Sunny Days: Winter 2017 in Florida

Raintree RV had RV's and Park Models (Stationary Tiny Homes)

Terry loved riding with the bike club

On December 27^th we traveled to Navarre Beach to pick up the RV and first traveled to the KOA at Perry, Fl; then Ellenton, Fl (not recommended) and arrived on Jan. 1, 2017 at Raintree RV in North Ft. Myers where we resided for the month of January. Lots of activities ((bridge, euchre and bingo) for the geriatrics crowd and a bike club that went on 10 mile trips. It is a 55+ community and full of nice people (Canadians and Michiganders mostly) but really aimed for an older crowd. We had a perfect location in L14 and met many nice people.

We went to Sarasota and the Ringling Museum--this is a miniature model

Lakeland Rally was dry camping or "Boondocking"

Feb. was gypsy time. First week in Lakeland with an FMCA rally where we picked up a couple of freebies to stay during the month. We dry camped with no problems and were glad we had our bikes. Long time RV'ers like these regional rallies (even have an old timers band) and supposedly have classes for those who want to learn more about the sport. Those we went to were not very worthwhile but there were a whole lot of venders there and we enjoyed them.

Happy Hour with our Naples friends is always a highlight

Then we went to Cross Creek RV in Arcadia (a freebie picked up at the Rally) for 3 nights, then 2 nights in Immokalee where we went to the Casino to see Dion Warwick for my Valentines--great. The Palm and Pines RV Park was only $20 a night-cash?!- and while not plush was a fine park for the money. While there we went to Everglades City to take the airboat through the Everglades and they had a seafood festival going on—fun. Then we went up to Naples and Happy Hour'ed with Marsha and Diann and Bruce.

Everglades ride was awesome shared
with a 90 yr. old lady

Headed to Jupiter Florida to a new (freebie) park and went to the lighthouse, toured Palm Beach (missed Trump’s Mara logo though) then on to Cape Canaveral and Jetty Park. Biggest surprise/hit of the sport so far. We toured Kennedy Space Center one day and on our last day we saw a SpaceX Rocket take off from launch pad 39 (where the shuttled launched) and then the fuel module landed out on a platform on the water. Totally awesome.

Nuclear Sub right out our front door at Jetty Park

Jupiter Lighthouse

View of our restaurant (Grouper) from the Jupiter Lighthouse

Loved the Daytona 500

Winners Circle

Dayton 500 for the next week—Steve Gilliam came down and had a connection with Ty Dillion’s race team so we were able to get Pit Passes. We wore ourselves out and had a great time. Then we took Steve to Charleston and Mt. Pleasant KOA where Sally was babysitting for Lisa. This KOA was nice and a good location on a Lake—had a great time with Sally and the Jefferson girls. Took 3 days at Walmart and Flying Js (dirty gas trouble but Fitz took care of it and we found a Cummins dealer inTallahassee that helped him) and then we went into Pensacola Beach RV on March 5^th for the month.

On the beach in Charleston with our buds

Terry and Steve had a project-Yay!-a door for Morgan

March 11^th we met Katie in Birmingham and brought the kids to the beach for their spring break. We had a manicure (while the boys saw a Power Rangers movie), saw Sue, Marie and Gracie in Rosemary Beach and swam in the heated pool since it was pretty chilly. Went to Ft. Pickens where we saw a neat fort and took them to the NAS museum for a day. It finally warmed the last couple of days and so we went to the beach but the water was too cold and we went back to our heated pool. Sunday we met Katie in B-ham and came home to a quiet RV. March 31^st Terry and Julie O’Donnell came and spent our last weekend with us—trip to Destin, beach and great eats. We head for home around April 5^th –in time for Leeton and Holden’s birthdays