I wrote in Thursday’s blog post that while the Peace River NACO campground was okay, we really didn’t care for the town of Wauchula very much, and that if we could change our reservation and leave early and go back up to the Orlando Thousand Trails, we’d do it.

That same afternoon, I got a call from the folks at Camping Connection in Kissimmee telling us that both our new entry door latch and the parts for our Norcold refrigerator recall had come in, and they wanted to schedule a time to come in to get them installed. That was all the incentive I needed; I went up to the office, told them we needed to leave early, and they shortened our reservation. So yesterday morning we pulled out and drove the 75 miles  back to the Orlando Thousand Trails.

Traffic was light most of the way, but if you hear anything about a motorhome being involved in a high speed chase with the local police, here’s the story: We were on State Route 60, waiting for oncoming traffic to clear so we could make a left turn onto the ramp to U.S. Highway 27 at Lake Wales. All of a sudden, a police car roared up behind us with his lights and siren on. He tried to climb up onto the island on the left to get past us, but his car couldn’t get over the high curb, and I was stuck waiting for traffic to get out of the way.

The way the road and ramp are configured there, with curving concrete islands and guardrails, there was no place for me to pull over or go to get out of his way, except right onto the ramp, so that’s what we did the minute there was a break in the traffic. I sped down the curved ramp and onto the highway, our kitchen drawers flying open and things rattling around inside the coach, with him right behind us. The minute I was past the guardrail and had room to get over, I did, and he flew past us headed north. Once the excitement wore off, I told Terry I bet anybody seeing that was wondering if that idiot in the motorhome towing the SUV really believed he could outrun the cops!

Once we arrived at the Thousand Trails and got settled into our site, Charles Deutschmann stopped in to say hello. Charles and his wife Nancy were at our last Arizona Gypsy Gathering rally in March, and now they are parked in the RV site next to us. It’s a small world, especially in the RV community.

We took a ride around the campground, admiring the way folks decorated their rigs for the holidays. Some opted for simple things like Santa caps on their mirrors, or maybe a wreath or bow on the front end.

A few folks went a little further, and decorated a tree, or put out a lawn ornament or two.

But these folks take the prize. Talk about going all out for Christmas! I wonder if they carry all of that stuff in their motorhome year round, or store it someplace?

Our friends Dave and Jean Damon, who sell 303 products at RV rallies, are here at the campground, so we got together and had our Christmas dinner together at, where else? A Chinese buffet! The food was good and the company was even better. Here is a picture the waitress took of our well fed, happy group.

I’m glad we came up yesterday, because the weather is supposed to get nasty for the next few days, with wind and rain predicted for today. In fact, just before midnight when I wrote this, it was raining off and on, and the wind was really rattling our window awnings and slide toppers!

Today’s high is supposed to be 51 degrees, and overnight lows the next three nights are supposed to be in the 20s! I probably won’t be doing much, except sitting inside reading, watching TV, and oh yes, sniveling. Lots and lots of sniveling. Tell me again, why did I come to Florida for the winter?

Thought For The Day – Eat drink and be merry, for tomorrow they may make it illegal.

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For years people have been telling us about this guy named Solomon, and about the castle he built for himself, way out in the citrus groves of central Florida. It was one of those places I figured we’d get to “someday” when we had nothing better to do. Well, someday came, and I’m sure glad it did!

Solomon’s Castle is the home, studio, and brainchild of artist/sculptor Howard Solomon. Howard built the place by hand, using scrounged building materials and junk to create an eclectic attraction that is well worth the time it takes to get there.

The outside of the castle is silver, and closer inspection reveals that Howard covered the exterior with used newspaper printing plates.  There is an amazing amount of detail that is easy to miss at first glance, such as the stained glass windows in the towers.

And what’s a castle without knights to protect the gates?

                                

We took a tour of Solomon’s Castle, and our guide was a fun lady who pointed out little things that display the artist’s quirky sense of humor. What the rest of us see as junk is raw material just waiting to be transformed into the visions floating around in Howard’s head.  Howard uses everything from old car parts and cast off appliances, to beer cans and scrap lumber in the creative process.

Here are his Piston People, made out of old car pistons. Below them is a toy Ford tractor made out of a discarded gas can and a frying pan.

This painting is actually a mosaic made from bits of wood. Below that, old pipes, metal rods, and tin cans were transformed into this band of musicians.

Evil Kornevil is a motorcycle made out of an old corn picker. What a gift to see so much beauty in everyday junk!

I’ve seen a lot of guns in my time, but nothing like these contraptions!

How would you like to meet up with this scary fellow in a dark alley?

Hmmm… Howard didn’t impress me as a Democrat!

Here’s Howard’s tribute to artist Norman Rockwell.

