Week Ending December 18, 20"

Ocala Square

Christmas Tree in Square

Finally some nice warm weather.  Florida has returned.  It has been two weeks of below normal temperatures, but it did allow us to do a lot of "road trips" and exploring.  Checked out a number of kayak rivers nearby, and at our age of course, the best being a float downstream and a ride back.  Found one on the Rainbow Springs State Park River where we could drop in, float down, and having dropped one bike (Bob's) in Dunnellon, Fl, bike back to the car, 5 miles prox. so not to bad.  The park had a very beautiful Christmas Light display, with Santa arriving on a pontoon boat, fully decorated with lights.  Fun for the kids!

Tribute to Horse Country

Turtles on River

We purchased an annual pass to the Silver Springs Park just five miles away.  The park is primarily an animal park, but has regular entertainment all free with our pass.   Saw my first Kodiak bear here.  He was huge.  Entertainment is outside, so you bring lawn chairs.  Entertainers are under a stage.  Missed Crystal Gayle, but many more coming, mostly country.  They also have a "Festival of Lights" for Christmas, decorating the park throughout with lights and Christmas music.  Nice!

Sliver Spring River

Found a nice walking park nearby, Marshall Swamp Trail head, with a five mile paved trail.  Lot's of loops so can lengthen or shorten at your wish.  Took our first dinghy trip, launching right here at the park on the Ocklawaha River, pronounced (Oak-la-wa-ha).  Then taking a fork on the Silver Spring River through the state park.  No wake river, so lots of kayaks and canoes, we exploring in our dinghy at idle speed.  Tropical river, very clear water with lots of turtles, birds, and gators.  Saw lots of  all.  They say there are monkeys as well, but today we did not see any.  Round trip was four hours with no docking spots, very remote, but we did find one small inlet for a "potty stop", a must!

Gator

Purchased a campfire ring, allowed in the park, and found a local guy selling wood.  Nice sitting around the fire in the evening.  Being so cold we have not met a lot of people in the park. The warmer weather has brought people out, and Saturday night is a park potluck dinner, so we will meet some folks there.  Downtown Ocala has a very active square in the center of town, with lots of dinning nearby and entertainment in the square.  Last night a nice Jazz group. Featured a sax player and great base player.

Dinghy Capt Bob

Saturday morning rain, clearing by mid day.  Went to the Silver Springs concert featuring Mel Tillus in the park starting at 3pm. Bring your lawn chairs and free entrance with our pass.  Our older friends know who he is, but younger followers won't have a clue.  But he put on a great concert, good band, great comic sense of humor.  Fun!  Followed by a pot luck dinner in the park.  Really good food. Ended evening around the campfire at the coach.

Week One, begin Dec 1, 2010

Left Oshkosh for our winter south with temps dropping quickly, night in the teens, highs in the day in the 20's.  First overnight in Effingham, Il, Wal-Mart.  Cranked up the generator and all the heat we could, both furnaces, electric heaters, and the fireplace.  Well, too much!!  Blew a breaker, all out.  Couldn't find where.  Called RV expert friend Gary Galow, gave me some ideas, finally found breaker on the Generator.  Thank God!

On the Road

Wednesday, headed towards Nashville, Tn.  Wanted to visit our favorite Nashville stop, the Gaylord Opryland Hotel / Convention Center, particularly after the Cumberland River spring flood, said it had 10' of water in the facility, and those of you that have been there know how beautiful it is.  Well, unbelievable, after only six months the facility is totally repaired and more beautiful than ever.  A must see!!

Back to the coach, no water.  Water leaking outside. After a through check found water filter frozen and broke off mounting.  Oh, this is getting fun!  Left home without winterizing thinking with heater on would prevent freezing.  Wrong!  Get out of  " Dodge" earlier or winterize!  Well, anyway, was able to jump hoses around the filter and now have water.  Temps getting a little better, highs in the 40's here in Nashville.  Overnight at the Two Rivers RV bark, again a favorite of ours here in Nashville.

Thursday AM, weather good , nice driving day.  Headed for Montgomery, Al, finding a nice transient RV park just south of the city.  Park owner directed us to a rural route through Alabama country side en route to our destination, Ocala, Fl.  So took route Friday AM, beautiful day and pretty countryside, but very narrow road so travel slow between 45-50 mph.  As the result we would have arrived in our park in the dark, so decided to overnight in Lake City, Fl  Wal-Mart.  Lot was very busy and full, but we finally found a spot and by bed time was very comfortable and quiet, even with our gen set running all night.

Our Park

Our Site

Saturday AM early start for our park, stopping for breakfast and filling our propane tank.  Checked in around 11:00Am.  Nice welcome and our site looked great.  Settled in and walked park and the Dingy / Kayak launch area.  Looks nice.  Mid afternoon got a call from friends Skip & Marlene Zacher, coming through Ocala in route to their place in the Keys.  Joined them for happy hour and dinner.

Sunday nice and sunny, temps 70 degrs.  Relaxed and took in the Packer game, no local broadcast so listened to on Sirius satellite radio.  Great Game!

Monday, toured downtown Ocala stopping at the visitors center gathering info on kayaking, biking, parks, entertainment, etc.  Lots to do here.  Really nice area, just need warmer weather.  Warmer by weekend in 70's, then another cold front highs in the 50's.  Oh well, no sympathy from Wisconsinites.

End of week One 12/6/10