Floridahhh

We pulled up our jacks and drove out of chilly New York on Thursday morning, November 10th. Our "mini-caravan" consisted of me, driving my Sentra, following close behind George and Lucy in "Little Miss." This was our first time going separately and we both had mixed feelings about the pros and cons of solitary travel.

As the main conversationalist of our trio, I caught myself commenting about road signs, talking to myself about the drivers and the scenery and I BLASTED my Sirius XM radio turned to a Pop station. I sang along so loud that I never heard my navigation system's audio directions. I sang along to Ariana Grande, Alesia Cara, Maroon 5 and Sia, to name just a few. My new favorite song is the one by Alisia Cara, "Scars to Your Beautiful." What a powerful song.

George would never admit that he missed me, my singing, my talking or my navigational assistance, but I know he did. We called each other often and kept up with the plans for pit stops or for one of those,  "stretch the legs" breaks. 

I must pat myself on the back, because I managed to drive the over 1,100 miles, most of which was on I-95, without panicking too much. In my defense, no one likes driving through the cities of Trenton, Baltimore, DC, Jacksonville or Orlando either.

During my ride, I took the time to notice the little things and smile often because that's just the way my mind wanders. 

Below is a great imagery of a "woman's mind" and exactly how my mind is usually churning with thoughts of people, places, seasons and feelings.

A Woman's Mind

While driving through New Jersey, there is a Service Plaza called "Thomas Edison Service Area." My thoughts, similar to the little balls in the gif above were as follows:

• Humm, Thomas Edison.
• His name is actually, Thomas Alva Edison.
• I know that because my father went to Edison High School in Mt. Vernon and always said Thomas Alva......
• I lived in Mt. Vernon.
• I'm in New Jersey.
• I remember driving in the car with my parents to visit my mom's family in Linden, NJ.
•  I wish the tractor-trailer behind me would either pass me or back off.
• We spent summers in Seaside Heights, NJ.
• My step-mother is moving from New Jersey to New York.
• Gee, I just left New York and I'm already in New Jersey.
• My grandmother was born in Boonton, NJ.
• I've got a lot more miles to go.
• Bruce Springstein was born in New Jersey.
• Humm. I'm still in Jersey.

Clara Barton, Founder of the Red Cross

I could have gone on and on, but then I came to the Clara Barton Rest Area and remembered that she was a nurse.

This is no lie. This is how my mind works.

We were able to utilize the parking lots of three Walmarts on our trip south. The first was in Maryland, the second was in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina and the last night was spent in Georgia. Besides the cost for food, gas and tolls, the trip only cost us $10, which was the fee to dump our grey tank. We even got a free fill up of potable water at a North Carolina Pilot Service Station.  Life is good.

On Sunday afternoon, we arrived safe and sound at 233. The long drive was over and the work to get all settled began first thing Monday morning. Five loads of laundry (poor Lucy had "the sick" on our bed), food shopping, cooking, weeding, unpacking, re-packing and sitting in my rocking chair filled the long, damp day.

Tonight, I'm waiting for the last load to dry while watching "The Voice." I'm enjoying the music and trying hard not to sing along - for George's sake.

Deep thought for the day:   I have an almost complete disregard of precedent and a faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things always have been done .... I defy the tyranny of precedent. I cannot afford the luxury of a closed mind. I go for anything new that might improve the past. ~ Clara Barton (1821-1912)

I may sometimes be willing to teach for nothing, but if paid at all, I shall never do a man's work for less than a man's pay. Clara Barton
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/c/clarabarto276762.html

Last day in Paradise

Sunday, March 22nd was spent preparing to get back on the road after over 11 weeks at our winter home, Elite Resorts, in Clermont, FL. I went food shopping and prepared a couple of dinners for quick meals while "on the road." There is nothing worse than driving all day (even as just a passenger) and then having to cook a wholesome meal once you set down stakes.

Tonight will be a delicious meal of meatballs and "gravy" from Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza located in Brandon, FL. I haven't had such tasty meatballs since I last ate the ones my grandmother made. I actually took a batch of meatballs and sauce "to go," which they packaged up in a signature "Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza" saucepan. Thanks to great Yelp and Trip Advisor reviews, "G" and I decided to met my aunt and uncle there for lunch yesterday. We found out that they have two restaurants close to Orlando, so now we know where one of our first stops will be in the fall!!! Fabulous food and service got a 5 star rating from me. If you are ever in the area of one of their restaurants, you MUST stop by for a fresh, homemade meal.  Everything is cooked just as Anthony's grandmother made it many years ago.

