Disney Springs

I checked Facebook this morning and Shelley, a friend of ours from back in Manitoba had posted this picture with a caption that said it was -41C with the wind chill this morning.  I don't even remember what that kind of cold feels like.  We hope you make it to work without frost bite Shelley!!

A Sack of Oranges

Woke up to 100% humidity and 20C.  It was like being the jam in a peanut butter and jam sandwich.  Just sticky.  But that is Florida and we haven't really had great amounts of humidity to worry about.  They tell us that December and January are lower humidity months here so we shouldn't complain too much.

Visiting Friends

We had been trying to set up a time to head down to see Andy and Bonnie, and Ron and Julie RJ's Adventures at there boondocking spot at Hickory Hammock.  They are at a South Florida Water Management area which allow 8 days camping at a time.   Well we got a text from Julie who said that they will be around today so we gathered the troops up to head down there.  John and Val and Laura headed out before we got the call to go so they had headed out somewhere already.  I did get a couple pictures of her leaving.  You can tell by the smiles she loves her bike.

An Ocean Drive

We headed out to check out the ocean today.  We haven't been there yet this trip and we love to hear the surf crashing on the beach.  So we headed to Vero Beach which is directly east of us about 45 minutes.  Looks like its going to be a great day.

Quiet day at Home

Today was one of those quiet days that you have to have once in a while.  When I went outside this morning it was clear that Christmas was over.  Old Santa was fully deflated.  I guess he was plum tuckered from all of the work he had to do on Christmas Eve.  You can't really blame him.  Was he good to you?  Hope so.

Julie has arrived!!

Well the first of the kids to visit Florida was Julie.  Julie belongs to Harold and his wife and I got to meet her a few years ago.  She is a teacher back in Manitoba and has come to spend time with her parents and to soak up some rays (and a wee bit of shopping).  Lets hope for good weather for her stay. Harold and his wife are spending a week or so at Manatee Hammock Campground near the Kennedy Space Center.  There will be lots for them to do around here.

Merry Christmas.

Merry Christmas to all our Family and Friends.  Yes that means you!!!

Is Santa Real?

Andy and Ron and Julie were up early getting ready to head south of here to a new spot where they can be close to two of their sons and their families for Christmas.  We have had the pleasure of associating with them for the last couple weeks.  It's funny how so many people who are doing this snowbird/boondocking thing, think the same.  We had a great relationship with these people as well as all of the other people around us here.  There will be a hole in our circle today.

Up Up and Away

Launch time was set for 8:51 this morning.  We got all set up again and guess what?  They launched it.  It wasn't as spectacular as I had anticipated but it was great just the same.  And we have been waiting for this for like a week.  There will be a few more launches while we are in Florida so stay tuned for them.

No Rocket today, oh pooy!

Our rocket launch app on the iPhone said that the rocket we have been waiting to see is a go for 9:21 this morning so everyone gathered in the courtyard for the 4th time to witness the launch.  About 9:15 the app gave us the message that the launch had been scrubbed again because of crazy winds in the upper atmosphere.  As it turned out at 9:21 there was a big old cloud floated over us and we would not have seen the launch anyway if it was on schedule.   The reschedule time is 8:51 tomorrow morning so we will all meet again then to see it.

Survivor is over.

One of the few TV shows I watch any more is Survivor.  I think I have watched every one since it started 37 seasons ago.  With the exception of some of the ones where they had repeat contestants, I have enjoyed seeing the variety of dynamics that show up in the game.  In the early seasons, lying was not a popular thing to do and as the shows progressed, everyone realized that you have to lie a little bit to stay alive in the game.  But there is a fine line and its fun to see if crossing it is bad for your game.  This season was no different and my guy did not win.  I don't think I have ever picked a winner.

Shave and a Haircut

Today we found out early that the rocket launch was a no go.  It has been rescheduled for Saturday morning at 8:55 am so we will gather back in the courtyard for the viewing then.  That is a good thing because it is supposed to be a cloudy day tomorrow and we wouldn't see it.  It may have had something to do with the Tornado Watch that showed up on my phone too.

Still no Rocket Launch

Everyone was up at the crack of dawn (9:00 am) to view the rocket launch that had been scrubbed yesterday.  News spread quickly that the launch was scrubbed again today.  It was an excuse to get together for coffee in the courtyard again.  Tomorrow is supposed to be stormy so it will probably be scrubbed again.

Rocket Launch...Nope!!

Today we all bailed out of bed to be bright eyed and bushy tailed for the rocket launch from Cape Canaveral this morning at 9:11 am.  We all got our coffee before we found out it was delayed to 9:34 am.  Everyone got all lined up in their chairs and sat in anticipation.  About 9:30 it was announced that the launch had been scrubbed until tomorrow morning at 9:07 am.  We will try again then.

Meet our Dogs

I have promised to do a dog blog and I will do it today.  We have a lot of dogs here in this group and they all have different personalities.  The neat thing is that they all get along together in their own special way.  Of course our "Charlie" is the "Star Dog" in our minds and so he is first. Charlie is spoiled rotten and that is just the way it is going to be.  He lives for treats.

The Throwdown

Last night we gained another person in our group.  Janice showed up with her Redwood and pulled in beside us.  She was here early enough for the fire last night so we all got to meet her then.  She is a friend of Brian's and has come to hang out with all of us for a while.

Honoring some Veterans

Today we were invited to accompany Andy and Bonnie, and Ron and Julie on a very special journey to Okeechobee today.  They are all volunteering to help place wreaths at the graves of veterans to remember their service to their country.  We all got on our best shoes and headed out.  Harold and his wife came with us as well.

