Old Town to Bonifay and Visiting With Friends

Bonifay, FL.

55 deg. overcast, N. wind @ 5 mph.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy in the morning then becoming partly cloudy. Highs around 70. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.
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It was 10:15 by the time we pulled out of the Old Town CG yesterday morning. Once back to US 19, we headed North and followed it up to Perry FL. where Jim pulled me into a Truck stop and bought me a nice big drink of #2 diesel fuel.

From there, we continued North on 19 up to I-10 where we turned West. I-10 took us through Tallahassee and to Exit 112 where we turned North on Rt.79. From there it was only about 2 blocks to the Florida Springs RV Resort and CG.

The sign in the photo above is what you see as you're entering the park.

This photo is of the "swimming pond" that you see as you enter the park.

We pulled up to the CG office at 10 minutes after 2:00 so it took us just 5 minutes under 4 hours to travel 201 miles, stop for my drink of diesel and make a pit stop along I-10.

Not too bad. ; )

Oh, and before I forget, we crossed into the Central Time Zone on our way here, so we arrived here 1:10 central time.

While Jim was in the office registering me, Randy and Terry (Jim and Linda's Friends that we came here to see), came over from their RV to say "Hi" and give Jim and Linda hugs and handshakes.

Randy and Terry are work-camping here at this park and since it's on our way out West, Jim and Linda thought it would be a good idea to stop by to see them.

Anyway, after getting me registered, Randy led me to my site which is just 2 sites from their 5th wheel trailer.

As you can see by the photo above, my site is plenty long, but not real level. In fact most of the sites here are not very level, but there are plans to do some major work on the sites to remedy that problem. There are also some other minor issues with this park, but Alicia and Andy are working on them, and if they keep on working on it, like they have for the last 3 years that they've owned it, it could be really nice.

In the meantime, it's a good place for an overnight stay (at Passport America rates) The sites are full hook-up, there's free cable and wi-fi and you won't find friendlier owners and camp hosts.

After I was set up and Jim had taken a little nap, Randy and Terry came over to see me and to visit for awhile.

When you think about it, it's really kind of strange, but Jim and Linda did not really know Randy and Terry very well. In fact they had only met them once before when they stopped by the SKP park in Alabama a few years ago. But, Jim always reads their blog and they read mine, (and Myrddin's before me), and feel like they really know each other.

So, when they sat down to visit, it was just like they had just seen each other and picked up right where they left off. : )

We'll stay here one more day before continuing our wanderings. If I heard right, there are plans to go out to eat tonight with Randy and Terry.

Did you know that Bonifay, FL. was named after Frank Bonifay who was a prominent citizen of Pensacola who owned a brick making factory?

Thonotosassa To Old Town and The Old Town CG

Old Town, FL.

57 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog in the morning. A slight chance of showers in the morning...then scattered showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs 76 to 79. Northeast winds around 5 mph shifting to the west in the afternoon. Chance of rain 40 percent.

Denny came over to my site about 9:00, (which is very early for him), to spend some time with Jim and Linda and say good-bye.

He watched as Jim brought in my bedroom slide, (the living room slide was already in), disconnected the rest of my utilities, started my engine and after building up air pressure drive me off of my site and hook up CLT.

Then, because he had walked over to my site from his, he rode with us back to the parking lot next to the office.

It sure would have been nice to be able to spend more time with the "Illinois Bunch" but we couldn't this year. : (

Maybe next year. : )

It was 10:10 when we dropped Denny off at the parking lot and left Southern Aire. From the CG we took US 301 South for about a mile and then took Fowler Ave West for about another mile to I-75. It surprising that the Northbound traffic on 75 was as light as it was, and even though Jim had originally planned to turn off of 75 onto US 98, when we got up there, we were moving along so well that Jim decided to take I-75 all the way up to Ocala instead.

Once up to Ocalla, we turned NW in US 27 and followed it over to Williston and then took Alt.27 from there to Chiefland, where it joined up with US routes 19/98. Then we followed Alt.27/19/98 up here to Old Town and the Old Town Campground 'N' Retreat.

Jim and Linda have been here before and knew that they had large enough sites for me and cable TV, (so that they could watch the Super Bowl). ; )

This is not a fancy park by any stretch of the imagination. In fact if you come to this park, make sure you swing as wide as possible when entering off of CR 349 because the entry road is sand and very narrow.

Once you pull into the CG and you come up to the office, (Pictured below),

you have to stop because there's logs across the right side and a chain across the left side.

Shortly after we stopped in front of the office, Joe came on his golf cart and welcomed us to the park. After signing in and paying 1/2 price, (Passport America), he led moved the chain and led me further into the CG on the road shown below,

and to my very large, level site.

