Wow 2018
where is the time going???
Well down
here in the retirement capital of the USA the pace has slowed down a bit for
the two of us just as the frequency of the Ramblin Ruis Blog.
Did you
know that the population of Florida increases but at least one million people
in the winter months of January through March?? Wow that’s a lot of snow birds
hanging out in retirement communities up and down the state of Florida. While
most of you guys up north were suffering through a cold January and early
February Florida wasn’t spared. Now granted we did not have snow or extended
bitter cold spells but upper 20’s at night is cold for Florida standards even
in January. Because of the cold Paula and I didn’t do much the first couple of
weeks here in Cedar Key. We were able to make some new friends and attend a
National Championship college football game party at the club house. Unfortunately,
Alabama won again.
As the
weather began to warm toward mid-January Paula and I headed down to Crystal
River Florida to go kayaking with the Manatee’s. Because of the extreme cold
weather these “sea cows’ as they are known gather in the warm 72-degree waters
of the Crystal River and the springs that feed the river. This was a real treat
as there were at least 150 to 200 Manatee’s swimming in this area. They swam
around us and under our kayaks as we glided up the river. And yes, the water is
clear as the name implies so you could see to the bottom of the river.
In
January we also attended a bean and corn bread dinner at the club house along
with Bingo games on Tuesday nights. January also brought about a spring
cleaning of sorts. Paula and I took a
different part of the camper each day for a week and went through our stuff for
further downsizing. We adopted the attitude if it was something we had brought
just in case we needed and we hadn’t use it in the past 10 months we must not
have really needed it in the first place. SOOO we are a little lighter now than
we were when we arrived here January 2nd. January also found us
going to dinner at the Treasure Camp restaurant located on the Suwanee River
with our new friends Al and Pam Pelfrey (Georgia) and Don and Jan Mason (Ohio).
This was a neat place which sits right on the banks of the Suwanee River and
the dinning room is a screen porch overlooking the river. They have window
inserts for the winter and a huge pot belly stove in the middle to heat the whole
building.
Paula and
I also got up early and went down to the marsh to watch the lunar eclipse at
the end of January. This was really cool as we had seen the solar eclipse in
Yellowstone this past summer.
February
1st brought about what we referred to as the Cedar Key Shuffle.
There were several of us that had reserved a second month late in 2017 which
allowed us to secure a site for the month of February but it required us to change
sites. SO on the morning of the 1st about 5 or 6 of us had to hook
up and move to our new site for February, hence the shuffle. We moved from lot
2 to the back of the park on lot 73 which is a much quieter location than up
front. As the weather warmed I shifted my attention to the outside of the
camper and the truck. Neither of which had been cleaned or waxed in a while. So
I washed and waxed the truck and took a couple more days to wash the roof and wax the exterior of the camper.
If you can see under the coating of yellow pollen you can see that both the
truck and camper have a much-needed shine restored to their exterior finishes.
Sand Hill Crane
We also
took a day to go toward the Orlando area where we met up with our friends Bob
and Cheryl (Rhode Island) who we worked with last year in Yellowstone. We had a
nice lunch at the clubhouse restaurant located in the community where they had
just purchased a home. We also had a surprise visit from our friends Joel and
Margie (Alabama) who we also worked with last summer. We took them for a tour
of Cedar Key and we had lunch at one of the waterfront restaurants.
But the
best thing in February was that the Patriots lost the Super Bowl. Not that I am
an Eagles fan I am just done with Tom Brady and the Patriots. Remember the 1972
Dolphins are still the only undefeated season team NFL in history.
Last
weekend we went with Al and Pam to a Greek Festival where we had some delicious
Greek food and deserts.
We have
continued Bingo on Tuesday nights in the clubhouse for February as well.
So,
what’s next for the Ramblin Ruis you might ask, or maybe not, but here’s what
it looks like. We will pull out of here on March 1 and are headed west. We will
be going to Congress Arizona which is located northwest of Phoenix. Once we get
to the Lake City area and turn west on I-10 we want see another road until we
get west of Phoenix. This is right at 2000 miles and we should be able to make
it in 4 ½ to 5 days depending on weather along the way. We are planning at
least one stop over near Las Cruces New Mexico to meet Tony and Lynette Langley
who we worked with last summer and are wintering in New Mexico. Once we arrive in Arizona we plan to stay
until around April 20 at which time we will pull out and head North to
Yellowstone for our second season working in ‘Your National Park” as our friend
Ed would tell each of his guest last season at the end of the check-in. We are
scheduled to leave Yellowstone around September 6. As of now we are currently
looking for a camp host type job for the fall.
So, there
you go.
As I
typed this it happened to be the same day Billy Graham the beloved evangelist
of the poor and the presidents passed away at age 99. Graham touched countless
lives during his lifetime and I can still remember watching his televised
crusades on a grainy black and white TV as a child and teenager. I am sure the angels in heaven are singing a
special and loud chorus today as another saint has come home. Because of his
influence his children have carried his message and ministry. Paula and I have been blessed to be a very small
part of one of these ministries as Samaritans Purse continues to touch millions
of lives around this world.
I will
leave you with these quotes from Dr. Graham himself;
“When
wealth is lost, nothing is lost;
When
health is lost, something is lost;
When character
is lost, all is lost.”
“Heaven
is my Home. I am just traveling through this world.”
So as we
travel through this world,
Until
next time
The
Ramblin Ruis
Allen and
Paula
