Peace River Visit!

 Wednesday 17 February 2021

     Nothing much happening today.   Calling for rain and temps only in the 60's.  The rain quit around 10 but we had a heavy mist/drizzle until 3 or so. Diane did manage to get to the Bealls Outlet store but that was about it.

Thursday 18 February 2021

    Today we had big plans for a fun and exciting day.  We headed over to Sebring (30 miles away) for lunch, a couple of antique stores and coin store. A nice day temps in the low 80's but not real sunny so it was comfortable.  We couldn't find anything so we stopped for lunch and a chance to search google.  We ate at a road side place called Mango's Cuban Café.  Guess what the special was, that's it a Cuban, so we split a sandwich and water not all that exciting but we did end up finding the stores.  The coin store closed, the flea market was only on weekend, antique mall was large but disappointing and second antique store no longer in business.  As we were leaving Diane saw an estate sale sign we made a U-turn and pulled right in.  I found two kerosene lanterns for 20 bucks and Diane scored big with a cheese grater. It was a nice day and all in all we had a good time. Pot roast was cooking all day so the house smelled so good when we got home.  Wine on the patio and then dinner.

OK, as I was walking past this Moho I noticed this Minion tracking me.  It just made me laugh, I had to go back to get Brad and show him.  As we were checking it out the owner came out and said it was a tracking camera.  We just had a hoot with him the rest of his stay there.  😂😂😂😂😂

Friday 19 February 2021

    We finally accomplished what we set out to due today.  A nice day, temps in the mid 70's and mostly sunny.  We went down to Arcadia for lunch and some antique shopping.  First was lunch at Magnolia Street Seafood and Grill, I had broiled seafood platter with shrimp, fish, scallops and a crab cake (which was actually pretty good). and Diane had the Blackened scallop platter.  The food was great, the first good seafood we have had in a while.  We headed to the antique store which turned out to be at ‎least‎  ten stores, maybe more.  We had to head home before we hit them all.  I guessed we needed to save some for the next time. We got back around 4 pm a couple of nice walks around the park.  Salad for dinner.

Saturday 20 February 2021

   A lovely day today temp's in the low 70's and plenty of sunshine.  We drove down to Alva to visit with Jen and Greg.  The ride down took a lot longer than we thought, first we stopped at the antique store to double check on an item but the store was closed.  When we got back in the car Diane noticed a coffee shop right at the car,  so we went to get coffee.  Back on the road for a while and we finished the coffee and not long until we needed a bathroom break.  We finally arrive about 11 visited for awhile then went down to the river for lunch.  Again what a nice day.  After lunch we went back to their camper chatted a while and headed home about 3:00-3:30.

                                            The McCurdy's at the Folk's.

  Sunday 21 February 2021

    We had breakfast cooked on the grill and slowly started packing up for our trip north tomorrow.  We took a few walks down by the river and to check out the rest of the campground.  There are quite a few "full timing families" here.  You know winter camping used to be mostly retired folks.  Parents were working at the office and the kids were in school but now with COVID and home schooling the little buggers are out during the winter months.  They are starting to take campsites meant for the old people.  Next was a call about our RV and was it still for sale.  They were very interested in it and were coming down to see it.  We told them we were moving and they would called us tomorrow.  We were excited started planning our next  adventure.  Chicken on the grill and off to bed to toss and turn and think, just couldn't turn off on minds.

Beautiful trail down by the Peace River.  

Monday 22 February 2021

   We were up early still half excited about the interest in the Moho.  We were packed and on the road about 10:40 for the 100 mile drive back to Country Side campground.  After a short stop for lunch we pulled in at 2pm. Way to early for happy hour.  We got every thing arranged and ready for the evening. Diane had to go get propane for the grill while I put up the TV antenna.  There were a lot of ant hills around the camper so I sprayed (saving Rudy I hope).  Just before happy hour started the phone rang and the RV buyer wants the RV and wants it by Monday.  Plan is he flies down Saturday to look and drives it home on Monday.  Well Holy Crap  We dropped the wine and started making phone calls Diane was looking for a place to stay while I looked for storage unit and a place to transfer the title.  By bed time we were exhausted but our brains were in high gear.  How or even could we pull this off.

Busy Tampa to a peaceful river front CG!!

