January 16th:

Steffie Sodel, a dear friend dating back to before Jen was even born, came to visit us with her significant other, Les. They both live in the retirement community of Solivita in the Kissimmee area. We had a truly memorable lunch out at the Ft. Pierce Jetty Park area restaurant, Bluewater Beach Grill. They specialize in your not-so-typical-beach-side-fare.

Les, Steffie and Ken

Brightly colored interior of Bluewater Beach Grill

After a long talkative lunch, we strolled down Jetty Park along the jetty inlet and the four of us parked ourselves on a wooden bench swing watching folks fishing and the sea birds trying for their catch as well.

Camping Life Evaluation So Far:

A good friend texted me the following: “Now that you have been rrrrving for awhile now, it might be fun to do a post about your daily routines, like cooking, chores, setting up and breaking down, doggy duties, stuff like that. Did you pack too much or too little? How often do you shop for something you wish you had brought?  Is the rv big enough to have some alone time if one of you needs it? Pet peeves?” These are great questions so we will answer them in this post!

Daily Routines

Ken does almost all of the cooking. He enjoys it. We have a 3 burner propane gas stove with large btu burners. We have a large residential sized microwave/convection oven. We also have a one burner propane outdoor grill. Ken has become accustomed to the arrangement, so we’ve adapted to the smaller counter space, etc. The hardest part about cooking here is the cleanup! Human dishwashers only (Ellen).  Many of the meals are purposely done for leftovers as another meal. This is just smart management. We try to buy fish fresh locally and produce as well. One of our favorite staples to get is a pork tenderloin roast. We barbecue it and then use it in future meals for asian dishes and sandwiches. We eat out, either lunch or dinner, about every three days.

We do laundry on Sundays. Ken and I take turns each week. We actually make our bed every day! It’s easiest if we both do it together. Vacuum interior on Mondays and sweep daily. As for food shopping, we get enough food to last us for 3 to 4 days. Our fridge is an 8 cubic  foot model including the freezer. We figured out how much fresh and packaged foods will fit per shopping trip. We also have a good idea what we’re eating menu-wise. All of this does take more time than if we were living at home, but honestly, it’s all part of the fun.

How often do we shop for something we wish we had brought?

There were a few occasions where we needed things we left behind, like a loaf pan, a food scale, and microwave containers. We have a nesting plastic set at home which we’ve owned for more than 30 years and forgot it behind. We can’t find these anymore. So, we ended up having to buy a Corning Ware set. We also left behind a funnel, but we bought a nice silicone collapsible one.

Doggy Duties

We both share in the care of Pogo. I am in charge of mixing her dehydrated food while Ken takes her for a walk. She can’t wait the 5 minutes it takes if she sees me doing it! Ken feeds her in the AM since he awakes well before I do. We both walk her at night. We make a temporary run for her with a 20′ cable that we attach to either a leg of the picnic table and something else close by. We rigged a sliding shackle on the cable which attaches to her collar. Her favorite thing is to jump on the camping chair and take a snooze.

I give her showers from our rear outside hot shower.

Setting Up and Breaking Down

This is down to a routine. We made a couple of labels with the label gun to remind us of a few things on some switches. The most time consuming part of departure and arrival is dealing with the toad/dinghy/Ford Focus. It takes time to attach everything including safety cables, electric umbilical, towbar hookup, breakaway cable, protect-a-tow (screen that goes under the towbars to prevent stones and debris from hitting the car) and the intelligent braking system.

Inside the RRRV, everything needs to be stowed securely, Pogo needs to wear her harness, the room slideouts need to be brought in, table needs to get stowed, the hydraulic leveling jacks need to come up, windshield covers come off, etc. Also, a final pumpout, disconnect all hoses, put bikes on bike rack on car. Reverse on setting up.

Pack too much? Too liitle?

We have plenty of room to spare. We could have taken more clothes. The closets are 1/2 full. Do we need more clothes? No! I’m wearing my favorite comfy clothes. Same with Ken. I really think we packed just about perfectly. We did buy a quite a few things since we’ve started, but most of these are gear for the RRRV.

Alone time? Privacy?

Ah, it’s hard to have alone time in a 30′ motorhome. The best way we’ve found this to work is to just leave! Either by car, bike or walk. Typically, Ken may want to do a long bike ride that requires a drive in the car to get there. I’ll drop him off and then I have my alone time as well and I can drive where I’d like to go before he’s ready to be picked up. Sometimes I leave in the car while Ken stays in the RRRV and vice versa. Every few days this is a necessity for both of us.

Breakdowns and repairs

Our new RVI3 brake system broke down (died) as we were getting ready for the trip from Titusville to Ft. Pierce. Ken had to drive the car while I drove the RRRV. RVI was closed for the Christmas holiday week, so we didn’t get the new unit until a couple of days before our trip to Jonathan Dickinson State Park. Since this is a brand new version of their product, it had a software glitch in it. The new replacement worked beautifully on the trip to JDSP.

