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. 

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.

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.......