Heading North in Florida - 2012

It's still only late November yet I feel like the year is past. I'm heading north again. With the new IRS tax preparer rules, I must take another two day tax course. Lucky I found one on my route. I needed to leave Lake Worth one day early and will arrive a day late for the Dixie LoW get together in Silver Springs. At least I get the required course in without to much hassle. The course is at the Caribe Royale in Orlando and I found a Passport America cg about 10 minutes away in Kissimmee. It's an older park with lots of permanent residents and I'm under a tree so no TV. Oh well, it's only two days (three nights) and I'm gone each day from 6am until late with planned dinner dates two night ;=)!!

The tax seminar had more information than I thought. With congress in a seeming stalemate I thought there would be a one page handout that said "all tax laws are to be determined" and the second day of class would review the handout (lol). With over 200 attendees I doubt that anyone understands all the tax laws, and we're the "professionals"!! Tax laws have become incredibly complex with all the various deductions and special situations only serving to give congress ways of providing various friends and lobbyists special favors. They should do away with all deductions, tax all income the same way, and dramatically lower the tax brackets. Something like anyone with income under $75,000 a year pays nothing and then taxing income above that starting at 10% and going up to around 75% for incomes greater than $500,000. Of course they'll never make it simple because it would take away their ability to have lobbyists lobby them. Anyhow, the seminar did have lots of information, my evenings were very pleasant, and the days went fast even without TV.

Several people told me the road into the Silver Springs cg was a really rough one. It was definitely a heavily pot holed dirt road but not as rough as it was made out to be. Just go slow, sort of a secret in life itself. German and her husband were very friendly and my site couldn't have been more perfect. A full hook up, perfectly level, pull through site, with a clear view for my sat. service. Several of the half dozen folks I already knew; Ron Henderson, Gail from Ontario, Jerry McKay, Calvin. A few of the Dixie LoW's were new to me; Don, Marie, Devon, and a new LoW'er Judy. Gail cooked a complete dinner for everyone, really good. The group had coffee and breakfast every morning and a pot luck Friday. Ron and I played BINGO with the other campers one night, I even won two games :=)  We went to what was to be a craft fair one day. It turned out to be a church flea market. Ron and I drove around a little trying to find some park hiking trails. We stopped and saw a pretty lake but no trails. A few other LoW'ers stopped by to visit including; Dennis, Trina, Helen, and several of the Dixie LoW regulars. Most everyone left on Sunday morning. Afterward, walking around the cg I met Ted and Jane from Michigan. We sat out, along with German and her husband, chatting for a few hours. I tried to find "stuff" to do in both Silver Springs and Ocala. It must still be off season or something 'cause I couldn't find a thing :=(!!

It is a very easy drive to Bradenton, that is until I got within a mile of the cg. My gps didn't like the cg address and sent me to a truck stop. I drove up and down the main road a few times. For those who maybe don't know, "U" turns pulling a fifth wheel are not fun! A fellow LoW'er, John from Texas, had tried to give me directions but I guess I'm just dumb 'cause they didn't help much other than to let me know he also got lost and I was close. The cg finally answered the phone and directed me in. Wow, what a great surprise!! This is a beautiful RV resort. The RV's and cute little permanents are neatly arranged around a lake which is about 1 1/4 miles around. My perfectly level, full hook up site backs up on the lake and is a short walk from the club house. The people are super friendly all over the park. I'm a little nervous with my RV door in the back and my rig literally hanging over the water. I'll need to look for any movement whenever I'm going in or out. The cg says they know of two gators, one a little three or four footer and the other a bit over five feet. A few minutes after setting up, my power went out and the rig switched to the inverter. I reset the park electric box but it happened again. I called the park office and they immediately sent an electrician over. Mike checked it out and said my surge protector had blown. We hooked the rig up directly, I was very nervous without the surge protector, but the power went out again anyway. The park had to replace the electric box. I mentioned my now blown surge protector and, without argument, they gave me a $150 credit. This is a very nice park.

