South 2012 - Jan and Feb

We began our trek south on January 2.  When we left home a little after 7AM there was just a dusting of snow but the roads were clear and dry.  It was near Charleston, WV when we first ran into real snow.  As we came around the river it was like a white out….the snow was falling and blowing, but luckily it was not sticking to the roads.  As we progressed south through the mountains we hit several bands of snow showers and blowing snow, but it was not sticking and the road was good.  We stopped at the Tamarack rest area near Beckley for a break and as we left, the sky opened and we had snow all the way through the last tunnel in Virginia.  The final leg was clear and dry, but cold.  We pulled into the campground at Lowe’s Speedway at about 4:30.  As the forecast is for temps in the mid teens over the next several nights, the kitchen faucet will run.

Tuesday we settled in, did a little shopping and looked for a car wash.  Both vehicles as well as the RV are dirty and need good baths.  We will look to get the car and truck washed up this week but the RV will have to wait until we get to Tampa. We did scrub the RV windows with some water and brush and then used some with Windex and paper towels so at least the windows are fairly clean.

This is home for Lilly and Lydia until Tuesday the 10^th when we will move on to South Georgia.

                        

Wednesday morning we drove to Davidson.  There certainly is a lot of traffic!  It moved pretty well but it was nearly bumper to bumper until we got into Davidson.  As Mark and Kyra finished packing we walked Niko to the bus.  We were just about ready to load Lex in the Santa Fe to drive him to school, when Kyra received a call from the school – frozen pipes so no school for Aleksei.  After Mark and Kyra left for the airport we set about taking down the Christmas tree.  Lex was a big help finding the decoration to match the appropriate box.  By lunch time the tree was down, the decorations packed away and the remains of the tree at the curb for recycling.  When Niko came home from school he didn’t even notice it was gone.

We soon fell into a routine of sorts and the weather warmed through the week so the boys could spend some time out doors.  The rest of the week flew by and we had no real weather problems like last year.  This year Niko can really ride his bike and Lex can really push the wooden play bike around. 

On two evenings we watched “The Bee Movie” after dinner and baths.  We ‘serialized’ it in two parts so it took two nights to see the entire show.  It was a good movie and the boys seemed to really enjoy it, as did the adults watching. 

Mark and Kyra arrived home in time to see the boys off to school on Monday morning after an all night flight from Seattle.

We got under way early on Tuesday morning to avoid the dread traffic in downtown Charlotte.  We pulled out of the Lowe’s Speedway campground at 5:45AM and had a nice drive to Grassy Pond, the Air Force FamCamp near Valdosta, GA.  We had called the campground for a reservation and it was a good thing we did.  We were able to pull right into site 36….the only vacant site.  Wednesday and Thursday Judy spent lots of time with Nancy Juster, an old AF friend.  Thursday afternoon a couple pulled on to the site next to us from Tennessee.  They had departed home at 1:30AM to avoid traffic in Atlanta.  Turns out they are headed to MacDill too and knew a few folks we had met there last year.  They have reservations for a full hookup site for the winter and are hoping to get on to one when they arrive.

Friday morning we had a leisurely time getting ready and pulled out about 8:30 for the under five hour drive to MacDill AFB at Tampa.  Two weeks before, we had called and managed to get a reservation for a full hookup site, otherwise we would have gone into overflow dry camping until a partial hookup site became available.  By late Friday we had setup on site 18 for the next 14 days and learned of many things to do.  Judy will have quilting, crafting and exercise and Jon will have a computer users group and lots of bike riding and some work on the RV.  In addition to these activities the campground has things for us to do including line dancing, pot lucks, and activities on base.  We went to the base fitness center and signed up for the “Walk Your Buns Off” program.  They gave us each a pedometer and the goal is to log 10,000 steps each day 0ver the next six weeks.

We also signed up for a mail box so we can get mail here.  They have a small block building near the middle of the campground that is used as the mailroom.  Volunteers pickup the mail daily, put it in boxes and man the office to pass out larger parcels and packages from noon to 2.

