Time to Get On the Road Again!

Okay, it has been a few months since I updated this blog. It is time to get on the road again! We enjoyed our stay at Collier Seminole State Park. While there, we hiked, kayaked, and visited Marco Island. Of course, no trip to Marco is complete without a trip to Walter's lot and Jack's Lookout.

Bob and I did both before moving on to Highlands Hammock State Park near Sebring. The bike trail is still great. We not only biked, but hiked the trails in the park. We saw evidence of lots of animals, but only got pictures of a water moccasin---ewwww!
There was much to do when we returned home-work on the rv and yard. In December, we changed the color of our house from dark brown to a lighter leather color. We also added railings to our front stoop.The next big job was ripping out the carpet in the rv and adding Allure flooring from Home Depot.A friend of ours is an excellent carpenter so he made a new table for our dining area.
We also attended the festivities for Wounded Warriors at Skydive Deland. There were 192 skydivers in the air at one time. The finale was a skydiver with the American flag.Last but not least, we had our yard sodded. The area of bark near our sidewalk is gone and now has bahia grass. We also planted two holly trees since our diseased pine trees have been removed.

Once we got the grass rooted, it was time to head out for Arkansas!

Our first stop was Econfina River Resort in the big bend area. The horse flies were enormous!The first night,we drove to Hickory Mound of Big Bend Wildlife Preserve. Our first sight was a small gator in the road.We kayaked one day. It was a two mile trip to Gulf of Mexico from the state park next to our campground.Another day we visited St. Marks--the town and the light house.

There is a bike trail from St. Marks to Tallahassee.The light house is not in the town of St. Marks. I have to say it was so hot, that we didn't stay out for long. Temperatures of 95 to 100 degrees aren't what we like.

From Econfina we moved about 70 miles to Torreya State Park. We stayed there 3 nights.
Gregory House is located at the state park. It was moved there by the CCC in 1935.
One day we geocached our way to Blountstown.

Another day we really extended ourselves and hiked over 7 miles on Torreya Trail. It took us along the bluffs and ridges overlooking Appalachicola River.
From the state park we moved north west into Alabama. We decided to stop at Ft. Rucker near Enterprise, Alabama.

Big Cypress Preserve--February 23-28, 2011

Don't believe cell phone companies' ads--there is no signal strong enough in this area to make or hold a call from any company. We get great internet service with our air card because we hook it to an amp and external antenna. We wish cell phones still had jacks to hook to an external antenna!

From Long Pine Key we drove separately to Midway Campground in Big Cypress Preserve. We arrived about 11:30 a.m. and got the next to last campsite!Bob downloaded geocaches and off we went to explore the area. One of the caches was located at Clyde Butcher's Gallery. This is the swamp near his parking lot.We stopped at Oasis Visitor Center to get a map of the area. There was a boardwalk with lots of gators swimming near.

Our first major activity was to bike Shark Valley. It is technically in Everglades, but was only 15 miles from our campground.

To start, the trail was long and straight.At the 7 mile point (almost halfway) we locked our bikes and began the walk to the observation tower. A couple took our picture in front of this water filled area that was packed with gators.We proceeded on our way and climbed to the top of the observation deck.We had quite the view of the river of grass that is the Everglades.
As we looked back toward the trail we saw just how long and straight it is. For those of you who don't bike, there is a tram to take you around the area.As we walked around the campground that night I noticed a truck from South Carolina. The gentleman who helped us at Patrick had a truck just like it...from South Carolina. We looked at the motorhome it was next to it and out came Larry! Larry and Gail are from Greenville, South Carolina. They left Patrick and headed to Key West after we left for Everglades. They arrived at Midway the day after us.

The next day we were going to drive the scenic loop, but the road was closed due to bad conditions--huge holes!

We did stop at Tree Snail Hammock Trail and saw lots of tree snails (liguus). We saw one in Everglades NP, but here we saw lots and they were all white! The one in Everglades was black and white.Since the scenic loop wasn't passable we drove to Everglades City and Chokoloskee. Smallwood Store is a Florida Heritage site at the end of the road.Our next scenic drive was Jane's Scenic Trail in Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park. Here we saw lots of gators!

This one was sunning next to the road.......and this one was in the road!We also saw lots of turtles along the way, but this one was moving from one side of the road to the other.Yes, we geocached as we drove and at Ochopee we found a cache at the smallest post office. Rumor has it that the building was originally an outhouse during construction of Tamiami Trail.There was also a cache at the entrance to Monument Lake Campground. It was a Seminole meeting place long ago.Larry wanted to try a kayak so he and Gail followed us to Halfway Creek Loop Canoe Trail
Saturday. Bob took him out and they paddled around for a few minutes. Then Bob and I hit the trail. We thought it was going to be about 7 miles, but according to our GPS it was a little over 9 miles! We enjoyed the mangrove forests as well as the lakes along the way.At one point an osprey grasping a fish flew over Bob's head.

