On January 13 we headed back south about half way to Tampa.  We stayed in Brooksville, FL and, on the 15th, we traveled to Palm Harbor to visit Rick & Pam Cox.  Needless to say, it was a great time!  On the 15th, we went to downtown Dunedin to attend the regular weekend bazaar.  I found some great salsa!  Of course, walking through a bazaar can really build up a thirst!  Luckily, Rick knew the location on a bar where we sat outside and enjoyed a few libations.

After a few brewski's, we walked down to the pier to see the wide variety of boats... shrimpers, scallop fishing boats, and the sponge boats.  The sponge boats go out for about three weeks at a time and the divers work all day cutting sponges from the ocean floor, usually working in depths of about thirty feet.  I'm thinking that's a career I haven't tried....

We closed the day by taking a dolphin-beach cruise.  The boat took us to a small, deserted island where Janice and Pam searched for seashells.  The two Rick's made sure the boat's supply of Corona was staying cold.

Poor Pam... from this one day to the frozen tundra the next!!

We arrived at Williston Crossings RV Resort on Jan. 6.  It's a beautiful, bucolic 500+ site resort just outside Williston, FL, population 2,768.  Beautiful park with paved roads, concrete sites, tons of mature trees, etc.  While passing the time today, I decided to install the really nice bicycle mirrors Ryan gave to Janice and me for Christmas.  I had completed the install on my bike and was readying Janices bike, which entailed cutting off the end of the left handlebar grip to allow insertion of the mirror mount into the handlebar.  Unfortunately, a fellow camper stopped by to comment on our coach.  An attorney should NEVER attempt to simultaneously carry on a conversation and use an Exacto knife!!

Yep... attempting both will result in a trip to the local ER for a couple of stitches.  Our first "hiccup," but if that's the worse that happens during our ventures, we're golden!

We leave Willston on the 13th and heading back south to Brooksville, FL.  On the 14th, we're driving the toad down to Tampa to spend a day with Rick & Pam Cox.  Really looking forward to it!  I'll post anything interesting in the interim, but I plan to stay away from sharp objects!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!  Our plan was a belated Christmas with the kids in Sarasota.  Thomas, Jess and Michael's flight arrived on time on 12/26.. Ryan and Janelle were not so lucky.  After being delayed out of STL for six hours, Frontier cancelled the flight with no plans for another flight or re-booking.  Turns out frontier doesn't contract with any other airlines to assist stranded passengers.  My recommendation:  don't fly Frontier!  Ryan and Janelle were able to get on a Delta flight the next day ( for about 3x the original cost) and arrived in Sarasota on the 27th. We had a GREAT time with the kids and Dale, Janice's dad.  We spent the 28th on the beach at Siesta Key.

Rick and Ryan at Siesta Key

Michael enjoys his first trip to the beach with mom, Jess, and dad, Thomas

Continuing with the kids visit to Sarasota, after a day at the beach, the gang decided to stay poolside on the 28th.

Michael's first time in a pool!

Janelle enjoys the 85 degree weather

Grandma and Michael chill in the shade

Michael and Great-Grandpa Dale discuss who has the better looking hat

The kids were all safely back home for New Year's Eve.  Janice and I already miss them!  We pulled up stakes on the 31st and traveled a whole hour to Ft. Myers.  Janice has a good friend who lives in Ft. Myers, and (if the weather cooperates) we plan to take a day trip by boat to Key West.

Janice and I hope 2016 is safe and prosperous to you all!  God bless us.

 We  headed down to Tampa, where we stayed until 12/22, then on to Sarasota.  In Tampa, we stayed at LazyDays RV Resort.  LazyDays is the largest RV dealer in the world... over 1,500 units in stock, a 126 acre complex, 200 service bays, and a 300 site campground.  No pictures from Tampa cause, to be honest, we just kicked back and relaxed.  We met some really nice people and the staff was very friendly.

Arriving in Sarasota on the 22nd, we awaited the arrival of the kids and grandkids.  One of our ventures was to "The Ringling,"  A large complex encompassing the circus museum, mansion, and several art museums.

Visited the Ringling Museum while waiting for the kids arrival

Old Circus Wagon.  Beautiful Woodworking!

The Ringling Mansion

Ringling Mansion Interior

Ringling Mansion Patio Overlooking Sarasota Bay

The definite high point of visiting Tampa was hooking up for dinner with an old (literally) flight buddy of mine from Vietnam.   Flying out of Camp Evans for 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division in 1970-71, were the two studly pilots shown below, Rick Wray & Juan Torres, a/k/a/ Thunder 25 and Thunder 13, respectfully.  Juan and I had not seen each other for 44 years!!  We shared a telephone call with Thunder 33, Terry Vraniak, who now lives in Alaska, and the years slipped away!  Love you guys!

Thunder 25 (L) and 13 (R) 44 years after Vietnam

We lead off a series of Savannah posts by introducing you to the Pirates' House, established in 1753. Now a popular retaurant near the river, the house was just what its name implies.  Pirates frequented the establishment, both to take their leisure and to "Shanghai" unsuspecting patrons to crew their vessels.  Legend has it that a Savannah constable was Shanghaied and it took the unfortunate three years to work his way back to Savannah.

The Pirates' House

Excavations have uncovered several tunnels between the Pirates' House and the river.  These tunnels allowed the pirates to travel in secrecy and to aid in the covert transportation of Shanghaied patrons.

An Uncovered Secret Tunnel