Crystal River, FL

12/13/07

We packed it in around 9:30 and are cruising down route I75 to Florida. Stopped at the Golden Arches and got some breakfast. Time 11:29 and we hit the Florida State line. At 1:30 we were driving into Ocala, FL (mega horse country) the temp was 81 degrees. We arrived at Rock Crusher Canyon RV Park, 275 South Rock Crusher Road, Crystal River, FL (352-795-1313 at 2:30. Absolutely beautiful large shaded sites. We are on the back forty with no one behind us. This is definitely one that we will return to! Thank you Sue Love! We mixed a G and T and proceeded to set up the coach, sat outside for awhile, ordered Domino’s Pizza (which took the delivery person forever to get here as he got lost and turned up at another RV park) sent email to all, and crashed to Magnum PI.

12/14/07

Headed for the gulf! We arrived at Fort Island Gulf Beach and Fishing Pier at around one. So breath taking...I love the ocean so. We soaked in the sun, walked the beach and the board walk, had a cold one and just plain relaxed. What a day!

12/15/07

We strolled around the park and found that there were more Christmas decorations here in the park than we saw all the way from North Hero. RV mirrors decked out with Santa hats, Christmas trees in the windshields, palm trees with lights, string lights made into Christmas trees…so neat. In the evening we enjoyed a couple of Christmas movies. Thunderstorms are predicted for tonight along with high winds.The wind she blew but we were very fortunate that the tornado missed us but did touch down northwest in Ocala, FL.

12/19/07

Today we finally solved the puzzle of the huge hole behind the coach. We knew it was a critter of some kind but had no idea as to what it was. As we went for a walk on the trail behind the coach and I spotted a HUGE turtle back itself into the hole. We thought Myrtle was a very fitting for her name. She was out taking in the rays. We hope to get a photo of her out of her hut so everyone can see how huge she really is.

12/20/07

Today we thought was a beautiful day for a drive. We put the jeep in drive and headed for New Port Richie to visit Grammy (Marion E.) Hoyt's grave at Meadowlawn Memorial Gardens. Such a gorgeous and peaceful place she rests near an outside altar. Dave was relieved to see that the place Grampy had chosen was so nice. This was the closure he really needed as she held such a special place in his heart. We placed flowers in the urn and said our good-byes.

12/21/07

Once again Dave put up with me. I wanted a tree for the coach but left most decorations back home. We went to the store and found a four foot white spiral tree on sale. We were Santa’s little elves scurrying around most of the day putting up the tree and decorations. The four foot tree had to be scrunched down to a two foot tree in order to fit in the windshield. Everything turned out super! It was hilarious watching Dave and seeing him smile every time he looked at the lights…so nice to see him smile as it has been hard for him with not selling the house yet and all. We decided that it would be nice to attend the Thursday night evening meal that was being held at the clubhouse. It was Mexican night and they served tamale pie and black bean and rice…not the greatest meal we ever had. Entertainment was country oldies with several different singers…pretty good actually. We meant some fellow full-timers and are planning to get together soon.

12/22/07

Today we went to Tin Cup Driving Range and Pro Shop in Homosassa. For Dave not hitting a ball in over a year he did really well. I hit a few balls too and did okay.

We received mail today! Seems like it's been forever! Tammy and Jim's packaged arrived. One gift said to open before Christmas. A bell ornament that has an RV and Christmas Tree inside. It says, "Christmas in the Trailer Park". Thanks guys it's really cute!

MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, we love you so much!! We opened the gifts from Tammy and Jim…they got Dave with the wonderful yellow duck once again! It is one that when put it in water it grows. He was going to bring it in the shower with him this morning but was afraid that there wouldn’t be any room left for him if he did. They also gave us photo frame horse calendar. Thanks guys it’s great! We tried phoning the kids this morning but no answered. George and family called to wish us a Merry Christmas. They are doing pretty good and wanting for their family to come for dinner. Nichole, Greg, Sadi, Faith and Tallon called back a little later. Everyone liked his or her gifts! The weather there was pretty icy. She had a breakfast brunch there and then heading to Dave and Donna’s for dinner. I know that Corey and Kerry were having Christmas dinner at their new home so I’m sure that they were very busy beavers. We hung out in the morning and went to have a Christmas dinner with all the fellow campers at the Clubhouse. A chef and his crew fixed the main dishes. Good food and good company. We do miss the family though. All of their ears must have been burning as we talked about you to everyone. We came home and then walked the park. Dave just wanted to put his feet up and rest but there was more work to be done on the website so we could finish and send everyone a special Christmas present.