The tour includes Howard and his wife Peggy’s living quarters on the second floor of the castle, where a self-portrait of the artist hangs on the wall.

These beautiful stained glass windows were in a small six sided room Howard built especially to accommodate a chandelier a friend gave him as a gift.

Besides the castle, Howard also built the Boat in a Moat, a replica of a Spanish galleon, which is a restaurant, with an adjacent gift shop for those who work up an appetite playing tourist.

He even has his very own reproduction of the Alamo, in case you can’t get to Texas to see the original one.

After the tour, we were honored to meet Howard, and he gave Terry and I a private tour of his workshop. Miss Terry loves tools, and Howard sure had a bunch of them!

We got to see some of Howard’s unfinished projects in the workshop.

I can’t remember ever meeting anybody with a combination of so much talent, such a great sense of humor, and such a down to earth friendly personality. Howard is a gentle soul who makes you feel like a friend the first time you meet him.

He has a quick comeback for every question, such as when somebody asked him where he gets his inspiration, and he replied “Drugs and alcohol.”

If you haven’t made a trip to Solomon’s Castle yet, you owe it to yourself to put it in your travel itinerary. I guarantee you’ll get a few chuckles out of the experience, and if you’re like me, you’ll also be amazed at what a person can create when they let their imagination run wild.

Solomon’s Castle is located east of Bradenton, Florida, off State Route 64. For more information on the castle, hours of operation, and directions, visit the Solomon’s Castle website.

Terry and I want to wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas, and all the best in the coming New Year. Living in a motorhome,  we don’t have a Christmas tree, and if we did, there wouldn’t be any presents to put under it, because we have all we need. We have each other, we have a family that we love, and we have friends like all of you. What more could anyone ever want or need? Each of you is a bright and shining star on the Christmas tree of our souls.

Thought For The Day -  Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

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After reading yesterday’s Bad Nick Blog, titled Armed Citizens Fight Back, several readers e-mailed me to ask if I have a concealed weapon carry (CCW) permit, and how fulltime RVers can get a permit to carry a handgun.

I actually have two CCW permits, a non-resident from Arizona, and a permit from South Dakota, our state of domicile. Between the two of them, those permits are honored in a total of 36 states that have reciprocity agreements with the states that issued my permits. On the map below, the states in blue all honor one or both of my permits.

Getting a concealed carry permit depends on your home state. Some states require you to pass a concealed carry course and demonstrate proficiency with your weapon before you can qualify for a permit. Others simply issue a permit to people who meet the necessary requirements.

In South Dakota, it’s as simple as filling out a form and submitting it to the Sheriff in your home county. After a background check, you go to the Sheriff’s office, pay a small fee (under $20 as I recall), and your permit is issued. Check with the Sheriff in your county for specific information.

The other two states most popular with fulltime RVers also issue concealed weapons permits to their residents. For Florida residents, this link to the Florida concealed carry permit requirements will help you determine what is required. Texas residents can click this link to Texas CCW information.

Arizona, Texas, and Utah all issue concealed carry permits to non-residents who meet their requirements to obtain such a permit. Check each individual state’s website for information on non-resident permits.

At our Arizona Gypsy Gathering rally in Yuma, Byron Hibshman will be giving a seminar on Transporting Firearms In Your RV. Byron will also be doing an evening class to qualify for a Utah non-resident CCW permit. You can contact Byron at his Traveling CCW website for class information and fees.

A good guide to traveling with firearms is the book The Traveler’s Guide to the Gun Laws of the 50 States, which has detailed info on every state, and what is legal and not legal in that state. Another good reference is the website Handgunlaw.us. But please be aware that things can change on a daily basis, so if you have a question or concern, check with local authorities before you go.

Making the decision to own and carry a firearm is not one to be made lightly. It brings with it a very heavy responsibility to yourself, to your family, and to society. I always tell people that if they are going to have a gun, please, please, please take a firearms safety course, as well as a course on firearms use in a tactical situation. You must not only know how to shoot, you need to know when to shoot, and when not to.

And then practice regularly with your firearm. It’s one thing to punch holes in paper at a range, but in a real life situation, when the adrenalin is pumping and you’re scared to death, even trained police officers and combat veterans miss a lot more than they ever hit their targets.

Face it, most of us will never need a weapon to defend ourselves, especially in the RV lifestyle. However, the flip side of that coin is that any of us can find ourselves in a desperate situation at any minute. After all, we don’t spend all of our lives in safe, secure RV parks. We all drive down the road, eat in restaurants, and shop in stores. And we never know what the guy behind us in traffic or in the checkout line, or at the next table, will do. Having faced off with armed opponents both with and without a gun in my hand in the past, trust me, it’s much better with the gun!

Thought For The Day – Dear Santa, All I want for Christmas is thick hair and a thin body. Please don’t mix them up like you did last year.

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