. We all told Steve that we were grateful for his son serving our country and we would be praying for his safe return to the states. His announcement was like the icing on the cake of a perfect day!

We stopped at a mall food court for our supper and then headed home. Again as I reflected on our day, I thanked the Lord for allowing us to have a wonderful group of folks to travel with, beautiful weather and a safe trip.

Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

National Parks: Days 2-13

2009-07-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Day 1 - "Thoughts from the Road"

Just a quick note to say "Hi" from our National Parks trip. We are having a great time!The scenery is absolutely awesome!!!! God is so good to allow us to be here and see His beautiful creation!!!

Here in the Zion Park area, I’m very much looking forward to our hotel for tonight! It is a really, really, really nice place! One neat thing is that I have connected with another lady who is traveling by herself. She just celebrated her 83rd birthday before leaving for this trip! We are having a wonderful time together with the rest of the group. We have exchanged addresses and I sure hope I can stay in touch with her after the trip is over!

I am taking lots of pictures - everywhere you look is a photo opportunity! Oh well … I don't think you can ever have too many pictures! And anyway, I’m excited to use them to update the photo album on our website, plus this blog!

Still On The Road,

Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

Day 2 -
This morning we drove from Scottsdale to Sedona. We had some time in this beautiful town with amazing scenery all around us! Here in Sedona they make "Dirt Shirts" - the dirt is clay red and they put the dirt and the shirts in a washer and come out with Dirt Shirts - when you watch the video, they make quite a mess as they make these shirts! They say it will not wash out - I did not buy one so I have no idea if it works! What a fascinating idea!!!!

On our way to Page, Arizona we drove through some of the 25,350 miles of the Navajo Indian Reservation. We also made a stop at the Glen Canyon Dam where many of us walked across the bridge and looked down at the dam. We later arrived at Lake Powell where we took a group picture. We enjoyed a fantastic view while we had our evening dinner where one of the desserts was called "Prickley Pear Creme Broulee"! It was another awesome day of God's creation!!!

Day 3 -
It was an absolutely beautiful morning as we enjoyed a lovely breakfast cruise on Lake Powell. We then drove back to the Glen Canyon Dam Visitors Center. We also made a stop where we had an opportunity to purchase jewelry made by the Navajo Indians. I was even able to find a frog among the many things displayed at their roadside tables! When we stopped for lunch I ordered chicken noodle soup because our server told me it was good and even homemade... but I must tell you that it had one and a half bowtie noodles and the chicken must have swam through the broth!!!!! We had a lot of laughs over my pitiful bowl of soup for lunch!!

Our destination for today was the north rim of the Grand Canyon. It was about 60 degrees here and our modern cabins each had a gas fireplace - it was wonderful. The dining room gave us a incredible view across the expanse of the Grand Canyon - we could see a light and we were told that was the south rim which was 11 miles directly across from where we were at the north rim. We were at 8,000 feet in altitude and we were told to drink lots of water and to "not overdo it!"

Day 4 -
After waking up in our comfortable cabins, we enjoyed another delicious breakfast Ivan & Ginny told me that they did not have hot water in their cabin for their showers that morning - not a pleasant way to start the day! After some discussion we found realized that I was in the cabin next to them and I probably used all the hot water which was why they did not have any!!! Oops!

As we drove through the area on our way to leave the Grand Canyon National Park, we saw lots of evidence of past forest fires. It was amazing to see how nature takes care of itself - the new Aspen trees were growing to replace the burned trees. We drove through some absolutely amazing scenery as we entered Zion National Park! It was absolutely breathtaking!!!

Both Michael, who was our Collette Tour Manager, along with Pete, our wonderful coach driver, told us it never rains in Zion National Park! I picture the Lord sitting in heaven saying, "Watch this!" Just before it was time for us to take our tram tour through the park, the skies opened up and it just poured! We all thought this was just going to be a quick shower - Not So! It continued to rain very hard. Finally Pete pulled the coach up and we boarded and headed for our Hotel. We did not know this but earlier when Pete had dropped us off to spend time in the Park, he had taken our luggage to the Hotel so until we arrived it had already been delivered to our rooms! How nice that was! For the rest of the evening the sun was out and it was 74 degrees! We had dinner and some of the folks took the local shuttle back into the park.

Day 5 -
This morning after leaving the Hotel we drove to Bryce National Park. We made several picture stops and had time to walk from Sunrise Point to Sunset Point. Once again the scenery was breathtaking and I thanked the Lord that we had the privilege to be here and witness what He had created for us to enjoy! Our destination for today was Salt Lake City, Utah and we arrived at our Hotel around 6:15 PM. This evening I had the privilege of eating with the Landis family - all 6 of them! Dolores had brought her daughter and son plus his wife and 2 daughters. Everywhere we went they were known as the Landis Family Reunion.

