The road from Moss Park to Sebastian Inlet weaves from St Cloud, to I 95 in Melbourne, south to Sebastian and over the bridge to the barrier islands that protect the mainland and back north to the Sebastian Inlet State Park and it’s distinctive two jetties that reach far out into the crashing Atlantic Ocean waves. Every day, each jetty is lined with hopeful folks hoping to successfully hook and reel in the great catch of the day. The longer jetty on the north side is braced with cement and has huge (at least 8 ft across), scary, OPEN grates that taunt those folks who walk over them (well, me anyway!) with the possibility of falling down thru any one of the 2 inch wide openings into the crashing surf below. The Inlet itself is a great place to watch boats drifting and fishing to whichever way the tide is going and also the glistening white charter fishing craft with their tall flying bridges and vertical stacked fishing equipment, heading for the deep blue open water of the Atlantic. Each day, H and I walked from the campground, along the winding sidewalk, past the fishing pier and the patiently waiting pelicans and wood storks, up past all the benches, lined up and facing the waterway, to the jetties and the stately bridge that rises elegantly up and over the blue water.
Thursday, February 24th was the long anticipated launching of the Discovery Space Shuttle. The day started clear and the sky was blue with only a 20% chance of rain later that afternoon. H decided we should drive the 20 miles north and join R&N at the Melbourne Beach and watch the lift off from there instead of from the break-wall at the state park. Unfortunately, it was hazy up along those crashing waves of salt water and a lot of other folks had decided to join R&N on the beach also! Then the gray clouds started rolling in from the west. The later the hour, the more cloudy the sky got, and more crowded the beach became. N was watching her cell phone for the official Nasa countdown when we almost missed the whole launch!! Someone in the standing room only crowd yelled, “ There it is!” I was standing behind a broad shouldered man and didn’t see where the fast rising shuttle was coming from, so H grabbed my shoulders and yanked me to the left and said “ There!” Just in time, I clicked a picture before the small but bright glow disappeared into the dark clouds. Disappointed a bit – but at least we saw it! From there we made a quick escape from the parking lot and met R&N at a really good Mexican restaurant down A1A. I don’t think I’ve ever had spinach in any enchilada before!
From Sebastian Inlet, back up A1A to Melbourne and across town to Wickham Park – one of H’s favorite campgrounds, was Friday’s project. SPFB – again! This large county park has 2 lakes for swimming and for model boat sailing races, an equestrian center, plenty of picnic and playground areas, and a Frisbee golf course, besides the two camping loops. The politics of the campground have not improved over the last few years and it upset H tremendously. There were several empty spots in both “electrical” loops and still we were stuck in the overflow area – a big bare field with lots of tenters (homeless?) and weekend partiers. In spite of all that, the one bright spot out in the field was the Gopher Tortoise that H found trying to make a “quick run” from the anthill dotted field to the woods on the opposite side of the fence. H interrupted his bid for freedom and held him while I snapped his picture several times.
Thankfully, we spent the whole day Saturday out of the park! Breakfast at Subway, then, off to the flea market where the boys went their way and we two girls got to shop without any male pressure! The guys headed off to the nearby gun club to try their skill at the skeet range while N and I headed for our favorite drapery/upholstery store that just happens to have fantastic prices. Dinner that night was at Fishbone Willy’s – more seafood, of course!
Sunday morning we said our good-byes to R&N over another good Subway breakfast sub. Ohhhhhh, they are tasty! We’re heading north to Apopka and Wekiwa Springs State Park.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Moss Park Orlando, Fl
MOSS PARK! A Florida Favorite! SPFB for the pictures of the long lanky gray sandhill cranes and big tall swaying pine trees and the huge sprawling live oak trees! These last 2 weeks have just flown by - - - like the cranes and hawks have been doing! It’s nesting/mating time for all the creatures that live here so there’s been A LOT of squawking, and courting and chasing – including the Jurassic Park sounding sandhill cranes and the frisky little fox squirrels that zing around and around the tree trunks! One of the tom turkeys has been busy strutting and gobbling and pecking at the shiny bumpers on George’s SUV!! George is the resident camp host and wildlife photographer here in Moss Park and has put together a really good movie with narration of all the birds and animals that call the park home. On last years blog we talked about the baby cranes and G has them featured in his movie presentation! They were SO cute!
