Delray Beach

Del Raton RV Park  is family owned since 1973. This is my fifth year visiting.
Head of the family, Arthur, helpful, knowledgeable and always friendly.

Sites are tight. Amenities includes water, 30/50 amp service, sewer, laundry, showers.
A shopping center including Walmart across the street as is Tim Finnegan's Irish Pub

Morning coffee outside is pleasant and quiet. Ray and Walter are missed.
I have yet to catch a glimpse of neighbors but I do hear a yapper on the other side.

The morning breezes are to be enjoyed; the afternoon heat enjoyed inside with the AC

Lizards (could be a curly tailed lizard) grow a tad bigger down here in Delray Beach

My stay here is the closest I get to my cousin Norma who lives in Boca Raton, 11 miles to the southwest and my main means of transportation. The other highlight of my week-long stay is getting together with fellow retiree from BMMS, Jim and wife, Missie, who live in Boynton Beach, 15 miles to the north. My annual get-together with each is something I look forward to each year. How interesting would it be for me to describe or share my enjoyment of cozy living while traveling in Winnie? No, not interesting at all. The joy is sharing the adventures with my company and best of all, the wonderful dining experiences. And so it continues. Be sure to click on the links to get the full flavor of what I experienced so as not to make these blogs any longer than they need be.

My first day, Norma picked me up and we drove to  Bedner's Farm for lunch at Cheri's NY Top Dogs. Daughter Cheri is enjoying her 17th year at Bedner's on weekends providing delicious Sabrett hot dogs and all the topping choices you can imagine. To me, hot dogs always taste better when eaten outdoors.

The menu

Once again, I enjoyed the company of Jim and Missie for our annual dinner. The choice this year was Latitudes at Highland Beach, a part of the Delray Sands Resort; an oceanfront restaurant and lounge that has five distinctive dining spaces including the outdoor Ocean Terrace, the Chef's Seafood Bar and the Wave Pool Bar.

  

While waiting for our Ocean Side
table, I enjoyed a Blue Pointe Draft Ale

Thank you, Yves, our server, for this photo. We're enjoying LaCrema Pinot Noir.

After sharing a Tuna Poke (raw cubed tuna with mango, macadamia nuts, scallions, crispy wonton chips), I enjoyed the Lobster and Crab-Stuffed Jumbo Shrimp entrée served with white corn polenta, sautéed garlic parmesan spinach, crisp onion rings.

A raspberry cheesecake with raspberry coulis for Jim and...

...Missie and I shared a Coconut Bombe Cake with raspberry coulis and coconut gelato.

Delicious and filling dessert

Monday's lunch with Norma was at JB's in Deerfield Beach 

JAMAICAN TWELVE SPEED

Don Q coconut, Midori, crème de banana, piña colada, Ron Zacapa floater

Our appetizer - LOBSTER FLATBREAD

Wood-grilled crust with fontina cheese, buttered lobster, tomato, garlic and micro basil

Norma's healthy meal - JANET’S LOBSTER & SHRIMP SALAD

Half of a steamed and chilled Maine lobster, topped with shrimp salad, served over mixed greens with hearts of palm, tomatoes, mango salsa, scallions, cucumbers, roasted red peppers and mango dressing.

My not-so-healthy Fish & Chips: Beer-battered Icelandic cod, served with citrus tartar sauce, French fries and coleslaw;
Cod was cut into three portions and taken home for future meals. Yes, I've got to get away from fried foods.

A Wednesday lunch at Carrabba's in Delray Beach, FL

The Lunch Trio: Minestrone soup, salad and...

...Four-Cheese and Sausage stuffed mushrooms

Yet another of the many treats I enjoy while visiting here in Delray; the opportunity to visit Norma at her home in Boca Raton. Before and since the passing of my cousin, Larry, many, many years have been spent enjoying their hospitality and her cooking which has always been  unsurpassed.

This is how I relax with a glass of wine in the screened in porch, called lanais in Florida, each time I visit. Today, we waited for Carlo who drove in from the west coast to join us.

Carlo, Norma and I returned to one of their favorite places, (with another on the agenda), Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza.

A cold, tall, Blue Moon Draft

Thin, well done crust, loads of cheese and small chunks of tomato.

While waiting for doors to open,
a view of the outdoor dining available but Happy
 Hour prices were inside...as was air conditioning.

And for my "last supper," we returned to Luigi di Roma Ristorante and Lounge, another of Carlo and Norma's favorite dining spots. I've been here before with Norma in years past and have always enjoyed the upscale atmosphere and many delicious selections. Be sure to click on the "Gallery" tab if you visit their website.  Even on a Thursday, the Happy Hour proved to be a popular gathering place. Arriving just before 4:00 pm, there were 8 couples lined up at the door waiting for that door to open as though it was Black Friday at Walmart. Although we weren't trampled, we were able to get a great table near the bar tended by their favorite, Brian. Later on, we ordered and enjoyed dinner. At 6 pm, the bar crowd  dwindled and the dining room became very busy.

Five-Cheese Ravioli in a marinara sauce before adding cheese. Half came home with me.