Sunday our plan was to drive to Fire Prairie Trail and bike the 5 miles. A ranger told us it was a great trail. As we drove toward the trail head, the road was so rough we decided to turn around and make a new plan. In the new plan, we drove beyond Carnestown to Goodland. We stopped to check campsite availability at Collier Seminole State Park. There was a possibility we could get in on Monday so we had another plan!

Just beyond the state park on highway 92 is Goodland, Florida. Bob and I visited once before with my brother Walter. The Little Bar is still in operation. There is quite a story about the woodwork in the bar. Ask Bob or I about it some time.From Goodland we returned to our campsite via Cypress Bend Boardwalk in Picayune Strand State Preserve. We found 2 geocaches and walked the boardwalk.Monday, we broke camp and headed for Collier Seminole State Park hoping to get lucky with a site.

Patrick AFB to Everglades National Park--Feb. 10-23, 2011

This is a long post. Don't forget that you can click on a picture to see more detail! Enjoy!

Bob and I pulled out of DeLand on the morning of February 10 and headed for Patrick. We wanted to stock the freezer and get some other necessary items before moving on to Everglades National Park. After stocking up, we decided not to stay at Patrick, but to head down closer to our destination. As we pulled out of the parking lot we heard a horrible scraping sound. Bob immediately pulled over and we both got out to see what was wrong.........As I looked at the back of the rv I let out a huge "oh no!" The tow receiver on the rv had broken. Not just come loose, but completely broke on the passenger side. Another rver pulled over to see if he could help. I turned on the car's emergency lights and we all three proceeded to unhook the towbar from the broken receiver and stow it in the car. It looked like we would be staying at Patrick after all.

From our spot on the side of the main road we drove to the campground and got the last overflow spot! Since we were having 'mechanical' difficulties they would have found a spot for us even if it was in the picnic ground parking lot. We decided to pay for 3 nights. The next day we started looking for a place to purchase and install a new hitch. We found an 'rv expert' that would overnight the hitch and it would be installed on Saturday morning.

We got a refund for our third night at Patrick and headed out Saturday morning to get our new hitch installed...or so we thought. We arrived and no none could tell us if the hitch had arrived. Then the 'rv expert' said it had arrived, took a look at our rv and with an incredulous voice said, "that is a big rv, I can't work on that." Long story shortened, Bob got in the rv, I got in the car, and we drove to Everglades National Park!

Long Pine Key Campground near the entrance to the park was full so we continued to the southernmost campground at Flamingo. As we neared Flamingo (38 miles from the entrance) we saw one of the best sunsets ever. The sky turned a dark pink and looked the color of a flamingo! Of course there is no picture since we were driving in separate vehicles and there was no place to pull over!

We finally arrived at the campground and found a spot to call our own for the next 4 days.Sunday morning we drove to Flamingo visitor center to get brochures and maps. On the radio tower behind the center was an osprey nest. Bob got a picture of the nest, the mother osprey flew in with a fish and fed her babies...... then flew away. I found it strange that the osprey backed away from the nest instead of flying straight.

Also behind the visitor center we saw white pelicans resting on a sand bar.After talking to the rangers, we decided to hike to Snake Bight. A bight is a small bay, but there were a lot of mosquitoes along the way. We had on so much DEET that they flew into us and bounced off--it was a weird feeling.Once we got to the boardwalk at the end of the trail, the wind kept the skeeters off us.
Tuesday was a kayaking day. Nine Mile Pond was the water trail of choice since we were told the others might be too dry. The rangers were right, I wouldn't have wanted to be in a canoe as the water was very shallow in places.We followed the numbered pvc poles through the mangroves most of the way. It is called Nine Mile Pond, but the kayak trail was a little over 5 miles.

Tuesday we did some more hiking. We started the morning with a short hike around Bayshore Loop Trail.

Then we went to Christian Point Trail. It was a much longer trail. It also had skeeters dive bombing us and bouncing off. Along the trail we spotted this osprey.
We stopped at the end of Christian Point to bird watch. A couple arrived about 5 minutes after us and we had a long chat. They were from Colorado Springs.
When we made the return hike 45 minutes later, the osprey was still perched in the same tree.

Later in the afternoon we biked around the campground and to the visitor center parking lot. We had a great time at Flamingo.

