First Trip in Our Solei

Technically, our first trip was home from St. Augustine where we purchased our Solei. This was taken right before we pulled out of the dealership parking lot.

Once we got her home, Bob installed 6 AGM type batteries in place of the 4 that she came with. Once we return from our first 'shakedown' trip, Bob will install five new solar panels on the roof. While she was in the RV garage, Ed and Elsie came for the tour. Ed couldn't resist trying out the driver's seat. Looking good, Ed!

 Once the batteries were installed, it was time to pack and get on the road. I was surprised at how much more storage we have in this coach. We actually hit the road with empty compartments inside and out!

Our first stop was Highlands Hammock State Park in Sebring, Florida. Bob and I enjoyed this park on our first visit when we had the old Pace Arrow, again when we had the Windsport and now we have enjoyed it in Sol.

For those of you who are not familiar with hammocks in Florida...no, they are not beds suspended between two trees....they are marshy swamps with broad leafed trees surrounded by areas of pine and scrub.

Once we set up camp, it was time to explore. We rode our bicycles around the hammock road the first afternoon. We also did some hiking and geocaching.

 We spent seven days in the park. We hiked most of the trails, even the bike and horse trails. One morning the sun was hitting the scrub just right and we could see many spider webs. Looking in the other direction, you couldn't see any.

 This was on the bicycle trail as we walked the edge of the hammock.

 The day we hiked the horse trail we kept seeing wild turkeys. This tom ran in front of us on the trail, leading us away from his harem.  On this trail we also saw two deer and a black snake.

 There were also some pretty wildflowers blooming along the bicycle trail.

Later in the day we hiked some of the trails off the hammock road.  This is the swamp in the hammock. That is not grass, it is duck week growing atop the water. The tree roots were gnarly and exposed. Cypress knees were also in abundance.

 This was the end of the boardwalk trail. We found a geocache not far from here. Also, three river otters surprised us as they swam under the boardwalk. Bob and I both thought alligator when we first heard the water moving.

 We enjoyed our stay at Highlands Hammock. When Bob made the reservations, we didn't consider that we would be leaving on Sunday--along with most of the other campers! We got up early enough to get packed and hit the dump station before most of the others were ready to go. As we pulled out, two other RVs lined up to use the 'facility.'

It sure is nice to be on the road again!