Day 6 -
It was wonderful to be staying 2 nights in Salt Lake City so there was no baggage to deal with this morning. We enjoyed a delightful tour of the city and surrounding area with a local guide. We also visited the State Capitol and when we returned to the Hotel we had the rest of the day to do whatever we pleased. Most of us walked the short distance from our Hotel up to Temple Square. It was a gorgeous afternoon and the grounds of Temple Square were beautiful with gardens and lots of flowers.

One of the things that amazed me was the number of Mormon brides & grooms that had gotten married that day. I must have seen at least 10 couples that were having their pictures taken there in Temple Square! Most of the couples had no family with them. I guess I was comparing them to weddings that I have attended at home and the differences were very evident and most interesting. Early evening I met with several of the tour folks in our Hotel lobby and we walked to a restaurant up the street and enjoyed a nice dinner together.

Day 7 -
We left the Hotel in Utah and traveled to Wyoming. It was 64 degrees when we stopped for lunch. We had soup and pie - very simple and very delicious. The soup had lots and lots of noodles along with lots of chicken. (These folks needed to go back to where we had soup with no noodles and no chicken and give them a few lessons!) Not only was the soup delicious but the pies were soooo tasty and wonderful. It was a great lunch stop.

Our destination was Jackson Hole, Wyoming and during our stop at the Visitor's Center a storm came up and did it ever rain! Pete pulled the coach as close to the building as he could and we tiptoed through the rain drops to get on board. Once again Pete had taken our luggage to the Lodge and when we arrived our luggage had already been delivered to our rooms. Tonight we were heading to a Chuck Wagon Dinner. Debbie wore her new cowgirl boots that her Mom, Marilyn, had bought for her during the trip. At the dinner they served 550 people in about 15 minutes - boy, do they have a system! The food was good and the show that followed was great! After our wonderful evening of food and entertainment we returned to the Lodge for the first of two nights here in Jackson Hole! Yahoo!

Day 8 -
Today was a free day to do as we wished. There was a free shuttle that took us into town which was very nice. Most of the folks were taking a Wildlife Scenic Float trip - including Irene, my new 83-year-old friend - she wanted to do everything! Everyone had a great time on the Snake River and amazingly enough came back dry! One of the couples went into town and attended a local worship service. Some rode the chair lift up to the top of the mountain for a fantastic view of the area. The Lodge also had an Alpine Slide but no one was brave enough to take it down the mountainside.

It was nice to have a free day to do whatever we wished. Several of us had dinner at the Hotel and some took the shuttle into town and had dinner at one of the restaurants there. The weather today was absolutely gorgeous - blue skies and beautiful white clouds. We found out that Jackson had over 3 inches of rain in June, which was very unusual. We were grateful for a beautiful day!

Day 9 -
This morning we left Jackson Hole (43 degreees) and went through the majestic Grand Tetons National Park. We made a stop at a chapel where you could sit in the pews and look out the front window that had a cross and see the Grand Tetons. Wouldn't it be aweseome to attend a chapel service in such a beautiful location? As several of us were leaving, we talked with a mother and daughter that were driving through the area and stopped at the chapel. They were from Pennsylvania - not too far from the Lancaster area! We commented about the chances of meeting someone from home here at this beauful chapel in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming!!! We decided that God is Good!!!

We made several picture stops and saw a herd of elk and some buffalo. Just before we entered Yellowstone National Park, we made a stop at Flagg Ranch and picked up Erica who was our guide for the Park. One of the things she told us was that the Park gets 500 - 600 inches of snow a year! WOW! We made several stops for pictures throughout the Park - again amazing creation for us to enjoy! The Old Faithful geyser went off every 90 minutes. Some of us enjoyed dinner at the Old Faithful Inn and just to be in that incredibly beautiful building was a treat.

Day 10 -
I must tell you a story of what happened before I went down to breakfast. I was in my room (actually sitting in my bathroom!) when a mouse scampered past the bathroom door. I lifted my feet and screamed and I believe I scared the mouse as much as he scared me!!! Down at breakfast I talked with fellow tourists Dawne and Linda ... Here our friendly mouse was in their room before he came down the hallway to my room! When they saw the mouse, each lady jumped on a different chair. Linda yelled, "Dawne, take care of it!" to which Dawne replied, "Do I look like mouse control?" Needless to say, we had a good chuckle about what had happened!

