My Trip Schedule Changes Again

Thanking Paul for bringing my new computer to my campsite.

It’s been slow getting my new computer loaded with all the software I need but I did get MS Office Pro installed and working. I used up all my family’s internet data allowance for Nov-Dec and had to wait for the new data to be available on 12/22 to get my internet working again. 

I tried to finish fixing my broken door latch but finally decided I need to buy the whole assembly since it looks like the inside handle is not repairable.

I was going to have it shipped to my next planned campground, Lithia Springs, so I called the campground host, Chris, who has been a good friend for the past 7 years, to see if they could receive a package, I found out some bad news about my plans.

Peggy's favorite restaurant near EG Simmons

I have been camping at two Hillsborough County for years and since they never took reservations, I could always get a campsite, guess what, late this summer they changed their policy and now take reservations. I had planned to stay at Lithia Springs and EG Simmons Parks in January, but now there are very few sites that I like that are available to reserve. The good news is they are doing this without adding reservation fees and have not changed the prices.

See My updated 2025-26 Travel Plans for my fifth schedule revision.

Peggy at Lithia Springs campsite in the winter of 2020

It took a lot of work, but I was able to find campsites at both campgrounds for most of the month, until I head further south to the Sarasota-Venice area. However I will need to start at EG Simmons first after this weekend. When I get to Lithia after 2 weeks I will need to leave for a weekend before I can return to the same campsite until the last week in January.

On Christmas day I took a 26 mi round trip bike ride to Brooksville on the Good Neighbor trail and on Saturday before driving south to near EG Simmons, I took another 25 mi bike ride to Inverness. Then after a nice Mexican dinner nearby I overnighted at a Cracker Barrel.

Sunday morning was foggy, so I left a little later, the traffic was light all the way through Tampa on I-75. I needed to spend the night at the Sun City Walmart since EG Simmons Park didn’t have any campsites available until Monday. So I did a little grocery shopping and used Walmart’s free Wi-Fi.

On Monday I need to pick-up two prescriptions at a local Walgreen’s at noon, then I need to stop at an Amazon Fulfillment Center to get my new door latch. Finally, I can head to the campground to check-in for the next 6 nights.

Its been in the mid 70's for the past two weeks but a cold snap is coming.