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Apr 12
Arrived at Lake Griffin State Park, Florida without mishap. All mechanicals seem to be doing well and trailer is pulling fine. Lake Griffin is located just about in the center of Florida along the chain of lakes that run down the middle of the state. One of the largest live oaks resides here. The campground has 37 sites amongst the trees and access to the lake is along a 1000 yd. canal that leads to the lake. The terrain is typical Floridian, with high grounds where the oaks live, then interspersed with lower hammocks, swamp, then rises a bit and covered with saw palmettos. The weather is great, in the 60's at night. Clean restrooms and hot showers. I discovered that I left my book reader at home. Having to use the computer but it is cumbersome compared to the reader. We had steaks and squash grilled last night. My contraption for a turbo charcoal starter worked well, and halves the time it takes to get the grill ready. Eva is enjoying her walks around the campground and has been very well behaved. I hope this is not too much of a change for her, and I hope she enjoys her trip. We're trying to keep her schedule as normal as possible. There is no internet here, and I may try hooking up my phone as a hot spot to see how that works.
Well, my phone hotspot worked so far, at least it let me update this site. If my phone reception for 4G is good, then I should be able to at least check my email and update the web page once in a while.
15 April
We arrived at Little Talbot Island State Park after a day of on and off light rain. The Talbot Islands State Parks system includes Little Talbot Island, Amelia Island, George Crady Bridge State Fishing Pier, Big Talbot Island, Fort George Island, Yellow Bluff Fort and Pumpkin Hill Creek Preserve. We stopped by Salt Springs National Forest to see if we could buy a senior pass for all of the National Public Campgrounds in the US. The pass includes National Parks, Monuments, Forests, Seashores, Bureau of Land Management, Corp of Engineers, and Tennessee Valley Authority campsites. Well, they didn't have them but told us where we could get one a little further north along our trip in Bristol, Florida.
The wind was blowing quite hard when we arrived. There were white caps on the seas as far as one could see from the vantage of the dunes. We checked in and discovered that the camping sites were on the opposite side of the road from the beach and down beneath a small forest of trees that had grown up between the dunes. It was very similar to the Sunken Forest I had worked on when I worked for the Department of Interior on the Fire Island National Seashore. We had built a boardwalk through the forest but there were no campsites. It brought back fond memories. You could hear the wind roaring at the tree top level, but it was peaceful down below. One side of the campground is on the Atlantic side, and a half mile away is an estuary filled with sea grass and meandering creeks. We took a few walks, Kim and Eva got caught in a downpour early this morning, but to them it was an adventure. We only have one day to stay here since the weekends were reserved already. It is a nice small camping spot with only 40 spots, dirt sites surrounded by tall oaks and cypress on a thin and twisty layout. There are only a very few spots that would be sufficient for a large motorhome or trailer/5th wheel. Half the visitors plates were from Quebec, Manitoba and Ontario.
16 April
We're still at Hanna Park and the weather is partly cloudy and the wind has diminished a bit. We haven't used the A/C since we arrived. It is nice and cool. This is an excellent time of year to camp in Florida. We went up to the beach and took Eva along. She really enjoyed not being on the leash. At the beach the wind was still up and it was overcast and cool. I made a small wind break and we rested on the sand for a while. There is just something about lying there with your eyes closed listening to the ocean roar and feeling the wind blow around your body and the tiny stings of sand on your legs. I've missed that feeling.
No luck on the internet reception, nor 4G data connection for my phone. One would think this day and age we'd be connected still being so close to Jacksonville. Oh, well.
18 April
We drove west to Ocean Pond in Osceola National Forest Campground. This is a small jewel. It doesn't take reservations, first come first serve. We were lucky to have arrived on a Sunday, some campers had just left. We selected a nice camp spot right on the lake, with a small inlet with access to the lake for the kayak. I went kayaking and fishing first thing. I think the weather we have been having has unsettled the fish, but it was nice to get out on the lake. The wind was still up even though we are pretty far from the coast. This park was built by the CCC back in the 30's. They had built a lodge made out of the local pines, and didn't use nails. Everything was fastened with locking joints and dowels. There was and still is a small swimming beach, but the lodge was removed. It is very peaceful and quiet. Eva is having a hard time learning how not to chase the squirrels. If we are with her she will sit and watch and shake. She is so intense that I think she is trying to send a Jedi mind trick. It dipped into the 50's last night and Kim broke out a couple extra blankets. We slept very well and by morning it was warming up quickly. I've finally gotten around to catching up on some reading. Last of the Mohicans being the current read.
