The end of another great trip

We have been home for three days now. Other than a dead car battery, which was no surprise, everything was as we left it, in some cases better. My house plants are in better condition than when we left thanks to the great care and green thumb of Susan Green....hmmm...an appropriate name. 

I have done 8 loads of wash, used the dishwasher, unloaded most of the RV, taken a long hot shower without needing shower shoes, and enjoyed the house wifi without worrying about going over on our phone data.  We have also had dinner at a friend's home with 4 other couples, and attended Palm Sunday service in our home church.

I have also enjoyed hanging out in my own office, by myself!...love that "me time" and personal space.

We have another short RV trip to Huntington Beach in two weeks to spend a few days with Don & RuthAnne, Neil & Kat.  I will not blog about that trip since it is just a short trip.

This week I am looking forward to seeing friends, visiting with the kids & grandkids, and just getting caught up on things like finances and taxes.

So until our next big trip, whenever that is, goodbye for now.  Happy Easter!  Happy Spring!

Rainbow Springs Headwaters

Our day began today with a clear view of an eagle perched in a nearby tree. We watched it for some time before it took flight.  We don't know where its partner was or where the nest is, but guess that both are closer to the river.

We visited the main park area today by car this time so we could enjoy walking around the park. The azalias are in bloom, and the waterfalls are flowing. There were even several butterflies flitting about in the gardens.  Beautiful place to visit. 

It's time now for some corn hole before dinner.

A day at Homosassa State Park

Our day started early, as this state park is about a 40 minute drive away and we wanted plenty of time to spend at the park. Once in the park, we walked the entire nature trail through the park, seeing manatee, eagles, a cheetah, a fox, owls, a bear, and many species of birds. RuthAnne almost walked into a snake that had just swallowed a rat, but the ranger stopped her. It wasn't poisonous. One of the highlights was seeing Lu, the resident hippo awakened and fed.  He is the only non- native resident of the park, but seems quite at home there. 
After our animal-filled morning, we found a quaint restaurant called the Monkey Bar on the river for lunch. From our table on the deck, we could watch the monkeys on monkey island, who live there full time and are taken care of by the restaurant and the local fishermen.

On our way back to camp, we stopped at a local fruit stand for fresh fruit and vegetables. 

The day was topped off with a lovely evening at MaryAnn and Phil's house for dinner...what a special treat to end the day.

Kayaking at Lake Griffin SP

Yesterday we went kayaking for 3 hours on the lake and the Dead River that leads to the lake.  Along the way we saw 2 alligators, including the one pictured below, and some blue herons and egrets by the water. It was a sunny and warm day to enjoy.  We topped off the day with a quick run to Wally World and then laundry at the campground where they have 3 washing machines to use.  I got all of the laundry done in just over an hour. 

Today we move up to Rainbow Springs where we will reconnect with Don and RuthAnne for 6 days. Hopefully, we will also see MaryAnn  to catch up. 

A Visit to Grabowski's

We drove up to Ocala today to visit Ted and Betty Grabowski in their new home (moved from Midlothian last year).  We enjoyed cocktails at their house and were then escorted to Senmila Farm about 20 minutes away, where their daughter Jessie and husband Silvio own a horse farm for dinner. It is a beautiful place, and they have some gorgeous horses on site.  It was a great evening filled with conversation, both adult and child.  Thanks to all of the family for their hospitality.

A Day At the Ballpark

Thursday we met John and Dianne at McKechnie Field in Bradenton, to watch a Spring Training game, Pirates vs. Blue Jays.  There seemed to be more Blue Jay fans than Pirate fans, but then there are a lot of Canadians who vacation in Florida. Tickets were $17 for bleacher seats in the grandstand. I think we spent more time talking with John and Dianne than watching the game, but we had fun and enjoyed spending time with them.

We topped off the day having dinner back at camp with Don and RuthAnne.  It was a great day!

Last full day near Bradenton

We took Don & RuthAnne Brown over to E.G. Simmons Regional Park on Tampa Bay today to kayak in the bay. When we got there the wind had picked up too much to kayak in the bay, but we did manage to explore the coves and mangroves around the park in the kayaks....much quieter waters.  The mullet were jumping again, always fun to watch. After a trip to Costco for Don and RuthAnne, we headed back to camp where we enjoyed pasta and a salad for dinner together. It was a nice way to top off a great day.  The stars are out in full force tonight as well. What could be better!  Tomorrow we move again, headed to Lake Griffin State Park, about 40 miles southeast of Ocala for 3 nights.

A few easy days

The past few days we have stuck close to "home", enjoying the park, riding bikes, taking long walks with the dog, doing some housecleaning, and bathing the dog....all important things when one is retired. The weather is beautiful, temps in the mid 70s during the day, and upper 50s at night.  Today Don and Ruth Ann joined us in the campground. They will be here until the 8th, while we must leave on the 5th since we will have been here 14 days, the limit. We will meet up again at Rainbow Springs on the 8th for 6 days.