Snow Birds

Carl17 · 10-09-2020, 07:12 AM

Ok how many are still going to Florida? What are your concerns . We are up in the air on what to do. We should be ok if we keep to are self's. Wife has health problems that are worst in cold northern weather . Rock and a hard place.

cboss · 10-09-2020, 07:43 AM

We are headed south for our normal 6 month winter trip. Although it does not include Florida we are headed south. We plan on taking all precautions necessary and avoiding risks.
Last year we got caught near the end of our trip by multiple CGs closing. Hoping this year is closer to normal.
Wish you the best!

DougW · 10-09-2020, 08:23 AM

If you stay up north you will be taking precautions in cold weather, if you go south you will be taking precautions in warm weather.

We are already in FL, worries here are no more than there was up north.

**KyDan** · 10-09-2020, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DougW

If you stay up north you will be taking precautions in cold weather, if you go south you will be taking precautions in warm weather.

We are already in FL, worries here are no more than there was up north.

What he said!
We felt like we'd won the lottery nearly a year ago when I managed to get reservations at a SE Florida state park. Then I quickly cobbled together 3 other parks to fill a 6 week stay. We're going unless they close the parks.
We'll slightly modify our routine on the road. We often use rest stops as a chance to walk, stretch our legs and go in the visitor center and probably use the restrooms.
Not gonna do that. Might stop and walk around but won't go inside. Also same thing for gas stops. Gonna use disposable gloves and a mask at the gas pumps and not go inside. Donno about fast food. Not wanting to go inside and unable to use the drive thru with a trailer, we may just go with our own sandwiches made in the trailer and eaten at a rest stop.

One thing that gives me cold sweat in the middle of the night is the thought of catching covid while 800 miles from home...

rsdata · 10-09-2020, 08:55 AM

Quote:

One thing that gives me cold sweat in the middle of the night is the thought of catching covid while 800 miles from home...

I got 6 weeks in FL panhandle and AL Gulf Shores... hope they get things nearly back to normal there after that last hurricane hit. We will take precautions also.

wanderingbob · 10-11-2020, 09:34 AM

I live in the Florida panhandle and every thing is semi-normal , most everything is open . No hurricane damage recently , they went to the west .

MR.M · 10-12-2020, 09:12 AM

On my way to Florida now . a few weeks early but want to get in some good red fishing and maybe a tarpon or 2 . so arrive 10/15 Fort Myers area in the water 10/16 . open state . .

5picker · 10-12-2020, 09:26 AM

We are headed there mid December. We hope to know the status of the Nation by then as numbers are starting to climb slightly but we have no more concerns about being in FL than here in PA. Our health plan is as good in FL as it is here, so short of being in unfamiliar surroundings, no concerns.

Like Dan, we'll follow the guidelines of using our own facilities instead of the rest stop bathrooms and eat things we make and take along. Coming home from FL last year in March, most of the campgrounds had already went to contactless check-in so no worries there.

Looking forward to the sunshine!

jnw · 10-12-2020, 10:01 AM

We will head to FL in December and taking regular precautions. Like Mr M stated, common sense goes a long way.

Oldboy · 10-12-2020, 10:13 AM

Can you drive over the boarder, from Canada?

elind · 10-12-2020, 10:25 AM

I heard the Canadan border is closed till oct, 31 and covid is not covered unless pay for extra coverage.

httntheroad · 10-12-2020, 01:24 PM

Talked to canadian friend yesterday they must buy supplimental anyway. It does cover . 500 bucks a month.Just need to be able to cross the border with their rig.They could fly just can't drive across.Another friend just got tickets from Calgary to Yuma round trip for around 260 canadian.

httntheroad · 10-12-2020, 01:25 PM

We are heading south in 2 weeks.

camper70 · 10-12-2020, 01:41 PM

We will be heading South also after the first of the year. I cannot get DW to leave home until after Christmas. I agree with everyone else about precautions. We can do the same in warmer weather as we can at home. We headed home at end of March last year just before places started putting travel restrictions in place.

Puma26RLSS · 11-01-2020, 10:52 PM

I am not a snowbird; I actually live in Florida, but we have a PUMA travel trailer we've logged over 25,000 miles in over the past ten years. I can appreciate your challenges. I certainly don't speak for the state, but I don't think there is a mood for a shutdown in Florida like last spring. We are trying our best to continue to open up as safely as we can. The CDC has just cleared cruise ships to ramp up for service. We have three football bowl games planned for here in Orlando during the holidays. My wife and I just came back from a week at a resort on the St. Johns River with our other "RV" a MacGregor 26X sailboat. Folks were out renting pontoon boats, fishing, and and flying flags, if you get my drift...

so I think you are on pretty solid ground planning on coming down. Might be smart to seek reservations, however, for starters. Good luck!

badger5301 · 11-16-2020, 07:33 AM

We are only short term "snowbirds" that head to Florida for a month the end of February till mid March. Just talked about this yesterday and we both are not sure what to do. Will be watching the news and checking in on here to get a better grip as the time gets closer for our trip.
Really hope things work out that we can still make this annual trip. Would really miss my late winter fishing around Key West if we can't go.
You folks that have already headed down, enjoy the weather and be safe. We have started our wood furnace here in Iowa and it's only going to get colder.

Carl17 · 01-08-2021, 08:46 AM

Well folks Its official we cancel our plans for this winter in Florida. With our health problems cant afford to get sick away from home,or any where. Playing it safe and hope for a better 2021.

Brucecav · 01-10-2021, 09:47 AM

Sure wish we were but have cancer and with the covid must be very careful so will miss being a snowbird for the second year (CRAP) I HATE the winter.

badger5301 · 01-12-2021, 07:00 AM

Sorry to hear that Carl. Here it is the 12th of January and we still have not made the final decision on going or not going the middle of February. We have last years spot reserved in the Keys but cannot seem to make the decision either way. One of the main things we have been watching is if we can even get onto the Naval Air Station where our son and his family live. Sounds like it's somewhat back to normal (for now) but hate to get there and not even get to see them. They do head out to the camper to see us but with the five of them and us, our camper is just not big enough.
Hoping it all works out and we can get out of the snow for a while but time will tell.

Brucecav · 01-12-2021, 08:14 AM

badger, I wanted to stay at the base in the keys but never did as we did not want to go without reservations. Some years back I read somewhere they made the overflow section bigger and you could be there two weeks before getting a site not sure of that is true.
In 2003 we did go to Key West and stayed at Blue Water Key RV Resort to this date is was the nicest RV site we ever stayed to was expensive even back then but worth every cent we stayed there 2 weeks. If you make it enjoy and stay safe. We have been blessed to have taken 3 BIG trips all across the USA and Canada probably will not be anymore but we still plan to keep RVing. Life sure is sweet in your RV
We have wintered 10 winters in south Texas have a twin brother there. Did not stay at the NAS cost more than private RV Parks.

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