Our weather has been nearly perfect these past two weeks at Tampa.  We had a good rain late one afternoon and evening but other than that nothing to complain about.  Seems like we are busy each day with one activity or another.  Sunday the 22^nd we decided to ride our bikes to the BX complex area to do a little shopping and have lunch in the food court. We are on the south side of the airstrip and the shopping complex is on the north side near the main gate.  Fortunately, there are lots of folks (including active duty) who ride bikes and traffic does not move fast – maximum speed limit on base is 35 and in most areas 25.  Anyway we made the 4 mile ride with no problems and enjoyed a leisurely lunch.  One strange thing about the ride – seems like going both ways we were ridding into the wind.

Last Friday night we went to the potluck as it was “States” night.  There were 13 of us from Ohio in attendance.  Michigan had 14 but Kentucky took the prize with 16 in attendance.  The furthest away was a couple from Utah!  We’ve met several other couples from Ohio who were not at the dinner.

This is our site – number 18. Forgot to take a photo until moving day, hence the puddle in the street.

Our ‘neighbor’ next door is a retired officer currently working as a civilian for Central Command Headquarters.  He has an exemption and is allowed to stay on one site for up to six months.  He and his family reside in a Vectra motor home.  His family consists of his young Thia wife, Ning, and a five month old daughter named Abigail.  We have been spending some time talking with her.  She has a small garden in several containers trying to grow some Thai spices for her cooking.

This Friday, the 27^th we will have to move to dry camp.  Not sure how long we will have to stay there before we can get into an even partial hookup site.  As of yesterday when I rode the campground there were 50 units in dry camp and three more in the parking lot next to the office.  The way they are parked in three lanes, it may be difficult to find a nice spot on Friday.

Wednesday we decided to head to Dunedin to the largest quilt shop in Florida.  It was quite a shop – over 1800 bolts of material.  It was almost too much!  After the shop we drove to the center of town and walked around a bit.  It was quite evident that the railroad used to run right through the center of town.  The old railroad bed is now a wide bike and pedestrian trail.

Friday the 27^th came pretty fast.  It started raining about 2AM and rained hard several times.  By the time Jon went to the office it was just a mist.  He was first in line but still it looks like it may be a week before we can move into a partial hookup site.  By eleven we were situated in the dry camp field and had fired up the generator to make sure it works.  The sky is still pretty cloudy but the rain has stopped…for now.

Friday evening we joined Floyd and Mary Woolridge plus anther couple for a round of cards – Hand and Foot. The other couple is from Amarillo, TX and come here rather than the Texas coast as it is warmer and much less wind.  They have been married 61 years!

Our first night in dry camp went well.  We did run the generator for a bit when we got back from cards and again early on Saturday morning for some coffee.  About 7:45 we headed to the Sea Scapes, a little restaurant on the bay here, for breakfast.  Each Saturday they have a ‘free’ continental breakfast and on the last Saturday of the month it is a full blown meal – eggs, sausage and bacon, French toast, sausage gravy – the works.

This is where Lilly spends much of her time during the day.  She can look out the windows at activities, hear and see what is going on and of course get in lots of sleep.

Sunday the 29^th we took our weekly ride to the BX and back.  On the way home we opted to take Bayshore Drive rather than cut through the base.  It added almost a mile but was a pleasant ride.  In checking the rotation list it appears that we may get offered a partial hook up site Thursday or Friday. As of late Sunday night there are 42 of us in dry camp.

We certainly have been staying in bed longer these last few days.  Quiet hours are 11PM to 7AM so we can’t start the generator to make coffee until 7.  We’ve looked for a stove top pot in the past but just haven’t found a decent peculator.  Besides we don’t need it very often.  After Judy’s exercise and a long walk with Lilly we headed out to some shopping and sight seeing.  After a late lunch at the Crab Shack at the western end of the Gandy bridge we drove on over to Madeira Beach and then back up through St Pete.  You can see old modern Florida and new modern too.  We were both surprised at how few vehicles and people we saw.  There were some interesting old motels towered over by new five or six story buildings and they all looked as if there were plenty of vacancies.

This is where we have been since January 27^th and it looks like we may be here for 4 or 5 more days.

People have been coming and going but we still sit where we are.  Folks on either side of us are from the New England area and have accents you could cut with a knife.  Both are retired Coast Guard. 

Noticed that it was awfully quiet in the sky the past few days.  No KC135 tankers taking off and landing and no C130’s cruising over the base and the Coast Guard planes were not flying.  After a little investigation we found that the base runways were closed for repairs.  There will be no flights to or from MacDill for the next three months.  Most mornings start at 0600 with reveille and fall out played over the base speaker system.  At noon we have the siren and at 1700 (5PM) we have retreat with the national anthem.  Taps is played at 2200 (10PM) and it is something to hear as it echoes off the water.  And yes there is the gun fire.  The base firing range is located about 1/8 mile from the campground.

