Another week in Paradise, Paradise Oaks that is!!!



 Brad's Reuben.
 Like none other he has
ever had!!

Thursday 21 January     Took our second trip to Leesburg that started of course with lunch at a German bakery(very good) then off to Lowes,  a truck accessories store, wine store,  a mobile home store for a door knob, a coffee shop and by then it was after 4 and time to head back.  Took Rudy for a nice long walk,  sausages on the grill and clean up for the coming storm and off to bed.

The German Restaurant,
The Yalaha Bakery

 

Friday 22 January   We had pastries from the German bakery for breakfast, Diane had a fruit and cheese 'pillow' and I had a cream cheese 'pillow' and they were great.  The rain was on and off all morning and wind picked considerably and we just stayed in for the day. 

Saturday/Sunday  23/24 January   Well, I hate to complain about the weather but it has been very windy and cold, this is the second day in a row with a frost.   I guess I'll quit there as I know most of you are digging out from a record snow fall.  Not much going on this weekend.  Diane played  Pokeno and Bingo winning at Pokeno and the regulars think maybe she is a professional winning her first time.  Other than that it was laundry, groceries, and walking Rudy.

Monday 25 January   The weather is more seasonal with temperatures near 70 and winds have calmed down. I headed over to the truck place to order the running boards we wanted while Diane stayed home and did laundry.  Our friends Buddy and Teresa arrived back here this evening about 6:30 with their new Fleetwood Expedition.  It is really nice a 38 foot diesel pusher with all the bells and whistles.  We had them over for dinner just burger and fixings and we will go check their new motorhome in the morning.

Tuesday 26 January    We headed up to check out the new motorhome and visit with Buddy and Teresa. There friends (Ron and Vivian) from the Fleetwood rally were also checking out the rig.  The unit is nice with 3 slides, one of which is a whole wall slide.  Anyway, the place was a mess as they try to organize and pack things away.  They had just picked it up yesterday afternoon, transferred their belongs and drove up here.  We did our usual running around and then we all met at the club house for diner and then bingo.  Diane won as usual (first time this year).

Brad's rainy day
entertainment....
Poor Rudy!!

Wed. 27 January    Overnight we had some very strong storms I think we all lost some sleep over that.  The rain had stopped for a while but we all carried umbrellas as they are calling for rain all day.  We all went to breakfast at the club house and for 5 bucks you had eggs, sausage, pancakes, hash browns, biscuits and gravy, and orange juice and coffee.  After a little more socializing we all went our own way.  We reunited at the new motorhome for happy hour and then headed to O'Shuck's for an early dinner.  Food was good and the camaraderie great but the rained picked up again as headed home.

We stopped at an interesting place
for lunch....beer cans everywhere
from everywhere...and good food!!

Thursday 28 January   Everything is back to normal or as close to it as it gets.  Our friends left this morning and we returned to the camper to get our day organized.  It rained on and off all but the worst rain was as we waited two hour outside to get the new truck fixed up with bed cover, running boards and mud flaps.  Now the place had a two foot overhang on the building which gets might small in a two hour wait.  If we sat down your feet and legs got wet from splashing so we stood most of the time backs along the wall.  But the truck look nice and is much easier to get into and out of.  Back home, leftovers for diner and best news is it is to be sunny and 65 tomorrow.

Thanks for Reading, Brad, Diane and Rudy

The new Running Boards!!

The Truck's new gadgets!!

Bed liner and topper!!

Spending time in Bushnell

Saturday 16 January     We all(4of us) headed out to do a little antiquing and a trip to the Villages.  Ended up we didn't get out of the first antique store until 1pm the place was just huge. I think we spent over 2 hours in the place.  Diane didn't buy anything but Teresa had a bag full of stuff.  By now we were starved and headed to O'Shucks for lunch.  The food was great we had wings, fried oysters, grilled shrimp and broiled fish sandwich.  Next was over to the local RV dealer to walk off lunch and check out their inventory.  It was a beautiful day with temps near 72 and lots of sunshine.  Buy now it was almost 4pm so we just headed back home had fresh strawberries, cheese and crackers for diner.  We wanted to take advantage of the weather so we just sat outside to eat and socialize.   

Sunday  17 January    We woke up early to very strong wind and heavy rain,  turns out we had a tornado warning around 2 am the this was the tail end of it passing through.  The sky cleared quickly and we went up to say goodbye to Buddy and Teresa around 9.  We did some much need running around stopping at the bank, hardware store, drug store and grocery store. Diane worked on getting the new TV up and running and I cleaned up outside and put things from the car back in the truck.  By now the clouds rolled back in and the temperature started to drop as the wind picked up.

Monday 18 January    We made some phone calls and tried to get organized then headed to Leesburg to Tractor Supply and of course lunch.  We found 'Ramshackled' a neat old restaurant right on the main street Diane had a 'Cancun chicken wrap' and I had a grilled chicken sandwich hers was better than mine.  After a few side trips to the lumber store and RV parts counter we were back home around 5.  Nacho's for diner and off to bed.

