Myakka: November and December 2016

From Maykka Motorcoach Resort, Port Charlotte, Florida 

In nearly seven years of full-time RV'ing Wayne and I had never committed to a five months stay in one location. We did this winter though -- November through March.  Ray and Cindy Fleishel recommend Myakka River Motorcoach Resort to us a few years ago. This would be our first visit. Wayne thinks we're staying too long but I feel pretty good about the decision as I am eager to relax for a good long while.

Pam and Ernie already had reserved their winter site for six months at Cypress Woods RV Resort in Fort Myers. Joyce and Charlie would make a last minute decision to stay at Seminole Campground in North Fort Myers. Wayne and I are about 40 minutes north.

Cathy walking Scooter who's just outside the picture.

Neighbors to our road side checked in just ahead of us, Tony and Cathy and their friend Larry.
They are from Louisville, Kentucky and travel together. We met them the first afternoon.

Cathy and Tony have a Maltese named Scooter. He bites. Larry is a widower and travels alone.


Our site is across the bridge in the photo below. We are between two of the three lakes.

That's our site just down the street. The sidewalk is perfect for walking Lexie and Ozzie. 

I liked MRMR immediately. It's restricted to motorhomes and has just 99 sites. The developer/owners live on site. I had read nice comments about the park, its owners and the community. Far enough from the crime and crowds of Fort Myers, Port Charlotte has everything we want for a winter visit, including plenty of shopping, a good assortment of restaurants, a nearby Publix and lots of golf.

Ralf and Amber (center) are the developers and owners of Myakka River Motorcoach Resort
 (This photo is from Myakka's Christmas party)

A casual "Meet N Greet" is held on the Sunset Balcony every Friday afternoon, during season, at Myakka. The balcony overlooks the large beautiful pool and deck and offers a fine view of the river and sunsets. During Meet N Greet, wine and German beer are served compliments of the German owner, Ralf and his wife Amber. There's always a little something to snack on too, but the best part is that almost everyone in the park attends, wears a name tag and has a good time. We rarely missed a Friday evening Meet N Greet. Here are some of my early pictures.

One of the first Friday Meet N Greet socials. The crowd is small and manageable now. By full season, the group spills over onto the pool deck below. In this picture I see Charlie, Sandy, Bonnie, Carlo and Bruce. Can't make out the others.

I see Amber and Ralf on the far left and there's Mallory (the Mayor) in the brown baseball cap on the right. Mallory's wife, Maryann in the bis bight blue shirt standing at the bar and Bonnie is sitting to her right.
Laurie is seated on the far right of the photo.

Left to right, Debbie, Sara, Cindy and Ray. We're watching the sunset.

The friendliest of the whole gang are Bruce and Sandy Moore

View of the pool deck, Myakka River and the sinking sun. Taken from the Sunset Patio.
The resort sites are around to the right.

The huge crowd won't arrive until after Christmas so there are lots of vacant spaces in the resort during November and December. It was easy to remember names when there weren't so many at one time. We made a point of trying to meet everyone.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Myakka 

Several social gatherings were scheduled during November, including a neighborhood progressive eating social that called for everyone to walk around the resort, meeting others and eating.


Thanksgiving Dinner was the first formal gathering in Myakka's clubhouse. Bruce took pictures and sent this one to me.

I'm glad he did because I didn't take a single photo.

Dinner was good.

First of many beautiful sunrises at Myakka. This one was taken the morning after Thanksgiving.

That's our coach with the awning shade extended.
Tony and Cathy are to the right and Larry is in the third coach.

The neighbors in this Prevost Featherlight drive a Bentley.
They stayed only a few nights on the property though the coach was here all season.  

There were hundreds of beautiful sunrises and sunsets during our months at Myakka. The weather was extremely dry and hot though. Our patio faced the south and was almost always really warm.

 

During this Friday Meet N Greet, I shared my hat with Laurie when she faced the sunset. 

Another time, I shared my hat with Princess Diana when the sunset was in her eyes. 

Another good view of our lake. 

Ray

It was good to see Ray and Cindy again.

We rarely see them and it's usually for short periods of time. This winter though, they were already at Myakka when we arrived and they remained another month after we left at the end of March.

