Wed, 11/26/08

W. P. Franklin Corps Campground: When I first looked out this morning it was so foggy you couldn’t even see the river. But when I got up it had all burned off and the sun was shining. Chilly morning though. Just hung out all day and then met Ron and Jan for dinner. After dinner we went over to their place and had pumpkin pie for desert. A fun evening. Chilly.

Our pretty RV site...

W. P. Franklin Corps Campground: This morning the river was so calm it was like a mirror. And the eagle was in his lofty perch across the river from us for a while. A beautiful morning. Mike emptied the grey water tank into our tote and hauled it over to the dump station. Then we started cleaning the outside of the fifth wheel. Got the back section done and part of the living side. Once we get into the Keys we can’t access the back since it extends over the lake a little bit. We uncovered the bikes and put the cover away. After we finished our chores we sat outside in the sun for a while reading. Then we headed over to Camping World and bought a new sewer hose and some other stuff and picked up a few groceries and then headed back through Alva. Love the little town of Alva and the whole N. River Road area. We have new neighbors—a couple of 70-something women in a motor home. Clouding up this evening, but it hit the upper 70s today. Nice.

Jan

Ron

W. P. Franklin Corps Campground: A beautiful morning, but windy and cool. Ron and Jan came over around 11:00 and we sat around outside for a while enjoying this pretty, peaceful place. Had Italian sausage sandwiches and pasta for dinner and then back outside and watched the sun set. The water in the river was just like glass. Beautiful evening. The mullet were jumping. And the eagle made an appearance briefly.

Eagle in the tree across the river from us...

Pasco Winter Quarters to W. P. Franklin Corps of Engr CG, No. Ft. Myers, FL: Pulled out of Pasco at about 10:20 this morning. I drove until about 20 miles north of our exit and then Mike took over. Got set up at our new campsite and sat outside for a while. This is such a pretty area. We’re right on the Caloosahatchee River surrounded by beautiful, estate-type homes—lots of acreage with split-rail fenced pastures of cattle, horses, donkeys, and even llamas. The bald eagle made a visit to the tree across the river from us. He was here last year also. On the site next to us is a woman who has been here almost every time we’ve been here. She stays in her mini-van. I’ve heard various stories about her, but the most probable is that she rents out her home for a few weeks every year and stays at the campground in her mini-van. Not very comfortable I would think. 74 degrees here but windy which made it feel much cooler. We headed to No. Ft. Myers and picked up some groceries and bought a couple of subs and came home to eat.

Pasco Winter Quarters: Mike got the propane tank filled this morning and then we drove over to Sandy & Dan’s. Walked over to their club house and had lunch. Dan and Mike played pool and Sandy and I walked back. Watched a movie and then played spades for a while. Had left-overs for dinner. Left around 9:00. We leave tomorrow for W. P. Franklin Corps of Engineers campground north of Ft. Myers, FL.

Sandy & Dan

Fri, 11/21/08

Pasco Winter Quarters: Picked up a few groceries this morning and stopped at a thrift shop Sandy told us about. Came back and put the groceries away and headed over to Sandy & Dan’s. Sandy made beef stew which was delicious and after dinner we played spades. Played 3 games and we lost them all (sigh). We left early and went home and I crashed.

Thu, 11/20/08

Pasco Winter Quarters: Washed out a couple of things and hung out. Chilly morning. Made some smoothies for breakfast and then worked on the computer for a while. Cleaned the bathroom and changed the sheets on the bed. Early afternoon we headed over to Sandy and Dan’s. I used their laundry and washed and dried the sheets. Sat around outside on the lanai for a while. I made pasta for dinner and we combined with some left-over meatloaf that Dan’s sister made. Then we played spades. We each won two games.