Back to Thousand Trails Orlando

Yup, were home at Thousand Trails Orlando. It was an easy trip, we headed south for 1/2 mile to Zolfo Springs where we picked up State Road 64 west and followed it to Highway 27 north. Highway 27 is a nice smooth multi-lane road which takes us all the way to Thousand Trails Blvd in Clermont, FL. There are a lot of traffic lights along the way but we still made good time. We made one stop for gas at Pilot and still arrived by 10:30 am.

At the registration office we picked our site from a map and was soon parked comfortably in our site. We slid out the two slides, connected the utilities, rolled out the awning, unpacked the folding bikes, and put the tarp on the ground. We are now home for the next 3 weeks.

Now that we are all set up my next task was the tradition of relaxing on the patio with a beer. Life is good when you have beer.

After I finished my traditional beer I road my bike up and down every road in the campground to check the place out. The place is pretty full with snow birds and there is every kind of camper ever made parked comfortably in their campsites. The weather is great here, it 83 degrees and clear with a gentle breeze that keeps us comfortable in the shade.

Of course Bev headed for the recreation center to connect with her old acquaintances from 3 weeks ago when we were here. Also there is a group of people that camped with us at Peace River that will be here with us in Clermont. It is a common practice for snow birds to go back and forth between T T Peace River and T T Orlando. Bev likes to hang out with her friends and get involved. Now me on the other hand, I do not socialize although I am friendly with my neighbors. Nobody runs up to me and gives me a hug like Bev gets. I guess that's what it's like to be a loaner.

Of course you know we will be eating out tonight. We plan on hitting our old stomping ground and favorite restaurant The Santa Fe Cattle Company for supper. It is less than a mile away and they have a great twofer meal.

Ride to Lake Okeechobee

Yesterday 1/22 was another nice day so Bev and I decided to take a ride to check out the country side around Lake Okeechobee.

We headed south a mile to Zolfo Springs where we picked up State Road 66 west which ran into State Road 98 west. We followed State Road 98 to the town of Okeechobee, FL along the way passing orange grove after orange grove and cattle ranch after cattle ranch. Once we got to Okeechobee I was getting a bit peckish so we stopped and my favorite dining establishment, Micky D's, where I got my favorite lunch a Big Mac and senior coffee. Life is good when you have a Big Mac (food for the soul).

After lunch we picked up State Road 78 south which follows the western shore of Lake Okeechobee. As soon as we got on 78 there was a sign for a park on the lake so we headed over the levee to the park.

Driving along the lake in the park we saw this amphibian plane parked on the shore. Actually it is probably an ultra-lite because it is so small and only has room for the pilot.

We  also stopped at this fishing pier that goes out into the lake.

Notice the water is down quite a bit from the drought in the area.

The birds on the railing are hoping someone will feed them.

This was a very enjoyable and scenic stop but it was time to continue our trek south along Lake Okeechobee.

We couldn't see much of the lake along the way because of the levee but we did see a lot of cattle ranches. We did come upon another park which we stopped at. This one is along a canal that runs into the lake and has a nice walking path which we followed.

This is a nice deck on the canal. As you can see on the left there is a board walk that goes out towards the lake.

It looks rickety but it was very sturdy so we walked out to the end.

The board walk ends with this high section which gives a great view of the lake and the surrounding area.

There goes an Air Boat zipping by.

Something is burning, see the smoke off in the distance.

Yes that is Bev bravely standing on the upper section.

As we were leaving the park Bev took a picture of this mobile home community on the canal. There are permanent homes along with RVs in this park.

We left the park and continued south on State Road 78 until we ran into Highway 27 which we took north heading back home. At State Road 66 we headed towards Zolfo Springs then to Wauchula after a quick stop for gas.

When we arrived in Wauchula it was time to eat so we stopped at one of our favorite places The Breadboard Restaurant. The food is great and the prices are right, you can't go wrong. Along with the salad bar Bev had a Turkey Dinner which was large so she brought most of it home. I had a bacon cheese burger that was so large it looked like a pound of meat. My mother would be proud of me though because I ate the whole thing including most of the fries. She always wanted me to clean my plate so I guess that's why I'm fat. It's all my mother's fault!

