Starting Our First Full Year of Fulltiming

Well, we survived a Michigan holiday season which turned out to be more wintry than average. Mother Nature exposed us to a beautiful, but very damaging ice storm followed by a 15 inch snowfall which allowed Dale to 'play' with his former snowblower which now resides in East Lansing. Then she unleashed temperatures as low as -14F on us. Talk about missing all that cold weather gear that went to Salvation Army. Dale was glad to finally legitimately use one the two articles of warm clothing he kept: new flannel lined blue jeans. Although she didn't say it out loud, Dale is sure Lisa was totally jealous. The other article of warm clothing was his 40 year old down coat from his Michigan Tech days. Speaking of Tech, Dale's oh-so-thoughtful college roommate, Don Illka, kept him apprised of the warmth that the Big Brown Bus was basking in at Don's mother-in-law's godsend parking spot in Eustis, Florida. 

Michigan State's Sparty adorned in roses in anticipation of the Big Game

On our way back out to East Lansing during the 15 inch snowstorm

Kristy & Matt's driveway prior to clearing 

Dale 'playing' with his former snowblower

Lisa just loves this stuff

Next morning after the storm

Dale (sporting his flannel lined jeans and 40 year old coat) & Kristy

After numerous wonderful and blessed family and friend gatherings during this holiday period, on the afternoon of January 9th, we hit the road back to Florida. We made it to Lexington, KY the first night and Lake City, FL the second night. Except for a snowy section through Ohio, the drive south was thankfully uneventful. After waking the bus up from its brief hibernation we drove from Eustis about a half hour to Recreation Plantation near The Villages, FL. Recreation Plantation is huge (850 sites) and is, in our opinion, the best camping option if you want to enjoy the The Villages, which we describe as Disney World for the senior set. We absolutely loved the two months we spent in a rented house in The Villages during February/March of 2012. We made several friends during that stay and wanted to spend time getting reacquainted during this winter in FL. The site (#59) we have in Recreation Plantation is all grass and some sand, and is a bit unlevel. This set the stage for once again providing entertainment for our fellow campers. Our first attempt at leveling had the left front wheel a couple inches off the ground and the right front about an inch off the ground. Not terrible, but not ideal either. Dale came up with a plan to back onto boards at the front end so that the tires would still have some load. Now throw on top of this the fact that Dale learned in his Camp Freightliner class that when parked for a month or more it's beneficial to put a barrier between the ground and the tires to prevent the emollients in the rubber from being leached out prematurely. Cardboard is an acceptable barrier so he stocked up on a good supply of cardboard from Kristy and Matt's house while we were in Michigan. He moved the motorhome forward, positioned the boards just behind the front tires and the cardboard just behind the rear tires. He then took his seat and with Lisa standing just outside the driver's side of the coach put it in reverse. A little throttle didn't result in any movement up onto the boards. Well, we just need more throttle, right? A few seconds later Lisa was emphatically yelling 'CUT! CUT!' Dale couldn't understand what the problem could be, and why she was obviously overreacting. Lesson learned: 1) Never try to back up onto boards with slippery cardboard sitting on top of slippery sand under your drive wheels and especially without dumping the air out of your tag axle. The slippery cardboard had gotten the tires spinning and after shooting the cardboard forward the tires just kept spinning and digging. Dale had managed, in a matter of seconds, to dig himself a hole under the four drive tires. Thankfully after getting rid of the slippery cardboard and dumping the air out of the tag axle, Dale was able to move forward out of the hole without needing to tow it out with the Jeep. He then backed a little further into our site so that the front tires were actually able to maintain contact without the boards. Needless to say this month the tires will go without cardboard. Maybe next month. We actually inquired about moving. That didn't pan out, but the neighbors we've met so far are great and will make this an excellent month even if the site isn't perfect.

