Wed, Sept 8th; Stayed at the Ottowa Lake SFCG near Eagle, WI, a lovely little town and then the next night at Big Foot Beach SP near lake Geneva, WI...both really nice places; but then all of Wisconsin is beautiful.
Monday, Sept 13th; Lake Kensonsa SP near Madison for a night, but moving South every day now.Did drive into Milwaukee to visit StJoseph's Hospital where I was born and went up to chat with the OB nurses. they said that the oldest part of the hospital was from the 60's but I did meet an old volunteer who also was born there, even before me!
Tuesday, Sept 14th; Illinois Beach SP near Waukegon IL; resting up to get down to Chicago area.
Thursday,Sept 16th; Did drive along Lakeshore drive to see the older suburbs of Glencoe and Evanston and then made it through downtown to head out hwy 55 south toward St Louis. I have to say that Illinois, other then the rich suburbs of Chicago is not a very pretty state at all....tons of industry and urban with no signs that there has been any renovation in outlying towns and the parks are either non-existent of pretty small and meager.
Friday, Sept 17th; I did enjoy following the old Route 66 towns of Springfield and Litchfield. Lots of 50-60s memorabilia, old cars and diners.
Wed, Sept 22; Glad to get back to St Louis for the first time in 5 years and stay with my cousin in Webster Groves. St Louis is still hopping and beautiful. I'm here for my 50th!! HS Reunion. Thursday, Oct 14-17th: Spent a really fun 3 days with grddtr,CeliaAnne in the Chattanooga area; seeing waterfalls, the city and river. Stayed at Raccoon Mountain CG, a great little place right next to the Raccoon Mtn Caverns and with a pool, go-cart track and playground. We did go to Ruby Falls in Lookout Mtn and it was spectacular but actually the smaller caves near our CG were more fun.
Staying in Atlanta for the next 3 weeks, through Halloween and until Nov 6th with grandkids, then headed West to CO and AZ.
Sunday, Sept 5th; South of Green Bay Wisconsin at the Point Beach SP..a really large campground running along the beach and next to another lighthouse; some good hikes in the sand.
Monday, Sept 6th; Kohler-Anchae SP near Sheboygan; also a wonderful Lake Michigan cg. Dori is liking the sand now and even the wind.
Wed, September 1st; Took the Painted Rocks boat cruise at Munising. The formations and cliffs along the shore are spectacular. Had a "pastie" for the first time...it's a folded crust with meat and potatoes inside, pretty much what many minors and workers have lived on for generatios and similar to other folded pies such as Calzones, chinese dumplings, crepes, swedish pancakes and piroges, I think.
Thursday, Sept2nd; Drove West to the farthest point on Lake Superior at Copper Harbor and stayed in the SP. By this time the weather is changing fast up North and I could not take the ferry to Isle Royale because they were predicting gale force winds and 10-12 foot waves on the lake by Sat. I did head out by saturday in cold, stormy rain.
Sarturday, Sept 4th; Made it to Boulder Lake FSCG near Menominee where it was slightly less stormy but still cloudy and chilly.
Tuesday, August 17th; finally had to say goodbye to friends and great time in Ohio to get up the Michigan, through Kalamazoo and on to Grand Rapids in 2 days.
Wed, August 18th; Arrived at Grand Haven to stay in the SP at the beach there and visit old friends. The town is perfectly designed with parks and walkways along the channel, a lighthouse next to the campground and the most fantastic show each night called the "Musical Fountain". We sat on bleachers at the waters edge and heard all kinds of music set to the movement of the incredible waterfall show across the channel...a unique experience, not to be missed!
Sunday, August 22nd; Had to leave dear friends,and the hottest summer in MI since the 60s to head up farther North to the Upper Peninsula. Got as far as Traverse City to stay in a campground right in town and walking distance to lake Michigan.
Monday, August 23rd; Made it across the Mackinaw Bridge to the UP, had a hamburger and the famous "Clyde's" and camped at the Three Lakes NFCG. The "Yoopers" as they call themselves are a different breed...only as different as so many local peoples all around the USA can manage to keep themselves in their own territory.
