Our Month in The Villages, FL

They say life in The Villages of Florida can be non-stop. We did indeed enjoy our month there making new friends, rekindling friendships established a couple years ago, enjoying a nice park, and Dale getting back to a consistent exercise routine in the onsite gym. And, of course, we prepared for taxes. We did have several cool and rainy days in The Villages. Doing the taxes on those days took some of the pain away as we couldn't do much else anyway. 

On Thursday, January 16th, we left our home and traveled south in the Jeep to take in the Tampa RV Supershow. Fellow Newmar Hoots, Bob and Karrie (MNBob) from Minnesota were kind enough to allow us, along with Denis (Deek), to spend two nights at their beautiful southern retreat about 45 minutes north of the show in Trinity. The first night there, Thursday, 11 Hoots and spouses (iRV2 ID's: MNBob, Deek, MoBlue, FLSteve, pessman, & dpeterso) gathered for dinner at a quaint Cuban family restaurant in Tampa. On the 17th we all went into the show. All we can say is 'Wow!'. We've never seen such a massive display of RV's, and RV related goods and services. The day of the show we added one more original Sevierville Hoot, Ronnie (redbaron73) and two more Honorary Hoots, Max and Kathy. We met Max and Kathy back in June of last year when we were watching our coach go down the assembly line in Nappanee. They are owners of a 2007 Dutch Star and have been fulltiming for seven years. We quickly became friends and have stayed in touch since last year. They were planning on being at the show the same day, so we made sure to meet up. Lisa has had jacket envy ever since the October Hoots gathering in Tennessee. The source of this envy was the Newmar jackets that some of the Hoots were sporting in October. They had gotten them at the Tampa show in February of 2013 for simply taking a test drive of a Newmar motorhome with Comfort Drive. All current Newmar diesel motorhomes have Comfort Drive. For those of you wondering what Comfort Drive is, it's an electronic steering aid developed by TRW that reportedly makes a world of difference in the ease of driving one of these beasts down the road. My only point of reference is our 1998 Itasca gas coach and that would be comparing apples to oranges. However, others who have owned or driven diesel pushers with and without Comfort Drive (such as Max above) claim a significant improvement with it. So Newmar likes to showcase it as they are the only manufacturer to offer it in reasonably priced motorhomes (under a million $). Back to the jacket envy. Newmar was once again offering jackets for taking Comfort Drive test drives. So Lisa made a beeline to the Newmar display and got her name on the schedule to drive. Mind you, Lisa has not driven our coach yet, but she had driven our old Itasca, so she wasn't too worried. At 1:45 Stan, directly from Nappanee, loaded us, along with Bob and Karrie, onto his golf cart, and drove us out to a 34 foot 2014 Ventana. After some brief instruction from Stan, Lisa was pulling out of the parking area, out onto the main roads and eventually onto the expressway. We wish we had some interesting story to tell about the test drive, but it was uneventful. Lisa drove about half way through the test drive route and did just fine. Heck, she doesn't need Dale any more. She can take the BBB out on her own as she found the coach very easy to drive. She then handed the wheel over to Karrie. Now Karrie wasn't as comfortable with the thought of driving as Lisa had been, but she actually did just fine also. And Karrie actually backed the Ventana into its parking spot at the end of the test drive. Right, she doesn't need Bob either. Once back at the Newmar display, Lisa picked out her jacket. Now for the best part, Dale got a jacket too, and he didn't even drive. Friday night 15 of us went out to dinner after the show at Al's Finger Licking Good Bar-B-Que in Ybor City. The group included Michelle Howard from Newmar Sales and Marketing in Nappanee. Besides being a genuinely nice person, Michelle was a tremendous help to several of us as we went through the ordering process, so we were all happy that Michelle chose to spend her evening with us Hoots. 

Bob (MNBob), Karrie, Denis (Deek) & Dale (dpeterso) at Bob & Karrie's home

The Newmar Hoots at the Tampa Show with Michelle Howard.
Hey Phil, Move over to your right!

