Touring the Everglades

Saturday 22 February 2020

   Today was cool and windy but nothing like yesterday.  We started at the Big Cypress Swamp Welcome Center to see what was around.  But first was lunch at Camellia Street Grill. We both had the blackened grouper sandwich which was very good.   After that off to the Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park.  We did the 6 mile drive to gate 12, passing many people on bikes and in vehicles. We wanted to do a hike but most of the trails were grass and weed covered and after a little thought we decided to save hiking for boardwalks or at least gravel trails.  Back to the Moho and usual evening routine, Rudy walk, wine on the back deck and a light evening meal.

Sunday  23 February 2020

Irma water mark

   The usual nice weather has returned.  We started with lunch at The City Seafood café, and once again grouper for both of us.  We checked out pictures and the high water mark from hurricane Irma.  It is impossible to imagine the water being 12 feet higher than normal.  Most of Everglade City was under water.  Anyway off to the Visitor Center and then out back to the board walk. The board walk is only 100yds long but we saw a lot of wildlife.  There were manatee and alligators in the canal outback, swimming side by side.  We picked up some maps and headed to the Big Cypress Bend boardwalk a little over a mile walk through an old cypress preserve and swamp.  We saw lots of birds and a mama gator protecting her nearby baby gators. I tried to get Diane to go pose with the babies but she wouldn't go for it.   

Monday 24 February 2020

    We had a nice cooked breakfast eggs with mushrooms (Diane is liking this too much).  We didn't leave until 12:30, did some things here at home first.  We stopped at Joanie's swamp diner but the place was way to crowded.  Then we were off to Kirby Storter roadside park which is another mile long boardwalk back through a variety of landscapes.  From almost dry grass land, through cypress groves and ending at a swampy pond.   Again we saw a lot of wildlife turtles, snake, birds and a baby gator. The longer we looked the more critters we found.  On the way back we again stopped at Joanie's Swamp diner at 2:30 And crowd had left so we had lunch.  Grouper sandwich for Diane and crab cake for Brad (the only decent crab cake in Florida) but still not Maryland crab cake. Back to Visitor Center to identify the snake and turns out is was a non venomous Brown water snake.  The volunteer didn't even look at the snake picture, she knew from where we saw it what it was.  Is there every day she says and we thought we found something new.  Lastly were stopped at the Ochopee PO,(historic/tiny) Post Master is probably the most photographed in the US. Back home, walk for Rudy, then a nice walk for all three of us and we called it a day.


Link to Pictures from our Everglades Visit:    The Everglades

Off to the Everglades!!

Tuesday 18 February 2020

    Our last day in Okeechobee and we had a lot to do.  We started packing in the morning and slowly got ready for our move tomorrow.  We did decide to do our exercise routine, back home to shower, then off to the grocery store (where we are headed there are no stores).  After almost two weeks of regular exercise we decided to get on the scale and we couldn't believe it.....no change...not one pound, so we are going back to our  wine, cheese and pretzels. (not really)

Wednesday 19 February 2020

  We were on the road at 10:10 stopped for propane and to hook up the truck just down the road a bit

Deck View for a week!!

and back on the road at 11:00.  A nice and mostly uneventful drive. All two lane roads but they were good roads.  No rest areas so we had to just pull into a parking lot and hope we can get back out.  We arrived around 2:30 and didn't get parked until 3:30.  This place is terrible for customer service to say the least.  And trying to park is hard.  It looks nice but the roads are narrow and people tend to park right alone the road.  The first time we tried to park I couldn't cut the wheels hard enough to get lined up.  Down the road turned around at the next intersection and still had shrubs brushing along the side of the motorhome but we made it.  It was quite warm temps in the mid 80's.  A glass or two of wine,  just sausages for dinner, we had to be in by dark to beat the mosquitoes.

Thursday 20 February 2020

 

Breakfast Sandwich!!

  Hot.  It was 71 when we got up this morning and the temps kept going up, but there was always a nice breeze.  We headed across the street to Little Havana café for breakfast.  Diane had a chorizo and egg panni and I had over easy eggs on refried beans with jalapenos and onion,  both were very good.  Back home walked Rudy and after a little break we did the exercise routine. We forgot to factor wind and heat.  Diane walking on the black pavement(very hot) and I rode with the wind then had to return heading into wind the whole way back.  But we survived.  After a little break we drove around the island to refamiliarize ourselves with everything.  Turned out it was 2:30 or so when we stopped

Beautiful deck a the 

Rod and Gun club

for lunch/dinner at the Rod and Gun club.  Very old historic building from the era of well to do gentlemen sitting around having a drink and cigar before joining the ladies in dining area. It was after 4:00 by the time we got back.  A walk for Rudy, wine on the deck for  and a nice chat with the neighbors.  They told us about the sunset view from across the road so we all grabbed our drinks and headed over.  It was spectacular but once again we had to hustle back before the bugs come out. 

