Good Friday update

Friday April 10 2020

    Well here we are another week has passed and fun is being had by one and all.  We are still at our routine.  Exercise at the park 5 days a week and here at the campground the other two.  The weather

YEAH!!

is back up 80 plus almost every day but only one day of rain.  We saw two Eagles at park on Tuesday and four turkeys on Friday. We went to the grocery and drug store this week and found everything we needed.  Diane hit the trifecta on Wednesday paper towel napkins and even toilet paper. And we gave half the toilet paper to our neighbor. Oh, we also went to the liquor store(still open in Florida) don't mean to rub it in.
   We did not order out all week but I do think it will be shrimp tonight for Good Friday meal. We have just been trying to stay busy.  Washed the truck (twice actually),  but up our "Bless This House" sign, fixed the clock that kept wobbling back and forth and Diane cleans something every day.
    Wednesday afternoon Rudy got attached by the neighbors dog.  It wasn't bad until the lady and I exchanged a few words.  Their dog got loose/out dragging its leash ran right at Rudy and bit his tail.  I picked up Rudy their dog is standing there with a mouth full of hair and the lady says he doesn't bite.  She says I pulled Rudy's hair out and put it on the ground.  That was it I went off.  When it was all over people were out on the road watching cars had to stop because we were in the middle of road.  So she looks at me and says "can't we just be friends" and I said "no" the end.
We went back and straight to happy hour.
    People are leaving steadily as the month goes by.  Two out of our happy hour crowd are leaving next week and we can decide what to do.  Should we leave or should we stay.  We still don't have any reservations in PA and half the places don't know when or if they will start taking reservations.  I think we will check at the place in Tioga County (no water) but fairly cheap.  That might be good anyway,  it is just a parking lot in the middle of nowhere.  That may work out since we haven't started our taxes.  Just hope the weather clears up a little bit before we get there.  I don't know if we can stand temp's down in the sixties.
   We will check in next week.  You all stay safe and healthy.

  

Yes that is an Eagle, there were a total of 4 turkeys that crossed the road

and at the bottom is what the wipers on the Moho look like each day 

(yes we clean it off)

 

Another day in Paradise, and another and another!!

Thursday  April 2, 2020

   We are getting settled in to the routine of sheltering in place.  There has been a bit of bright spot in all of this.  We have talked to our relatives and friends a lot more. It seems the crisis and lots of spare time draws us closer to family. We certainly enjoy hearing from all of you.  To do our part we quit

Poor Rudy, he

hates water!!

using paper plates and cups even though I have to help with dishes now.  And I started carrying a cloth hankie when we are traveling to save on tissues. We ordered and installed a new shower head, cleaned window screens, washed windows and also Rudy got his much needed spring scrub'n and he was not happy.  Both of us are reading books and just enjoying being in the same room at same place at same time day in and day out and still stay married.😀

   We have decided to say here in DeBary Fl. for two more weeks.  Our reservation in Ga. were cancelled last week and yesterday Walnut Hills in Va. cancelled our reservation there and according to the lady there you would have to be a resident of Va. to camp in Va.  So we will stay here until April 15th or so and then just wing it for stops on the way up.  We are not sure where we will stay when we get back to Pa.  Seems all state and federal campgrounds are closed.  We are hoping Ives Run opens up in early May and things get back to normal or close to normal anyway.

   Good news.  We went to the grocery store and drug store this week.  To our surprise many things are back in stock like meat(almost full), dairy had a full selection(eggs were low) and vegetables were like nothing happened.  Now of course no toilet paper or paper towels but we did get tissues and hand soap. But for the life of me I do not know why people buy all the toilet paper.  We know people here who if they find it they buy it even though they already have 30 rolls.  And some people go to the store every day to see what they have in stock, apparently they don't understand stay at home.

   Fun news. We have had some fun anyway.  First we have gone to join the happy hour group next door and it is kind of cute, five to seven of us old people sitting 6 feet apart in a circle. The fun is endless we can't hear that far apart and some can't see that well to know who is talking but it is fun.  You just gotta love a group old farts gathered together.

