Traveling Twosome
  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003
Picture
"Pearl" in Winter Garden, Florida
Picture
Long shadows in Wyoming

Settling in for the Winter in Florida!

11/29/2016

6 Comments

 
Picture
We're back in Winter Garden for the winter season and couldn't be happier about that.  

We bought our motorhome, Pearl, here last January and spent the next 2.5 months in the area getting accustomed to RV living and enjoying the warm (with a few exceptions) winter weather. 

We're about two miles from the charming downtown and the very nice bike trails that we so enjoy bicycling.

From our site, we have a perfect view of a small pond that hosts a variety of bird life.  We can walk to grocery and other stores and are right on the bus line if we need to travel farther for shopping.  

Life is easy and good here, and since there's no two-week camping limit as at most national and state parks, we can stay just as long as we like. And we plan to do just that! After traveling for months, staying anywhere from a day to two weeks in one place, we are ready to be settled for a bit.  We'll save money not buying so much fuel, and staying put gives us a chance to recharge, get some RV projects done, and make plans for next year.

Picture
A Snowy Egret Contemplates Dinner
Picture
The view out our front windshield
We had a nice Thanksgiving here shortly after arriving.  The day began with Barry making an unexpected repair.  The right rear of our kitchen counter had been sinking over time, more than we even realized.  It had gotten to be about an inch below the level of the left side, so an intervention was required!  The previous owners had replaced the counter when they took out the gas stove and put in an induction cooktop, and they hadn't done a great job of it. Barry made short work of it, and we now have a sturdy, level counter again. Whew!

​Have I mentioned lately how lucky I am to have such a handy husband?  I can't imagine living in a motorhome without one.
Picture
Turkey Day repair
Repair completed, the turkey day cooking could commence.  This was our first major holiday feast in Pearl, and it went pretty darn well!  Planning and organization kept things running smoothly, and I had just enough vessels for all the dishes.  Barry had made a lovely pumpkin pie the day before as well   We were stuffed -- and very thankful.  We have so much to be grateful for, and we try not to lose sight of that.
Picture
One of the highlights of this area for us is the West Orange Trail.  We can ride east from Winter Garden to Apopka or west to Lake County, where the West Orange Trail joins the South Lake/Lake Minneola Trails.  
Lake County is actually moderately hilly (yes, I know we are in Florida), while Orange County is mostly flat with only occasional gentle rollers, so we can pick our direction depending on the type of workout we desire -- and the wind direction.

Since we hadn't been able to ride for awhile, we've begun with several rides to Apopka and back, around 32 miles round trip.  We just love this ride.  
Picture
I think we're now ready to tackle the hills of Lake County!
Picture
Picture
Riding the West Orange Trail in Winter Garden
There are new signs at the pond at our campground. We don't know if these were posted in response to actual threats or just to keep people out of the pond.  We've seen ducks on the pond, so it seems unlikely that there are serious predators lurking below, but who knows?  

This Belted Kingfisher doesn't seem to care; he's looking for fish!
Picture
In the meantime, rest assured that Paisley will be keeping a sharp lookout!
Picture
6 Comments
Jo
11/30/2016 09:17:25 am

Your winter home sounds wonderful! Enjoy your respite from travelling. I'm glad Paisley is on the lookout for scary varmints. ;)

Reply
Emily
12/1/2016 04:10:54 pm

Thanks, Jo! We'll keep a close eye on her in case of any varmints, but from what I've seen, there really aren't any. Other than some of the campers.... :)

Reply
Barb Nutting
11/30/2016 10:59:55 am

WELCOME HOME!! You ought to have your adventures and photos published! You're as good as Bill Bryson - better!!

Reply
Emily
12/1/2016 04:12:12 pm

Thanks, Barb, you are very kind! I have no interest in getting into the book-publishing world -- blogging is much simpler and gives me more time to read. :)

Reply
Cheryl Geeting link
12/1/2016 08:46:29 am

Winter Garden .. great name for a place to stay for the Winter! Looks like a great place to settle down a bit. Sadly, I wonder if the new warning signs are due to the Disney World tragedy. Yes, keep an eye on Paisley!

Reply
Emily
12/1/2016 04:13:32 pm

Very good chance you are right, Cheryl. :-( Hope we never encounter a gator!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed

    ©2018 by Barry & Emily Smith .All rights reserved.
    Picture

    Emily & Barry

    We're a long-married, early-retired couple who are currently traveling as nomads with no fixed home base.  After years of living in North Carolina (Emily's home state), we spent 18 months living oceanfront on Ambergris Caye, Belize, a year road-tripping the US in a Honda CR-V, a year in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and are now roaming North America in our 32' motorhome, Pearl, following warm weather whenever possible.

    Our passions are bicycling, walking and hiking, birding, continuing our midlife struggles to learn Spanish, enjoying healthy food (and the occasional donuts & pie!), traveling (duh!)  We travel with a fleet of bicycles and Paisley, our 10-year old Boston Terrier. 

    Picture
    Paisley, May 2016
    Picture
    States visited (pre-RV)
    Picture
    Pearl, a 2007 Newmar Bay Star
    Picture
    States visited in "Pearl"

    Archives

    February 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    September 2012

    Favorite Travel Blogs

    Wheeling It
    Technomadia
    Travel with Kevin & Ruth
    San Pedro Scoop
    Metamorphosis Road
    Allison's Post-Work Thinking
    Life's a Beach!
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • Traveling Twosome Blog
  • BeBelize - Our life in Belize (2011-2013)
  • Earlier adventures (2003-2010)
    • First Belize Trip 2010
    • Fall Sail Cruise Aboard Logos 2009
    • Conch Key 2007
    • Charleston Sailing School 2007
    • Biscayne Bay Sailing School 2007
    • Key Lime Sailing Club 2006
    • Southwest Parks 2006
    • BEYC/Jost van Dyke, BVI 2005
    • Offshore Sailing School 2004
    • Annapolis Sailboat Show 2004
    • Finger Lakes 2004
    • NY State Bike Tour 2004
    • Biras Creek, BVI 2003