Vero Beach Fl

   We moved about 25 miles north to Vero Beach a week ago. The 1st day we were here we went for a walk around the park. Folks in cars passing by didn’t wave and people walking by didn’t seem very friendly. We figured we were in for a long 2 weeks. We spend most of our time in Thousand Trails & SKP parks and they are always very friendly parks. The big difference in the parks are the folks in this park are almost all here for the entire winter and the TT & SKP parks have mostly folks that stay a few weeks and move to another park. The longest we have been in the same park this winter was 2 weeks. We were wrong about most of the folks here and it’s be an enjoyable week. Besides getting my fill of basketball we’ve kept as busy as we like. On St. Patty’s day we went to a restaurant that advertised as a Florida Cracker Cowboy restaurant.  Instead of green beer I had green fried tomatoes along with cajun catfish and grilled broccoli. Every thing was great. We went up to bingo on Monday evening. Besides regular bingo they had several specials that continued from 1 game into another game and everyone was very helpful in explaining it all to us. I won the big game of the night splitting $75 with 1 other player. On Tuesday we went up to watch league shuffleboard to see if we were playing the game right. They invited us to come up and watch and ask any questions. They were there to have fun and didn’t take the game to serious. They also encouraged us to come back on Thursday and play. After lunch we went to the beach for a few hours. Today we went and played shuffleboard with the regulars and had a great time. I had some beginners luck and came in 3rd and won $3. Everyone puts in $1 and there was 12 of us playing. After lunch we went back over to the beach. Tomorrow I’m going to give the car a bath. Early evening we’ll go out to eat then the local high school is going to do a jazz concert in the park up in Sebastian. I love when the young kids have an interest in jazz.

Moving North

  Our 2 weeks are up here in Fort Pierce Fl at the Savanna’'s county park. This is a great park and I’m sure we’ll be back. We’re backed up to a wetlands that has all kinds of birds. There are also frogs, turtles and folks down the road had a gator sighting. After our bear encounter this summer in Alaska that was toooo close. We enjoyed our time in this area. Since we spent time in this area when Paula’s mom & dad lived here there was some places we wanted to go back to. We drove by where they used to live and the house was gone replaced by a huge Gererac generator. That was sad. We also went to White City to see if the big dead oak tree was still there and it was. Nelsons farm market was still there and busy as ever. We made several trips there. We made several trips to the Saturday market on the riverwalk in Fort Pierce. they have such good food vendors there. Last week we had breakfast in a bowl there. Eggs,onion,peppers and sausage on top of delicious home fries. At our favorite bread vendor I got a blueberry scone & Paula had chocolate croissant. In early afternoon they were going to have a Mardi Gras celebration so we walked around town to kill some time. Up on 1 of the street corners a blues band had set up so we stopped to enjoy the music for a while. At 1 o'clock the parade began. It was a small parade but everyone had a good time. Down back on the river walk area a Dixieland band had begun to play and thats where we headed. They were very good. Before we say down to listen we bought a bowl of gumbo which hit the spot. Next to where we were sitting vendors were making a Jamaican chicken on a stick that smelled so good. When we were leaving I told Paula I had to have one and it was excellent. There are 2 reasons I enjoy this area. 1 The New York Mets have there spring training here and we got to a few games & 2 They have a very active Jazz & Blues society and I got to listen to several live Jazz & Blues bands. We have had some very windy days here so we only got to the beach once. One evening we went over to the county fair and the 1st thing I spotted was a vendor selling green fried tomatoes. Those along with Texas style BBQ were dinner. Even if we weren’t off doing anything just sitting in this park watching the wildlife was enough. Tomorrow we head North but only about 20 miles and we settle into Vero Beach area. We have never spent any time there so it will be a new experience. We’ll be there for 2 weeks and then head south again. They may be having a mild winter up north but it’s still to early to be to far north.

We are officially Senior Citizens

  We had not been at Peace River TT a day  when the phone rang and it was Bob & Linda. They were wondering what part of Fl. we were in and when I said Peace River they said they were coming in the next day. Over the course of the next 10 days  we played Mexican train several times, went out to eat, Paula fixed haluski with Johnnies Kielbasa,Linda fixed spaghetti & meatballs, and we sat around and talked about where we have been and where we were headed, over  a glass or 2 of wine. One day we were walking up for ice cream sundaes on the back porch and as we were walking by the outdoor shuffle board I asked  Bob if they played and he said no but they would  like to and we also wanted to learn. After the sundaes we went into the camp store and the lady there gave us a quick rundown. Off the 4 of us went to play our 1st of many games of shuffleboard and to officially become senior citizens. We played every day after that. The last day we were playing we were invited to come back the next day to play with the group but they were leaving then and for me it was Tax day. We had a lot of fun with Bob & Linda and it was sad to see them go. We won’t see them for a while as they are going north and we are heading east. We moved over to Fort Pierce Fl to a county campground that is a nice change from the normal Fl camps. We are backed up to wetlands with all kinds of birds flying around including eagles. Paula’s mom & dad lived in this area for a while so we know our way around here. The NY Mets have their training camp here and we have tickets for a few games. Yesterday we went to one of our favorite farmers markets on the river walk in Fort Pierce. Last time we were in this area was 2005 and there was about 10 vendors. Now there is probably over a 100. Last time we were there there was a baker who had the most delicious bread and we were hoping he was still there and he was. After getting our bread ( they sell out early) we spotted a fish or Shrimp taco stand. The only place we have ever found shrimp tacos was Algodones Mx.  below Yuma Az. These were a little different as they used shredded cabbage instead of lettuce and they also put black beans on them. They were sooo  good. We sat to eat them on the wall for the intercoastal waterway watching the pelicans and listening to a live jazz band. Just doesn’t get much better. This area has a very active jazz & Blues society. Next Saturday they have Mardi Gras and I can’t wait. In the afternoon we took our chairs, water & books over to the ocean for a few relaxing hours. This morning when I got up (around 6:30) it was in the 70s. Soon after the weather radio started going off advising of a cold front coming through with rain and very high winds. It appears to be just ending but the temp has dropped into the 50’s. Good day for a down day only have to go up the road to Winn Dixie for some corned beef to go with my fresh rye bread.

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