Flamingo

Friday, Jan 22

I think we have found a place that makes owning a motorhome/recreational vehicle special.

This morning, we packed up and left Buttonwood Bay Resort.  We’ve enjoyed our stay.  It has all the amenities and we’ve taken advantage of them.  We met some really nice people (especially Linda, she is probably one of the most friendly people we have met in all of our RVing experience).

We have remarked this week that living in our motor home (especially in a resort like this) is similar to living at home in a lot of ways.  We have the similar routines as we have at home.  The morning, I workout, have breakfast and spend some time on the computer with e-mail, etc.  The difference comes afterward when we explore our new community.  Every day we try something new and different, just as someone who visits Beaufort and environs would.  Then the evening may hold something new and different, or we may settle in for an evening of TV and relaxing.  Again, much as we do at home.

However, it’s when we get to a place like I think we are in now that we really begin to see the opportunities that traveling and seeing this country are special.

We have NO Internet service.  We are isolated from the world.  There are no highways close by with their traffic noise.  There are no lights around.  We now depend on our home on wheels and its amenities to totally immerse ourselves in where we are and what we can do.  And we’re excited.

We are in Flamingo, Florida, on Florida Bay, the southernmost tip of mainland Florida in the Everglades National Park.  After entering the National Park near Homestead, Florida, we drove nearly 40 miles through the park, never seeing a structure of any kind, to reach this remote location.  South of us (across the Bay) are the Florida Keys (where we hope to be next week). 

There are four different campgrounds.  Of the four, only one has electric service.  We’re staying in that loop.  The sites  are large, probably a third of an acre.  Very unusual for an RV park.  Most of the time the RVs are stacked in.  They are all pull-thru sites, making the hooking up of the car simple. 

One of the campgrounds is for tents only, one for small travel trailers, and one for larger RVs, and this one.  There are no street lights, no noise.  Just nature surrounding us.

It rained all day yesterday on the way down here, sometimes hard. But it stopped for the first time just as we pulled into our site.  A lot of the roads and grounds are covered in shallow water.  The weather forecast is for clearing so hopefully everything will start drying out.

We are looking forward to a great week of new adventures

And I think it’s going to be fun not having Internet service.

Saturday, January 23

It has been very windy today – up to 35 mph according to the rangers.  Although it has been relatively (compared to home) warm – mid 60’s, the wind has made it feel a little cool. 

We acquainted ourselves with the area a little more today, visiting the Visitor Center and talking to rangers and learning more about the area.  Flamingo was a derelict fishing community before the park service came in during the late 1940’s.   The Park Service’s goals were vastly different from the somewhat “renegade” fishing community and the Park Service essentially ran the existing dwellers off (they condemned their property and bought it).  There weren’t many people, apparently around 75, and it wasn’t a very friendly transition. 

Today, Flamingo is still a very remote place.  The park service has done a good job of creating a nice place to visit by offering the campgrounds, a nice marina, a nice marina store, a visitor’s center, and what appears to be a good restaurant.  Other than that, there isn’t anything here.  We WILL commune with nature this week.

This afternoon, I attended a good presentation on the history of the hurricanes that have impacted this area and took a couple mile hike. 

I’m really liking it here.

Sunday, January 24

This afternoon we went on a ranger led tour on the History of Flamingo.  There have been efforts in the early 1900’s to bring development to this area, but because of its remoteness, none have ever been successful.  In the 1950’s a hotel was built and run for several years, but a hurricane in 1985 caused so much damage to the building that it was torn down 4 years later.

I have really enjoyed the ranger led discussions 

The Visitor Center was built in the 1950’s and survives today because it is a solid cement structure. 

There is a staff of 8 NPS personnel here in the winter and in the summer, a caretaker staff of only two people remain.  There is very little activity in the summer months, driven a lot by the huge mosquito population.  

Even in the winter, on a cool day like today, mosquitoes are still an annoyance.

 

Monday, January 25

We are finding that the ranger talks that are presented daily on a variety of subjects are proving to be the best way to find out about the park and what happens here.

Today, we went on a 3 hour car caravan exploring various features about some of the lakes here in the park and the wildlife they support.  This has led to a better understanding of the natural ebb and flow of the waters, the differences in the salinity of the water and its impacts on both the plants and animals supported. 

Another ranger led hike

I have also taken this time away from Internet access to start re-discovering the capabilities of my Nikon camera.  Hopefully, this will lead to improved photos for the blog.

Tonight I tried my hand at some night photography and made some interesting discoveries.

This photo is the result of experimenting with my camera.  I couldn't see anything except a few dots of light coming from RVs.  Only the moonlight.

Primarily, I discovered that the mosquitoes are much worse at night than they are in the day – resulting a rather abbreviated night photography lesson.