Looking back at MRMR from the end of the pier.

Despite the leash regulation, I did let Ozzie and Lexie off leash this afternoon on the boardwalk to the river. 

Our resident alligators could pose a problem. Better safe than sorry, Wayne carries pups when they are nearby.

This is the biggest of our gator neighbors. He began taking liberties with the guests and had to be evicted. 

By the time Christmas rolled around, we knew almost everyone in the park. Our Christmas dinner and dance party was well attended. The food was good and so was the entertainment.

Left to right, Steve, Darlene. Carlo and Bonnie. Janice is in bright blue. 

As an "ice breaker" at the Christmas party every year, each table of eight people is required to sing, at the microphone, the Christmas carol of their choice. Someone at our table suggested "Jingle Bell Rock"... and we did! It was the first time I'd ever sung kareoke and I had great fun though it's hard to tell from this picture.

Jingle Bell Rock! Left to right, the singers are.... Larry, me, Howard, Laurie, Charlie, Diana and Cindy!
"Rock The Night Away!" 

There was no turning back after the Christmas carol ice breaker. Everyone took several turns singing and dancing broke out almost immediately.  I think I've found my talent. Well.... maybe not.

Cindy and I do some of our best steps in kareoke.
A tiny solo cup filled with American Honey helped. 

Cindy and I continue to prove our lack of singing ability with "You're So Vain"....

Howard sings his part of "Hit The Road Jack" as directed by his wife, Diana (in red).

Myakka also hosted a nice New Years party, complete with fireworks at midnight but we didn't attend. Ozzie got scared of the early party neighborhood firecrackers and we couldn't leave him.

Back and Forth: Friends, Family, Vets, Football, Tourists and Reunions

After visiting the Eisenhower property in Abilene, Kansas in September 2016, we spent a few nights at Coachlight RV Park in Carthage, Missouri where we enjoyed playing golf on one of the best municipal courses we've seen. Wayne's looking to get new batteries for the coach but we struck out in Carthage. Seems our battery watering system is specially fitted to a particular battery brand.

The last week of September we moved to Tom Sawyer Campground along the Tennessee River in West Memphis, Arkansas. We stayed two nights and enjoyed nine holes of golf at another surprisingly good municipal course.

Along the river at Tom Sawyer Campground. 

On September 28th we met Gary and Shelia at Pin Oak Campground at Natchez Trace State Park for a few days. These are wonderful times we enjoy and we see them so seldom.

At Pin Oak Campground in Natchez Trace State Park (Tennessee)

Brothers enjoy a nice fall afternoon visit in the campground 

Nice golf bag.  Wayne on the left, Gary on the right. 

Wayne and Gary's wife Shelia 

Next stop would be Spring Lake RV Resort in Crossville, Tennessee but just for two nights as we were in route to Knoxville where we've called ahead and ordered the new batteries. Wayne feels confident. I am skeptical.  Yes, the batteries were ordered as promised but the technicians at Buddy Gregg RV removed and threw out our battery watering system. When confronted with the error, a complimentary replacement system system was ordered and would be sent directly to us at our winter destination.  You just can't trust anybody to do what they say they're going to do.

We were in terribly hot weather even though it's mid October and it's not likely to get cooler as we travel south from Knoxville to Auburn. It's time for Lexie's transition from medical care at Washington State University Vet School to Auburn. It's also time to have her six-month neurological check-up and blood work. As usual, we have a site at Auburn Leisuretime RV Park where we'll get to see our friends, Tom, Thomas and Emily Sparrow, who own the campground.

Lexie might be the patient today, but Ozzie gets a "once over" too and loves the attention of the female students.

Ozzie waits with mom for Lexie to return from her exam. 

WSU's treatment plan for Lexie's encephalitis was agreed to by the neurologists at Auburn. Her anti-seizure med was increased by .2 ml to coincide with the 2 pounds she's gained since her low weight in July. All her tests proved near normal, allowing us breath easy. She seems normal...  as normal as Lexie can be.

Now, we'll go right back up I-65 again. We're going to meet up with Pam and Ernie to "Do Nashville". A rendezvous at Nashville I-24 Campground in Smyrna is already on the calendar. We look forward, as always, to seeing our friend, Donna too, whose family owns the campground.