Thursday, August26th; Taquamenon Falls SP along Lake Superior and a really great campground, very family friendly with nice hikes to the lower falls and around the woods. Stayed for 3 days to relax and hang around waterfalls and cooler temps.
Monday, August 30th; Stayed in another very quiet, deserted CG at Hurricane River with a path down to the shore of Lake Superior. The greatest of the Great Lakes, it is deeper, colder, bigger, and cleaner than all the others and it looks and feels it!
Sunday, August 8th; Minnesota at a campground near Jamestown, have not been in MN since I was 12 years old.
Monday, August 9th; Wisconsin Dells area at a private CG with all the fancy comforts, a pretty pool,grounds and even movies to rent. Watched "Crazy Heart", a great movie.
Tuesday, August 10-Thursday, August 12th; moved right on through Indiana and on to Ohio to meet my friend Martha for our birthdays at the Pier-Lon CG outside Medina, OH. We were comfortably parked for a week while I got a grand tour of the Amish country and the beautiful farms all around the central Ohio hills. Every little town is so lovingly preserved and the Amish set very high standards for the most pristine and prosperous farms in the USA!
EAST AGAIN TO THE MIDWEST:
Monday, Aug2nd; left Seattle, driving East through Washington; the usually vacant plains of Eastern WA are now spotted with beautiful windmills. I love the huge white poles with 3 thin elongated arms turning slowly in the wind...they look stately and serene while providing energy. Passed on through Spokane and Coeur d"Alene,ID; not able to stop in my old work and home places this trip but sure look forward to spending time here again. Stayed near St.Regis, MT for the night. Montana is so different from Idaho and anyplace....it is truly the place of BIG SKY and majestic, huge mountains.
Tues/Wed August3-4: Stayed in almost deserted Forest Service campground just North of Butte for $2.50 with my Senior Eagle Pass...only one other camper, very quiet and wooded.
Thursday, August 5th; Arrived at the Teddy Roosevelt National Park near Medora, ND. The park is wonderful with canyons and desert foliage, bison walking around the campground and so many birds singing. The little town of Medora has the "Cowboy Hall of Fame". It is a quaint little museum of the rodeos,cowboys,cowgirls and indians fame. Videos of bronc riders and Rodeo Queens....really a fun little display.
Monday, July 5th: On into Oregon and the beautiful coast. Stayed at Camp Blanco SP, on the cliffs above the Pacific and looking out at the Lighthouse. Weather was sunny but very windy with all the trees leaning against the shore.
Tuesday, July 6th: We made it halfway up the Oregon Coast, past Yachats and the Adobe Motel where I has stayed many years ago on the way to BC. Dori and I stayed at the South Beach SP and she had her first taste of beach life, was somewhat intimidated but got the hang of running around in the sand, the wind blowing her ears. Here also the campground spaces were roomy and we could walk over the dunes from the campground; many families here with little kids. Wednesday, July 7th: We made it to just South of Portland and found the Champoeg Historical area SP. Lots of ancient settlers buildings and a wonderful “general store” to buy strawberry/rhubarb pie for breakfast. Here I met 3 women who are bicycling across the US. Their sag driver, Karen came into my camper to talk traveling and ask about my rig and experience. It was good to hear her input, especially regarding places in AZ to spend the winter. The people I meet “out here” have been so friendly, polite and helpful….except for a very few “crude, rude, ugly” types.
Thursday, July 8th: I drove into the Mt St. Helens visitor center to relive the day in May, 1980, when Molly was a baby and we lived in Coeur d’Alene, ID, that the huge ash cloud descended on the town about 4pm…we were all terrified, thinking it would kill us! Continued on to Miller-Sylvania SP just south of Olympia, WA. There I met a man who was setting up camp there to bring his wife after her chemo treatment at the local Cancer Ctr in Olympia. When he brought her out to the campground I could see that she was feeling pretty bad; but he had explained that their dream was to travel if she was up to it…..such brave folks.