Site #59 at Recreation Plantation

We are definitely looking forward to this weekend. We'll travel to what we believe to be the second largest RV show in the country, the Tampa RV Supershow. Some contend it's the largest, but we believe the show in Hershey, PA to be the actual largest. But the size of this show isn't the important part. The thing we're looking forward to is meeting up with as many as 10 of our fellow Newmar Hoots. Yes, these are the same wild and crazy people we met with in Tennessee earlier this year. We'll leave the BBB here in The Villages and drive the Jeep down to Tampa. While in the area we'll also have another bonus get together with members of our St. Matthews Bible Study gang. We'll meet Mary Englehardt at the home of Dennis and Joanie Frantz. Mary who still lives back in Michigan is visiting Florida for a month while Dennis and Joanie moved down here a little over two years ago.  

Merry Christmas from Michigan

Our last week in Mount Dora, Florida was relatively quiet. Most of it was spent preparing for our trip back to Michigan for the Holidays. We did take time out from packing to meet friends visiting Disney World from Michigan. We met John and Pat Rilly in Downtown Disney for an evening of shopping and dining on Wednesday, December 11th. 

Dale dreamin' at the Downtown Disney Harley store

Dale, Lisa, John & Pat

On Friday, December 13th, we went on a CraigCat tour of Lake Dora and the Dora Canal. This was one of those events that will stick with the memory banks for a long time. It was cool! First of all, for those not familiar with them, a CraigCat is a small catamaran type watercraft slightly over 11 feet long powered by a 20 to 30 hp outboard engine. On the tour there are three customer driven CraigCats with the tour guide leading on a separate CraigCat. A fifth CraigCat brought up the rear with a tour assistant making sure we didn't wonder off or otherwise get in trouble. The tour leader's CraigCat had a 30 hp outboard capable of pushing him to 30 mph. Our customer boats had 25 hp versions capable of 25 mph. Although I didn't put a stopwatch on it the tour leader claimed 0 to 25 mph came in 2 seconds and, after driving it, I have little doubt it was doing just that. It was a real blast skimming (or bouncing when it got a little choppy) across the water just inches above it at 25 mph. Then the Dora Canal was a different kind of cool. It was the site for the filming of, among other films, 'The African Queen' in 1951. A pretty long section of it has been preserved in its original natural state. The tour ended with a 15 minute blast across Lake Dora back to the Mount Dora marina.

Dale patiently waiting for his brief driving instruction

Going out to learn how to drive this thing

Instructor steering into full throttle turns - no problem

Ready, set, go

Seaplane taxiing on Lake Dora

Our CraigCat tour guide

Lakeside Inn on Lake Dora
Oldest continuously operating hotel in Florida, since 1883

Our fellow CraigCat tourists at speed

View from the driver's seat

Native Dora Canal seen in 'The African Queen'

Totally satisfied!

On Saturday evening we went out to dinner again with Don Ilkka and his wife Kathy, but this time we added another Michigan Tech grad, Mike Elliott and his wife, Suzanne. It was nice to see Mike again after nearly 35 years.

Dale, Mike Elliott, Don Ilkka - MTU Buds

On Tuesday, December 17th, we packed up the Jeep and drove the Dutch Star over to Kathy Ilkka's mother's house in nearby Eustis. After putting the Dutch Star in hibernation for a few weeks we headed up to Michigan. Although the temperatures got consistently colder the further north we got and that white stuff started to appear on the ground, we had beautiful weather for the whole drive. We took our time and arrived at our daughter and son-in-law's new house on Thursday evening, December 19th. Since then we've not done anything significant except enjoy being with Kristy and Matt, and helping with a few minor chores related to settling into a new home. They just moved in December 7th. We did endure a pretty significant ice storm a couple days after arriving which just gave us more incentive to stay in and enjoy the fire. The rest of the holidays will be spent enjoying the company of more family and friends in East Lansing, Commerce Township and Livonia, Michigan.

