Week begin 1/09/2010

Week 7 & 8 – 1/9 thru 1/23

Weather has finally turned. Temps in the 70’s and 80’s, but windy and lots of rain.

On the way back from Lisa’s, checked out “Lion Country Safari”, a drive thru park with roaming African animals, looks like could be a full day adventure. Plan to schedule with Bill & Lisa.

Checked out another RV park down the road about 20 miles towards Fort Myers called the “Glades”. That’s where Ron & Joanne are staying, the couple we met at the Elvis tribute show, and they invited us to stop by. Drove the park and got info. Lots of room, golf course on premise, a great grill, and looks like lots of activities. Stopped for a beer with Ron & Joanne. Invited them to stop by our place for happy hour prior to attending a comedy show with them at the Clewiston Inn. The dinner was great, the show “ok”, but poorly attended. Felt bad for the comedians.

Attended a large breakfast gathering at our park scheduled every Saturday am. Eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, beans, toast, coffee. Juice, fruit, all for $3.00. Can’t beat that. There were over 138 present, but Shari and I could not find anyone who spoke English. All French Canadians! Amazing here in Florida! New RV neighbors pulled in next to us. Helped park and quickly learned from Quebec, but they do speak broken English and are friendly.

Took a road trip over to Pompano Beach, windy with rain scheduled so thought we would take in the “Festival Flea Market Mall”. Huge indoor flea market type mall. Picked up a few small things, then went to the beach. Beach flags up for “rip currents” due to high winds. Warnings of man-of-war. Tough walking the beach. Some brave swimmers and surfers.

Been trying to walk daily. Some biking. Thirty minutes to the Okeechobee Levy, then on the scenic trail along the canal. The lake is still several miles out from the levy/canal. Lots of bird life and fishermen. The “Osprey” are nesting. They look like Eagles. Looked into a fishing charter, but they were honest with us and recommended we wait till weather warms up. Haven’t see any “gators” yet, but then it has been too cold.

Weather finally turning warm, in the 80’s but very windy.  Had a golf date with our friends over at the Glades RV park, but got there and all decided too windy and just had lunch.  Another couple saw our Wisconsin plates and stopped by, turns out they are from Waupaca, so they joined us for lunch, Ted and Ann.  Turns out we had some common aquaintance from the Weyauwega area, the Wagners, friends of the Galloways.  Small world!

 

Took a road trip over to Fort Myers to find a RV dealer, having trouble with our water heater on the coach.  Trying to solve myself, think I blew a fuse, but can’t find.  They were very helpful, training me on the use of a 12 volt tester and recommending testing all fuses.  There are lots!  Found one blown, hopefully that’s it, need to find a replacement.  This after spending $135.00 on a RV Repair “Red Neck” that couldn’t find. But did get us hot water by “jury rigging” the heater till I found the problem.  RV repair cost $120/hr plus parts.  Ouch!

Weekend back over to Palm Beach Gardens to visit Daughter Lisa again.  Sunday plan to watch the Vikings game.

End of Weeks 7 & 8

Week begin 1/03/2010

Week Six 1/3 – 1/9

Settled into the Okeechobee Landings RV Park here in Clewiston, Fl.  Weather still cold lows in the 30’s and highs in the 50’s, so not the Florida we were thinking about.  Sun has been out but the wind ‘bites”. 

Still haven’t gotten acquainted with any fellow RV’ers, other than daily greetings. Mostly French Canadian’s and they tend to gather amongst themselves speaking French.  Been trying to walk daily in spite of the weather.  Golf group on Wednesday’s, but still to cold to participate.

Thursday we took a road trip over to the Naples area.  Visited friend Ron Tenpas and he arranged for us to tour a very nice RV park in his neighborhood.  Crystal Lake RV Park, very nice “high rent” park.  They are totally booked for February, but do have some openings for March, so we may give consideration.  Met Ron at his place as he was just arriving from picking up his son & wife for a weeks stay, so just a quick hello and the we headed back to our park, about 1-1/2 hr. drive.

Friday, we are booked for a “King of Rock” Elvis show here at the Clewiston Inn for Elvis’s 75^th birthday.  Dinner at 5:30pm followed by the “Tribute Show”.   Met a very nice couple at our table staying at an RV park about 30 minutes from us.  They actually speak English!  Hope to get together for golf when weather permits.  Show was high energy with a chronological display of songs from his Ed Sullivan opening all the way up to his last live show.  It was fun! 

Saturday and Sunday weather still ugly and we were invited to visit daughter Lisa for the weekend and watch the Packer game Sunday.  Wow, what a game.  Fun but a disappointing ending.  Next week warmer weather we hope.

End of week six.

Week begin 12/21/09

Week Four and  Five 12/21-1/03

Monday, stayed one more day in Lake Magic, RV park, saying goodbye to Richard and Jeanne. Tuesday, headed to daughter Lisa’s place in Palm Beach Gardens. Lisa working late shift, so just parked and settled in. She arranged for us to stay at her friend Bill’s place in a very nice gated community, homes range in the one to five million dollar range, so our RV looked a little out of place. Bill arranged nicely to accommodate us with power and water.

Wednesday, greeted with hugs and kisses, lunch at a popular sports bar “Duffy’s. Then Bill took us over to the PGA National Golf Club where he is a card holder. Nice tour, newly renovated with a $65 million make over. Very nice! Home to many famous pro golfers, ie; Arnold Palmer and company. Entertained by professionally costumed Christmas Carolers, very good and really nice.

Christmas Eve, dinner at a very nice Bistro in Juniper. Bill’s dad joined us, as Lisa cares for him in her nursing home job. He really enjoyed our company and glowed all night. After dinner, a road trip to some incredible private Christmas light displays. A wonderful evening!

Christmas Day, relaxing day, gift exchanged, finished with a great spiral ham dinner. Day after, Bob down with the “Creeping Crud”. Sore throat, cough, congestion, the whole works. Down for three days. Great Packer game on Sunday! In the play offs! You never know!

End of Week Four

Bob still fighting the "Creeping Crud" with some improvement, but can't shake the cough.  Shari and Lisa a shopping day.  Bill toured Bob in a marina area he would frequent.   Mega yachts.  High rent area.
Mid-week Bob feeling better, walking 4-6 miles each day.  Weather been very good, temps in mid 70's.

New years eve reservations at a local Bistro.  Prior to dinner, they took us to a local Tiki Bar right on the Intercostal Water Way.  Very nice.  Dinner was great!  New Years day, said goodbye with hugs and thanks to Lisa and Bill for a great weeks stay, departing for our RV park in Clewiston, FL.

Left Lisa and Bills shortly after noon, and was not long and we were in down pour rain.  Cold front moving in and temps falling to the 60's.  Arrived at park in rain, but expected and welcomed warmly.  Assigned a nice waterfront site.  Not real fun setting up in the rain, but all went well.

Saturday, took a road trip to check our the area.  Lot's of canals around Lake Okeechobee, so kayaking will not be a problem.  Our RV park is pretty full, mostly French Canadians from Quebec, all speaking French.  Hopefully we will be accepted.  Found a Tiki Bar for an afternoon Bloody Mary, and gathered some information about the area from some locals. Big sugar cane area with a major processing plant nearby.

Sunday weather cool and cloudy.  Looks like this weather pattern for the next 10 days, high of 60 and night lows in the 30-40's.  Oh well, no snow.  Shari and I went for a long walk for lunch, then back to RV for the Packer game.  Not televised here, so tuned in on SIRUS radio.

End of Week Five