As Promised and I've Found the Solution to Sleeping Later!

I finally remembered to take pictures of how our rig is leveled.  We're parked almost in the same area as the last time we were here.  We're in front of the Quonset Hut that Anne and Scotty have built here.  Since they're not living in it we're not blocking their view.  Once they get the doors installed on this side they'll have the view we have.

Front stabilizer

It's all downhill from the door side.  I think the Scott's will eventually have a porch where we're parked.  I heard so many details of their plans it's hard to recall them all.  Notice the steps.

I think if you click on the pictures you can make them larger.

I'm glad I didn't see the procedure to get the tires on this stack!  Again you can see the downhill slope

Front jacks

Home Sweet Home, see the pallets at the bottom of the steps?  How's that for a red neck patio?  As long as we don't have an earthquake we'll do just fine.  Maybe we should invest in some hurricane straps!

Anne has said we can move to any site once they get some fill put in on the south side of the building.  But I like our site.  We have beautiful sunrises and the view!  There's going to be several more rigs here Later this summer.  Big birthday bash for Scotty in August

Feeding station all set up, we have American gold finches, purple finches, Rose Breasted Grosbeak and Ruby-throated hummingbirds.  We haven't seen the Indigo Bunting the past couple of days....he may have moved on.  Sure is a pretty bird.  We also have some chipmunks that are adorable to watch.  They just stuff their cheeks with sunflower seeds.  Anne even feeds one from her hand

Jim has been helping Scotty with some chores.  Found he has some unused muscles that are protesting!  He also declared he was going to walk every day....after the first long walk he ended up with shin splints so he's laying low for a few days.  We both want to walk every day but sometimes life gets in the way and we don't.  Of course traversing this property is good exercise because it's far from level.

Anne and I went shopping yesterday.  We stopped at the dry cleaners, Dunkin' Donuts, Walmart, Sally's, Aldi's, Hobby Lobby, Panera for lunch, then on to JoAnns and Hannafords for groceries.  Whew!  Got home in time to fix dinner and then we sat around outside just chatting and enjoying the weather.  

Back home I had dishes to do and the bed to make....Jim helped by making the bed. It was about 2000 when I slipped into the shower and got cleaned up...felt so good 

Since we both had busy days we were tired when we went to bed.  I slept until almost 0730!  Missed the sunrise altogether!  Not sure I can afford to go shopping and schlepping everyday in order to sleep late.  Jim woke when his alarm went off at 0730

I love that tiny face!

All is right in our world

Savannas Recreation Area

Thursday started real early for us....like 0600 early!  While I get up at this hour on occasion Jim rarely does.  But we had an 0800 appointment to get the shocks repaired and Jim wanted to eat before we left (I packed cornbread for myself).  We had gotten all packed up the night before so after dressing and doing last minute chores we were on our way.  And we arrived a few minutes before eight.

They had said they'd get us in and out same day and we left around noon.  But let me tell you....I don't think I've ever had to sit in such a filthy waiting room!  You could visibly see the dirt and smell it.

On the way to Savannas we decided to just drop the rig, slides out, air running and then head out for a bite to eat.  That didn't happen.  Once we got here I was so hungry I just made Jim a peanut butter sandwich and I heated up some soup for me.  After Jim got most everything done he had a beer and then took a nap.

I got about 90% of my set up done and then just quit.  It was late afternoon and I was pooped.  When Jim got up we grabbed Boo and took a walk around this peaceful, serene campground.

I think this is a Pied billed Grebe, correct me if I'm wrong

This is our view out the back.  If I had a motor home I'd pull in to see this out the windshield.  The sun comes up just over the horizon

to the right, looking roughly south

to the left, roughly looking north

I think these are Mottled Ducks, correct me if I'm wrong

Family of white ibis, young and old!

After our walk we decided to go out to dinner.  Driving out we saw Sandhill Cranes, but no pictures, maybe next time.  We drove south on highway 1 and found a shopping center with several choices of eateries and picked Italian.  We ordered a huge pizza and a couple of beers...even splurged and shared a tira misu for dessert.  We brought half of the pizza home.

We were in bed by 2130 and I slept until after seven.  Jim got up about an hour later.  After a slow morning we got busy, me inside with laundry and Jim outside getting the satellite dish up for TV viewing.  

For lunch we polished off that pizza and enjoyed a cold beer while sitting outside enjoying the view and the grackles.  

We decided to buy an outdoor mat.  This site has a gravel pad but recent rains have made a mess of the surrounding grass and past mats leaving a lot of dirt being tracked inside..So after lunch we headed out for some shopping.

Picked up the mat at Walmart, then we popped into Tractor Supply and left empty handed.  Next stop was Home Depot where Jim got some clamps, then we headed home, making one stop at Publix for a bag of goodies.

Once home Jim got the 9 x 12 mat laid out and I'm a happy camper!