While that meal is simmering, I've already finished a crock pot recipe for French Dip Hogies that will serve as tomorrow evenings meal, chicken for the grill, shrimp for the bar-bee, and some nice baby back ribs for subsequent dinners. That will see us through until we reach Boone, NC, where we will see #1 son and family in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Before we reach their log cabin in the woods, we will spend a "vacation day" in Savannah, GA, taking in the sights and sounds of that lovely southern city. A future blog will document where we went and what we did.

"G" has all the outdoor gear packed and stored, whereas tomorrow, I will finish securing some loose items inside. It is actually getting easier with each trip. I have it ALMOST down to a science. Once I complete this blog entry, my desktop will be stored away until April 1st, when we settle down in Croton.

On December 17, we pulled up stakes in Croton to head south, and here we are preparing to head back. We feel very fortunate to have missed a terrible winter that was wrought with snowstorm after snowstorm. Our area saw snow totals measured by the foot instead of inches. Florida was unusually cool this winter, yet I never complained, because I knew how much worse it could have been.

So, here we are -  a bit sad, at the tail end of "G's and V's First Great Big Adventure." We are hoping for clear weather and smooth sailing as we head due north. The plans for the"Second Great Big Adventure" will be started soon! Go west, young man....Colorado, here we come! Yay!

Deep thought for the day:  "If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant..." - Anne Bradstreet  I hope our spring will be "so pleasant" even though we did not experience the bitter winter.

Walt Disney World Winter 2015

Once "G" and I were able to obtain Florida "resident" season passes to Walt Disney World, we wasted no time getting our money's worth before we have to make the trek back to NY. 

After having visited each of the four parks twice, our consensus is we like Animal Kingdom for the relaxed atmosphere, great directional signs and all the nature paths that change with each visit and Hollywood Studios for the smaller crowds and great entertainment.

Magic Kingdom is always hectic, crowded and difficult to maneuver from section to section. There is also many more crying babies and children who are either extremely over-stimulated or exhausted. I know I get a "tad" cranky by the end of our forays. 

Epcot is always fun and crowded and we need to make a couple of more trips there to see more. I don't think you can actually see "everything," since shows often change and attractions are updated or improved.

The very first time I visited The Magic Kingdom was around 1987. I remember forcing my kids on the "It's a Small World" ride. Needless-to-say, since they were used to day trips to Great Adventure, they didn't handle the experience as much as I had hoped. Epcot had just opened and was still under major construction back then and only two restaurants were built and there were very few rides. 

About four years ago, "G" and I made a trip down with my eldest son and his family. We were treated to the master suite of a condo that we shared with them that was located within the Disney property. On that trip, my son's kids insisted on going on "It's a Small World." Payback is sooo sweet.  Yesterday, "G" and I went on that ride and I am still in awe of the craftsmanship that went into its creation. We waited on line for 30 minutes and my sole reason was to video a portion of the ride so I could text it to my son. I think I enjoyed razzing him more than the ride.

Photos of from some of the different trips we have mad to the Disney World Parks. 

First day visiting "The Mouse."

Our official "resident" passes"

Cinderella's Castle at dusk

Couldn't resist this shot. Notice the wording on the side of the building

A visit to Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom birds.- This is a spoonbill

Saw this one, but couldn't get a good shot. They weave round nests in the trees

Saw this one too, but it was quite elusive.

Mama gorilla and her baby

Main Street Parade at Mickey Land

Entrance to It's a Small World

Click the video below for the "Deep thought for the day:"

March 5, 2015 - Swimming with Manatees!

Ever since I read in a fellow RVer's and blogger's post about swimming with the Manatees in Crystal River, Florida, I have wanted to do the same. You can click HERE to see their blog entry. Since reading about their venture, it has been on my "bucket list." Since many of the items on my "B" list have gone by the wayside, I was determined to see that goal to fruition.

Thinking that waiting for the warmer weather would be a wise move, it turned out to backfire. I discovered that once the weather warms up, manatees swim back into the wide open gulf. They make their exodus after being couped up in the small bay in Crystal River all winter where the water stays at a constant 72 degrees.

I "Googled" tour companies and found River Ventures, booked my trip for the following day and was able to get into the 9 am class, which meant we needed to get on the road by 7 am. River Ventures had a very good Yelp and Trip Advisor rating and they surely lived up to their reputation.

After viewing a short video and getting fitted with a wetsuit the group was transported to the pier to meet our captain and board the boat. Through great instruction from "Captain Mike," I learned proper snorkeling technique and had no difficulty with the mask and snorkel tube. Fortunately for our group, we were able to follow the path of a small "herd" of three, a lone (male?) and a momma with her baby. I came quite close to the mom and baby, because I was able to hear the little "squeak" of the baby when my head was underwater.

The boat dropped anchor at least five times and we entered the water with each stop and snorkeled until we heard shouts from another boat that spotted the "herd." After the fourth trip, I finally got to touch the tail of one and had another swim directly underneath me. I wasn't scared, just so surprised that I was lucky enough to have had an encounter. This is definitely one of the best things I've ever done and can't wait to revisit Pete's Pier once more next winter.

