Okeechobee

Okeechobee sunset

It was just fog droplets that were collecting on the windshield as we pulled out of Collier Seminole that morning – right??    It was just an overload of humidity coming in off of the Gulf of Mexico that was barely a half-mile away in that creek by the boat launch  - right??   Things were going to dry out and we were going to camp at Midway, the National Park campground half way across the Tamiami Trail and we were finally going to get to ride our bikes the whole 15 mile length of the road in Shark Valley - right?  Wrong!  As soon as we rounded the curve and passed Everglade City – the low hanging clouds let loose and released their pent up moisture.   All the blasted way across the glades it rained.  As we passed the casino on the eastern edge of the glades (where we have parked for the night in years past) and turned from Rt 41 to go north on Rt 997 it rained!    It did let up as we passed by the spread out sugar cane fields in various stages of growth or burnt out blackness.  It waited long enough for us to park the big blue truck and attached “condo” on the still damp concrete parking pad in the Palm Beach County Campground in South Bay.   Then it let loose again!   The grassy areas were saturated and the lovely big pond in the center of the park was full!  The screened in laundry/shower room building was just across a small turn around area next to us so we took advantage of the time and got our laundry done, dancing around puddles and splashing thru soggy grass to get to and from the protection of our out stretched awning.    The next day was either overcast and gray or raining again.  We made the best of the situation by heading out and exploring some of H’s old haunts and hangouts from his past when he spent time during his “single days” of long ago!  Drove thru “little Haiti” in Belle Glade and revisited the campground to see if it was worth moving to instead of signing up for more days at South Bay. NO – it wasn’t!   Farther up the eastern side of Lake Okeechobee in Pahokee was another campground, right on the banks of the lake itself.   Way too steep of a price and way too steep of a climb to get over the levee pulling the trailer. 

Let me explain about Lake Okeechobee, the nations 2^nd largest natural lake.  Water from farther north in Florida flows to the south and ends up filtering thru the everglades before reaching the ocean.   Years ago men in authority thought it would be best to hold up the flow when it reached Lake Okeechobee. So they built a tall levee around the entire lake.  On the outside of the levee they dug canals.  To gain access to the lake they built large locks for boat to pass thru but still hold water in the lake.   To make a shortcut for other vessels – they dug an even larger canal/river from Port Lucie on the Atlantic side and exiting to the west and out to Ft Myers and the Gulf of Mexico via the Caloosahatchee River.  The lake is famous for its fishing.  It stands to reason then that it would be surrounded by marinas and fishing camps that pass themselves off as “RV Resorts”. 

lock into the lake

Zachary Taylor RV Resort is a Passport America resort at the north end of the lake and is planted on the banks of a canal that just so happens to lead to one of the many locks whose long wooden protecting arms stretch out into the lake.   Near downtown Okeechobee city is a new fishing pier that has replaced one destroyed by a hurricane.  After a lovely fish dinner at one of the local restaurants, the pier was a nice way to walk off supper and enjoy the last view of the sun as it disappeared behind the next batch of storm clouds that was rolling in.

Enough of the rain!   Lets head for the ocean.  Maybe the sun will shine there.

Marco and Naples

Find the dolphin?

Collier Seminole State Park is an old, OLD state park.  Remember our last visit here?  We wrote about the HUGE black “walking” crane that was built in Grand Rapids Michigan and was used to dig the miles and miles of deep, wide canals that were dug for the fill dirt to build the Tamiami Trail as it crossed the swampy Everglades.  The crane is still there – welcoming visitors to the park.  The boat ramp and picnic area seems to be the newest and best-kept space with shelter covered picnic tables and spacious parking lot.  The cement boat launch and adjoining canoe/kayak launch are used a lot. Except by one particular couple from Ohio – we watched them unload their armload of canoe gear and head to the stack of up-upside down canoes. Just about the same time, we noticed a slim dark shape slither into the water and move away from the shoreline.  After a very short “discussion” – they gathered their gear and returned to their car.  A teeny, tiny, 4-foot alligator kept them from a sunny afternoon exploring the waterway?  Sheesh!

