When we got to the farm, Dave noticed a trailer tire was a little low.  He was not successful in airing up the tire.  The next morning, the tire was definitely flat.  Dave removed the tire and we drove a few miles to a tire shop where the owner and his employees repaired the tire.  It took 4 attempts but they were determined to not give up.  Then, back to the trailer to put on tire, hook up  and leave.

Webster

We made it to Oak Alley RV Resort in Webster, Florida about 5 that evening.  We will be here until March 15.  Our friends Jan and Phil are in this same park.  Friends Tom and Roxi, Todd and Beth and Laurie are all at another park in Lake Pannasoffkee, about 15 miles away.  We are looking forward to spending time with all of them this winter.  We’ve already met some new people at Oak Alley, Jo (Joanne too) and Fern from Quebec.

This park is gorgeous and I have to share some photos.  The park and the Petersons are ready for Christmas.

We had not seen our Texas friends and Jan was out of town but we ventured out to a bar, Big Bass, our first Sunday here, near the campground Todd and Beth, Tom and Roxi and Laurie are staying at. Of course we ran into them and it was a great reunion as well as good music.

A couple of days later, we joined Jan and Phil at the only local bar, The Rocking Chair, for a couple of beers. “Nice” place but very friendly. They invited us for Christmas dinner!

We attended a couple of musical events at the park clubhouse but decided the acoustics were awful and the performers not much better! However, we met two neighbors, from Quebec. They are Fern (the guy) and Jo. They are going to watch Boo while we go to Hawaii. Wow! That is so generous of them.

We got to have a Christmas zoom call with Beth, Aaron, Lucas and Henry. The boys are so cute and growing fast.

We enjoyed a Christmas dinner with friends Jan, Phil and Jason, Todd and Beth, and Laurie followed by some corn hole but mostly just chatting. It was a sad day because Todd’s sister had passed away earlier that day. They were making plans for a return trip to Wisconsin.

Christmas evening was a zoom call with all of my kids and grandkids. Wow, I miss them!

The next day, December 26, my dear friend Loree (Ree) passed away. I will miss her terribly but her battle with ovarian cancer is over.

On Sunday, January 2, Dave and I went to the Dade Battlefield park to watch a reenactment of a battle between the Seminole and Americans. I had never seen a reenactment before and everyone enjoyed it. We were joined by Jan and Phil, Roxi and Laurie.

Dave and I have spent a lot of time sunbathing at the pool, but not much else and that is okay. We are also attempting a couple of new things, pickleball and ballroom dancing. The jury is still our on both things.

There was a musical event pool side on Saturday, January 7. We went to it along with Phil and Jan. It was pretty good music and much better acoustics. We enjoyed it.

Jo went out with the ladies on Sunday, January 8, for an oriental Lunch in Wildwood. It was fun to see the ladies again. Then Jan and I went to Big Bass to join our husbands for beer and wine. The rest of the group was intent on watching the Packers so chose to not join us.

Dave and I went to a German Christmas festival in Kissimmee on the 11th. None of our friends wanted to attend with us. What is wrong with them??? It turned out to be a bit of a disappointment. Aside from the workers, one other couple and two individuals were the only attendees. However, the German food was fantastic. I had a schnitzel with a vegetable slaw. Dave had a German goulash. He had a German beer and I had a warm, spiced wine. The band members stopped stopped to chat. Dave was wearing a Schell’s Brewery shirt and the trumpet player had been there!

It seemed we had seen very little of our full-time RV friends since we got here and it was disappointing, even though there were good reasons (Christmas, Todd and Beth flying back to Wisconsin for his sister’s funeral, etc) but that was all about to change.

On Saturday, January 15, we went to Crystal River with Jan and Phil. There was an annual Manatee Festival with good Tom Petty cover music. We were meeting up with Todd and Beth, Laurie and some other friends of Todd and Beth’s. The weather was fantastic, people watching was fun, the music was great and the friendship was awesome.

We did not go out to the water’s edge to see the manatee. We have seen them before and will see them again. Today was all about fund raising to help save these creatures who are slowly starving because the sea grass they eat is slowly disappearing.

On Wednesday, January 19, we went on an air boat ride with Jan and Phil. None of us had been on an air boat before. It was a fun time but Dave and I secretly agreed our swamp tour in Louisiana last fall was a better tour.

Besides alligators and several neat birds. we saw a “marker tree” made by Indians long ago. They took a limb of a tree and trained it to point to something of importance. Many years later, this is a huge limb, growing at right angles to the trunk and was point at something.

A short while later, we came across a huge flock of vultures. Apparently they have been here for centuries and appear to be the subject of the marker tree.

After the tour, we all had an opportunity to hold an alligator. Dave, Phil and Jan all took a turn but not me!

