Days 10-15 - Clermont, FL Thu/Fri

Elite Resorts at Citrus Valley 1/28/2015-2/2/2015
16246 Citrus Parkway
Clermont, FL 34714

Thursday & Friday notes:

192 circled above

New owners, Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Large, clean pads with all hookups

The hour and a half  drive from Port Orange, FL, was easy and pleasant.  A straight run across I-4 to and through Orlando.  I'm familiar with this area as a result of spending the month of April in Daytona Beach Shores. Trips to Orlando during these seven years included three trips to Orlando's airport to pickup my son Chuck and family, Marybeth, the girls and friends as well as trips to Disney's World of Sports to join friends, Bill and Diane to watch their children,  John, Mark, and Theresa play ball, each in their turn.  Good memories while watching them grow into young adults they've become.  My first blog,  Charlie's Travels, written in 2008, is still available should you care to see the sites and my "early" (recorded) travel experiences.  Geeze, looking at the number....that's like 7 years ago.  "My, how time flies when you're having fun."

The RV park that I'm settled in right now (#192 circled on site map) is different than what I'm used to up north.  Like Hilton

Neighbors & owners, Ray & Kathy

Head's RV Resort and Marina, many of the sites are owned by those presently set up there.  I'm a "renter."  There's a Homeowner's Association, Rules & Regs (that go beyond those in any regular campground.) just like any other condo complex.  I, therefore, would not call this a "campground."  It's an RV Resort community and for the 55+.  Sites have all you need (water, sewer, cable, electricity) for full time living. AND dogs.  Dogs, dogs, and more dogs.  E-v-e-r-y site (except George & Vicki) have at least one dog. As I observe the walkers-by, it seems the dog takes over the daily routine of every owner.  Granted, walking a dog is at the top of the list of good health habits for the owner and, as usual, the bigger the owner, the smaller the dog.  And, today's observations really took the cake:  a couple walked by with two dogs.  
The wife had one on the leash, the husband was pushing a small stroller with the dog sitting up like a king looking around the kingdom.  A first for me.  The story is that the dog has diabetes and if it had to walk for any distance, it blood sugar would drop and it would sit, not walk and that was that.  So, the stroller serves a medical use.  Just hope Medicare didn't pay for it. 

Today's weather was the best I've experienced since I left home 1/19th.  The temperature reached only 70° but the sun was very bright in a cloudless sky.  I was finally able to put out a lounge chair, read my book and proceed to get a bit of a burn on my forehead and face.  Right now, (Thursday), Vicki & George will be driving by to pick me up so we can meet Ray and Kathy at  Hurricane Wings & Grille for dinner.

Weather-wise, today was the first day I was able to pull out my lounge and read a couple of chapters outdoors.  Sunny in a cloudless sky with temps touching 70°.  Vicki stopped by to give me facial sun block for my red forehead and nose.  So comforting knowing I was where I wanted to be doing what I want to do.  As I write this blog, there's 23 more days, 17 hours, 15 minutes left in this adventure.  Up north?  Well, as I write this Thursday night, the NY forecast reads:

Low pressure will track south of Long Island Sunday night and Monday.  Although the exact track and timing of the system are still uncertain....there is the potential for 6 inches or more of snow across the entire Tri-state area.

The next most popular item in this land of (fill in your own word) are the hundreds of Mickey Mouse lawn lights.  You thought it would be pink flamingos? 

Every third or fourth house
has one OR MORE of them; solid
and multi-colored, solitary or
Mickey's family: large, medium,
and small.

                  

Even here in the RV park,
the street lights have
Mickey globes.  We are 16 minutes
from Disney World.

                            

Tonight (Friday) they're taking me to a dinner/dance.  Happy hour begins at 4:30 pm, dinner at 5:00, and band begins at 6:00.  Can't wait to see what time this breaks up.  My bet is somewhere around bedtime.....8:00-8:30pm.  More tomorrow night.