Winnebago informed us of a recall on an electrical switch. We needed to bring it in for the screws to be tightened to a certain amount or we would risk a fire in the RRRV. We brought it in to an authorized dealer in Cocoa on 1/23. On 1/24, after this work was done, we had a small electrical fire right at that very part they “fixed”. The microwave shut down and we had no AC at all. The next morning, we brought the RRRV back to the dealer who then replaced the switch and assigned a different technician to perform the installation. No cost to us between the extended warranty and their sloppy work. But, it was a big inconvenience to be without any AC for the night and early AM. Plus mileage and time.

One issue we’re having is that our gray tank sensor system isn’t able to give us a reading below 2/3 full. This is the tank that fills quickly. It would be nice to know when we’re hitting 2/3. We tried a few suggestions we found on the internet. No luck yet. But, it’s caused by greasy slime on the walls. Yuck.

We’ve grown accustomed to the camping life

We’ve been blessed with warm sunny days here in southern Florida, and we’re enjoying each other’s company. We’re happy campers! And, speaking of happy campers, here’s Ken’s Happy Cow kite:

If you want to view his video, here’s the link: Ken’s Happy Cow

By Pogo Kaye

Mom and Dad took me to a park for a really nice long smelly walk through trails today. Woohoo! I finally got to leave the campground. The park is Lagoon Greenway located along the Indian River Lagoon in the southern part of Vero Beach on the mainland. It is part of the Indian River Aquatic Reserve.

The walking trails are about 4 miles total with a short portion a boardwalk over the wet mangroves. The rest is through dry mangroves and hammocks.
Here Dad’s letting me sniff my way down the trail:

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Here we made it to the end of the boardwalk to the river! I was getting tired!

The end of the boardwalk. Dad in his always crooked hat!

On the way back, we spotted an amphibian that looked like this:
When he ate something, he looked like this:
There were some beautiful plants around, and the mangroves with the sunlight dancing on them were beautiful, according to Mom!

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When we got back to our campground, I was pretty tuckered out. I took a nice long nap before my dinner.

I’m not a dessert person. Really, ask around. Most times I skip dessert. Sammy’s Mediterranean Cafe was superb: From appetizers to dessert. As you can see from the photos, the desserts are eye catching. Small eatable sculpture. That is why I made such a big deal about the desserts. Save room or you will miss something!

The photo does not do the food justice.

The evening was an event. As we entered the restaurant, seeking shelter from the drizzle, a patron was standing by the door and exclaimed, “It’s so worth going, even in the rain, isn’t it? Oh wait, maybe you’ve never been. You are in for a treat.” What an intro!

Sammy’s is laid out more like a bakery with tables. We seated ourselves in this casual room at a small table. Our waitress, Rachel, brought us menus and later came by to take drink orders and answer questions.

The act of me taking her picture startled her. She was kind, helpful and attentive.

Many of the food titles are Lebanese and even with the descriptions, some questions came up. Spinach pie to me is spanakopita, a Greek delicacy of spinach infused in filo dough. I asked Sammy about his spinach pie. He described how it was made (photo shown) and that if I did not like it, he would not charge me. The pie was shaped like a three cornered hat and filled with spinach and other flavors. The dough was more unsweetened pastry, soft, but not cake like. More important, it was delicious and unusual!

I ordered a savory dish of sausage, mushrooms, grape tomatoes and rice. I apologize. I should have written the name of the dish. Nothing about the entree was ordinary. Even the long grain rice was flavored with thin wisps of carrot and seasonings. The colors were even more vibrant than shown in the photo.

Notice the Falafel  and the hummus.

Sammy was willing to join Ellen for this photo. His warm smile and great care to make sure that we (and all his guests) came a way with a more refined palate and appreciation for his Lebanese cooking made the evening very special.

Sammy’s Mediterranean Café

1130 20th Pl

Vero Beach, Florida

(772) 217-3897

Ken’s last post was about his hike at Round Island State Park. Yesterday, we both went there for our first tandem kayak trip in our Sea Eagle kayak. We only had about an hour of actual on-the-water time, but it was a great shake down cruise for both of us for set up, cruise, and take down. I’m sure that after a while, we’ll get pretty proficient at doing this quickly. I only timed the time it took to deflate and pack it all up into the car: 45 minutes. Way too long! I bet it took an hour on the front end, figuring out where each seat goes, putting the paddles together, attaching the foot tubes, etc. We took photos of seat positions to help for next time.

We were so busy enjoying ourselves, we forgot to take photos while underway, especially a selfie of both of us. So, I did get a shot of Ken after we got ashore. His shirt is a bit wet. But, it was a warm afternoon in the low 80’s.

The kayak is great! We had no wind and current to deal with so we had ideal conditions for a leisurely trip through the small islands. It tracks beautifully, and we have enough separation between us that even if we’re not in sync with our paddles, we can’t hit each other’s paddle! The floor and seats stay dry as there’s a well in the rear for water to collect.

This area is known as the Indian River Lagoon, which is made up of dredged spoils from the Army Corps of Engineers during WWII. They needed to make the Indian River deeper to accommodate our warships to prevent German UBoats from entering our waterways. It has since become the most important biodiverse area in the U.S. We met an older couple about our age that were kayaking with their adult children and grandson. They’re natives to Ft. Pierce and this is their favorite kayaking place. From what we’ve seen during our relatively short paddle, we’ll be back with the hopes of spending a good part of an afternoon here as there’s a lot to explore.

