We're here!

Thurs, Jan 15

After a non-eventful drive, we've arrived at our destination, Upriver RV Resort, in Fort Myers. Florida.

We spend the rest of the day settling in, removing the bikes and kayaks from the cars, getting everything in place and ready for a comfortable month of balmy temperatures.

We dropped by the B's, who are located a few miles South in a new resort.  It's nice.

Fri - Sat - Jan 16-17

Friday was overcast and cool - 70 degrees.  Ugh!

The B's came over for dinner.

I'm checking out the little fitness center here at the Park - a few machines and free weights.  I'll get use to it.  The pool is a short one, but it's still swimmable.

We're getting all the groceries and supplies, working on little issues with the motor home - bulbs burned out, etc.

We made the mistake of driving into Ft. Myers and quickly remembered the worst part of being here. The traffic in Ft. Myers is still among the worst that I have ever experienced.  We quickly learn that we should stay East of I-75 (where we are located) if we don't want to be frustrated with traffic issues.  We're finding grocery stores and other needed commercial businesses on the East side that are much more accessible that on the West Side.   Any trip into Ft Myers will be well planned and for a specific purpose, with plenty of time and patience.  Otherwise - NO GO.

Saturday, the weather is perfect and we have a very casual day, meeting people and getting acclimated.

As it should be in January

Friday when we got back to our motor home, we had a card on our door to contact someone who had dropped by and wanted to meet us and see our motor home.  Turns out that Wilbur and Carolyn King from Kinston have a home in Morehead City.  So we get in contact and they drop by.  Turns out that Wilbur's family started King's Barbeque in Kinston.  Kings has been a icon in Eastern North Carolina for decades.

It's going to be interesting living in one spot for as long as we've planned.  We've never done this before and it takes a different attitude.  Instead of looking forward to the excitement of a new destination every few days, we're now looking forward to learning more about the people around us and community we live in.

Settled in at Upriver.  I love our location.  We can keep our car, bikes and kayaks behind the motor home.  We're only a few steps from the recreation center, office, post office and pool.  Perfect.

It is very easy to meet people here in the resort.  Most are much like us - escaping a cold winter, although many of them are from much further North and experience much colder winters than we do on the NC coast.

The temperatures are much like some spring days in Beaufort, comfortably warm in the day and pleasantly cool at night.  It is just so great not to have to worry about bundling up just to go outside, especially in January.

Sun, Jan 18

We've been in contact with Brian and Joey Gurl, friends we met in Spruce Pine during the summers.  Brian is a professional musician and entertainer whom we've enjoyed his many performances.

In the winter, they live near here, and we had received an e-mail from them that Brian would be providing one of his Champagne and Ivories performances in a friends home near where they live in
Venice, Fl which is about an hour North of where we are.

So we made arrangements with Bill and Jan and all of us drove up to Venice today to see his show. And we certainly weren't disappointed.  He was his usual outstanding self.  And it was great to be able to get with them again and share some memories.  We all hope to get with them again and perhaps see another of his shows.

Brian is a truly great performer and pianist

The show was held in a beautiful private residence 

Mon, Jan 19

Yesterday was a great experience.  And today, we are once again headed the hour North to Venice for another day of culture.

Downtown Venice

Today we went to a show at the Venice Theater in downtown Venice.  Yesterday while there, we had seen an ad for a show by a group called The Capitol Steps.  Bill and Jan had seen them some years ago and really enjoyed their show.  So back to Venice we go.

The Capitol Steps began in 1981 as a group of Senate staffers who set out to satirize the very people and places that employed them.  As there brochure tells the story, "The group was born in December, 1981 when some staffers for Senator Charles Percy were planning entertainment for a Christmas party.  Their fist idea was to stage a nativity play, but in the whole of Congress they couldn't find three wise men or a virgin.  Do, they decided to dig into the headlines of the day, and they created song parodies & skits which conveyed a special brand of satirical humor".

This actor is portraying Obama.  They show no mercy to any party or any political correctness

Our seats were in the balcony and we thought we would have a hard time seeing the performance, but it turned out that they are among the best seats in the house.