My site has some shade, 30 amp electric and water free wi-fi and cable TV. There's a dump station on the way out of the park, so you can dump if you want to when you leave.

For just over $15 you can't beat it. : )

It was 12:55 when we got here so it took us 2 hours and 45 minutes to travel  149 miles.

After I was set up the rest of the day was spent watching football on TV.

Today, we'll be heading to Bonifay, FL for 2 days to visit some of Jim and Linda's friends that are work-camping at a CG up there. Then, on Wednesday, the plan is to head to the SKP park near Summerdale, AL for awhile and visit with more friends there. ; )

Should be neat!!!

Did you know that February is "Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month"?

Successful Installation, Visiting With The Illinois Bunch and Time To Head West

Thonotosassa, FL.

62 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy. Patchy fog early in the morning. A chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s near the coast and in the lower 80s inland. Southeast winds around 5 mph becoming west in the afternoon. Chance of rain 30 percent.

About 10:30, Jim took some garbage to the dumpster and then headed to Denny and Bev's. Denny was just getting ready to start working on installing the new spring air bag, so Jim stayed and helped. He says he couldn't do much but did get tools and stuff for Denny when he needed them.

The installation went much more smoothly than the removal and by a little after 12:00 they were done. : )

While he was over there, Dee Dee stopped by to visit with Linda. They hadn't had much opportunity to talk while we've been here so Linda was glad to see her. : )

After lunch, Jim dumped my tanks, put away the hoses, loaded his bicycle into the back of CLT, took a nap and then about 3:00 he and Linda went over to Denny and Bev's for a visit.

About 4:00, Jim and Denny went over to Gordy's for "happy hour" while Linda stayed and visited with Bev.

When Jim and Linda came back here they ate dinner, (a pork steak cooked on the grill and some asparagus cooked on my stove), then watched TV and relaxed for the rest of the evening.

It's been a short but good visit with the "Illinois Bunch" here at Southern Aire, but now it's time for us to start heading West. There are already plans to stop by and visit with some friends along the way in the panhandle of Florida and in Alabama. And, it's hoped that we'll cross paths with more of Jim and Linda's friends as we make our way across the South. ; )

A Point to Ponder : Why does mineral water that has "trickled through mountains for centuries" go out of date next year?

Groceries and Helping Denny

Thonotosassa, FL.

62 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s near the coast and in the lower 80s inland. East winds around 10 mph.

Denny stopped by for awhile yesterday morning. His Winnebago Brave MH has a chassis that has air bags inside of the front coil springs and he can't air one of the bags, so he was wanting Jim to stop by later and give him a hand to try to find out what the problem was.

Since Linda and Jim had decided to go get groceries, Jim said that he'd stop by as soon as they returned, which was fine with Denny. : )

So, after Jim and Linda got back from getting groceries, (plus getting CLT a drink of 87 octane), and had most of the groceries put away, Jim go on his bike and headed over to Denny and Bev's site to help if he could.

By the time he got over there, Denny had already found out that the air bag itself was leaking and was in the process of removing it.

Now, if any of you have tried to do this, you already know that it's not an easy job. I this case, the air bag was stiffer than normal, (probably from age), and would not collapse enough to pull it out through the hole in the lower "A" frame.

So with the help of a couple vise grips, a saws-all and lots of struggling, the bag was finally chopped up enough to get it out. : (

By this time it was after 4:00 and Denny and Jim were missing "happy hour" over at Gordy's. : O  So, after cleaning up a little, they headed over there.

It was close to 5:30 by the time Jim came back here to my site, so Linda started to put dinner together. After dinner, they watched TV, read and worked/played with the computers until bedtime.

Today, I'm sure Jim will end up back at Denny and Bev's to try help Denny install that new air bag. There's not much room under the MH so he probably won't be able to do much.

He also needs to start getting me ready to travel because tomorrow, we'll be leaving here to start heading out West. 

Did you know that today is "Ice Cream For Breakfast Day" ?

Dave and Dee Dee's Fish Fry

Thonotosassa, FL.

61 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 70s near the coast and in the lower 80s inland. East winds around 15 mph.

Yesterday morning, Jim took a bike ride and ended up over at Dave and Dee Dee's site for awhile. Then after lunch, Denny stopped by here to talk. 

After Denny left, Jim took a nap while Linda made a green bean casserole and then, about 3:00 they loaded, chairs, food and drinks into the back of CLT (Cute Little Truck), and headed over to Dave and Dee Dee's site for a fish fry!!

You see, Dave likes to fish and their house in Illinois is located right on a lake. So, all summer, Dave catches fish and then freezes them they so that they can bring them down here to Florida to have a fish fry for all of their friends here at Southern Aire.

