January 2023
We rang in the new year from Port St. Lucie, FL but moved along to make our way to Canopy Oaks RV Resort in Lake Wales, FL. Met some fellow adventurers while at Canopy Oaks and made plans to meet up at the RV Show in Tampa.
After Sian worked all day, we either headed to the hot tub and enjoyed a dip in the pool or started a campfire and chatted with people we met at Canopy Oaks.
One weekend we drove to Bok Tower, which was so peaceful and pleasant to visit. When you visit, be sure to take time to sit and listen to the Singing Tower of carillon bells.
“The Singing Tower carillon concerts are at 1 & 3 p.m. daily with short selections played on the hour and half-hour. The carillon schedule features historic recordings from the Anton Brees Carillon Library collection by carillonneur Milford Myhre and William De Turk for the summer months until mid-October. The carillon schedule features live concerts by Geert D’hollander mid-October through mid-May, Thursday to Sunday. Concerts can be heard throughout the Gardens and there is no additional ticket required.” – posted on the Bok Tower Website at https://boktowergardens.org/faq/
Then we headed to the Tampa RV Rally as part of the Switch Crew, We’ve been watching Switch It Up videos on YouTube for a couple of years, and finally met Sheila and Todd (https://goswitchitup.com). They have not only started a YouTube channel, but more importantly, are on a mission to “Make an Impact”. More on that later, as our first “Huddle” with Switch It Up is later in the month. We were all staged ready to park at the Tampa RV Fairgrounds, which ended up as a boondocking experience due to some power issues they were experiencing at the Tampa Fairgrounds. We all survived.
We enjoyed viewing the newer RV models at the Tampa RV Show, but we were there to head to seminars, purchase a few things like custom Magna Shades for our RV to reduce the heat coming in the front windshield, yet still allowing us the view out. We even got a quick shot of Bob Tiffin.
At the show, we met up with friends we were neighbors with in late October in GA and then again in AL in November. We also coordinated a meet up at the show with some new friends we met earlier in the month at Canopy Oaks. We can’t say it enough how much we have enjoyed meeting people on the road to share adventures, experiences, thoughts and guidance.
There were so many more shenanigans with the Switch Crew at the Tampa RV Super Rally. We had a blast!
We again, connected with our Florida Tiffin friends, at the new RV resort in Palmetto, FL, “The Surf”. With long work days, we enjoyed connecting in the evenings for dinner and some mean rounds of the card game “Sequence”. The Surf Clubhouse was the perfect place to relax and enjoy the evenings. Richard was able to enjoy the pool and the hot tub during the day.
Although the price is steep, we have to say, it was a pleasant stay and we love it when RV parks provide nice wide pads with hookups on both sides of the site, allowing RVer’s to get the most of the views. We visited family on Anna Maria Island, FL for a great meal, had dinner one evening in Palmetto on the waterfront and drove to New Port Richey for some awesome BBQ!
We were so busy in January, and there is so much more to share, so stick around to hear about our “Switch It Up Florida Huddle” at Camp Margaritaville in Auburndale, FL.