20 April
We headed to Bristol Florida to pick up a National Senior Pass that allows a discount to just about any US Government campground. It has already paid for itself the first time we used it. We then headed to East Bank Campground, Corp of Engineers on Lake Seminole in Georgia. It is not very far from Florida, and in fact you can see the Florida State line sign from our campground. The small town of Chattahoochee is a few miles from the park. A beautiful quaint old southern Florida town. We are near the Jim Woodruff Dam on the southern end of the lake. What a beautiful place! It is very nicely situated right on the lake. As we were checking, an osprey was sitting on a branch in a tall pine tree showing off a big fish he had just snagged. I took this as a good sign for future fishing. Our site was right on the lake. I cast a few just to get my line wet and hoped to break the spell of no fish caught. It didn't happen, but it was fun all the same.
We saw huge fish jumping this morning and couldn't get my kayak ready fast enough. I headed out to where I thought the fish would be, but no luck. I paddled around for a few hours looking for the right spot, but didn't find it. Dark clouds were building and the wind was up, so I turned around and had a great return trip with the wind at my back. The kayak is faster and more stable and comfortable than I had thought.
22 April
We are still at East Bank Campground and we awoke to rain and thunder. It looks like it will be like that all day. I'll get some reading done and maybe play my Uke. This campground was made to accommodate even the largest motor homes, with its paved campsites and large camping areas. The grounds are very well kept and it looks more like an RV resort with large manicured lawns and huge trees.
24 April
I woke up the other morning to huge fish jumping out of the water around the lily pads just off our campsite. They were large fish with dark backs, golden sides and lighter bellies. After watching them for a while and really hoping they were a bunch of lunker bass, I figured out they were carp travelling the shallows during their spawning. What a let down. Not to be daunted, I rigged up the kayak and headed out to the far side of the vegetation towards the deeper water and tried every technique I know. From diving baits, to rattle traps, my trusty Rapalas and a few plastic worms and lizards. Nothing worked, not even a nibble. I relocated many times and made it out to the middle of the lake. The wind was quite high and there were white caps and small waves. The kayak handled it very well and only a couple times did water spray come aboard, and never did water come over the sides. It was late afternoon when I decided to head home. With the wind at my back it was a fast paddle back to the campsite. Even though I didn't catch fish, it was a great time on the water to really test the kayak in some weather. The wind backed off to a nice breeze as evening approached and the temperature cooled. Again, we did not use the A/C.
Eva has had a bad couple of days. It seems she was stung on her lip and later on she walked through an ant nest. She's been licking her feet and generally feeling miserable. Kim is going to take her to a vet tomorrow just to be sure nothing gets out of control. Here is a fact; if Eva is not happy, Kim is not happy. If Kim is not happy I feel like I'm in trouble. Today was the first day that there was no wind. What a beautiful place this is. Reading Alan Quartermaine.
25 April
We pulled out of camp and headed for Coes Landing County Park on Lake Talquin, a little south and west of Tallahassee Florida. It had rained off and on during the drive, but it was only about an hour drive. Kim had made an appointment for a Vet to see Eva's feet and lip. They were driving her crazy licking them all night and a small infection had started on one pad. The swelling on her lip was still there as well. We left the Vet's office feeling better armed with some antibiotics, steroid, anti bacterial wipes and anti fungal spray for her pads. Plus, she has to wear the collar of shame for a few days.
