Tampa

A Month in Tampa 

/ marniesteve / 1 Comment

Since our last post, we said goodby to the beautiful Florida Keys where we spent a full month enjoying the water, sun (and some rain), and lots of relaxation. It was time for a change of scenery, and the Tampa area offered a plethora of options. Despite some downtime (thanks COVID), we fit in some real fun.

Our first stop was the Florida RV Supershow where we camped, explored one of the nation’s largest displays of new RVs and gadgets, and caught up with great friends we’ve met in previous years. Our group of buddies comes from all corners of the country and have such a good time together.

Kunio, Jeff, Cliff, and Steve
Kunio and Michelle, our Michigan neighbors!
The girls with fingerless gloves crocheted by Gail. Jennifer, Gail, Christine, Michelle, and Marnie

On the last day of the RV show I started feeling yucky and tested positive for COVID. Steve’s symptoms showed up a few days later. My symptoms, especially a cough and fatigue, hung on for nearly three weeks. Steve recovered in a few days. Luckily our COVID time was spent at a quiet campground at beautiful Fort Desoto, just south of  St. Petersburg. I didn’t leave the camper much in the nine days we were there but Steve got out to explore on runs and bike rides.

Positive
A little vitamin D on the beach at Ft. DeSoto

By the time we moved to the Madiera Beach/St. Petersburg KOA I was up for nightly sunsets at the nearby beach, and Steve enjoyed the adjacent Pinellas Trail which runs 45 miles from St. Petersburg north past Clearwater. 

Madiera Beach at sunset
Great sunset at Madiera Beach

By the time we arrived to the brand new Key Lime Bay Resort I was starting to feel like myself again and we set out for some adventures. The resort, located in a central location near Old Tampa Bay, offered lots of fun activities where we got to meet some cool people. We attended a takeover of the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, a lively Super Bowl party, and a Paint and Sip for Valentine’s Day, where we also celebrated Steve’s birthday. Yes, he painted too!

Big party at Key Lime Bay RV Resort
We signed up
Can you tell who painted each side?

In addition to painting, we celebrated Steve’s birthday with a dinner out and ice cream. Happy Birthday big guy!

New sign to display his 50 state marathon medals
Doesn’t look a day over 58

One day we took a walking tour of nearby Ybor City, the historic area of Tampa where hundreds of millions of cigars were rolled annually by immigrants from Cuba, Spain, and Italy. The traditional social clubs for each ethnic group still stand, and the stories of triumph and loss are compelling. The Cuban food is also pretty awesome!

Original worker housing
Honoring the Cuban influence

On other days we ventured a little further out of Tampa. First, we went to the Tampa Electric Manatee Viewing Center in Apollo Beach. Manatee need warmer water in the winter and the discharge canal from the power station is a designated manatee sanctuary that provides protection from the cold for these gentle animals. It’s a popular attraction as the well manicured park and viewing area is free to the public.

Mama with babies
Manatee Viewing Center
A few of the hundreds of manatee

We also made a morning excursion out to Plant City, the nation’s home of winter strawberries. The massive farmer/flea market, held on Wednesdays, was filled with all kinds of junk and gorgeous, red strawberries. Live music, food, and acres and acres of stuff kept us busy for awhile. But the shortcake was calling, so we set out for Parkesdale Farms. This farm stand in Plant City sells beautiful produce, fun garden stuff, and the best shortcake and strawberry shakes we’ve ever tasted. 

Nice day to shop for junk
Awesome half flat
So red and juicy
World’s most incredible strawberry shortcake
Strawberry queen

Nearby Clearwater is home to a beautiful outdoor amphitheater where one evening we saw an icon. Ninety-year old Willie Nelson and the Family played on a lovely evening, and we were thrilled we can finally say we’ve seen the legend.

At the Sound Amphitheater in Clearwater
Willie and the Family on stage

Another fun day trip in the Tampa area is a visit to the Tarpon Springs Sponge Docks. In operation since the 1870s, Greek sponge divers left their homeland to cultivate a booming industry which is now considered, “The Sponge Capital of the World.” Amidst of tourist shops and fabulous Greek restaurants we watched fisherman prepare their harvest right on the boats. Tarpon Springs is a nice day trip if you are ever in the Tampa area. 

Fishermen with sponge haul
Statue honring Greek sponge divers
Greek boats

Downtown Tampa features a 2.5 mile Boardwalk which traverses the Hillsborough River and the bay. Passing museums, hotels, the convention center, and historic sites, the boardwalk makes for a nice morning walk. We even found the Tampa library and their book sale and scored some good titles. 