The canoe made it off its home on top of the Jeep for several days! We bought fishing licenses at Walmart but unfortunately we got the ones that didn’t work. Never the less, it was great to be able to drag that lure around the lake and enjoy the wonderful 70-80 degree weather, taking in the serenity of the peaceful 2 lakes and the small cypress lined river that joins them. Most of the time the surface of lakes and river was like a dark tinted sheet of glass with an occasional ribbon of baby rickrack ripples disturbing the calm. The rushes would whisper in the gentle wind and the red-winged blackbirds would sing to each other - - - BUT THE FISH WOULD NOT BITE!! Oh well – there’s always next time.
Bobbie and Gene arrived and were joined by their friends, Ron and Ginny – who soon became our friends too! Twice we enjoyed a meal together and got to know each other better around a perfect campfire, which included the making of blueberry or cherry pies! Those 4 folks are musically inclined so H and I were treated to several interludes of dulcimer, lap harp, metal drum and even Indian flute music! This old blind lady can play the lap harp and I couldn’t even see the strings!
R&N moved from Davenport to Melbourne and had to pass thru St Cloud, about 20 miles south of here. We met them for lunch at the Catfish Place and indulged in yet another good seafood meal! Another fun side trip was last Saturday when we joined G&B at a surprise birthday party for B at their daughter’s home in St Cloud! We met so many of their friends and family!
As most of you now realize – the Space Shuttle is set to launch for it’s historic final trip on Thursday Feb 24th. H decided we should drive over to Titusville and Merritt Island’s Canaveral National Seashore to see if we could see the shuttle on it’s launch pad at the adjoining Kennedy Space Center. We stopped at the Merritt Island visitor center and then drove out to the beaches but unfortunately the day was hazy and the view was not very clear. You could see the assembly building and the two launch pads but the shuttle itself was on the furthest away pad and the shuttle was on the wrong side. We did walk the white sandy beach and took in the sand and white rolling surf. All along the beach were signs about nudity and how it was not permitted on the beaches. HOWEVER – at the north end of the National Seashore beach – were more than just a few folks who had on little more than just a hat! I wanted to post on this blog the picture I took of an older couple walking in front of us up the beach, but H said NO! The shorter, rounder lady was fully clothed – her taller, thinner gentleman had on - - - YEP – a hat!! Nice buns tho, for an old guy!
Our stay here at Moss Park is just about done. Our two weeks are up. We’ve taken attendance of all the animals, we’ve drug those beetle spins up and down the shorelines, we’ve given our bikes a good workout, we’ve enjoyed the company of good friends and breathed in the WARM fresh air of Central Florida so now it’s time to pack up the sewing machine, roll up the carpet, put away the chairs and hang the bikes on the rack. Time to go to Sebastian Inlet and hopefully see the shuttle launch!
The canoe made it off its home on top of the Jeep for several days! We bought fishing licenses at Walmart but unfortunately we got the ones that didn’t work. Never the less, it was great to be able to drag that lure around the lake and enjoy the wonderful 70-80 degree weather, taking in the serenity of the peaceful 2 lakes and the small cypress lined river that joins them. Most of the time the surface of lakes and river was like a dark tinted sheet of glass with an occasional ribbon of baby rickrack ripples disturbing the calm. The rushes would whisper in the gentle wind and the red-winged blackbirds would sing to each other - - - BUT THE FISH WOULD NOT BITE!! Oh well – there’s always next time.
Bobbie and Gene arrived and were joined by their friends, Ron and Ginny – who soon became our friends too! Twice we enjoyed a meal together and got to know each other better around a perfect campfire, which included the making of blueberry or cherry pies! Those 4 folks are musically inclined so H and I were treated to several interludes of dulcimer, lap harp, metal drum and even Indian flute music! This old blind lady can play the lap harp and I couldn’t even see the strings!
R&N moved from Davenport to Melbourne and had to pass thru St Cloud, about 20 miles south of here. We met them for lunch at the Catfish Place and indulged in yet another good seafood meal! Another fun side trip was last Saturday when we joined G&B at a surprise birthday party for B at their daughter’s home in St Cloud! We met so many of their friends and family!
