Exploring Florida - part 4 - updated with pictures!

March 25, 2019 - June 7, 2019

We like Florida but we certainly never expected to be here past mid April.  But, sometimes events conspire to force a change in plans.

We left Fort Myers for Lakeland after a relaxing week but not much luck finding new types of shells on the beaches there.

In Lakeland we had our motorhome windows measured so that new ones could be ordered.  We then headed back to St. Petersburg to visit some other women we had met in Nova Scotia last year.  We had a wonderful week there.

Jeannie and Pam
We met them in NE Cape Breton Island in Northern Nova Scotia.
They had just spent 2 months in Newfoundland!  (I'm still jealous!)

above and below: Easter Dinner at Pam and Jeannie's.

At this point we're basically treading water, waiting for the windows and some parts for our leveling system to arrive.

From St. Petersburg we went to Wauchula where there is a Thousand Trails campground.  Since we are members it doesn't cost us anything to stay there.  While we were there we went to Highlands Hammock State Park which was originally built by CCC'ers during the depression.  There was a wonderful little museum there that did an excellent job of showing what a CCC camp was like.

Some of the thousands of young men who joined the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps).

Typical tools used by CCCer's to clear the land and build roads in Florida.

Typical day for a CCC'er.  They worked hard but they also could attend educational classes after dinner.

Typical bunk house for a CCC'er.  Many of the programs were overseen by
military men so is it any wonder it looks like a barracks.

Highland's Hammock State Park today.  Lot's of trails wind through the park.

The canopy overhead in Highland's Hammock State Park.

From Wauchula we went to Largo, Florida where we were again able to stay for free and we once again saw our friends in St. Petersburg.  At this point we thought it would be good so see a Dr. since neither of us had seen one since we left Whidbey.  This simple act began our next series of adventures.  The Dr. visit led to blood tests, a mammogram and a visit to a Dermatologist for each of us.

We moved back over to Clermont to another Thousand Trails campground and started in on the various tests required.  Blood tests and mammogram all went smoothly.  I went to the dermatologist straight away because the Dr. didn't like the looks of a small growth just beneath my right nostril.  They took a biopsy and told me it very probably was a basal cell carcinoma.  I'd know the results within a week.

It did turn out to be what they thought so I made an appointment to have it removed at their main office in Winter Haven rather than wait for the Mohs specialist to get back to the Clermont office.

They day I had my Mohs surgery, Laura had her full body exam.  They did biopsies on three potential problem areas.  Now she was the one waiting for the results.  It turned out that two of the areas were benign but one, on her left cheek, was a basal cell carcinoma.  The day I had my stitches out she had her Mohs surgery and I had a full body exam.  If only I'd had it the first day I went in.  They found four additional suspicious areas.  More biopsies...more waiting for results.  Luckily only two of them were cancerous.  One, on top of my head, was a squamous cell carcinoma and the other, on my lower back, was another basal cell carcinoma.  Back I went for additional surgery.  Had them both done the same day, then had to wait two weeks before the stitches could come out!  Meanwhile, it's getting hotter and hotter in Florida.  Between the surgery, the humidity and the heat we were not happy campers.

The scar looks much better today than it did when this picture was taken.
They cleverly angled the incision to match the natural wrinkles around my mouth.

Immediately after the squamous cell carcinoma was removed from my head.
I swear people in the waiting room were chuckling when I came out of the surgical area.  I can verify that Laura and I could hardly stop laughing about this bandage.  I especially love the way it accentuates the flab under my chin.

The incision on the top of my head.
It was the most painful of all my incisions.

The incision on my back.  Looks like an ink blot test!

The incision on Laura's cheek.

Our campsite in Winter Haven taken from the end of the dock.  We're the rig behind the trees in the foreground.
The campground was mostly filled with people who were living there full time but it was right
on a lake and there were lots of nice flowers all around the area and interesting birds to watch along the shoreline.

An amaryllis just growing wild outside!

A beautiful double hibiscus.

Don't know what it is but it's probably a relative of the bird of paradise.

These ducks seemed to get in and out of this wooden box with no problems but
it seems like a little platform in front of the hole would be helpful.
Do they just aim for the hole and fly in?  

OK you birdwatchers - what is this???

About this time Barney developed some sort of allergy which left him with no appetite and scratching like crazy.  Of course a visit or two to a vet was required along with tests, etc.  Just watching him scratch made us slightly crazy.  Turned out he's highly allergic to Bahia grass which is all over Florida so all three of us are really wanting to get out of there.

Meanwhile, the windows and the parts for our leveling system arrived so we got those taken care of.  When we tried to get some propane they told us our tank looked so rusted and pitted they wouldn't fill it.  That led to looking for a place to refurbish it or a place to get a new one installed!  A new one was prohibitively expensive so we chose the refurbish route.  Found a place near Sebring that would do it so we headed there to get it done.  We then headed to Terra Ceia (near Bradenton) to hang out until the stitches could be removed.  Had some work done on our car while were where there, including new tires.

We saw so many trailers like this heading for the juicing plants. 
These oranges actually look ripe.  Many of the trailers had oranges that were awfully green.

Lots of watermelons grown in Florida.

When the two weeks were finally up we went back to Winter Haven to have my stitches removed, then headed north toward the border.  Made it to Lake City, FL, knowing we'd be in Georgia the next day!  It was already somewhat cooler there but rain may have had something to do with it.  Whatever it was, it was a relief.  Florida in the winter is wonderful but I don't know how people live there full time.

We're on our way north now - hopefully toward cooler climes.  YEA!