While the boat area was welcoming, the campground was still overcrowded.  There were at least 6-8 campsites squeezed into an area that would be considered one at EG Simmons!  Luckily we had a corner site!   The “facilities”, while clean, were slipping in their conditions.   And the dump station stunk!!   But  - - we were near to the beaches on Marco Island and Naples!   On Marco Island we found our parking spot at the hotel complex where we’ve parked in the past.  This year there was an attendant and we just told him that we were going to “Stilts” the bar and grill there on the beach.  We strolled thru the open bar seating area and calmly opened the gate leading over the dune to the sprawling white sand beach.  The beach was full of sun worshipers from the north, piles and piles of white shells and a splattering of Fighting Conch Shells.  I tried my best to only gather the empty ones but I must confess – some that were still occupied ended up in my bag.  Besides all the beach walkers and sunbathers we passed a mammoth flock of  “bad haired” terns with their windswept look of black head feathers. Another group of strange looking birds sat huddled in the soft sand.  There were hundreds of Black Skimmers - strange looking birds that have red bills that are tipped in black.  Their lower beak is longer than their top beak.   Too bad that H forgot to bring his camera.   In Naples we found the fishing pier but the parking spot we located was at least a half-mile up the beach.  We needed the walk and it was a beautiful afternoon.  

  A pallet of bright colored beach umbrellas populated the white sand, along with a plethora of even more sun worshipers - all facing the brilliance of the hot sun.  The fishing pier stretched far out in the gulf, over ever deepening shades of aqua blue water.

  It was lined with hopeful fishermen and several dolphins danced and dove all around the long wooden path.  Pelicans floated near the collection of bobbers, hoping for a bit of a snack.  Up on the roof of the shelter was a lone “bad hair” Tern who didn’t seem concerned about all the folks passing so close to his perch on high. 

We are no longer heading south. The next part of our venture will lead us towards the rising sun.  We’re heading east across the Everglades!

Sarasota,- Punta Gorda, Fl

On our last day at EG Simmons, Bud F and H were tossing about as to where we should spend our day together.  Ybor City, St Pete, Tampa and the beaches were ruled out.  It was too cold and windy for the beaches.  Plus, H and I had just been out to Anna Marie Island.  We had picked the best day weather wise and we had parked at the public beach.   Last year we had brought Raegan’s Flat Stanley with us and had taken lots of pictures of him there on the wide white sandy beach.  This year the “powers that be” were “reconstructing” the beach. 

Anna Marie beach 

  That meant they had fenced off most of the beach and were bulldozing and sucking up more sand from the gulf bottom to rebuild what had washed away.  We walked way south along the bright orange snow/sand fence and finally found waterfront sand and waves to walk thru.  Can you imagine – I ONLY picked up 4 shells to bring home!  We even climbed aboard the free island trolley and rode out to the Historic Anna Marie Fishing Pier.   It was a blue sky and gentle aqua sea day so the pier was full of tourists and fishermen!     But, I digress - back to my story about our last Saturday!  Neither the Franklins, nor we had ever been to the Ringling Circus Museum down in Sarasota.  H found that tickets were $20 for seniors but Bud’s sister and husband were members and graciously offered us FREE tickets!  WOW!   After a trip to Sun City Center to pick up the tickets we headed down 30 miles to Sarasota.  

Under the big top

You MUST go see this “museum” if you ever get to Sarasota!  This magnificent 66 acre campus includes immaculately manicured gardens, the new Circus Museum, the original museum, an art museum, the historic Osolo theater and the elaborate Italian architecture structure called “Ca’D’Zan” (House of John) which was built from 1924-1926 at a cost of $1.5 million.   The Circus museum has a school gym sized room that houses a miniature Circus setup that starts at the railroad yard, unloading the carved 6-inch elephants!  The glass enclosed diorama winds thru the room and the circus goes thru the setting up of the tents and finally the intricately carved Big Top with performers doing ariel acts above lions and tigers!   It took 50 years to build this awesome display!   The other Circus building includes John Ringling’s private railroad car and the famous human cannon truck.  Displays trace the history of the circus from the late 1800’s to the 1960’s.    

John and Mable Ringling bought their parcel of paradise on Sarasota Bay in 1911.  They had enjoyed traveling abroad; especially Italy and they wanted their palatial winter home to reflect that love.   Our tour led us past vibrant red velvet furniture and gold covered pillars and up an Italian marble staircase to the private quarters.  From the upstairs balcony the open rooms below looked like a fancy dollhouse display.    The ornate renaissance style Museum of Art was John’s private museum built in the late 1920’s and houses his collection of Rubens and other 1500/1600 artists.  At the end of the central courtyard is a bronze copy of Michelangelo’s David from Naples Italy.   The circus museum was a great way to finish up our stay in Ruskin!!!