Out for Supper

We are still enjoying some time off here at Three Lakes.  It is such a peaceful place to be.  Most of our days are spent just visiting and hanging around.  So when we get a chance to go to town we jump at it. We have been invited by the group to go to Kissimmee for supper tonight at the Elks Club, so we headed in about 4 pm to be there for 5.

The Frog

Today was just a day to sit and chat and do up some chores that needed to be done.  Sue and Pat headed to town for the day so Harold and I kinda took the day off.  I had a little job to do which took me most of the afternoon between visits.  We had been having trouble with our light wire between the Ponderosa and the jeep.  I had to wiggle things just right to get the lights to all work on the Jeep when we were towing it.  I figured it was time to change out the plug and the end of the cord on the Jeep.  When I got it apart the one end was quite rusty.  Guess it was time.

Rocket launch and a Basket

Our lives have become sort of humdrum for the time being.  We are enjoying just "living" for a while.  We know things will get busy after Christmas with our kids and grandkids starting to arrive on their quest to find Mickey Mouse.  So for now we enjoy coffee on the deck and afternoon happy hours and evening bonfires with our old and new friends.  This morning my coffee was interrupted by a hoot and a holler from the circle next door and lots of pointing.  I went running over there just in time to observe the trail of a rocket being launched to the east of us.  That is where Cape Canaveral and NASA's launch pads are.
 

Solar install Day 2

We are starting to settle in real nice here at Three Lakes WMA in mid Florida.  The weather has been a bit cooler which is ok because we are not climatized to the heat yet.  The humidity has been up and down but for the most part it is ok.   We are camped with an interesting group who seem to be kinda on the same page as us.  They all have dogs so we don't have to tie Charlie up because he just wanders with all the rest of the dogs.

Solar Begins

The reason we came to Three Lakes in Florida was to meet up with Brian Boone and get P & H's solar system installed.  Today was the day to start on it.

Heartbreak Hotel

Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest and rest we did.  We woke up to rain and it continued for most of the day.  It was a slow warm rain which I don't really mind.  Everyone just did their own thing for the day.  P & H went to Saint Cloud to do errands and I think it was laundry day for lots of them.

Getting to know everyone.

We had morning Happy Hour at our house today. Everyone came to check us out I think. I hope we can impress them enough that we can stay!! Certainly a great bunch of people. Most of them have been here for a while already so they are like the locals. We have to see where our niche will be and work on bringing our styles to the table. We will introduce them to you in a later post.

Our Florida Home for a while

Today we will complete the last leg of our journey south for this winter.  From now on we will be heading back towards home.  We will stay there for a while, probably until the end of January.  Here is our planned trip today.  We will end up at Three Lakes Wildlife Management Area, which is a little camping area in a grassy area with some trees and hunters.  It is about 30 minutes south of Saint Cloud and the Kissimmee area.  Not far to go to Disney!!!

Through the Eye of the Hurricane

First thing to do today is to go back to the picture I posted of a furry creature in a box.  I asked if anyone could see what I saw. Our friends from Maxxtrails and Chillin with Patsey took good guesses but Deb and Riley at On a long and lonesome highway, saw what I saw.  It was a crate to put a hippo in or a HIPPO CRATE (hypocrite).  My wife says I see things different in life and that may be so.  I just know that after I set up the hippo in the crate, every isle I went down, the little lights would turn on, on the "you are being recorded" cameras.  I guess they were wondering what I would do next.

Heading into Hurricane Country

We got an early start today so that when we get to Panama City Beach we will still have some day left to tour. Sues Mom and Dad used to winter in Panama City Beach so it is like familiar territory to her and I.  We went by the Seaside Villa's where they used to stay and the villa looks good except for the fact that the rain or the ocean had flooded the first floor of a couple buildings.  Mold is the big thing to get rid of, so they are completely re-doing those units.  Sues' Uncle and Aunt come here every year and we hope to visit them in February for a few days on our way through.

Pensacola tour

We decided to stay an extra day at the boat ramp boondocking spot at near Blackwater River State Park.  We wanted to go down to Pensacola and be beach bums for a day.  Of course we picked the coolest day of the week to go.   So off we went.

Moving East again

Today is move day.  We have been in this awesome spot near Biloxi MS for 17 days and enjoyed every minute of it.  We plan to get a couple hundred kilometers down the road on our way to the Orlando FL area.   One of the things that lots of people say is that we will not be able to boondock in Florida.  All I can say is "HOLD MY BEER!"  Now we may stay in some spots where there is a fee to be in, like State Parks and Wildlife Management Areas, and maybe the odd Walmart if we have to, but we don't plan on paying actual camping fees anymore than we have to.

The Church in the Wildwood

Today was Sunday so Angie suggested we find a church to go to this morning.  A few of us want to find a good ole Southern Baptist, bible thumping, arm waving, gospel singing hallelujah Church.  By the time church time rolled around it was just Harold's wife, and Angie and I that decided to go.  I said it might look like me and my sister wives lol!!!  I joked that we should tell everyone that we were from the Church of Latter Day Saints!!  Anyways, off we went.  Just down the road we came upon the prettiest little church in the wildwoods.  Success Baptist Church!  The little brown (white) church in the dell was out in the middle of no where and we decided to drop in.

Sleep it off

Quiet day around the Ponderosa today.  A few domestic chores accomplished and then we got out the water bladder and hauled water for everyone.  Two trips filled us all up and on the last trip we saw a guy parked in a weird position in the entrance way to where we go for water.  Upon arrival the people there told us that he tried to turn into the campground and overshot the corner.