TOUR AMERICA, 2020: PARADISE OAKS RV RESORT, BUSHNELL, FLORIDA

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

December 30, 2020

Temperature 79 Degrees

Around The Park

Gooooooooood Morning!

Oh what a beautiful day we awoke to this morning. Take a look.

I grabbed a cup of coffee, sat back in my chair and soaked in the sunshine. This is a morning ritual that I am really going to miss once we are back on the road.

I decided to take a bike ride around the park today. As I rode around this is the first character I discovered. He was just standing tall in someone’s site as if he didn’t have a care in the world.

I also came across a few of our four legged neighbors who were just on the other side of the fence. One of them managed to get through the gate the other day and just wandered around the park for a bit before they were finally able to escort him home.

This guy decided to try and stare me down. He just stood there for minutes on end before moving on.

Then there was this friendly little guy. You’ll see him here and there and everywhere as he travels around the park with his owner. Usually, you’ll find him just hanging out of his cart just as you see him above.

Now this really looks like a nice way to take an afternoon nap!

In the modular home section they just sold and set two more homes. There are now only four lots left to sell in this first section.

I guess it had to happen. We just received word that we have two confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the park. Thankfully, they know who they were in contact with and hopefully it will go no further. I mean too many people in this park are just too lax, large gatherings, no face masks and no social distancing. We are definitely going to have to watch out step going forward.

That was our day on The Road of Retirement. It was another great day in Paradise from start to finish. We ran a few errands today. I completed some of my monthly maintenance chores. An easy day with abundant sunshine and pleasant temperatures. Our kind of day.

Thanks for stopping by today. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

These are the voyages of Elvira and her two intrepid travelers. 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 never been before.

See you on down the road!

TOUR AMERICA, 2020: PARADISE OAKS RV RESORT, BUSHNELL, FLORIDA

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

December 29, 2020

Temperature 73 Degrees

A Great Afternoon With Great Friends

Goooooooooooood Morning World!

Cup of coffee in one hand and a muffin in the other I greeted another new day in Paradise. One could easily get used to this wonderful life. Why, I believe I have!

This morning I sat outside basking in the morning sun. I spent the time reading another new book that I discovered in the library. It’s my kind of book – large letters and short chapters.

Come afternoon,

our good friends Dennis and Pam came over to visit with us. We have known each other for three years now. The way we met? Would you believe a New Jersey license plate was the beginning of our great relationship.

We were staying in the Escapees park in Bushnell our first winter in Florida. While they were out walking one day they noticed we had New Jersey plates on our car and rig. Since they were also were from New Jersey we got to talking and from that original conversation a friendship was begun that continues to this day. They are no longer on the road but now have a sticks and bricks home in Ocala.

We spent the afternoon talking about, well talking about just about anything and everything. It was a fantastic way to spend an afternoon. We always look forward to our times with them. They are so precious to us.

On the menu today was Chinese from one of our favorite resturants. For dessert

Ms Barbara made her first ever lemon meringue pie. Take it from me, she nailed it, a perfect 10. Bonus, there is plenty left for me to snack on throughout the rest of the week. Yipee!

That was our day on The Road of Retirement. A wonderful day from start to finish. We are so grateful for days like these. Days we will never forget. Thank you Lord for friends like Dennis and Pam.

Thanks for checking in with us today. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

See you on down the road!

TOUR AMERICA, 2020: PARADISE OAKS RV RESORT, BUSHNELL, FLORIDA

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

December 28, 2020

Temperature 71 Degrees

Sunday Worship

Good Bye Christmas

Cleaning Up

Goooooooooooood Morning World!

Getting caught up.

Yesterday we began our day with worship at our home church, The Colts Neck Reformed Church.

The service consisted of special music, scripture lessons, and poems and special readings by various members of the congregation. A decidely different but nevertheless inspiring service that we both enjoyed.

As for today.