The BBB in temporary hibernation in Florida sporting its new tire covers

Jeep's first taste of snow

Kristy & Matt's new home

Jeep's first taste of ice

Even the snowman has a runny nose

So until we get back to the Big Brown Bus in January, we'll close out this blog year with wishes to all for a Merry Christ-filled Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

From Florida, the Only Warm State in the USA

Thanksgiving Day 2013 was certainly a new experience for us. No turkey to cook, no potatoes to mash, no gravy to stir, no stuffing to stuff, but most important no family to hug. Uggh! We enjoyed the dinner held at the Woods N Water Trails clubhouse and met some new folks. The food was all very good with about 60 people in attendance. We both ate lightly, knowing that this was Turkey Day Phase I. Dale was disappointed that the Lions game wasn't on a TV in the clubhouse, but at least he stayed for the whole meal. One Cheesehead at our table was so distraught over the lack of the game on a TV in the clubhouse that he jumped up as soon as they started calling tables, even though ours hadn't been called. He filled his plate and made a beeline for the door. His wife later explained his need to see the game and apologized for his absence. At 4:00 we went to the home of Kathy Ilkka's mother, Marlene. There were just five of us as Don and the boys were up in Michigan's UP for the annual deer hunting weekend. It was a nice cozy dinner with another round of wonderful food. Marlene, Kathy and Anna welcomed us like family. While there we Face Timed with our Michigan family, so even though hugs weren't possible we were able to see everyone. 

Woods N Water Trails RV Resort clubhouse

Getting our instructions prior to loading our plates

All the fixin's waiting to be dished up

The all-important dessert table

Getting ready to say the blessing at Marlene's

Had to include Marlene's Puffy - Tell me he ain't cute!

On Friday we drove our bikes around and down to the waterfront at the resort. As we were making our way out on the dock a rather loud fluttering of wings above startled us. Looking up we could see a large bird leaving its roosting place in the tree we were directly under. He flew to another nearby tree and landed. We were looking at a Bald Eagle not 40 yards away. Lisa got several good shots, but upon getting too close, the Eagle decided to find another place to roost. Lisa was bummed as she missed getting it in flight. She's been back to the dock area a few more times hoping to spy the majestic creature, but to no avail so far. That Friday night we met Marlene, Kathy and Anna in downtown Eustis for the Annual Light Up Eustis festivities. It was quite an affair, the likes of which we've never seen in Michigan with, at least it seemed, no less than a thousand people strolling about. Of course, it might have something to do with 60 degree evenings in Florida at this time of year as opposed to evenings in the 20's in Michigan. The streets were blocked off with stages set up in various locations. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrived in a City of Eustis fire engine. 

Woods N Waters canal and boat dock 

Bald Eagle at the boat dock

Another view of the majestic eagle

Peddler's Wagon is a cool store in downtown Eustis

Inside Peddler's Wagon

Fountain in Eustis waterfront park

Light Up Eustis crowd and main stage

Santa and Mrs. Claus arriving in a Eustis fire engine 

Santa & Mrs. Claus getting ready to visit with good boys & girls 

Shot down Magnolia Ave in Eustis

On Saturday evening it was Mount Dora's turn to light it up. The Mount Dora crowd seemed to be two to three times that which we had seen in Eustis. It had a more elaborate stage setup and light display in the park in front of City Hall. They also have a singing Christmas tree and the Mount Dora marina a couple blocks from downtown is not to be missed.  

Crowd gathered in front of City Hall for Light Up Mount Dora

Light Up Mount Dora stage 

Mount Dora stage after dark 

Mount Dora City Hall 

Mount Dora lit up

Here's how they do it in Mount Dora 

Just a portion of Mount Dora Marina 

Other side of the marina taken across the water

On Sunday, December 1st, after church we went to Olivia's in Eustis for lunch. It came highly recommended and did not disappoint. It's not fancy schmancy, but rather quirky cool with an eclectic blend of non-matching furniture and dinnerware. They have a small musician's stage  and apparently bring in some decent talent for dinner shows. Oh yeah, and the food was very good. On Tuesday, December 3rd, after Lisa attended the Womens Bible Study we helped decorate the park with other campers. Lisa worked inside the clubhouse and Dale helped with the outside landscape decorations. 