After Judy’s exercise on Wednesday we dropped by Don and Jane Coget’s to see some quilts.  Jane is really into it and had some real unusual ones including “cathedral window” and a ‘brown stone house” quilts.  We also got a tour of there 39.8 foot Open Range fifth wheel with full size double door residential refrigerator. After lunch we stopped by the pharmacy to get one of Judy’s prescriptions filled, but have to go to the Clinic and update her records first.  Then we made a run to Home Depot for some “Goop” as the blueboy has a small leak in the top and stopped by a nice thrift shop.

Thursday after lunch we started the generator so Judy could do some sewing.  We were just ready to shut it down when the office called and offered us a partial hook-up site (water and electric).  After a rapid pack move and unpack we are situated on site 329 backed up to a canal.  We should be here for at least 14 days but could get bumped to a full hook-up site after 10 to 12 days.  Looking out our back window we can see that the tide is going out as the water is flowing toward the bay.

We are on the list to get a full hook-up site but are hoping we don’t move until two weeks before we head for “The Prairie” and our volunteer time. We are right across the road from the dry camp area. The field is full again and there are two campers in the marina parking lot. 

Sunday we made our usual bike trip.  We rode the four miles to the BX shopping complex and did plenty of looking but no shopping. It is interesting to sit in the food court and watch the families and individuals as they pause to eat or walk through.  This Sunday the excitement was a little boy getting what may have been his first haircut.  He was certainly putting up quite a fuss.  His mother was trying to hold him still while the barber worked on him.

Monday was grocery and pharmacy day.  After lunch we headed to the base clinic to get registered so we could use the pharmacy.  Judy had a prescription we were gong to mail in but thought we would try the base pharmacy.  It was quite a procedure to get registered at the clinic and then prescription turned in at the pharmacy.  We were given a pickup time about two hours later so went off to do some shopping.  Why do pharmacies put so few pills in such a big bottle? 

In the evening we went to a big hanger to see the “Tops in Blue” a forty member group of very talented musicians and singers from the Air force.  They go through a tryout and are selected to tour with the group for one year.  Then they return to their regular assignment.  They were very good.

Wednesday we decided to head to the Tampa Electric Company plant to view the manatee.  Because of the warmer water discharged (and yes it is clean) by the plant the manatee migrate to the cove by the plant in winter.  They can generally be found near the plant from October through the end of April.  The viewing area and parking are free and we saw a number of these large creatures in the water.  We tried several ways to get a picture or two but they would not cooperate.

We did see a stingray and some very large fish – they also like the warmer water. After seeing the manatee and plants along a portion of the Florida Bird Trail, we drove on south to Apollo beach for lunch at a small family restaurant.

On the way back we spotted an Ikea store.  As we had never been in one, we pulled in and walked a large portion of the store.  They certainly have some neat things and we did end up picking up several unique and different items.

Saturday at breakfast one of the fellows told Judy about a ‘real’ flea market, not one of those multi-barn markets all over the state.  We found the place on Hillsborough Avenue in what is still a 4 screen drive-in movie theater. As we walked around it was almost as if you were in a foreign country.  There were several large stalls with vegetable and after walking around the rest of the place decided to buy a few things.  By now it was after noon and the seller was anxious to move the merchandise.  For $3 we purchased about 3 pounds of seedless grapes (and yes they are really good), 3 peppers (two green and one yellow), a sweet onion, two cucumbers and an avocado.  On the way home we stopped at a Cuban restaurant and had empanadas and a Cuban sandwich.

What a difference a couple of days can make!  Temperatures began to fall on Friday the 10^th and continued to drop through the weekend.  With the drop came the cold winds out of the North.  Saturday night it got into the low 30’s and with the 18 mile per hour winds gusting to 30 on Sunday, the trek to the BX via bike was not in the picture.  We did manage to get in a fairly long walk with Lilly and in the bright sun it was pleasant.  Sunday night there is a freeze warning and growers are advised to cover ‘tender’ plants.

It was a rather chilly and windy weekend so the Sunday bike ride to the BX plaza turned into a drive in the Ram. We played jokers with two other couples at 4 on Sunday and then had soup together at the Woolridges. 

