Monday, Feb 18, 2013, Zephyrhills, FL

Packed up for travel - the water on the awning was frozen! It sounded like glass breaking when we pulled the slide in. Another short hop to Jim's RV Park (~24 mi.) just outside of Zephyrhills, FL. Got all settled in. We are on a grass site that runs downhill towards the back/drivers side of the coach. This is the worst situation for leveling so we will be a bit un-level. It's opposite from the last site so all of the doors settle in the opposite direction. Looks like our coach has gone "Native"!

Friday, Feb 15, 2013, Kayaking, Crystal Springs, FL

We rented a kayak in Crystal River, FL. The day started off a bit cool and overcast but it cleared up nicely and was never cold. We got the kayak into Three Sisters Springs but we were surprised by all of the swimmers who never seemed to pay any attention to the kayaks. I guess they were looking for manatees and they were told they had the right of way. If they did have the right of way it was more than offset by our lack of kayaking experience. My pants were immediately soaked so I pulled them up to the knee which is how I got some really sunburned shins. 

We paddled all around the area - strange to see a nuclear power plant - although I heard later it is due to close.

We saw quite a few manatees as we paddled around several of the islands. We stopped at the opening of one protected inlet and heard a bunch of manatees playing. It was quiet - nobody around but us - so they felt pretty safe. All of a sudden they were swimming all around us. We could have touched them they were so close.

We got back in just under 4 hours so we had a late lunch and headed for Old Homosassa. Saw the Yulee Sugar Mill ruins and then what appeared to be a really new park (Pepper Creek Trail) in the Chassahowitzka NWR. Sam was very happy to see us home before dark.

Yulee Sugar Mill Ruins

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge

Thursday, Feb 14, 2013, Homosassa Springs, FL

Went to Crystal River, FL, to see about renting a kayak to see the manatees. Decided it was too cold for the kayak (we were in shorts with no jackets.) Instead, we went to the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park in Homosassa Springs, FL. WOW! It started out pretty nice but eventually, it rained on us. It was still great. Really nice boat ride followed by the wildlife park. Lots of great pictures. Happy Valentine's Day.

This duck really is this colorful.  It is a Carolina Duck (Aix sponsa)

Lou the Hippo (a legal resident of Florida by Gubernatorial decree!)

It was fun watching the swans trying to eat an apple, and succeeding.

Everybody loves the Gators

Brutus the Bear

Saturday, Feb 9, 2013, FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL - Last day

Too late for donuts this morning at the FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL. Maybe that was subconsciously by design. Took in Ron Jones' seminar on Newfoundland/Labrador. The $1,800+ for the ferry ride (20 hours round trip) may squelch that trip. Looked over the vendors and coaches one last time without spending any money.  

Went to dinner with Millie and Jerry at the Golden Corral. Ate way too much but it was great! Tonight's entertainment was definitely not "A" list. We sat next to folks who were from Cumming, Jack and Gerry. Turned out they were from our neighborhood and had lived there for more than 20 years. Their house is just around the corner. Jack was involved with the neighborhood association and was a county commissioner and apparently the subject of many scathing attacks in the papers (such is politics) so he seemed more than a little surprised that we had never heard of him. Very nice people - hope to see them again sometime.

Friday, Feb 8, 2013, FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL - Day six

FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL, started with donuts again, might actually be getting tired of donuts. We picked up our entry mat with "Living in a Dream" on it that we won as a door prize.  

(We live in a 2000 American Dream made by American Coach)

Seminar on great travel destinations has me thinking I should consider Baja, Mexico - we'll see. Sugar-free DQ Dilly bars at the ice cream social to offset the donuts. Millie said we didn't miss much as far as last night's entertainment so we don't feel so bad.

Listened to a sales pitch on Fantasy Tours. If money were no object I would be signed up. As it is, we will have to try and follow some of their itineraries on our own. Went to another seminar on the convection/microwave oven - really wish we had shore power to try out our new skills.

Watched Kenny Evans in concert - very good show! Met Kent and Juanita from just down the road in Murrayville, GA.

Kenny and his back boys (picked from the audience).

Thursday, Feb 7, 2013, FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL - Day five

The FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL, started with more coffee, OJ and donuts - life at the rally is brutal. Took in a couple of interesting seminars.  One for full-timers by Ron Jones - he is really pretty entertaining. The other was on using the convection microwave oven. Will have to give it a try as soon as we have shore power again. Met a woman named Becky who knew all about working at Disney - she gave us a card that might help get us in when we are ready to settle in for a winter. Tried cleaning the contacts on the two big 300 amp fuses and then started the generator. 

It seemed like it charged longer before finally kicking out with an error code E04. Skipped the entertainment tonight and went to Panera Bread again for their AC power.  We are drycamping at the rally (one week with no power, unless we run the generator.)  

Wednesday, Feb 6, 2013, FMCA Rally in Brooksville, FL - Day four

FMCA rally in Brooksville, FL, was in full swing. Started with coffee, OJ and donuts. Found out we won a door prize - a nice monogrammed entry mat (what should it say?)

Went to a seminar on coach weight and another on FMCA benefits. Donated a pint of blood. Coaches keep on rolling in. Heard there will be about 800 total. Our location seems pretty close now compared to the late arrivals who are another 1/2 mile down the runway.

Met full-timers Ken and Dottie who once had inverter problems similar to ours. Their problem was easily fixed - hopefully, the same thing will fix ours.  

We were treated to a beautiful sunset before the show

In keeping with the rallies theme of a salute to the troops, we watched a trio of ladies sing WWII tunes.