A few days ago, Anna and I, along with Gary and Susan Bonneau, took the opportunity to RIDE OUR BIKES along the bike path that meanders through the entire CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSE at THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. We were afforded this opportunity while the course was undergoing routine maintenance, aerating and sanding the greens. The course is quite beautiful, with many fairways lined by tall bushes and trees, sporting many lakes throughout the course, and a number of picturesque wooden bridges over water and through wooded and wetland areas. Additionally, there was no lack of wildlife on the course, including many native birds, and a number of alligators. What a wonderful course that I must play soon, as well as spending some special time with our dear friends!!!
A few months ago, Anna and I made a decision to purchase a property at THE GREAT OUTDOORS IN TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA to complement our FULL TIME RV LIFESTYLE. The purpose for the location was to provide a place to seasonally park our rig, but more importantly, to secure a level of PERMANANCE in this area, which we call home. We are in the process of RENOVATING our EXECUTIVE SUITE to allow our family and friends to visit FREQUENTLY. By the way, a huge shout-out and thank you to Gary and Susan Bonneau for all their help and encouragement throughout the renovation. Covid, go away, friends and family, come on in. We will leave the lights on for you!!!!!!!
After our on-line church service, Anna and I along with our friends, Gary & Susan Bonneau, set off on a 20 MILE BIKE RIDE along the FLORIDA COAST-TO-COAST TRAIL. We started our journey in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA, heading northbound through Mims along the trail, which was an old railway which has been converted. The northern section of the trail we traversed was especially scenic and peaceful. The trail is a small section of a 250 mile, continuous, cross state trail linking St. Petersburg and Titusville, which is to-date 80 percent complete. What a great day with great friends!!!
Today Anna and I started our morning by BIKING through our large neighborhood, THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. After biking, we made a last minute decision to HIKE the remote ADDISON TRAIL located on the northwestern side of The Great Outdoors property. We proceeded from there onto a portion of the adjoining “FLORIDA TRAIL ASSOCIATION” TRAIL, owned by the St. Johns Water Management District. The Addison Trail is beautiful, traversing westward along the peaceful ADDISON CANAL built in 1912 & 1913, and lined by live oak trees, red cedar trees, and sabal palms, with impressive and expansive marsh lands fanning out in every direction. Beautiful trail and great day with my sweetheart!!!!!
For the second time in three days, we hiked 3 miles through the beautiful palm tree hammock covered PISARZ, EARLEY & INDIAN MOUND TRAILS within THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. The Karen Early trail is named after the founding member of the Great Outdoors Nature Center. Susan Bonneau was able to join us as well which made for a special morning!! The paths are generally shaded and bordered by palmetto scrub, easy to traverse, and are uniquely grassy, except in some areas where the feral hogs tear it up in search of food. We came across many animal tracks, such as deer, raccoon, feral hogs, and more; some quite large which were most likely large feline, nocturnal cats, Florida Panthers. We also stumbled across bones from a large animal. They were somewhat spooky to say the least. All in all, we had a great morning hike in a wonderful, peaceful area of the parimeter of our wonderful neighborhood.
For the second time in three days, we hiked 3 miles through the beautiful palm tree hammock covered PISARZ, EARLEY & INDIAN MOUND TRAILS within THE GREAT OUTDOORS in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. The Karen Early trail is named after the founding member of the Great Outdoors Nature Center. Susan Bonneau was able to join us as well which made for a special morning!! The paths are generally shaded and bordered by palmetto scrub, easy to traverse, and are uniquely grassy, except in some areas where the feral hogs tear it up in search of food. We came across many animal tracks, such as deer, raccoon, feral hogs, and more; some quite large which were most likely large feline, nocturnal cats, Florida Panthers. We also stumbled across bones from a large animal. Somewhat spooky to say the least. All in all, we had a great morning hike in a wonderful, peaceful area of our wonderful neighborhood.
Anna and I are DEEPLY BLESSED to have incredible friends, GARY & SUSAN BONNEAU, and to be walking side by side with them as they journey into the AMAZING WORLD OF RV LIVING!!!! This is a very significant and wonderful life change for them, and is a change that Anna and I know quite well. Their journey has included selling their showcase home in Melbourne, donating or selling a significant portion of their belongings and moving the balance into storage, purchasing a Class “A” motorhome, and contracting to builder to build a new home in THE GREAT OUTDOORS located in TITUSVILLE, FLORIDA. Keep in mind that they are doing this while Gary is still working full time, and this change will allow them the flexibility to travel freely as we so love to do. Wow, I must admit that Anna and I are exhausted just watching them go through this rigorous process. We are assisting them in any way they need or we can. This is total de-ja-vu for us as we witness their transformation, allowing us to relive the wonderful events of our move 1 ½ years ago into the full time RV world. This post is the first (house sale, move, RV purchase, Wickham Park) of two in series, providing in a general sense, chronological pictures of their journey from OUR perspective. We love you Bonneau’s!!!!!
Anna and I have been super blessed the last four days to have our amazing, GRANDDAUGHTER, LEAH CARROLL, “camp” with us in what she calls our “BARBIE MOTORHOME”. She had the absolute TIME OF HER LIFE while she was here, quarantined in nature. She interacted with a variety of animals, up front and personal, including wild turkeys, gopher tortoise’s, squirrels, bunnies, a variety of birds, turtles, ducks and lizards. We walked, hiked trails, went to Tables Beach near Patrick Air Force Base, rode bikes, went to a socially distanced birthday party, visited the park’s 4H petting zoo, and completely exhausted ourselves playing while she was here. There is nothing better than spending time with family, especially spending time with your super-duper, amazing grandchild, PRICELESS!!!!!
Anna and I are very blessed to have made prior reservations at WICKHAM PARK in MELBOURNE, FLORIDA before the recent mandates and restrictions went into effect. We are enjoying ourselves here very much as we await our property at The Great Outdoors in Titusville, Florida to become free. It is still under a rental contract for a few more days. Wickham Park is quite large, absolutely beautiful, and sports a plethora of outdoor activities, such as hiking, biking, volleyball, lakes, camping, picnic areas, horseshoes, archery, dog park, group activity areas, disc golf, equestrian facilities, senior center, and more. It is a shame that Covid reared its ugly head and we are forced to social distance ourselves from our friends and family. With that said, we are certainly making the best of it!!!!!!
For the third time in the last two weeks, Anna and I have hiked or biked the beautiful and peaceful BREVARD ZOO LINEAR TRAIL located in VIERA, FLORIDA. Two of those trips were 17.5 & 16.5 MILE BIKE RIDES with our friends, GARY & SUSAN BONNEAU. Great times, with great friends, wonderful exercise, and a perfect social distancing activity!!!!!
We were able to spend some quality time with our son and daughter-in-law, CHRIS & BRIANNE BEACHAM, today as we practiced social distancing while riding bikes on the CROSS SEMINOLE TRAIL. The trail, which opened in 2002, traverses 23 miles through SEMINOLE COUNTY, specifically through the towns of OVIEDO and WINTER SPRINGS, FLORIDA. It is a well-designed, multi-use trail running through many sections of beautiful untouched “Old Florida”. We had an absolutely wonderful time, as always, enjoying a relaxing, fresh air day on the trail with Chris and Brianne!!!!!!
