Clerbrook Golf and RV Resort, Clermont, FL: Cloudy this morning. Supposed to rain. So we headed out to do our laundry. Got that finished and put away and then did the grocery shopping. Went to Friendly’s for a late lunch and as we were coming back it started raining. Got the groceries inside and it really let loose. Lots of lightning and thunder. Spent the rest of the day inside. Played aggravation for a while and then watched TV.

Sunset in the Keys

Clerbrook Golf and RV Resort, Clermont, FL: A really nice day, but we basically did nothing. I couldn’t sleep last night but we should have at least gone for a bike ride. There’s a really nice paved bike path near hear. Mike wanted to (he said) but I just wanted to be a slug today. Took a walk later in the afternoon and then Mike grilled up the chicken breasts that had been marinating all day. Had left-over four-bean salad and a vegetable with it.

Morada Bay--Marathon

Long Point Camping Park, Melbourne Beach, FL, to Clerbrook Golf and RV Resort, Clermont, FL: Left Long Point this morning at about 11:00. Headed north on A1A and then west on Rt. 192. Took us over an hour to get through Melbourne and West Melbourne, but then it was a pretty easy drive through rural Florida on a limited access four-lane highway. Picked up Florida’s Turnpike just outside of Kissimmee and it was only another 20 miles to Clermont. When Mike had the window open I kept hearing a clanging noise of something metal dragging on the ground. When we got to our park we stopped and found out the leaf spring on the driver side of the fifth wheel broke in half. It seems Florida’s Turnpike is in a constant state of repair or modification. We went through a section of really rough road and that must have been the culprit. We have an appointment to see an RV dealer on Wednesday. We went to Ay Jalisco for dinner. When we left this morning there were large, dark threatening looking clouds. But by the time we arrived in Clermont it was sunny and 80. YES!

Long Point Camping Park, Melbourne Beach, FL: Started out pretty warm this morning and I sat outside in shorts and a tee shirt reading my book, and then the wind kicked in. Forced me back inside. We took care of a few things before leaving tomorrow. Then explored this park a little. This place has a lot of potential. It’s situated on a rather large peninsula in the middle of the Indian River. Just about all the sites are right on the water. So, if you have a boat or a kayak you can keep it right at your site. There are two laundry facilities in the park. If they’d just spend a little money, it could be an awesome park. We took a walk around and there’s a little bridge over to an island which is used mainly for groups. Walked a trail through the lacy Australian pines, palms, mangroves, and other lush vegetation. Very pretty. We’ve seen wood storks, sandhill cranes, ibis, pelicans, and dolphins. We leave tomorrow for Clermont, FL, and the Clerbrook Golf and RV Resort.

Schooners out for a sail--Key West

Sandhill Crane

Long Point Camping Park, Melbourne Beach, FL: A beautiful day today. We drove over to Jack and Karen’s around 1:00 and hung out on the lanai for a while and then drove over and toured the historic Rossetter House in Eau Gallie. The two Rossetter sisters lived in the house until the last one died at the age of 101. All the furnishings in the house are original. These two sisters were both single and very successful businesswomen. One managed a distributorship for Standard Oil and the other sister had an insurance business. Later we met Karen’s sister and brother-in-law at a Thai restaurant and had dinner. After dinner we said our good-byes and headed back home. Think it hit the upper 70s today. Jack wanted to go for a short boat ride. Wish we’d had time to do that also.

Rossetter House

Jack hanging out in the park

Long Point Camping Park, Melbourne Beach, FL: Started out cloudy this morning and threatened rain, but cleared off eventually and turned into a really nice day. We hung out all day. It was sunny, but with a cool wind. So we didn’t do much outside. Discovered we do have TV here. I just forgot to turn on the booster. Met Jack and Karen at Captain Hiram’s on the other side of the Indian River for dinner—Mike’s birthday dinner actually. Good food and great company. Driving on this barrier island is so enjoyable. You have the Indian River on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. A very pretty area. Think it hit 73 today. Chills down pretty good at night though.

Infinity pool in front of Villa Splendida--Palms in Paradise 2010

Jonathan Dickinson SP, Jupiter, FL, to Long Point Camping Park, Melbourne Beach,FL: Left Jupiter at 12:30 and arrived at Long Point at 2:30. Since I did the driving I decided to go ahead and back it in. Got it in okay but it wasn’t straight, so I decided to pull out and try and get it in straighter. That’s when we got stuck in the muck. Apparently it had rained a lot on Sunday and just about every site in here in saturated. We couldn’t get out and we couldn’t get it on the levelers. A bunch of people in the campground came over and brought wood to put under the tires so we wouldn’t spin our wheels. We eventually got out and backed into the site at an angle. So we’re perpendicular to where we should be. That took two hours. Called Jack around 4:30 and suggested we meet them for dinner somewhere. We decided to drive to their place and go from there. We ended up at Texas Road House for some good steaks and great conversation. We’re supposed to meet them for dinner tomorrow night at a restaurant in Palm Bay. Captain something-or-other. It’s Mike’s birthday. Hope they show up. We have no TV here in this park. It was nasty most of the day. Cleared up a little by about 5:00 and was in the mid-70s. Not bad!

Karen and Jack