Winterized

An easy way to winterize your RV is to keep it out of any freezing temperatures, so that is just what we are trying to do this winter.  Well sort of.  We decided to head down to Tampa, FL to spend some of the winter and also visit family and friends that live in the area.

Our son Jered and cousins Mike and Nancy both live just south of Tampa and so it seemed like a good place to say to visit all of them.  One of my work counterparts also lives south of Tampa, but unfortunately, we did not get a chance to visit with each other, but there is always next time.

We ended up staying on MacDill AFB in the FAMCAMP which is a very nice RV park.  They have a 14 day limit during the snowbird season, but we were lucky to get an extension of 14 days, so ended up being able to camp there for 28 days before we had to pull out.

They will let you stay in dry camp until a full hook up lot comes open again, but we decided that we would head north since I have to be in DC later on in the month for some business.  We are not really looking forward to being that far north during the coldest times of the year, but will just pray that no storms come in during that week in DC.

Hopefully after I get done in DC we can had south again for the rest of the winter.

Sunset in Tampa.

The beach on MacDill AFB.

Avery, Ian, Courtney, Chloe, and Tia on the beach at MacDill AFB.

Watching a cruise ship sail out from port.

The sun setting over Saint Petersburg, FL.

While in Tampa we went to go see the manatees at the Manatee Viewing Center.  It was just across the bay from MacDill AFB, but since you have to drive around the bay to get to there, it was a good forty minutes away.

Unfortunately we could only see the backs of the manatees but did see some rays jumping out of the water.

Manatees' backs.

A ray jumping out of the water.

Tarpon swimming by.  The one in the middle is a good five feet long.

We had a great time visiting with all our family while in Tampa with them coming to us on base and us going to their homes.  It was a shame that we had to leave so soon and could not visit a lot more.

All of the family posing with Jered and Hannah for our Christmas picture.

Jered and Hannah with the sun in their eyes.

The kids with cousins Mike and Nancy.

Jered an I also got some fishing in while in Tampa.

A little catfish we caught while fishing one night.

We are not sure where we will end up after the week in DC, but it will surly be a southern state where it will be much warmer than in the north.  We do not mind the cold but it is so much easier if it does not get below freezing or only does it once in a while.

On the last visit with Jered we went to Manasota Beach to look for shark teeth. 

On the beach looking for shark teeth.

Tia, Chloe, and Jered looking for shark teeth.

Everyone looking at what Jered found.

Jered's first shark tooth of the day.

Courtney's find for the day.

Ethan's find.  He only looked for a few minutes though.

All the shark teeth Jered found.

Jered and his shark teeth.

We also took a day trip to visit Misty's family, Steve and Mary Winters Smith north of us while in Tampa.  We had a really good time visiting with them.  We would have loved to have had more time to visit, but a short visit is better than none.

Mary Winters & Steve's family with Misty and our family.

Mary Winters & Steve's family with Don and our family.

So all in all we had a great time while staying in Tampa and visiting all the family.  It was great to see Jered, Hannah, and all her family along with Mike, Nancy and all of their family, and then Steve and Mary with their family.

Also while there my sister Brenda, my nephew Devin, and their friend happened to come to FL for a short vacation and came over for dinner one night.  It was really great to see them while we were there.

We are so blessed to be able to live this lifestyle and have the option to visit family all across America.  God has been and is good to us.

If you follow us on Facebook you can see where we are and so probably try to link up with you while in your area.

God bless!

Thanks!
Don, Misty, and Kids...

Twenty five states visited so far.