January 2015

Little Manatee River State Park

Wimauma, FL

While we are stationary I am only going to post once a month.  In an effort to save money, not only because we had some unexpected expenses in 2014 but also because will be having unbudgeted medical expenses in the coming year, we will not be venturing far from the park and therefore won’t have too much to post about.  (Darn it!)

Monte "supervising" our neighbors getting ready for their departure.

The first week of the New Year wasn’t very exciting.  But after the scare we had two days before Christmas with Monte having chest pains resulting in a stent placed in his artery on Christmas Eve, I will take boring anytime.

Most of the month Monte worked, we shopped, visited with family and we both had doctor appointments.

We went for a bike ride on New Year's Day--wearing shorts while most of the rest of the country is shoveling snow--I guess we don't have to much to complain about.

I also spent considerable time working on my 2014 in review.  It proved to be a big job, but quite enjoyable as I poured over hundreds of pictures taken during the course of the year.

One afternoon Monte and I drove around the park searching for places to establish State geocaches. 

We gathered some tools including a machete and zip saw in case we needed to clear some vegetation.  

Monte prepped his GPS and off we went.

 

 

 

We took the roads behind the volunteer village to our first destination at Dude’s Lake. 

 

This looks like a good spot. 

Good thing Monte thought to bring along the machete because the area we selected had some vines blocking our way. 

I just took a moment of solitude to soak in the beauty and quiet.

Back to work-We found a couple of logs to place over the geocache to camouflage the spot.

The original plan was to mark the area with spray paint but the can was empty so we left the can as the temporary “treasure” until it was decided if this spot was acceptable.

 

Our second choice for a geocache was behind the amphitheater. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

According to our GPS there was one already there but we couldn’t find it.

 

 

 

 

  We left the spray can cap in this cache as a marker.

As with the first geocache, I marked down the coordinates and clues.

The final location we chose was on the Oxbow Nature Trail.

  We used a rubber glove I stuffed with a large pinecone as a marker.  Monte covered the cache with palm fronds that were scattered all around the area.

I took a picture of the closest sign to use as a clue.

 

We took off road trails on the way back home stopping a couple of times to clear some branches in the road.

 

 

On the 8^th, Monte had his two week follow-up with the cardiologist.  His vitals and EKG was good so the doctor won’t have to see him for another six weeks.  In the meantime Monte has an appointment with a primary care doctor for the end of the month.  This doctor will renew his prescriptions and refer Monte for other test he should have including a colonoscopy and PSA as he is overdue on both.

After the appointment we drove down to North Port to celebrate my dad’s 81^st birthday.  

 

  We enjoyed a lovely meal with my parents and brother and sister-in-law at Longhorns and then birthday cheesecake back at Mom and Dad’s house.

 

Happy Birthday Dad

Monte finally got around to putting our tire covers on.

Our bathroom door is not staying closed-a telltale sign that we have shifted a little since our arrival a little more than a month ago. 

So Monte jacked up one side so he could slide an additional pad under the tires. 

On the second Sunday of the month we went for a bike ride.  

The first stop was at the amphitheater. 

Last week, when Monte and I had scoped out places for an official State Geocache site we thought the amphitheater would be a good selection.  According to the GPS there was one there already but we couldn’t find it. 

Monte went out another day with Tess, one of the other volunteers, to see if they could find the geocache we hid.  They didn’t find the one we hid but did find the one we couldn’t find last week. 

Our next destination was to the Point Fishing Access area.

This is one of my favorite places in the park.

It can be a very romantic place to come with a loved one or a good place to sit alone just soaking in the beauty of river.

I was with Monte but he was so concentrated on his GPS that it was like being there alone.

We found this guy taking a stroll in the campground.

The final area we rode to was the trailhead found at pavilion 3 where we locked up our bikes so we could walk the Oxbow Nature Trail.

 

Monte showed me another area he had picked out for a geocache, marking it temporarily with a can.

