Moving day - - we’re always up early. But we only had 40 some miles to go so we
didn’t need to hurry - - but we did anyway.
10:30am – Tomoka State Park, the rangers were not gonna let us get near
our site. We parked at the “Outpost” –
the boat launch/kayak rental/camper store with the big deck overlooking the
peaceful Tomoka River. Looking farther
downriver it reminded me of the Ausable River up in Michigan – just trade the
palm trees for the red and gold maples from our October trip up there! At noon, we moved to the large
overflow
parking area in the campground to be ready to move to our assigned site and
while we waited – H got the trailer wheels all cleaned and shiny once
more. Check out time was 1pm and the
site residents took up every second of their available minutes. H maneuvered the “train” thru the squooshy
sand and jockeyed, and re-jockeyed until he wiggled the trailer back into the
long but narrow site. The site was not
our very best but the hot showers in the very clean bathhouse sure were!!!
Tomoka State Park is 3 miles north of Ormand Beach (Daytona)
on
a peninsula bordered on one side by the calm Tomoka River and the other side
- the faster moving Halifax River with the barrier islands
and their busy
beaches to the east. This area was home to Native Americans who’s chief was
Tomokie. At the very end of the park,
where the two rivers come together is his impressive but crumbling statue. When the original residents were forced out
– rich plantation owners took over and with the servitude of hundred of slaves,
cleared more land and planted rice and sugarcane. One of
those plantations is now part of another state park and we
toured the 1821 ruins of the then largest sugar cane mill in east Florida at
Bulowville Plantation. Even part of
Tomoka State Park was once the Oswald Plantation that grew indigo! Across the road from the campground is a
mile long cement bike path that weaves thru the
woods and across a canal that
was dug by hand for the plantation.
 |
| Chief Tomoki |
Daytona Beach has its fishing pier and famous, wide expanse
of boardwalk that is the perfect way to walk the beach without getting sand in
your shoes! This wide walkway is lined
with shops, restaurants and view blocking mega motels. In one pass thru mall
area, an empty Santa Beach Chair sat, waiting for someone to occupy it. While the day was sunny with a blue sky, and we have driven on the beaches before - on this day the driving beaches were closed to vehicle traffic because of the strong winds and high tides. No, H would not have paid the $20 anyway!
Daytona has the
massive Speedway and the Volusia Mall – which was not very Christmas-y at
all! The huge flea market out near I95
and the airport was a great way to spend some time and get more exercise! Tee shirts, socks and cell phone accessories
took up most of the inside but we did finally find the real “flea” area!! One booth should have been bulldozed under
– but I did find a booth that had Gnomes!
Then came the rain.
Noah had 40 days of it and I think Florida was working towards
that. All Saturday night, ALL Sunday
and ALL Sunday night it rained – 40 hours at least!
At Salt Springs Campground
in the Ocala National Forest, there were plenty of “walk-in” sites open and, even in the rain, H expertly backed up
onto the long black topped parking pad in one fell swoop – no sand and no
impending trees to worry about! Parked
and plugged in we were off again - to Ocala.
H's drone quit working a week and a half ago and his new one was already
delivered to my sister’s home! As you
can see – it works well. See how good
we look when parked in the “forest”?!!
Obviously, the sun did come out to shine on Monday, just so H could fly
his new drone. We’ve made more new
friends and have even found some of the friends from our last stay here!
Christmas Eve Day – it has rained again for most of last
night and today. For Christmas dinner
tomorrow, I am in charge of the pork roast and green veggie (from our
garden!). I baked the pumpkin (from our
garden, too!) pie this morning in our toaster oven! Sharon has the potatoes and all the rest!