The art Museum courtyard

On down Rt 41 thru Port Charlotte to Punta Gorda, it was back to Alligator Park to use our Passport America discount for 3 nights.  From riding our bikes thru the park, the majority of residents are from Michigan, Indiana and Iowa!   Saturday in Florida is Flea Market Day!   We rambled thru Flea Master’s down in Ft Myers and also hit another that was set up in the parking lot at the Shell Factory.   I even found a gnome that needed a new home and a fresh coat of paint!

Sunday was MY day to spend with Emily!  My dear friend from home winters in Pt Charlotte and attends Englewood Church of Christ.  Such a friendly, outgoing southern gospel group of Christians!   I felt right at home and enjoyed the music and the message!   She and I spent a relaxing afternoon at her home before I called H to have him pick me up – at Joann’s Fabric!   The weather has warmed up since we’re 70 some miles south of Tampa Bay but we’re heading down farther.  Tampa Bay was long pants but now it is Capri time!

Ruskin, Fl

Ruskin means Mangrove trees, sandy beaches, bike rides, horseshow crabs, Tampa Bay, Manatees, Osprey, Pelicans, EG Simmons County Park Campground, Anna Marie’s Oyster Bar Restaurant and more new friends!

As we came west and then south on Rt 41 thru Apollo Beach, we could see the tall power plant stacks with their plumes of fluffy white steam billowing up and out into the sky.  We weren’t far from parking the condo on one of the huge grassy sites in EG Simmons Park!   This year we were able to get onto H’s very favorite-est spot - #56 – which is wide, deep and has a good sized open slot in the thick mangroves for launching a canoe, kayak – or porta-bote!  The camp host who is normally on this site has even left old green indoor/outdoor carpeting down to line the rocky, mucky opening.  Great for sliding boats easily between the long tendrils of Mangrove roots into the tannic colored water of the canal!

Safe Harbor

Sun Rise

This is a cold windy winter up north and the same in the south.  North Florida has had freezing temps and frost warnings have abound here in the Tampa area also.  30’s and 40’s at night and 50’s and 60’s most days have been the norm.  Wind and heavy clouds have been taking turns.  Long pants and jackets are required most days.  On one of those cold blustery days we did stop at the Apollo Beach Power Plant for our annual pilgrimage to see the Manatees. They were there in mass but the tide was out so they were all huddled closer to the warmer, deeper water of the area right next to the discharge pipes of the cooling towers.  Oh well, next time.   Right out the back window, some of the sunrises with their peach and coral glow and then aqua blue are still a welcome sight when you first wake up and sip that first cup of coffee.   The high wispy clouds and criss crossing jet streams accentuated the glow of the colors against the starkness of the dark trees.  That’s a sight H only sees in pictures!  Sleepy head!

Sky and water reflections

On our first afternoon, we had surprise guests come to call – Bud Franklin – H’s classmate from Swanton and his wife Nancy!  We’ve since gone to the Big Red Barn Flea Market with them and of course – Anna Marie’s!   On the day after we arrived, we were inside because it was cold and windy out, when 2 bundled up folks wandered thru our site and out behind the condo.  I was starting to get aggravated at the rudeness of people who don’t have any respect for someone’s space, when one of them came and knocked on our door.  It was the couple from Montreal, Claude and Nicole that we had met and become friends with at Kelly Park!   The guys had traded camping stories and ideas and they took H’s advice to come to Ruskin!

The boat has been in the water twice now. On our first cruise, the sky was so blue and the water so calm that it was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.  The light airy clouds were multiplied by the reflections on the bay!  A low flying pelican took advantage of the calm and flew right by us, adding to our beautiful scene.    Our second jaunt was smooth till we reached the open waters of the bay and the farther out we ventured- the bigger and rougher the chop.  Back to the protected areas of the many canals and back to our safe harbor!  

Pelican across our bow

We’ll be in this campground a few more days before we move south to the Port Charlotte area.  We’ve got more to share about the Tampa area – so stay with us!

Lithia Spring

Round and Round!   The GPS led us West, then North, and then said, “ Make a U turn as soon as possible”!  Again and again!  One time we ended up at Animal Kingdom.  The next time around we took a chance and picked the roadway to the A K Lodge.  Lo and behold there was another road that led off of that path and we escaped the Disney Maze and soon we were finally out of the traffic congestion of Orlando and onto quieter back roads to Plant City, Brandon and the peaceful Lithia Spring Hillsborough County Park.  

