Golf Carting at The Villages

Roger here...

We spent several
days at The Villages visiting my brother, Dick, and my sister-in-law, Pam.  What a great reunion!  The opening pictures show Dick and his pride and joy golf cart all tricked out in a Purdue theme.

Golf-carting is everything in this gigantic community between Ocala and Orlando.  

Most of the residents can take care of all their needs via their golf cart.  The golf cart paths are endless, leading to the various villages, groceries, entertainment complexes, pharmacies, restaurants, bars, dancing, golf, swimming, and endless activities.  You really only need a car for travel.
There are even gas stations exclusively for golf carts.

But back to the reason for our visit before returning to our brief golf-cart life style.

We had not seen Dick and Pam since our daughter's wedding last December.  Dick has been wanting for us to see his new retirement home and community. 
  

They offered us a spot in their driveway for four nights.  Backing in was another adventure, but after several tries I did get it backed in.  Although, the position of the two vehicles was reversed due to my incompetence.  Oh well.

Dick and Pam's house was really nice, as expected.  We especially loved the view of "the preserve" from their glassed-in lanai.

Our dogs spent their days on the lanai in air-conditioned comfort.  At night they slept with us in the guest room.



Happy hours were fun on the lanai.

Break in the action. It is time for.....


Dianne's Teensy-Weensy Trailer Tip:

To organize things like our checkbooks, pens, pencils, address book, internet code book, wallet, etc. I found these nifty organizers on Amazon.   They sit on the back rests of the dinette and make all these items handy and in one spot.  I put spare change in the little drawer:

I organize our receipts into envelopes by month.   I have obviously saved these since 1989 and I KNEW they'd come in handy some day!

Wallet, sunglasses, and our calendar fit in the back side of the above organizer, which swivels.   Everything at our fingertips!

Golf Carting Time....

Dick rented a four-seater so that we could all ride in the same cart.  He took us everywhere --- well not everywhere --- this place is too big to see in four days.  

We visited four of the many village squares.  This is Lake Sumpter Landing.  It sits on the shore of Sumpter Lake.

We stopped to take some very interesting walks.  Dick and Pam  know that we love the natural world, so strolls through the wilder (but tamed) areas were great fun.

Most of these pictures were taken from raised boardwalks.  We could see down into the water.

We lingered quite a while in this water lilly spot.  So serene.  So quiet.  So peaceful.

The days were very warm.  This heron is breathing through an opened mouth in an attempt to stay cool.

We rode past this polo field, something new for us. They were preparing for a three-day hot air balloon festival.  

The Eisenhower Recreation Center was a particular treat.  It was filled with WWII memorabilia --- pictures, documents, uniforms, etc.

The meeting room with the replicas of presidential chairs was really cool.

When Pam wasn't preparing sumptuous meals for us, we ate at the various villages.  After lunch at the Fenton town square, Dianne discovered this antique pump organ that was identical to one her grandmother owned.  

Entertainment....

Dick and Pam enjoying a pre-entertainment beer

All of the villages have entertainment every night at 4:30 p.m.

The mo-town group, below, that we listened to on our second night was outstanding.  I must say though, that watching ladies (not Dianne or Pam) line dancing to the motown music was unique.  I wonder what the band members thought?

Did I mention that all of this entertainment was during happy hour?  The half-priced red wine that I bought for Dianne was poured from a bottle into a beer cup.  My jaw dropped when I saw that lady pouring a half-bottle of wine into that large cup.  Dianne was gobsmacked when I brought it to her :-).

The Last Golf Cart Ride...

On the last day, four of Dick's friends treated us to an expansive tour.  Dianne and I rode with Mitch and Deb.  Mitch was the tour leader extraordinaire.  He was a fraternity brother of Dick's at Purdue and a great guy.  Bruce and Veronica followed.  Bruce worked with Dick years ago.  We have known all of them for years.  Bruce and Veronica actually joined us on white-water rafting trips in West Virginia years ago.  Bruce drove the RV and we actually did return home safely :-).  

The Village People at lunch...

Bruce, Veronica, Mitch, Deb, Dick, Pam, and the back of Dianne's head

Everyone joined us back at Dick and Pam's house for dinner.  It was so much fun reuniting with old friends.

One Last Golf Cart....

Mitch rolled up before we left the next morning so that we could see his pride and joy.  His Streetrod is something else!

Top Up

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The End!

We are currently spending our last week in Florida visiting our daughter, Amanda, her boyfriend, Dave, and our granddaughter, Kaia.  Special times.  More on that later!