Tampa Riverwalk
Searching for book bargains

After our walk we hit what is considered the “world’s oldest brewery,” Yuengling. Founded in Pottsville, PA, the Tampa outpost is a huge facility that has a great taphouse. We enjoyed a flight that included “everything” and decided our favorite was the Hershey’s Chocolate Porter.

Yuengling Brewery
The “Everything” Flight
Nosh plate at Yuengling

All in all we spent a little over a month in Tampa, had mostly decent weather, and met some nice people. Now it’s time to head West with a few more stops and a marathon along the way!

2022 Tampa RV Supershow & Rally

/ marniesteve / 2 Comments

For the second year we attended the biggest RV show in the country, the Tampa RV Supershow. The 2022 show was massive compared to 2021 and we were in the thick of it.

In our role as Lippert Scouts we camped on the grounds of the Florida State Fair with other Scouts. Together we enjoyed a great happy hour sponsored by Lippert, which allowed us to get to know our fellow Scouts and the Lippert staff. You can be a Lippert Scout too! Just join us on Facebook.

Steve representing
Happy Hour
Bob, meet Tanya
Lippert Scouts Happy Hour Crew

Nightly “campfire” chats with plenty of good wine and munchies finished each day. By the end of the week we had renewed friendships made last year and made new friends for life!

Campfire
Steve and Bob staying warm

Lippert is the largest maker of RV components. They were strongly represented at the show with a fun expo booth which was our meeting place throughout the week. Fun stuff happening there.

Lippert booth
Steve, Tanya, and Marnie

Our Scouts leader, Tanya, was always available with energy and a smile…and lots of love for the dogs!

Tanya loves Bob
Steve and Tanya

To promote the Scouts program throughout the show, we volunteered to drive golf carts throughout the grounds, offering rides to anyone who needed a lift.

Ready to drive
Starting his first shift

The show grounds are vast and once in the mix of it, it’s easy to get lost. Both of us drove tired and lost souls to their cars, to food, to the exits…wherever they needed to go. Along the way we learned their stories and offered a little information about Lippert Scouts. Everyday was a new adventure, driving through crowds of over 20,000 people, dodging the daily parade of entertainers.

Poodle parade
Steve making tall friends
Daily parade

Of course we did a little shopping throughout the week. We checked out the latest models of our favorite brands and drooled on a few. Ultimately we reminded ourselves that the rig we have is just perfect! Of course, we bought several doo-dads for our trailer to make it even more perfect!

Steve exploring the Airstreams

We had such a fun week making new friends and connecting with those we hadn’t seen in a year. We’re already looking forward to next year.

Gail and Jeff
Mia loves Kunio
Mia, Michelle and Kunio

After a high energy, busy, 100% RV week, we’re now settled in a beautiful state park, resting up, restocking, and getting back to “normal.” 

2021 Tampa RV Supershow

/ marniesteve / 1 Comment

RV shows and rallys are where RVers learn about the latest new products, swap stories about time on the road, and connect with others who share the passion for road living. The Florida RV Supershow, held every January in Tampa, FL is the big daddy of all the shows, so it’s been on our agenda since we bought our first rig. The 2021 show was probably not as big and crazy as in the past due to the pandemic, but we still enjoyed the experience.

For five days we had full access to the Florida State Fairgrounds and the over 1500 RVs and hundreds of related-vendors. There was roving entertainment, fair food, and lots of opportunities to learn, shop, and gawk.

We toured big, million dollar Class As, truck campers, lots of fifth wheels, and even camper vans. No, we didn’t buy a new RV, though we looked at plenty!

We did, however, buy a bunch of stuff to make our lives on the road a little easier.  Here are a few of our fun finds, including a sign for the rig, a new rug, a garden flag stand, a new Garmin 890 RV GPS, and a new travel journal. Not pictured is a new Blackstone griddle which is still in the box, but sure to produce some great dinners in our future.

We also participated in our first RV rally during the show as part of Lippert Scouts. Lippert is a major RV and marine component company, and we are part of their Lippert Scouts ambassador group. Along with about 20 other Scouts, we camped on the grounds of the show, had easy in and out access for the entire time, and met a bunch of other fun, like-minded people. 

Being part of the group really enhanced our experience and we loved the nightly campfires. Around the fire we shared ideas for living on the road, campgrounds to visit, national parks to explore, and strategies for navigating in a big rig. We now have a group of friends from around the country who completely understand our current way of life.

The show and rally required masks inside and outside, had hand sanitizer available everywhere, and limited the number of people inside each rig at a time. We were careful to follow all the protocols and are feeling great. We know there is a risk to traveling during the pandemic and the risk is increased by attending events like this. However, we are determined to stay active and continue our explorations, with as much care as possible. So far, so good.

And the verdict on RV shows and rallys? We’re already planning to attend next year’s show, hopefully again as part of Lippert Scouts.