February 6th: You know how it is when you’re on the road for a couple of weeks or more – every now and then you need a ‘lay day’ to catch up with stuff. Today was it. The laundry was taking over the back of the RV, getting behind with writing up the blog stuff (even if we couldn’t get it transmitted because of lack of wifi), and we had been having an intermittent problem with Gypsy starting up in the mornings (plus the radio kept flaking out, but it seemed to be related to the startup). So we set out to a) find a laundry and b) get what appeared to be a battery problem fixed. Not surprising – Gypsy has had the same battery for the engine since we bought her 5 years ago.
Anyway, thanks to advice from various folks, we ended up describing a triangle south, north east and west, bringing us back to Manatee by late afternoon. Laundry was done, battery was replaced but uh oh! It’s now Friday and the State campground is full of weekend campers and we’d left it to chance, since we hadn’t expected to be back here. Darn!
So… a late day dash south to a commercial RV resort in Crystal River. No problem getting in, and after dinner, a couple of hours spent on writing up the blog journal and managing to get a couple of days transmitted.
RV resorts in Florida are an interesting alternative. There are many of them, and they are usually about 60% full of mostly very large rigs from all over the country, escaping the cold northern winter. Crystal River is no exception. Everyone is well ensconced for a month or three, with boats, bikes, name plates out front, golf buggies, fairy lights, barbecues, patio furniture, dog runs, fishing tackle and lots of stories to tell. Actually, it’s not just Florida, the same is true in southern California, Arizona, south Texas, parts of Louisiana. But we have found that Florida is really the capital for the ‘snowbirds’.
So our night was very peaceful (quiet enjoyment rules in these sites!) although a little cheek by jowl, and we didn’t need the heater for the first time in weeks. And a promise of high 60’s/low 70’s weather tomorrow. Short pants and sleeveless shirts maybe? Oh still my beating heart!
Anyway, thanks to advice from various folks, we ended up describing a triangle south, north east and west, bringing us back to Manatee by late afternoon. Laundry was done, battery was replaced but uh oh! It’s now Friday and the State campground is full of weekend campers and we’d left it to chance, since we hadn’t expected to be back here. Darn!
So… a late day dash south to a commercial RV resort in Crystal River. No problem getting in, and after dinner, a couple of hours spent on writing up the blog journal and managing to get a couple of days transmitted.
RV resorts in Florida are an interesting alternative. There are many of them, and they are usually about 60% full of mostly very large rigs from all over the country, escaping the cold northern winter. Crystal River is no exception. Everyone is well ensconced for a month or three, with boats, bikes, name plates out front, golf buggies, fairy lights, barbecues, patio furniture, dog runs, fishing tackle and lots of stories to tell. Actually, it’s not just Florida, the same is true in southern California, Arizona, south Texas, parts of Louisiana. But we have found that Florida is really the capital for the ‘snowbirds’.
So our night was very peaceful (quiet enjoyment rules in these sites!) although a little cheek by jowl, and we didn’t need the heater for the first time in weeks. And a promise of high 60’s/low 70’s weather tomorrow. Short pants and sleeveless shirts maybe? Oh still my beating heart!Sorry there aren't more photos today - neither the laundry nor the parts shops and VW outlet gave much inspiration. The photo was taken out the back window of Gypsy at breakfast time the following day, quite nice shade trees and palmettos.
Keep it up Pat - we were missing you. But what about Feb 7, 8 and 9?
ReplyDeletePatience my friend - you should have Feb 7 and 8 also. As for Feb 9, I'm sorting through dozens of shots of alligators, assorted birds and shots of the Florida Keys - tomorrow (assuming a good wifi connection)!
ReplyDelete