I learned a lot about manatees. Although they are called "sea cows," they are more closely related to the elephant. They are an endangered species and are closely monitored. I learned that when swimming with manatees, you must never approach one. You must wait for it to come to you, only one hand is allowed to touch it, because two hands indicates "holding," You cannot swim after one, as that is considered "chasing." It is best to remain as quiet and still as possible and wait....Manatees have the personality of a cat; aloof, bored, disinterested, skittish, independent, yet curious. Their curiosity allows us the opportunity to view these one ton, to one-and a half ton beauties.

Interesting observations about our adventure:

• We were on boat #13 and there were 13 people in our group. For those of you who know me well, you are aware of my aversion to the number 13!
• Out of the 13, only four were from the US. The others were tourists from Norway, Finland and Sweden.
• Not everyone got to have an "experience."
• Besides the "Skipper," I was the oldest person on the boat.
• People from Norway have no problem stripping down naked in front of other people.

Boat 13

The "Thirteen"

Just a little excited...

First trip back into the boat after an unsuccessful search.

The back and tail of the manatee as viewed in the murkey water.

One of the lucky ones.

From left to right the only Americans: Sarah and her dad from Ashville, NC, me and Ashley from central NJ.

Another diver's experience.

Deep thought for the day:  Never fear "fear." How dare it try to scare me!

Update from Clermont

I can't believe how much time passes before I get an opportunity to add an entry to my blog. It seems like we have been caught up in the whirlwind of life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

I left off my last entry stating that we were heading to Lake Ridge Winery. I ended up having a fun time sampling the different wines from grapes that are grown here, as well as other local vineyards. The grapes are fermented and bottled at Lake Ridge which is located in the "mountainous" section of Florida. The muscadet grape is the main grape used for the majority of the wines, and its aroma brings back sweet memories of grabbing green grapes from my ancestors' grape arbors and squeezing them into my mouth. You didn't eat the tough outer skin, just the sweet meat it contained.

The hopper where the grapes go after harvest

The vines go on for acres and acres.

Our tour guide, Joseph

A case of wine later, we walked over to a well shaded lawn where a band played some great 70's music, including tunes by The Grateful Dead, Led Zeplin, Crosby, Stills and Nash, and the Allman Brothers. It took me back to another day and time. The food was eclectic, to say the least, and the wine - terrific.

The biggest news we have to announce, is that we decided to purchase an RV pad here at  Elite Resorts. We loved this place as soon as we put our jacks down, and have felt so very much "at home," that once we started to see "Sold" signs going up left and right, we decided to purchase a little piece of heaven before all the good sites were taken. 

Our little piece of heaven...red circles indicate recently sold

So, at the end of the month, when we close on our lot, we will become official Floridians, and "G" will have his home base in the south, a wish he has had for quite some time. I had never pictured myself living in "God's Waiting Room," but I quickly fell in love with this area and all of its natural beauty, shops, restaurants and its proximity to both shores.  So, we will leave 223 behind in New York for 233 in Florida. Once we officially occupy site 233, I'll be sure to take a bunch of photos. Beginning in the fall, and over the next couple of years, we will start the work of expanding the paved area, getting a shed. a stackable washer/dryer, some shrubs and a tree or two. This place will be our winter haven, but traveling to see each state will remain on top of our bucket list.

Westchester County - In a State of Emergency

Our friend, Charlie, will be arriving on Wednesday after his trek from New York a week ago. He definitely got out of town in time to miss the historic storm that is forecast to hit New York tonight into tomorrow and threatening to dump close to 3 feet of snow. The governor has already issued a State of Emergency for the area we left behind.

They just just finished digging out close to 7 inches of snow a couple of days ago and before that, a terrible ice storm, making me NOT miss New York one bit. Missing friends and family is another story,

Deep thought for the day: Whether the day brings you warm sun, the dampness of heavy rain, or cold clouds bursting with snow, be grateful for the opportunity to experience it. ~ vc

Is it real or is it Memorex???? 

Long time, no blog!

It's been a bit of time since I've had the chance to sit back and tap into my creative side. We have been busy little bees buzzing all around the western and central portions of Florida.

One of our first stops was for dinner and a stroll at Downtown Disney. I was able to add two different birds to my list. This is a section where it's mainly shops and restaurants. We had dinner at Splitsville, which is a restaurant serving a variety of foods in a 50's style bowling alley. The most interesting sight of the night was that of a woman, all dressed up, in high-heel boots, picking up trash with one of those grab sticks. We assumed she was a worker, but you would never have known it by her attire.

An annoying black bird - not sure of its name.

Snowy Egret

The woman picking up trash. Only in Disney.