Camping at Lithia Spring

Lithia Springs is not the most kept up, modern campground by any means. (SPFB!) but there are some good improvements being made!  All of the NEW electrical AND water hookups are now on the right sides and closer together!  The narrow winding road is being cleared somewhat making it easier to maneuver rigs thru the thick forest/jungle.  There are now 2 pull thru sites and we parked in one of them.   Open and spacious!  No sappy, drippy pine tree above us this year!   The camp hosts are from near Ann Arbor Michigan and we’ve had a nice time catching up from last year.    Since the weather in this area has been less than perfect – so was the condition of the Spring.   A bit of green slime has built up around the shallow end but once the locals and all the kids can get back in it – I am sure it will be back to it’s gorgeous sparkling blue.   The little white nippy fish are still there!

Two weeks on the road

Four weeks on the road

Our beautiful amaryllis is just that – BEAUTIFUL!  Regal and tall and in full bloom with more buds to open!  She even has a second stem arising from her thick base, which will produce 3 or 4 more blooms.   Her double-layered pedals are pearly white with coral streaks of color emitting from a deep center of soft pale lime green.  Her bloom is 9 inches across.  As each bloom fades, there will be another opening to take its place.  I will be able to enjoy her beauty for quite awhile!    On cold, windy days, her perch is in the back corner of the condo, next to the big picture window, where she can catch all the available light rays.  When we pack down to travel she moves to the protection of the shower stall.  Unfit of her beauty, she is humbled and placed inside the empty wastebasket and secured with my 4 brand new rolls of Christmas wrapping paper standing around her pot of stems.  No broken stems for her this year!

It is the weekend and our luck for finding Flea Markets fell flat.   Just like our trip to the Pittsburgh Zoo years ago (and our exit from Disney?), the GPS took us to a small residential area in Lakeland.  No one at the carryout down the road knew anything about any flea market.  Oh well – there was another one listed for Plant City.   HA!   That one had moved and if what was left behind was any inclination as to what had been there  - - - It was creepy!   Oh well – time to buy strawberries at our favorite Brandon Farms roadside stand and make our own shortcake!    DEE-LISH!  

Mission accomplished.  Now it’s on to Ruskin and EG Simmons County Park.    More strawberries, a really big flea market AND Anna Marie’s Oyster Bar!            Come on!

On to Disney

The newsman on TV said that this week EVERY state in the country had temps below freezing, including Hawaii and Florida!   It’s true but then the weather on top of Hawaii’s volcano is ALWAYS cold!   Our original plans called for moving to Disney World on Monday but the forecast was not good so we stayed in Kelly Park an extra day.  On Sunday it was almost 80 so we slid into the deep cool water and snorkeled down the Rock Spring Run.  And as always - I looked like the monster from the dark lagoon!  As warm as it was on Sunday, Monday temps hit the bottom in low 30’s and highs in the 40’s. 

  Tuesday was not much better as we loaded on the long pants and sweat shirts and moved the condo to Ft Wilderness Campground in the maze of loops and lakes in the Disney Complex.

Wednesday was supposed to get warmer but we wisely chose to wear our winter coats as the morning started out cold - and we were taking a boat ride to the Magic Kingdom!   Thru the main gates, Main Street USA lay before us and led our eyes to the amazing view of the centerpiece of the park -Cinderella’s Castle.    The child in H emerged as he grabbed my hand and off we headed to Tomorrowland to ride his favorite ride – Space Mountain. NO, it is not on my list of fun things to do with all the jerks and fits of ups and downs and bright flashing lights being thrown in front of you in the blackest of darkness.  Although, to be honest, I did only see one set of lights until I finally peeked and saw it was the end of the fitful ride!   H’s second favorite ride, Tomorrowland Speedway was closed, as was his third – Splash Mountain.  We did ride the usual ones - the Jungle Cruise, Pirates of the Caribbean and the Frontier Railway. We climbed the Swiss Family Treehouse and patiently sat thru the fake-feathered birds tweeting away in the Tiki Room!   

