Monday, December 2
We are headed out on our winter "cruise" to Key West. This year we're leaving earlier than usual. In the past, we've stayed home until after Christmas to be able to spend Christmas with Dad. This is our first Christmas without him, and we do miss him. But having no good reason not to, we're heading out early. The kids will be joining us in Key West later.
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| Ready to roll! |
Saturday night at the Christmas flotilla party, we were discussing our plans and found that Floyd and Sherry Dufore were headed out Monday for Myrtle Beach, which is our destination for Monday.
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| This will very likely be our last crossing on the Gallants Channel Draw Bridge. |
We coordinated on RV parks and both ended up Monday evening at Myrtle Beach State Park (another favorite of ours) - and in adjoining sites. We could not have planned it any better.
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| Floyd and Sherry are our next door neighbors at Myrtle Beach State Park |
Dylan Lantz, our neighbor's (from Ohio) son, has recently started working at the Myrtle Beach hospital as a nurse, so we coordinated getting together with him Monday evening for dinner and catching up on his happenings.
Tuesday, we all went to the Alabama Theater's Christmas Show.
Wednesday, January 6 we continued our journey South ending in Edisto Beach State Park. This is truly an "on the beach" park. It's beautiful with one big problem - sand. Which you would expect on a beach, but it's rather difficult to keep it in the right place - outside on the beach rather than in the motorhome. But the location makes it worthwhile.
Tonight we had a delicious dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant where they are serving "all you can eat crabs". Clara started out with just one order and thankfully we had not ordered the "all you can eat" because the one order was enough for both of us (well not quite. I did order a good side).
Thursday, Januray 7 we moved on a couple hours to Fort McAllister State Park, a little South of Savannah, Ga.
As is the case with all state parks that we've stayed in, this one is very interesting. Obviously, from the name, there is a fort here, built during the Civil War. The primary claim to fame is that this was the terminus of Sherman's March to the Sea.
Unfortunately, it is raining quite heavily when we arrive and set up and appears that it will continue for a while, thus, we won't be able to enjoy visiting the fort and walking the many miles of trails, or kayaking, or bike riding that are available.
But, we are enjoying a nice, quiet break hanging out in the motorcoach for the afternoon, catching up on a lot of little things that need doing.
Saturday, January 9 and we're at one of our favorite places, Naval Station Mayport in one of the nicest military RV parks, Pelican Roost. It's right on the St John river.
And it has rained almost continuously since we left Myrtle Beach and turned cold - or at least cold for this area. Temperatures have been in the 40's all day with a damp wind off the river, making it really uncomfortable. It's forecast to get down to 34 here tonight (the forecast at home in Beaufort is only one degree lower at 33). I really don't think this is normal here. Bill Bass said they got 10+ inches of snow in Asheville the past couple of days. Just glad we're not there.
We still don't know when Sigsbee Campground in Key West will open. Initially, it was planned for December 15, but that is being pushed back. Supposedly next week (as they were going to this week and didn't) we'll get more firm information. I've been able to secure reservations in South Florida through January 6, just in case they don't open this month. It's really rather ridiculous that they're not opening because most of the sites there are dry camping (without any utilities). We're dealing with a Federal bureaucracy!!
The one saving grace is that here at Mayport there is one of the finest gym and nautical facilities of anywhere we've been. I've enjoyed swimming in the pool the past couple of days, and it's only about a quarter mile away from our campsite.
Tonight we went out to our favorite restaurant in this area, Safe Harbor Seafood. Great seafood. We've been to there restaurant near the base a couple times, but they've opened a new one about 20 minutes away so we went to that one.
Tomorrow, after two nights here, we'll head further South - and hopefully discover some warmer temperatures.
Sunday, December 10 and it's is still cold. We left Mayport this morning. I picked a state park about halfway to our destination near Port Charlotte and it ends up that it one of the major state parks in Florida.
Tonight we're at Silver Springs State Park near Ocala. We had a heckava time finding the right entrance to the park to get to the Campground. After driving completely past the park, then circling it (20 miles extra driving), we finally found the right entrance to get to one of the finest parks we've stayed in, with big wide spaces and quiet.
After settling in, we immediately went to the main attraction of the park. As Florida's first tourist attraction and one of the largest artesian springs in the world, the park is renowned for the Glass Boat bottom tours. So we jumped on the last tour of the day and enjoyed "snorkeling without getting wet".
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| Glass bottom boat |
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| Looking through the botton of the "Glass Bottom" boat was just like snorkeling without getting wet. The visibility was almost unlimited. Here the depth of the water is about 30 feet. |
We have suddenly realized that we have an extra day in our schedule, so we get to the office on Monday morning and sign up for another day.
We immediately decided that we would rent a kayak and kayak around the springs. It was a nice change and a fun day just messing around.
Then, on the way South again.
