WORK CAMPING 2019

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical Park

Date:  March 28, 2019

Saying Goodbye to Dennis and Pam

Another morning on the work schedule so once again we were up and at it – sort of.  We both were moving really, really slow today but somehow we managed to make the 8 am roll call.  In a way I’m going to miss this.  It provided structure and there was a sense that you were helping to make a great state park even better.  On the other hand it is going to be nice once again to come and go as we please.

Out the door cup of coffee in hand.  In was our turn to clean the already clean bathrooms.  We also were tasked with cleaning the Visitor Center and doing a once over on the Lodge.  If one takes their time and does a completely through job this can eat up a good 2 hours of the required 3 hours due.  What to do with the last hour?  Can you say leaf blower?  Clear the driveway as one first comes in, clear the walks around the Visitor Center and Lodge, clean a couple of picnic pavilions, clear a few key parking lots and just like that it was 11 am.  Done for the day.

The day was far from over though.  Early afternoon we were going up to Dennis and Pam’s for a goodbye visit.  Dennis had suggested The MoJo Grill in Ocala as a great place for late afternoon lunch/early evening supper.  He also let me know that they had a Cuban Sandwich on the menu that had won numerous local awards.  Enough said!

This is one of the benches along the walkway leading to the entrance.

This is the sign along side the entrance door.

How about these entrance doors.

Recognize these two guys?  They are to the right as you enter.

Here are some more pictures of the inside of this absolutely funky,  fantastic restaurant.

Here we are just before our meals arrived.

As for that Cuban Sandwich?  It positively lived up to its billing.  Everyone else also agreed that their meals were the best.  The service was also above and beyond.  We’re so glad we had a chance to eat here before we left the next week.

Our time together was not over yet.  Pam as always had a super delicious dessert waiting for all of us back at their house.  We had pound cake, ice cream and salted caramel topping.  Oh wow what a super way to end the day’s meal.  Pam you are the best!

Time for the tough part.  Time to say not goodbye really but farewell for now.  They have been a big part of our lives since we have been here in Florida and we have enjoyed every visit, every minute of our time with them.  We have grown close over the past months and we thank the good Lord that they have been a big part of our lives.  They are truly a great couple and great friends.  Thank you Dennis, thank you Pam for opening your hearts and your lives and inviting us in.

Knowing we will probably not see them for maybe a year or two is tough.  We will, however, keep in touch and you can bet when we do return to Florida visiting them is going to high up there on the list.  If not first on the list.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  A great visit with great friends.  A time to say farewell for now.  A time to give thanks for what is really so precious in life, personal relationships.  Family and great friends are indeed more precious than all the silver and gold in the world.  That’s why we count ourselves as two of the wealthiest people in the world.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before

See you on down the road