Arrived Clearwater Area - Vacation Village

After travelling some 3 hours up the Gulf Coast, I settled in here in mid afternoon -- with a problematic u-turn just to get into the RV park (instructions with my confirmation mentioned the park would be on the left but, not that you had to make a u-turn -- farther to the west).  Managed to maneuver slowly through the small development of houses next to this property thanks to the help of a woman who came out just when I had nearly unhooked the Jeep in order to back out and onto the highway again -- small sign into her development (barely visible to me until I pulled in there) said there was no RV turnaround.  She rightly had me directed otherwise and I made the immediate right into Vacation Village.

Like so many other RV parks in Florida, most of the sites here are occupied full-time by retirees who have leased or bought the sites and planted their RVs or single-wide trailer homes -- a couple were quite extraordinary as you can see from the pics.

This one had a couple American flags sticking out of the front when I returned this evening.  A couple camper trailers looked to be rotting in place, including some of the exposed wood framing and materials used to add porches and other rooms.

This one had old New Jersey plates on the back (maybe from the 1980s) and from the looks of it, doubt that it is still roadworthy -- though I was surprised to see that its awnings on the opposite side were not completely rotted through or shredded into pieces.  Insulation on the windshield is held in place on the outside with duct tape.

The drive up had some annoyances again with the one, front left leveller not fully retracting again -- just an inch shy so, the "beeping" sound accompanied me all the way (only minimized by cranking up some loud country music stations).  Another annoyance was the Patriot brake system again which started out fine from the KOA campground but, when I neared I-75N approaches it gave me a "Breakaway" message and wouldn't settle down so, I had to turn it off.  Another thing to be checked out before heading to Panama City Beach next Monday.

On the way up here too, it should be specially noted that I came around on I-275 toward St. Petersburg and it goes over the Sunshine Skyway which is a magnificent bridge with the most spectacular views of Tampa Bay, its beautiful waters and surrounding towns.  The structure itself is really impressive and has 3 lanes each way -- the $2 toll is well worth it so don't avoid it.  Stop at the Fishing Piers and Rest Stops after the toll booths -- I didn't for fear they couldn't accomodate my big rig (there were semi-tractor trailers pulled in so anybody can fit).  Amazing to see the fishing piers from either side which allow vehicles onto the piers and people were parked right next to where they were fishing.