We're Warm!!!

Mon, Feb 3

We started early (9 o'clock) this morning and are making this a travel day. We want to get further South down toward Tampa, where the weather forecast is for temperatures in the low 80's.

After a couple of hours on the road, we decide to start looking at a specific destination and settled on a Florida State Park north of Tampa. After a phone call, we found that they were near capacity and we weren't assured of a spot when we got there.

Then we started checking around and saw a series of County Parks along the Suwanee River and started checking them out.

And Wow!, we have stumbled on a jewel. Otter Springs Park and Campground near Trenton, Florida. We've checked in for one night, but I think this might be for more than that.

I love there slogan, "A peaceful Retreat On The Suwanee River".

It's a hidden jewel. There are over 100 spaces, and it's (1)probably less than half one fourth full (2) has a natural spring (which we have yet to see), (3) has a swimming pool, (4) hiking trails down to the Suwanee River, (5) a perfect tree to hang the swings, and (6) IT”S WARM HERE.

That's just about enough to make it a permanent home.

I took advantage of the pool – perfect – this afternoon. We rigged the swing for Clara, and then we started a fire and grill and cooked out. The windows are open in the RV and it's great.

I don't know how long we'll be staying, but it's more than one night."

Tues, Feb 4

Definitely another night!

This morning, swimming (and washing clothes).

An outdoor laundry

Washing the laundry.

This afternoon, hiking to the Suwannee River, and swimming.

Clara tries her luck on a log.  I'm standing by to take a picture of the fall!.  Luckily the fall doesn't happen.

The Suwannee (Swannee, Swanee) River.  Remember the song "Way down on de Swanee Riber" by Stephen Foster

In between all the fun, we're sitting in the swings, listening to great music and reading a book.

Tonight we had a great meal

Don't know if it gets any better!

Wed, Feb 5

We had heard someone mention another spring nearby that is a state park.  Last night we did some checking and found Manatee Springs State Park was only a 30 minute drive away, so we decided to make the move.

So today Clara drove the motor home 3 the 30 minutes over to the park.  About the time we left Otter Springs, a line of thunderstorms moved through and we got a real soaking, but by the time we got to Manatee Springs, it had stopped and we were able to set up.

We were told that these birds are called  turkey buzzards.  There are a lot of them on the river hanging out in the trees and on the docks and piers.  They are the ugliest bird I've ever seen.  This one was sitting on a railing apparently drying out his wings.

We went for a walk around the springs and to the river, and then decided to go to "town" (Chieflan, FL) and find some lunch.  Instead, we ended up buying a quarter bushel of oysters and bringing them back to the motor home and then I pigged out on oysters.  They really are good.

We'll stay here until Friday, then I'm not sure where we'll go.  We do need to be in Ft Meyer. Tomorrow we're scheduled to do a 2 hour kayak trip on the Suwanee River.

Thus, Feb 6

The great thing about RVing is that we can always change our mind.  And we did just that today!

When we got started this morning, it was overcast and cool.  Not good kayaking weather!  So we called and canceled that.

Then we decided, what the heck, let's go to Tampa - so we did.

We checked into Macdill AFB and settled into a boon docking site (that's with no utilities, i.e. water, electric and sewer).  But RVs are made for that - we have everything on board.

Clara did some research on places to eat and we ended up at a great seafood restaurant, Shell's.

Fri, Feb 7

Well, we're supposed to be able to boon dock.  But one of the critical items for boon docking is electricity, i. e. the generator.  I haven't started the generator since we left NC.  And it doesn't start now.  And Clara needs her coffee, and to get coffee, we need a generator.  So we have an emergency!

Luckily, we quickly find a place that can work on it.  We drive across Tampa (not as bad as I expected) and got the generator running.  Turns out that it's a breaker tripped.  I'm not foolish enough not to have checked the breakers, but it turns out that there is a circuit breaker in a place that I never guessed, or even knew about.  It turns out that this breaker is very likely to be the same one that controls the leveling jacks, which haven't worked at all on this trip.  After tracing out the electric system, the technician finds the breaker (well hidden), resets it and we're on our way. However, the leveling jacks still don't work and we highly suspect a pump motor, so we'll work on that next.

Tonight there is a pot luck dinner here in the park and we decide to participate.  And we really enjoyed meeting some new people.  After we were seated and the introductions are made around the table, we find that the couple sitting next to us is from Morehead City.  Wow! What a small world.

Tampa skyline from Macdill AFB

Sat, Feb 8

For the second time since arrival, I went to the Base gym to workout.  I can tell that I've been missing a lot of days.

Then, Clara had seen an Ikea store in Tampa, and of course, we're going!

Well, I ended up spending about $130 on stuff that I had no idea I needed our wanted - but we had a good time doing it.  And I guess we'll find some use for all this stuff that I never knew I needed.

Tonight, we went to a really neat restaurant near the RV park.  I wish we had gone earlier.  I'd bet it's a really great place in the summer.  It overlooks Tampa Bay and has a wide sandy beach.

Sun, Feb 9

Not a particularly exciting day.  After a workout in the gym this morning, we loaded up and headed to Ft. Myers.

Tonight we're staying the the Camping World parking lot.  Tomorrow, we're scheduled to see if we can find out what's wrong with the leveling jacks.  Thankfully, we haven't needed them this trip, but they still need to be fixed.

This evening we went out to eat at an open air restaurant in a huge shopping center.  The weather is perfect!  After dinner, we had a yogurt and are settled in for a quiet night.

Mon, Feb 10

This weather is absolutely wonderful.  It makes it even more wonderful when we realize what is happening at home.  From what we've seen and heard, Beaufort is suffering yet again with wintry weather.  Hopefully by the time we get home, it will all be behind.

Unfortunately, we had a bit of bad news today.  The slide at the front of our motor home - the big one - has a problem caused by a defective drain line from the refrigerator.  We don't know what the damage is yet, but it will be fixed tomorrow.

But that's okay.  It's just the price of having the opportunity to live and travel as we do.

Again tonight, we are pleasantly situated in the Camping World parking lot.  It's free and they provide us with electricity.  We might just make a habit of this - at least the staying in their parking lot, not the repairs.

We'll see what tomorrow brings.  We know we'll have to come back next week because they had to order a part for the leveling jacks.

We did purchase a new type of shield to keep rocks and debris from hitting the front of our CRV.
We have found that the "bra" that we purchased and have used for a year is not working very well.  Dirt and small rock collect in it and eventually work their way under the cover, potentially scratching the paint.  We purchased an add-on to our Blue Ox tow bar that covers it between the car and motor home.  Hopefully it will do the job.

Tues, Feb 11

We're switching from heat in the morning to air conditioning in the afternoon.  I love it!!!!!

We got the slide fixed today and we're ready to roll.  We'll need to come back next week when the parts are delivered to get the leveling jacks fixed.

We've actually enjoyed staying here in the Camping World Parking lot.  There are very interesting people coming and going all day.  Next to us is a retired Army 2 star General who just bought a new Class A motor home, upgrading from a much smaller Class C.

And tonight, we went out with a delightful couple, Roger and Mitzi Ellis, who have recently sold there home and starting there full-timing on a beautiful new 44 foot motor home.  Unfortunately, they've had numerous issues with their new home and have been here at Camping World since early January trying to get everything fixed.

They are from New York and really loved living the the "big city".  Interestingly, she had been a member of the world famous Rockets at one time.  I found one of her comments to be very interesting, "We were world famous, but no one knew you on the street."  So true.

I think it has been over 20 years since we have been out to a Japanese Habachi Restaurant.