And hilarious they are.  All us were hurting from laughing through the 2 hour performance.

The part that was the funniest was an incredible performance that started somewhat like this.

"Well ladies and gentlemen, for over thirty two years, the Capitol Steps have been scrutinizing the news and the wold of politics, only to find out it is  mostly a pack of lies from a bunch of squalid politicians who act like they have been bumped on the head.

Kind of like you're acing now...stunned and silent.

Let me try that again. Gadies and lentlemen, for over yirty two thears, the Stapitol Ceps have been nutinizing the screws and porld of wolitics, only to find out it is mostly a lack of pies from a bunch of polid squaliticians who act like they have all been humped on the bed....."

If you don't get it, the actor is turning letters around and creating a hilarious dialog.  He did it for about 5 minutes with out any notes or props, which in itself is remarkable

A couple of examples of changing the letters:  President Reagan becomes Reisdent Pagan, Bill Clinton becomes Clill Binton , political genius becomes -- well you get the idea.

Of course I am by no means smart enough to have remembered this.  They had a handout with a small portion of this dialog from which the above was copied.

A great day of fun.

And tonight, we are heavily into Season 3 of Downton Abbey.  We have finished Seasons 1 and 2, have 4 in the wings, and Season 5 should be delivered soon.  We've found that binge watching all the past seasons to the current season is the only way.

Tues - Wed, Jan 20-21

Tuesday, Bill and I visited a sailboat charter company in Cape Coral. Southwest Florida Yachts.  I have seen their ads for years and had talked to them about potentially chartering while we are here.  My primary interest is that they have a couple of older (like ours) Island Packets in their fleet.  Our basic impression is that they are a first class company.

Wednesday I spent a good portion of the day getting some work done on the CRV.  I've been having trouble with keeping the car charged while traveling - it should be keeping the battery charged from the motor home and it doesn't.  After some work, I thought we had it solved, but when I got back to the motor home and plugged it in, it's still not right - so back to the repair shop with both the motor home and car.

This afternoon we walked down the street to the "projects" at the "mayors" house where a couple of musicians were playing guitars and singing.  Everyone brought their chairs, drinks a refreshments and we all enjoyed an evenings entertainment.

And tonight, we went to "Fun Night" at the rec center.  Now, there was some unusual fun.

"Adults" playing kids games, and having a blast!

Thurs, Jan 22

Another RV show.  Just down the road a couple of miles, there is a local dealer RV show.  However, after the big show in Tampa, this one did not hold our attention very long.

A "must have" purchase at the RV show.

However, after the show I needed to pick up a part at a local RV dealer, and before I know it, I glance up at one of the used motor homes on the lot and there sits Clara in the drivers seat looking like she owned the thing.  The next thing I know, she's talking to a salesman.  By now, I start getting nervous.
She's looking at a 2012 40 foot Tiffin.  First of all, she's always said I don't even want to look at anything over 35 feet, and secondly, about 6 weeks ago, we decided we were through looking and we are going to be happy with our great little 33 foot motor home.

She's really excited about this one, even after we got back home.  She spent the evening on the Internet looking at all the specs.  And tomorrow she wants to go back and drive it.  Watch out!!!!

Fri, Jan 23

This morning we had signed up for a kayak trip with a group from the resort.  So off we go bright and early (9 am) to a local park about 8 miles from here.

Kayaking with a mask.  I recently had to have some stuff removed from my face, so now I'm the masked kayaker.

 A great group of people enjoyed the three hour kayak trip.

We had a great morning meeting people and kayaking along a lovely river.

Then, this afternoon, she's hot to go back to the motor home dealer and drive the coach she got excited about yesterday.

We pick up Bill and Jan and we go look at the motor home.  After about an hour of looking, she decides she's too tired to drive, but I decide to take it for a spin.

Wow!  It sure is nice.

But now she's beginning to have second thoughts.  She actually found a couple things she didn't like about it.

So, I don't think we're interested.

It's hard to believe we've already been here a week.  We fell like we're home!!!