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We arrived back home to Connecticut on April 25th as scheduled. We had good weather for our 7 day trip back. We decided to take our time and do no more than 300 miles a day. We enjoyed going through Georgia and Tennessee and north on Rt 81 rather than going up the east coast. It was 250 miles longer, but much more scenic and relaxing.

We are staying at Riverdale Farm campsites in Clinton, the next town from Killingworth and only 5 miles from our house. We are just a few sites from our Gulf View, Punta Gorda friends, formally from Connecticut, who stay here for the summer and early fall to be near their children. Our boat,  Golden Lily, is now in the water a few miles from here, and we will get that ready to move aboard in another week, and then take the RV back to our driveway. Our summer plans are still not finalized for our boat trip north to Lake Champlain and Canada.

We miss Florida and all our new friends, but it's good to be home and close to our friends back here.

Spring at Punta Gorda

We have had 3 1/2 months of beautiful weather here in Punta Gorda at Gulf View and met so many nice people. Jim has been busy playing cribbage and pinochle, and we've both played spinner dominoes every Tuesday. It's good we had our bikes since we rode at least 10 miles a day. I've been playing in the handbell choir at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church where we have been attending.

We will be heading out April 25 for a 7 day trip back home.

Keep posted!

Punta Gorda, FL - Dec. 30

We left home Dec. 28th. Our first day we drove 420 miles to Richmond, VA and stayed at La Quinta Motel, very dog friendly. Actually it seemed like half the people had dogs! The second day we drove to Kingsland, GA, 580 miles and a very long day, but the roads past Richmond are very easy driving. This La Quinta was much more updated and very comfortable. Again, everyone we met had a dog and the motel was full for the night. The third day we only had 320 miles to go. We took Route 301 to I 75 and drove straight down to Punta Gorda. There is much more traffic now than in November. We are all settled in and ready for our New Year's party here at the park. Monday I will go to Home Depot and buy some flower pots, flowers, and herbs to decorate our patio. Lily is busy watching for dogs, bunnies, and people! It feels good to have some warm sunny weather!

Home December 18

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Lily and Her Toys

Lily and Santa

                                                                                       At Home for Christmas

The first thing we did was to set up our Christmas tree and decorate with white candles in all the windows. We made sure we put Lily's Santa on the couch for her to cuddle. We hope to leave for Florida after Christmas!

Home - Dec. 4

We arrived back home today after leaving Punta Gorda, Dec. 2. We made stops at Walterboro at a pet friendly Sleep Inn the first night. The second day we drove 580 miles to Edgewood, MD just north of Baltimore and stayed at a La Quinta Inn & Suites, very pet friendly. Our last day was the shortest, just 350 miles. We drove on I 75 to SR 301, then picked up I 95 north of Jacksonville and remained on that road to home. We plan to leave Dec. 27 - back to Florida!

Gulf View Punta Gorda - Nov. 30

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Barb and Lily

Decorations "after"

                                                             Bob's decorations "before"

We've been busy since Thanksgiving playing Mexican train dominoes, teaching me  to play pinochle, riding bikes, taking walks, play ladder golf, practicing the piano, attending a fun dance here with "oldies" music. Jim and Bob leveled both motor homes with blocks of wood under the jacks and also the wheels. We were seriously listing to port! Finally the doors stay open and things don't slide along the table. Bob set up his Christmas decorations the day after Thanksgiving. We only have small red ribbons on the windshield wipers, door handle, and awning latch. We will be leaving Dec. 2 for home until after Christmas, so the bikes will get stored in Bob's travel trailer. When we get back, we'll set up flower pots and an herb garden, along with springy butterflies I just bought at Home Depot. Quite a few people leave here for the holidays and the park will be full starting in January. It's been pretty emtpy, but lots to do.

Happy Thanksgiving 11/24

Happy Thanksgiving

                                                                       Donna and Santa

The Pool

We spent Thanksgiving dinner at the Olde World Restaurant in North Port with 36 other people from
Gulf View. We sat with 2 couples plus Rita and Graham who joined us. Our days here have been busy walking Lily, riding bikes, playing Mexican train dominoes, Jim playing pinochle, attending a pool party with beer, wine, popcorn and chips, plus pictures with Santa. The weather has been in the 70s and 80s, sunny and breezy. I've been busy playing the piano at the clubhouse everyday. All of my favorite Jim Brickman pieces are in the book I just bought and are all sight-readable and read through several Sonatinas which are fun and a good workout for technique. So glad I found the piano!!!