Friday 21 February 2020

   70 degrees when I took Rudy out this morning.  Another hot one again today calling for shorts, sandals and airy shirt or so we thought.  A little shower  blew through as we headed out.  We stopped at the grocery store, a fishing/gift shop and hardware store all of which were in one building. By lunch time it was cloudy and very windy as temps started to fall.  By the time we were done eating we were froze(for down here).  We both wished we had warmer clothes on.  We went to visitor

center about 8 miles out town.  It was closed and new one was 8 more miles down the road so off we went.  We got to talking to the volunteers and ended up driving over to check out the volunteer's camping area, that was very nice but they did warn us "you just can't be out after dark".  We drove down an everglade forestry road on our way back but didn't see much.  The showers continued on and off all day as temps dropped into the low 60's.  Back to the camper and a walk for Rudy. I did manage to caulk around the small window at Diane seat which has been leaking for some time now, I just hope it doesn't rain for the next 24 hours.  We had burgers for dinner before Diane headed up to play bingo. She paid 12 dollars to play and won ten back so almost even for the night.

Last days in Okeechobee!!

Tuesday February 11 2020

   This week has flown by.  The weather has been exceptional, highs in the mid 80's and low's in the mid 60's  We had a few showers go through but only one was heavy and that was at night.  The camp ground is really nice.  It is on the small side probably around 100 sites and not many activities but the people are nice and quite friendly.

   We haven't done a lot of sightseeing this week we have however tried to get some exercise worked into are routine.  First trip was done to Lake Okeechobee levee trail.  I rode my bike and Diane walked(with broke finger and all) she can't change gears on her bike.  We were there a little over a hour.  It is a nice little park with restrooms(flush) and plenty of parking.  We drove thru a couple of campgrounds/trailer parks just to check them out.  We got home and Diane couldn't take it any more, a phone call, shower and she was off to get her hair cut.  She got home, a glass of wine and a nice evening meal.

Wednesday  February 12 2020

  We got up and decided to go do another bike ride at a park just up the road from us.  So after a nice breakfast we headed out.  We parked, packed the water bottles and phones of course, I went to get the bike off the rack and voilà I have a flat tire.  Not a problem we get in the truck and drive into town to a bike shop(Diane found online) turns out to be a residence and the guy is not home.  Not a problem we call and he will be back at 1pm.  I took Diane back to play bingo at 1pm and I went back to Bill's.  Got there at 1pm he is not home,  went to Tractor Supply, grocery store, Wal mart and returned at 2pm Bill is still not home. Not a problem I found another one on the internet mapped it and took off one hour later some 15 miles out of town I "arrived at my destination" not a building in site.  Now I have a problem.  Back to the Moho Diane had a great time at bingo she won three games and came home with almost a buck thirty.  They play for dime a game.  A least she enjoyed her afternoon.  We headed back to town I went to Tractor Supply and bought everything that could fix my tire while Diane got us wine.

Thursday February 13 2020

   After breakfast we did a bunch of chores first  I set up the satellite dish,  we missed NCIS on Tuesday and didn't want to let that happen again.  Next we fixed the flat tire on my bike and after all

Water reclamation area

for biking and hiking!!

of yesterday's commotion, it was easy, I was done in less than a 30 minutes with a patch kit for 4 bucks.  We put together the clothes line and Diane did a load of laundry.  And we even had enough time to go check out the new hiking path and fixed tire.  Back to the Moho, a nice walk for Rudy then we had steak(deer)  sandwich with all fixin's and a glass or two of wine.

Friday February 14 2020

   Happy Valentines day to everyone, hope you had a great day.  We went back into town returned stuff to Tractor supply I didn't use, Diane shopped at Bealls for a couple pair of shorts.  Back to the Moho, a walk for Rudy and then out for another exercise session.  After a glass or so of wine I went to put the steaks one the grill when Diane noticed I had one steak and the beef tips.  So she enjoyed steak and I had left over deer steak with mushrooms and baked sweet potato. We laughed about the screw up and had a nice evening anyway.

