Chilly Florida

Sunset the night before we pull out

Jan 18 - 25/16  Weather is Coooool and even Cold.   Frost 3 nights.  Sunny during the day - low 60's mostly - one day 70.  But as many Snowbirds say, it's Winter but still like Spring here.  Actually Billy unhooked our water hose 3 of the nights, just to be safe.   We went back to Grand Oaks RV Resort in Lady Lake to see some friends and do some errands before heading out West for the rest of the winter.  Originally we thought 2 days would do it but the week was necessary.  It took us 3 trips to the grocery store to get enough supplies to restock.   We do empty the fridge completely and most of our pantry items too.   So we say goodbye to a beautiful setting and get our wheels turning.  Kind of excited to go!!

53 foot Horse and RV trailer

I kept meaning to show you this huge RV and horse trailer.   This couple bring their car, horse, carriage, and golf cart in this unit.   They had a smaller one the very first year we came here,,,, and have upgraded to this monster!  Isn't that something.   The truck they pull it is a small Freightliner transport.

Sunshine State

October 20 - 25/15   Weather is Hot.  Days 82, 84, 85, 86, 86.   Nights 65 - 70.  Actually it is a bit uncomfortable.   Yikes... does that sound like whining.   Sorry.   It is the humidity that is at 90%.  

When we get up in the morning and look out it appears to have rained.   No it didn't its just the dew.   Well better than snow that's for sure.   Once we get into Florida we have a hard time not visiting the Grand Oaks RV Resort in Lady Lake.   We just think it is one of the prettiest spots. 

Where can you go and have a beautiful campsite on a million dollar horse farm?  Right here.    Oddly this RV park is not busy.

And there is nothing better in the morning; sitting outside; with a New England Coffee.  Florida always has it in their grocery stores.   I have not been able to find it in Canada; but then we are Timaholics (Tim Hortons)..... guess someday we should try New England!  Sounds like a motorhome destination.

Hunger Games Horse Movie Stars

Weather  mid 70's , nights end up cool just above 50
Little did we know that there were movie stars here on site at the Grand Oaks RV Resort.........   Two of the most handsome you will ever meet !   And they will eat right out of your hands.  My new friends love a nibble of carrot every night at sunset, they are so gentle.

Dieuwe and Tristan  both Friesians were the director's choice to pull Katniss and Peeta's Chariot in the Hunger Game 2.  Ocala Daily News Star Banner reported last November these two were chosen out of 17 horses kept on set.  

Snowbirds have Taken Over Florida

March 3 - April 3/ 2014 

Sad to say but this is the first time not reserving ahead has hindered us in the last 2 years of traveling along as the urge takes us.   While in Arcadia we tried to book campsites along the Atlantic Ocean and the Big Rig ones were all booked solid till March 23.   Hmmmm 3 weeks from now.   So we could have stayed in Arcadia but it did not really intrigue us since we did get to ride out almost everyday and see the local sites.   The weather is definitely warmer in the southern area but we decided to move back to central Florida where the motorcycle riding is much better.

Darn Snowbirds isn't anyone left back in the North????  

 Well our motto has always been to just go with the flow so that's ok.  We are back in the Grand Oaks RV and Carriage Resort in Lady Lake.  It's such a beautiful place, fate must have meant for us to come back.
There is a beautiful 1968 Cadillac Convertible for sale on the grounds.   Billy thinks it would be a sweet tow vehicle.  Ha Ha.  It's almost as big as our motorhome!!!

Carriage Show at Grand Oaks Resort

Feb 14, 15, 16  
Our last few days Grand Oaks Resort was a nice way to end it.   

There was a Carriage Show and it was interesting and beautiful to watch the horses and their owners/carriages perform.
We did not realize that the entire presentation is judged, the horse(s), the carriage, the performance of the horse, the costume.   Mostly we saw women in period costumes with beautiful embellished hats.  

There were a couple of booths selling the hats and as you can imagine they had a very large price tag!!!   Rosey just had to try one on.....   

 

Gotta Love this sign - Horses have Right of Way

 

Bud & Weiser

Weather Sunny mid 70's, night low 60's

 

The Clydes at Sunset having their supper

If you pet one you have to pet the other, they are so tame

Bud & Weiser  or is it Weiser & Bud?

There are two new friends we have made at The Grand Oaks Resort ......   Like gentle giants.
Perfect names - Bud & Weiser!   These Clydesdale have just come to The Grand Oaks and will be doing carriage rides in the future.   Did you know that the breed is a draught horse derived from the farm horses of the Clydesdale area in Scotland ?  In the 1970's the breed was actually considered vulnerable to extinction.
 

Equestrian RV Resort

Jan 16 - 19  Sunny but very cool for Florida - 60's, low 50's during the day - 3 nights frost warning
Well we were very glad to miss the Polar Vortex the first week in January but seem to have caught a short cold front in Florida; which we feel coming in from our vacation in Aruba.  30 degrees difference!  

We wanted to stay close to our friends to visit with them and also get our coach over to Alliance Service Center for some maintenance work.  Looking around the area in central Florida we happen to spot a new RV park that opened just in November 2013 on an Equestrian Ranch in Lady Lake.  The Grand Oaks RV Resort and Carriage Museum.   It's absolutely beautiful and tranquil.   

Brand new super long pull thru sites with all the amenities necessary, beautiful clubhouse and the rest of the 450 acres have all the Horse amenities.  The property is set amid majestic oaks and gently rolling fenced pastures.  There are well-appointed houses or cottages for rent, a Carriage Museum,  special equestrian events, activities and training.  Horses are boarded here from all over the country.  Carriage rides and horseback trails are available.  There is also a restaurant bistro style and a Spa!  Sundays they have an outdoor Cowboy Church too.    We happened to stay here for 3 days but definitely want to come back to enjoy the Spa and Carriage ride.