Last Wednesday Boo got his teeth cleaned and they also removed 4 of his itty, bitty teeth.  He's been eating wet food and taking an antibiotic.  He's doing fine.  Tonight he got his normal ration of dry and wet food and I think he wants to go for a walk so I better close this for now.

All is right in our world!

Family Day

We headed out Sunday around 1030, Jim driving and Sonsearae and Chris riding in the back of the truck....not really, they sat in the back seat.  We stopped to get sandwiches and headed to Hobe Beach.

We sat under the pavilion and enjoyed our meal but fought the wind!  We had to anchor each flimsy item in order for it not to blow away.  No matter the 'breeze' was wonderful and it wasn't raining.

As you can see in these pictures the surf was churning up the beach and one intrepid soul was trying to surf.  There were quite a few people enjoying the day but staying out of the water.  Red flags were posted and I believe there was a rip current to contend with

Next stop was Lion Country Safari in Loxahatchee.  We had some sprinkles while we drove through but since you have to leave your windows up and stay in your vehicle it didn't matter except when I wanted to take pictures

Ostrich

you will notice some pictures are a wee bit darker.  these were probably taken through our tinted side windows

Lions...Unfortunately it was raining and the males were under cover

Asiatic Water Buffalo

Nilgai

Wildebeest and black ibis

Grant's Zebra

a wee baby zebra

Giraffe

This young one was very close to the truck

One of the fatest iguanas I've ever seen.  I think he enjoys being in the monkey enclosure

Sarus Crane

Flamingo

double yellow headed parrot

Cockatoo

At the Lorie enclosure Jim made a new friend.  We think the Rainbow Lorie liked his blue shirt

they sure are colorful birds

Blue and Gold Macaw

Tortoise

Scarlet Macaw

Porcupine

Sonsearae wanted to pet some animals but all they had at the petting zoo was goats so she found this semi friendly critter.  She backed off once it spit at her!

We did encounter some rain while we strolled the grounds but sheltered under an overhang.  The Jungle like atmosphere of the amusement park is beautiful and there is a lot for everyone to see and do.  

Our drive home through the sugar cane fields was uneventful and we encountered very little traffic.  It was a wonderful afternoon

And the Saints won!  I guess we should leave home and not watch the game so they can win more often

We watched PBS and I got to see an episode of Downton Abby!

No more mice caught....perhaps they've gotten the message and moved on.

Today was an exciting day....Jim went to Walmart for an oil change.  He dropped me off at  Sam's Club and I walked around trying to find something to buy.  

Went to lunch at Mikata Buffet, our first time there.  The usual mix of Asian and American dishes.  We both had a beer and lunch only cost us $21...not bad....

Back home Jim laid down for a nap and I read for awhile.  Fed Boo and potted up a couple plants.

All is right in our world

Look what I found!

Last night it got really chilly!  There was frost on the truck when I could finally see it.   But the day warmed up and Jim worked outside most of the day...except when we were shopping.

Jim and I were both busy today getting all set up and making things neat and tidy.  We needed supplies from Home Depot, Walmart, Ace hardware store and Camping World.

I found these Mini Mingos at Camping World...They're munching on my lettuce.

What did you discover today?  Anything different in your world?

Boy did we sleep!

We were both tired last night and around 2130 we went to bed.  Yesterday's travel just wore us out.  I didn't get out of bed until after 0800!  I woke Jim but he didn't get up until 0945!

So we had a very slow morning.  While I was doing laundry and making pea soup Jim went outside to hook up the TV....but there was a cable missing.  We had it in Welaka so he must have left it behind.

After lunch we made a scouting run to Hudson where we'll have the windows repaired.  On the way we stopped at a Walmart to get a cable.  We found the repair place and it's an easy drive.  We then decided to drive south on Highway 19 and check out the area....

What a mistake that was!  The closer we got to the Tampa area (and we were by no means close!) we encountered more and more traffic.  The road is being worked on, making it wider (which obviously is needed) and traffic was bumper to bumper with frequent stops for lights and stalled traffic.  We've decided we won't make any day trips using that road.  We'll see if we can locate a campground closer to Tarpon Springs so we can explore the area.  If not, we'll just skip it.

We made it home driving some back roads and enjoyed a more leisurely, less hectic drive and saw some coastal areas.

Real convenient to the campground is a farm market and we stopped there  picking up so fruit and veggies.  Once home we were starved and had some soup, then our afternoon coffee.

Within an hour we walked down to the river and below you'll see some of the pictures I took.  We were fortunate enough to see at least 5 manatee.

This is the road back into the tenting area.  Most of the sites are quite big and several were occupied

We saw several boaters enjoying the late afternoon, some fishing some just paddling

Of course we took Boo with us!

As we walked back to the campground I heard this unmistakable sound of a woodpecker...and it only took a moment to find him....This Piliated Woodpecker was very close to the road just pecking away!

I've never seen one before!  So it was a good way to end our walkabout