The familiar site of the castle along I-840 between Franklin and Smyrna, Tennessee

The Fab Four found a new favorite Italian dining establishment at Mossimo's LaTavola in Smyrna

Aspiring musicians are plentiful in this area. This is a family looking for their start at the campground.

Listening to the music with campground owner Donna.
Beside her is Don, a workcamper at I-24 campground. He's an author. 

Pam and me. No self-respecting tourist can say they've seen Nashville unless they tour the Ryman. 

Pam at Wildhorse Saloon -- closed for a special event. 

Wayne, me and Ernie. Upstairs at the George Jones store, restaurant and bar overlooking the river.

We spent an afternoon in historic Franklin, Tennessee too.
Here, Pam and I are modeling our best Halloween look. 

A visit to the Factory in Franklin called for antics on the giant rocking chair 

A night out with friends in one of Nashville's most trendy new restaurants. (Can't remember the name though)
Left to right, Ernie, Pam, me, Wayne, Donna and Gary

Tickets for the late Grand Ole Opry.
Performances by John Conlee, Connie Smith, High Valley, Del McCoury Band, Charles Esten and Little Big Town.
Here, Chip Esten sings Wayne's new favorite "I Love You, Beer"

Welcome to the Grand Ole Opry!

Donna and Molly (Ozzie's other girlfriend) 

My high school reunion was scheduled for one of the weekends we were in Nashville. We decided to make the long drive from Nashville to north Alabama and back the same evening in the truck instead of taking the whole rig, which would be comfortable but time consuming.  A reunion dinner was planned at one of the old barbecue places near the school. After we all visited at the home of classmate Danny and his wife.

Janice, Micki and Julia

Tony Sexton, Gwin Laxon, Micky Higginbotham, Sandra Copeland, Danny Barksdale, Carol Balch, ?, Larry Cottles, Julia Wales, Janice Adams, Iris Locke, Marilyn David, me and Hal Parvin. (can't see the guy in the blue shirt)

Carol and Larry looking over the old annuals.

Gerry Swan and his wife

Iris and her husband 

Hal and his date

Danny and his wife.

The two youngest grandchildren live in middle Tennessee so we spent as much time as possible visiting with them during our stay in Smyrna. As Halloween approached, Wayne and I had fun bringing bags of cheap holiday treats to three year old Barbara and Jude every visit.  Of course, it was good to see their parents, Cam and Amy too.

Cam, Barbara, Amy and Jude 

Will you fix this Granddaddy? 

Jude's scary 2016 Frankenstein Halloween costume. 

Jude and Barbara drink juice from the Halloween pumpkin sippie cups. 

Barbara wearing the dress of her Bride of Frankenstein costume.

Barbara is practicing her scary face for Halloween 

Who knew the Bride of Frankenstein was an angel?

As October wound down, we took to I-65 yet again, backtracking south.  We squeezed in a single afternoon/evening visit with Aunt Helen and cousin Lynn in Birmingham to watch Auburn play Arkansas.

Lynn is giving bites of people food to Ozzie. He adores her now. Aunt Helen on the right.

Wayne, Lynn and friend, Becky

Lexie, Ozzie and Aunt Helen's dog, Dusty. 

Helen and Dusty

Wayne, Lynn, Aunt Helen and Becky.
Yes, they are Bama fans. 

Dusty shows Lexie and Ozzie around his home. Lexie has to wear "non-skid" socks. 

Aunt Helen lets the dogs play all over the house. Including the sofa. 

Following the short two night stay at in Birmingham, we're headed back to Auburn where Ozzie will have a dental cleaning.

The big, scary exam table. Pop keeps Ozzie safe. 

With our best vet pal, Robert Lofton, Clinical Professor at Auburn Vet School.
This was taken October 31. Ozzie got an "all clear" for winter travel to Florida

Always love seeing Auburn's Raptor Center vehicles in the parking lot. Never got to see them in the clinic though.

On Monday, October 31, we pulled out of Auburn. Next stop... Myakka River Motorcoach Resort in Port Charlotte.