Saturday February 15 2020

   Not much to report to day.  We went to the Flea Markets in the AM, and couldn't find anything we

I love these

Pineapple Palms

had to have.  We did get some strawberries and other produce but that was about it.  We hit a yard sale or 4 and again, no purchases.....that's not like us.  We head home, walked Rudy, then off  for our exercise.   I rode my bike and Diane walked, I ride the outside loop and she takes the inside loop. When I met her on the far side  she was just standing there so I stopped for a short break.  She wasn't waiting on me but instead she was waiting to see if the gator lying right along the trail would leave, it did not.  So she walked precariously and quickly past him.  We finished the rest of the loop without incident.  We have seen several gators but none that  close to the trail.

Sunday February 16 2020

   Once again not a lot of excitement today except for our walk.  Back out to the same place for the same routine path and routine exercise.  No gator today but I did see an otter

Not that cute and much

larger than I thought 

an otter was!!

along the road.  When I meet Diane at the break area I  told her and she was going to try to get a picture.  She finished her walk, got the camera and went down to get a picture.  Apparently they don't like having their picture taken.  As she got close it stood up made some noise she didn't wait around to see what that meant she was out of there.  Back to the Moho, a quick shower and Diane is off to Wal-Mart, (she needs a reminder about once every 2 years why she doesn't like shopping there)  She got home, we put the stuff away, a walk for Rudy then it's wine time and a nice dinner.  Time to start thinking about our move Wednesday.

Monday February 17 2020

   A nice breakfast on the grill.  Then we headed into town Diane dropped me off at the levee for a ride and she went to the grocery store.  I finished my ride and then rode up to meet her.  Back to the Moho a nice walk for Rudy and we just getting ready to put the ham steak on the grill when Rudy took off chasing a cat.  We took off after him as he cross the road and headed into other campsites.  At least it wasn't dark this time and found him several sites away and he just looks back at us with that (it is a cat I can't help it look).  Back to the site, tie him securely, have some wine and finish cooking dinner.

Great Antique car we saw pulling into the store!!

It was in great shape  

Bushnell to Okeechobee!!

Friday 7 February 2020

   After breakfast Shari called and we made arrangement to meet her, Matt, Mathew and Mckayden at the Freezer Tiki Bar in Homosassa.  We all shared three orders of shrimp(the best) snow crab legs, a

Shari's group has gotten

a b\it smaller!!

beef wrap for Mathew and lastly a soft pretzel(for Makayden).  All the food was great and then we went to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife park.  A good time was had by one and all.  There were lots of manatees to watch.  It was just a bit to chilly and breeze to really enjoy the walk but we stayed until closing any way.  It was a good visit with Shari and family.  It was 6:30 until we made it back.  Rudy was very happy to get out of his house and go for walk.

Lots of  Manatee's at

the State Park!!

Saturday 8 February 2020

   Much nicer day with temps in the high 60's and very little wind.  We had a quick breakfast and waited for Shari to come over for a trip to the cemetery to visit Shawna's grave site.  Her and Matt arrived around 10:30 we stopped for flowers and headed over.  A sad but healing visit each time we go there, especially today with bright sun shine and warmer temps.  We went back to the Moho talked for a while before they headed out.  Diane and I went down to "Couples" for lunch but ended up with breakfast.  Back to the Moho to start packing for our trip to  Okeechobee tomorrow.  Chicken on the grill for our last night.

Sunday 9 February 2020

   This story is all to familiar.  Despite having disconnected most of the utilities last night and

Found this guy swimming 

across the creek behind

the campground!!

prepacking the inside.....It was 10:30 until we were ready to pull out.  Maybe it is knowing we are only going 160/170 mile today.  The reason we don't know for sure is when I reset the date and time on the dash I made the odometer display disappear...really.  We took the back roads and stopped for lunch at "Mike's BBQ Drive In" in Bartow.  And no we didn't drive the Moho in.  Oddly enough we parked at a walk in clinic that was next door (we have spent a lot of time at them) this one was closed.  The food was great.  We headed on down the road Diane got us on a "truck route" to avoid traffic which we did, however the road was very narrow for an old fart driving a wide Moho, but we made it.  Pulled into "Villa Margaret" at 3:30 with an average speed of 38mph for the day.  Yea now that I lost the odometer display I have the average speed display, average mph and other not so useful information.  I'll be working on that later this week.  We made the traditional first night meal, burgers on the grill while talking with the neighbor(a little more than we planned).

