Colorado Trip with the Mars Family

In June 1998 we had made plans to head to Colorado with the Mars Family, who we have known for many years. Jim and Bill worked and played together back in their 20s (early 70's) and I met them in the mid-1970s when Bill was working and living on his sailboat in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Anyway, since our families practically grew up with each other, we did go on a lot of vacations together. This year we decided to head to Colorado.

Family Trip to Maine ~~ July - August 1997

Had a wonderful vacation this year. All four of us went to Maine and met the Mars family at the Bickford’s lake cabin. Got up there July 28 after a two day drive. The drive was not so bad, but going up through the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia, PA, New York – there must have been a weather inversion because it was so hazy, it was depressing with no blue sky. Makes one long for the west. Our first day we unloaded and relaxed at the cabin. Went fishing and canoeing and just talked. 

Trip to the Bahamas ~~ June 1996

For vacation this summer with the Mars Family, we flew down to West Palm instead of driving. Bill planned a trip to the Bahamas on one of his Grady White boats as it was too far to take the Trawler.

The Whole Family

Bill & Barb Mars Birthday Party, Port Charlotte, Florida

On July 20 we headed down to Port Charlotte to the River House for Bill and Barb’s 40^th birthday party. When we arrived Thursday we discovered Bill, Julie, Bob, Barb and Louise had just left on the Grady White to go have dinner. So I sat on the phone for an hour trying to locate them because the kids did not remember what restaurant they went to. Finally found them and we drove up to meet them. 

Friday we went out on the Trawler and they took the Grady White so they all could go water skiing. Josh finally got up on the skis and went around the water a little. Jacklyn and Marjorie jumped off the end of the Trawler and swam to shore and played there.

Jim at the trawler

Trawler trip with the Mars Family

Vacation time – July 9. Got a late start Saturday morning and had to take a detour due to excessive flooding in South Georgia. Part of I-75 near Macon was closed due to flooding, so we took a round about way out I-20 then south to I-16 to I-95. On I-95 we got stopped by a bad wreck and sat dead stopped for about 45 minutes while the wreck was cleared.

Got to North Palm Beach around 11pm Saturday night – woke up the Mars’ who said Let’s Go. But everyone was tired and burned out so we just went to bed. Josh, Lisa and Garrett stayed on the trawler for a while, snuck out and went to the park about 1am then went swimming about 4am. They got some sleep, but not much.

Bill & Julie

The Mars Family visits Stone Mountain, Georgia

Throughout the years we met up with the Mars Family, either in Florida or at our home in Stone Mountain. This year they came up to visit during spring break, and Bill's sister Barb and her husband came down from Weaverville, North Carolina to visit.

Bill & Jim

Colorado Family Vacation ~~ July 1993

Yes, one of our favorite states to visit is Colorado. It is very beautiful and there is lots to do and see. We left on July 11, 1993; one stop was in Santa Fe, New Mexico for a couple of days, just to see what the city is like. It was nice and the people are friendly, but the vegetation is quite sparse. I did not like it at all. There was virtually no grass, just dirt and scrub. The "subdivisions" were houses in the hillside but no yards to speak of -- the yard was still just dirt and scrub. While we were touring our camera died -- now we are without a camera, unless we buy another one.