WINTER 2021
St. Augustine
We left for Florida on January 19th After 3 days, we arrived in St Augustine at a campsite we have been to before. We camped right on the lake, which had signs warning of alligators and poisonous snakes. There were many birds to observe, such as the egret shown above. The weather was chilly and rainy, so we were not in summer clothes for the most part. We did visit the Lighthouse and the old Fort.
St Petersberg
We left St. Augustine after four mostly rainy days and went over to he west coast. The KOA there was beautifully kept, with a lovely pool and two spas, one for adults only. We only discovered that one on our next to last day and never used it. But we did enjoy the other one. Rarely people there or only a few.
We were able to see our son Jody's apartment in the city and had dinner with him and his wife, Jenn. Later, we had dinner with everyone at a restaurant right on Tampa Bay and then the next day, lunch with our grandson Luke and his wife, Brienna at our campsite. St. Petersberg's Beach is beautiful and there were workers busily constructing a large sand sculpture right on the beach in honor of the Tampa team's being in the Super Bowl. We also visited the Tampa Car Museum, where there were old cars from all over the world. The cars were mostly in pristine condition. Some of the cars I especially liked are shown below.
We were very sorry to leave this pricey RV Camp, but we opted for a less expensive one in Clearwater.
Clearwater
After leaving St. Petersberg, it was a short drive to our new campsite. We were given a site in "overflow" which is basically in the middle of a field, with hook ups but no cable. The people in the office did not wear masks. In fact no one here is wearing masks. Joe was excited to use his new satellite dish for our tv and the picture is very clear, so the lack of cable is not an issue.
The campground is a mix of RVs, park model houses, which are permanent and stored campers, some of which are fairly derelict. The stored campers are all together in one section. I'm sure that the owners pay a monthly storage fee, but some of them are so old and beat up that I wonder if the owners have just abandoned them. One bright spot is the laundry, which is gaily painted and charges a modest rate for use of the machines. Picture below:
The campground is a mix of RVs, park model houses, which are permanent and stored campers, some of which are fairly derelict. The stored campers are all together in one section. I'm sure that the owners pay a monthly storage fee, but some of them are so old and beat up that I wonder if the owners have just abandoned them. One bright spot is the laundry, which is gaily painted and charges a modest rate for use of the machines. Picture below:
A tourist boat at a marina in Clearwater Beach!
HORSESHOE COVE
We were not sorry to leave the RV Camp in Clearwater, as we were looking forward to returning to Horseshoe Cove, where we stayed for a month 5 years ago. We arrived on Sunday, after an hour or so on the road and picked up our packet at the office. Unfortunately, the site we were given was not only too small, but also had no picnic table and was a long walk from the pool and the office. Therefore, Monday was spent complaining to management and finally we were moved to a much better site. It's literally across the street from the pool!
Yesterday, we drove to Bradenton Beach and had lunch on the beach at a little cafe. I had my first pina colada of the season. We hear that the weather is very cold and snowy at home, so we are enjoying walking Keke in the warmth. I imagine we would be fighting over who had to take her out if we were in Beach Haven.
We were not sorry to leave the RV Camp in Clearwater, as we were looking forward to returning to Horseshoe Cove, where we stayed for a month 5 years ago. We arrived on Sunday, after an hour or so on the road and picked up our packet at the office. Unfortunately, the site we were given was not only too small, but also had no picnic table and was a long walk from the pool and the office. Therefore, Monday was spent complaining to management and finally we were moved to a much better site. It's literally across the street from the pool!
Yesterday, we drove to Bradenton Beach and had lunch on the beach at a little cafe. I had my first pina colada of the season. We hear that the weather is very cold and snowy at home, so we are enjoying walking Keke in the warmth. I imagine we would be fighting over who had to take her out if we were in Beach Haven.
ONWARD NORTH
We are traveling north, spending 3 days at North Smyrna Beach, where we went exploring to the lighthouse and had a great lunch on the water. Keke was even allowed to sit on the dock with us! Here are some pictures:
We are traveling north, spending 3 days at North Smyrna Beach, where we went exploring to the lighthouse and had a great lunch on the water. Keke was even allowed to sit on the dock with us! Here are some pictures:
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We are now in St. Mary's GA and yesterday we went to the waterfront on the St. Mary's River for lunch. Great food, very slow service. The poor waitress was responsible for all the outside tables. The view was very nice and Keke was in the car, but kept cool by the deep shade of trees laden with Spanish moss and open windows. We brought her a doggie bag, so she was happy to see us!
Tomorrow we will start for home, hoping to make S. Carolina the first day, then VA and then home. About 300 miles per day, which with a trailer, is fairly good time. I am very sad to leave the warm weather.
Tomorrow we will start for home, hoping to make S. Carolina the first day, then VA and then home. About 300 miles per day, which with a trailer, is fairly good time. I am very sad to leave the warm weather.
GOODBYE 102 ROOSEVELT AVE
; Sometime during the summer which followed our trip to Florida, we decided to sell our townhouse. It sold in one day, for a large amount of money. The steps and reverse living were becoming too arduous for us; we knew that we could not "age in place" there. We ended up buying a small, manufactured house in an over 55 community on the Mainland, called Perry's Lake. The house is on a small lake and has a sunporch.
We miss our Island paradise terribly, but we know we did the right thing.
We miss our Island paradise terribly, but we know we did the right thing.
Our first few months in our new house have been very cold and snowy. We enjoyed seeing the lake freeze over and the geese walk on top of the ice. Most of all, we enjoyed looking forward to going to Florida. We have rented a house in Ruskin, near Tampa, for the month of March and are now ensconced here in the warm sunshine. The house is funky and adorable and sits on a canal. Keke enjoys looking out the window, watching for the neighborhood cat to come by, sending her into a frenzy of barking.