Monday 10 February  2020

   We enjoyed a nice breakfast on the grill bacon, potatoes and eggs.  It was kind on amusing watching Diane chase her potatoes around her plate trying to eat with her left hand.  We drove around

Beautiful Lake Okeechobee!!

looking for a walking/biking trail, into the post office and then down to Lake Okeechobee.  Quite sunny and warm today 80+ and with almost no wind.  There is a nice trail on top of the levee that I think we will hike on later this week.  We hit the grocery store for taco making stuff before heading back. Back at the ranch we walked Rudy down by the canal.  We need to remind ourselves about the alligators and not letting Rudy down by the waters edge.  Back to Moho a glass of wine and just relaxing before dinner.  Incase you didn't notice we did NOT have lunch in town.  We ate here before we left. Just saying.

Busy week in Bushnell.

Tuesday 4 February 2020

  Yesterday was the first of several jobs to get done this week.  Today was a trip to Brooksville to a Vision Works to get Diane's glasses fixed from her fall.  And as you can guess, yes it included lunch.

Nice Restaurant

  We dropped off the old glasses at Vision Works and went to find a place for lunch.  We settled on "The Biggun's" it was a BBQ joint and was very good.  We brought back enough left overs for another meal.  After lunch we went shopping to kill time awaiting the call from Vision Works.  We shopped and shopped but no phone call.  Finally we went back and "they got busy and forgot to call".  Again it was after five until we made our way back home.  We started to pack up the camper so we can get out of here early enough for tire appointment Wednesday at 9am.

Wednesday 5 February 2020

  Another long day, but it started out innocently enough.  We were up early and pulled out at 8:45 just

At Luv's heading to the

Florida State Fair.

in time for our 9:00am appointment.  We pulled in and I checked in.  Turns out they really don't have scheduled appointments just time frames.  What the heck is that! We went for breakfast, ate and came back and it still wasn't our time.  Some where around 11:30 I pulled the coach in and work began.  We went for lunch, ate and returned and they still weren't done with the back tires.  Somewhere around 3 they finished and all I had to do was pay the bill.  First they couldn't get the account number from Michelin for the  discount price.  I called Michelin get the number, then the credit card wouldn't work and I called Michelin they spelled our name wrong and finally it went through. To sum up the day we left at 8:45, Diane and Rudy spent the whole day in the truck and walking Rudy, I spent the day in the Love's tire shop, we ate two fast food meals and we had to use public restrooms. We pulled back in at 4:30.  That is 8 plus hours to get six tires installed.  A very long day.

Thursday 6 February 2020

Breakfast time

Today started out much nicer.  We had breakfast on the grill and enjoyed a nice morning.  They were demolishing a trailer just behind us so we went to watch.  It was quite amazing, in two hours the trailer was torn down and loaded in a dump truck with just the frame and some debris remaining.  By lunch you couldn't tell anything was there.  We got cleaned up, headed to Leesburg to get the oil changed in the truck, before Diane's  3:15 Dr. apt. and of course lunch.  We dropped truck off at 1:00 for a 1:30

Remnants of the

Mobile Home  

appointment and walked across a very busy highway to grab some lunch.  A nice Mexican place called La Palma.  Food was good.  About half way through lunch they called said I will need a battery very soon and they would be done in about fifteen minutes.  We hustled our butts back to dealership across that very busy highway where we waited.  Around 3:00 we had to get the shuttle to take Diane to her Dr's appt.  I continued to wait...and wait at almost 4:00 they were done.  Just under three hours for a oil change.  What the heck!!  I hurried down to pick up Diane from her 3:15 appt.  As I pull in she texted me "still waiting"  I went got a hair cut did a little shopping and as I got back in the truck she texted "done".  It was after 5pm when we left and nearly 6pm until we got home.  The end of two long days and I might add very stressful for poor Rudy.

Meeting friends in Bushnell

Saturday 1 February 2020

   Woke up and guess what, still raining.  Buddy and Teresa are leaving tomorrow and we wanted to go do something but can't in with this weather.  We all just kind of hung out, ran a few errands and made plans for dinner.  We finally headed to the Mexican  restaurant for dinner, which is next door to the campground.  The food was good, not the best but good and we will go back.  We all came back to our place had drinks and played Mexican Train (dominoes)  until 10:30.  I don't want to brag but, I have never play Mexican Train and I won.  They say it is a game of strategy what can I say.  We did our hugs and handshakes tonight just in case we are not up and moving by the time they pull out tomorrow morning.

