Ft. Desoto is about an hour away from us and our next destination. We have decided to drive over and inquire about getting a spot a day early. Unfortunately we can’t get a spot in the park but the ranger told us to stay at the boat launch down the street. After talking to the ranger we headed back to get the RVs and move them to the boat launch for the night and avoid all the holiday traffic. On the way we decided we should stop at Tampa Bay Brewing in Ybor City and have their delicious meatloaf.  After meatloaf we drove to Plant City and went to Parksdale to have a strawberry malt. 

The motorhomes awaited our return and we hooked up the Jeeps and headed for the Boat Launch by Ft. Desoto. Jerry and I walked our 10,000 steps while Duffey purchased a plane ticket for Natalie to come in January to celebrate her birthday.

At 11:30 Jerry was awaken by the ranger knocking on his door. She had not been told by the other ranger that we were going to be in the Boat Launch for the night. Jerry explained that we would move to the park in the morning and then she remembered a mention of us in her meeting and was kind enough to not wake us up. 

Check out time at Fort Desoto is 11 and check in is 1. Around 11 we got ready to move the RVs to our spots that were already vacant. It was an easy and quick move. Later in the day Joan and Pete arrived in the park and we went to help them get parked. After they got settled we headed to Mario’s for pizza.   After pizza for dinner we all retired for the night.

Today was a day for company! Patty and Bev came to visit us on their way back to Iowa. They stayed until after 1 and then decided to leave and not have lunch with us. We were all disappointed that they left. 

Gerald and Anne also came for a visit. Gerald said this is about 40 minutes from their house. The guys went fishing and we took a walk to the gift shop so Anne could purchase a pink hat she had been thinking about for almost a year!

We had brats and beans that we took to Joan’s to add to her salad for a delicious dinner. Pete and Joan are on a site that has the sunset visible and that is why we had dinner in their beautiful new fifth wheel.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! I spent quite some time today with the boys walking around Bass Pro Shop where they purchased fishing gear, fishing shirts and shoes. After our shopping we decided to dine at Cracker Barrel and had a delicious turkey dinner with all the fixings and pie for under $12.00! Not many restaurants were open today and Cracker Barrel was the perfect choice. We returned to the RV and walked our 10,000 steps through the vineyard to take off all the calories we just consumed.

We are now preparing to watch Big Bang Theory and then the Bear/Packer game. Our son will be at the game and we hope they show him on TV!

When you can……visit friends you have known since grade school! Gerald and Anne now live in FL and we were able to go spend the day with them at their charming new home. Gerald and Anne are the type of friends that we might not see for a year, but when we do see them it is like we have been together everyday. Duffey was also excited to introduce Jerry to Gerald since they are both car guys he thought they would hit it off. After a day of catching up we headed to Woody’s River Roo for dinner. It was my first grouper since we left FL in March and it was delicious.

Woody’s is on the river and a bridge on I75 crosses within sight of the restaurant. Gerald told us that last summer a semi came over the railing of the bridge and fell a long distance into the river landing right side up, where luckily for the driver the tide was out. The driver ended up with minor injuries and they were able to salvage the semi.

A man had an owl with him, he said it was his friend but did not like others.

When you can……..Go to the Tampa Coopers Hawk  to collect our wine club wine that has been held for the last 8 months! The Tampa location, is only a couple years old, makes it convenient for us to get our wine on the way to Sanibel.

The food at Coopers Hawk is 5 star! We said it is the difference between a cook and a chef and of course the wine does help!

 The BEST crab/lobster bisque ever!!!

Bass Pro Shop, the next item on the daily list, where the boys totally enjoyed themselves. They both purchased fishing items and fishing shirts.

Publix came next so Carole could purchase a card and we got white and chocolate milk and a few additional items that fell into the carts.

We saved the best for the last stop, Parkland, home of the Parkland strawberries and ice cream!!! Parkland closed at 6 and we arrived at 5:45, just in time for each of us to get a strawberry malt!