Today we said goodbye to Christmas. We took down our decorations and and packed everything into our Christmas toter that I then put away in its special outside locker.

But then again, Christmas was not really over. Ms Barbara finally wrapping Christmas presents for mailing.

The last one to be prepared for mailing. Once finished she loaded up the car and took everything to the Post Office. Now, we can honestly say that Christmas has come to a close.

As for me

I cleaned the sediment filter – the fliter itself was clear and had good flow so nothing much needed to be done.

It was also time to regenerate the water softener so that was another task accomplished.

I also took the time to steam clean our floors. So now we are all spiffy and clean, and everything Christmas is put away in its proper place.

Today was also a proper Florida day with temperatures in the 70’s. Much more to our liking. However, the temperature is already dropping this evening. As long as it stays above the 30’s I’m happy.

So that is where we are at on The Road of Retirement. Life is good. Life is easy. The good Lord continues to bless us. I must admit that it is nice just sitting in one place. We know where the stores are. I know who to turn to for help with RV issues. Yet, I really can’t wait to be moving again. I want to explore new places. I want to go, go, go! April 1st can’t come fast enough.

Thanks for checking in with us today. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

See you on down the road!

TOUR AMERICA, 2020: PARADISE OAKS RV RESORT, BUSHNELL, FLORIDA

Places We Have Called Home In 2020

December 26, 2020

Temperature 43 Degrees

A Quiet Christmas

Gooooooooooood Morning World!

This morning I’m just sitting in my favorite chair, cup of coffee in hand, sun on my shoulder and reflecting on our Christmas Day.

We had a very quiet Christmas Day. In the morning we called our kids to wish them a Merry Christmas. We also called my sister Cindy and spoke for a bit. Time with family, if only on the phone, is oh so precious. Maybe, just maybe, as my sister Cindy says next year we’ll all be able to get together and have one whale of a Christmas party.

I spent the good part of yesterday reading another book that I had started. I finally finished it by early afternoon and have now moved on to another Tom Clancy book.

We also spent a good part of the afternoon playing Mexican Train. Thankfully, we never tire of this game or I don’t know what we would do.

Ms Barbara also got caught up on all the laundry. She is by her own admission so glad to have the washer/dryer back in working order with no leaks. To this day I have no idea where the water came from but I’m just glad there is no more to worry about.

We really had no idea what we were going to have for Christmas dinner. Until we discovered that the park was offering a full meal for only $8 dollars each. We each had a salad, garlic bread, lasagna and dessert. It was delicious. With the added plus that there were no dishes to wash.

Come the evening while we may be in Florida it sure didn’t feel like it. The cold front

that had been forecast came through. We would eventually go down to 28 degrees. It was almost like we were further north, maybe like in Wisconsin. The good news is two fold: nothing froze overnight; and, we only have one more night like this to get through – I hope.

This is our new secret weapon nicknamed Tiny Tim that we purchased to fight off the cold. Originally I was going to use it as a third heater running off an extension cord from the power pedestal. We discovered, however, that despite its small size this heater puts off more than enough heat to keep us warm. It consistenly keeps the inside living room area about 30 to 35 degrees above whatever the outside temprature is. When we go to bed at night we leave it running in the living room throughout the night. Then, in the morning if necessary we’ll use either the furnace or heat pump to bring the tempature up a bit more if necessary.

That was our Christmas Day on The Road of Retirement. As for today, not much different. Ms Barbara is making a crock pot full of stew. The perfect meal for a chilly day like today. I’m spending my time reading and doing some planning for next year’s Tour 2021. The question right now, though, is will we be able to get the COVID vaccination before we’re due to leave on April 1st. That could throw a monkey wrench in everything. We’re holding our breath, so to speak, and trying to remain positive about the whole thing.

Thanks for checking in with us today. We always appreciate your company, your comments, and your suggestions. Keep safe, keep healthy, live to the fullest the days that God gives you.

See you on down the road!