The Winter Season Comes To A Close

Back in November, we bought Jersey Boys tickets for in March.  I wasn't sure the show was going to be worth what we paid for those tickets, but it was fabulous!  

Ten of us went bike riding through Punta Gorda follow by lunch (of course).  After pedaling about 30 seconds, we all stopped so Mark S. (lime green shirt) could get a group photo.  Mark and Candy are serious bikers, and our concern was that they would go too fast for the rest of us.  So after 30 seconds we stopped.  After numerous stops along the way, we ended up biking 11 miles.

Dennis was not biking because he had a previous commitment, and Steve's wife had flown back home for a few days.  Mark has a helmet, and was wearing it - just not for the picture.

 We found these pelicans on the Peace River while biking.

Another group photo with Ponce de Leon.

We finally made it back to Papa G's restaurant at the cooking school.  Food was delicious, and we all ate way too much.

All this plus dessert for $10 apiece.

Mark and Candy were leaving the next morning, so we had to have a going away happy hour.  Since it was raining, we had it inside.

After taking the hula hoop lesson a week prior, I ordered a hoop of my own.  I love it.  Unfortunately I had to leave behind with Pam.  She's storing it for me until we get back in October.

We spent a lot of time cleaning out the RV and getting it ready to travel back home the first week of April.  We donated all but a couple canned goods to the Arcadia Center for the Needy.  The woodwork has all been polished and cabinets cleaned out.

 Rick and Ann were the next to leave, so of course we had to go to Culvers to say our goodbyes.

Mike and Russ took us out on their little inflatable boat one afternoon up the Peace River.  The water was very rough, but we saw lots of birds.  

The Elks club where Dennis belongs had a Doo Wop night with a steak dinner.  Both the entertainment and dinner was delicious.

 The Goldtones

On March 28 we had the trailer all cleaned up, emptied, and ready to leave in the morning for the three day drive back home.  We went to the Thai restaurant with Ed and Elizabeth and Pam and Dennis and then Mike and Russ joined us for a final Culver's visit.

We left the park at 5:20 am on the 29th and made it 1 mile before we realized there was something seriously wrong with the truck.  We turned around in the Walmart parking lot and went back to the RV park.  Luckily we were paid up for another week so we waiting until daylight and put the trailer back on our spot. We had to re-set up the RV until we could get the truck into the Ford dealer.

A mere $2000 later and two days, the truck was repaired.  However, we decided not to take the trailer back home since we had no plans for traveling in the summer.  To summer-rize the trailer it takes a lot of time.  The windows had to be covered in reflective coverings.  Every piece of food had to be removed and all the clothes packed up, cabinets emptied and cleaning supplied stored underneath.  

Since we had a couple extra days, we went to the Punta Gorda Elks club for lunch with Pam and Dennis.  It's right on the Peace River.

The pier at the Elks club.

Ice cream after the Elks Club lunch.  It was our last treat in FL before leaving in the morning.

 After spending the night in Clarksville, TN, we had a short drive home the next morning.

Just some of the stuff we brought home.  

I ordered another hula hoop so I can use it all summer.  It just arrived yesterday.

Now we are searching for places to play pickleball this summer, enjoying our grandsons, and spending time with parents, kids, and friends before we head back to Florida in the fall.