I asked Brad for a picture of
our camp site....I think he had
the truck on his mind!!

Tuesday 19 January.    Cold this morning temperature was down to 39 as I headed out to walk Rudy.  Another day of catching up on chores.  This afternoon we went to Ocala to get a new bug deflector on the truck since the one on it is cracked.  As we were driving up we decided to get a black one instead of red and after driving 40 mile to get there they didn't have a black one.  So  I guess we will be going back up again.  We made the best of it anyway stopping at Sonny's BBQ for lunch and a few other stores while we were in Ocala.

Brad, Diane and Rudy

Tampa RV show

Monday 11 January   We traveled from Mayport to Bushnell today.  Our normal travel day we left around 10:30 the weather was great.  Clear blue sky and full sun shine(almost 70) the nicest day yet and we are leaving.  The ride across Florida nice and uneventful except near Bushnell 21 miles of I 75 are under construction.  But we still arrived at 3:30 arranged the camp site and had burgers on the grill.  We walked around talked to a few of our friend from last year and off to bed. 

Tuesday 12 January   Woke up.  Rudy had to go out so with no coffee and when I opened the door and stepped outside, whoa I was froze.  The temperature was down to 35 with a light breeze.  Back inside in a hurry put on more clothes and then walked Rudy.  The coffee finally finished cooking and the temperature rose quickly into the 50's.  The first order of business was getting propane and hooking up the portable tank.  That done we had breakfast made a few lists of thing we wanted do.  And just like always we headed out at 11:30 drove 20 miles and stopped for lunch.  Today was a little bar called O'Shuck's and believe it or not it is a oyster and seafood place. I had grilled shrimp which were very good and Diane had wings with a dry rub(medium hot) and they were good also.  Now I normally don't care for dry rub wings but these were really good.  Then off to a Ford dealer where after 4 plus hours we left buying a new truck that we didn't even get to see.  It was in the paint shop getting fixed after some vandalizing.  It is a 2015 F150 truck with the small 6 cylinder.  We should pick it up the end of this week.  We didn't get home until 6:30 Rudy happy to see us and just left overs and wine for diner.

Wednesday 13 January.  This morning was much nicer with temps around 45 or so.  We worked on calling people insurance company, someone to install tow stuff on the truck and where to get the old one removed.  I removed the breaking system and when I was done the drivers seat fell backward.  So I guess I'll be going to the hardware store for some bolts tomorrow.  Around 2pm our friends Buddy and Teresa arrived we talked for awhile over a glass of wine then headed to Coyote Rojo for dinner.

Thursday 14 January   Another nice morning around 45 and the temperature is to hit almost 70

RV Show Entertainment

today.  All four of us headed off to the Tampa RV show.   I guess it was the nice weather but the place was just packed. We had some lunch there at the show the normal show food sausages with onion and peppers and fries not bad.   We walked into one of the vendor building and there were so many people you just couldn't get to see anything.    So we were forced to walk around outside looking at new motorhomes and after hours of going in and out of motorhomes we decided to head home,   then we found it.  Just exactly what we were looking for,  new, shinny, not terribly expensive, and the just right color.  We called the sale lady over worked out a good deal and walked away with a brand new..... set of fry pans. , had you with that one, Eh   By the time we got home it was 6pm and time to walk Rudy and make some phone calls.  The truck should be ready tomorrow.  Again we had left overs for diner


Yes he managed
to startle some people

and off to bed.

Friday 15 January    Woke up to rain and wind about 5:00, Brad put the chairs away and then up with the awning....needless to say, I went back to bed.  I was up by 7:30, but with the weather, we weren't moving very fast.  Just yogurt and oatmeal for breakfast, a couple of showers and we're ready to leave, and then the phone rings....it's Shari.  Brad and her talked for about 45 min. so we aren't going to make our 1:00 appointment to pick up the new vehicle.  We called David to let him know we wouldn't be there until about 2:00, stopped for lunch then off to the dealer.  We spent about an hour there, going over all the gadgets on the truck then headed off to buy a new TV.....oh yea, that died this morning.  It had stopped working once about a week ago, but a turn off and back on, it started to work, so we forgot about it.....but no luck this morning.  It ended up being about 5:30 until we got home, rescued Rudy and strolled down to say 'Hi' to Buddy and Teresa.  They had been out to the wineries today, so they weren't up to going out to dinner, so we just had sausages on the grill and called it a night.  Not what I would call a stressful day, but exciting with mixed emotions about everything. 


Brad, Diane and Rudy

Brad and his new Ride!!

 

On to Bushnell

8 January    Our first day here was quite foggy with occasional drizzle.  We headed into town and of course it was lunch time when we arrived and the order of business was lunch.  Diane picked the Seafood Diner and it was great she had shrimp and crab chowder and I had fresh fish of day(Cobia) which was very good.  Both came with hush puppies.  Then we did a little shopping and drove all the way through town(Atlantic Beach) looking for Staples where we paid ten dollars for a monthly planer.  Later we stopped at a drug store where they had them for 2 bucks.  We were supposed to have chicken on the grill but it was to windy so Diane had to cook inside.