The next day, we went out with Jan and Phil to Tampa to attend a large RV show. We had plans to meet Todd and Beth plus two other friends the rest of the group knew, Rob and Judy. It was a fun day, visiting many different vendor booths and checking out RV’s of all types and sizes. We all went our own way (in couples, not alone!!) but met up for food, beverages and laughter several times throughout the day.

On Friday, the 21st, we met at Lake Pan RV Park where the Rykals and Ehlenfeldts treated us to a fish fry, all fress water fish they had caught in Lake Pan. After several rousing games of Giant Jenga, we sat down to a delicious meal with all of us contributing to the meal. After supper, the ladies retreated in doors and had an awesome time laughing together. I truly love all of these ladies and consider them to be some of my best friends.

On Saturday, the 22nd, Dave and I drove up to Ocala to run a few errands (pick up his ring being resized) and buy a few groceries to get us through the week. Dave decided to take me out to supper since I had mentioned that I had not gotten to eat crab cakes yet. We found a neat place, Sam’s St John’s Seafood, where we had appetizers for supper. We had my favorite, crab cakes and coconut shrimp. We were sitting below one of the mermaids.

 

For January 29 to February 10, please see the Hawaii/Seattle segment.

While we were in Hawaii and Seattle, new friends and neighbors, Jo and Fern watched Boo. Connie and Keith helped out too. I don’t think Boo missed us at all.

Home from Hawaii and Boo needed a new bed. This one is too big to be on the couch. She likes to be off the floor but I think she will like this bigger bed.

On Saturday, February 12, we went to Lake Pan to visit all of our “Texas” friends. Fun times and a lot of good food. My feet got cold as the sun set so Beth loaned me some socks that worked with my flip flops. They are cute!

We got together with the entire “Texas” group on Saturday, February 19. We met in mid-afternoon at Kalua Beach Bar in Tavares for a beer and late lunch/early supper. We were glad to arrive when we did because it was very busy so service was a little slow. We were glad we had reservations!

Then, we enjoyed a sunset paddle boat cruise on Lake Dora with music by Sal and Izzy. They sang songs from our generation and did them well. The sunset was beautiful and the company was wonderful.

Between chilly weather and other planned activities, Dave and I had not been to a Florida beach yet. February 21 was going to be in the 80’s so we planned a day trip to Pine Island beach. Rather than pack a lunch (nothing in the fridge), we planned to eat at the beach side cafe, Willy’s Tropical Breeze. I was a little concerned when we got close and signs said the beach was full to capacity. However, we sat third in line and were able to get a parking spot within 10 or 20 minutes. First stop was Willy’s where we shared a crab cake lunch. These were some of the best crab cakes we have had.

Then, on to the beach. We found a spot right inside the retaining wall and enjoyed sunshine, people watching and a bottle of wine from Hawaii. The water here was barely ankle deep and there were no waves. Eventually, we ventured out to get wet, before heading back home to Boo.

For our anniversary, we headed to Clermont with Jan and Phil. We stopped at Lilly’s on the Lake for a mango beer. Jan had heard about a disreputable reputation regarding this establishment and we were hoping to pick up so juicy gossip but did not hear any. It was a beautiful place.

Then we went to Clermont Brewing Company for another beer and some appetizers for supper. Dave and I each had different wontons and shared with each other. I had Spicy Shrimp Gyoza and Dave had Krab Rangoon. It was a great way to spend our 4th anniversary.

On Monday, February 28, we met up with Tom and Roxi. We went to check out their new home in Inverness. They will be wintering there from now on instead of in their RV. The home is beautiful and their park is host to a pet alligator in the pond. We enjoyed some wine in their home then rounded out the day at nearby (through the gate) bar, Cove Pub.

Earlier that day, Dave had started the task of changing out RV tires. Two of them were at a nearby Tires Plus getting the tires switched out on the rims. We had to pick them up before closing time and Dave had to mount them on the trailer. The next day, he swapped out the other two tires and the spare. Now we feel safer as we prepare to travel again soon.

We met up with Dave’s high school friend Peggy Johnson on March 2 at Hurricane Dockside Grill near Leesburg. We had a great lunch and a good time catching up with Peggy. On the way home, we stopped in Clermont to visit another brew pub, Suncreek Brewery. Along with a couple of beers, we ordered a yummy fireroasted pizza with enough to take home for another meal.

The next day, March 3, we traveled to Disney Springs, on the edge of Disney World. It was a fun day of browsing in shops and enjoying an excellent lunch.

While we were eating lunch, Angie called me to let me know Kyle had gotten hurt at work. He has been at his new job a month. OUCH!!

We hosted supper at our trailer on March 5, for the “Texas” group. I made crockpot roast beef and pork together for sandwiches and potato salad. Everyone else contributed also. We had a great afternoon eating and laughing..

