QC41-06 Still Further South

Ed's motive power

January 19 2014 (Sun) Lakeland, FL (5) 37/62° -  We've been seeing Beef 'O' Brady's restaurants all over the south but never ventured into one until today. After going to church at the big Episcopal church in downtown Lakeland we stopped at the one close to Ed and Kathy's for lunch. Assuming that this one was typical, we can report that they are not gourmet by any means but they are several steps up from Macdonalds and Wendys. They call themselves a family sports restaurant and pub so there is a central bar with several TVs above and more all around the outer perimeter - all tuned to sports programs of one stripe or another. The noise level was considerably lower than we've experienced in other so-called sports bars. That may be because all the TVs were muted or perhaps because it was noon rather than 7, 8 or 9 at night. The food was of generous portions and quite good - the Santa Fe Chicken Salad, the Philly Steak sandwich, the Beef Burrito and the Fish and Chips are all recommended.

It's been a lazy afternoon. Since it's on the cool side with a sprinkle of rain now and then outside activity gave way to reading, knitting, quilt making, snoozing and chatting.

Q091256 Ed and Kathy's yard (x5)
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January 20, 2014 (Mon) Lakeland, FL to Moore Haven (Ortona South CG), FL (203/1568 miles) 48/78° - We got off at about 10:00. Thanks Ed and Kathy for a great time in civilization. Now it's back on the road and into the wild - more or less.  But first repairs.

Yesterday, while at Beef 'O' Brady's, Mark's bridge fell out. That could have been embarrassing but it wasn't. In fact no one noticed - not even when he mentioned that it had happened! So he wrapped it up in a napkin, stuck it in his pocket and went on to finish his meal. This morning, while Ed and Kathy were off on a task for their church, we sat in Q and made phone calls trying to find a dentist who would put it back before we hit the road. We found one in south Lakeland and the bridge is now back where it belongs. Finding this kind of service in the "yellow pages" (i.e. the internet) is chancy but Mark reports that the experience was positive in every respect.

Except for getting lost in residential south Lakeland trying to avoid a left turn back onto US-27 (a.k.a. Florida Ave) without the help of a traffic light, the trip went smoothly - until we reached the entrance to the campground. Construction on US-80 resulted in the removal (apparently) of the "Campground 1/4 mile ahead" warning sign so when we actually got there we were going way too fast to make the turn. Fortunately about a mile down the road we found a wide spot, apparently an entrance to a helipad, where we could unhook Lamont and turn around.

January 21, 2014 (Tue) Moore Haven, FL (2) 56/74° - Ortona Locks campground is one of our favorite campgrounds. Apparently it's the favorite of a lot of other folks too because it is always completely booked up 6 months ahead. The one time we tried to make reservations that far ahead, we failed - timing has to be perfect. Now we wait until a couple of weeks before we want to be there and watch for cancellations. There are always cancellations and we have always been able to be here about when we want to be.

Today started out warm (at least in the sun) so we took out our anti-gravity lounge chairs and just sat for a while. As much fun as it has been visiting family and friends the last few weeks, it is good to be on our own at last. Our campsite isn't right on the waterway as it often has been in the past but we are where we can see the boats enter or leave the locks. The first was the largest, a huge power yacht, headed west on its way to Fort Myers (or the Gulf of Mexico) from Lake Okeechobee.

The wind came up about noon and it began to sprinkle rain. So much for outdoor living.

January 22, 2014 (Wed) Moore Haven, FL (3) 48/71° - Joy spent a lot of time yesterday working on her quilting project - pieces for applique; not the full quilt which is too big to travel with. Today she is paying for it with pain in her wrist and thumb - an old malady. A thorough search confirmed that she must have left her wrist brace at home. So off to the "big city" and the only drug store in town for a new one. Trussed and inactive she should be as good as new in a day or so.

The waterway has been rather inactive today but as we walked up to the other end of the campground this afternoon we spotted a small sloop in the waiting area east of the locks. It looked to be about the same size as cousin Bill and Gail's Regalo. In fact, from that distance, it looked to be the same boat, covered cockpit, aft hung dingy and all. When we got back home we retrieved binoculars for a closer look when she came out headed west. Bill might know better but we suspect a "Catalina 150" is a bit smaller the Regalo. A nice little sailboat.

Q091391 Ortona South Campground #50 w/e $12 A+ (x14)