   Funny news.   On our way home from bike riding this guy pulls up along side us, beeps the horn, waves, yells at us so I put the window down and he tells us my bike helmet fell off the truck a few blocks back.  I do a U-turn in the middle of the block and speed back to the scene of the crime and there is my helmet in the middle of the travel lanes.  We pulled over and watched as each car barely missed it and it rolled a little and then one hit it, then another and another, we bow our heads and drove off.  Nothing left but the chin strap.

    The weather finally broke a bit the temps have dropped into the 80's and high 70's for a few days and as always in Florida with low's in the 60's people are bundled up with jackets, hoodies, and some with gloves.  It has made exercising a little more bearable.  We hope to wash the Moho and truck this week.  The pollen and tree dirt is absolutely terrible but it has been to hot to work in the sun.

    We continue to support the local restaurant with take out a few times a week. The food is good we just wish we were here when it was open.  There is a nice  outside area upstairs right outside the restaurant and a 'Tiki' bar on the lower area with bar type food so you can drink and/or eat by the river.  We could have ate and drank and just walked home, oh well maybe next time.

The picture on the left is part of the 'East to West Coast Rails to Trail' we go to everyday.  There is the Lake and Boat launch that Diane goes by every day.  Below is an old school house along the trail.

Over and Over and Over again!!

This is Green Springs State Park and the Rails to Trail.  Beautiful place and we have been here everyday getting our exercise.  Mr. Turtle shows up from time to time. 

Our Camp site and the pretty flowers.  Every evening it drops its flowers and in the morning new ones appear.  They are all around the patio.


Thursday 26 March 2019

   What can I say.  It is warm and sunny here, a little to warm but we will take it.  A little like groundhog day(the movie) down here.  Each day we get up have breakfast(one day cereal next day cooked) after cleaning up we go to the rails to trail park for some exercise.  We come home shower have lunch walk around the campground careful not to touch any railings or anything.  After several hours of deliberations we decide on what is for dinner.  The big excitement is getting carry out from the restaurant here at the campground.  We bring the food in put it on plates, throw away all containers, wash our hands and then eat.  Food is really good we have had shrimp tacos, shrimp with red  beans and rice,  shrimp buffalo wrap, grilled grouper sandwich and we will probably try something new on Friday.

   We did go to the grocery store yesterday and got everything we needed even milk.  Like all the stores they were out of toilet paper, meat, sanitizer and most paper products but we didn't need any of that.  Lactaid milk and creamers was our worry and they had both.  Oh yea!!  We should we good for two weeks or more.

   Can't decide if we should leave here next week or stay longer.  We are warm and dry  here but we would like to be in familiar surrounding especially since you can't go anywhere.  Doctor and dentist appointments are coming up and we just hate to pick one out of the phone book.

   We have terrible phone service here so we try to call family and friends after our exercise time.  We do get text messages so keep them coming it is good to hear from you all.  

Sitting around, twittling our thumbs, sigh sigh sigh

Friday March 20, 2020

   Well here we are day whatever of the Virus shutdown.  All the activities in the campgrounds are cancelled, the antique stores are all closed, museums are closed and so on.  We do have a restaurant right beside the campground that is still serving carry out food.  We have been making the best of it.  Yesterday we found a really nice hiking/biking trail to trails about 7 miles from here so we are heading back tomorrow.  We did get take out from the restaurant I had Jambalaya and Diane had Cajun Pasta with shrimp both were great. Just not the same as eating at the restaurant. 

   The weather this week and most of last week has all been the same, High's right around 90 and the low around 65.  Nice weather although just a little to warm in the afternoon with lots of sunshine.  Didn't need socks and shoes except to exercise. 

   Let me back up for a few highlights.  On Tuesday the 10th we were to visit Kate and Tony but Kate has a bad cold so they had to canceled and we went to the Crazy Fish Grill for a late lunch, the food was great.  We had driven by it all week, it was always packed and now we know why.  Two sea food meals which were great for 35 bucks.

   Wednesday we packed up and drove all the way to Lake Panasoffkee some 65 miles and we did it without stopping.  I think that might we a record for us.

   Thursday we settled in at Country Side campground.  When we checked in they made it sound very pet Unfriendly to the point we almost left.  Turns out it wasn't all that bad.  The park is old, only 55 sites and we got one with a nice sized concrete patio which is always nice down here in the sandy south.  I took my bike to the shop and it had to stay for awhile, chain, cleaning and a the normal adjustments.  Around 5pm we took Rudy over to see Dr. Len for this check up and he (Rudy) was not all that thrilled. After none stop barking for 15 minutes I held him while Dr. Len did his thing.  We had nice little chat with Len before heading home.