All the people who are invited also bring food, so it ends up kind of like a pot-luck.

Jim took a bunch of photos, so I've picked out a few to show you.

Everyone sets their lawn chairs up in a big circle.

From where Jim and Linda were sitting, a view to the right.

Looking to the left.

This is what everyone is waiting for. ; )

The above photo is of John who volunteers to fry the fish.

All the food that the other people brought.

A special thanks to Dave, (in the center of this photo), for catching all the fish.

and to Dee Dee (in pink), for putting the whole thing together.

By all accounts, the fish and everything else was delicious and if you didn't get enough to eat, it was your own fault! : )

When Jim and Linda came back here, they were still stuffed and were talking about how good everything was.

Thanks, Dave and Dee Dee. : )

Did you know that the average American ate 15.8 pounds of fish and shellfish in 2009?

Groundhog Day and Gin And Syl Come To Visit

Thonotosassa, FL.

57 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Partly cloudy in the morning then mostly cloudy. Highs around 80 near the coast and in the lower 80s inland. East winds around 5 mph becoming northwest in the afternoon.

Happy Groundhog Day!!!!!

Jim and Denny took CLT and headed over to the local Winn-Dixie store yesterday morning. Both, needed to buy a few things that they were out of.

Once back from shopping, Jim helped Linda clean up the inside of me to get ready for Gin and Syl's visit. They called about 1:00 and said that they were on their way. They knew where this park was, so Jim gave them directions of how to find me once they arrived at the park.

I had never met Gin and Syl before but I really liked them and can see why they're Jim and Linda's good friends. They were very interested in my amenities and asked a lot of questions about me while they were talking to Jim and Linda. Of course they talked about other things too, but RVs and Full-timing were the main subjects. ; )

All too soon they had to leave, so after hugs, they headed for Plant City, FL. to get some of that great strawberry shortcake that the town is known for at this time of the year.

I sure hope we meet up again soon, I'd sure like to meet Tawanda, their new motor home.

Jim went over to "happy hour" a 4:00 and then when he came back, cooked a couple burgers on the grill. Linda got chips and stuff out inside of me and then after dinner she worked on her Family Tree Maker program and watched TV with Jim until bedtime. 

Still another great day with great friends. : )

Did you know that the average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds? Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 pounds and is 22 inches long.

Southern Aire, Gin And Syl's New MH and Pizza With Denny And Bev.

Thonotosassa, FL.

50 deg. clear, no wind.

Forecast = Partly sunny. Highs in the upper 70s near the coast and around 80 inland. East winds around 5 mph.

Jim got out and about fairly early yesterday morning and took some photos of this park so I thought I'd show you a few of them.

The above photo is the entrance sign that you see as you come to the park.

The view as you turn into the park.

The office/clubhouse/laundry

A view of me in my site from down the street.

My site as seen from across the street.

While Jim was out riding his bike, he met up with Denny and after riding around for a little while they ended up at my site where they sat out on the patio and talked for awhile.

After lunch, Jim and Linda took CLT and headed over to Denny and Bev's site. Linda wanted to visit with Bev, and Jim and Denny had decided to go to the Camping World, which is only about 4 1/2 miles South of here. So, Linda stayed at Bev's while they headed to the store.

Jim had a list of things he wanted to buy before we head West and Denny needed a few thing also, so it worked out well.

After they were done shopping, Jim decided to call Gin and Syl, (some very good RVing friends that they had met at an RV Dreams Rally), who are buying a new Winnebago Journey Motor Home from Lazydays, which is right next door to Camping World, to see if they were still there.

Anyway, they were still there, so they came over to Lazydays on their bikes and led CLT back to where their new MH is parked.

I haven't see their MH, but CLT says that it's really nice. Luckily, Jim had his camera along so he was able to take a few photos.

Syl and Gin standing in front of their new MH.

A shot of Gin inside.

The drivers side

And, Denny and Syl looking at the passengers side.

Everyone says that it's a real beauty and I'm sure looking forward to meeting up with Gin and Syl down the road sometime soon. : )

Oh, guess what I just found out?   Gin and Syl are going to come here to Southern Aire today to see me!!!! Wow!! That'll be great!!

When Jim and Denny came back, Bev ordered a Pizza from Howie's. After eating, they talked for awhile before Jim and Linda came back here. 

Well, this is getting pretty long so I'd better quit for today. Besides, I need to get ready for my company!! ; )

Did you know that in 1966 the first motor home rolled off the Winnebago Industries assembly lines? These motor homes were sold at a price approximately half of what was being charged for competitors’ models, which led to its ubiquity and popularity in the RV community.