On the ride back to the volunteer camp we noticed vultures circling above us. 

A group of vultures is called a wake, committee, venue, kettle, or volt.  This particular kettle numbered at least 50.  The term kettle refers to vultures in flight, while committee, volt, and venue refer to vultures resting in trees. 

A group of vultures are referred to as a wake when they are feeding. 

On the 14^th one of the rangers gave Monte a ride at 5:30AM to Honeymoon Island so he could catch a ride up to Tallahassee to pick up and drive back a park vehicle.  He didn’t get back home until 8PM. 

 

 

The park's new entrance sign.

The next day I went for a trim and ended up getting scalped.  Yikes.  I think there was a little miscommunication between me and the stylist.

  Thank goodness my hair grows pretty fast so in a couple of weeks it should look like I wanted it to look.

On Friday the 16^th we got an early start on our drive to the Florida State Fairgrounds to attend the Tampa RV Super show.

When we went to the show last year the route we took had us in bumper to bumper traffic.  It ended up taking us three hours for a trip that should have been less than an hour.  This year we left earlier and took a different route arriving a few minutes before the gates opened and getting a front row parking spot.

Monte had only worn a long sleeved shirt and vest.  It was quite chilly so he was happy when I reminded him there was a windbreaker in the Jeep.

I had printed a coupon so we saved $2 off the entrance fee of $20. 

We stayed in one of the vendor buildings for a while, going up one aisle and down another collecting tote bags and handouts. 

 

 

 

Most of the vendors were either RV related or were things that could be used in a house or RV.

Grill mat demonstration

Foldable bikes

Comfy chairs

 

I have a few of these collapsible kitchen items made by Progressive. 

BUT some of the vendors were definitely not RV related.  Like this HOT TUB. 

Some of the vendors had games

And spinning wheels to win prizes.  At this booth both of our spins landed on a free night of camping at a resort. 

 

 

 

At several booths we took the time to fill out an entry form to win a prize.  We both used our own pens to lessen the chances of picking up germs.  Before filling out forms we made sure the info would only be used for the raffle and not as a list for telemarketers.

 

 

 

By the time we walked outside it had warmed up enough to take off our jackets and within an hour I had removed my long sleeved shirt and was quite comfortable in a tank top.

Next we did my favorite thing to do at the show—tour rigs.

This one seemed like it went on forever.

There was something for every pocketbook and lifestyle including this little compact number from Germany. 

 It was cute and would be great for a weekend getaway but I couldn’t imagine living in it fulltime.

Monte liked this truck BUT

he really, really liked this one.

 

 

 

 

This little camper gives the option of sleeping inside, or a tent on the ground, or a tent on the roof.

We didn’t even bother going inside to look at the luxury coaches like the Prevost with sticker prices beginning in the millions and pre-owned one costing anywhere from $100,000 to 1.5 million. 

There was a wide variety of Airstreams at the show. 

In the second vendor building we reached into this wind booth to grab a fake bill.  The prize won is written on the bill-we each won a free night with a paid night at a resort. 

Monte bought some sugar glazed pecans at one booth and

I met Willie Nelson at another booth.

Back outside we stopped a few minutes to listen to a bagpipe band.

 

 

Hey, we remember you guys from last year. 

 

 

 

 

Monte, you know you shouldn’t put your hand in a horse’s mouth.

 

 

 

 

 

I really like the look of this window treatment. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I have the standard cornice and dust collecting side curtain.  HHHMMM, I wonder how much it would cost to do something similar?

 

 

 

I also liked the look of this backsplash. 

 

 

 

 

 

The walls around my stove are covered with wallpaper.  I think I would prefer tile.

After walking around for another couple of hours going in and out so many different styles of rigs my feet and knees were sore.    Although there were quite a few models, of the 40 or so rigs we looked, that had one or two features I liked I only saw one that I could feel at home in.  It had a front living floor plan with a wrap around couch big enough to recline on and a brick fireplace with a 60” big screen TV. 