We sent the web blog link out as follows at 8:55 PM on Christmas Day 2007.

A Christmas Surprise from Us to You. We send you this site for your Review! Please click on the link you see below To follow our travels where ever we go!

http://realtravel.com/member-m6241530-on tour.html

Love to All

12/29/07

Loads of mail today. Joe and Elaine thank you so much for the trailer ornament with Mr. and Mrs. Santa! Where you find all these neat things? The puzzle is hanging on the sliding door by the fridge. Everyone loves it! Thanks so much!

12/30/07

Day trip out to Lake Mary to visit Kim and Steve. Uncle Carl and Aunt Bonnie were down for the holidays from Syracuse, NY also.

Kim started out with many horsdoeuvres including Uncle Carl's fine pickled sausage and pickles, cheese and crackers. This was accompanied by good wine and beer...the beer bottles got shorter like Aunt Bonnie!!! ;)

Pizza was ordered and a little birdie told Kim that white pizza was my favorite. Little did I know that it was hers too!

For dessert Uncle Carl shared his homemade chocolate peanut butter cake...believe me I'm sure this was very hard for him!

To top off the dessert we had Kim's special coffee with kahlua, topped with whipped cream (which was very hard to find) and peppermint sprinkles..soooo good!!!

They have a gorgeous place in Lake Mary, FL just northeast of Orlando and about two hours from where we are staying here in Crystal River. They live in a gated community. She designed and built the house herself about five years ago. Three bedrooms, large kitchen, living room, combination dining and setting room, off the master bedroom there is a screened in patio with an in ground pool with a sheltered area for the bar.

We had a nice visit with Aunt Bonnie Uncle Carl too.

New Years Day...2008

Broke in the New Year and our bikes at the same time!

Happy New Year! A beautiful day…sunny and in the eighties. We rode our bicycles to Rock Crusher Canyon here at the park. It looks to be an old quarry. The water has a green tint to it. Swimming is permitted at your own risk. Simply not appealing to Dave and I for swimming. This is a nice spot for taking in sun and having a picnic. The rock ledges are pretty and one looks like there is a cave in one. We must go back and take some photos before we leave. We sat outside for a bit reading and taking in some more vitamin C. A chilly breeze picked up so we took a spin on the bikes and retired to the coach. Dave is not feeling well. His sinuses are bothering him…he is also dizzy and tired and may be running a low-grade temperature. We called the Corey and Nicki and families everyone is doing fine. Both had company for New Years Day and keeping busy.

We are missing all of you. We hope that you all have a fruitful, healthy and happy 2008! We are anxiously awaiting that little one to announce his presence!!! Hang in there Kerry for a few more weeks!

1/02/08

Riding the rails into the New Year...check out the kid pictures!

1/06/08

We had a request from Sadi and Faith that our resident Turtle Myrtle be renamed Tallon the Turtle! He seems to enjoy the name quite well as he became very sociable today joining us in the sun at our campsite to graze grass and eat delectable celery from our fridge. He appeared very comfortable as he came within feet of us as we sat enjoying cold drinks. He was very happy to stick around for several photo sessions!

1/10/08

We jumped in the jeep and were off to a Workamp Seminar held in Lakeland, FL. There was another fog warning posted for today. There was a seventy-car pile up on I-4 yesterday. Four people lost their lives but it could have been much worse. It was very foggy. In combination with the fog there was a control burn that had gone bad that added to the poor visibility. The fire that caused from this pile up was so intense that it melted the asphalt for several hundred. There was a fog warning once again this morning but the roads were all open. Visibility wasn’t a hundred percent but taking it slow it wasn’t really bad. We could still smell the fire from yesterday. The people here drive like maniacs! We arrived with time to spare.

The placed was packed with people looking for work. I would never have thought that there would be so many RV people out there needing to make an extra dollar. The seminar classes were interesting. We attended two today. We also got to visit the booths that were set up looking for people to work from selling products to Camp Hosts. There was this one company called Southern Cross that Dave found very interesting. The company was looking for new employees to locate natural gas leaks. They sub-contract to large gas companies or even private individuals looking to build. Dave requested an interview. Cullen Broome who is the Operations manager for the company did the interview. Dave took home the new employee packet. We talked it over and still everything looked like it would fit our lifestyle.

We arrived home really tired so we had a drink and settled for the night.

Today would have been Mom and Dad’s Hoyt’s 57th wedding anniversary…we miss you guys so much.