93 Strawberry fields

   February 1, 2014
      So why Polk City and Gary and Betty. 1 they had invited us,  2 they were friends from our Pioneer home and 3. they keep taunting us with this picture of them enjoying fresh strawberries in the middle of winter.  We have to get a piece of that.  

The  Strawberry capital!

     When we arrived at their winter home we instantly felt comfortable,  An interesting RV park, you are required to have a class A motor home to purchase there.  Now once you are residents you are allowed to build on your property.  Some start with a shelter for their motorhome and then expand it to a living area while others are not so subtle about it.  Putting up a dwelling on their property.   Most have a nice little storage shed at the rear that usually gets converted to an extra room some with a bath and shower.   Park rules won't allow you to sleep in the sheds or set up a camper like ours so I won't be able to tell where we spent the night.   It is quite a social park with golf carts carrying the residents back and forth waving and stopping to share stories.  Nice people, we got to meet a few on their rounds.  It wasn't long before Gary and Betty asked if we wanted to get some strawberry shortcake. ( thought they would never 

alleged sleeping quarters

ask.)  It wasn't long until we were parked at Parkesdale Farm Market.  The line of people told us we weren't the only ones anxious to have something sweet.  The Parke family immigrated from Ireland and eventually settled in Plant City Florida world renown for raising strawberries and vegetables.  In 1969 a daughter and her husband started the market adding their famous strawberry shortcake in 1980 now drawing people from all over the world, sporting pictures of presidents enjoying their treat.  Delicious, we will return here someday.  

Vern, Ruthie, Betty and Gary!

     That evening burgers and brats and another local treat.  Gary had told us the story of strawberry onions, they are planted around the edge of strawberry fields to keep bugs and pests away they pick up a sweet flavor of its own.  Gary and Ruthie reminisced about onion sandwiches when the were young, however Betty and I were happy just to add them to our burgers. 
      Now I'm still not admitting where we slept that night however if we were to sleep in the little storage shed a conversation to our children back home may have went something like this.  Me "We are sleeping In a storage shed. Ruthie "it is not, it has carpet. Me "I see a work bench and a bicycle. Miss sunshine "the ceiling is textured and it has a ceiling fan" Me "I see bug spray, citronella and linseed oil.". Miss glass half full. "There is a washer and dryer and curtains on the door". Me "I see an open umbrella (makes me want to take a photograph) paint supplies, a shovel and lawn furniture.  Ruthie "It has a bathroom and it is very nice." Final word. 

Just like Michelle's, one of her Harley friends
 noted that my foot wasn't touching the floor.

     The next morning after a pleasant night in our undisclosed sleeping accommodations we headed to "The Waffle house" for a T bone breakfast with our hosts and some of their park neighbors.   It happened to be right next door to a Harley Davidson dealer so we took the opportunity to tease our daughter with a picture of us on a Cycle like she just purchased. 
     Fun couple and we really appreciate the overnight stay, thanks again you two are great!  
     Now turning south we headed for Naples!