Thursday, December 28, 2017

Busy time so far in Wauchula, FL 2017

     We have been staying busy since we got here.  Lots of dinners and happy hours with "RV family/friends.  So nice to meet up again. 

     Christmas dinner at the clubhouse was nice.  Park furnished turkey, ham and gravy.  Everyone brought a dish to share.









We hit the local Mexican restaurant (hole in the wall joint) for some delicious burritos.  Have had dinner at Brian and Phyllis's.  Dinner at our place, happy hours at everyone's rigs.  Christmas dinner was at Lloyd and Cheryl Nickel's place. Friends Betty and Dale drove down from Orlando, sure good to see them.  Dale had just had surgery on his foot.








Happy hour coming up here Saturday, should be about 14 or more.  Then New Years dinner is at Lloyd and Cheryl's again.

     Len has been out with his kayak and Lloyd has joined him both times.  Lucky to have seen gators each time too.
















     Today we went too Herrmann's Lipizzan Stallion Ranch.  Have done this in the past and it was such a great time we wanted to do it again with Brian and Phyllis.  Some beautiful horses.









  
Founded in the 16th century for the exclusive use of the Hapsburg Royal family of Austria, the Royal Lipizzans are unquestionably the rarest, most aristocratic breed of horses in the world. The pride of the Hapsburg Empire, the Lipizzan breed was first established by Archduke Charles at Lipizza (now part of Yugoslavia).
Only a few hundred have ever existed at any one time. Indeed, it is a contemporary miracle of sorts that this precious bloodline is not extinct, having barely been saved by General George Patton from the Russian advance during World War II. The Lipizzans' celebrated escape was recounted in the Walt Disney movie, "Miracle of the White Stallions".

Assisting Patton in the clandestine mission to rescue the regal Lipizzans, Colonel Herrmann and his father, Colonel Ottomar Herrmann, Sr., smuggled the horses out from far behind enemy lines, riding at night and hiding by day. "We moved out into the night with nothing," recalled Herrmann, "only a handful of horses". The Lipizzans' they saved under the protection granted by Patton, were "more precious than jewels", he declared.


     Stopped at Pioneer Restaurant on the way home and had a good meal.  I got liver-n-onions fix, very good.  Len had a chicken fried steak, Phyllis had shrimp and Brian had fried chicken and the rest of my liver.  Menu looked liked a good breakfast could be found there also.

     Tomorrow we are going strawberry picking with Brian and Phyllis, the local strawberries have been really good here right now.   Then we need to hit the grocery store so I can get what I need for happy hour Saturday.  They are saying the citrus crop really took a hit with the hurricane so you can expect high prices.  They are picking oranges at this time but they look like big limes on the trucks that are hauling them.

     Leaving here on the 3rd and headed to Orlando. Leaving Brian and Phyl here, Lloyd and Cheryl are moving that day also, and Dale and Betty are there already, more RV friends will be arriving while we are there.

    Have learned a new card game which we both have enjoyed, have played a couple of times and hope to get some more play in.

     Will be back when there is more to write about. 

Thursday, December 14, 2017

Peace River, Wauchula, FL (2017)

     All set-up here at Peace River, very crowded as the lower section is still unusable from the storms they had here, lower section was under water for a long time so damage to the electric.  We found a decent site that is full hook-ups with 50 amp, think we will need it as Christmas Day is suppose to be 80 degrees.  I can set outside while Len runs both of the air conditioners.  Friends Lloyd and Cheryl are here as well as Scott and Helen, had a nice visit with them.  More friends arriving next week.  Several activities planned in the next couple of weeks.  They are doing a gift exchange party, can't wait to see what I want to steal in the game.  Christmas dinner is on the 23rd and the park is providing the turkey, ham and gravy (Len was happy to hear about the gravy), everyone is to bring a dish to share, so should be a good time.

Len got the Christmas decorations put up outside.  I did get the collection of Harley Davidson ornaments (11 of them so far)  hung up around the window (tree is small and can't handle them), thinking about stringing some lights around them this year.  Will get the tree put up today.  Can't decide if I should do some baking or not, I sure don't need to pig out on cookie  but thought it would be nice when friends stop by to share with them, time will tell.










Read about a wildlife refuge here in the area that we haven't been to so want to check that out while we are here.  Len and Lloyd are planning on taking their kayaks down the river, it's about a 4 mile journey, use to see lots of gators so they are looking forward to it.  I am anxious to know if the storms had an impact on the wildlife.











Will post more as events happen.

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Crystal Isles (Crystal River, FL (2017)

First time here at this park and really enjoying our stay.  We took a drive out to

Fort Island Gulf Beach

16000 W. Fort Island Trail
Crystal River FL 34429
At the very end of Fort Island Trail, you’ll find Fort Island Gulf Beach. This curved, 1,000-foot Crystal River beach is far enough off-the-beaten path that you’re unlikely to stumble on it. It boasts a roped-off swimming area, and its waters and are calm and shallow, so your whole gang will be comfortable.
It offers covered pavilions and picnic tables; bring a packed lunch, or during the summer months, grab a bite from a vendor.
The park also features a boat ramp and dock accessibility, as well as a pier, where you can try out your fishing skills or just enjoy the views. Hope to return with a picnic lunch and bask in the sun for awhile and dip my toes in the water.
This is a free facility with ample parking. Lifeguards are on duty from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Then Len also rode the bike out one day.










