Outdoor Recreation for Seniors Christmas Caroling Caravan

The Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) group meets every Tuesday year-round at 10 am. In the summer we kayak/canoe and swim, in the fall we hike, and in the winter, we snowshoe and cross-country ski. Our trips are from 1 1/2 to 2 hours, followed by lunch.

Directions and location are available for our Tuesday 10 am outings via email and the monthly New London Chapin Senior Center Courier newsletter. To learn more and join, contact the Chapin Senior Center at 37 pleasant Street, PO Box 1263, New London, NH 03257 or go to their web site at http://www.coachapincenter.org

This is a very informal group and participation is for all outdoor enthusiasts wanting guaranteed good exercise with a friendly fun group.

Today's blog shares our Tuesday 10 am December 19th annual Christmas caroling caravan to two senior residences followed by the ORFS annual Christmas lunch with a Yankee swap at Flying Goose Brew Pub and Grille, New London. Kathy and Bill are our leaders and imaginative organizers for this very festive time. We wear our most lighthearted regalia for this entertaining event! Hats and props provided. No singing ability or books required just sing along with the gang!

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ORFS Christmas Caroling Itinerary

Meet at Bittersweet residence on Pleasant Street, New London. Once we organize we perform skits and singing for a half hour, then socialize with residents over the sweet treats buffet that they provide. Afterward, we head to Lyon Brook condominium community (http://www.lyonbrook.com/) and repeat the same show.

Thereafter, we go to Flying Goose Brew Pub and Grille for a meal followed by our traditional Yankee Swap. For those that do not know, in a Yankee Swap each participant brings a wrapped, unmarked gift and places it in a designated area. Participants are given numbers as they arrive, and their names or number are randomly drawn, and they select an unwrap gift from the pile in that order — with a twist. In the end, the gift you are holding is the present you take home. Watch out for lucky number 1 who gets final pick of everything!

Enjoy the below video of our most rewarding and festive day as ORFS entertain and share their spirit of the season. Merry cheers and a Healthy 2018 to all!

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Click WTPL 107.7 FM to see videos and learn more about Outdoor Recreation for Seniors (ORFS) from Steve's September 2017 radio interview.

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"Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available   

Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email at steve@outdoorsteve.com and we can work out the logistics.

Steve’s latest book, Outdoor Play "Fun 4 4 Seasons" is available as an e-Book at Kindle and hard copy at Amazon.com

50th Wedding Anniversary Mexican Cruise

Below is my son's CloserQ blog post of November 28, 2017

(https://closerq.blogspot.com)

On July 1st, 1967 in Rutland, Vermont; Steve and Cathy Priest exchanged their vows.  50 Years later, Steve and Cathy; plus their two sons, Shaun and Tim; their daughter-in-law, Christine; and two grandchildren Madison and Carson; celebrated their 'Golden Anniversary' with a five day cruise on Royal Caribbean's ship the Independence of the Seas.  Below are pictures from our amazing trip.

Lets start at the beginning, with a picture of Steve and Cathy with their Wedding Party in 1967.

Steve and Cathy in their cruise stateroom and looking fantastic, a very short 50 Years later

The Seven of us on the Cruise

Days 1&2:  Cruising to Mexico and enjoying the amazing floating city.  Christine and I over looking the main mall. 

Steve, Shaun, and Tim enjoyed a beer tasting at Dog and Badger Pub, where we got meet other cruisers and our bartenders

The Seven of us enjoying time together in the main promenade:

Meals, we ate together every night and we ate like kings.  Below is us in the primary spot the Romeo and Juliet Dining Room, where are our waiter, Maurice, treated us like royalty:

 We booked the Chop Steak House for a our celebratory dinner

 
For day 3, we docked in Costa Maya.  Tim and Carson spend the day ATVing, while Steve, Cathy, Shaun, Christine, and Madison visited the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins.  
Carson and Tim get ready to go four-wheeling.

Our Pictures from the Chacchoben Mayan Ruins

While in the port of Costa Maya; Steve, Shaun, and Maddi got an unorthodox pedicure by the Garra Rufa, also known as the 'Doctor Fish' in the Fish Spa. 

Tim and Carson in the Port, before we re-boarded

On Day 4, we visited the Island of Cozumel. We enjoyed lunch at Margaritaville:

After Lunch we the seven of us went Snorkling. 

As we re-boarded

Day 5, we headed back to Fort Lauderdale.  On cruising day back, we did a fascinating behind the scenes tour of the cruise ship.  We visited kitchens, laundry, where the crew sleeps and lives, the engine room command center, and the bridge.  It was so behind the scenes there were certain areas, where we we could not take pictures.

Thank you for letting us share pictures from my parent's 'Golden Anniversary' Cruise. If you have any questions, please email Shaun Priest at shaun@closerq.com.

Below is a 20 minute perspective video by OutdoorSteve.com highlighting the six-day five-night trip from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

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"Everyone must do something.  I believe I will go outdoors with family and friends"

Steve's 5th book, Outdoor Play Fun 4 4 Seasons Volume II, is now available   

Outdoor Play Volume II has trip preparations, routes, and narratives of bucket list places to go. The book will motivate friends and family to make the outdoors a key component of their daily life. If you want 5 or more books signed, send Steve an email send Steve an email  and we can work out the logistics.

Order books at:

• Hardcopyat: http://outdoorsteve.com and https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X

• E-book at:  https://www.amazon.com/dp/098503842X