Newmar Central

Lisa & Karrie getting ready for their test drive

Lisa behind the wheel 

Karrie getting ready to race the local constabulary

Half the gang at dinner Friday night at Al's

The other half of the gang Friday night including Michelle

Lisa and Kathy showing off their new jackets

Dale, Lisa and Max

Back of the Newmar jacket

Saturday morning we thanked Bob and Karrie for their wonderful hospitality and headed a little further south to Sun City Center to visit friends from our home church, St. Matthews Lutheran in Walled Lake, Michigan. As mentioned in the last post Dennis and Joanie Frantz are members of our Bible study gang at St. Matthews who moved to Florida a couple of years ago. The last time we saw them they had just contracted to have a new home built, so this was our first opportunity to see it. Their new home is even nicer than the beautiful model they had shown us two years ago, due to the tasteful upgrades and decor Dennis and Joanie have put in place. Coincident with our visit, Mary Englehardt, another member of our St. Matthews Bible study, was staying with Dennis and Joanie for a few days. It was nice catching up with Dennis and Joanie's Florida lifestyle, and recent events back in Michigan through Mary. Sunday morning we had the pleasure of attending Dennis and Joanie's new church home, Calvary Lutheran in Apollo Beach. After lunch they took us to the Manatee Viewing Center at the Tampa Electric Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach. It was a very well done viewing center with an educational building and a long 'tidal walk' from which the manatees may be viewed. Unfortunately, by the time we got there the day had warmed up enough that the manatees had started to make there way back out of the canal toward the ocean. We could see them, but only from a distance. We then headed back to The Villages.

Joanie loves to cook! And we enjoy the results of her efforts!

Lisa, Dale, Joanie, Mary, & Dennis

On the tidal walk at the Apollo Beach Manatee Viewing Center

Crowd at the end of the tidal walk

Best shot Lisa got of a manatee's tail

Manatee with tracking device attached

Best shot Lisa got of a manatee's snout

On January 22nd, we took a ride to the newest town center in The Villages called Brownwood. It's still being developed, but the town square and its nightly entertainment venue appears to be complete. The setup actually has permanent tiered seating around the stage for improved seating and viewing versus Spanish Springs and Lake Sumter Landing. The nightly entertainment the day we were there had been cancelled due to expected cold temperatures: 32F. Although balmy by Michigan standards, we do have to admit that we wouldn't have been dancing in the streets at temps approaching freezing. The cool temps did make it more enjoyable sitting in the hot tub at Recreation Plantation. 

On Friday, January 24th we joined Sams Club. The closest Costco to The Villages is almost an hour away. Since we've been on the road we seem to encounter more readily available Sams Club locations than Costco. Hence, we caved and became Sams members. Guess we were going into withdrawal from not being able to go into a membership club and spend $200 every time we stepped in the door. As time goes on we'll decide which membership proves more beneficial. 

On Saturday, the 24th, we had 3 of our Recreation Plantation neighbors over for dinner. Claude and Linda are from New Brunswick, Canada and have been wintering in Florida for several years. This was their first visit to Recreation Plantation, but they've enjoyed the park and the area very much. Their practice is to buy a motorhome here in the States, use it for the winter then take it back to Canada and sell it for a profit. As we recall they are on their eighth motorhome in as many years, but this may be their last. They may change their plan to renting condo's or homes instead. Lori and Paul are from Virginia. Dale had met Paul soon after we arrived when Paul stopped and asked how we liked our Dutch Star. They have a Newmar Ventana. It turned out Paul was aware of the Newmar Hoots from the iRV2 website and was aware of Dale's 'dpeterso' site ID. Paul wasn't able to make it to dinner on the 24th due to other obligations, but the 5 of us had a nice dinner. Claude and Linda, and Lori, in turn, had us over for wonderful dinners at their motorhomes later during our stay.

Linda, Claude, Dale, Martha, & Lori at Lori & Paul's coach for dinner

On Sunday, January 26th, we finally managed to hook up with good friends, Ralph and Lois Pretzer,  and Bob and Cheryl Wheeler, whom we met two years ago when we rented a home in The Villages. After attending the Trinity Lutheran Church service Sunday morning, the six of us went to lunch. The next evening, Monday, Ralph, Lois, Bob and Cheryl taught us to play marbles. It's a board game that they learned down here in Florida. Great Fun! We were hooked.

The marble gals: Lisa, Lois & Cheryl

The marble guys: Ralph, Bob & Dale

The marble board setup

The marble experts teaching Dale & Lisa

On Tuesday, January 28th, we attended a SkyMed customer appreciation luncheon at Travelers Rest Resort in Dade City, FL. We had the pleasure of seeing and chatting with, Will Klein, husband of Lisa's cousin Eleanor. Eleanor was also scheduled to attend the event, but had to decline due to her mother's poor health. Aunt Berglot is 97, and lives with Will and Eleanor.