 

Heading out to

sea for some 'FUN'

9 January     The weather got even worse today with higher wind thick clouds and fog all day long....but it was 60 degrees.  The campground had a pancake breakfast we went to, nothing special but for 3 bucks you can't pass it up.  We finally headed out just to get out of the camper.  A trip to camping world and we found a couple items we just had to have.   It gave us a little exercise and got us out of the house.  By time we returned around 3 the fog was just terrible.  We were planning to go to our favorite restaurant on the water but it was just to ugly.  So beans and hotdogs for dinner.

The best part of this place
is watching what comes
in and out of the River

10 January   Our last day here started out much nicer it is still cloudy but at least it is clear.  So we will be able to pack up and get ready to leave in nice weather.  We made our last run into town and did not eat lunch in town(believe it or not).  We walked around the shops just for exercise, hit the wine store, post office, and grocery store on the way home.  The sun came out a few times(temp hit 65) and that was nice.  We did up all the laundry including bed sheets and Rudy's towel since the laundry is free here.   Tomorrow we will be heading to Bushnell for a month or so.

 

Brad did forget to mention, that everyday we have been here, the dolphins have been in front of the CG, dancing and jumping out of the water, for all the campers entertainment....What fun to Watch.

 

Brad, Diane and Rudy

Made it to Florida

Thursday 7 January    We made to Florida today around 1pm and arrived at Mayport Naval Station at 3pm.  It is cool and very windy but we won't complain since the low temperature tonight it 55 degrees.

 

     Now for the trip down.  We left Dillsburg Monday at 10am it was 20 degrees and we were planning to head south on 15 across 30 to I81 and down to Staunton Va. for the first night.   But as our luck goes as we approached Gettysburg  Diane noticed a road sign flashing that route 30 was closed  so we headed on down 15 planning to cut across I70 to I81 but that also was backed up.  After a quick stop to study the map we headed down through the dreaded DC route planning to stop at Ashland VA.  Well it was our best trip ever with no problems at all.  We made such good time we drove right on down to Carolina Cross Roads just inside North Carolina and were all set up by 4pm.  Total miles traveled almost 300.  We were both exhausted and after dirty rice for dinner we headed to bed rather early, me at 8 and Diane at 9pm.

   

   Tuesday 5 January we woke up very early and decided to head south(temp 22)  and by 9am we were on the road heading to South of the Border but once again we made good time and decided to

100 foot Pull Throughs...WOW



keep on moving and ended up at New Green Acres campground in Walterboro, SC traveling 310 miles and set up ready for dinner by 4pm.  We had burgers on the grill, it was a little cool to cook outside but we were anxious to grill.  We packed everything up for another travel day and headed off to bed.

 

     Wednesday 6 January I was having coffee checking the weather and noticed a high wind warning in Mayport with a special notice for high profile vehicles.  Sooooo, we decided to stay another day in downtown Walterboro.  We made the best of it going to a little café for lunch,  a stroll through old town which was mostly antique stores (10 or 12 at least), and just a drive around town.  Back to the camper, left overs for dinner and off to bed.

 

      Thursday 7 January I woke up it was 43 degrees,(yeah) finally above freezing.  We were moving at our regular pace today and didn't get on the road until 10am but that was ok we only had 200 mile to drive.  It was sunny and nice with temp around 50 as we headed south.  We stopped at most of the rest areas and for fuel and still made it to Mayport at 3:30.  It is still a little windy here with a salt mist coming in from the ocean.  But again it is a 60 degree mist so we won't complain.  We will be here until Monday and then heading down to Bushnell.

 

One coming in for the night and a Cruise Ship heading out!!

 

 

Brad, Diane and Rudy

Ready to hit the road

Happy New Year to everyone.   We are rapping up the Holiday's with pork and sauerkraut at Chris's today and a McCurdy family get together on Sunday.  We are hopping to get together with Shari and family sometime tomorrow as they are in for a visit.    We had a wonderful Christmas, enjoyed visiting with friends and relatives, just can't believe how fast the time went. When we first got here we didn't know what we would do with all the time we had and now time is up and we didn't get half the stuff done we wanted to.  We did made a overnight run to farm on Monday drained  the water lines and shut the place up for the winter.  It was kind of sad but we are ready to get on the road.  If we are lucky and all goes according to plan we will hit the road Monday heading to Walnut Hills KOA in Staunton Va.  and then to Carolina Crossroad in NC on Tuesday.  The weather has been quite mild so far but today's drop below freezing reminded us of why we go south.

   Angeli Crew Pictures:    New Year Day at Chris and Thoms'



  January 3, get together:      McCurdy Crew Pictures:   
                                                              (I did tell Brad not to accuse my family of being loud!!!)