The overflow/dry camp area continues to be pretty full.  This is just one row.

Friday we had asked the office not to move us (even though our 14 days would not be ups) until at least the 14^th.  That will give us two weeks in a full hookup site before we head to KPPSP.  By the number that have moved it is a good bet we would have moved over the weekend (maybe even Friday) and that would have meant hitting dry camp before heading south.

Tuesday for Valentines Day we went into Tampa to the Ybor city area for lunch at the Columbia restaurant.  It has been in business since 1905 serving a mix of Spanish dishes and Spanish dishes modified by the early Floridians.  After lunch we walked around the Ybor city area, the scene of the early cigar factories using tobacco from Cuba. This is one of the “crafts” Judy did.

About an hour after we got back to the camper, we had a call from the office wanting to know if we still wanted to go from partial to a full hook up site.  What a silly question!  So a little after 4 we packed up and moved.  We will be on site 31 until the 28^th when we will head further south.  Our new neighbor to the east is a retired AF Colonel in a beautifully kept American Tradition 40’ motor home.  He and his wife are originally from Nebraska but now living in Virginia.  They have been married 56 years and travel about four or five months a year.  The MH has 120,000 miles on it.

On Thursday we met the Bitners and Bloss's at the Crab Shack for lunch and then brought them back to the base.  We drove around the base and pointed out the newer buildings including the CentCom headquarters; the building from where the wars in all parts of the world are fought. This is also the headquarters of US Special Forces.

Another weather front moved in overnight Thursday and Friday was a cloudy drizzly day.  Had plans to begin doing some waxing on the Greystone, but it was just to wet and rainy.  We did take advantage of the early bird special at SeaScapes and had a nice piece of parmesan encrusted fish and then walked to building 2017 to hear a group of ladies sing.

With the wind fairly strong on Sunday we decided to drive over to St Pete to see the pier.  St Pete is an interesting city with its newer modern high-rises and the older motels.  The pier is nearly fifty years old and there is a move afoot to tear it all down and build a new more contemporary building.  It houses a small museum and an aquarium

Next to the pier is a big Salvador Dali museum.  There is a huge park near the pier with all sorts of trees.  This one had kids and adults passing through the roots/trunk.

A bit further we came upon this strange tree.  It was full of pods that opened into big red flowers.  There were very few leaves on the tree

Monday the 20^th being a big day, we went to Plant City with Floyd and Marry Woolridge to dine at “Fred’s Southern Cooking” buffet.  On the way there we passed a number of strawberry fields.  Fred’s is in an older smaller building and the food on the buffet was no your typical buffet.  Every dish was good, freshly made and in large kettles or pots, not your usual buffet tray.  Everything from collard greens and cornbread to fried chicken and ribs, plus grits, gravy and the best bread pudding were on the table.

Wednesday afternoon we decided to take a bike ride along Bayshore Boulevard, the road that actually runs along the bay on base and then on into downtown Tampa.  It was a little cloudy so we thought it would be a good day and as it was after noon, most of the morning joggers and cyclist would be in.  Below are several pictures from the ride.  If you look at a close-up map of Tampa you can see the roadway.  There are some beautiful homes along the way.

This sculpture is in the median of the boulevard.  It appears to be a mother, father and the colt lying in the high grass.

The ride toward town was not too bad but when we turned around to head back to where we had parked the truck, the wind was mighty strong.  There were times when we were barely making 5MPH into that stiff headwind.  We have to ride south to about a 1/4 past the last tall building in this picture.

We are down to our last days here.  Friday we picked up a few things at the Commissary as we are having Floyd and Mary for dinner on Saturday after church.  They are leaving for Tyndall AFB early  Sunday.  We played cards (Hand and Foot) Friday after dinner at Sea Scapes with a couple from Greensburg…Indiana. 

Sunday we drove to Bradenton to visit with the “Fretcher” clan for a bit.  After dinner we sat and laughed about old stories when we were kids living on "the farm."

Monday we will make our last run to the Base Exchange and Commissary and say good our goodbyes to the many folks we have met.  One couple from New Hampshire had a rough time leaving but that is a story for another time.  Tuesday we will depart Raccoon Creek (the name of this FamCamp) for our the four hour drive to Kissimme Prairie Preserve SP for a month of volunteering. That will be another chapter.