Ellen declined an invitation to go biking along A1A in the Fort Pierce, Vero Beach area. I packed up my bike and threw it in the car and headed east and then north up Dixie Highway.  The bike was never taken out of the car. This area is a vast wilderness of planned and unplanned communities and oodles of undeveloped land bordering the railroad. After finally meandering my way to A1A, I finally headed south. That’s when I found Round Island State Park (2201 Florida A1A, Vero Beach, FL 32963).

The park attracts hikers and casual fisherman. What makes this park so attractive is its unique access to the local water.  I did enjoy my hike, but the view of the bridge was an invitation to explore this area by kayak. 

Leaning over the side I saw many fish, this one was about 10 inches long.

The bridge was part of an extended boardwalk over the water. There are several such areas that extend to either side of the trail.

Walking along further brought me to this tower. In fact, seeing this structure surprised me because they did not have to be there but added immeasurably to the visit.

The view from the top shows Vero beach homes along the Indian River.

These are large homes with extensive waterfront. 

There were some spectacular sightings of pelicans, egrets, cranes and other birds of prey, but most were startled and took off before I could raise my camera. I did get lucky with my next shot.

This brown pelican was more than willing to be part of my blog.

I was also able to capture this shot of a Common Buckeye butterfly. I was most pleased with this photo. It took 5 tries to get a decent pose.

I do not see anything “common” about this creature.

The path widened to a seldom used dirt and gravel road. The gravel abruptly stopped and the road became barely a path surrounded on either side by mangrove swamp. This finally emptied onto a field that had been carefully laid out by a land developer. Then the money stopped and all there was a bridge to nowhere and brick courtyard.

Notice the care to make a walkway as well as a bridge. Also notice the wall that would guard the estate from common folk. That was also a barrier for me. I had covered quite a bit of distance on a long meandering path and did not feel like doubling back and it was getting late. I walked toward the entrance and gate willing to do some climbing when I came to this access tunnel that went under the highway.

Graffiti was extensive and debris was heaped in random piles. The graffiti was shocking in its vibrant colors and also the language that expressed a vulgar aspect of existence.  Fortunately it was a private gallery, its contributors absent, at least for the present. The irony of the very wealthy and the very poor leaving their mark was strange and unsettling.

I hiked back to my car and headed home. It was good to get exercise and be rewarded for my efforts.

We had an unexpected visit from our Captain Mickey (and Michelle), who decided last-minute to drive all the way down to Florida! They brought a tent with them and stayed overnight at our campground. We all went to the beach and had lunch together at Sharky’s, a really good seafood place on the island/beach side. Afterwards, we went to the National Navy Seals UDT Museum, which is close by.

The museum is not to be missed if you’re in the area. We spent easily a couple of hours here. It covered everything imaginable about the SEALS, and it had enough hands-on exhibits to make kids or the young at heart happy. It begins at the current level of time and works backwards to when it was first formed and then when it was just the UDT or Underwater Detonation Team.

Ken is in a manning supply boat, Mickey’s in a wet submarine, and, well, Ken, Mickey and I look like bad ass SEALS. Here is a link to my YouTube video of Michelle on the rope swing in the fitness course. It’s funny!

The next day, Ken and I went to Heathcote Botanical Gardens. It has the largest tropical bonsai collection in the U.S. It is amazing to see how the Ficus tree (fig) can be trained by an artist. There were also bougainvillea and other Florida friendly trees. It was a very nice place to relax and appreciate nature. Enjoy the slideshow below.

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After the visit here, we ate dinner out downtown at the Thai Pepper. It was okay, but made us more fully appreciate our M Thai back home. We strolled along the harbor where the City put up holiday lights that synchronized to music. I have a short 30 second video link here: YouTube video Ft. Pierce downtown .

By Pogo Kaye

Mom and Dad did me a big favor and bought me this delicious dog food for our travels in the motorhome. Because I used to eat both canned and kibble food, Mom thought there wouldn’t be enough room for the cans and the kibble. I do eat a lot of food! She discovered this dehydrated powdery food which is made with real human grade pork and potatoes with veggies and fruits. All she has to do is add 1 and a half times more water  (hot) and let it stand after mixing well, for 3 minutes. I just looove this stuff. I woof it down faster than any of the other types of food. And, Mom and Dad are happy because it saves space in the RRRRV. Lots of space. Cost-wise, it’s between kibble and canned.

Spot Farms is based in Maryland. I believe I read somewhere that they’re a division of Perdue.

Here’s a quick idea of how she makes it into food:

1. Measure 3/4 cup dry
2. Measure 11/4 warm water
3. Mix with fork briskly. I know the photo shows a spoon, but Mom says the fork works better
4. Serve to Pogo (yummy!)

   

That’s it. Dad has to take me for a walk while Mom prepares it because I am too impatient when I see that Spot bag come out of the cupboard and I start my demand barking for it now! Now! Now!