So, with a ton of thank yous to Norma for picking me up and allowing me more terrific dining experiences, this year's visit to Delray comes to an end. The weather has been perfect; warm, sunny but very dry. Florida is in need of a few torrential downpours...the natural type, not the hurricane type. I've been in Florida two months and have witnessed just one 15-minute soaking downpour event while in Clermont.

Next up is Easter weekend in the Miami area visiting granddaughter, Sara, who lives there and Chuck/Silvia/Aaron who will fly in for a few days. See you there.

Elite Resort at Citrus Valley - March Part Two

And just like that another month slipped by. With my sights set on Delray Beach, life goes on and I filled it the best way I know how: savoring and appreciating the warmth of the sun, the caress of evening breezes, the company of friends both dining and before the hypnotic flames of campfires.  And life goes on for my friends as well. Vicki flew up to North Carolina for a few days while George "kittysat" Stella, Fran and Walt went up to Perry, Georgia, for a rally week, Tony and Doreen visited friends in Jensen Beach for an overnight and Noreen and Jack headed back home to New York.

One Sunday afternoon I once again enjoyed the company of Daytona Beach friends, Mya and Mark who traveled the hour+ to visit me here in Clermont. Here, we met son Zane, from Buena Vista and friend, Amanda, from Orlando, Off we went to dinner at Mito Sushi & Grill located just outside the resort in the nearby Publix Plaza. It was my first sushi meal while here in Clermont. I enjoyed the 10-piece Firecracker Roll. 

Firecracker Roll: Shrimp, crab meat and avocado, fried in tempura with chef special sauce, tobiko and green onion.

After dinner, Mark and Mya stayed and enjoyed the campfire along with friends, Ray/Kathy, George, Roberta, Tony/Doreen and Jack.

Mark, Mya, Zane, Amanda

DiRomios Italian Restaurant was another dining destination for Tony/Doreen, Roberta and me. My cheese calzone was huge and provided three meals. I also ordered a to-go meal of penne al pesto with pine nuts, parmesan and fresh basil sauce for future dinners.

On March 14th, I witnessed my first rocket launch from Cape Canaveral as the CRS 37 Dragon Launch made it's 17th trip to the ISS, circling 210 miles overhead at 17,500 mph. The Cargo ship was carrying a payload for 60 new scientific experiments as well as vehicle hardware and food for the astronauts. The ISS costing three billion dollars a year to maintain and operate has been in orbit for more than twenty years and occupied with humans for fifteen. Although we're 80 miles west of Cape Kennedy, the two videos presented below will give you an idea of the awe-inspiring experience. The first video is courtesy of Nettie who lives about .2 of a mile from our location.

The second video, courtesy of Roberta, captured what we saw from my campsite.

You can watch the entire launch on YouTube HERE. A fascinating fact heard in the broadcast; the Falcon 9 booster, after separation, returned to a drone recovery ship successfully for the 178th time. Upon landing its speed of descent goes from twice the speed of a jet airplane to 0 mph in less than a minute. There was an all female crew recovery team that will take the recovered booster back to land. Later that evening we were able to see the ISS passing from our southwest to the northeast. At the time of the rocket was launched, the ISS was located over the Indian Ocean. The occupants get to see 16 sunrises and sunsets each day. For more fascinating facts and figures for the ISS, click HERE,

Thursday Tony, Doreen, Roberta and I traveled just three miles to nearby I Love NY Pizza . There we were in this Italian restaurant being served by Mexicans watching TVs in Spanish on St. Patrick's Day eating pizza.

The parsley garnish added some green.

The bottle added some green.

My shirt added some green

Tony & Doreen

Pizza was terrific; thin crust and tasty sauce. (half came home)

We were entertained by a very talented young man strolling throughout
with a unique violin whose sound was projected and amplified (a tad too loud).

The following evening I was among the guests (Mike, Chrissy, Fran, Walter, Tony, Doreen, George and Roberta) to once again visit the home of Ray and Kathy for the traditional corned beef, cabbage and vegetable dinner. Because of Kathy's bad foot and under her direction, Ray did all the preparation from setting up to cooking the excellent meal. We each contributed an appetizer or dessert.

A belated birthday cake for Fran.

Perhaps a scene during rest time at the home?

Corned beef, cabbage, veggies with Irish soda bread and 
dollops of spicy mustard and horseradish.

With just thirteen days left to this leg of my winter travels, plans were made to visit Disney Springs and catch a production of Cirque du Soleil's Drawn to Life. 

"This tribute to Disney Animation's art embraces the actions and feelings of life. The plot of the show focuses on a motivated young woman who finds one last item left by her animator father—a collection of incomplete sketches. She sets out on an exciting quest infused with her Disney childhood memories, assisted by a magical pencil and a funny band of creative muses. We'll accompany her as she dives into an imaginative realm of animation and unearths fresh options that bring her future into motion." See the trailer HERE

A photo taken before it was
announced they're not allowed.

