01/05/26 to 01/31/26 Elite Resort Clermont, FL Part One

  Elite Resort at Citrus Valley

 Part One

January 05 to January 31, 2026 

Greetings and welcome back. Feeling the need to overcome a writer's block that I've been experiencing, I finally decided to jot down some notes for my future self. I blinked and the month of January disappeared. With the new month of January came the historic "Deep Freeze" experienced by Florida. The record low was 23.1º, the lowest ever recorded in Florida. So weather seems to be the trigger for me getting back into blog posting and a topic that dominated our outdoor activities like morning coffee, afternoon cocktails and evening campfires.

Keep in mind there is no complaining because each of us Yankees here for the few months know very well what's been going on back home. Photos and videos from families and friends, weather notifications and warnings as well as the news have kept us informed and along with many readers can acknowledge this has been one of the nastiest winters remembered. There are some old people I hang with that will tell you, "Why, when I was growing up, I can remember...." This was in the last century so I guess it's good that they remember. Yes, I cope with their reminiscing. Many have cameras at home pointed to strategic locations to monitor their home environment: Snow levels on back porches/patios, indoor house temperatures and plowed driveways for oil deliveries are being monitored. 

The snowbird "residents" of our Hudson Islanders group who have been fortunate enough to land a site to rent from owners include: Johnny, Roberta, Tony/Doreen, Jack, Dan/Mel and Ray/Kathy. Permanent residents, Walter/Fran and off sites members, Pat/Jim brings our number to fourteen. This marks my tenth year at this location, so I'm done describing it. For anyone who cares, last year's detailed description (in three parts) can be read HERE.  This year, a different slant. For Part One, January, Dining Out and the installation of my new recliner are featured.

Dining Out: ("Calories don’t count when you’re laughing with friends"). Dining out for us means either "Boys Night Out" (Thursdays) or all together with spouses. Either way, we always enjoy the opportunity to not cook and be served at the many places we have in our surrounding area. Quite unlike what I'm used to at home. Trip Advisor lists around 221 to 270 restaurants in the Clermont area (as of recent 2026 data, including broader Lake County spots that fall within ~10 miles). The names of the restaurants are in red and will bring you their menu page. You will enjoy the creative websites as well as their unique menu items.

Miller’s Ale House BNO

Zinger Mac & Cheese: Bite-sized pieces of medium sauced Zingers®, shell pasta, creamy cheddar, Parmesan and Monterey Jack cheese sauce, scallions, toasted breadcrumbs.

Trattoria al Forno in Disney

L. to R. Fran, Mel, Johnny, Doreen, Tony, Jim, Pat, Jack, Dan, Roberta

Truffle Gnocchi: It's a vegetarian pasta entrée featuring potato gnocchi in a creamy truffle-infused sauce with Parmesan. This year was disappointing. Usually my go-to dinner, this year the gnocchi was pan-fried and crispy; it literally had a crunch. The Parmesan sauce always terrific. The $33.00 glass of wine I had took away some of the enjoyment...but that's Disney.

I Love New York Pizza BNO

The best I've had in this part of Florida. Next item will be their HUGE calzone.

The Friar Tuck

Johnny, Mel, Doreen, Tony, Jack, Dan

Cottage Pie: Ground beef, mixed vegetables and onions in a thick brown gravy topped with mashed potatoes and baked.

Dessert: Bread pudding with vanilla sauce or was it vanilla sauce with bread pudding.

 

The Best of British Pub: Fish and Chips with Mel, Dan and Jack. Photos not taken

Longhorn Steakhouse:

L. to R. Mel, Doreen, Roberta, Johnny, Charlie, Jack, Tony, Dan

White Cheddar Stuffed Mushrooms: Fresh, roasted mushrooms hand-stuffed with garlic herb cheese, topped with our signature Parmesan and garlic cheese crust and served over a creamy four cheese sauce. This and a bowl of French Onion Soup hit the spot.

The First Watch BNO

One morning for breakfast with Jack. More upscale than the Waffle House across the road and more expensive. I enjoyed but neglected to take a photo of the one pancake (as big as the plate) and fried bacon.

Ocean House Seafood BNO No photos

New York Brewery Project BNO

Johnny, Roy, Walter, Dan, Tony, Ray

NYBP Manhattan Mac & Cheese: Signature Beer Cheese Sauce and buttery crumb topping. Served with warm, toasted garlic bread

Bayridge Sushi BNO

Rainforest roll, shrimp tempura, snow crab, melted mozzarella cheese, avocado, rice  paper, tobiko, scallion, spicy mayo, eel sauce

Oakwood Smokehouse Grill

Special Treat - Jack's breakfast

Bacon done right

Jack's special pancake just for me.