The next day we went back to Todd and Beth’s. Laurie was hosting a supper with Todd volunteering to do the grill work. Laurie brought Fire Ball and Rumchatta so we all had to toast.

I’ve been working on a hand sewn teddy bear, a skill taught by my friend Jo. I have enjoyed this and know my next one will be better. Now I am working on an Easter bunny but know I won’t have it completed by this Easter.

We returned Jo and Fern’s favor one day by watching their dog Dixie. She is a cutie.

We had plans with Jan and Phil to go to a beach bar on a lake. We went to Eaton’s on March 10 and had a great time. It rained, really hard, for much of the visit. Jan was disappointed we did not get the full flavor of the bar which is usually very crowded but we had a good time. Dave and I shared a shrimp and cheesy grits lunch.

Jo and Fern, Connie and Keith came to our trailer for supper on the 12th. We had meant to party outside but it was too chilly. We all gathered in our trailer and had plenty of room. I made chicken enchiladas, Spanish rice and refried beans. Jo brought a salsa/guacamoe dip. Connie provided cherry and apple pie ala mode for dessert. I wish I had gotten pictures.

March 13 found us enjoying our last Bloody Mary Sunday in Oak Alley. Later in the day, we went up to the clubhouse for a Johnny Cash tribute with Phil and Jan, Fern and Jo.

Punta Gorda

March 15 saw us in a new park in Punta Gorda, Alligator RV Park. So far, we really like it here but wish they had a whirl pool.

For our first day in PG, we tried to see the Blanchard House Museum, showing history of the area. Unfortunately, it was closed for renovations. So, we headed to Fisherman’s Village where we wandered around the shops for a while and stopped for an adult beverage at Harpoon Harry’s where we snagged two of the last seats facing the water. What a fun place. Also, we bought color changing shirts while we were wandering. They start out black on white but add color as the sun hits them.

On Thursday, March 17, we took a drive to Myakka City to see some Lipizzan Horses. This herd of horses are direct descendants of the the official Austrian horses, rescued from Austria during WWII by George Patton.

We learned that not all Lipizzans are white. The Austrians bred them for the white color but sometimes a throwback color will emerge. Also, they are born brown or black. The white materializes between the ages of 4 and 7. Another neat bit of info is that the capriole or dance, a 3-part leap, was trained so Austrian officers could get a good look at the action around them, to help them strategize. The mares are as easily trained and can do the same things the stallions do.

We finished the day by sharing a supper at a fun bar and grill, Nav-A-Gator, where we got a patio table. Supper was coconut crusted shrimp and sweet potato fries.

The next day was a beach day. The weather was sunny and hot. We wanted to see one of the top 10 US beaches, Siesta Key. There were so many people but it was a large beach so it did not seem crowded. However, we had to park about a mile away in a church parking lot where admission was free but they asked for a donation. It was well worth it.

We had no plans on Friday and mainly stayed at our trailer. However, we ventured out late in the day for a beer at the Fat Point Brewery. It was probably the most disappointing brewery we have visited. The beer had almost no flavor but it was fun to visit.

We met up with St. Peter friends Ken and Wendy Dobie on the 20th, for a Twins spring training ball game. With a baseball lockout that lasted for months, we were not sure if this would happen but we got lucky and the lockout ended in time for us to see a game. We won!

The four of us ended our afternoon with a quick beer for Dave and I, a flight for Ken and Wendy, at the Fort Myers Brewing company. Then Dave and I drove back to PG where we shared a jambalaya supper at Leroy’s Southern Kitchen.

For our last day in Punta Gorda, we met Dave’s cousin and her husband, Karen and John Shenk at Costal Dayz Brewery in Fort Myers

Daytona Beach

We found out there is no good way to get from Punta Gorda to Daytona Beach. The best routes go through Orlando and the traffic was worse than we had expected. I’m so glad Dave does the driving. We finally to our park, Daytona Speedway RV and settled in for a 4-day stay. We are close to the highway and it certainly sounds like a speedway!

On our first day, we decided to check out the beach. It was way too windy and chilly to spend much time there but it was an interesting beach because most people could drove their vehicles onto the sand.

We were going to walk around the boardwalk but could not find a parking spot and it looked like mainly a shopping area so we decided to skip it. Instead, we took a beachfront drive to Flagler to a neat winery Dave and seen on line. What a spendy place so we only had one glass each. We also bought some things to infuse into vodka for a yummy Bloody Mary and one for gin for a G & T. That one was not very good.

March 24 took us to the Speedway Museum and Motorsports Hall of Fame. We could not tour the speedway, which was disappointing, because it was closed in preparation for an upcoming race. I am not a big race fan but the museum was interesting, with displays on drag, flat track, and motorcycle racing, among others. I was very impressed with the amount of heavy framing and padding inside the cars, to keep the drivers safe,

 

It is time to leave Florida after 3 1/2 months and head toward Minnesota.