Pt 30 Singing Frogs, Fiery Sunsets & The Art of Mapping Adventure
A heartfelt goodbye to a favorite RV stop, unexpected beauty in frog songs and sunsets, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we plan and track every mile of this wild adventure.
From magical frog symphonies and fiery Florida sunsets to the not-so-glamorous side of RV repairs, this leg of our journey captures the highs, the hiccups, and the tools that keep us rolling. I’m sharing the unexpected beauty found at a now-closed RV park, a heartfelt goodbye to a favorite stop, and a behind-the-scenes look at how we plan and track every mile of this wild adventure.
Need to catch up?
Pt 29 "You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave.”
Or, Start from the beginning
Now that you've heard some of the downsides of full-time life on the road, let me tell you—there’s always a golden light. Actually, there’s a ton of golden light. And quite frankly, I’d rather focus on those moments, because I truly believe that the more we appreciate them, the more of them we invite in.
When we weren’t stuck in a service bay at Lazydays, we got to hang out at their RV park, which turned into a much longer stay than we anticipated. It was a nice little bonus while waiting on parts, if your rig was mobile. Super bonus: we didn’t have to pay for those days. Winner, winner, organic chicken dinner!
Well... is it a bonus? After all, you're still shelling out astronomical amounts for labor and parts. But on the bright side, it sure beats being parked outside the guarded gates in a sketchy part of town, like we were in Nevada, waiting on parts with nowhere safe to stay. So yes, it’s a bonus. A big one.
As of this writing (March 2025), the Lazydays RV Resort is officially closed.
And honestly? It’s a real bummer. It was a genuinely nice RV park. I can't call it a "resort" in the truest sense of the word, because when I think of a resort, I think R-E-S-O-R-T-upscale everything, five-star hotel vibes. A great example is the Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort where we stayed. Now that is a resort.
Remember the image I conjured up of the perfectly polished woman dressed all in white, sporting an anxiously wide-brimmed hat, nose slightly elevated behind oversized sunglasses, one arm delicately extended, holding a crystal-studded leash attached to an overly nervous little dog?
Yeah, that’s the Las Vegas Motorcoach Resort. Where the coaches are glistening, the tires are shinier than waxed buxton shoes, and the tiny dogs parade like they own the place showing off there crystal studded collars.
Lazydays in Seffner was different. More unpretentious. Clean, homey, fun. A chill RV park with great amenities and a relaxed vibe. And that’s not a bad thing. In fact, it made it memorable.
Sadly, Lazydays Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ: LAZY), one of the largest RV dealerships in the U.S., has been going through a whirlwind—financial struggles, leadership shakeups, and major operational changes, especially at their Seffner, Florida location.
In June 2024, Chairman Chris Shackelton stepped down amid rising financial pressure and shareholder dissatisfaction. Earlier, in January 2024, Lazydays secured a $35 million loan at a steep 12% interest rate, backed by dealership properties, just to fund new locations and stay afloat.
The Lazydays RV Resort officially closed on April 1, 2023. At first, we all thought it was for renovations, but later it was confirmed: the land was being repurposed to store additional RV inventory. The on-site cafeteria also shut down permanently. I never had the food, but resort campers and folks marinating in the service lounge used to get free breakfast during the week. Rest in peace, powdered eggs.
As of now, the dealership and service center in Seffner are still open and operational. But the resort and onsite cafeteria? Another casualty of corporate belt-tightening.
It’s clear the Lazy Days financial outlook is complicated. Despite the turbulence, the company keeps acquiring new dealerships, a sign they’re pushing through a major restructuring phase. So if you’re heading to Seffner for service or RV shopping, you’ll be in good hands. But that sweet little park? It’s now just a memory.
And for me? A pretty special one. This was the very campsite where I heard singing frogs for the first time. Simply, magical. There were thousands of them surrounding a large catch basin near our site, singing their tiny hearts out. Each chirp like a shimmering bell in a nighttime symphony singing in unison.
This is also where I realized I didn’t love where the water softener’s salty brine discharge was going; right into that delicate ecosystem. Frogs and reptiles shouldn’t be bathing in salty runoff. It made me stop and think as I was scooping up the salty rusty sludge saving the frogs.
And then... the sunsets. I will miss them just as much. Florida sunsets. Have you ever had the chance to experience one? They were something else. Fiery pinks, molten golds, swirling streaks of lavender and coral, painting the sky in slow, glorious waves, right from our RV window. I felt so honored to witness the magical light show for the singing frogs below.
During the week, the park was peaceful and quiet. But come the weekend? Every single spot filled up. Holidays? Pure chaos, but in the best way. We were there for Memorial Day, and wow, what an experience! Golf carts buzzing by, decked out in red, white, and blue, lights blinking, folks waving as they rolled through the park for an evening cruise. Energy everywhere.
If Lazydays ever reconsiders and brings the park back to life, I sincerely hope you get to experience it. Fingers crossed.
RV Life Pro: A Must-Have for Route Planning
When it comes to planning our route, I use a snazzy paid program called RV Life Pro (formerly RV Trip Wizard). When I first started, I had no idea how robust it was. It’s not just a route planner—it’s an RV life organizer.
We can map any route we want, plug in destinations, and add sites of interest, campgrounds, dump stations, fuel stops—you name it. I’ve customized it for our rig’s height, length, width, and propane needs. It automatically avoids low clearances, steep grades, and propane-restricted routes.
I love being able to set our driving times, daily distance goals, and fuel range. It helps us plan realistic travel days—super important when you’re rolling in a 45-foot coach.
One feature I rely on constantly: notes. I can add reservation details, contact info, amenities, even the name of the person I booked with. It also tracks fuel, camping fees, and other expenses. Honestly, it gives us a real-time look at what RV life costs month to month and year to year.
So… was it worth selling all our worldly possessions to live this lifestyle?
Absolutely.
The Real Beauty: Tracking a Life of Adventure
Once we’ve mapped out a route, we upload it directly to our GPS or phone. And there’s more. We can search every type of campground and even connect our Harvest Hosts account, which is amazing for overnight stays at farms, wineries, and other one-of-a-kind spots.
I’ll be honest, there’s a learning curve. But once you’ve got it, it’s one of the most powerful tools out there. Not just for RVers, but for anyone planning long road trips, van life adventures, or frequent car travel.
One of my favorite things? Trip logs. I usually create one for each year. By the end of the year, I can pull up a full map showing everywhere we stayed and how many miles we racked up. It’s a great way to reflect and really see how far we’ve come, literally and figuratively.
I also love that I can create tentative trips and save them in case we head in a different direction, which happens more often than not. But it’s nice knowing that all that research is still there, just waiting for us when the timing’s right.
RV Life Pro is a practical, ever-evolving tool that makes life on the road smoother, more efficient, and way more enjoyable.
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Need to catch up?
Pt 29 "You can check-out any time you like, But you can never leave.”
Or, start from the beginning
Thank you for tuning in and reading this. I super appreciate you.
~Karen