Will & Lisa at SkyMed appreciation luncheon

On the evening of Super Bowl Sunday our Progressive Industries surge protector started to cycle on and off. This is the first time we've had such an occurrence, so Dale wasn't sure if it was actually a problem with the incoming voltage or a problem with the surge protector. The surge protector was showing voltage on line 1 going down to 102 and on line 2 up to 136 at which point the surge protector would kick in and shut off the power to the coach. Dale spoke to the weekend/night manager of the park who admitted he was not an electrician. He suggested trying the 30 amp circuit for the night until the electrician could come by in the morning. The 30 amp circuit worked just fine and kept the surge protector happy all night. As a result of the power issues we missed the first half and half time of the big game that wasn't. Although the game was a snoozer we were disappointed to have missed the half time show. The next morning Dale checked the 50 amp circuit with his multimeter and decided the power had fixed itself. We plugged back into the 50 amp plug and had no further issues for the rest of our stay.

We golfed with Bob and Cheryl Wheeler on Tuesday, February 4th, at Marion Oaks Country Club in Ocala. Although the course might not have been at the top of a real golfer's list we enjoyed it. We went back to Bob and Cheryl's for another round of marbles.

Wednesday, February 5th, was one that we will remember for a lifetime. Lisa went to the clubhouse to play bingo with Claude and Linda, and Lori and her friend, Martha. They had a lot of fun, but received a few glances of annoyance. Guess everyone else was a little more serious and didn't truly appreciate the levity going on at their table. Of course, bingo wasn't the memorable event of the day. It was the FaceTime session with our daughter, Kristy, and her husband, Matt, after Lisa got home. After some idle chitchat Kristy and Matt showed us a picture from an ultrasound, and announced we would become grandparents on July 28th or thereabouts. We are ecstatic!! Lisa is already making phone calls to reserve a venue for a baby shower and Dale is revising our winter plans for next year. Looks like wintering out west will have to wait one more year. We may be back in Florida again next winter.

Kristy & Matt's Facebook announcement of baby to come

On Saturday, February 8th, Bob and Cheryl had a party for Ralph and Lois who share the same birthday one year apart. A 3 table marble tournament was the game of the day. Again we had a good time playing. So the next day after church we went to the Market of Marion and bought our own board. Lisa found the perfect place in the coach next to the sofa to store it. Now we can bring marbles to everyone we meet in our travels. We taught Claude, Linda and Lori to play over the following couple days. 

The birthday kids: Lois and Ralph 

Just part of the birthday spread

High stakes 3 table marbles

The birthday hosts: Bob & Cheryl

Us

Very cool and appropriate cake

Getting ready to make birthday wishes

We finished our time in The Villages by golfing with Lori at a beautiful little executive course near Ocala named Baseline. They don't take any tee times. So on a gorgeous day after a few rainy, cool ones there was a bit of a wait. However, it was well worth it. The vegetation all around the course was lush as were the fairways. The greens were in perfect shape. Lori, who is an excellent golfer, gave both of us some pointers, but was the picture of patience with our level of play. To sum it up, we all had a great time! We finished off the evening with homemade tacos and another round of marbles at Lori's.

Lori, Dale & Lisa at Baseline Golf Course

The waiting line at Baseline

Surprisingly we were the only walkers we saw on this very walkable course

The 19th hole: an island green hole that actually came after the 4th hole.
Amazingly none of us went in the water. Cool!

Lori & Lisa

Lori, Regis, Claude, Linda & Dale at Lori & Paul's for homemade tacos our last night at Recreation Plantation

Regis: Lori & Paul's new Sheltie
What a great dog!

We pulled out of Recreation Plantation Tuesday morning and drove down to Deer Creek RV Golf Resort in Davenport. We settled into our brick paver site and went that evening to the grand opening of their new Tiki bar adjacent to a beautiful pool and jacuzzi behind a very nice main clubhouse. We haven't done any exploring around the resort yet, but if the party at the Tiki bar is any indication this could be a very fun month. 

Pool and corner of the main clubhouse at Deer Creek

New Tiki bar adjacent to the pool 

Party at Deer Creek reminds us of The Villages