Yes, it's all about food. Well, there's also Campfires, Cocktail hours and an Awning Replacement. These you'll read about in Part Two. So stay tuned.

To conclude this portion of the January post, I'll share yet another "adventure." This RV season has been noteworthy for many reasons. In the past it's been all about people, places and attractions (it's always about food). This year it's all about things. A new transmission for Winnie, inside, a new recliner, next month, read about a new awning and my upcoming 6-night Royal Crown Western Caribbean Cruise. Thanks to my SKI fund, it will all fall into place.

My pull out sofa bed that slept two was never used. In ten years, the couch portion of it however, with my sitting and sleeping on it left lasting impressions that allowed water to collect if spilled, if you get the image. As mentioned in past blogs, the talents, experiences and willingness to help each other has always been the hallmark of this RV group. Friends were eager to take on the job and with that desire, jumped right into wanting to install my new recliner rather than having me pay a mobile RV tech to come and do it.

This is what it looked like new. 

With AI assistance, I edited photo to show how ten years caused it to become worn even when the sitting area was reupholstered and the foam replaced.

To prepare the area for the new recliner and save them time, I spent two days disassembling and removing the old for the new.

We even had the pickup truck that would cart the old recliner to the disposal area on the premises.

The 1, 2, 3 job (they said) took 2¾ hours.

The finished product in Ebro Graphite, reclines just enough to provide a comfortable sleep.

Through the efforts of Larry, Curly and Moe. Oops.. I mean Tony, Dan and Ray, it was a job well done AND MUCH APPRECIATED!

The support group looked on and gave support.

So much going on, it's hard to keep up. Part Two will continue my annual winter adventure. When I left home December 1st, I didn't realize winter would follow. So, to my neighbors and friends up north, stay warm stay safe and stay healthy till next time.

Two feet of snow

“Every snowbird insists they came for sunshine… while single-handedly lowering the state average temperature.”

12/27 to 01/02/26 West Palm Beach, FL- Part Three

 West Palm Beach

 & Family - Part Three

December 27 to January 02, 2026 

Welcome back to sunny West Palm Beach, FL. Day trips continued for our visitors from Milan.  Wonderful dining experiences continued to flow as well. The terrific weather continued with temps ranging from lows of 65 at night to highs in the upper 70's during the day. Just delightful to experience. Sleeping with windows and roof vent open was a big treat. Alas, that came to a frigid end during the last week when that cold front reached down and touched us with overnights in the mid-40's. Still....

Meanwhile, back in Fishkill, NY, friends, Tony/Doreen enjoyed a white Christmas.

The family kept busy and active with daily visits and activities.  Some of venues included:

Grassy Waters Preserve for alligators and Manatee Lagoon for manatees. One evening, I joined them to visit Sandi, the famous 35' tall, 700 ton sand Christmas tree at the West Palm Beach waterfront. 

What goes into its construction is quite amazing and can be viewed HERE. 

On Sunday, the 28th, the gang made the trip Wellington, FL to the National Polo Center to witness the Heritage Cup. The George Miller Memorial tournament opens the 2026 season. "Founded in 1986, the Heritage Cup has been held at venues across the country including Chicago International Polo Club (Oswego, Illinois), New Bridge Polo & Country Club (Aiken, South Carolina) and Santa Barbara Polo & Racquet Club (Carpinteria, California). In 2017, the tournament moved to the fields of Port Mayaca Polo Club (PMPC) in Okeechobee, Florida, where it remains today."

From Sara: Key Biscayne

Monday we all traveled down to Miami to meet Sara and visit the Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park in Key Biscayne. I spent my time on a bench with Germana enjoying the beauty and serenity from the shoreline while others went kayaking in the Bay.  From the website, some history: 

"Cape Florida has long served as a beacon for freedom - from Seminole Indians seeking to remain in their Florida home, to fugitive slaves and Black Seminoles who secretly gathered before taking safe passage to the British Bahamas. Now it marks a place to relax and enjoy the Florida sunshine on a beach often ranked in the top 10 beaches nationwide. Cape Florida, or “the Cape of Florida,” was named by explorer Ponce de Leon during the first Spanish expedition to Florida in 1513."

 

No Name Harbor. Germana and I sat beneath thatched covered picnic tables.

No Name Harbor got its name after a developer failed to give a name. The development plans eventually failed, but the name "No Name Harbor" was retained and became the official name for the anchorage

Boca Chita Key Debris Cleanup | Biscayne National Park Institute. Key Biscayne has ongoing cleanup opportunities, primarily through the Biscayne National Park Beach Cleanup (weekdays, Dec-Apr, for groups) and monthly events at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, plus community-led efforts by the Key Biscayne Community Foundation and FillABag, focusing on parks, mangroves, and shorelines, often requiring registration and providing gear. Here the group receives their orientation prior to launching kayaks and water boards.

