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Home Sweet Home!
Honestly, one of the best things about RV-ing is that your home is with you. Once you open those slides and set up it doesn’t matter where; you are home! Arriving at Sanlan on November 7th enhanced the “home” feeling even more. Sometimes I can’t believe that this is the beginning of our third season here. Obviously we love it and the area around Lakeland. There is so much to do and everything is accessible. Check out the Lakeland Centre (http://www.thelakelandcenter.com/ ) for cultural and sports events that are only minutes away. Also, there are very reasonable golf courses, bike trails, nature reserves, markets, shopping, festivals, great restaurants and I could go on and on.
However Sanlan has become much more than a jumping off point for adventures and attractions. We have met great friends and it is wonderful to see them again and to share this life. It is remarkable that John found this place simply by doing web searches and that we came here cold turkey. It’s hard to believe that I spent my 1st few hours here having an anxiety attack, crying about how I was going to live here for 4 months. I have come a long way!
Our first walk on the nature trails did not disappoint us. We saw a yellow rat snake (not rattle!) and a red-shouldered (or red-tailed) hawk; both up close. An alligator was sunning on the shore of Banana Lake and we have since seen the huge alligator that hangs out in the front pond. I have taken so many pictures of him that I feel addicted. If you want a look check back in the blog! But I swear he has grown!! Friends saw a bobcat already near the golf course. We saw one last year and hope to again.
Biking to Bartow on the Fort Fraser Trail retains its appeal. Although we have done it many times it doesn’t get tedious. The trail is mostly shaded and all paved and despite paralleling U.S. 98 is very pleasant. And we can just ride from our site.
Bramble Ridge Golf course has greened up this year. The drought is less apparent everywhere though local weather stations say more rain is needed. Bramble is a fun course with very forgiving bounces off mounds created when it used to be a phosphate mine. Bramble has a huge driving range and is also so close we can walk over from here.
Another great feature of this area is that people from home like it too. Last night JoAnn and Hedge cooked us a wonderful meal at the house they are renting for a month not far from here. Louise and Dale were there too. We have plans to meet up with them again.
All in all, it is great to be back!
Circle B Nature Reserve
This place reminds me of Jurassic Park.
Many large birds congregate and make noises that make you think you are in prehistoric times. Years ago it was marshland bordering on Lake Hancock. The marshes were drained to be used for cattle ranching. Now it is run by Polk County and the University of South Florida and has been reverted back to marshland. The canals are filled with alligators, turtles, birds, marsh rabbits, snakes, spiders and who knows what else! Lake Hancock is joined to Banana Lake (which borders Sanlan) by Banana Creek so it is close and we go walking there often. You never know what you will hear and see! 
Home Sweet Home!
Honestly, one of the best things about RV-ing is that your home is with you. Once you open those slides and set up it doesn’t matter where; you are home! Arriving at Sanlan on November 7th enhanced the “home” feeling even more. Sometimes I can’t believe that this is the beginning of our third season here. Obviously we love it and the area around Lakeland. There is so much to do and everything is accessible. Check out the Lakeland Centre (http://www.thelakelandcenter.com/ ) for cultural and sports events that are only minutes away. Also, there are very reasonable golf courses, bike trails, nature reserves, markets, shopping, festivals, great restaurants and I could go on and on.However Sanlan has become much more than a jumping off point for adventures and attractions. We have met great friends and it is wonderful to see them again and to share this life. It is remarkable that John found this place simply by doing web searches and that we came here cold turkey. It’s hard to believe that I spent my 1st few hours here having an anxiety attack, crying about how I was going to live here for 4 months. I have come a long way!
Our first walk on the nature trails did not disappoint us. We saw a yellow rat snake (not rattle!) and a red-shouldered (or red-tailed) hawk; both up close. An alligator was sunning on the shore of Banana Lake and we have since seen the huge alligator that hangs out in the front pond. I have taken so many pictures of him that I feel addicted. If you want a look check back in the blog! But I swear he has grown!! Friends saw a bobcat already near the golf course. We saw one last year and hope to again.
Biking to Bartow on the Fort Fraser Trail retains its appeal. Although we have done it many times it doesn’t get tedious. The trail is mostly shaded and all paved and despite paralleling U.S. 98 is very pleasant. And we can just ride from our site.
Bramble Ridge Golf course has greened up this year. The drought is less apparent everywhere though local weather stations say more rain is needed. Bramble is a fun course with very forgiving bounces off mounds created when it used to be a phosphate mine. Bramble has a huge driving range and is also so close we can walk over from here.
Another great feature of this area is that people from home like it too. Last night JoAnn and Hedge cooked us a wonderful meal at the house they are renting for a month not far from here. Louise and Dale were there too. We have plans to meet up with them again.
All in all, it is great to be back!
Circle B Nature Reserve
This place reminds me of Jurassic Park.
Many large birds congregate and make noises that make you think you are in prehistoric times. Years ago it was marshland bordering on Lake Hancock. The marshes were drained to be used for cattle ranching. Now it is run by Polk County and the University of South Florida and has been reverted back to marshland. The canals are filled with alligators, turtles, birds, marsh rabbits, snakes, spiders and who knows what else! Lake Hancock is joined to Banana Lake (which borders Sanlan) by Banana Creek so it is close and we go walking there often. You never know what you will hear and see! 
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