When you can…... cross the Historical Suwannee River near Fanning Springs, FL. Stephen Foster first sang the song,’ Old Folks At Home’ and later Al Jolson and George Gershwin made the song and the Suwannee River more famous. ‘Old Folks at Home’  is the Florida state song!

We are spending time in Plant City using our Harvest Host membership at the  Keel & Curley Winery. Harvest Host is a great deal for motorhome travelers, we belong to the club and stay free at member vineyards. We parked and headed for Parkside Strawberry Restaurant for strawberry malts! After the malts we returned and the guys had a beer at Keel & Curley. Carole and I just could not mix wine with the ice cream.

It was a long day of driving, or in my case riding, so we decided to make it an early night and just watch TV.

New Orleans, LA is now visible in our rear window and we are headed for FL. This was a drive day and we passed through four states. We left Louisiana and entered Mississippi where the roads were much better. After Mississippi we  found ourselves in Alabama where we saw the USS Alabama docked near the bridge we crossed.  Florida was our fourth state of the day and our destination for the night. We stopped just inside the Florida state line so Duffey could watch NASCAR but they had a rain delay and we moved on. We are spending the night about 50 miles north of Tallahassee where it is a bit chilly outside, 48 degrees, is this really Florida!!

When you can…..try a different restaurant’s World Famous Beignets and coffee for breakfast! These Beignets had less powdered sugar and seemed lighter, we voted them #1 BUT the coffee was not as tasty as Cafe De Monde’s coffee. Today was also a much quieter atmosphere, which we enjoyed.

 A short rainy walk around Jackson Square.

The plan was to walk off all the Beignets but it started to rain so we opted to take the St. Charles Streetcar. This was an hour ride through the  Garden District with views of many mansions. We saw the Columns mansion that we stayed in 29 years ago! At the end of the trolly line we switched cars and rode back, viewing the other side of the street! 

The street car ride was over two hours so when it was over, combined with the cool temperature and rain, we needed to find a restroom. Law here is that you order food or you do not use the restroom! We knew where the National Parks Department office was located and walked about 6 blocks to get there and use their restrooms. After this stop we decided to find a restaurant with good food and music. We agreed upon New Orleans Creole Cookery and the food was astonishingly delicious. Duffey, Jerry and Carole had Creole Jambalaya and I had  three appetizers: crab stuffed mushroom, shrimp in a thick Creole sauce and crab salad. MMMMMMMMM 

We finished our meal with 10 minutes to spare, the shuttle picked us up at 4:00 and if we missed this one the next shuttle was at 8:00! We stayed in the French Quarter until 8:00 last night and decided with the rain that would be to late tonight and there is entertainment right where we are staying.

When you can make your first stop of the day Cafe Du Monde in New Orleans - French Quarter to dine on Chicory Coffee and Beignets covered in astronomic amounts of powdered sugar. After all this sugar walking around the French Quarter the remainder of the day is in order. (My pedometer registered 14,336 steps today!!)

We walked around Jackson Square an area full of artists’ displaying their crafts and hoping for a sale. After a walk around the square we headed down to the river and walked along watching Tug Boats, Tankers, and Barges head down the mighty Mississippi.

After walking along the river we walked to Bourbon Street to watch the people.  On St. Peter Street we saw Pat O’Brien’s and headed in for a World Famous Hurricane made with copious amounts of Rum! We spent the remainder of the afternoon walking around the French Quarter looking at the crazy people and beautiful architecture with the wrought iron railings.  

We decided to have our lunch/dinner at Cornet on their balcony over the street so we could watch all the happenings below us. The guys had Huge Ass Beer and we drank water, the Hurricanes were still with us! We dinned on mouthwatering red beans and rice, gumbo, corn and crab soup with hot French bread. So much was happening on the Bourbon Street below we stayed on the balcony until the Cornet got so busy we felt we should leave.

 Strike a pose and let tourists take pictures and then give you a tip!

 Is that man kidnapping the Minion?

 Which person is dressed differently? Or would it be - which person forgot her shirt????