Our Sara made it official.

Off they go with Sara in the lead. Next, Adriana and Giorgio, then Silvia and Chuck

One of the many huge yachts moored in the harbor. This one is the Bali.

Two hours later, they return with full buckets.

While out in Cape Florida Channel, motorized escort craft came by to replace full buckets.

The Miami skyline while driving over the Bear Cut Bridge back to the mainland.

Through the car window.

Afterwards, we'll traveled to Belly Fish in Miami for lunch. From their website: "Jonathan Perlman and Rodrigo Bravo don't merely like food; they're obsessed with it. A two-time Grammy award-winning musician, Rodrigo became a Michelin-trained chef later on his life. He has since worked with some of the biggest names in the culinary world, including Joan Roca, Gaggan Anand, Masaharu Morimoto and Danny Mayer. Jonathan comes with 15+ years of experience in the hospitality/event industry, leading operations, marketing, and finance of multi-million-dollar projects at Zumba, Epic, and other ventures. Together, and along with their impeccable team of highly trained sushi chefs and guest services members, they aim to ensure each experience at Belly Fish is memorable." Be sure to click on the link above to see interesting and different presentations. At the other side of the restaurant their takeout section did a brisk business.

From the website, some of the selection we enjoyed.

Avocado Hand Roll

Tuna Tostada

Chirashi

Shrimp Tempura Roll

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice

New Years Eve & Day

Nonna Germana and I waiting to enter a different church for the New Years Eve Vigil: Holy Name of Jesus

Tonight's New Year's meal included a beautiful example of Italian culture blending food, superstition, history and family. The more lentils you eat, the more prosperity you'll have in the new year. The custom dates back to Roman times, when lentils were given in a leather pouch (scarsella) as a wish that they would turn into gold coins.

Also for our New Years Eve dinner, Giorgio prepared his second torte salata. This time a combination of eggplant, cheese and asparagus. 

My plate from the left: torte salata, lentils, spinach puffs, smoked salmon and what I thought were roasted potatoes. They were gratefully and quickly transferred to Silvia's plate when I found out they were octopus.

To watch the fireworks we drove to the other side of the lagoon and had a great view from Palm Beach Lake Trail. Here is the finale of the 20 minute display.

Back home, our New Years Toast will be a special bottle of 2017 Ferrari Perle Champagne. Why special? Read below.

Also directly from Giovanni Cova in Milan, Panettone Cioccolato. 

Opened New Years Eve, it was gone when Germana, Giorgio and Adriana left for Milan on Saturday. Thank you.

In 1902 Giulio Ferrari started the vineyards in Trentino, Italy. Having no children he chose to pass everything on to a local wine shop owner, Bruno Lunelli.

Today, Matteo, Camilla, Marcello and Alessandro Lunelli, are the third generation of Lunelli's to carry on the tradition and excellence of the Ferrari name. Our champagne tonight is from Giorgio's cousin, Matteo. Thank you, Giorgio.

New Years Day, Silvia made reservations for us at the Kravitz Center in West Palm. The holiday performance will feature "the Budapest Ballet Celebrating 30 years in North America." From their website: "Salute to Vienna New Year's Concert returns to West Palm Beach for a dazzling anniversary season. This beloved annual tradition is an unmissable addition to every music lover's holiday wish list. At the heart of SALUTE TO VIENNA NEW YEAR’S CONCERT is the richly festive, romantic and soul-stirring music of Johann Strauss, Jr. Mark the 200th anniversary of the famed composer's birth with a selection of soaring overtures, arias and duets that capture the essence of Vienna's Golden Age, including the Blue Danube Waltz. With a charming expert in Viennese music at the conductor's podium, the Waltz King's timeless music bursts to life in performances by some of Europe's finest singers, internationally acclaimed dancers and a full orchestra. With elegant costumes, bright floral designs, and even a joke or two from the conductor, this cherished tradition is the perfect way to waltz into the new year."

I had attended this performance last year and the works of Strauss, Kálman, Offenbach and Lehár still capture the imagination of what that society was like at that time. Powerful and awe-inspiring, the talents of the Strauss Symphony of America, the six members of the Budapest Ballet, soprano, Brigitta Simon from Vienna, tenor, Eric Fennell from Berlin, and conductor, Imre Kollár, from Budapest were incredible. Thank you Silvia.

As my holidays come to an end, I am reminded that the best part wasn't what was on the table, but who was gathered around it—lingering meals, shared plates, stories retold and laughter during card games that seem to end too soon; friendly rivalries, and traditions we look forward to repeating when next we meet. We find the quiet magic of being together, simple and full of love are the memories that carry us into the New Year, long after the dishes are cleared and the cards are put away.