As most of you now realize – the Space Shuttle is set to launch for it’s historic final trip on Thursday Feb 24th. H decided we should drive over to Titusville and Merritt Island’s Canaveral National Seashore to see if we could see the shuttle on it’s launch pad at the adjoining Kennedy Space Center. We stopped at the Merritt Island visitor center and then drove out to the beaches but unfortunately the day was hazy and the view was not very clear. You could see the assembly building and the two launch pads but the shuttle itself was on the furthest away pad and the shuttle was on the wrong side. We did walk the white sandy beach and took in the sand and white rolling surf. All along the beach were signs about nudity and how it was not permitted on the beaches. HOWEVER – at the north end of the National Seashore beach – were more than just a few folks who had on little more than just a hat! I wanted to post on this blog the picture I took of an older couple walking in front of us up the beach, but H said NO! The shorter, rounder lady was fully clothed – her taller, thinner gentleman had on - - - YEP – a hat!! Nice buns tho, for an old guy!
Our stay here at Moss Park is just about done. Our two weeks are up. We’ve taken attendance of all the animals, we’ve drug those beetle spins up and down the shorelines, we’ve given our bikes a good workout, we’ve enjoyed the company of good friends and breathed in the WARM fresh air of Central Florida so now it’s time to pack up the sewing machine, roll up the carpet, put away the chairs and hang the bikes on the rack. Time to go to Sebastian Inlet and hopefully see the shuttle launch!
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Central Florida
Our last free breakfast with our hosts, George and Brenda was fun! Pretty good food, but when G&B asked what was some good spots to see in Michigan – things took off!!! The other couple with us – Rose and Dana joined in! From Holland to Houghton; Michigan International to Mackinaw; Sleeping Bear to Greenfield Village; the vacation ideas just flowed!
R&N headed to Buttonwood Bay Resort and H and I headed up to Highland Hammock for a few days. We cannot stay at the Hammock without riding our bikes around the “loop” and walking out on the Cypress Boardwalk. Such a narrow, winding string of boards, slung like a tightrope, just over the dark mysterious water of the swamp! AND - - - low and behold, Gene and Bobbie were parked the next row over from us so I got to “catch up” a bit with these dear friends! My sewing machine did its job again, too! In a very short time, the folks next to us came to investigate. Linda and Jerry are from Davenport Iowa but we discovered that Jerry grew up in Toledo and went to Libbey High School. When I found out that Fran and Charles – the folks parked between H and I and B&G, were from “North Georgia” - I had to introduce them! They all had dulcimers and deer hunting in common!
On then to EG Simmons! R&N arrived the day before we did and parked in site #3 and finagled to keep #5 open for us! SPFB-yet again! R drove but we drug he and Nancy to The Red Barn Flea Market down in Bradenton and then out to Anna Marie Island and the pier and beaches. You guessed it – dinner was at Anna Marie Oyster Bar. On Saturday we all climbed back into R’s big gray truck and headed north to see if the guys could find Silver Dollar Shooting Club. It took 2 GPS’s, a cell phone and the Florida map but – Mission accomplished -and the fellas got to shoot a few rounds in the rain. On Sunday it rained most of the day again. However, no amount of rain was going to keep us from indulging in strawberry shortcake for lunch. The sun managed to come out for a while after we returned home with our tummies full of yummy sweet red berries so I went for a bike ride while the others kicked back and read the paper we had picked up. In my journey along the horseshoe crab beach, I found a good-sized shell, and then another for Nancy. Back at the campsite, I rinsed them off and worked at getting the heavy metal grate on the fire ring flipped over and level to dry the shells on. It’s too bad I didn’t see the fire ants before they crawled up and over my left hand and up and over my left foot. Good thing I had on socks and tennis shoes or I’d have more than just those few red itching welts on my leg.
H’s birthday was Monday but R&N were scheduled to move then so we celebrated on Sunday evening. H still had to grill his own supper! We did sing to him and then forced him to blow out his candles on the red velvet cake that I baked for him. Our entertainment for the evening was a bunch of rousing games of “Left, Right, Center” a dice game that takes even fewer brain cells than playing Bunco!