Tuesday, January 26

Today’s ranger led excursion is a kayak trip at Nine-Mile Pond.  Clara wasn’t up to going, so I joined the group at the pond at 8 am (which is pretty early for us now-a-days).

Kayaking in the mangroves

and in the grasses

The trip started across a pond, then into the mangrove caves (at least that what it felt like as we paddled through them).  It reminded me of times I’ve had to hike through laurel thickets in the mountains – branches flowing in every direction.

It was a great trip over a three hour period.  Again, having someone along to explain what we were seeing was so much better than exploring on my own.

I also went kayaking late afternoon on the canal that goes north of the visitor center.  There wasn’t much to see, but I needed the exercise.

There was a crocodile sunning at the put-in ramp - and wasn't moving for anything.  The ramp had to be closed until he decided to leave.

Lazy kayaking on the canal.

We’re beginning to think about leaving here and heading to Key West.  In some ways going to Key West is a little concerning because we can’t make reservations at the Naval Base.  It’s first come-first serve.  Earlier this week, we happened to meet the guy who manages MWR (basically all the amenities) at the base.  He said they have never had so many RVs as this year (probably because of the price of fuel).  The campground has a reputation of never turning away a RVer.  Somehow they find space, but as the guy indicated, they have really had a lot more than normal.  I don’t know what we’ll do if they can’t accommodate us.  We’ll see I guess.

Wednesday, Jan 27

This afternoon we rented a small skiff from the marina here in the Park and took a two hour excursion up the canal and into a couple of inland lakes.  Clara has not been able to do any kayaking, so this was the best we could do for now.

The highlight of the trip was a nice big crocodile laying on the bank.  He was in the same position two hours later we went came back. 

This crocodile stayed in the same place for at least 2 hours

Tonight, we went to the restaurant at the visitor center and had a surprisingly good meal.  As we sat there looking over Florida Bay, I was reminded of our trip a few years back when we came back from Key West on the sailboat.  That time, we traveled on the Western side of the keys in some very skinny water, which is the same Florida Bay we are looking at tonight.

We’re hitched up and ready to leave in the morning.  We actually have another day on our reservation here, but it’s supposed to rain (it’s been raining off and on a little tonight already), so we decided a rainy day will be a good day to travel.

Florida

Monday, January 11 - Thursday, January 14

We're in Florida - and it feels (weatherwise) just like home.  Cold and Damp!  Unfortunately, the cold weather has followed us.  Oh well!  We know it will be better as we head South.

We have visited Pelican Roost RV campground perhaps more often than any other campground.  It's on Naval Station Mayport on the coast East of Jacksonville.  It's a nice campground located on the shores of the St. John River where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.

We're getting reacquainted with motor home living and made some purchases.  I have often seen the need for a generator both on the sailboat and at home.  Now I see a need for it on the motorhome, so we stopped at a Camping World on the way down and bought a 2000 watt Honda generator.  It is by far the quietest generator on the market.  If we make it down to Key West (which we certainly hope to do this trip), a small generator to keep the batteries charged may come in handy.  As we understand it, we may be dry camping most, if not all the time we're there.  This means we'll have to run our 10,000 watt generator quite often to keep the batteries charged.  It's a noisy beast, and it's been suggested by those that have done this that a Honda generator is preferable - and quieter.  We'll see.

While at Mayport, we relax.  I swim and workout.  Mayport has one of the finest fitness clubs I've ever been to.  It's good to get some exercise (other than walking).

Mayport is a major naval base.  There were about a dozen big ships at the port.

Wednesday night we have a special treat.  Clara researched on the Internet and we attended a dinner theater show at the Alhambra Dinner Theater.  Built in 1967, the theater is one of the few remaining dinner theaters in America.  It is nationally known and actors come from all around the country to audition.  Many past and present performers have worked on Broadway and have done national and international tours.

We had a great time - good food, good companionship (we sat with a nice couple who live here) - Ken and Linda Perry.  The show was "Honky Tonk Angels".  It was a collection of great country music, performed by 3 enormously talented ladies.

Thursday, January 14

A two hour drive to Blue Spring State Park.  I had seen it recommended by a RV blogger that I follow.

It's a little hard to get to (sharp turns at intersections with poles, sidewalks, etc) so we had to take a round-about way to get here.  But it's definitely an interesting place.  It must be a favorite with locals. There were several cars lined up to get in when we arrived, and there was a long line behind us.

It's like a lot of the Springs in Florida, but apparently this is one of the best - and we can agree.  There are over 400 Manatees that "winter" here.  The Spring flows into the St. John River (interestingly, we were on the banks of the St. John River last night we were at Mayport Naval Station).  The water is incredibly clear.  It's almost like looking through air.  The fish and manatees seem to float on air as they move around the water.