 Thursday 11 February 2021

     Starting to pack up.  I took the ladder back to Len's but didn't even get a chance to say Hi, he was in surgery with another dog.  Diane went to get her nails done while I took one last bike ride for this place. We got a new neighbor last night his name is J.D.   Now J.D. has a very long fifth wheel (toy hauler)and truck.  He put the ramp down on the back of the unit which turns in a deck.  His deck and our picnic table almost touch, I'm glad we are leaving tomorrow just a little close for me. I made chicken on the grill and talked more with J.D. than Diane, he was closer. Cleaned up and got ready for tomorrow. 

Friday 12 February 2021

   Today was another warm sunny day. We are traveling 61 miles to Lazy Days campground.  Originally we were going there to see Kate but she is in process of moving so that all got cancelled.  Now it is just a spot to Moho shop. We left after filling up with diesel fuel which was 2.69 a gallon at a gas station and 3.19 at Love's truck stop on the other side of the road.  It took a few tries put I got this beast into the gas station and filled it up.  We hooked up the truck and headed down the road.  An uneventful trip.  We arrived at 2pm and were parked in a $65 a night premium 45ft site by 2:30.  Happy hour came at the usual time(maybe a little early today) and burgers on the grill for dinner.

Saturday 13 February 2021 

   Oh what a terrible night's sleep.  We are backed up to the highway along the front of the campground and the road noise was horrific.  After we were done complaining to each other we went over to

Our very tight site right
on the road at Lazy Days!!

Camping world for a rug and a few other things.  We stopped for lunch at this little restaurant joint, Martha's, after passing up two BBQ places because there was no inside seating.  Diane had a cuban sandwich and I had roast beef sub that must of had American cheese on it.  No need to go back. We went to an antique store when the cheese hit me, then we were on the way home.  

Sunday 14 February 2021   Happy Valentines Day to Everyone

   We had a better night's sleep last night very little truck traffic roaring past the camper.  After breakfast we searched the four big dealerships for a shorter Moho.  First was Lazy Days, they had two units in our wheel house one way over priced and one with the ceiling falling down  and water stained.  Next was General RV we waited twenty minutes to see a salesman who took all our info and told us they don't have any.  Camping World had three units, one Diane wouldn't even go in next was a Country Coach to long and lastly was a 2020 Allergo which met all of our requirement except it was over 300k.  Last place was RV One Superstore they also had three the one we really stopped to look at was sold.  So the salesman (who obviously  had us confused with another customer) took us to see a "leftover" A 2020 Dutch Star on sale for 414k and a 2021 Dutch Star for 480k.  Not even one coach in the four dealerships.  Back to the Moho and started packing for our trip tomorrow.

  Monday 15 February 2021

   Today was a new experience for us.  We packed up and were rolling down the road  by 10 am.  We are making the 76 mile trip to the Thousand Trails Campground, Peace River in Wauchula.  Diane navigated us down the road and did a good job keeping us off the highways.  Now the one road was a weeee bit narrow like one tire on the yellow line and one tire on the white line narrow but we made it.  Here are the rules for the campground you may not arrive before 12 noon, there are no reservations, you park in an electric only spot first then go look for a spot you like, go back and wait for a lottery  drawing at 2pm to see if you get full hook ups or not.  A long day but we got a nice spot, set up and had wine by 4pm.

Our very nice site 

off the road at the

Peace River CG

There is a nice nature trail at the edge of the river.  I've seen this guy every time I took a walk!!

                              

Tuesday 16 February 2021

   Started with breakfast on the grill with a change to Spam and eggs this morning.  A bit cool this morning I had to wear a sweatshirt to cook.   A nice walk for Rudy then a short drive around the area.  We hit an antique store and two restaurants in Wachula.  No luck at the antique store but the restaurants looked good but we weren't hungry yet so we drove down the road a bit to Zolfo to check out a couple campgrounds.  There were 5 campgrounds one was really nice but you can't get in, next was ok very tight with gravel roads, two were trailer hoods no way, and the last was a county park but had only water and electric.  Exhausted by now we stopped at the country diner for lunch Pioneer Kitchen, the food was ok no need to go back.  Back home a couple long walks for Rudy and ribs for dinner.

Back in Lake Pan

 Another catch up post.  I don't know where the time goes.

 

    We left Camp Blanding on the 4th and stopped at Steve's RV Repair around 11 and still managed to be parked in the Stagecoach Campground by 2 pm.  Now don't get to excited about how far we went.  Steve's was only 42 miles from Camp Blanding and the Campground was less than a mile from Steve's so all total it was a 43 mile day.  Steve was very nice we thought he would look at the camper and schedule an appointment for March but to our surprise he fixed the three big items right there in the parking lot.  I was impressed.  Over to the Stagecoach Campground for the night and of course burgers on the grill.  The campground was nice enough.  If you ever want to visit St. Augustine this would be the place to camp $65 a night but very convenient and they have a trolley stop right there. 