Wednesday morning we broke camp and moved north to Long Pine Key Campground. Since there was a three day weekend coming, it would be our base for a week.As you can see, we were prepared. We set up the satellite dish and the screen room! We got internet, but the signal was weak even with an amp and an antenna. We had a phone signal, but it was even weaker since we aren't able to hook our phones to the booster and antenna.

We found a map posted in the campground that had a bike trail. We decided it was time for a long ride. We estimated that the ride to Pine Glades Lake would be about 7 miles and then by road back to the campground would be another 3 or 4 miles. Well, we were wrong! The ride was a little over 15 miles. Here is a picture of us at Pine Glades Lake. We were a little over halfway in our ride!Needless to say were were tired after that ride and we both rested once we got back to the rv.

Thursday we went to Royal Palm and walked Gumbo Limbo Trail and Anhinga Trail. We found a virtual geocache along Gumbo Limbo. Anhinga Trail follows Taylor Slough. The trail is a raised walkway along the slough with boardwalks in some areas. We saw many gators, herons, anhingas, and turtles.
The next day we went just outside the park to bike ride along the canal. We also found several geocaches. As we returned to the park on our bikes, we stopped to get a picture of the entrance sign. Notice that the national park symbol is missing behind me.
Friday night we went back to Royal Palm and Anhinga trail for a night time ranger program. We enjoyed the walk along the slough at night. We got to see 2 bull gators fighting for territory. It was strangely quiet along most of the trail as the birds we had seen during our daylight visit were sleeping.It helped that there was a full moon that night.
While we were at Long Pine, we hiked most of the trails and rode our bikes wherever possible. We had a great time at Everglades National Park.

On Monday we decided to leave the park and drive to the Keys. It has been over 5 years since we last visited. We stopped south of Islamorada to eat lunch at Wahoo Grill. I had the shrimp po' boy and it was more than I could eat. Bob had a cuban sandwich which is his favorite. On our way back to the campground, we stopped at Wal-mart in Florida City to get water and a few other items.

We left Everglades National Park on Wednesday morning and traveled to our next destination. Hmmm.....I wonder where that was?

Time for an Update! October through mid-February

As we were leaving Camp Blanding at the end of October, I couldn't resist taking a picture of the sticker on our grill.....
We arrived home and immediately set about choosing paint colors for the outside of the house. It was in desperate need of a new coat! Bob and I settled on a leather color for the house and kept a dark brown for the trim.

Whew! When that was done, it was time for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Jenn and Andy spent Thanksgiving with us. Bob's parents came for a visit just before Christmas and then Charles and Lisa visited for MLK weekend. We took them to Blue Spring to see the manatees.As January drew to a close Bob and I knew it was time to get back on the road. So our first trip of the new year found us traveling to Huntsville, Alabama to see Bobby who was there TDY until mid-February.

Most of you know we don't like to drive long distances every day so our first stop was at Marine Corps Logistic Base in Albany, Georgia. It was a nice post and since we arrived after dark, a gate guard led us to the campground. We got the last space!

We spent two nights in Albany and were able to pick up some geocaches in the area near the visitor center which also is near the river walk. Our first cache was in the visitor center and the attendant was the cacher who place it! We discussed caching for a while and then we set out to hike the river walk.
When we returned to the visitor center we took time to visit Ray Charles Plaza. Ray Charles was born in Albany and the city has a great memorial to him. The bronze piano fountain has speakers surrounding it playing 'Georgia on My Mind.' And yes,the area around the fountain is painted to look like piano keys.We enjoyed our stay in Albany--who would've guessed!

Then it was on to Ft. Benning, GA. We approached Uchee Creek Campground from Alabama to avoid driving the long distance on post to get to the campground.

Once again we spent several nights before heading to Huntsville. Oh, did I mention it was cold? Well, it was! Not only was it cold, it was rainy. Bob and I have decided we don't like cold.

Once in Huntsville, we stayed at Redstone Arsenal's Fam Camp which was not far from the PX and commissary. Our first night at Redstone, Bobby took us to the Huntsville Havoc hockey game. I hadn't been to a hockey game in many, many years. There was a lot of action, but no bench clearing fights. The mascots we not very animated and did very little to get the crowd involved.

While we were there Bob and Bobby caught up on their online game and I did a bit of reading. It was too cold to go and do much.

Our last day it warmed up enough for Bob to grill steaks and of course we watched the Super Bowl. We all cheered for Green Bay.

I was able to sneak outside and get a picture of a great sunset behind the rv.We didn't waste any time getting home. Bob drove straight for I-75 in Georgia and we headed south. Did I mention it was cold? We spent one night in a rest area in Georgia and made it home the next afternoon. We stuck around for a day to get our mail, then headed out for Patrick AFB and points south.