Tampa & LaBelle, Florida

We left Cedar Key last Wednesday morning, Jan 13^th, and stopped in the small town of Inglis, Florida, just north of Crystal River, for breakfast at the Shrimp Landing Restaurant. Julie and I both enjoyed our first-ever shrimp omelets. They were really, really good.

After breakfast we drove south another hour and half and arrived at the Florida State Fairgrounds for 4 nights of camping at the annual “Florida RV SuperShow”. We didn’t know it at the time, but the volunteer who led us to our camp site on the pavement (versus a nice grassy area) told us we’d be happy to be on pavement if it rains. She was absolutely right as it poured down rain twice while we were there. Those nice grassy sites were under water and several areas turned into mud pits.

My sister Marcia and husband Mike drove up to Tampa from the Fort Meyers area last Thursday and we spent all day walking through the RV show. The show had a huge collection of new motorhomes, 5^th wheels, travel trailers, truck campers, park models, etc. from all the major manufacturers. Additionally there were two large buildings with row after row of vendors.

We joined Mike, Marcia and two other couples from the RV resort they are staying at for dinner at the Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City, the historic area of Tampa. It is the oldest family-owned restaurant in Florida, established in 1905. We enjoyed sangria, prepared right at the table. Their “1905 salad” was exceptional, as well as their main entrees. It was our first time there and we really enjoyed the restaurant.

 

Julie and I visited the RV show again on Friday after the morning rain stopped. On Saturday we drove to Safety Harbor to see Julie’s Aunt Jo. We enjoyed lunch with her and had a nice visit.

Saturday night we drove to Bradenton to meet my cousin Sue, her husband Scott and my Aunt Barb. Mike and Marcia joined us, as well as my sister Cathy, son Benjamin, daughter Brittany and her boyfriend Tyler. We hadn’t seen my Aunt Barb, Sue and Scott since August 2012 and we thoroughly enjoyed our visit.

We left Tampa and drove to RiverBend Motorcoach Resort near LaBelle, FL on Sunday to visit Mike and Marcia for a few days. We all enjoyed watching the Denver Broncos beat the Pittsburg Steelers on Sunday night and eat chili with Fritos. On Monday we drove into Ft. Meyers to pick up some fresh squeezed orange juice and go by Costco.

Tuesday we rode with Mike and Marcia and went to Ave Maria, a new town about 35 miles south of LaBelle and east of Naples. The town was only established in 2007 as a new planned development, with a town center and several new housing areas, including a Del Webb community. We enjoyed lunch at a pub there and afterwards, looking through several model homes.

We had planned to head to Key West tomorrow for three weeks, but the military campground is completely full. We’re headed tomorrow to the Disney Fort Wilderness with visits to Disney and Universal.      

Steve & Julie Cornelius