    Friday the 5th we headed over to Lake Panasoffkee  to the Countryside Campground.  Diane was navigating and found a "short cut" and kept us off the big highways.  It did save some mileage!  First we were stuck in road construction for 20/30 minutes just parked in a line of traffic.  We turned and turned and went through some very small towns that have very small roads.  After a quick lunch break we completed our 117 mile trip to arrive at 3:30.  Five hours to go 177 mile averaging 23 mile per hour.  It  was really a nice trip and a fairly nice day.

   I know I just finished complaining about the cold weather but now it is warming up to fast.  Saturday was perfect day temps in the low 70's, barely a breeze and clear blue skies.  After picking up a saw from Len's I took a nice bike ride, Diane went for a walk and we had steaks on the grill for dinner. A great day. 

Diane found this guy on
her walk, in a telephone
pole, what the heck.

  By Sunday the 7th it was hot and sticky.  I worked on making extra shelves for our bedroom closets, sawed boards to length and stained them.  Next I went back over to Len's to borrow a ladder and that almost wore we out just getting hot.   Had a nice talk with Len and made arrangements for him to come over Tuesday evening for dinner.

   

     Monday I worked on staining and polyurethaneing the closet shelves had to keep moving them out of the direct sunshine.  We went out for lunch over to the Fisherman's Cove and the food was great.  We took the long way home checking on some campgrounds and antique stores nothing of interest though.  Back to the Moho salad for dinner and sat in the shade with a glass of wine.

   Tuesday we cleaned out the slide topper cover.  Unbeknown to us leaves, pine needles, sticks and other debris have been gathering under the cover.  It was gross half rotten crap stuck in there for years.  We got it all done but what a job.  It was hot Diane mopped sweat off of me each time I moved the ladder.  I had gloves on and had to dig the crap out with my hands.  But we made it in time to be cleaned up and dinner prepared by the time Len arrived.  We had jalapeno  stuffed venison wrapped in bacon.  Len gave Rudy his shots first because Rudy doesn't like him that much.  It seems he holds a grudge after after being "fixed by Len" years ago.  We had a wonderful evening ate and talked until almost 10pm.

                                             Cleaning the Awning cover, yuk!

Wednesday 10 Feb 2021

   Another warm day temp's in 80's and little wind.  We hung out this morning morning Diane had a hair cut appointment and I cleaned up around the camper.  Out for lunch to Catfish Johnny's, food was good service was not.  They just didn't have enough servers to handle the crowd and the food was a little on the cool side.  Down to Floral City to pick up flowers for Shawna and then over to the cemetery.  Back to the Moho .... for dinner and we started to clean up for the trip to Lazy Days on Friday. 

A visit to Shawna.  I was a beautiful day!!

Here comes the cold front!!

 Friday 29 January 2021

   I forgot one exciting thing last blog.  We were here enjoying lunch when Diane looked out and saw our local hawk thrashing around about 20 feet from the camper.  He has been around all month and likes to sit on the roof of vehicles.  Finally when he was still we could see he had a good sized snake he was trying to subdue.  It took awhile but he eventually flew off carrying he thing.  I would say a two footer anyway.  It was neat to watch.  Just kind of a nice Florida day.  We hung around the campground Diane did some laundry, I went for a bike ride.  Hamburgers on the grill then sat by the fire with a glass of wine.

      

Enjoying the view
from the campfire!

Saturday 30 January 2021

   Another nice sunny day.  We had breakfast and drove down the road to check out a campground we always thought would be nice to stay at.  It sits right on the banks of a nice lake and we pass by every trip, so today we checked it out.  My heavens it was a disaster!  We could hardly get through with the truck. I'm certainly glad we didn't make reservations there for a month or even a night.  But the day wasn't wasted we stopped for lunch(surprised are you)at The Wrap Shack.  Diane had a bang'n shrimp wrap and I had a grouper sandwich with eloutes (mexican grilled corn), it was all very good.  Next was a junk store just got a stop sometimes.  And we hit a roadside vegetable  stand got the best strawberries we have ever had and none  of them made it to the refrig. 

                

               Brad's lunch in Hawthorne, FL.

               Nice day for a drive.

