The second week we moved down to the Escapees Resort at Wachula, (very nice) on the way to Vero Beach where we visited Harry and Carol Riddell and used their very nice campground. We had a nice visit and enjoyed their hospitality.

From Vero Beach we moved down to the Aruba Resort at Lakeport on Lake Okeechobee. (Very nice park). While here we looked up Paul Batkowski who winters in the park next door. Paul took us on a nice boat ride on the lake where we saw some alligators real close. Very enjoyable.

From Lakeport we went on south and went across the Tamiami Trail (Rt.41) where we saw hundreds of alligators and other wildlife, a very enjoyable ride. When we reached the gulf coast we headed for Arcadia arriving late on Sat afternoon. All the campgrounds we called were full or their office was closed. We called Wendell and Madelaine Rowell who live in a park in Arcadia in the winter. We met the Rowells at the Red Power Roundup in Bloomsburg last summer. Wendell found us a spot at Little Willies Resort north of town. (Very nice park). We stayed there for four days.

While at Arcadia we went over to North Port and had a nice dinner and visit with cousins Ann and Lin McLain. It’s always good to see them.

From Arcadia we traveled north to Ft. Meade and the Florida Flywheelers grounds where the IH collectors were holding their national winter convention in conjunction with the Flywheelers February show. Great show and great convention.

After the show we reluctantly headed north to the cold of PA arriving home on March 3^rd. finding the farm just as we left it.

March was very busy with the farm work plus getting details of retirement taken care of plus preparing for our auction sale on March 27^th.

The auction went well, the weather cooperated and we had a good crowd. We lived in a practically empty house from the 27^th of March until my last day of work on April 9^th.

The Game Farm employees had a great surprise retirement party for us at Fox’s on April 3^rd. It was very enjoyable with most of the people I spent the last 25 years with present.

On April the 6^th I was surprised with another retirement party with many friends and family at my favorite restaurant the Gateway. I have had many enjoyable breakfast meetings at the Gateway. Many thanks to Pat and all our other friends for the nice party.

On April 10^th we completely moved into the motorhome and moved down to Steve’s back yard at Farragut where we stayed for two weeks while waiting for my insurance cards etc. to be received.

On April 27^th we left Farragut on our first extended trip traveling south thru Virginia into Tennessee spending a few days at the Raccoon Valley Escapee park at Heiskell TN. before moving on to Pigeon Forge and Nashville.