   Friday we went to  O'shucks for lunch we had our usual shrimp for me and dry rub wings for Diane.   It was actually a little disappointing and the Village people are taking over the place, sigh. We headed to camping world to look around but with the virus it wasn't any fun. We did stop to stock up on wine and get some beer for when Jack and Sandy visit on Sunday.

   Saturday just stayed home did our walking and just sat around.  If we have to live like this for to long, we go stir crazy.  The camper is small and getting smaller by the day. Sandy called and we all decided it best not to get together at this time so we cancelled and invited Len over instead.

   Sunday was more of the same until Len came over around 5pm on his new Harley, we sat and talked for about a hour before dinner. We made ham steaks on the grill with Diane's famous 'schmutz'  Then a beer or two before he got a call for a hurt dog and he had to leave.  It was a good visit.

  Monday  we went to Rural King for DEF, some diesel additives and other shop type items and even that store was crazy.  We headed back to the camper and talked about stopping at other places but didn't.

   Tuesday I went to pick up my bike after a $132 check up, stopped at the post office and then picked up some locally butchered pork from Len's freezer. and back home.

  Wednesday all packed up for another long day of travel.  We were on the road at 11am and once again we did not stop until we reached our destination some 82 miles away.  It was all on two lane roads and one under construction for 35 mile(very rough and narrow).

   Thursday we found the Green Springs state park which is part of the Florida coast to coast hiking/biking trail.  I went for a bike ride and Diane did her walk but on the way home another driver waved to tell us my bike helmet fell off 1 mile back.  We turned around, but by the time we found it it was flat and not much remained, it had been run over several times. Oh well, I guess I'll get a new one.

  And that bring us back to today!

Visiting Lake Land and Family

Saturday March 7 2020

   Today we did some site seeing today!  After breakfast we headed out to the Circle B Bar Reserve.  But first was lunch at Blackburn's BBQ at Eagle Lake.  The food was great we split the three meat platter which was a good thing because we barely finished it.   We each got an iced tea.....the lady handed us the cups we just started to laugh.  They had to be at least 64 oz we had to use both hand to carry them.  Now off to the Circle B.  The place was pretty busy and we had second thoughts after hunting

Yes they were huge,

they are not caged but in the swamp

and we are walking beside the swamp!!

for a parking spot. 

It was really nice a three mile hike around a wet land preserve. What a great place we saw wildlife of all kinds.  Gators, birds, racoons, armadillos and even a Bald Eagle.  Check out the link to the pictures, we took the good camera.  And yes the gators were that big.  It took over three hours and we only walked half of the trails.  Back to the Moho a long walk for Rudy he wasn't allowed at the Circle B, to many gators.

Circle B Bar Reserve Pictures

Sunday March 8 2020

   Cloudy, cool and very windy today.  After a quick breakfast we packed up and headed down to visit with Jen and Greg over lunch.  We stopped for ice cream to go with the fresh apple pie Greg made

Hanging out with 

Jen and Greg!!

us.  However,  first we all had a fresh salad with grilled chicken to help offset the pie and ice cream.  We had a nice time visiting most of the afternoon.  They are getting ready to head north first week of April and are not coming back to that site next year so they are selling and getting rid of stuff they can't take.  It was after 4pm until we finally headed back home.  Made it back home,  went for a nice walk with Rudy and then it was dinner time.  We struggled with what to eat, left over pie and ice cream or just left overs.  I checked my blood sugar and decided we better have the left over stuffed cabbage.  The pie would have to wait.

He cooks and he's

and artist!!

Monday March 9 2020

  Good news we don't have the virus yet.  So we made a good breakfast on grill and headed out to the crowded grocery store for Lysol wipes, face masks and of course toilet paper …. shelves are empty.

A sand crane rounding

up the kids!!

  Just kidding we did cook breakfast on the grill.  Then we waited for lunch,  yes it was pie and ice cream.  OH YUM.  After the sugar over load we packed up the bike headed over to Lake Wales park for some exercise.  The wind just won't quit it is blowing almost 20 mph again today and made the bike ride difficult.  Back to the Moho and had home made beef BBQ for dinner.

