The GPS wanted H to take Rt 50 across from Titusville to
Orlando and then turn north on Rt 441 (the Orange Blossom Trail) to
Apopka. NO WAY – not gonna pull this
“train” thru all that Orlando traffic and stop light after stoplight! A MUCH better way was up Rt 1 to RT 46 to Sanford and west, then a drop down to Kelly Park Rd!! Sometimes 2 lanes, sometimes 4, the road
crossed the cattle fields and swamps surrounding the St Johns River. We passed thru orange cone-d areas of new
road building that will add to the maze of traffic trying to get in and out of
Orlando.
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| Kelly Park |
Check in time at Kelly Park Campground was at 2pm. Crap!
It’s just after noon – again!
And again – we were not allowed in the campground. Kelly Park is one of 5 Orange County
Campgrounds – as is Trimble Park and Moss Park. Kelly Park is one of the oldest and is in the most need of some
upgrading. The drives in the park
proper are narrow, winding and bordered with curbs. We were allowed to park in the picnic area till the time we could
enter the campground - - but from the check in parking lot to get to the picnic
parking lot – we had to exit the park, make a left turn onto the roadway, back
up and drive back into the park to navigate the narrow drive to the designated
lot. Sheesh! Then to make matters worse – to get from the picnic parking area
(where we could see our empty campsite) to the campground area, we had to - -
drive out of the park, make a left turn onto the roadway, back up and drive
back in. The “roads” in the park were
way too narrow for the “train” to make those tight right turns.
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| Kelly Park |
But our site is our favorite! Site 13 is at the end of the loop next to the wooded area that
divides the campground from the picnic area and the walk to the spring area.
The view out our big back window is of pine and live oak trees and a rustic
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| KellyPark |
rail fence where the big tom turkey and his harem parade on their way to the
other side of the park. Our picnic
table is on a cement pad and is the perfect place for my sewing machine! The trees are home to a plethora of
songbirds and woodpeckers! – And squirrels!
H took advantage of a cool (cold!) quiet morning and we
headed for the springs area to try out his drone! While he flew his whirly camera I also caught a few good shots of
the mist rising off of the still warm waters.
What do you think?? Be sure to
notice the tall round top palm tree in all 3 pictures!
Of course we also went to my – hopefully - LAST eye
specialist appointment! This doctor was
the last doctor that I had seen when we were in Trimble Park so he knew how bad
the ulcer had been at the beginning. He
delivered the wonderful news that H and I had been waiting for – HEALED!! I have a scar on the cornea but it will not
affect my vision! The clear contact
lens was removed and I was free to go!
No more drugs in my poor eye – just the rejection drop that I had been
using since my original surgery! That
great news was shared with Dick and Sharon who met us for lunch after my doctor
visit! More yummy seafood!
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| Kelly Park parking lot |
On our way back to camp, we noticed a bunch of OLD cars out
and about. The next day – they were all coming into the picnic parking area –
and parking! There was over a hundred
Model T’s of all colors and models – coupes, racecars, trucks and
convertibles. There was even a fire
truck and a farmers produce truck! They
were from as far away as California, Ohio and Michigan. They were all in a club
and this was their Florida trip and rally!
After they finished their picnic lunches in the park – off they went as
quietly as they arrived!
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| Lakr Eola |
H had the idea to go find the park and lake in downtown
Orlando that is always featured on the local TV stations. Lake Eola is actually a 23 ft deep sinkhole. The lake takes up 23 acres of downtown and is surrounded by the
park which also has the Walt Disney multicolored Amphitheater, the red Chinese
Pagoda, multiple playgrounds and almost a mile of cement walkways and people
watching seating. The lake is home to
throngs of swans – Black, Trumpeter and Mute!
All kinds of birds claim the small island as their roost! Restaurants, small shops, parking garages
and tall apartment buildings, surround the park. There’s even a grocery store on the first floor of one tall shiny
building! On our way out of the
downtown area we passed the Amway Center - home of the Orlando Magic Basketball
AND the Orlando Solar Bears Hockey Teams, and the new Camping World Soccer
Stadium where the Orlando Lions now play!
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| Kelly Park on the weekend |
Kelly Park is quiet during the week but now it
is the weekend so the place is full of tents and kids and bikes! Families that are all having fun! Even the group camp area is crowded again,
which really puts a burden on the small bathroom facility! H and I know what time to go for our showers
and what time NOT too!! Sunday
afternoon will see the park empty out and peace will be restored! Then it’ll be time for us to move on -
again!
