March29 - 31st, 2010, Mon-Wed

Monday morning (after a night of heavy rain and a wet bed because I left the window open a bit) we walked around the little town of Cedar Key and then headed for Wildwood. It is finally looking like spring, the trees are all out in leaf and lots of blossoms. So great to see. Near Ocala we tried to get into the subdivision that Steve Maltby bought a home but the security at the gate wasn't obliging us and said no. The area and houses look really great. Will have to come back when he and Kathy are in residence. Met Marilyn and Brent Allison at their security gate and we parked the RV. Spent a lovely evening with them at their home and out for dinner at the Villages- caught up on all their news.

Tuesday dawned sunny and warm. We left the Allison's and headed south to Tampa. Our first stop was an IH tractor museum very near Wildwood where Bernie had a great chat and tour with the owner. This gentleman had restored 100 old tractors and build a beautiful building for them. All shined up and looking like new. Also had another building filled with memorabilia, stage, video system, limo and other items that IH make. Fascinating place and person. We planned on going to Busch Gardens for the afternoon but after spending 1 1/2 hours getting into the parking lot and line up for tickets, the $130 a person to get into the park and the Safari was too much for our blood. Had no idea the tickets were that much especially when the Safari was what we wanted to see. Had a picnic lunch in the RV and chalked it up to experience. We camped at Rally Park near Lazy Days RV and had a night of steak barbecue, laundry, walk and socializing with neighbours.

Up early today and had the RV at Longview RV to have the slide outs checked as they are a bit jumpy when moving. They did a bit of adjustment on the tracks and then tried to talk us in to upgrading to the next model. We looked and liked but did not bite. By noon we were on our way to visit Sharman and Roy Smith in Largo. They fed us lunch, took us to pick up our rental vechile, and then prepared a delicious barbecue. Some other friends from Amherst joined us - Ginny and Eugene, Frank and Roy's brother and his wife.