Sunday 31 January 2021

   Today was a planned work day. The shower was draining slow and getting slower each day and Diane has been wanting me to remove the shower door for a good cleaning.  Today was that day.  Diane cleaned the remaining windows and window screens while I got started.  As normal the tearing apart went really well and in short order I had the shower door outside.  I started right in on the shower with the plunger putting just enough water in to help seal the plunger.  That is when thing started to go south.  After a vigorous plunging I stopped and looked,  there is now no water draining at all!  Hit with the plunger again, nothing except for gross stinking brown water bubbling up from the shower drain.  I started to sweat and was trying to come up with a new idea.  I repeated plunging several more times until it became apparent to me it was not clearing.  Diane was starting to worry!  I needed my fish tape(for cleaning drains) I couldn't find it.  Finally I found it in the my plumbing items.  Had the shower draining in no time.  By now Diane had finished the windows, cleaned the door panels, and went to town and back 'til I got finished. We started to reinstall the door and I'm missing a very small screw that holds the door in place. We looked, and looked, and looked no screw it probably went down the drain.  Back to my tool boxes found a screw but it was to long, found the hacksaw with no blade in it,  found another blade, cut the screw and in no time had the door reinstalled.   Sitting here eating dinner Diane looks at me and says we should clean the door once a year.  I Don't Think So!

Monday 1 February 2021

   Woke up it was fairly warm 59 degrees but that turned out to the high for the day.  The wind was blowing quite briskly but Diane looked out window and decided it was decent enough to cook outside. By the time I was done cooking bacon, eggs and home fries the temps had dropped almost 10 degrees and wind blew the grill flame out once.  Breakfast was good fried taters tasted more like potato chips and Diane did do most of the work preparing the food and getting everything ready inside.   But I was outside the whole time!  I forgot to mention a light drizzle settled in toward the end.  We stayed inside worked/played on the computer most of the day. No sun at all today and a strong wind all day long.

  Chicken(rotisserie) on salad for dinner and we are huddled in front of the fireplace. 

Missing our friends!!

 Monday 25 January 2021

   Everything returns to normal.  The weather has warmed up for a few days so we started with breakfast on the grill(our last pack of scrapple) then back to phone calls and bill paying etc(yuck).  Last week we

took the truck in for the check engine light fix and now it is on again so I went back to the garage and they can't fix it, I have to take to a Ford dealer(just great $$$).  It was after lunch until I got back, a quick bite to eat and I went for a bike ride while Diane checked on mail delivery.  Temps in the 70's today, we're just lovin' that.  Happy hour alone,  started a fire and ended up with just hot dogs cooked over the fire.

Beautiful sunset!!

Tuesday 26 January 2021

   If you remember a week or so again we went to St. Augustine and bought two things at camping world.  This morning we drove back down to return the stuff just our luck the stuff didn't fit.  However

we managed to stop for lunch at Woodpeckers BBQ.  The food was great we split the rib and brisket meal. After lunch we stopped to check out a RV repair shop and made an appointment for service.  Back to the Moho for dinner.  The weather is still great in the 70's good enough for shorts these past few days. Chicken on salad for dinner and called it a day.

Wednesday 27 January 2021

    It rained almost all day.  Stayed in the camper.  The end

Thursday 28 January 2021

   The rain yesterday bought much cooler weather our way.  47 degrees and the wind was around 20 mph when I got up this morning, it was so cold Rudy slept in until 9:30.  We did survive and wind died down a bit in the afternoon.  They are having the Navy Chiefs initiation this week with the final day today so we have been entertained with all the commotion. We did get over to the MP office to get our finger print cards filled out and Diane made a post office run this afternoon.   That was about it for the day.    

    

Exercise by the lake,
cold and windy!!

Visiting with friends

 Sunday 17 January 2021 to Sunday 24 January 2021

   This entire week we spent with our friends Buddy and Teresa from Louisiana.  We didn't go anywhere this year.  With COVID and all we just stayed here at the campground but we still had a great time.  There was a lot of eating, talking, happy hours, playing mexican train/sequence, more eating, sleep repeat.  We did go to the museum here on base and that was fun.  The museum host was probably the best part of the tour, a retired navy man just absolutely full of information and followed us around trying to impart most of his knowledge.  We had great food.  Crawfish etouffee, bacon wrapped chicken, grilled filets with grilled squash/zucchini, burgers, bacon wrapped cream cheese stuffed venison loin(YUM)and our last night pizza from Papa Murphy's(our new favorite pizza).  Several special treats Teresa made, baked spicy pretzels,  Rolo chocolate turtles, creole spicy crackers.  Most everything we ate especially if they made it started and ended with jalapeno, including but not limited to jalapeno rub,  jalapeno seasoning, and my new favorite - jalapeno cream cheese.
   We really had a good time catching up and with COVID and such there was just endless conversation.  They were up and packed and hit the road Sunday around lunch, off for an estimate for the Moho.