On the way to the Vet I dropped off our trailer's spare tire, which had a leak at the valve stem. They installed a new valve stem and aired the tire which I picked up on the way back from the Vet. Cost, $5. I stopped at the bait shop about two miles from the park, and bought some glow-worms and some catfish bait. As we pulled in the park which is small and rustic, we noticed fishermen cleaning their catches. They must have had 50 shell crackers (bream) and a few large catfish. Things were looking up for my chances of catching some fish. I asked about the bait they were using, and he said "glow-worms" for the shell crackers and some kind of peanut butter stink bait for the channel catfish. The next day I got the kayak all set up, brought two of my favorite poles, some drinks, sunglasses, baseball hat, and other tackle. I was ready. I set off across the lake to the area they said were productive. I was going slay them fish! Just then, I remembered that I forgot the worms! Drats! I was too far out the turn around, so I used some artificials but no luck. I was a little bit disappointed, but got to explore some cypress islands, small coves and bays, fishing ospreys and bald eagles and other birds. The weather clouded over and I had been gone a few hours so I headed back to camp for lunch, to check up on Kim and see how Eva was doing. Have you ever seen a dog chase squirrels with a head cone on? You feel really bad for the dog, but it is hilarious to watch.
This park has Wi-Fi so I'm able to work on the computer. My 4G hotspot on my phone has been working a bit better, not all places get great reception. It is nice to have though. This is park is a really small county park with a public boat ramp and along side that is a small camp site. It cannot handle any big rigs, but we have a great spot and fit nicely. It has restrooms and hot showers. It is really quiet here and I like it alot. The campground is located near where the Ocholackonee River enters lake Talquin.
27 April
Another beautiful day! Kim went to town to pick up a few things she wasn't able to get at the last place we stopped. Since after this stop we won't be able to resupply for another 7 days. She's good like that, always has enough of everything and we never run out. I've got to take a look at the A/C, it runs, but it sets up some sort of harmonic vibration that is annoying. It sounds like a shroud or cover is loose. I 'll check it out today. Eva is healing well. One more day of the cone and but we'll continue the medicine. I think that most of the problem was that she was continually scratching and licking at the ant bites and you know how itchy they can be. Yesterday lots of people caught fish, except you know who! The A/C wound up being an easy job. A mud dauber wasp had mad a nest on the squirrel cage fan and it was throwing the motor off balance. It covered parts of two blades and was stuck on like cement. In five minutes the job was done and everything buttoned back up. If anything I may have to adjust the distance from the shroud to the fan, I think it is a bit too far and not 100% effective. If it runs for too long I'll adjust it. I studied the topo map of Lake Talquin and I think I'm going to try a new area this afternoon.
Hi everyone. Yes, I'm still here, Bob didn't leave me at a rest stop or anything. I've been busy this stop taking care of Eva and stocking up on supplies. Then next two campgrounds are in the middle of nowhere so we need to make sure we have what we need. I've already looked at the logistics and out next stop is just a little over an hour away. Nice short trip. I like not being in a rush and being able to see parts of Florida you wouldn't go to otherwise. I'm also looking forward to being on the beach next week. I love the beach in Port St. Joe.
29 April
Yesterday we arrived at Wright Lake in Apalachicola National Forest. This is a small campground mostly used for tents. Kim found an electric site that is usually used by the Camp Host that was available. The lake is small compared to the last few we were at. We took a hike around the loop that encircles the lake. I got a couple poles and tackle together and headed down to the lake. I caught a bass on an artificial worm. The campground was deserted and we had it all to ourselves the next day. We could let Eva run the entire campsite and she took full advantage of chasing every squirrel that she had see from the front window. She took up a position and could sit for hours just marking where they would be when she was let loose later on. I caught a couple more fish, a really nice sized bream and of all things I caught a Pickerel. First pickerel I've caught in Florida.
4 MAY
We travelled south along one of the scenic routes. Miles and mile of straight well maintained two lane road through the great pine forests. It was beautiful and we really like the town of Apalachacola, we'll have to come back and check out more thoroughly. Our destination this time is St. Joe Peninsula State Park, Florida. We've been here before and really enjoyed it. They had been catching a few Pompano, a few reds and some flounders. With wind coming from the north east, it made the water turbulent and dirty, so they weren't biting too well. I went to a creek on the bay side of the camp and cast netted some bait fish. But actually what the Pompano were biting when they did , were things called fish bites. Pink and white strips of soft spongy material layered on a cloth mesh to help it stay together and on the hook. All of mine were stolen. The wind was so high I had to use a 4 oz lead weight and it was still pushing sideways down the beach. The next day I took the kayak into the gulf, I went out past the sandbars and breakers in deeper water. I ran into something that just ripped my rig off, cut is clean as a knife and I was using 30lb test. I didn't even see it. I had a few nibbles on the fish bites, but no takers. I only caught a whiting.
