Karla's Kronicles #18

The Karla Kronicles #18 - Living in Florida Now We Really Are Florida Residents!
Very Belated Season's Greetings!!!! (Note: Larger and More Detailed Photos are in the Photo Albums Located HERE.)
Dear Kronicle Readers... I started writing this in December 2008. These Kronicles will highlight the events of November and December 2008.
When they announced the 2008 DataStorm User's gathering would be held in November at Rally Park, Seffner FL, we knew we would be there. In fact, we were 1st to sign up, right after the 2 Rally Organizers. Rally Park is part of the 150-acre complex that houses LazyDays RV Center (where we purchased our HR Presidential 5th wheel), a Flying J Fueling Station, a Cracker Barrel Restaurant, and Camping World. Just about everything a full-timer could ever need all neatly located together! And since we were packing up the 5th wheel to attend the Rally, we thought we may as well do a little camping, relaxing and re-creating beforehand! It had been a while since we had gone RVing!
So we packed up for the first time since moving into the house in April 2008; and we had cleared EVERYTHING out, so it took a bit of effort to re-pack the RV (Full-timing is much easier because you have EVERYTHING with you!) We forgot a few items, but after a few days of planning and packing, we were ready to head out.	IT FELT GREAT TO BE "ON THE ROAD AGAIN"!!!!
Just a short drive - less than 2 hours later we were at 1000 Trails Orlando and setting up for a few days. Larry got the antenna up and replotted our location on the DataStorm User's Map and, in doing so, we saw another "User" in the immediate area. We scanned the rooftops and sure enough, there was a DataStorm antenna sticking up in the air. And not just one regular antenna like ours, but a second MEGA HUGE antenna and a 3rd TV Antenna. Well, we had to go meet these folks! So we walked over and met John and Jean Watson, and their Pup, Indy. The Watson's are 1000 Trails Members like us and on their way to the Rally, too! John and Jean are members #11 of the DataStorm User's, whereas we are #1506 (out of 9927 registered members). John was using and Beta testing for MotoSat long before we ever got our system. MotoSat is the manufacturer of the equipment we use. John has written some articles that Larry had read, so it was great to meet them both!
	We could have stayed in Orlando until check-in at Rally Park, but we had been very curious to see the Peace River Preserve. This had been a Coast-to-Coast Park when Larry's parents were full-timers and they took us there one time for an overnight stay in their 5th wheel. That was probably about 17 years ago. We were apprehensive because when it is during peak season, they have incoming RVs go into the not-full-hook up sites and get on a waiting list if you want water, electric and sewer. This was not an issue for us because the Snow Birds have not quite starting flocking to Florida as yet and we were only staying 3 days. A bigger concern was having a site with open sky to point the Antenna and get our signal so we could stay in touch with pre-Rally planning as we had signed up as volunteers to assist with check-ins and other miscellaneous duties..
Well, Peace River was very peaceful. Even though Hwy 17 skirts the west side of the Preserve, we found our stay very enjoyable and will share these photos with you.
	We had hardly been in the Preserve an hour when we took a walk by the river. We saw a Great Blue Heron, a white Egret, a Kingfisher, an Osprey, Cardinals, 3 Pileated Woodpeckers, and, of course, the Turtles & River Gators! Hard to see in this photo, but that is Stumpy and she has 9 babies. We had heard 6, but we counted 9 little noses on a return trip in March 09.

And now, on to the Rally! We checked in on Saturday, Nov. 8th so that we could help with the information packets and badge assembly and check-in process. It was a great way to meet people and get involved in the activities. We got re-acquainted with Thyme, a full-timer and DataStorm User we had met at the Tucson Rally in Oct. 2007. She also volunteered and so we spent a lot of time with Thyme and had dinner together each evening. Also at our Table were John & Jean. We also met a couple attending their first Rally, Ron and JoLynn! They full-time and sell scuba-diving equipment; their business is called "Tanks-a-Lot" (isn't that cute!) Everyone was so interesting to meet. This Rally was so much fun for us and we made some friendships we will enjoy for many years! There are many more "DataStormers" that we hope to connect with in the future! When you travel, it's always "location, location, location" or is that "timing is everything"???? I've been able to keep in email touch with Jean Watson and Karen Hugo, so maybe some day we will cross paths again. I say that because this may have been the last planned DataStorm Rally. New rumors are that one is now being planned in California for 2009, but it's not going to coincide with our travels like the past two years have.
Well, Dear Readers, there was ONE non-Rally activity we had sort of planned on during our stay at Rally Park. After all, we were just across the street from LazyDays, where we had purchased our 5th wheel 4 years ago...It wouldn't "hurt" just to look around a bit during the session breaks as long as we were in the neighborhood...OUCH... and Ahhhhh....Here it comes....
So much for DOWNSIZING; but when we saw this 2006 Monaco Windsor Quad-Slide...let the negotiations begin! This particular coach had one previous owner, who had the interior custom-designed for their needs; well it met many of our needs, too. The entrance tile floor was upgraded to extend all the way back through the Galley and Bath. Carpeting only in the Bedroom and a little in the Salon. Other upgrades included special lighting and crown moldings. The entertainment center was also custom-designed. We really like this layout!

