OMG, What Have Done !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well we are spending at least a one whole year here in Florida. We have acceped a park managers job here at Aruba RV Resort in Lake Port, Florida. I don't know how I will survive the summer heat. Denise might have to come and scrape me up after I melt down to a big blob. It's a big job, but the pay is good and it's what we enjoy doing. A little info about the park is: 138 lots, 4 park modles, Motel, Restaurant Laundry mat and Rec-Hall, Right on Lake Okeechobee. Keep tuned in for our progress. If you don't here from me for a long time this summer send ICE to cool me off (as I probably melted into a blob) Later.

We're in Florida

Well we made it to Florida. Stopped in Coldwater, Michigan for 5 days at Potowatome campgrounds. Friends and family came out nightly and visited. Really enjoyed our stay there. Then we went to Marion, Indiana for 3 days. Visited Denise's family. After we left Marion the next stop was in Tallahoma, Tennessee to visit with an old school friend Bill Stahlhood. We stayed at Barton Springs Campgrounds. It was just a few miles out of the way, but worth it to see an old friend. The next stop was Tuscumbia, Alabama to visit more of Denise's family. Stayed 3 days visiting and south we went. Took hwy 13 south to miss Birmingham and Montgomery. Took about 2 hours longer but well worth it to stay out of the traffic. (after all we're not in no race) Stayed just south of Montgomery for a night, then on south into Florida. We made our last overnight stop just south of Gainsville, Florida at Payne Prarie Preserve State Park. A very nice State Park and close to the freeway. That left us with about a 4 hour drive to get to our winter destination. Aruba RV park, Lakeport Florida. The trip was smooth except for in alabama we had to replace the tires on the 5th wheel with only about 4000 miles on them. (CHEEP CHINA TIRES !!!!!!!!) Replaced them with Goodyear truck tires. Should last a lot longer.

All Most Time to Head South

Well it's all most that time of the year that Hitch Itch has set in. It has hit us early this year because the campgrounds has not been keeping me busy, so I'm bored and ready to go. I've caught all the salmon I need to and the steelhead will have to be tended to by someone else. We are leaving the 26th of september and stopping along the way to visit family and friends. First stop will be Coldwater, Michigan and then to Marion, Indiana. Each of these stops will be about a week. Then to Alabama for a week and finally Florida some time in the middle of October. That is the earliest we have ever gone to Florida. (That makes the wifey happy as she won't have to see any cold weather). I had a good salmon season this year, not hot and heavy but steady. I'm ready for the Florida fishing.

Salmon Are Here

Have seen salmon in the river for about a week now. Heard about some being caught today. Now all fishermen in the state will be heading north to chase those rascally salmon. The river will be a mad house from now till the end of september. Good for buisness, but bad for us that want to fish the river. That's OK, I like the challange of it with all the boats running up and down the river. I have been walleye and small mouth bass fishing with my grandson the last 2 weeks and having good luck. That is the fun of being up here all summer and basically having the river to my self. Now I can go out every day and B.S. with all the other fishermen ( or B.S.ers, which all fishermen are). Later time to go and catch up on all the fish stories being told !!!

Bears in Campgrounds

O.K. we've heard about bears being in the area, but never seen them. Untill now, Three weeks ago I was leaving the campgrounds and about a mile away I seen a bear in the road. It took one look at me and ran off in the woods. Now tonight we were setting by the campfire and 2 bears went walking by about a hundred yards away from us. One was a small one, the other one was about twice as big. They walked off into the woods and Rhonda went in and got her camera. We followed them into the woods to try to get a pic, but it was to dark. The bigger one just sat there and let us walk to within about 30 yards. It just sat there and looked at us. Just to dark for a pic. I love seeing things like this.

Just an Update

OK shoot me !!!!!!! I know it's been a while, but in my defence I have been busy. We have the new store done and are using it. Now we need to work on the Lodge. There is a lot of work to do in there. I am waiting for them to get supplies then the fun begins. After that is done I think I will have some free time to fish or what ever as they have extra help this year that's putting in a lot of hours and I don't see where there is enough work to keep the 2 of us busy in this small of a campgrounds. You will probably get tired of me on here when it gets slow. Maybe a trip through the U.P. would be nice this year. The only problem is the slower I get the busier Denise gets with cleaning the cabins. Oh well, I guess the Matson's will have to hire some young one to help her as we are a team and will travel together. Oh yea, the mushroomin wasn't to great this year. We got a few, but nothing like years past. I went out small mouth bass fishing the other day and caught 2 nice smallies. A 17 1/2 incher and a 19 incher.

Home Again

Well we are back in Manistee Michigan. I already was cleaning leaves up. We have a lot to do here. The store/office has to be remodeled and moved into. Then the lodge has to be remodeled by July 1st. Oh ya there will be mushrooms to pick when they decide to stick their heads out from under the leaves. That's a must do !!!!!!!!!! I have to get the boat ready and in the river. When did I ever find time to work before I retired.

Denise is complaining about the cold weather, but I'm loving it. 85-90 every day is to hot for me. I like the cool mornings. I haven't even broke out the long pants yet. Maybe if it snows I will. LOL