Spending time in Bartow

Friday March 6 2020

     Still having problems with our computer so I'll have to sum up the last week or so.  Friday the 28th Diane had a doctors appointment and she got her cast off.  Oh Yea!!  Her hand looked terrible

Nice Sunset!!

with dried skin all over and it smelled even worse.  She washed it three times to get rid of the odor but the dried peeling skin took a while.  On Monday the 2nd we went down to Frostproof to visit Jen and Greg, we had a nice time. Tuesday we spent ALL day calling scheduling and making reservations for the ride home.  It is getting harder and harder to find good campgrounds and one night fees are over $50 bucks.  We are now booked and confirmed at campgrounds through April 30th.  Wednesday the 4th we went to Lakeland to visit Kate and Tony and we took them to Goodson's Strawberry Farm for lunch. Yum!   The rest of the time we have been busy grocery shopping, wine selecting, bingo, bike riding and dog walking.  When I say it all together like that it makes me tired.  And I did get at least one nap in this week. This park is nice, clean, a lot PA folks and close to shopping, but we are in the front row along the very busy route 60.  Very noisy!   Diane has been trying to run some anti-virus programs to see if she get the computer working a little better.  It maybe just time to get a new one.

From the Everglades to Bartow

Tuesday February 25 2020

    Eggs and bacon cooked on the grill and we enjoyed our last morning in the Everglades with temps in the mid 80's and plenty of sun shine. Nothing to exciting today we sloooowly cleaned and started packing for our trip tomorrow.  Rudy is in full sheading mode so lots of vacuuming.  We did return to the restaurant across the street (Havana Café) for  lunch and you won't believe what I had...yep, a the grouper special and Diane had the blackened scallop dinner both were excellent.  We took a nice walk around the campground, talked to a few people.  This is one of those campground where you buy your site and the comments were interesting of who made out and then the guy beside us tells us his boat dock collapsed just months after he bought it.  Any way, back to the Moho finished up our cleaning poured a glass of wine and sat on the dock one last night.  A beautiful afternoon and evening.

Wednesday 26 February 2020

   Up and moving like normal until I went outside and it looked like the pelicans used the truck for target practice.  I mean 5 or 6 very large poop splatters on the hood and window.  It was so bad the splatter reached the front of the Moho.  So I had to get hose and washing stuff out that I put away yesterday so we could get a head start today.  Oh well!  We were packed and rolling by 10.  I pulled out to go get fuel while Diane return cable box etc to the office.  I hit the windshield washer on the Moho to get the rest of the stuff off and BANG the whole wiper arm fell off and got stuck in trim around the generator.  Everything was stationary so I keep going and the phone rings Diane is in the office and I have the cable remote so I pull over about 5 miles away and wait for her to come get it.  While I'm waiting I tried to put the wiper arm back on I think I got it.  She pulls in gets the remote and points out I missed a pile of bird poop on passenger side window and pretty much covering the mirror on that side.  We used a bottle of water to clean it enough to see to drive.  She returns to the office to return the remote while I get fuel (3.49 a gal).  She finally met up with us so we  hook up the truck, made some coffee and off we go.  We weren't 20 miles down the road and there is diesel for 2.69 and it varied 2.69 to 2.89 all the up to the campground.  Just our luck.  We made it and even got lucky missing most of the storms that passed by the area. Our campsite is nice and the whole campground is nice, clean and well maintained.

Thursday 27 February 2020

   Slow getting up this morning temps down in mid 50's.  The storms have passed but the wind has

not.  Rudy and I froze on our walk this morning and it was after 8 until he got out bed.  We had a lot of road noise here last night, something we haven't had for a long time.  Not only that I had to wear shoe and socks today for the first time in three weeks.  Lots of sun and it did warm up a bit by noon.  Diane made breakfast, did laundry and went to the grocery store. I finished getting the Moho set up, sewer connected, bike and bike rack off the truck, and the grill set up and ready to go when it warms up.  We took Rudy for a walk around the park found the dog park, a nice sized one. Big day coming up tomorrow as Diane returns for her 3 week check up and hopefully she can start rehab and SOON regain the normal use of her hand.