One of two heated pools.

I did my usual walk around the park only this walk took a little longer than usual. I must have had a lost puppy look when I entered the club house. Peggy, a permanent in the park, sort of scooped me up with a big smile and showed me around the two story club house. There sure seems to be a lot to do at this cg. There's a large meeting room with a wrap around, screened in porch, a well stocked library, a kitchen, exercise room with lots of work out machines, a separate room with a few pool tables, a jacuzzi outside by a heated pool, both of which overlook the lake. This is a pretty park. I did a nice 25 minute workout, swam a little and got a back massage by the jacuzzi jets. This is great. Ron Henderson arrived early and joined me for two hours of line dancing lessons. At 91 he sure has a lot of energy. He's a happy guy :=)!! Four days of the joint Gulf and Mid-LoW gtg went very fast. Breakfast together each morning and happy hour each afternoon. A bunch of us went to a play called Plaids. It was the worst play I've ever seen. The six of us who went in my truck had drinks by the water before the show and another drink afterward. The five gals and I had a nice evening even with the play.

Pool looking onto the lake.

 



Four of us went to see the Gamble Plantation.The park ranger had so much information, he really made it a great tour. Big signs all over about not touching any of the artifacts. When the ranger heard that Ron was a WWII veteran he took the old gun down and we took pictures of Ron holding it.

Five of us went to see the Christmas boat parade. Parking was a little tough, driving around awhile. We finally found parking fairly close and watched a few boats come by all decked out in lights. The party, gift exchange, and games were lots of fun. I managed to keep my 25 minute exercise routine going plus biking around the park. Maybe I'll even lose a few pounds!

Ron & I with our party hats.

I've gotten into three regular park activities; water aerobics, wood carving, and line dancing. The water aerobics is an hour most days in the heated pool. It's not much exercise, but lots of socialization and fun. I'd thought about wood carving when I first took off in the RV and stumbled on the class here at the park. Russ and Bruce were very helpful getting me started on carving a little manatee. I may take this up or at least get busy making a sign for the Alaskan Signpost. Line dancing is two hours a week and lots of fun. I'm sort of getting the hang of it but still have two left feet. We do line dancing mostly to oldies which are my favorite music.

Wow, three great playhouse shows in the same week. Annie was almost at a Broadway show level. That little girl really belted out all those great songs. The Nutcracker Suite at the Sarasota Opera House was nice. If you get a chance, it's a pretty building. The play, A Christmas Carol, filled out my three-some of holiday inspired events. All very nice and really got me into the holiday mood.

Riding a Lippizan Stallion was like driving a sports car. The trail horses I've ridden almost need a knock on their head to get them to turn, go, or stop. The Lippizans are so well trained they seem to sense what you're thinking and just go. The slightest movement of the reins and they go just where I wanted. The hardest part was getting used to a saddle with no stirrups.

I'd stopped by the Ringling Estate last year but didn't take any photos. It was such a pretty day strolling around the 60 acre grounds. Everything is so pretty and serene. I love the banyan trees and peaceful settings around the ponds. It must have been fantastic living in a setting like this. The house, Ca' d'Zan (Venetian for "House of John" as in John Ringling), was all decorated for Christmas. So pretty...



I was a little disappointed with the cg Christmas Party. The music was okay but so loud I couldn't carry on a conversation with the people sitting right next to me. I was getting a headache and left after about 1 1/2 hours. While I was in the area I also toured the Mixons Fruit Orchard. They were very friendly and after tasting lots of fruit, fruitcake, and honey wine, I left with some grapefruits, tangerines, and kumquats. I also got my fill of Chinese food. There is a nice little take out place in the same strip mall as the nearest Publix. It made it easy to order Chinese, do my food shopping, and have my dinner ready when I checked out. The almost 3 1/2 weeks actually went pretty fast. I can see where I'd be very busy if I lived in an active park like this one.