Winter 2024/25 - Brooksville last 2 Weeks January

 Took a trip.over to the Masaryk Winery

around the corner.

They have Upicktopia gardens

Another ride with a group from the campground 

A stop at a VFW to regroup

To our lunch spot the blue gator tiki bar & restaurant in Dunnellon

Get home and it looks like the cows came home too

After a stretch of cold weather it is nice enough to go for another ride with our friends Patti and Dale.  We head towards Weeki Wachi

A stop for lunch

Then on to Pine Island

A stop at Linda Pederson Park to look for Manatees.  So it's up the tower for a better view.  It's on the chilly side so not too hopeful

And then Patti sees one coming down the River

Then Two more

There were schools of Mullets too.

Winter 2024/25 - Brooksville, FL 1st two week January

The first two weeks we had a few warm days but mostly cooler in the low to mid 60s with nights in the 30s and 40s.  Not what we signed up for!

We tried a new flea market.  They just started opening on Sundays.  Not too many vendors, but got a few deals, will try again on a Monday, their normal day.

The weather has been less than perfect for Florida so not much venturing out.  We did get a fairly nice afternoon to brave a short motorcycle ride.  Found a spot about a 1/2 hour ride so headed there. 

There was supposed to be a trail

But we followed a paved path to a pier 

And a short walk to the Tower.  This is new, the old one was smaller but tallerm

Gary tries to jer a couple Sand Hill Cranes over to me.

Success!

We hop back on the bike and do a tour of the park 

We come across the little train station

Apparently they have a little train that gives kids to children on some Saturdays

Will have to try and make it back some Saturday when the train is running.

....

Winter 2024/25 - Brooksville FL last week December

The day after Christmas Gary took me to the May-Stringer house for my birthday.  It is a 4 story, seven gable, gingerbread trim, 14 room “Painted Lady” Victorian era home.  

In 1842, The Armed Occupation Act ratified by the U.S. Congress, stated: “any settler who came to Florida, lived on the land for five years, cultivated five acres, and built a dwelling would be granted 160 acres”. Richard Wiggins homesteaded the land were the May Stringer house is located.

In 1855, John L. May purchased the property and built a 4 room home for his family. Eventually the house was bought by Dr. Sheldon Stringer. He added ten rooms to the house giving it the Victorian appearance The tour was given by local docents in period costumes.  

It was decorated for Christmas 

Up to the 4th floor

There's a small museum of local history

And the attic.  It is known as one of the most haunted houses in Florida.

The docent recounted a story where a sheriff was called to the property for someone inside. When he got to the attic he pulled his gun on this mannequin.

We were told that Elvis was in Inverness Florida filming a movie and heard that Brooksville had the best hotdogs so he drove here to get one.  Gary couldn't pass that up so we went for lunch. 

They were pretty good.

A couple days later our group from Winngray Campground who live over in Cocoa Florida had a Christmas party.

Patti brought the love and the carrot cake!

We brought our Christmas spirit

There was a gift exchange and I had the misfortune to pick the only gift in the lot that I knew about and Gary wanted to avoid.  Fortunately, someone actually stole it from us.

Group photo!

The town of Brooksville was having a new years celebration with a Tangerine Ball Drop.  Neither of us stay up till midnight but we went to check it out.

There were food trucks

They drop the tangerine from the water tower

There are some nice murals around town

We take a stroll in the downtown area.  Nicely decorated.

We had a light dinner at Boondoggle eats

We split the Smashburger sliders

HAPPY NEW YEAR!