R&N did pull out on Monday and within a few hours a huge motorhome was ready to back in to the tiny, narrow spot where their 18ft trailer had been. The driver of the motorhome came over to chat with H and told him the rangers were going to cut down the tree so they could have room to park there. Can you imagine? Luckily, only several larger limbs were sacrificed. Our ire was not calming so we were glad it was time for us to move. We did – on Tuesday. Time for Moss Park! But on the way we stopped at Brandon Farms for a FANTASTIC quart of huge red sweet strawberries! Close your eyes – can you smell them? Can you imagine the taste?
R&N headed to Buttonwood Bay Resort and H and I headed up to Highland Hammock for a few days. We cannot stay at the Hammock without riding our bikes around the “loop” and walking out on the Cypress Boardwalk. Such a narrow, winding string of boards, slung like a tightrope, just over the dark mysterious water of the swamp! AND - - - low and behold, Gene and Bobbie were parked the next row over from us so I got to “catch up” a bit with these dear friends! My sewing machine did its job again, too! In a very short time, the folks next to us came to investigate. Linda and Jerry are from Davenport Iowa but we discovered that Jerry grew up in Toledo and went to Libbey High School. When I found out that Fran and Charles – the folks parked between H and I and B&G, were from “North Georgia” - I had to introduce them! They all had dulcimers and deer hunting in common!
On then to EG Simmons! R&N arrived the day before we did and parked in site #3 and finagled to keep #5 open for us! SPFB-yet again! R drove but we drug he and Nancy to The Red Barn Flea Market down in Bradenton and then out to Anna Marie Island and the pier and beaches. You guessed it – dinner was at Anna Marie Oyster Bar. On Saturday we all climbed back into R’s big gray truck and headed north to see if the guys could find Silver Dollar Shooting Club. It took 2 GPS’s, a cell phone and the Florida map but – Mission accomplished -and the fellas got to shoot a few rounds in the rain. On Sunday it rained most of the day again. However, no amount of rain was going to keep us from indulging in strawberry shortcake for lunch. The sun managed to come out for a while after we returned home with our tummies full of yummy sweet red berries so I went for a bike ride while the others kicked back and read the paper we had picked up. In my journey along the horseshoe crab beach, I found a good-sized shell, and then another for Nancy. Back at the campsite, I rinsed them off and worked at getting the heavy metal grate on the fire ring flipped over and level to dry the shells on. It’s too bad I didn’t see the fire ants before they crawled up and over my left hand and up and over my left foot. Good thing I had on socks and tennis shoes or I’d have more than just those few red itching welts on my leg.
H’s birthday was Monday but R&N were scheduled to move then so we celebrated on Sunday evening. H still had to grill his own supper! We did sing to him and then forced him to blow out his candles on the red velvet cake that I baked for him. Our entertainment for the evening was a bunch of rousing games of “Left, Right, Center” a dice game that takes even fewer brain cells than playing Bunco!
R&N did pull out on Monday and within a few hours a huge motorhome was ready to back in to the tiny, narrow spot where their 18ft trailer had been. The driver of the motorhome came over to chat with H and told him the rangers were going to cut down the tree so they could have room to park there. Can you imagine? Luckily, only several larger limbs were sacrificed. Our ire was not calming so we were glad it was time for us to move. We did – on Tuesday. Time for Moss Park! But on the way we stopped at Brandon Farms for a FANTASTIC quart of huge red sweet strawberries! Close your eyes – can you smell them? Can you imagine the taste?
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Back to the Glades
Back to the Glades! Sounds like Back to the Future, doesn’t it! Off the Keys to Homestead and then southwest back into the Glades but this time we headed for Long Pine Key – no electricity, no showers NO WIFI! The Everglades are known as a “River of Grass” and this “Key” is a high spot with trees! There’s even a sign on the road about a spot with an Elevation of 3!! The campground had nice big campsites and Ron and Nancy joined us on Monday. The evening program at the amphitheater that night was all about the Nike Missile Base there in the Glades. The young man in charge was very knowledgeable about World War II, the Cold War and how this secret base ended up in the middle of south Florida. Some said he was a bit “dramatic” but he sure made that part of history come alive and interesting. We were in high school when all of it was happening and most of us never paid any attention!
