Florida 2007-08

Wednesday Dec. 12th we left Rainbow Plantation, AL. and traveled across the Florida panhandle to the Ho-Hum RV Park at Carrabelle FL. This is a real nice park right on the gulf with sites facing the water.

Thursday we moved on south to Silver Springs and Wilderness RV Park where we visited with Jim and Sue Straub, Holiday Rambler full timers we first met in Colorado in 2004. They own a lot here now and are spending all winter here. This is a very nice park.
Saturday we moved on south to Bushnell and the Escapees Sumpter Oaks RV Park.
We found several of our friends here including our Iowa friends Lloyd and Bert Christiansen and Jerry and Joann Putz.

While at Bushnell we toured the surrounding area, including Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park where we saw a nice display of Florida’s Wildlife including manatees. Another day we went to Disney World with the Christiansen’s and Putz’s.
We spent Christmas and New Years here and had nice meals at the club house both days.
There are lots of activities at the park and surrounding areas.

Sunday January 20th we left Bushnell and moved up to Ocala where Sandy was scheduled to take the RV Driving Course which is an eight hour course over two days including classroom and hands on driving. This was a great class with a very good instructor. Sandy did real well and it was a great confidence builder. There was an excellent place to practice turning and backing nearby so we stayed an extra day here and Sandy practiced some more while everything was fresh in her mind. The name of the Company is the
RV Driving School owned by Dennis Hill and we highly recommend them if anyone wants professional training.

Friday January 25th we left Ocala and moved to Outdoor Resorts at Clermont where we visited with Earl and Dottie Wharton friends from Mifflinburg, PA. We went to Disney in the evening to see the fireworks and light parade.
Sunday we went to church service and out for dinner with Whartons.

Tuesday January 29th we left Clermont and moved south to Zolfo Springs and the Escapee’s RV Resort where we stayed for two months. We had a great time visiting most all the attractions and towns in the south-central area of Florida. One day we went over to North Port and had lunch with cousin Lin McClain and had a nice visit. We also checked out many of the RV Resorts in the area for future reference. We took part in many of the activities at the resort, went to the Florida Fly wheelers antique farm equipment show, went to see the space shuttle lift off from Kennedy Space Center and visited the winter headquarters of the Royal Lipizzan Stallions which was a great show.

Monday March 31st we left Zolfo Springs and moved south to Fort Myers and Siesta Bay RV Resort. While here we spent some time on the beach, visited the Edison Ford Museum and laboratory and did general sightseeing. We also had a nice visit with Harold and Susan Burns, friends who moved to Cape Coral some years ago.

Tuesday April 8th we left Ft. Myers and traveled across the Everglades to Homestead FL and the Goldcoaster RV Resort. While here we took the beautiful drive out to Key West and did the trolley tour around the city. We had a very enjoyable day in this neat city and the drive out the keys was great.

Friday April 11th we left Homestead and moved north to Port St. Lucie and Outdoor Resorts St. Lucie Resort. While at the Tampa RV Show in January we received a coupon foe three free nights at this resort. This is a beautiful luxury resort with lots selling from $125,000 to $200,000 dollars. Needless to say we didn’t buy a lot, but it’s nice to see how the other half lives. While we were here we went up to Vero Beach and had lunch and a nice visit with Harry and Carol Ridell who live in Allenwood, PA and spend winters in Vero Beach.

Monday April 14th we moved up to Jetty Park at Cape Canaveral where we could see cruise ships go in and out of port from our campsite. This is a great park with a nice beach and fishing pier. One morning we just missed a submarine go out. We went to the famous Dixie Crossroads for seafood on night.

Friday April 18th we moved on north to St. Augustine and Stagecoach RV Park. We took the trolley tour and got to see and learn the history of the oldest city in the US. We had never been here before and it was real interesting.

Sunday April 20th we traveled north to Santee Lakes Campground in Summerton SC. where we spent the night.

Monday April 21st we moved on over to Myrtle Beach and Apache Campground where we had a site right on the beach. While here we traveled up and down the Grand Strand which is miles and miles of stores and restaurants. We also had a nice visit with Bob and Ollie Salines, our daughter in law Michelle’s parents.

Thursday April 24th we left Myrtle Beach and traveled north to Ashland VA where we stopped for the day.

Friday we returned to Farragut, PA arriving about 4:00 PM. PA is beautiful in the spring and it’s great to see the kids. We will be here a few weeks before heading for Wyoming.