While the weather is nice, this area seems to attract pesky little no-see-ums.  I swear they are worse than getting bit my skeeters.  You don't see them but you feel them, and after they bite I itch and scratch like crazy, even in my sleep.  They are out during the day also.

Hit the local Big Lots yesterday for a little shopping.  Christmas decorations are out and while it does make me want to get ours out they will have to wait.


Taking the motorhome in for some service of the double pane window on the driver side next week so can't see putting Christmas up just to take it down.  Un-decorating and re-decorating is a little much.

While out shopping we stopped for lunch at the Breakfast Station.  Served a good lunch at a reasonable price.

Today we walked down to the little ice cream trailer here in the park, pretty much like going to the Dairy Queen, I enjoyed a small dish of ice cream while Len had his usual Hot Fudge Sundae.  We sat by the little pond while we ate our ice cream, so relaxing.

More to follow.......

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Pine Lake, Founttain, FL (2017)

     Our week here has passed quickly. We enjoyed a great Thanksgiving Potluck with the park furnishing turkey and ham.








      Since this is an area we have visited in the past there isn't a lot we cared to redo.  Len did take the bike one day and rode down to Panama City beach area.









     Did some grocery shopping at the nearby Piggy Wiggly, yes, there are still several of those stores in this area.  Prices were a bit higher but when you only need some basics it's not worth a long drive to shop.  I did find some good prices in the meat department.

     Enjoyed a community campfire while here, such a nice way to meet new folks.










     We enjoyed hamburgers at the local Amvets, last time we were here the place was crowded with people from the park, as it is within walking distance, this time we went and we were among just the locals.  Can't beat the $3.00 they charge for burgers and fries.

     Tomorrow we are moving and will be in Crystal River, Florida for 2 weeks.  Looks like warmer temps are waiting for us.

Sunday, November 19, 2017

Hohenwald, TN (2017)

 
                              CLICK HERE FOR PICTURES AROUND THE AREA


 Our stay here has been nice, the weather has been on the cool side for me and we have gotten some rain.  The last couple of days the wind has been bad also.

     The park did have their Thanksgiving potluck, and we really enjoyed that.  They deep fried the turkeys plus had ham, I thought the ham was the best.  Tables were loaded with side dishes and deserts.  We sat with a couple that are parked a couple of sites down from us and had a good visit with them.  Also met Tammie, that had responded to a comment Len had posted on Thousand Trails the good and bad, who has an annual site here in the park.






     On the suggestion of our friend Dale we drove to Lynchburg, TN, what a beautiful area.  Len enjoyed the tasting tour at the Jack Daniel Distillery. There is a lot of information and displays in the visitor center.  While it is a dry county the distillery has gotten the approval to sell their product.     We didn't find it any cheaper so didn't feel we needed to buy a bottle just to say we had bought it there.  They will etch bottles you purchase for an additional $10.00 charge, but when you live in a motorhome we watch what extras we purchase as space is limited.







      After the tour we went into the town center to visit the gift store.   With the ticket from the tour you could get a free Jack Daniels shot glass (with a $20 purchase). Spending $20 wasn't a problem, as a couple of souvenirs were needed.
After shopping we had a great lunch at the Barrel House BBQ.  Just a little hole in the wall place with some great food at a good price.  I had a pulled pork sandwich,  Len had grilled cheese on crack sandwich (pork and jack cheese on Texas toast).

     We did make it back to the driving the Natchez Trail Parkway.  So much history.  Some beautiful water falls and the "Trail of Tears" cross the area also.  Even was able to drive a couple of miles on the old parkway, glad we didn't have to do that in a covered wagon or on foot.

     Tuesday we hit the road so will have more adventures to write about later. I added a link at the top of the page so you can see all the pictures we took here.
    
    

Friday, November 10, 2017

Natchez Trace Rv Park - Hohenwald, TN (2017)

Here in Hohenwald, TN for the next couple of weeks.  It is cool, in the 60's but the sun has been shining for the last 2 days so felt a bit better.  Yesterday we took a drive to the town of Hohenwald, via Natchez Trace Parkway.  There are several place to stop and learn of the history in this area.  We will visit more of the parkway before we leave.








We stopped at the local county museum which had a lot about Lewis, of Lewis and Clark, Lewis died here.  The volunteer that was working was very knowledgeable about the area and loved to talk, a good person for the job. They even have one of the country's largest Animal Collections by Maddox. They even have REAL Ivory Tusks that you can touch.








Did our grocery shopping and stopped for lunch.

Tomorrow the park is sponsoring a potluck and it will be for their Thanksgiving dinner.  Park supplies the turkey and everyone else is to bring a dish to share.  I will be making deviled eggs in the morning and some cookies tonight.

Our connection for Wi-Fi is iffy at the motorhome so decided to check out the adult clubhouse and use thier free connection, seems to work well.

This is a big park with a nice lake, plenty of sites.

More updates to follow.