Friday, July 9th: Met Matt and Molly (dtr and SIL) at Lake Cushman SP on the Olympic Peninsula for the w/e. It’s a beautiful lake near Hoodsport, WA and the weather was perfect, 80 during the day and cool at night. Once again we had to deal with the boaters/beerdrinkers over, the w/e but it was a really nice place to camp. They now have “Pepper” new dog who got to know Dori and me and had her fill of squirrel/chipmunk sightings.
Monday, July12th: I went out to Pacific Beach on the coast above Aberdeen after visiting the Quinault Lake center of The Olympic National Park and getting into my 3rd National Park, FREE ( I love being old!) The beach here is very wide and windy. I met Sylvia, a lovely lady kite flyer who is an expert making and flying kites for 20 years! We will keep in touch and I look forward to attending a Kite Festival some day. She had some valuable recommendations for me as I go around the peninsula.
Tuesday, July13th: I made it to the Kalaloch So beach campground. The other Kalaloch campground is reservation only and was full…no wonder, the weather is perfect every day and the beach gorgeous. The one I stayed in was more like a parking lot along the beach so we were all lined up next to each other. Walked down the path to the very wild beach with gigantic trees thrown up on the shore and the tide in. Dori just wanted to get away from crashing surf but the next morning the tide was so far out that a lone fisherman was standing at least 200ft from shore with his line in the surf. I did see several groups with fish on the campfire for dinner.
Wednesday, July 14th: The Rialto beach by Mora campground is the most amazing! There I met Terry, a traveler with a camera and a blog. So I will always think of that as “Terry’s beach” since we had a terrific walk along it to the “Hole-in-the-wall- and the tide pools. Camping and walking around there is unforgettable; the best views of the Pacific I’ve seen yet, and that’s saying something on this coast! I stayed 2 days to just live in it.
Friday, July 16: Without realising that I was on hallowed ground, I actually drove into FORKS, WA and then discovered that I was among the many teens with their grandparents touring the scenes from the "Twilight" movies.
I decided that I needed to drive up to Neah Bay. Now I can say that I have traveled from the farthest SE place in the US to the farthest NW place! The Makh Native Museum is one of the best small museums in the country and has a very full history of that Indian tribe who are all still there and maintain their lifestyle. They were preparing for the annual Canoe arrival next week in which about 100 native canoes arrive in their bay for a weeklong celebration. Will certainly try to get to that some year.
Went back to the Klahowya (Chinook word for Welcome) campground and spent 2 nights surrounded by the Sol Duc river and many WA families. The days were so warm that the kids were all tubing in the river. This is my favorite Oly Natn’l Park campground, so far.
Sunday, July 18th: I next stayed at the Elwha River campground. It is a part on the river that will have it’s dam removed this year for the Salmon spawning to resume. The water is glacial ice green, very swift and cold.
Monday, July 19th: I walked to the SolDuc waterfall, about .8miles and worth every step. The water roars down about 100 feet, is very energizing and cool in the forest. It’s near the SolDuc Hot Springs Resort pools and cabins. This is the site of an old resort from the 1800s when folks took the ferry to Crescent Lake, then the “motor wagons” across land and a steam engine train to get into the resort hotel. No more hotel now, it burned down, but the cabins and campground around the pools are great and the deli/restaurant looked really nice.
I drove into Port Angeles, such a nice coastal town with ferry to Victoria, BC and then went out to my last ONP campground, Heart-O-The-Hills near the northern entry National Park Visitor Center.
I also drove up the 17 miles to Hurricane Ridge to see the spectacular Olympic Crest mountains. Stayed for 3 nights to get my last blast of the Olympic Peninsula but could come for many years to all the forest places hear….it’s a serene and restoring atmosphere! Thursday, July 22nd: Left the ONP to travel toward Seattle, down the east coast of the sound. Visited Port Townsend and their library…really quaint town on the coast. I stayed at the Kitsap SP for a night on my way down and then drove through Tacoma, past the Tacomadome where I took my nursing boards in 1990 (that was a frightening memory!!)
