Dunedin RV Resort
March 28, 2021
Last year at about this time we posted a web journal, this is probably the longest that we have gone without adding something written about our travels. Maybe that is because there hasn’t been much travelling! The short story is we went north, spent the summer; went south, spent the winter.
Last year at about this time we posted a web journal, this is probably the longest that we have gone without adding something written about our travels. Maybe that is because there hasn’t been much travelling! The short story is we went north, spent the summer; went south, spent the winter.
We have accumulated quite the collection of masks, since the beginning of the pandemic, and continue to take precautions seriously. Our daughter in law made several and mailed them to us from California, and early on Francie’s cousin, Kathy sent us these gems, she had been sewing up a storm and donating to them to assisted living facilities and nursing homes.
In some ways, living full-time in an RV during this last year of Covid has not been much different than it is for folks living in a brick and mortar home. This winter we were too far away from family to fret much about not being able to spend time with them. On the plus side, we have spent the winter in a warm climate, and could get outside and walk or bike.
Some of the difficult and painful realities of Covid have also affected us; we have lost family and friends and not been able to properly say good-bye.
We are used to being together and doing pretty much everything together, not being able to actually do most of the things we enjoy, and doing “nothing” together adds a different dimension. We were really happy to get an RV spot at Dunedin RV Park in Dunedin, Florida. This is an area we love with the small town atmosphere of Dunedin and Tarpon Springs. We are a block from the Pinellas Trail bike path and ½ mile from the Gulf and Honeymoon Island State Park. We had hoped to figuratively “put down some roots” in this community and have it a permanent winter destination. We have met some wonderful people in the RV park, but due to Covid, have not really connected with the larger community as we had hoped. Better luck next year! Our favorite Covid pastime is imagining all the possible scenarios of where we might “settle down” and what combination of home, RV, condo, rental, etc. that would include. We are no closer to figuring it out than we were last March!
We spent the summer of 2020 in Michigan City, Indiana, as we have in the past so that we could be near family. Our “pod” was our son, daughter in law and granddaughter.
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Mike enjoyed attending a (covid aware) carving club in Portage, Indiana. He has continued to do more carving all year.
Mike enjoyed attending a (covid aware) carving club in Portage, Indiana. He has continued to do more carving all year.
We took one road trip during the summer of 2020 – driving through Francesville on the way to Rensselear, Indiana. Rensselear is becoming known for its outdoor murals completed by internationally recognized artists.
https://www.renartwlk.org/
We took one road trip during the summer of 2020 – driving through Francesville on the way to Rensselear, Indiana. Rensselear is becoming known for its outdoor murals completed by internationally recognized artists.
https://www.renartwlk.org/
The assisted living for Francie’s mom had restricted outdoor visiting at the beginning of the summer, but then her mom’s health declined and sadly she passed away at the age of 90 in September.
September brought joy as well. Our son Jon got married to Sara and we were able to attend a small beautiful ceremony in California.
On our way back down to Florida in the fall of 2020 we made the obligatory stop in Red Bay for RV maintenance. We visited Dismals Canyon, a National Natural Landmark near Russellville, AL, and a new place to explore while on the waiting list for the 3 hour bay at Tiffin.
We arrived at Dunedin RV Park at the end of October and settled in for a 5 month stay. We were so excited to have a storage shed (albeit a pretty dumpy one)! We even landscaped!
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Walking at low tide on the beach at Honeymoon Island has been a real joy.
Francie bought a used kayak shortly after we arrived and with the kayak club has been able to explore several nearby places. Mike joined on one paddle through mangrove tunnels.
We found a source for fresh fish in Tarpon springs and have enjoyed red snapper, grouper, and gulf shrimp right off the fishing boats.
As we write this we realize that we have been able to make some connections to this place and have much for which to be grateful.
We begin to travel in a few days, first around Florida and then north, back to Michigan City for a month.
We plan to stay around Michigan this summer, waiting for the world to get back to “normal”.
Maybe next year more travels, we have our eye on the far northwest!
We plan to stay around Michigan this summer, waiting for the world to get back to “normal”.
Maybe next year more travels, we have our eye on the far northwest!