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Back to Nature: Florida Roadtreking and RV Fun

| Updated Jan 23, 2015

I am tired! The good kind. It’s been a busy time here at the “Back to Nature” rally in Crystal River, Fla.   I got here the night before the official start day. I usually don’t like long drives, but it was one of those days where I kept thinking, “it’s not that far, I can make it.”

I’d called ahead to let them know I was coming and my reserved spot was not available so I got another one, in between the eight Dumpsters and the doggy area. I was backed up to the fence that sort of hid the storage yard. But it was dark when I arrived, so I really didn’t know or care. Of course, as soon as I began backing in to my site, in the dark, my phone starts ringing and it’s my house sitter at home. I haven’t had a call all day. I call her back later after I safely negotiate the dog poop bucket and the ditch, but nothing’s wrong, she was just checking in.

I get Ruka the canine co-pilot out for a much-needed walk along a canal so I am thinking- gators and snakes! But we don’t see anything cool like that. So we just had dinner and then went to bed.2015-01-20 22.03.04

Ruka starts out sleeping on the short couch, but usually ends up on the floor. The CO2 detector happens to be located right there. Did you know how sensitive those are? When Ruka passed gas at 2:27 a.m. – the device detected. It was very loud. Fortunately, this does not happen often or I would be very crabby indeed.2015-01-20 22.02.42

This morning, up early for a nice long walk to see the area. This place is crowded, with over 200 sites it’s mostly long term snowbirds with big class C’s and A’s. But it is clean and relatively quiet (except for the Stanley Steamer truck that pulled up at nap time to clean a big class A’s carpets! First time I’ve seen that one.). Plus, it was a holiday weekend. The RV park is surrounded by water and protected estuary/marsh area. There is a nice big heated pool and a clubhouse. There are also plenty of trees and birds, which I love.

And wow, plenty of Roadtreks! Several of us arrived a bit early so it was fun to meet and greet old friends and new. I happily ran into Jim and Carolyn D. whom I met at my very first rally, three years ago in Branson, Mo. We have kept in touch and I see them every year. A nice way to start the rally.

Then I saw my gal pal Stephanie, who just happens to be the head honcho in charge of this shindig and lives up the road. I stayed in the area last year for a few days and she took me to all the best places! It’s her first time organizing and so far, it’s a bang-up job. Not to mention, she’s doing it with a bum hip. Steph went to the Tampa show last week and saw that new Zion that Jim and the RT folks dreamed up. Steph’s older model RT is now sporting a “for sale” sign….

I eventually moseyed over to the office to confirm my reserved spot for today and was able to get out of the boneyard and back into gen pop. (That’s general population for those of you who don’t watch police shows.) I’m now in a nice shady site, next to our esteemed Roadtrek International President Sherry Targum.

But all day, folks kept rolling in and I was constantly out meeting and greeting people. We didn’t have anything planned today, so it was purely social and very, very fun. This is the best part of Roadtreking, meeting people from all over. My friend Lisa G. says it’s like a big family and I heartily agree.

Tonight, we had a great dinner and holy mackerel- my table got to go to the buffet first and I actually won a brand new popcorn popper! This day will be hard to top and the event has barely begun.2015-01-20 22.03.42

Hopefully, there won’t be any more detecting happening tonight so I can be bright-eyed for the fun tomorrow.

 

 

Mike Wendland

Published on 2015-01-23

Mike Wendland is a multiple Emmy-award-winning Journalist, Podcaster, YouTuber, and Blogger, who has traveled with his wife, Jennifer, all over North America in an RV, sharing adventures and reviewing RV, Camping, Outdoor, Travel and Tech Gear for the past 12 years. They are leading industry experts in RV living and have written 18 travel books.

3 Responses to “Back to Nature: Florida Roadtreking and RV Fun”

February 16, 2015at12:42 pm, R Sherry Targum said:

It was a fun time

January 26, 2015at1:05 pm, Robo99 said:

Laura and all, it’s not a CO2 detector, it’s a carbon monoxide detector (CO if you will). CO2 is a normal respiratory product, but CO is a product of incomplete combustion in flames and very toxic/dangerous in enclosed areas. Bob Ross.

January 23, 2015at8:15 am, Mike Wendland said:

Love that sign on the door!

Comments are closed.

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