I took a kayak off the car and kayaked around the canals and river for a couple of hours

I took the kayak off the car and went on an hour + kayak paddle after we arrived.  Sure wish Clara could have gone, but the ribs say no!  A nice paddle through canals and on the St John River.  There was no one else out there.  And when I stopped and just listened, I heard all kinds of bird calls and other unknown things calling.  A really nice experience.

Blue Spring is a first magnitude spring that discharges 104 million gallons of water daily into the St. John River.

The manatees almost look like they're floating in air because the water is so clear

Friday, January 15

We're off to Buttonwood Bay RV Resort in Sebring, Fl.  It's in the center of the state, but basically on our way to Flamingo (our next stop - next week).  We'll stay here for 6 days.  There are 534 sites in the resort.  It's a small town by itself - with all the amenities.

It rains a good part of the trip down.  Sometimes it got so heavy we had to slow down to 25 mph.  But it cleared up beautifully as we got closer to Sebring.

It's very difficult to get reservations in South Florida this time of year and we got lucky with this one. The reviews are great, and on arrival we quickly understood why.  It's a really nice place - clean, BIG, and lots of things to do.  It is the nicest RV resort we've stayed in - and we generally don't like resorts.  It's located on a 1200 acre lake.  There is a long canal with dozens of boats that the residents keep there.

There are a mixture of all types of homes, all very nicely kept and landscaped.  The resort is divided into several sections.  One section looks like a regular subdivision with very nice factory manufactured homes. Another section has park models mixed with RV pads.  That's where we are.

There are two pools (one large enough to really swim in), a great fitness facility, a community center and a huge recreation center and all the usual amenities (even including a deluxe putt-putt golf course).  I think we're going to enjoy it here.

AND IT'S WARM!  Shorts again.  No coats.  All the windows and vents on the motorhome are open and a nice breeze drifting through.  This is what we really came for.  We've learned that there's not much to Florida insofar as scenery.  The only reason to come here in the winter is warmth.  And now we've got it!!

Saturday, Jan 16 - Monday, January 18

Saturday evening we attend the dance/music at the recreation center.  While enjoying the music, we are joined by Linda Murphy.  We enjoyed talking with her and learned that she travels alone in her motor coach and is very involved in many volunteer organizations and events.

Sunday, she drops by and asks if we would like to have lunch at the airport.  That seems a bit unusual (lunch at an airport?) and of course we say yes.  Turns out that this is quite an airport, with the Sebring International Raceway (http://www.sebringraceway.com/) adjoining.  The Raceway hosts an annual 12 hour race and has since 1952.

We also learn that the next weekend is there is a sport aviation exposition at the airport (in which Linda has volunteered to help).

After a tasty lunch, as we step outside the terminal, I hear the racecars revving up on the speedway, so we see if we can get close enough to see them - and we do.  For the next hour or so, we enjoy watching and listening as about a dozen small racecars race around the famous track.

Later in the afternoon, we drive a few miles South to Lake Placid.  I picked up a travel brochure claiming this to be the city of murals.  There are 40 murals painted on the sides of businesses throughout town.

We found them to be interesting and fun to explore.  Many of the murals depict a scene that relates to the business in the building.

I always said that Clara would talk to a wall if she had no one else to talk to.

The town decorates the trash containers in interesting designs

I thought this was an interesting contrast of crews working on the street with a mural depicting the history of people who populated and worked in the area..

The local Rotary Club sponsored this small park between building depicting the history of the area.

The large mural below had dozens of interesting, lifelike scenes within it.

There is a clown school located in town, and of course a mural on the side of the building depicting a circus.

 Monday, we drove to a nearby state park of a nice long hike in the woods.

This tree had grown over the handrail.

Monday evening there was a beautiful sunset over Lake Josephene.

Spainish moss in the sunset

Tuesday, Jan 19

After a long hike around Buttonwood Bay, we took the grandkids advice and went to see Star Wars - in 3D.  It was a fun movie and brought back memories of when Slade was a kid and saw the first Star Wars movie.  He still has some of the toys from that era.

Wednesday, Jan 20

Lucky for me, the U.S. Sport Aviation Sebring Exposition started today at the airport.  I have never attended such an event where a lot of experimental and sports aviation aircraft are shown.

PLUS, I went flying in one of them!!!!!

This guy had an engine and propeller strapped to his back.  Quite a show.

There was a sports plane sponsored by a hat company - Walkabout Hats who was offering free flights in their airplane, so obviously I took advantage.

The exposition is a rather large event

Tomorrow we're off to Flamingo, Florida