This morning here in Yellowstone Park it was 32 degrees! It was a gorgeous morning! We drove through Sylvan Pass and made several picture stops - we even saw a moose! By mid-morning it was already 60 degrees. We stopped at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody, Wyoming. As we were walking through the Center, there was Buffalo Bill Cody himself!! He was more than happy to pose for a picture with me!

It was another gorgeous day with clear blue skies. During the afternoon we made a stop at Shell Falls where we were able to walk around the paths and once again take in the amazing beauty of creation all around us. As we were driving to our Hotel we saw a moose with twins! Pete drove slow so we could all see them! We later arrived at our Hotel in Sheridan, Wyoming where we had a free evening. Quite a few of us had dinner at the Hotel and then went walking during the evening. The temperature was 75 degrees. What a switch from 32 in the morning!

Day 11-
This morning after breakfast we left the Hotel a little earlier than normal. Around 11 AM we entered South Dakota and it was 79 degrees. We were heading for Mount Rushmore and we had a gorgeous day for our visit there. What an amazing landmark! I wish the people in Washington, DC could make a visit to Mount Rushmore and read what those 4 men stood for! It is a far cry from what we hear today! A short distance away was the Crazy Horse Monument and the fabulous day continued for our visit there. We saw a video about the making of the monument and had an opportunity to walk through the numerous beautiful rooms where the Native Americans had their crafts for sale.

Our destination for this evening was the Lodge in the Custer State Park. We enjoyed a jeep ride through the Park, where there were buffalo everywhere!!! Lots of young ones that had just been born this year. It was a fabulous adventure and our ride lasted about an hour and a half. When we got back to the Lodge we met for our Farewell Dinner in the Lodge dining room. It was hard to believe that our fantastic National Parks Tour was coming to an end. :-(

Day 12 -
This morning we had an early morning transfer to the airport. We were glad that Pete could take us on this final leg of our journey. We arrived at the airport in Rapid City, South Dakota and were all checked in within a short amount of time. We had time to get breakfast there in the small restaurant before going through airport security. The Rapid City airport is very small and it seemed that all the flights left from the same gate area. Our flight departed on time and we flew to Minneapolis.

On that flight we were told that there were very bad storms in Detroit and our flight from Minneapolis to Detroit would probably be delayed. You kind of know that when you fly you are at the mercy of the airlines so it is better to be flexible so you won't get bent out of shape! The one thing about airports that I will never understand is the distance from the arrival gate to the departure gate!!! We had quite a distance to go and I had secured the services of transportation for those that found walking a challenge. Before we walked too far, we decided to take the tram that was available. However, we were not sure exactly sure where to get off so we ended up riding the tram for longer than we should have. (We actually wondered how long anyone would be able to ride before the security camera would send someone to tell them that it was time to get off the tram!!!!)

Our flight was delayed leaving due to the storms in Detroit. When we finally took off we were told that we would be circling due to the amount of flights coming and going out of the Detroit airport - the weather had affected many, many flights. At that point, I had no idea of the adventure that was ahead of us!!!! When we finally arrived in the Detroit airport, it was after the time that our flight should have left for Harrisburg. After rushing to get to our gate, we learned that our flight was delayed. (After all that rushing we had to wait!)

As I waited at the ticket counter to see what they might tell us, I talked to a couple that was sitting there and asked them what flight they were waiting for. The said the one to Harrisburg and they had been sitting in the airport at that gate for a good portion of the day! They were going to meet their daughter and family in Maytown, PA. I ended up having several conversations with this British couple, Keith & Joan. As it turned out, I "adopted" them and made them part of our Fun Time Tours group!

We all passed the time there in the airport, finding a place to eat and watching our flight getting delayed several times. Finally our boarding gate was changed - fortunately in the same terminal - from C36 to C11 and it would not be leaving until 12:46 AM!! We decided that since we had plenty of time before our flight left we would take a group picture - there were steps and it would work well! Actually the ticket counter ladies were enjoying watching us and when we were finished, we all headed for our boarding gate. When I arrived there, I was welcomed with the news that our flight was now cancelled! And because it was weather related and "an act of God," the airlines would do nothing in the way of compensation towards our overnight delay! We got re-scheduled for a flight at 9 AM the next morning - all 21 of us plus our new friends from England. With no other real options, we spent the night there in the Detroit airport! What fantastic accommodations! - Debbie in our group said she was going to find us blankets and pillows - and she was successful!!! She brought those back and we handed them out to everyone in our group and tried to make sure they were as comfortable as possible and we settled in for the night! Needless to say, we were a sight to behold!