Not for the faint of heart. Like me...

I think this is Puff. The Magic Dragon.

Getting "G's" haircut was the next entertaining thing we did. After seeing a "barber" sign and pole, we assumed that we had the right spot, but it turned out to be a place called "Urban StylZ," a high end style and shave establishment. The place was really cool and the barbers quite talented with the scissors. I came to find out all the guys were from Puerto Rico and, man, could they cut hair. I watched one customer get a straight-razor shave for over 45 minutes. As it turned out, "G's" hairstyle took 40 minutes and he was treated to his very first (and probably last) blow dry. I had a hard time looking serious, while sitting on the bench watching it all go down.

"G" not so sure this was a good idea while I try not to laugh.

The blow drying actually took longer than I thought humanly possible.

"G" getting a treat for being so good during his hairstyle

We also made a trip out to Winter Garden to visit an old railroad museum. It was small, but interesting. Besides lighthouses, trains are "G's" next favorite thing, besides RVs, traveling, bike riding. etc.

The two photos below depict the earliest file cabinets. An excerpt from the Early Office Museum site follows:

"Letter Filing Cabinets have file drawers in which papers were stored horizontally, that is, lying flat. Drawers contained metal devices to hold papers in place as well as alphabetical dividers, e.g., the A drawer would have a divider for Aa to Ac followed by a divider for Ad to Ae, etc.

Cameron Amberg & Co. was established in 1868 and made its first Cabinet Letter Files in 1875, when they won an award from the American Institute, New York, NY. (Asher & Adams' Pictorial Album of American Industry 1876). In 1876, its Cabinet Letter Files were awarded a medal at the Centennial Exposition. The metal devices in some of its drawers bear an 1878 patent date.  In 1881, 1,000 firms were using its cabinets."

Magnificent craftmanship

Letters were filed horizontally

Last Saturday, we drove over to Bradenton to visit my Auntie and Uncle Tony. It turned out to be a long day spent mostly driving the four hour round-trip. We went to a fabulous Greek restaurant, The Olympic Cafe, for lunch and then Uncle Tony drove us all around looking at several RV resorts, Anna Maria Island and the pretty development where they live.

On Sunday, we spent the day spiffing up and getting caught up on paperwork and cleaning. "G" and Ray spent quite a bit of the day tinkering with the non-working furnace. Being without a furnace wouldn't normally be an issue in Florida, but the temperature has been dipping idown at night. By wiggling some wires and poking around, they were able to fix it with a touch of magic and a bit o' luck. Horray!

The other constant thorn in our side has been the electric hot water heating element. Although a new element was purchased and installed, It only helped "G" rule out that it was the element. So, another day was spent trying every trick in his bag, all to no avail. 

***THE CULPRIT***

One of our RV neighbors, Gary, from Arkansas, offered to take a look at the water heater, and within a few seconds determined the problem. "G" ran out to the store and bought a new thermostat and with the skill of an experienced electrician (that he is), Gary had it replaced and in working order in no time at all. 

We can't say enough good things about Gary and his wife, Linda. They are the kindest, thoughful and generous strangers we have ever come across. Although strangers no longer, I am grateful that our lives intersected at this moment in time. There should be more Gary's and Linda's in this world.

Wednesday and Thursday were spent at the Tampa RV show that was held at the Florida State Fairgrounds. On Wednesday we went with friends, Kathy and Ray and Thursday, we went alone. We did a LOT of walking, both days, and saw so many neat and interesting products, resorts, and RVs. 

As much as I didn't want to even look at any rigs, I finally allowed "G" to show me his favorite one at the show. It's a Fleetwood Discovery, 40 foot diesel. Of course it's bigger and has more bells and whistles than Allie, and sporting extravagances such as a residential refrigerator, a dishwasher, glass backsplashes, wine bar, dim-able LED lights, king-sized bed, ceramic tile flooring throughout the entire coach, washer and dryer, and bling all around. I loved everything about it except the the shower and lack of a linen closet. Besides, I love my Allie.

Here are a few photos of the Tampa RV Show:

"G" and me!

My Pod...big enough for 2, some have exterior covered kitchens. Just no bathroom.

So adorable.

The Fleetwood Discovery.

"G" discovering how much he likes this model.

The dining area. A TV rises up in front of the window.

My wine cabinet! I'd let "G" buy it just to get this!

Master bath vanity.

Some of the street performers at the RV show:

Today, we will be traveling to Lakeridge Winery with friends Kathy and Ray. They have been such great friends and are responsible for introducing us to Elite! They have spent so much of their time showing us around, helping out with our mechanical issues and making us feel so welcome here.


Deep thought for the day: Sometimes, it is impossible to repay favors and kindnesses from friends or strangers. I will continue to live by the rule of "paying it forward" whenever possible. ~ vc