After leaving the delicious eats at Bill-E’s, we continued our mission to reach Crystal River in time for Christmas. Our stop for the night was Bass Haven, a cozy RV park perched on the shores of Juniper Lake. For just $20, we got an overnight spot with water and electric hookups—one of two pull-through sites in this charming little park. The friendly atmosphere and stunning lake views made it a worthwhile detour.

The host greeted us shortly after we parked. He approached carrying a cane, hinting at potential vision impairment. Ever the conversationalist, John the Rockstar Husband Laverty asked if we had pulled in far enough. The host glanced over (or so it seemed) and reassured us with a confident, “I’m sure you’re fine.” Only later did John learn that the man was completely blind. We had a good laugh about it—classic small-town charm with a twist.

Since John was already outside, he accompanied the host to check us in. It was John’s first time handling this task, and while I admit to being a little nervous, he managed just fine—though I couldn’t resist teasing him about it later. In true Rockstar fashion, John immediately noticed guitars and drums in the office. The host explained that his wife had once tried learning bass guitar, and a friend had left the drums behind after a few jam sessions. There was a hint of disappointment in his voice as he mentioned the park’s upcoming Christmas party, complete with a gift draw, which we’d be missing.

Our chihuahuas got a nice long walk around the park, where we encountered some neighborhood kids riding a sugar-high wave of holiday excitement. Despite their energy, we kept things low-key for the evening, soaking in the tranquil lake views.

After settling in, we took some time to set up our little Christmas tree in the Raven, adding a festive touch to the evening. Once everything was twinkling and cozy, we joined the Arsenal Christmas party via Zoom, catching up with friends and soaking in the holiday spirit from afar. It felt good to connect, even if we weren’t there in person and I swear they couldn’t hear a single word that John the Rockstar husband Laverty said. But he could hear them and they were rude. They will all be on the naughty list I am sure.

Packing up the next morning was a breeze—no need to unhitch the car—and we were soon on our way to Tallahassee to see the Batmobile. While the Christmas party sounded tempting, we had miles to cover and adventures ahead!

Bass Haven was a short but sweet stay, offering us a perfect reminder of the little joys found along the journey.