Today was a relaxing day around the camper chatting with neighbors and riding my bike. Of course Bev line danced and hung out with her friends. Bev gets involved with the activities so she always has friends to hang out with.

Tomorrow we are leaving Peace River heading back to Thousand Trails Orlando, we will be there for 3 weeks.  I dumped the tanks and packed our folding bikes in the car so it's one less thing for me to do tomorrow. It is a short hour and a half ride so we wont get up very early. We will probably be on the road around 9:00 am.

Remember to click on a picture if you want view larger images.

Manatee Park Ft. Myers, FL

Yesterday 1/18 was another tour day, we drove to Manatee Park in Ft. Myers, FL to see the Manatees up close.

I also have a photo of me with the Manatee but Bev is so much better looking than I am so I deleted my picture.

Manatees are usually found in shallow, slow-moving water. They are known to travel between freshwater rivers, brackish water estuaries and coastal saltwater ecosystems for mating, breeding, birthing  and feeding.

Manatees need warm water to survive. When water temperature drop below 68 degrees manatees leave their usual feeding grounds to search for warmer waters. Although they are very large marine mammals, they have little fat to keep their bodies warm and are susceptible to cold stress.

Many manatees in Southwest Florida come to Manatee Park to keep warm during cold spells. The warm water in the discharge canal from the Florida Power & Light Plant provides a refuge from the cold.

See the power plant in the distance. The discharge is under state road 80 into Manatee Park.

The Manatees just lounge around in this area enjoying the warm water.

There is a concrete path that runs along the canal along with covered viewing areas. We enjoyed walking slowly along the path checking out the Manatees. They are just below the surface and every few minutes they stick their nose out to get air. Occasionally they let their back stick out of the water which seems like they are letting the sun warm their back.

There is a fence at the end of the canal where it joins the river, this keeps the boats out protecting the Manatees. There is a board walk along the river at the edge of the park for fishing or viewing the Manatees in the river. Bev and I watched a couple of kayakers on the river as they paddled among the Manatees. It was very peaceful and relaxing just leaning on the railing of the board walk watching the Manatees.

Canoes and kayaks can be rented at the park for viewing the manatees up close and personal on the river but Bev and I didn't rent any. The park also has large "War Canoes" for groups to rent out. You can see the war canoes on the left side of the pictures above.

We walked down a path the check out the War Canoes up close.

The park has planted an area along the river with Mangroves. Mangroves are tropical trees that grow along the coastline in mixed salt and freshwater. They live in wet soil, are highly salt tolerant and flourish in areas periodically submerged by tides. Coastline development, exotic plant invasion and poor water quality threaten Florida's mangrove populations. As a result, mangroves are protected by law.

The park is quite scenic and just a joy to walk around.

They also have a Butterfly Garden which is usually loaded with all types but I guess it was to cool for them because I didn't see any. Bev said she saw some though. They also have a great selection of wildflowers, shrubs, vines, trees, and ground cover.

It was a very enjoyable day including the scenic ride down State Road 31 to get there.

On the way back home we passed Chili's in Arcadia so you know we had to stop for supper. While we were in the restaurant the rains came and it pored. It has been very dry in Florida and they really needed the rain. I was also glad to see it, our car was getting dirty and the rains cleaned it off.

It was a great day but we were glad to get back home and put our feet up.

Oh the weather is great in Florida

The last couple of days have been cold here in Wauchula, FL. The days have been in the 60s and the nights in the 30s but as is the case in Florida the great warm weather has returned. Today it is sunny and in the 70s, what a joy to ride the bike and just sit out on the patio. I am running the roof exhaust fan with all the vents open in the camper. It's nice to air the place out.

The Florida weather sure beats shoveling snow and chipping ice.

