Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 30, 2019

Another Chapter Comes To A Close

We were on the work schedule today for the last time.  There were the usual tasks, clean the bathrooms, police the parking lots, wash the golf cart, and for Barbara several hours in the gate house.  The park was jumping today with several groups coming in for picnics and birthday parties.  In other words a rather normal work day with nothing major out of the ordinary.

Today was different though in that it is now over.  Another chapter has come to a close in our lives.  We are no longer work campers.  It was time to turn in our work shirts and our name badges.

It was time to sign our release form and our individual evaluation sheets.  Later, at sunset we would lock the front gate for the last time.  It was good to be here, but it was way too long to be in one place what with the time we had already spent at Sumter Oaks Escapees Park. Granted, it allowed us to accomplish a lot, medical, automotive and rig wise and that makes it all worth it.   Time now, though, to get rolling again.

We went out to celebrate with Steve and Patti mid afternoon to Cheddars Restaurant .

This is the restaurant as you first enter.

The four of us ready to chow down.

We all decided that this restaurant gets an A+ in terms of quality of food, quantity of food, price, and customer service.  Only two of us actually finished our meals that being Patti and myself.  Barbara and Steve took part of their meal home since they just couldn’t finish all that was on their plates.

Full tummies or not you know the old saying There is always room for ice cream!  

Sorry, I just can’t pass up a Twistee Treat especially when it is right on the way home.

Tomorrow we pack and put everything in order.  It will probably take a bit of time since we’ve acquired a few more toys during our stay here.  Honestly, I’m not sure where it is all going to go, but I do have a sneaky suspicion that some is going to end up in the car.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  Reflecting back tonight on our time here I’m glad for each and every minute of the months past.  I was able to get my second knee repaired.  Necessary repairs were made to Graybeard and Little Graybeard.  We were able to in a real sense to just kick back and enjoy life to the fullest.  Most importantly we have the memories of time spent with really great friends.  Those memories will stay with us forever.  Thank you Lord for putting us in this special place for this special time.

Time to call it a night.  Thanks for coming along with us again.  Till tomorrow, sleep tight.

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

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 29, 2019

So Close Yet It Seems So Far

Oh we’re close now, so close I can taste it.  Time to roll, time to roam, time to begin Tour America 2019.  Yet it seems it will never get here.  I know once we start I’ll probably be begging for some down time.  Not now, however, I just want to get going.

On the work schedule again.  Tomorrow will be our last day.  Easy morning.  Clean the shop.  Check wooden benches along the nature trail and make sure they are in good order.  Get checked out on the riding mowers.  Yea, now with only two days left.  Go figure.  Like I said an easy morning.

Work finished we took Marti to the groomer for the final time.  Now he is all spiffy and looking great.  We’ll pick up his tranquilizers on Monday just before we leave.  Don’t want him going too crazy once we start to move.

Today we found our new most favorite hardware store.  In the past there were two in Bushnell, the local downtown store which was the best; and, True Value, which is the pits in terms of what they carry and their customer service.  Well, the local downtown store closed so that left True Value.  Until now.  Barbara did some internet research and found

Webster Farm Supply and Hardware.  Wow!  This store is the best.  I can spend hours wandering around in here.  They have everything you could ever need and the customer service is first-rate.  What I needed today was some no see um screen for our small bedroom window, the kitchen window and our screen door.  Yes, they had it, and the supplies necessary to install it.

Once we got back home I installed the no see um screen on the small bedroom window and the kitchen window.  I’ll do the screen door tomorrow.  It was getting toward supper time and we had an invite again from Steve and Patti to join them and some friends of theirs from home for the evening meal.

What a meal!  Salad, pork roast, potatoes, carrots, and deviled eggs.  The dessert was just as good.  Pound cake with strawberries.  Oh yes I’m going to have to go on a diet real soon.  It was great spending time again with them and their friends.  It’s times like this as I’ve said before that make this RV life style so fantastic.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  I just love days like this.  The temperature was in the 70’s.  No humidity.  A light breeze that kept the bugs away.  Projects accomplished.  Great time again with great friends.  I feel sorry for those who are still so pressed in and pressed down with the daily grind.  I feel especially bad for those who are so busy rushing through life that they have no time to make and build lasting friendships.

Thanks again for coming along with us.  We enjoyed your company as we always do.  Have a good night.  Till tomorrow.

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

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

 

Home Is Where We Park It:  Dade Battlefield Historical State Park

Date:  March 27, 2019

Time Seems To Be Standing Still

We’re slowly coming to the end of our time here.  But boy oh boy does it seem to be dragging.  I just can’t wait for jacks up and on the road again.  I know, I know have some patience.

Today we were back on the work schedule so it was up and at it.  It figures this is also the first cold morning we’ve had in the last week.  The temperatures are in the mid 50’s and the wind is howling out of the northeast.  Hat and sweatshirt time for sure.

Breakfast was a lowly bowl of Fruit Loops, a glass of juice and a couple of cups of coffee.  Not much time when we’re working for anything more.  Well, I guess there could be if we wanted to get up a bit earlier then we do.  But why?

Off we went to find out what there was to do.  Which amounted to a whole lot of nothing.  Police the parking lots.  Clean in front of the visitor center and lodge.  That was about it for the morning.  In the afternoon Barbara put in several hours working with Dade Youth cleaning up the lodge and finishing various craft projects they had previously started.

Terry and Trudy were also on the work schedule today but since there was nothing much to do they decided to leave today instead of tomorrow.  They are now on the road headed back to Kansas.  We wish them God speed and a safe trip.

While Barbara was at the lodge I puttered around Graybeard working on this and that on the Countdown List.  Today I was underneath securing a couple of heater hose lines that run back to the hot water heater.  I also had to check on the one leveling jack that appeared to have a leak where the hydraulic hose attached to it.  Thankfully, it was not a leak just some fluid that had seeped out of the hydraulic storage tank.

This evening we of course we watched the staples, Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune.  We really live an exciting life don’t we!  Soon now, soon and we will be seeing the sights of America again.  Yipee!

That was our day on The Road of Retirement.  Time now to dig out an extra blanket since the temperature is continuing to drop like a rock rolling downhill.  One more chilly night is what they are saying and then we’ll bounce back in the 60’s and 70’s at night.

Thanks again for coming along with us.  We always enjoy your company.  Till tomorrow then, goodnight.

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