Friday, July 23rd: Arrived at West Seattle to stay at kids house, celebrate Matt’s birthday, and get lots of maintenance stuff done before heading back east to Ohio.
Sunday, June 13th: I actually drove through 4 states today, leaving Georgia to Birmingham, Alabama, then Memphis ,Tennessee and into Arkansas. Crossed the Mighty Mississippi and camped at Village Creek SP; very groomed and lovely about 13 miles north of hwy 40 West.
Monday, June 14th- Flag Day: Had Oreo cookies for breakfast (driver’s indulgence) and headed West on #40 again until the storm caught me. I only got past Oklahoma City and not all the way across because the rain was fierce so I stayed at Lake Eufaula SP, safe under the trees and at least it’s now cool!
Tuesday, June 15th: Camped through big thunderstorm for most of the night and the Oklahoma City area got flash floods and needed many people rescued so were lucky to stop when we did. Started early back onto #40 West to Texas and Amarillo. Stopped at the gorgeous redrock carved visitor center and got directions to Palo Duro Canyon SP, the grand canyon of Texas. It is 120 miles long and 800ft deep so a miniature of the CO version but just as colorful. The sagebrush, longhorn cattle and a couple of buffalo in the rustic corral was surrounded by juniper trees. “Palo Duro” means hardwood in Spanish. This is a perfect spot for families to camp and hike with many levels and trails, biking and equestrian trails also. It was very beautiful and comfortable. They have a grand “Texas” musical show Tues thru Sat at an ampitheater in the campground that is spectacular! Cowboys up on the cliff with an American flag and fireworks, then a cast of about 100, singers, dancers and horses put on a dynamite show, with a big fireworks display at the end….not to be missed and includes steak dinner in the pavilion if you choose.
My brother Bruce called me today and was rather “down” about his upcoming birthday. I pretended to be in Tennessee, headed north to throw him off to the route I’m really taking to get to CA by his birthday on the 28th; and I acted rather nonchalant about his turning 60. I talked with younger brother Nat to plan my arrival at their house in Petaluma by Friday, the 26th so I can go to the state fair with Olive that w/e…it will be great fun.
Thursday, June 17th: Drove from Amarillo all the way through NM (I’ll be back) and drove through the Petrified Forest Natnl Park, to visit my 2nd Natn’l Park, did not stay…very desolate and hot. So I went on to the Kaibab Natn’l Forest, about 40miles south of the Grand Canyon, AZ and about 4 miles north of the town of Williams. It has been preserved as an original Route 66 town so was humming with people and great little diners, vintage car exhibits and memorabilia. The campground was in a cool shady pine forest and Lake Kaibab was small and oblong, full of trout. There was a forest fire about 60 miles to the east so for 3 days, from 8am to 8pm small helicopters swooped down about every half hour to suck up 1000 gallons of water to use on the fire. It was noisy but really fun to sit by the lake and watch them work. I rested there for 3 days after the 12 hour drive to AZ.
Sunday, June 20th: Up into Nevada; driving through the central desert is a “Twilight Zone” experience….260 miles of sagebrush and dry land with huge gray rock mountains. I really did begin to fantasize that I would be driving through that desert for the rest of my life! Had to stay at a Best Western in Tonopah, NV but it was worth the money to get out of the heat and watch TV for a night.
Monday, June 21st (it’s summer!): On to Carson City and the Lake Washoe SP campground below Reno. There the sagebrush and Juniper and whatever else makes the air very pungent and aromatic..loved the smell but sneezed a lot! We had gorgeous sunsets and very chilly nights, peace and quiet and a good rest.
Wed, June 23rd: Got to Nevada City to visit my good friends, Marian and Steve. What a great little town that is; wonderful galleries, a princess and fairy shop (amazing), 3 theaters, and good eats. They live in a lava flow canyon above town, such a nice woodsy neighborhood and a house that Steve is renovating to be very pretty and livable. Dori was ecstatic to be able to run with their dog, Luna in the back yard and to chase her “green bone” with no leash on.