	Our early Christmas gift...for 2008 and beyond! We took this photo with a tri-pod at 1000 Trails Peace River in November, our first official trip. No tow vehicle, so we took everything we thought we would need with us. (To view additional photos, see the Motor Home Photo Album)
The upgrades to this unit made it LazyDays "Crown Club" eligible which was an unexpected bonus. This Coach has two years remaining on it's original Crown Club membership from the previous owners. That extended to us. Of course, after the two years are up, unless we purchase another "Crown Club" eligible unit, we will no longer be able to use the Crown Club facilities at LazyDays. However, for the time we own any unit purchased from LazyDays, we will be members of "Club LazyDays" (providing they don't go out of business!) Crown Club is just a bit more icing on the cake as far as club benefits are concerned.
	With your Crown Club membership, you have access to this Clubhouse. This separate building houses the Crown Club Service Advisors, a lounge with easy chairs, library, pool, restroom and showers. It's open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, although there is no food service on Sundays. You can use this facility even if you are just passing through the area, not just when you are having service done on your coach or staying at Rally Park.
Since buying our first 5th wheel at LazyDays, we were able to have a complimentary breakfast and lunch in the LazyDays Cafeteria Mondays thru Saturdays. It's a very simple one-entree menu, usually a hotdog w/chips or soup and salad, breakfast sandwich; very easy to grab a quick bite and keep shopping (or driving in our case). We usually stopped in when driving down to Riverview to see Larry folks. Crown Club is a bit more extravagant...
	Upstairs in the Crown Club building is a restaurant and lounge. Mondays thru Saturdays, the Club offers a complimentary Breakfast Buffet 8am - 9am, a 4-entree Luncheon Menu 11am - 12:30pm, and from 4p - 5:30p, they offer a full-bar and set up an hors'd'ouvres buffet. Dana (our LazyDays Sales Associate) took us there the day we came to trade units. When we mentioned that Larry's family was coming the next day to see our new Coach, Dana got 4 Guest Passes for lunch. Dana also sold Larry's folks their last 2 RVs. Dana has been top in sales for many years; we like her very much. She's a no-nonsense sort of gal. You want it; we will make it happen. (Is that dangerous or what???)
I guess we've come a long ways from our tent-trailer days - but those are still some of my favorite memories. We always said "if we sell Marblemount, we'll get a motor home". And, no, we are not going to trade in every 2-5 years just to remain in Crown Club - although many people do! It took too much work to set this Coach up with all our electronics and I don't think we would ever find a floor plan we like better, so we will enjoy Crown Club until November 2010; then back to regular status in "Club LazyDays". I've now taken a Motor Home Driving Confidency Course with theory and hands-on driving (there's a lot of BUTT SWING in these motor homes!). Larry repeated the theory portion of this course. Our instructor, Barney, has been teaching this course for years and has a lot of great pointers so that you can safely maneuver around corners, etc. Larry had taken this same course when we were looking at motor homes 4 years ago, so he was ready when Dana took us out for a '"test drive". LazyDays publishes a calendar each month offering free seminars with topics like how to tow, construction of your chassis, engine care, general RV maintenance, even cooking in your Microwave/Convection Oven.
So, the Big ol' F350 Truck and Holiday Rambler Presidential 5th wheel are gone...we bought a 2007 Jeep Wrangler to tow behind the Coach, so the next task was getting the towing equipment and brakes installed and then we'll be all set to head out traveling next summer!
Thanksgiving is now around the corner. Since it was our first major holiday in the new house, Larry and I had his family join us in Lecanto. The design of this house with it's "great room" and open kitchen really makes entertaining fun. Larry's folks and Diana & Dave had seen our new home, but the rest of the Florida Family had not. So it was a real pleasure to welcome Nephew Jeff, who drove up from St. Petersburg, Niece Lisa, husband David, their kids, Ashley (home from college) and Austin - getting taller by the minute - to join us. They all had about a 2+ hour commute, so it was special to us that they made the big drive. Gee, I hope dinner was worth it. Just your traditional fare; Turkey and the trimmings. As you can see in the photos below, we're still lacking wall decor, but we have added some new furniture since Thanksgiving time.



Christmas time has arrived. Dave's Birthday is 12/23; Diana's is 12/24. So, in keeping with tradition, the family gathered at Wayne and Hazel's for Christmas Eve for gift exchange and Birthday celebrations. Christmas Day, we all headed over to Dave and Diana's for more visiting and Christmas Dinner.


As always, our website and Kronicles are a way for us to document what has been going on. More or less, a journal for us. If you choose to read or not read or be taken off our Kronicle's Readers list, or have someone to add to the List, just let me know!
Next Kronicles will cover Jan. 2009-May 2009; the National FMCA Rally in Perry GA, Visitor's to "Camp Dayhuff" in Lecanto FL and some of our local discoveries!
Hey, we KNOW some of you have take some fantastic trips and added Grandchildren to your flock, built new homes, etc., so.... What's new in your lives? Travel...family...just what you've been up to? We hope you will all keep in touch!! More later...Karla and Larry

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