And on to Crystal River

I know, I know, its time for an update. So here it comes!
Checking back on the last posting and find it's only until Dec 29th, and here it is the 8th of January, and a new year, 2010. I have just got accustomed to writing 2009, and now I need to re-thinks the process and change the last two numbers to 10 rather than 09. Pretty big challenge for a hunt and pec like me! So now what has happened since the last posting? I think I'll just copy some of the info that I write for my daily diary. I do try to keep that up to date as best as I can. I do it on an excel spread sheet where I record all things that we do as well as all expenses, weather, mileages, gas useage, etc, etc. It has turned into a rather long spreadsheet, but works well for me. While working at Shell Canada for 23 years I was able to get fairly proficient with excel.
So anyway:
Dec 30th - Leave Destin and travel up to Highway 10 and follow east for about 150 miles through Tallahasee, then turn to the right onto highway 19 and follow to Crystal River, the Manatee capital of the world.
Arrive in Crystal Springs at about 2:30PM EST (changed at Talahassee) and found the Elite Crystal Springs RV Resort.
Sometimes that "Streets and Trips" mapping with GPS realy pays off!!
Checked in and were given pad #192, the one right behind the Ice Cream stand.
Completed all hookups and settled down for the next week.

We are right behind the Coffee Hut. Their sign says "Friends should not let friends drink Starbucks"

Dec 31st - Just a Rest Day, I guess, as it is quite cool and wet. Quietly celebrate New Years Eve from behind closed eye lids. I did hear a lot of fireworks as the new year approached and some big bangs, that I took to mean that the New Year was successfully brought in.
Jan 1st - Paxons, friends that we had met in Juarez, Mexico 4 or 5 years ago, and live 30 miles south of here at Springfield, were up for day - they arrived almost before we finished breakfast, and then stayed for most of the day. We talked about all the times since we had met in Juarez, and updated all that we each had been up to. Went for lunch at Applebees, then returned to ELTORO and talked some more until about 4:30PM when they returned home.

Spanish Moss is Everywhere!!

Jan 2nd - Cold day - rest
Decide to stay another week until Jan 13th - RV Parks are hard to find south of here and are expensive - up to $100/night. We were able to reserve this same spot for another week.
Jan 3rd - Very cold night for Florida - only 32 F when we got up this morning. Turned up the furnace but it failed to start. Tried several times to no avail. I would have thought that in Florida, we would never have known that the furnace was not working!! I thought you used air conditioning here and not furnaces !!! Used electric heater instead. Talked to RV office and arrainged for repair man to come tomorrow at about 2:00PM. We stayed home until they called to confirm time of arrival, and then we went for a short tour of the area. Went to Old Homosassa. Saw the old sugar mill there and wildlife Park, but were too late to do the walking tour. Will leave that for another day. Returned home to a Crock Pot full of delicious stew.
While on the drive around, Elaine and Dick Harris called on the telephone and invited us over to see them, which we had planned on doing anyway. Dick and Elaine are another ouple that we met 2 years ago while in Texas. Tom and Linda, our friends from Warner, Dick and Elaine, and Denice and I all have almost identical Newmar 2003 motorhomes. Tom and Linda, and Denice and I had been traveling together in New Mexico, and by chance, met up with Dick and Elaine as we vied for a parking spot during a high wind in the Guadaloupe Mountains. I think we will go over to see them on Wednesday. They wanted us to stay the night, but we need to return, as propane is being delivered to ELTORO on Thursday.

Jan 4th - Very cold overnight at 29F when we got up this morning. I thought Florida was supposed to be warm!!!! Wait until furnace men arrive at about 3:30PM. They check system and confirm electrical problem. Remove furnace and take to shop to clean and repair. They have 5 more jobs this aft, so may not get to repair it untl tomorrow morning. His wife will call when thay are able to re-install it.

Jan 5th - Still Cold in Florida. Stay at ELTORO all day waiting on response from Furnace man - none

Jan 6th - Still Cold in Florida.

Old Homasassa Sugar Mill.

Call Dick and Elaine and advise we will not come today, as waiting for furnace repair.

Crystal River Nuc Plant

Black Skimmers standing at Attention

The Whole Army

Another Bird

Call Furnace man at 9:30AM to check on timing - scheduled for tomorrow. Go to Archeology dig, at Crystal River Archeological Reserve. Here, natives living here up to 10,000 years ago, built large mounds where their ceremonies were held.

Some of these are up to 3o feet high and a couple of hundred feet across. Then we went on a couple of birding walks. Oh yes, Denice does takaa few bird pictures now and then!! To end the day we went to Old Homasassa to the the Crab Shack and Monkey Bar.

Check out the Monkey on the LeftMonkey Island

So named for the small man made Island in the middle of Crystal River, with 5 resident monkeys living there. Surrounded by water, they are fed and watered, and enjoy a happy life. For dinner we had Alligator tail for an appy, and then amberjack fish and shrimp as an entry.