Yesterday we had doctor’s appointments in Bartow. Since this is now our permanent winter home we decided it was time to find a family doctor for both of us. We accomplished this mission without a problem.
However, we went early yesterday because we discovered on-line what appeared to be a rather unique coffee and bagel store.
It is called Unfiltered. This was once a furniture store, than an auto part’s store, than for many years it sat abandoned and empty. Finally, into the picture came two individuals who were absolutely in love with coffee. They purchased the store and the rest, as they say is history.
Let me take you inside and show you what a unique and interesting store this is.
They have sitting areas with couches, as well as tables and chairs throughout the store for their customers. While we were there we saw one women lounging on a couch reading a book, and in another area a group of woman engaged in a Bible study.
Even the bathroom is definitely different when it comes to decorations.
As for the coffee and the food, it was delicious. The coffee is brewed in house and the bagels, which we had, are also made on site. There are numerous other items on the menu which we are intending to come back and sample at a future date.
All in all it was a great day on The Road of Retirement. We now have a family doctor and we have a wonderful coffee and bagel shop to return to. I would call that a win-win!
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.
Things have settled down into a predictable routine. Which means life is a bit boring and routine. Not that we don’t have things to do. Ms. Barbara has been spending days changing our address on what often appears to be hundreds of documents and agencies. She also has been busy making delish meals and doing laundry.
I’ve been busy doing minor upgrades to Elvira as well as taking care of routine maintenance. I’ve got the inside all cleaned up to include steam cleaning the floors. I’ve dumped and blasted the tanks. My last big project will be deep cleaning the roof, stripping off all the old caulking, and then re-caulking all the seams and vents. I expect this project to take a few weeks if not a month to complete. I see no need to rush.
But what we were both wanting to do was, well, just go somewhere. We wanted to go somewhere other than out for groceries and to another doctor’s appointment. We just wanted to do something different and unusual. It didn’t have to be big and spectacular. It might only take a few minutes. You see, boredom had overtaken us and we needed to beat it back. Time to take action.
Well, what if I told you that you car could defy gravity, and roll uphill all by itself? Well, it can at
Spook Hill in Lake Wales, Florida. This we had to experience. So we were off. When you get there you find that there’s not much to Spook Hill. Just the sign you see here and a white line on the road beneath it.
And this Billboard with Casper the Friendly Ghost which is just before the white line. It’s located just about where we took the first picture from. See the directions on the bottom of the billboard? Time to try it out.
We pulled up to the white line seen in the first photo. We placed the transmission in neutral. Within seconds we were moving uphill and back to the billboard! What? Of course we tried it again, and again, and well you get the idea. Always with the same results.
So what is going on here? Some say there is the ghost of a dead pirate hanging out here who likes to mess with people’s cars. Others say there is a great warrior chief and a huge alligator who continue to fight in the afterlife and are sort of messing the laws of gravity up. Then there are others who say it is just an optical allusion. What do you think? There is, of course, a really practical explanation but I don’t want to spoil it for you if you haven’t been there yet.
That was our day on The Road of Retirement. A simple kind of day with a touch of intrigue thrown in. Just what we needed. Time now to find something else to explore. We have several ideas in mind. We will see what we will see.
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.
It’s officially over. In the past whenever anyone would ask me where we lived, with a great deal of pride I would reply Wherever we park our rig. I absolutely loved being a full timer. I loved being as free as the wind. It was thrilling to know that we could just pick up and go wherever we wanted to whenever we wanted to. This great country was ours to roam.
But I can’t say that anymore. Today we officially listed our permanent address as 5128 Southshore Drive, Polk City. We are now rooted in one spot. Tied to one location. A necessity for some people but not for everyone.
Elvira is no longer our living vehicle but she is back to being simply a recreational vehicle. She sits in the RV port and call me crazy if you want but I can hear her saying Why am I here? Why are we not out on the road together. I definitely know where her heart is.
I mean in many ways life is way better now. No more worrying if the slides will come it. Or if the jacks will come up. No more having to worry about being able to make a reservation. Which is, indeed, getting harder to do in some places. But, well what is life if it doesn’t hold a few challenges from time to time.
