Lots of Birds

Went fishing with Rog today while Teri cleaned up a few odds and ends around here.  Have noticed quite a variety of birds here.  At least half a dozen stork-like jobs, pure white of various sizes that prowl the shores of the lakes and rivers picking off small fish and insects.  It is a hoot watching them stalk their prey.  Got a few pics of the Osprey nesting on the speed limit signs on the Intercoastal Waterway.

We were so busy checking out the birds that we neglected to pay attention to the message the sign was meant to convey. The local sheriff was happy to point out the details for us.  He had a dynamite boat provided by the Dept of Homeland Security.  Kind of a mini cigarette hull with an open cockpit and 500 horse power hanging off the stern.  We had a nice conversation and he let us off with a warning (and a reminder that speeding was a $93 fine).  The whole encounter was so unlike what we have experienced in Alaska.  He just wanted to insure we knew where we needed to go slow for the Manatee.

Warm and sunny forecasted for the next few days.

Stay warm yourselves.

Protecting Nemo and His Friends or, If You Want to LIve, Jump in My Mouth

What a variety of weather.  We had the water supply freeze for a few hours the other morning and today it was a sauna as a warm front hit with lots of moisture.  Tornado warnings (radar spotted several) but unknown whether any touched down as of this evening.  We are without broadcast TV here but have a good WiFI connection.  Makes you appreciate a “dry heat”.

The more we socialize with our fellow campers the more we hear how this is one of the best campgrounds in the state.  We have a 4 PM happy hour where someone blows the conch shell and we all gather at the fire pit just a few yards down from our space.  It is definitely a different life style.  I feel sorry for the ones that just get to do it for a week or weekend.  This retirement deal gives you lots of flexibility in your schedule and your sense of time and priorities change.  I suspect we have a lot of changing to do yet.

The view from our rear window

The view from our bedroom window and yes, that is frost on the roof at 9 AM!

The upper end of our inlet

Our Open Road from across the inlet

The entrance to our inlet from the Myakka River

Rog, a neighbor of his and I went fishing yesterday and scored another first.  We caught a pelican.  He (the pelican) dove down and grabbed one of our lures as it was being retrieved.  Luckily, Rog had read the press release so we knew what to do.  First you reel him up to the boat.  Then you simply throw a towel around him to bundle up his wings and legs (actually second, first you get a small towel around his beak or he is going to bite your ass), carefully remove the hook, then simply release him to the theme from “Born Free”.  Lucky also that there were three of us and only one of him.  I think I am being gender correct here as it was a juvenile pelican and only a male of the species could be stupid enough to try what he did.  He appeared grateful, as he stuck around until we threw him a fish.  The fact that it was too big to swallow kept him and his friends busy for quite a while.  After it was all done and we finished congratulating ourselves for not killing off one more sea bird, we realized that we didn’t get one picture of the whole incident.  Oh well, Rog and I will be going back, so we’ll get his photo then. He should be easy to find; he'll be the one with the fish tail still sticking out of his mouth.

Raining here, stay dry y'all.

Smooth landing, but we aren't in Portland anymore Dorothy

Thurs 1/20

We are holed up at the DeJean’s Venice Florida estate.  The transition was as smooth and problem free as you can expect.  Long, but smooth.  We started the day at 3 AM Portland time. arrived at PDX by 4:20 and were at the gate in 20 min.  Both of the flights were on time (jet stream assist cut 1:10 off the 5 1/2 hr SEA-MCO leg) and there was very little turbulence.  Then we drove down to Venice, arriving a little before 9 PM.

Fri 1/21

This morning Rog and I installed a new towing mirror (piece of cake, 4 screws, 3 bolts and a wiring harness) on our truck, and then we moved our fifth wheel from the storage slot to our campsite for the next two weeks.  That took us to lunch and then Teri and I got hair cuts and started unpacking at the RV.

Then we went to dinner and I knew I wasn’t in Portland any more.  We ate at a place right next to the RV park called Snook Haven.  The wine list had three categories of selections, “Cheap”, “Decent” and “Good”.  We had “Gator Bites” (yes, deep fried alligator chunks and they don’t taste like chicken) and chips for appetizers and fish & chips for dinner.  They did have a decent Chinese beer made in PA.  But the thing that really sealed the deal was the LIVE entertainment.  Bruce Nye the Elvis Guy.  I shit you not.  I do not think that any kind of food can be digested in that environment, let alone DEEP (emphasis mine) fried gator and fish.  The french fries were excellent, however.

We may have to try it again (this time we’ll stick to fries and beer) because coming up Monday is an act called “Dual Sax Ron & the Hornettes”.  Then, the following Sat, we have “Blues Walker Smith Group”.  Did I mention that, aside from the wait staff, we were among the youngest there and the place was packed, reservations only.  South Florida is NOT Portland!

Maybe some photos tomorrow.

Stay below the radar.

We're Going to Live

Looks like we are all on the mend; with antibiotics and acupuncture and magic from the local fairy princess we appear to be getting better.

What disease could stand up to that. 

Molly has been fighting her own battle with what could be the same bug.  Problem is the whole Soden family is in Orlando trying to vacation with Juneau friends.  Sounds like things got scary there for awhile but after spending a couple nights at the hospital, she is doing much better.  Many thanks to Judy's dad for a late night cross country consult that helped mom and dad prioritize and take care of her.  We all know the horrible helpless feeling of your child being sick and not knowing how to fix it.  Top it off by being in a strange place, and it could be frightening.

At last word it sounded like things were under control and Molly was a trooper through the whole thing.  Even got to take her first, and hopefully last, ambulance ride.  All in all, it sounded like a weekend they are glad to have behind them.

I'm wrapping up the last of my projects here and we are starting to look forward to traveling again.  Even the weather is improving; possible fog for our departure.  Teri does love to fly!

