Ode to Lithia Springs, on to Quail Run

Sunday July 1, 2012
Quail Run RV Resort  Lot 15
Wesley Chapel, Florida

 

 

This isn’t an really an “official” ode.  To be “official” it would have to be lyrical verse in 3 parts.  But it is about a particular subject, a place, and I would like to sing its praises.

 

Another great mushroom.  They are amazing!

The park remains closed.  The river continues to fall and the park may reopen on Monday or Tuesday although there is no guess as to when the spring will be able to reopen.  Until the river falls back below the spring run, no swimming will be allowed.  The river was too high on Saturday for any kayaking so we were not able to have a last day on the river.  I’m sad about that.  We have gotten to know this section of the Alafia well.  It is like a friend.  We visit every day sometimes more than once.  Like any friend, it’s sad to say good-by.

 

The Alafia and my tree, water is receding.

 

We leave Lithia Springs this morning after many two week stays over the course of the last few months.  It has been a wonderful  place to be (other than the speed bumps :-)) during a difficult time in our lives.   This lovely 200 acre wooded area has a variety of habitats that we have come to know.  The river is a cypress swamp, there are hardwood hammocks in which most of the campsites are located, and there are sand hills as well. 

The campground has been nearly empty during the week.  The warriors on the week-ends were seldom TOO bad.  The manager Brian and his staff are hard workers, thoughtful, considerate and quick to respond to any need.  I am very grateful to them for allowing us to stay in the park when it was closed during Debby’s Reign.  It was a terrific experience watching the river we had known only as a shallow lazy paddle rise up and retreat.   The peacefulness of being in such a beautiful place with literally no one here for an entire week is a calming experience. 

Even if it was too hot to do much outside,  just looking out our windows was relaxing or exciting depending on what the river and spring were doing.  Although the humidity was high, still I was able to run every other day and David walked the park daily and took pictures of its changes.  I love just being in such a natural environment.

 

 

So it was with sadness that we said good-bye to the spring, still overtaken by the river, to the resident hawk and heron, to the beautiful oaks and spanish moss.  I do hope we will be back next winter for at least one visit.  It’s been a welcoming place in a time of shock and difficulty for us.

 

Anyone know what these flowers are??

 

By 10:30am, we are on our way to Wesley Chapel and Quail Run RV park.  I stop by the Lithia Walgreens to pick up one of David’s prescriptions while he visits the dump and drives Winnona the 39 miles up route 75 to our new home for the next 2 months.   Easy trip.  This may be our shortest move ever.

 

It will be  a brand new experience for us as we have never stayed more than 1 or 2 nights at a commercial RV park or “resort” and that was always while we were on the way to somewhere else.

 

Our new side yard.

 

The people at the office were very nice and everything at check in went smoothly.   We now have a mailbox and key for it and a gate transponder to open the gate for us.   I’ve never lived in a “gated community” before.  Not sure what I think about it.  The area around the park doesn’t look at all dangerous so I’m not sure what the gate is about unless that’s required to call yourself a resort.

 

The park has two sections, an older one with mature trees and a lot of shade where we are parked in lot 15 and a newer one with double patios but no trees. 50 amp service seems to be throughout.  Our site is $260 a month plus electricity.  The sites in the new area run from $320 to $380 a month depending on the size of the site.   Karen and Al of RV Travels with Karen and Al are in the new section for another few weeks.  They stopped by this afternoon and talked with David but I was inside and didn’t know they were here.  We took a walk this evening after it cooled down and went by their coach and knocked.  Their car was there but no one answered.  I was sorry to have missed them.  But we’ll see them on another day.

 

We got most things set up even though it was 91 degrees and 140% humidity.  The site is smaller than we are used to but the trees are lovely.  The picnic table looks nearly new.  Our chairs and table fit nicely on the patio.  The awning is up, the kayaks and bikes are off the car and I hope they won’t be in the way for those who mow the grass.

 

Backyard with dolly, bikes and kayaks

 

Except for a short walk this evening, it’s been too hot to get out and see what it is that makes a park a resort yet so I will have to report later on that.  I know they have a pool, not sure how big, and laundry facilities.  They provide wifi and cable TV.  I’m hoping the former is not like other parks where it’s there but if more than 3 people try to use it, it is useless.   I have no interest in the cable but who knows maybe I’ll check in on Oprah’s network or National Geographic since there are no longer hawks, rivers, springs and herons in my neighborhood.  :-).   

 

It was a long day and tiring for David.  But he seems to have settled in easily enough and the heat doesn’t bother him like it does me although his nap was shorter than usual.

 

Tomorrow is a day full  of doctor appointments at Moffitt starting at 7:30am so it will be Tuesday before I get out to get more pictures of what’s in the park and particularly where I can run 4 or 5 miles.

Another chapter begins…..