The 90-minute performance with no intermission was outstanding. Audiences are mesmerized by the non-stop activities taking place on stage. Distractions are everywhere while, in the dark, other parts of the stage are being prepared. From the revolving backstage to sets that rise from beneath the floor, your breath is taken away while you watch aerial artists perform. I wanted to find out the nationalities of the international  performers (many appeared to be in their late teens) and found 16 amazing facts that make the experience even more outstanding. The athleticism of the acrobatics, scenic design, technical lighting and staging as well as the projection techniques featuring Disney characters were mind-blowing. 

What were the chances that Tony would
find a parking spot right across the street.

After the show, our crowd (Ray/Kathy, Fran/Walter, Mike/Chrissy, Roberta, Tony/Doreen) dined once again at Longhorn Steakhouse. You know what I had if you read my last blog.

A belated Happy Birthday for Fran

They forced me to take a spoonful as Fran's dessert was passed around.

Finishing my last week here in Clermont, Tony, Doreen, Roberta and I squeezed in a breakfast at KeKe's Breakfast Café........

My usual: scrambled eggs, home fries and an (almost) English muffin.
I passed on the $5.49 side of bacon.

...and a next to the "last supper" at Amore Ristorante where we were able to pin down twelve of us who were expertly and pleasantly served by Cassidy. Recently opened in January, owners Julian and Alda Serjani have succeeded making this upscale "from scratch" restaurant beautiful with an elegant ambiance and plenty of classic homemade selections. For a Monday night it was quite busy.

l. to r: Ray, Chrissy, Roberta, ACR, Doreen, Fran, Walter, Vicki, George, Mike, Kathy.

(Thank you Cassidy)

Pasta Fajioli

Capellini Primavera
Sauteed vegetables with garlic and
olive oil served over angel hair pasta

Tony & Doreen's Tiramisu at Amore

Some of us went next door to
Kelly's Homemade Ice Cream.
I had  two scoops of butter pecan
in a waffle bowl.

One more dinner on Wednesday...okay, this is the "last" one with Ray/Kathy and Doreen/Tony. We went to Carrabba's Italian Grill. This was my first visit to a Carrabba's. With an extensive dinner menu, I settled on...

Ravioli stuffed with lobster and Romano
cheese in a white wine cream sauce topped
with diced tomato and enjoyed a wonderful Valpolicella.

Taster's Note: Well-structured wine, with a soft, long and persistent finish. Brilliant ruby red in color, with a pleasant scent of wild berries. Dry and velvety on the palate, it is characterized by a bitter almond finish.

Classic Tiramisu (shared)

A second trip back to Amore (really...this was the last dinner out) with Tony and Doreen. It afforded me another homemade choice.

...Gnocchi Bolognese

Gnocchi pasta mixed with their homemade Bolognese sauce.

Half of this melt-in-your-moth taste treat went home for a future meal

And for those who have issues with me enjoying Italian dining pleasures three time in four days, I can express myself with Italian sign language:

Translation: "What? You don't like Italian cuisine?

Earlier before Roberta left we had a campfire with everyone present. Sadly, I won't see another one like this until June.

Some evenings were chilly with a breeze but if you're prepared, the fire still felt good.

I cannot end my last post at Elite without sharing my heart felt thanks to the wonderful people I know and with others I've had the pleasure of meeting. There was:

Morning coffee;

Gatherings for evening campfires and those contributing sacks of wood;

Trips to restaurants, grocery shopping and haircuts;

Receiving, holding and delivering my mail and packages as well as a place to do laundry;

An endless supply of wine, gin and tonics and ice;

For fear of leaving something/someone out, you know who you are and I thank you.

And, as always, central to the good life I enjoy is the love of food.

Even as I prepared to leave on Friday, 3/31st, the thoughtfulness and generosity continued:

Potato Bacon Soup
Theresa across the street brought over a bowl for me one evening. Outstanding with loads of flavor and the right consistency to stick-to-your-ribs, perfect for a chilly night.

Having returned from a week at home in Michigan, Theresa gave me a special treat to see me off on my last day. Candy made in her hometown. The solid milk chocolate is in the shape of the Upper Peninsula. A Yooper is a native or inhabitant of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Check out Sayklly's Candies HERE.

The best homemade oatmeal raisin cookies you'll find anywhere are made by Kathy M.
She made a plate of these special treats for me and given on the last day...As were

...these pumpkin apple strudel muffins baked by Nettie. Nettie has been the liaison between the owners of sites I've rented these past two years. She and hubby, Chuck, are the proud owners of the two beautiful Goldens, Clare and Finnegan, you may remember from my last blog post.

So this concludes my two month stay in Clermont, Florida, home of the Elite RV Resort. The owners of my lot, Russ and Sherri, from whom I'll rent again next year, travel extensively from January to October and maintain their own blog. I received their latest and wanted to share the link with my fellow RVers or anyone else planning to travel. It shares the unique opportunity for you to obtain audio tours of the places you visit without a guide. Check it out HERE

My next stop is a return visit to Delray Beach, FL I've stayed here many times in the past. This centrally located campground allows me to visit more friends and relatives. I look forward to sharing the experience with you. Meanwhile, stay well, stay happy and stay safe.

 

"I'm finding old age is coming at a very bad time in my life. People my age are so much older than me." --?