Friday, June 25th: Arrived in Petaluma to my brother, Nathaniel’s home. So great to see him, Jeanette, and niece, Olive. We fit the RV into their driveway and it’s comfortable, cools way down at night. Saturday we all went to the fair, a revelation for Northern CA; you would think you were in Iowa with all the cowboys, livestock and carnival. We watched the little kids chase baby pigs and try to ride sheep. It was a very nice day.
Sunday, June 27th: Today was the big surprise party for my brother Bruce’s 60th. And he was very surprised! Nathaniel told him that he had to sit on the sofa with his eyes closed while he brought the gift in because it was too big to wrap. I sat in front of him, Vicki, and Maya when he opened his eyes….it was a very fun time with friends and good food. Also called son Nick to wish him happy birthday today. I am staying in No CA for a week to see brothers and their families. Spent a day in San Francisco to welcome son Brett and his wife, Bree to their new apt. We walked around the city past the famous Lombard St to the Buena Vista café at the Marina for lunch, and staggered through Chinatown to get back on BART to Oakland….it was a memorable day.
Up the West Coast to Washington: Sunday, July 4th: I sadly left my great brothers, family and 2 wonderful nieces to start the drive up to Seattle. Tonight camping in Redwoods SP along the “Avenue of the Giants”. If there has been a “theme” of my experience so far, it is the glory of TREES! It would be a huge understatement to say that the views and variety of trees in our country is a treasure.
My last few days in Florida were the best. At Ft Myers with dtr Meg and grddtr, Emily. They had a fabulous condo at Sanibel Harbor Resort so we lived in luxury (Dori had to be hauled into the elevator for the 1st 2 days) and went to great beaches and restaurants.
It is my first night of sleeping in my new (to me) 23ft Trai lite motorhome at the KOA campground in Anderson,SC.I have sold my 3 bedroom, 2 bath home on Lake Hartwell after living there since 2004 and have given away all my possessions to kids, my friend Martha’s church group for women who have to leave their home due to violence, and to the HOU thrift store.
I have been thinking about and planning this time for at least 5 years.My kids rightfully accuse me of constantly living in “future think” and I know that this is an alcoholic tendency.To be focused only on how life will be once this “phase” or hardship, or relationship is past,that life will be OK once this changes/happens. BUT, I have also always really enjoyed anticipating future events;the planning and arranging and fantasizing about it are often much of the enjoyment, and sometimes more fun than the event itself!So now it is time to “Just Do it” and to savor the day to day reality of being actually retired and completely on my own with no possessions to possess me.I also know that this decision was made consciously, not in reaction to some trauma or event that happened “to me” as has usually been my MO in life.Following the “no guts/no glory” impulsive response mode that frequently sabotaged any realthought-through plan I might have responded to.
First I discover that RV life has its own set of challenges and arrangements: physically everything has to have its place, a very small space, and be in its place for moving anywhere.The water has to be filled and the waste tanks emptied; the belongings, what’s left of them, have to be stored in under the dinette seats and sofa bins that have to be uncovered every time you need something.I must have rearranged and repacked these bins 10 times to get them organized .I’ll need probably a year to really get a handle on the 23ft living space I now call home.
So far, I am comfortable and loving the small view out my windows, the breeze at night, and even the walks around parks with the dog, seeing how other travelers live.Huge RV rigs around me, some with lights strung from their canopies and outdoor rugs set out for their “patio” area; some are “fulltimers”, some are working in the area and stay for several weeks or months. The campground neighbors are as social or non as you wish. I have talked with a few who gave me great tips on where to travel, for instance to the Bahia Honda SP in the FL keys where I was lucky enough to snag a campsite for 5/31-6/1, just in time.I also had as my 6th campsite neighbor a woman, Mary Hencken, who pulled in with RV painted with herself holding gigantic Bass and the “Womens’ Bass Tournament” ad on her very streamlined boat and RV.She was entered in the w/e Bass tournament on Lake Hartwell and hopes to get into the top 20, although there are very few women now and the economy has eliminated the womens’ tour.I’m rooting for her.