Day 13 of a 12 day trip -
The airport started to come to life between 4 & 5 AM. We had found a nice restaurant that opened at 5 AM and I believe most of us went there to get a very good and resonably priced breakfast! Our flight was scheduled to leave at 9 AM and for a change we were actually on schedule! Our flight left on time and around 10:30 AM we were landing in Reagan International Airport. I wanted to make sure that our baggage was not there in DC so I went to the Baggage Service area and when they did a check with my baggage claim ticket, I was told my luggage was in Harrisburg. I figured if mine was there, so was the other 22!

What a sight for sore eyes our Elite Coach bus driver was! We jumped and yelled when we saw her! We stopped by the Harrisburg Airport on the way home, and every single piece of luggage was there! YAHOO!

The first stop we made was at the Rheems exit off 283 to let our couple from England meet up with their daughter and granddaughter. They were there waiting for us and it was a wonderful reunion before we were on our way to Lancaster and then Ephrata.

Although we had some changes in our original plans, I must tell you that we had an awesome trip. The scenery we saw was absolutely breathtaking and we all felt very privileged to be able to visit the National Parks. Our accommodations were great and we ate very well. Our Fun Time Tour folks were excellent travelers and adapted very well to the changes. We made new friends with the other folks that were traveling with us and we will continue to thank the Lord for protecting us and bringing us safely home.

Well I hope you enjoyed this very long update!

I had a lot to share!

Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

P.S. --

Today I received a very encouraging note in the mail! I got the cutest "Thank You" card from the English couple we rescued in the airport! It says,

"To Linda,

'This comes to tell you thank you

and then to tell you, too -

The world's a better place

because of people as nice as you!'

Thanks for all your help when we hit our problems. We would have been still in the Airport waiting for the last flight to Harrisburg if you hadn't put us under your wing."

How sweet is that??!!

Well I'm just thankful I had the opportunity to help them out and reflect a little of God's love for us all.

Linda :)

National Parks

2009-07-01T11:03:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm back home now, safe and sound ...

The rest of the tour's adventures you'll hear about soon enough. I'm still in the process of putting my thoughts together. But I will be sharing more stories with you in the near future!

It really was a fabulous trip!
Keep tuned in for the rest of the story!

Enjoying my time back in Lancaster -- and getting ready for the NEXT Fun Time Tour!
Linda "Fun Time Sunshine"

National Parks: Day 1

2009-06-16T10:01:00.000-07:00

After much anticipation, our tour to the majestic National Parks has finally begun! I am not sure how often I will have access to a computer, but I will write as often as I can!

The trip got off to a good start as we arrived at the Harrisburg Airport on time. But even though we were all set to go, check-in went a little slowly… We all got through security OK and went to our boarding gate. The flight left on time, and it took just 1 hour and 5 minutes to get to Detroit!! Sure beats driving there!!!

The gate from which we exited the plane was so far away from the next gate we had to get to! I don't believe they could have picked two gates any further away from each other. Needless to say, we all got our exercise for the day. So when our flight from Detroit to Phoenix was 4 hours and 15 minutes - sitting felt good (at least in the beginning of the flight!).

When we arrived in the Phoenix airport, we headed for baggage claim and Michael (our Collette Tour Manager) was there to greet us. He said that the temperature was 90 degrees and going up!! Hey, we're in Arizona!!! We all identified our luggage and met up with some other folks who are also going to be in the Collette group and headed outside to meet our coach. Our bus driver kindly loaded the luggage and we were off to our hotel!

We all got checked in and we will be meeting Michael at 5:30 PM for an information meeting followed by dinner (mmmm… which shall I choose… chicken or salmon?)

Needless to say, it will take us a little while to adjust to the time change, but we had a fine day of travel. And I know we are all looking forward to the exciting days to come as we continue on the National Parks trip!

I’ll try to keep you all posted!!!

From Arizona,
Linda :)

Gettysburg Visitor Center

2009-06-12T13:05:00.000-07:00

I am very, very, very, very grateful for a good trip to the Gettysburg Visitor Center this week! Ernie Reisinger had asked us to take his Sunday school group, so we organized the tour for them, and we just had a wonderful time touring through historic Gettysburg. It was warm, and slightly humid, but we had an excellent group and an excellent trip!

We arrived at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center around 9 AM. There, we first saw the Cyclorama, which was amazing. It is a colossal 360 degree circular painting which depicts the Battle of Gettysburg. It is 377’ in circumference, and 42’ tall. As we looked at it, we listened to a story that discussed different scenes in the painting.