The campground is quite full with all the Snow Birds here but there is still room, although the remaining sites do not have full hookups. Everyday campers leave and more pour in. I enjoy being a watcher observing the fun some people have trying to get their big rigs backed in and hooked up.

The hot tub is being replaced at the campground and for the last week or so a crew has been trying to remove the old concrete one. Notice I say trying because it is like watching them try to kill an elephant with a fly swatter. Instead of using a pneumatic jack hammer they are using a small electric hammer drill and an electric concrete saw. They have been chipping away at it for over a week and the only thing they are accomplishing is disturbing everyone with the constant pounding of the hammer drill.

Oh the pain of it all.

Well they finally got a hole. Now we just need the new hot tub installed, not that I would use it but Bev may.

This past weekend we were thinking about attending the Florida RV Super Show at the Florida Fairgrounds in Tampa. A lot of the RVers in the campground went but as far as we got was thinking about it. I was thinking the last time I was in crowds of people I got sick and ended up in the Florida Hospital and I don't want to do that again. It would have been fun to attend but I'm glad I wasn't surrounded by throngs of people sneezing on me.

Bev got a couple of loads of laundry done while I did what I'm suppose to do. KEEP OUT OF HER WAY. Relax on our patio and ride my bike while she works - that's fair.

Hay, did you ever here of Marie and Frank Barone? It worked for them.

Herrmann's Royal Lipizzaner Stallions of Austria

Yesterday Bev and I visited Herrmann's Royal Lipizzaner Stallions in Myakka City, Florida. During the winter months they have training sessions; Thursday, Friday, and Saturday; that are open to the public. We attended the training session 2 years ago and were so impressed we had to return this year.

Founded in the 16th century for the exclusive use of the Hapsburg Royal Family of Austria, the Royal Lipizzaner are unquestionably the rarest, most aristocratic breed of horses in the world.

Only a few hundred have ever existed at any one time and is a miracle that this precious bloodline is not extinct, having been saved by General George Patton from the Russian advance during World War II. The Lipizzans' celebrated escape was recounted in the Walt Disney movie, "Miracle of the White Stallions".

Assisting Patton in the clandestine mission to rescue the regal Lipizans, Colonel Herrmann and his father, Colonel Ottomar Herrmann, Sr., smuggled the horses out from behind enemy lines, riding at night and hiding by day.

Colonel Herrmann's family maintains a 200 acre ranch in Florida and the ranch is now under the direction of Gabriella Herrmann. In addition to the stallions with which they tour, the Herrmanns' maintain a herd of over forty Lipizzan mares. Gabriella's breeding program exists exclusively for the propagation of the breed. Occasionally a few select horses may be purchased and several stallions are available for breeding.

The Herrmanns' Lipizzans present a widely varied program. Classical dressage combined with the difficult "Airs Above the Ground" which are a series of higher-level movements where the horse leave the ground.

The trainers and performers are all female because the Herrmanns' children are mostly girls. They also have employment opportunities for riders, grooms. Requirements: Must be an animal lover and have one year experience handling horses; Must be over 18 years of age and free to travel: Must be resourceful, eager to learn with good work ethics.

OH! Someone should tell Danielle Robillard about this. She loves horses and is a great horse women.

Oh what a beautiful mane.

Here is the next generation of Herrmanns, future performers.

We had a great treat, a group of Santa Clauses on vacation in Florida attended the training session.

Santa wears shorts in Florida.

After the show Bev and I went in the barn to see these magnificent horses up close.

Yes, That is Bev with a smile after visiting with the horses.

Every year there is a group of campers that have a rally at the ranch. What a great place to have a camp out.

We really enjoyed ourselves, it is such a pleasure watching the horses perform and get to see them up close and personal. We will definitely be back here again and we would like to locate a show someplace during the season to see them on the road.

After we left of course we had to stop for supper on the way home to Peace River. Did I mention we like to eat out?

We got back home in time to attend karaoke at the meeting room. Along with singing there is dancing and of course line dancing.

All of the singers and dancers did a great job. No, I did not sing!

You can click the photos to enlarge.