I stayed at the Anderson KOA for one month, getting myself and Dori the dog acclimated and finishing up my work as a hospice nurse.For the time leading up to my announced retirement date, I was scared, happy, excited, and sad, from minute to minute and for many hours at night. On April 20th, my coworkers gave the best party of my life at the Golden Corral;good food, laughing all evening, and wonderful going away gifts.It was very hard to leave them on Friday, April 23rd and I was sad all afternoon.Waking up the next morning at the unheard of hour of 7:25 made me realize that I could possibly get used to this retirement program.
Sat, May 1st:
I drove to Atlanta where I ended up leaving Dudley, the cat.He hated being in a cat carrier and also the motorhome, would come in at night only for a few minutes to eat and then went crazy to get back out again.The morning I was to leave Atlanta he was very gone so I had to leave him.Nick relays to me that he is around the neighborhood, must come back to their deck to eat at night or is being fed by someone, but so far he has not been grabbed by the coyotes around there or decided to come in the house.
On the Road: Georgia
Monday, May 3rd:
I drove to Tybee Island outside of Savannah for my first week staying at an RV park, Rivers End, just a few blocks from the Tybee Is. lighthouse and the beach. Walking along the ocean in the sand is such a pleasure.One day I strolled between 2 groups of resting birds; at least 400-500 of them.One group of “Skimmers” very long black seabirds with big orange beaks, the bottom one larger than the top to skim the water for food, and the other side of me was filled with “Forster Terns”, white with black heads.They kept pivoting on the sand as I walked between the groups and I was aware that they were chattering more to each other as I tried to be very inconspicuous and polite in passing them…I kept thinking about Alfred Hitchcock!
I keep meeting such interesting people in the wandering life.A woman came over to talk with me in my campsite. Sandra is an OT who lives with her husband and 2 kids in college in a small town on the coast of Maine.They were very friendly and wanted my impressions on RV living so far; they even gave me their card and invited me to stay in their driveway anytime.
I also met Tim, the trucker by his walking over to introduce himself.He was a little, dapper man; reminded me of the now very famous jockey who won last year’s Kentucky Derby on the Filly “Mind that Bird” and had just won this years derby again.Tim had a sparkling blue rig with no load and set up his tent with Christmas lights around it, then BBQed on the built-in gas range he had welded to his truck.He told me since his rig could travel in snow that his route in the winter was from Newark, NJ to Milwaukee and then in the summer he went from his home in Corpus Christi where he said he spends about 6 days a year of “ beachtime” to Florida and back, all year.
It was lovely during the week but the campsites are very close together and for the w/e, Fri-Sunday, noisy, drunk, and totally disrespectful people kept us awake most of the night.I might have a Youtube video show up of myself appearing out of the darkness as the “wicked witch” of the campground to chew out some partying kids or redneck drunks since I did that 3 times in one night!
Nick came with George and CeliaAnne on Friday the 7th which really gave me a Mothers Day gift.They did jump right into the evening ocean tide and we walked on the town pier in the morning.It is always so nice to be with my son and grandkids; they are terrific people and so good to me.It is such a privilege and joy to be a grandmother.
So far, I have managed the driving, the backing up and the logistics of RV living, been serenely happy by myself on the Atlantic coast with just Dori and “Luna-C”, the RV name selected from the 30 odd submitted by my coworkers.I will look for a chance to get a vinyl name sticker to put up on the back of the motorhome, along with the National Park stickers I collect along the way and the US map that I can fill in for each state I visit.
Moving slowly away from my compulsive need to control the future and those around me and the stress of trying to manage every detail of life; I am definitely unwinding and beginning to “turn it over” as they say in AA.God, or whatever you choose to call your higher power, has blessed me so faithfully in my life and my connections with such wonderful people.I need only to acknowledge and appreciate every day what a perfect universe we have been given and that I cherish each day in it.