   Sunday night Diane and I tried out our new fire pit and relaxed with a glass of wine and boring burgers for dinner.  

 

Time at Camp Blanding

 Sunday 10 January 2020

  We took a drive to St. Augustine mostly to see how long it takes for when Buddie and Teresa get here.  We drove through the town of Penny Farms that turns out to be the home of J C Penny and now there is a big retirement home there.  We drove on into St. Augustine looking for a restaurant when we remembered the town.  The oldest town has the oldest and narrowest streets, plus $20 to park flat rate.  Soooo we headed out of town and found Georgie's diner that had it's own parking lot.  Food was great I had shrimp over rice with a wonderful veggie medley and Diane had grilled Mahi tacos which were great and huge. Back to the Moho via Gander Outdoor where we purchased seat covers and a set of sheets. The sheets fit but the seat cover that says "fits most" didn't fit.  Salad for dinner.

             Main street Penny Farms and the entrance to the retire center. 

           

Monday 11 January 2020

  We went into Starke for a few items and came back empty handed but with full bellies. I talked with a detailing guy here washing other units and scheduled him for tomorrow.  Burgers and chips for dinner.

Tuesday 12 January 2020

   Woke up this morning to the chirp of a gas detecting senor at 2:45 am.  I turned on the lights Diane moaned and rolled over.  I got my glasses, flash light, and screw driver and was preparing to tear it apart when I read the code and just hit reset and all was well back to bed.  After a nice breakfast on grill Diane took the truck into town for an oil change and to fix the check engine light while I waited for Ernest(detailer).  The oil change went well, not so much for check engine light.  The sensor is in gas tank and he said if we go that far we should have the tank cleaned.  So Monday it goes back in.  Meanwhile I read up on the gas detector.  The reset only works for three days so Diane ordered us one just as soon as she got home.  Ernest called said he couldn't make it and rescheduled for Friday. Dinner was wings brought home from Dick's Wings they were OK.

Wednesday 13 January 2020

   Diane has been busy ordering us parts and supplies since we arrived and today I started cleaning out bins and installed new water filters and generally rearranged basement compartments.  Diane went to the grocery store and to check on where we can get COVID vaccine.  My ears were feeling like they were full of wax, hope no ear infection.  Grilled chicken on salad for dinner and that was it for today.

Thursday 14 January 2020

   I woke up this morning with that all to familiar twinge in my ear.  Diane cleaned out the medicine cabinet and found two old bottles of drops and we started treating this morning. By evening we were treating both ears. Diane once again tolerated my fussing and moaning very well although she wasn't around much. Humm wonder why she is running around all day. She did check the drops and one bottle expired in 2013 but still seemed to work.  I just don't want to have to back to the urgent care facility.

Friday 15 January 2020

   Just finished morning ear drops when Ernest rolled up.  Poor Rudy had the worst morning of his little life(excluding castration).  Two guys washing the Moho making noise washing the windows etc.  He flew up to the windshield barking hair standing up trying to chase that guy away when someone else showed up at the side window, he flew back through the camper hair standing up, barking for all he was worth.  And so it went for a hour occasionally he would stop and just pant.  We felt so bad we packed him up and went to town.  Had lunch at Cedar River restaurant while we were saving the dog. We returned to the Moho which glistened in the sunlight, looks sharp. Rudy sniffed around the place and has been sleeping ever since.  Diane went to the office picked up some packages including the new gas detector.

Saturday 16 January 2020

   True to the instruction, the gas detector starting beeping at 2:45 am 36 hours after the reset.  Now they program this thing to beep 7yrs after manufacture you think they could make for daytime hours.  I guess I'll replace it today.  Anyway, a sunny but cool day and very windy.  Wind speeds to be over 20mph this afternoon.  I cooked breakfast on the grill after the morning ear treatment.  We have now used up the 2013 batch  and moved on to 2020(expired) batch so they should be full strength yet.  Ears are feeling a little better.  Diane went to the grocery store, wine store and drug store trying to get stocked up for the visit with Buddy and Teresa.  When she returned we went to pick a spot in Lawtey to meet Buddy and Teresa and bring them back to the base.  Bake haddock for dinner