Stay well, see you down the road.

Sicking in the Rain

So, Teri developed "walking pneumonia", so named because the patients were able to walk into a medical care facility for diagnosis rather than being carried in.  Whatever, the trip to LA got canceled.  I'm a few days behind her and doing much better so far.  She's turned the corner and we should be fine for our flight to FL next Thurs. 

The weather continues to dump on us.  Ryan says, "It's Portland in the winter, get used to it".  About the only thing it really hampers is roof work; guess what I had planned.  Got the gutters cleaned out and decided to replace one run (only 10ft); so far, rain has not really gotten in the way. 

Don't see any great photo opportunities in the near future; I'll try to check out downtown Portland before we go.  Ryan says it has changed quite a bit since we have spent any time there. 

Stay well.

Purple in Portland

Went up to visit Travis, Kim and Jordan yesterday; snowed a bit but didn't stick.  Had a good time catching up, eating and playing with the animals.  Teri knitted a hat for Nina on the drive, then added the ball on top when we got back.  Nina appears to be partial to purple as she sure liked grandma's choice of yarn.

Ready for the walk to market

Was brisk here today; headed for a high of 30 tomorrow, with a good chance of one of Portland's ice storms.  Oh joy!  Looking for inside projects.

Stay warm!

Portland be cold

Getting used to city life again.  Teri going shopping for the clothes We've worn out since Oct.  When traveling with a minimum (a very relative term) of changes, seems like they actually wear out before you are ready to quit wearing them.  I would hesitantly offer that this this model applies more accurately to the male of the species.  Hesitantly only because I know the undeserved static I'll get for such a comment.  But you all know how compelled I am to speak the truth.  Especially when I know how it may irritate those needing enlightenment.  I'd have made a good preacher (not believing notwithstanding) as I can sense when someone needs enlightening.

Digressing again.  Anyway it was sort of snowing as she drove off, but it only lasted a few minutes.  Judy unfortunately commented to Nina that it was either hail or snow; which triggered the weather lecture from Dad.  Having suffered through many such science lectures as a child, Ryan could have warned her but he has gotten rusty and didn't speak up soon enough.

No really big projects this visit, so I'll just finish up the many past ones that need a few loose ends unloosened.  Maybe some photos later.

Stay warm and safe.

Made it to Paradise

Got the new back porch done just in time for a photo before we go.

Higgens loves the space underneath

Bench is for all the shoes

 Drove from Tallahassee to Venice Monday; first real test of the rig.  Everything went well.  All you do is feed it $100 worth of diesel and this rig will take you anywhere.  The night before I had a mild blast of anxiety as I got on line to find out the correct tire pressures for the trailer tires.  I saw a lot of horror stories about this particular brand blowing and causing big damage to the RV.  Further research made me feel better but kept me up an extra hour before I was satisfied.  The tires are on their fourth year so we might replace them before we head out in March.

So we went slow for the first hundred miles and stopped twice to check for bulges and warmth.  Finally reassured, we continued on at our normal cruising speed of 65.  After a refueling stop I faced an uphill on ramp with a very short merge lane, so it was time to find out how much power the Dodge had.  Turns out, quite a bit.  We merged doing 55 at the top of the ramp.  Even after our New Years day practice Teri was apprehensive about driving, but after an hour or so on the interstate she felt much better.  Backing up is something we are still working on.  The fifth wheel is much easier at backing but you still lose sight of the outside of the turn and have to have a ground guide.  We will get to practice with the walkie-talkies when we relocate after getting back from Portland.  Another source of concern is the 13’-6” height.  I have found that trees are not placarded when they are lower than 14’-6” like most bridges.

We are putting the Open Road in a storage yard while we go to Portland and then have two weeks reserved at an RV park on the river nearby after we get back.  Here are some photos of R&C’s place in Venice.  The Tee marker for the 7th hole is a piece of granite that is far better than most tombstones.  The 7th green is right in their back yard.  The pond is across the street.

The DeJean's Florida estate

The Palm tree growing up through the Oak in the front yard.

Another view of the Palm/Oak

Spooked a 4 ft alligator setting up for this shot.  This is the pond right across the street.

The monument to the 7th Tee, all five of them.  The green is in R&C's back yard.

All five of the 7th Tee locations, R&C's house is pin high through the trees on the right.

Once again, we are challenged by the lack of Wi-Fi connection at the DeJeans.  They are still working that out, so I will keep working on this and post when I can.  The pressure builds to find some sort of plan that will cover us in Alaska and not have download restrictions or limits.

Made it to Orlando and a connection at the Hotel.  So here we go.......

Stay safe out there.

Ready to Launch

About to hit the road again.  We’ve been in the same town for a month now; seems like soooooooo much longer, we’re feeling the need to move again. 

Had the grandkids out for an overnighter.  Went surprisingly well, complete with Molly’s first tooth for the tooth-fairy.  Spencer got a Black & Decker work station and now helps grandpa with all his projects.  He also has a bag for toting everything to the work site, so he is always ready to go.

After nesting heavily for the last three week, the trailer is just about ready for the road.  We took the opportunity of a closed COSTCO and Sportsman’s Warehouse to take the rig out for some backing practice and turn radius testing in the empty parking lot.  It was our first chance to see how long it takes us to pack up and hit the road and then set up again after returning to the RV park.  Lucky us, we also were able to experience setting up in the rain, as the skies opened up right after we got back.  The rain started right after we set up the awning, so there was refuge between forays into the wet.

Monday we head out for Rog & Claire's Estate on the golf course in Venice, FL.  We'll fly back to Portland and Teri will run down to LA, then it's warm up back in Venice before we go back to Tallahassee by Feb. 

Stay safe.