Driving through Savannah on Sunday morning after spending the evening having dinner with Nick and the kids along the waterfront was perfect.My fabulous Garmin that Brett and Nick gave me took me past a couple of the squares and by Forsyth Park, a gorgeous area with a Sandpoint style band tent and all the church folks gathered in their finery having picnics and playing on the grass.
Sunday, May 9th
Crooked River SP campground in St Mary’s GA is spacious, quiet and beautiful, the trees and undergrowth of palms keeps the campsites completely private.There was a group of kids from a Friends school in NC occupying about 30 tents in the center of the grounds but they were very polite and quiet. Stayed there for 4 nights and read at least 2 books, something I have been too tired for the last 5-6 years.I drove into St Mary’s, a pretty little town much like Pentwater, MI on Wed to take the ferry to Cumberland Island.There were about 20 of us going over at 1145 and I had chosen to come back at 2:45 since Dori was left at a groomer until 4pm.I’m sorry I spent an hour on the guided tour around the Carnegie ruins, it was all information that I could have read about and I didn’t have time to roam around on my own and see the beach.I did get up close to the wild horses on the island and really loved walking down the crushed shell road that evidently has shark teeth and many whole shells in it, all under the 400-500yr old Oaks with Spanish moss flowing from them…it was very beautiful.Coming back we had about 120 kids from the “Heritage” school in Lilburn, outside Atlanta aboard.One girl told me that she knows kids from Artios, Isabel’s school.
The wildlife that I saw in Georgia was: Jelly Fish (many), Ghost Crabs and Fiddler Crabs, Black Skimmer birds and Forster Terns, Snowy Egrets, Pelicans, and Dolphins, Armadilloes, Cardinals and a baby deer.
Florida
Thursday, May 14th
I arrived at St Augustine.I took A1A hwy down into Florida and it was such a drive, East of Jacksonville past the “JAX”beaches and along the miles of incredible, mostly Spanish style mansions along the coast, with elaborate landscaping and the gorgeous Atlantic beaches.Such wealth!The Anastasia SP campground is right in town and on the coast; sites are lush and on loops that are paved with one way driving to keep it safe for kids walking and riding bikes. I walked down each morning to get online at “ Island Joe”s” and then could spend time on the lovely beach with some pretty wild waves and riptides coming into that area of the Atlantic coast.The “Coquina” loop was walking or biking distance from the beach. It was a very relaxing 3 days, reading and walking, eating whatever and whenever I feel like and hanging out with Dori who is becoming a great traveler, doesn’t seem to get excited around many other dogs and is just curious about the wildlife.
Sunday, May 16th;
Tomoka SP, Ormond Beach. Driving into the park under a very long road covered with huge, old cottonwoods and Oak trees hanging with moss and keeping the whole area in shade. The campsites are all surrounded by beautiful old trees and palms, the undergrowth is Saw Palmetto fronds always rustling in the breeze and full of pink wild blooms.Really a gorgeous place.
Wildlife seen in the State Park; dozens of big (at least 2-3inches) brown- striped very fuzzy caterpillars crawling vigorously toward the trees everywhere….must be some awesome butterflies arriving soon!
My dear friend of way back stewardess days in New York, “Zeke” as we call her lives in Ormond Beach, retired there with her husband Howard about 14 years ago.She came out to the campground and we were so happy to see each other.We sat around after a tour of “Luna” and then she took me to the “Fairchild Oak”, a 2,000 year old tree that is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen.It has withstood hurricanes, floods, fires, wars and MAN. Amazing, and it is so majestic and powerful to stand under.We then went to their home which is absolutely lovely, comfortable and beautiful with such color and style, lots of light and art.
Zeke and Howard took me to the Boston Fishhouse in New Smyrna Beach for a terrific seafood dinner in a very nice atmosphere, license plates from all over the USA.Couldn’t make room for Key Lime pie…YET.