So many told me, and continue to tell me we made the right decision. OK, my head agrees but I’m sorry my heart is not there yet. I’m still working through the five stages of grief. I’m somewhere between depression and acceptance. I’m sure I’ll get to the final stage but I just don’t know when.
As for Ms. Barbara, thankfully, she is accepting of our situation. We sure don’t need two of us down in the dumps. Moreover, I’m overjoyed for her. She has a home with many of the things she just couldn’t have when we were on the road.
Yes, this will be our final home. Yes, logically it was the right thing to do. Yes, I’m thrilled for my wife. Then why am I still having a hard time accepting our current situation. One day I agree, the next day I kick myself. Sure, we can and will still travel. But I’m sorry traveling for a few months is not the same thing as full timing. Am I being petty about the whole thing? I just don’t know.
Forgive my rambling. Time now to count my blessings. Time to remember the good times in the past. Time to look forward to more good times in the future. God bless.
Several days before Adam left we decided to do one last activity together.
We decided to take an early morning cruise on the lakes around Winter Haven. There are several cruises offered: early morning, early afternoon, sunset, water sky show, fireworks, and a dinner cruise.
I quickly learned that Winter Haven is also known as the Chain of Lakes City. It is called this because Winter Haven is located in the midst of some 50 lakes varying in size from tiny to fairly large. I also learned that there is a Northern Chain and a Southern Chain that is now interconnected by a lock.
Our morning cruise would be on the Southern Chain. The day was picture perfect. A beautiful blue sky and calm water on each and every lake. We would move from lake to lake via a series of canals connecting one lake to the other. The story goes that in 1915 the canals were first envisioned as a means of being able to move the harvest of the various citrus groves around the different lakes in the Winter Haven area to a processing plant in the city. Many of the canals were first dug by hand but later various forms of machinery were used to dig them. However, before all the canals were dug grove owners began to move their harvest to the plant by truck. The canals then came under the control of a private group of citizens who wanted to promote water sports in the area. They, though, found out rather quickly that they simply could not continue to develop and take care of the canals. The development and care of the canals then passed to the state who continues to take care of them today.
The cruise begins at Harborside Restaurant which is located on
Lake Shipp. Yup, they really do put out garbage cans hoping for those on the water to actually use them.
We then entered our first canal heading toward Lake May.
While on Lake May we passed
one of many different types of birds that call these lakes home.
We headed next to Lake Howard.
On the canal leading to the lake is Tanners Restaurant which offers a pick up window on the water!
Moving into the canal that would lead us from Lake Howard to Lake Canon
we would catch a glimpse first of this historic home on one bank,
and then this home on the opposite bank.
The two homes were interconnected by this bridge over the canal. We were told that the owners of each house would often throw lavish parties that included both houses. Guests, using the bridge, could move freely from house to house enjoying the best that each had to offer.
We then made our way viva different canals to Spring Lake and Lake Lulu and along the way we saw a little bit of this, and a little bit of that.
Finally, we headed into the canal for the largest of the lakes, Lake Eloise
It is definitely a good size lake! And it’s main attraction is. . .
Anyone recognize this? This was Cypress Gardens. Prior to Walt Disney World opening in 1971 this was Florida’s top tourist attraction. It opened in 1936 but finally closed in 2009. However, it is estimated that during that time 45 million people visited it.
Today it is owned by Legoland Florida and they have brought back the original Cypress Garden water show.
As we went pass they were in the process of preparing the fireworks for that night’s performance. Sure wish we could have come back but time did not permit.
The Lake Cruise lasted a full two hours and if you are ever in this areal I would recommend taking the time to sign up for one of their cruises. It was a great way to spend the morning. We were together as a family. We had a picture perfect day. It was just awesome in every way. Some day we will go back for a sunset cruise.
So that is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Our days have been, and continue to be, full and rewarding. There is always just enough to do each day to keep us from growing old. But not enough to overwhelm us. Remember the moto of the retired Never do today what you can put off until tomorrow! God bless.
Thanks for taking the time to read our blog. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Remember, take time to stop and smell the roses and live each day that God gives you to the fullest.
"On The Road of Retirement" 