Just another picture of the welcoming committee that patrols the grounds daily

Woods N Water Trails all lit up

Apropos decoration for a campground

On Wednesday, we enjoyed a beautiful sunset on Lake Dora by their lighthouse park. While there Dale spied an interesting little 2 person powerboat cruising out on the lake. A truck and trailer eventually drove up, and pulled the little craft out of the lake. It turned out to be a CraigCat which neither of us had ever seen before. It's a tiny catamaran, in this case, powered by a 25 horse outboard capable of pushing the CraigCat to over 25mph. The guys pulling the boat out actually work for a local CraigCat Tour company. They gave Dale a flyer describing the 2 hour tour where you drive your own boat and the guide narrates over the boat's Bluetooth sound system. Our tour is booked for Friday, December 13th. Dale can't wait. Oh, and Lisa is looking forward to it, too. 

Lisa waiting patiently for the sunset over Lake Dora

Someone else waiting for the sunset 

This guy don't care about no sunset - show me da teeny tiny fish!

Sunset over Lake Dora

Thursday we swam and relaxed by the pool, and Lisa got her new Canon T3i camera! The pictures for the blog should be a touch better going forward. Friday saw us attending another street party in Mount Dora. This time it was the Mount Dora Christmas Walk. Once again streets blocked off,  bands playing, choruses singing, people everywhere. We also got to listen to David Willis, an American Idol contestant from February of this year. Originally from the area, he purchased, renovated and reopened a coffee shop in Mount Dora in July this year.  He was outside the shop singing and playing guitar with a couple other backup musicians. Needless to say, he was attracting quite a crowd. On Saturday, Dale started the installation of a tire monitoring system for the motorhome and Jeep. This system will alert us of any impending tire failure before it happens and, hopefully, prevent any catastrophic incidents that might turn into a local news story. On Sunday, December 8th, after church we drove out to New Smyrna Beach on the Atlantic coast. We had been told by some other campers in the park that they had driven their Jeep on the beach. That sounded pretty cool, so we headed out only to arrive and find out the beach was closed due to high tide. What's up with that? Slightly disappointed we sat in a city pavilion and ate our Subway sandwiches at least enjoying looking at the water and beach activity including some young surfers testing their skills. About the time we finished eating there came an announcement over the local PA system that access to the beach for vehicle traffic would resume in a few minutes. Yeehaw!! Down went the top on the Jeep and out we went to get in line. Sure enough a beach ranger opened the gate and we were soon tooling along the sand. Silly Dale at first put the Jeep in 4WD just because we haven't used it yet, and he remembered almost getting stuck with his 1979 Mercury Capri on Daytona Beach thirty some years ago. However, the ramp at New Smyrna was very solid and everything, including Corvettes, were making it onto the beach just fine so he pulled it back into 2WD. Maybe we can use the 4WD when we get up to Michigan over the Holidays. We had a great time on the beach! Lisa had insisted on buying Santa hats for the occasion and made Dale keep his on the whole time. Needless to say we attracted some attention and smiles. 

Driving on New Smyrna Beach

Hey, is that Santa in a new red sleigh? 

 Time to head out after a stressful day at the beach

On Monday we golfed at the Mount Dora Golf Club referred to as The Old Course. Since we hadn't golfed in quite a while we didn't keep score. It was better that way. The only score written down that day was Dale's rare birdie on the 14th hole. On Tuesday, December 10th, Dale was finally able to make it to the Men's Bible Study while Lisa once again attended the Women's Bible Study. Dale appreciated finding out that the Men's study was just starting a Ray Van Der Laan series which he had not been through yet. Our Michigan bible study group has done a couple of his studies. If you've not experienced a Ray Van Der Laan faith lesson you should give it a try. He takes you right to the Holy Land for each of the studies. A very good, easy to understand teacher. The Women's study had a very nice potluck luncheon after their study so Dale enjoyed a great leftover dinner that evening. Yum!