After the Cyclorama, we explored great hands-on exhibits, looked at old uniforms, flags, weaponry and some personal items. The Voice Theatres were very interesting and we learned about the historical events during the war.

We had lunch in the Food Court, which offered a wide variety of choices. I had soup and cornbread; and I’m telling you that cornbread was the best I’ve ever tasted! Some of our group sat outside to eat their lunch at picnic tables since it was such a nice day.

At about 12:30 we took a guided tour of the Battlefield. This experience was absolutely incredible. Our tour guide was extremely knowledgeable and personable and funny. He just had so much information to share about the history of the fields it was almost overwhelming.

At about 3:00 we arrived at the historic home of Jennie Wade, who was the only civilian casualty of the Civil War. At this stop, we learned about the U.S. Christian Commission. A family met us there, dressed up in Civil War era clothing, and told us about the organized group who ministered to soldiers in order that they would come to know Jesus Christ. There had previously been very little known of the role of Christians during the Civil War. But this group, has completed seven years of original research to discover the heroic efforts of these “Heroes of Faith.” John, the Executive Director of the program, and the one who spoke with us, even prayed with us on the bus when we were finished with that stop. This was a great event, and I would highly recommend it!

With that, we headed home, and stopped at an Old Country Buffet for dinner. The meal was great, and then all of a sudden we were almost home!

Overall, we really had a great trip. The new Visitor’s Center is fantastic… especially in comparison to what it used to be! The tour of the battlefield was just irreplaceable… and on the ride home I was just reminded of the fact that freedom really isn’t free.

Gaither Family Fest

2009-06-05T09:18:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day Weekend was our 12th time traveling to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for the Gaither Family Fest. Every year it is just a fantastic tour!

We had a wonderful trip down, although it rained off and on during the bus ride. We got re-acquainted with one another since many of the folks go on this trip every year. After dinner in Bristol, Virginia, we drove into Gatlinburg, and checked into our hotel.

Friday was a free day; some folks went to Dollywood. It was a beautifully sunny day

That evening was our first get-together at the Gaither Family Fest. The Convention Center was packed with 6,500 people! Bill Gaither introduced us to a great evening of music! The newly formed Gaither vocal band sounded excellent. Every evening session was four hours long, but you wouldn’t have guessed it! The time just flew by because it was so entertaining.

The speaker on Saturday morning was Paul Young, author of “The Shack.” It was great to hear the background of the book from his perspective. Every copy of his book at Family Fest was sold!

We did something new this year for lunch on Saturday … we went to Tony Gore’s Smoky Mountain BBQ in Sevierville. Tony met us on the bus and escorted us into the restaurant where we had a wonderful lunch. Portions were unbelievably huge! A wall of the restaurant was filled with photos of singers who had eaten there. Because it was Memorial Day Weekend we encountered heavy, heavy traffic on the way back. So I doubt that we will be visiting Tony on this trip next year … However, we may stop in during our Smoky Mountain Christmas Tour in December 2010.

That evening was another great session of singing, of course. I just love the Booth Brothers … these three guys have a sound like none other, and they harmonize amazingly! The Collingsworth Family is just phenomenal … 4 kids plus mom and dad … I can’t get over how the oldest son shot up in a year, and now he’s taller than his dad! David Pendleton is a ventriloquist who is absolutely hysterical!

Sunday morning’s speaker was Steve Brown of Key Life Ministries. That afternoon was free, and then we met for dinner at the hotel restaurant. We had a great meal, and afterwards we enjoyed the last evening of music at the Convention Center. The weekend went so fast, we could hardly believe Family Fest was over.

Monday we headed for home. We had a fine day of travel, and quite a few of the folks signed up for 2010! In fact, tickets for next year have already been purchased. Call early if you are interested in joining us -- it would be wonderful to have a full bus!

It was a fabulous weekend, and I can’t wait until next time!

Cheerfully,
Linda :-)

Linda's 1st Blog!

2009-06-03T11:33:00.000-07:00

Technology is always changing, isn't it?!?

Trust me, I'm just as surprised as you are that I am writing this blog! But as I always say, "Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not get bent out of shape!" :-)

We are making many positive changes here at Fun Time Tours, and I hope that these changes will help us to serve you better.

With this blog, I am hoping to share with you all the exciting and fun events that I have experienced on recent trips. So if you missed the tour, you can read my post and keep filled in. And if you joined me on the tour, you can reminisce with me!

So bear with me as I am undertaking this new technological challenge! Let's have fun with it :-)

Cheerfully,
Linda