 

The last exhibit we visited prior to leaving the show was the The Wall That Heals, a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.

 

 

 It is approximately 250 feet in length and constructed of powder-coated aluminum.  Included in the exhibit is a mobile Education Center with photos of service members whose names are found on the Wall, along with letters and memorabilia left at the Wall in D.C. 

We still had the heartfelt experience of visiting the actual Wall when we were in Washington this past September fresh in our mind so to us there is no comparison.  But for those who may never have the opportunity to see the original, seeing the replica could be a moving experience. 

 

On our way home we stopped at Applebee’s and used one of the gift cards we had received at Christmastime. 

Being creatures of habit we ordered our usual off the 2 for $20 menu. 

 

On Sunday, the 18^th we attended a dinner party at my brother’s house in honor of my sister-in-law’s mother and her new husband.  The newlyweds are visiting from Vancouver Island.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The table looked lovely and the weather was perfect for dining alfresco. 

A pair of Sand Hill Cranes came to visit.

 

 

 

 

 

A relative of my sister-in-law Margaret makes these darling dolls-each one is unique.

 

 

 

 

Margaret made a toast to her mom and new step-dad.

 

 

 

 

Margaret’s mom, Ann Marie and her new husband, Ken.  They remind me that you are never too old to fall in love. 

Cutting of the cake.

The last time I had an eye exam, three years ago, it had only cost $80 so I was kind of surprised when I began calling around and was quoted fees close to $200.  Yikes.  I finally settled on Sam’s Club because they came in at $130.  I was relieved that there wasn’t a significant difference in my vision since my last exam so I wouldn’t need new glasses.

 

While we were at Sam’s Club both Monte and I took advantage of the free hearing test. 

My results showed what I already knew-I have excellent hearing.

Monte’s results also revealed what he already knew-He has a great deal of hearing loss. 

 

 I think there is going to be some hearing aids in his future.

 

 

I gave our freezer a long overdue defrosting.  The last time I tackled this project it took me hours.  After getting all the ice out I tried a tip I saw on-line.  I lined the bottom and back with plastic wrap.  This time around all I had to do was leave the door open for a half hour and then I was able to pull off the ice in large patches. 

 

 

Several times through the month, while Monte toiled away, I took long walks around the park. 

 

 

 

 

 

 On this particular day a family of raccoons crossed the road in front of me.  I was so startled I didn’t turn on my camera quick enough to get a picture.  They climbed this tree.  I took several pictures but they blended in.

Dude Lake 

On the 22^nd I accompanied Monte when he went to meet the doctor he chose to be his primary care physician.  Since embarking on our life on the road we haven’t had a primary care doctor and luckily we haven’t needed one.  The couple of times we had a sinus infection that required medication we sought treatment at a walk-in clinic.

But now that Monte has a stent he is going to need a doctor, at least for the first year, to renew scripts.  We haven’t figured out how we are going to accomplish this when we go back on the road.  I guess we will cross that bridge when the time comes.  For now we have committed to staying at Little Manatee River State Park until the end of May.

 

One day we went for walk on a trail we had never been on before. 

 

 

 

 

 When we came to a crossroads we chose to go to the right. 

 

 

 After walking approximately a half mile we came to a dead end and had to retrace our steps including crossing some water. 

 

My daughter Renee’s birthday is in January-unfortunately she ended up spending nine days (including her birthday) in the hospital with a diagnosis of pneumonia.  I felt helpless being in Florida 2,000 miles away from her in Arizona. 

On the last Sunday of the month we attended the baptism of Monte’s daughter, son-in-law and grandson into the church they have joined. 

Having been baptized and raised as a Catholic I wasn’t familiar with the philosophy of this particular church so I did a little research so I would know what to expect at the ceremony. 

According to their website, Victorious Life “strives to be a biblically based community of believers who are dedicated to impacting our world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Both Monte and I were happy to be included in the celebration.