Sunday 2 February 2020

Chevy Bel-Air on the road!!

Pretty neat to see!!

   Well we did make it up and out to say good bye to Buddy and Teresa this morning.  They were a little behind schedule and pulled out about 8:30.  We came back and had some more coffee and made plans for the day. A really nice day after days of rain and grey skies, it was sunny, calm and in the low 70's.  First was breakfast on the grill bacon and eggs then we headed out to check out a campground for when we return in March but they are booked.  Next was two RV dealers to check out some used diesels but nothing caught our eye.  Back to the Moho walked Rudy and had burgers on the grill. We are trying to make the most of this beautiful day.

Monday 3 February 2020

   Another wonderful day, sunny and a little warmer than yesterday.  We had a quick breakfast and

New arm décor....

not a happy camper!!

headed over to Leesburg for Diane's Ortho appointment.  I was hoping to get the oil changed in the truck while  Diane was at the doctors but that didn't work out.  As it turned out Diane was in and out doctors office rather quickly with her newly casted finger.  We stopped for lunch at the Old Time Diner she did not go unnoticed.  The waitress kept asking what happened she couldn't believe that she fell, she was sure that she had to have hit me!  Anyway the food was very good, I had a pound of steamed shrimp and Diane had a chicken wrap both were great.  We  stopped at another RV dealer to looked at used diesels, they had two.  Back to the Moho I did my bike ride while Diane walked Rudy and got ready for dinner(cheese filled hot dogs on the grill).  Tomorrow off to try to get Diane's glasses fixed.

Made it to Bushnell!!

Wednesday 29 January 2020

   Today was supposed to be a go do something fun day and Diane came up with just thing to do!  After a quick breakfast and few phone calls we were off to the Urgent Care Walk in clinic.  We did stop for lunch first just in case it took awhile.  We went to G's BBQ, I had the one bone special I could hardly eat it, and Diane had brisket and she couldn't eat it all. After a great lunch we headed off

to the Clinic.  It seems after I went to bed she went out to do a little star gazing, then she tripped on the edge of the concrete and fell face forward onto the cement.  So I got to spend the afternoon in the parking lot waiting for her to get finished.  I made several phone calls, texted everyone I could think of and poof in just 2.5 hours she was done.  Simple fracture of her little finger!  And her face just looks bad, nothing broke(pictures will explain).  Her face is still cute just a little bruised.  Back to the camper just in time for dinner but still full from lunch we just had snacks.  We continued packing up stuff for our move tomorrow to Bushnell FL, but Diane did quit about 9:00 and headed to bed.

Thursday 30 January 2020

  With just over 100 miles to travel we took our time getting on the road this morning.  We pulled out around 10:30 down to the office to hookup the truck and we were off the base by 11:00.  We stopped at a rest area had a nice lunch of left over BBQ and still arrived in Bushnell around 2:30.  It was a good thing we got here early cause the first spot they put us in had no water hookup so we moved to another spot. We got all settled in and went to plug in the coach and we have no 50 amp breaker or 30 amp breaker so I plugged into the opposite side of the pedestal.  Maintenance guy came by said I couldn't do that because of metered electric.  Well I have to have electric so he heads into office to find out what to do.  We are all set up and do not want to move.  About ten minutes later 3 or 4 golf carts with workers descend upon us and our well organized camp site they fixed our electric and replaced water faucets  on three site around us.  By the time they finished and turned the electric back on it was close to happy hour time and just as we filled our glasses our friends Buddy and Teresa pulled in, just two rows over from us.  We grabbed our wine and head over, they were not supposed to be here until tomorrow but got done with their maintenance early and poof here they are. We headed out for dinner had a great time catching up with all that has happened.

Friday 31 January 2020

   The weather is just not cooperating for us.  Rain on and off all day with a fine mist when it is not raining.  Diane and I went for lunch over in Floral City, stopped to check out a camp ground and stopped a the Loves'  truck center to check on the tires.  Greg the tire installer couldn't tell us when the tires will arrive other than next week.  So next week looks like this, Diane's Ortho appointment on Monday at 1pm, Shari arrives Wednesday and leaves on Saturday, Diane gets her glasses fixed(bent when she fell) on Tuesday and one whole day to put the tire on the Moho. I don't know what we will do our spare time.  The rain wasn't hard but it was just enough to keep everything wet and miserable.  We ordered pizza for dinner and the four of us ate and played the game "Sequence" until after 11pm.  Yes I know, but I really was up that late.😁

The CG on the River

we went to see!!