The Country Bears Jamboree is not as good as the one in our memory; however, the Parade of Presidents is still a great thing to behold.  We hurried and caught part of the noon parade but by 8pm we were leaning on the available strong fence to ease our weary backs and feet so we could watch the amazing fireworks display that flashed and boomed high above the moored paddlewheel tour boat.  The spreading fingers of color that drifted down the walls of the dark sky looked like large iridescent mum pedals reflecting in the calm dark water of the small river in front of us.   We finally joined the herd of human cattle, all trying to merge back onto Mainstreet, to finally end up at the various modes of transportation to get each back to their pillows and places of rest for the night.  Our boat finally arrived and too many of us were herded aboard, filling the boat with so many passengers that a lot were standing in the aisle.  Shortly after disembarking, a unique parade of small boats and their obedient barges behind them slowly paraded across the lake, just out from the boat dock at the campground.  Loud music bellowed from the lead boat as a large green dragon with a bright red tongue lit up.  Its body and tail were the 2^nd and 3^rd boats.  Then came a turtle, 3 jumping fish and lastly a bright green gator with smacking jaws on the following crafts.  Enough!  We needed a bus to our campground loop and our own soft pillows.  Thursday was going to be here soon and we needed to find the road out of Disney.

Apopka Fl.

                              HAPPY NEW YEAR! 

We are thinking of changing the name of the “condo” to “the ARK”.     Rain, rain and more RAIN!  It was raining on our trip down.  It was wet at Salt Springs and Wilderness and it’s been raining on and off since we arrived at Kelly Park in Apopka.   Our fingers and toes look like albino prunes and the trailer is turning black from mildew!  We’re running out of bleach!   But, H checked the traffic cams up home and it don’t look good there either! 

We spent one day out exploring since it was too cold and gray to jump into the Rock Spring and snorkel down the run like we usually do when here.  Around and about we ended up south in Winter Garden.  Their downtown Christmas displays were still up and still beautiful.   Lucky for us the sun came out and we enjoyed our stroll up and down Main Street.  Next stop was Hickory Point Park just north of Howie in the Hills Bridge on Rt 19.  The HUGE southern plantation style, 2 story, screened in shelter house anchored the peaceful setting of nature boardwalk, boat launch and sprawling boat docks/fishing pier.  We followed the highway up and over the Dora Canal and Dead River to Lake Eustis, just west of Tavares on Rt 441.   Now the mission was to find a boat launch suitable to unfold the boat and get it into the water.   The launch on Lake Eustis was way too big but we did meet a family from Ohio who was visiting family in Eustis for the holidays!   They were from Whitehouse and knew our grandsons and their teenage son had had H’s daughter for a teacher!   Our atlas showed a boat launch in Tavares on Lake Dora and looked close to the Dora Canal.  It was in the picturesque lakefront park we visited last year!    The seaplanes were still offering rides to tourists and were constantly roaring in and out of the little harbor.  The grassy area next to the big launch ramp was going to be just right to unfold the boat! 

We rolled the dice and took a chance on picking which day to attempt our boat launch.  The clouds were heavy and dark gray on our way to the launch but the sun peaked thru as we ventured out of the harbor and headed for the Dora Canal which is a jungle river that joins Lake Dora and Lake Eustis.   It is guarded at the mouth by a small lighthouse and rows of pontoon boats and small cottages.   From there the small olive green river runs thru a Florida jungle!   Large green vines, palmetto bushes and Cypress trees line the banks and kingfishers and herons flew up and away in front of us.   According to a local magazine, the canal was dug back in the 1800’s, and the librarian at the Lake County Library (who is originally from Lima Ohio!) said that a lot of the old Tarzan movie still pictures were taken on that canal!  Boat traffic was going both ways, from the Sheriff’s wide craft, kayaks, a pontoon, a couple of fishing boats, and a rather ponderous sailboat!  Good thing it had its mast laid down because there were 3 rather low wide bridges it had to go under before it reached the next lake.  A rather portly gentleman in a red plaid shirt manned one of the bass boats.  He had long white hair and a full white beard!   HUH!  Now we know where Santa went after Christmas!  Lake Eustis at the other end of the canal was way too rough for our little craft so we turned around and headed back thru the jungle.   Once back on the calm side of Lake Dora we viewed the lakefront as we slowly puttered up and back before turning off the gas in the trusty little 2.2 Mercury motor and gently floated to the shore. 

Now it’s Friday.  Thursday we put more miles on the truck in the daylong rain.  Today we are trying to dry out and warm up!  Temps last night reached the low 40’s.  The big project for the day is to see if the Catfish Place in Apopka is as good as it was last year.  Saturday is our Sanford exploration day and of course – OLD people in Florida go to Flea Markets.     Temps Sunday are to warm up a bit so maybe, just maybe – we’ll make it down the Rock Springs Run.    Monday is moving day!    Where to??    DISNEY!!!