Thursday, May20th:
Drove South on Hwy 95 toward Jupiter Inlet and stayed at the Dickenson SP campground on Hobe sound.It was a big let down after the previous lovely places but it was only about 4 miles from Jupiter Island and Colony where the richest concentration of property in the US huddles.Climbed up the lighthouse, only about 146 steps to get to the top above almost sea level land with many Seminole mounds in the area.The museum was fun with lots of history of the native and military groups that have occupied this area for at least 2,000 years.Saw Perry Como’s old home and looked over to the properties of Greg Norman and Tiger Woods.The villages are really beautiful and the tall draw bridges between islands and waterways are spectacular.The Atlantic down here gets bluer and with much bigger waves…surfingfor real now.
Sunday, May 23rd
I have now been retired for one month!And I have now driven 1075 miles on my trek.
Onward to the Everglades.At the Entrance gate I was excited to finally buy my “Golden Eagle Senior Pass” for all National Parks.The cute girl at the gate asked me what has taken me so long and I explained that I just retired and this is the first Natn’l Park I’ve been in since. She told me that often people drive to the park on their 62nd birthday just to get their pass and she sings Happy Birthday to them!It costs $10.00 and gets me half price camping at any Natn’l Park, for about $8…terrific deal.The Long Key campground was mostly closed off and there were only about 10 camping groups there.I drove down to the lowest point of the park, Flamingo Key campground and it too was mostly empty and the visitor center and Marina had lots of damage still from a hurricane in 2005.I did see an alligator, about 9 feet long, swimming around the marina.The Everglades have the most amazing views of what is a crucial ecological area and habitat for many species, now only about 1/5th of its original area but well kept now for migrating birds, including bald eagles and so many that come to rest on theirjourneys.It was fascinating to learn about the plants and animal life in the “sea of grass”, and the wooden walkways with overlooks lead out to Mahogany “hammocks” and acres of dried algae fields that supports incredible life.Waited on the road for a big Tortoise, about a foot long with a smooth brown shell and big strong head and legs.Camping here was with no services so I experimented with using the generator and keeping track of the water tank level.
Wed. May 26th
I drove down hwy 1 to Key Largo and did get a campsite at John Pennekamp SP with nice sites and a walk through the woods to the swimming beach and marina.This would be the place to snorkel or scuba dive and for boating.It’s been very nice to spend this past month along the Atlantic, the sea is very turquoise here and warm.I walked every day to swim on the beach which did not get crowded at all until Memorial day, the 31st.One evening walking Dori along the shore we stood about 5 feet from a Great White Heron, standing about 3 ft tall on the wall looking at us.Very beautiful bird.I had a great breakfast at the Conch House café, an old house converted to a restaurant.
Monday, May 31st Memorial Day
Today I arrived at Bahia Honda SP campground, just in the middle of the Florida Keys and a fabulous little strip of sandy land.If I go to the beach area on one side of the campground I am swimming in the Gulf of Mexico; if I go to the beach on the other side I am in the Atlantic!Wonderful sand beach but the water is very warm and salty, pale aqua, green and shallow for a long way off the shore.This is the area for boating and fishing.
I have spent too much money in May; campgrounds have cost from 20.00/night to $43 at the Keys.I needed to get the brake light on the RV fixed and I’ve splurged on food and gifts.Will try to economize in June, less on camping, more on gas to get me out to CA.
Thursday, June 3rd
I am staying at the Koreshan SP/Historical site just South of Ft Myers.Reading the history of the religious group that formed a commune here in the middle 1800s made me think of the David Koresh group that were all killed in Texas, but the ranger assured me that they were not related…UhHuh?It’s now so hot from 9am until the middle of the night that I cannot sit outside unless at a beach or in the water.Dori likes to lie under the picnic table, panting away, she does not like the air conditioning, but I need it even to sleep.I really appreciate having the ceiling vent fan but here and now it’s not enough to keep the temp under 90 in the RV.I will try to stay with Meg and Emily at their condo in Ft Mayers, the Sanibel Harbor Resort for a few days.