Tuesday we investigated the remaining National Park Visitor Center at Royal Palm. H and I took a quick walk on the Gumbo Limbo Trail and learned that the Gumbo Limbo tree is a smooth barked tree sometimes called the “tourist tree” because it’s red and peels! It’s used to make baseball bats, toothpicks, and fence posts – that usually end up growing! And then, we all took a guided tour of the old Nike facilities. Our guide on this tour was older – our era -and filled in even more details of how the missile parts arrived; how the 41 foot missiles were built in a 42 ft building, about the cement block garages where they were stored and even the underground bunkers where the men went for safety. Lead paint and all! Once the tour was over we hooked up our trailers and hit the road – further down the road - to the end! Flamingo! Still no electricity, but nice warm showers! Then the rains came. All night and half the next morning as we moved out and back up to the Tamiami Trail. We missed getting to park again at Midway but parked at yet another National Park campground at Monument Lake – like Midway with a large alligator in residence in the small calm lake with campsites encircling it. The sunset over the “pond” was yet another pretty one! Needing a place to settle for one night, we ended up back at Collier Seminole State Park. H lucked out again and got the last two sites but only for that night! He deftly backed that 7 - foot wide trailer between several trees that were only 8 feet apart! And I finally got out my sewing machine! Before I even got one potholder completed – the lady in the neighboring trailer came over and promptly bought 5 from my bag of wares!
So, now we are done with the Glades and have headed north – but just a bit! Ron found us a deal at Whispering Creek RV Resort in Labelle, for 4 nights. We’re parked in their new area called “The Glenn” – aka The Big Field! The deal came with 2 free breakfasts, a free lunch and a free boat ride! On Saturday we shopped at the Fleamasters Flea Market in Ft Myers. We have taken advantage of the HEATED outdoor swimming pool, ridden our bikes, and enjoyed our deck-boat ride up the dark river lined with all kinds of old working boats, houseboats and interesting elderly sailing craft. We especially enjoyed the ride back down the river when R had his hat blow off and Captain Dan had to circle around and around to get close enough to nab the slowly sinking straw shappo! At coffee and donut time this morning in the recreation hall, I even sold over a dozen potholders! Now I’ve got room to make some more!
Tuesday is our last free breakfast and then we’ll be off again!
Tuesday we investigated the remaining National Park Visitor Center at Royal Palm. H and I took a quick walk on the Gumbo Limbo Trail and learned that the Gumbo Limbo tree is a smooth barked tree sometimes called the “tourist tree” because it’s red and peels! It’s used to make baseball bats, toothpicks, and fence posts – that usually end up growing! And then, we all took a guided tour of the old Nike facilities. Our guide on this tour was older – our era -and filled in even more details of how the missile parts arrived; how the 41 foot missiles were built in a 42 ft building, about the cement block garages where they were stored and even the underground bunkers where the men went for safety. Lead paint and all! Once the tour was over we hooked up our trailers and hit the road – further down the road - to the end! Flamingo! Still no electricity, but nice warm showers! Then the rains came. All night and half the next morning as we moved out and back up to the Tamiami Trail. We missed getting to park again at Midway but parked at yet another National Park campground at Monument Lake – like Midway with a large alligator in residence in the small calm lake with campsites encircling it. The sunset over the “pond” was yet another pretty one! Needing a place to settle for one night, we ended up back at Collier Seminole State Park. H lucked out again and got the last two sites but only for that night! He deftly backed that 7 - foot wide trailer between several trees that were only 8 feet apart! And I finally got out my sewing machine! Before I even got one potholder completed – the lady in the neighboring trailer came over and promptly bought 5 from my bag of wares!
So, now we are done with the Glades and have headed north – but just a bit! Ron found us a deal at Whispering Creek RV Resort in Labelle, for 4 nights. We’re parked in their new area called “The Glenn” – aka The Big Field! The deal came with 2 free breakfasts, a free lunch and a free boat ride! On Saturday we shopped at the Fleamasters Flea Market in Ft Myers. We have taken advantage of the HEATED outdoor swimming pool, ridden our bikes, and enjoyed our deck-boat ride up the dark river lined with all kinds of old working boats, houseboats and interesting elderly sailing craft. We especially enjoyed the ride back down the river when R had his hat blow off and Captain Dan had to circle around and around to get close enough to nab the slowly sinking straw shappo! At coffee and donut time this morning in the recreation hall, I even sold over a dozen potholders! Now I’ve got room to make some more!
Tuesday is our last free breakfast and then we’ll be off again!
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