The kayak in the surf is fun, but not when it is fully loaded with gear. I went back out a few more times, only a few had been caught all day. They say it is the weather keeping the water from clearing up. Eva loves the park. They have some endangered species of woodland rat here, and they come right out and eat the seeds on the grass and palms. So we had to take Eva out a few times a day on Rat-Patrol. The woodland rats are not to be confused with weed-rats, the type that Shrek loved to eat on a spit. They rather look like hamsters with a tail that has hair on it.
Dogs aren't allowed on the beach in the park, but just outside the park there is a public access beach so we took here down there and let her go. She loves it and runs and runs like she just got out of prison. She rolls in the sand and can't get enough of it. It gets on wet nose, her eyes and everywhere. She'll run in the surf and then lets the waves chase her back out. I don't think she likes how the sand gets pulled from under her feet when the waves recede.
I went fishing one last time, using up the bait I had bought and some shrimp a neighbor had given me since he was leaving. The fish got a free shrimp dinner. I headed back to the camp and Kim, Eva and I took a long walk down a boardwalk that traverses the dunes all the way to the next campground. Kim spotted some dear crossing boardwalk as we neared home. Took a nice long hot shower just as it was getting dark. There is a nice breeze blowing on shore, the stars are bright and you can almost see the Milky Way.
5 May
We packed up and headed west along the coast headed for Grayton Beach State Park. We've been here before and really liked it. Kim got us and awesome location with a saltwater estuary behind our spot. We have to take the bikes to the beach though. With all the traffic stop and go, it took two and a half hours to go only 60 miles. The wind wasn't blowing as hard here, and the water was perfectly clear light green. I'm going to see if I can use my cast net for bait fish and give fishing a try on the beach. It stayed nice and cool last night, 62 degrees all night. The weather is great, sun is out, a breeze is blowing and it is in the 70's, perfect! We'll stay only two nights here, since we couldn't get reservations for the weekend.
This park has a scallop season from 1 July to September. They are thinking it may be closed this year due to the red tide this past fall. I hope it is open when we come back.
7 May
We arrived at Aunt Rita's house about 3.30 to be greeted by Auntie, Joe and Jake (the Parsons Terrier that only makes left turns). We are having a great visit and Kim's mom will be here in a few days also. When will the fun stop!
15 May
We left Aunt Rita's after a very nice visit and headed out on the road again. Our destination is Davis Bayou National Seashore. We've been here before and it is a great place to unwind and do nothing in particular. We decompressed from our visit took some walks and read a lot. It has been a while since I updated this site so the read list has grown, Robinson Crusoe, The Necromancers, and currently Captain Courageous.
It's been raining on and off for a couple days. Tonight we are going to the Palace Casino for all you can eat seafood buffet. This area seems to be the place for seafood if you are into that. The camp host prints out a list of places that have specials on seafood for the visitors. The camp hosts are the same couple that have been hosting this campsite for the last three times we've visited. There are a few trails, raised walks along the estuaries, a boat ramp and a fishing pier. It is not used much by the fishermen, it's just a quiet little place tucked away.
19 May
We arrived at Fontainebleau State Park on Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. It is a large park on the north side of the lake. Vestiges of the destruction of Hurricane Katrina are evident everywhere. Many large oaks have died, many are just hanging in there, and many are just waiting to fall. The large pine trees fared better than most other trees.
It rained very hard last night, severe thunderstorms, the wind came up and there was a tornado warning. I got up in the middle of the night and had to take down the awning. I had a hard time getting the latch to go to the roll-up position with so much wind but finally got it to roll up and I ducked back inside. I was drenched. Kim sat up as I came back in and said "Is everything okay?". I told her yes and she laid back down and went back to sleep. I wonder if she was really awake. I remember hearing the rain diminish and the sound of what seemed like a jet engine approaching. The sound got a little closer and then started to fade. I should have gotten us out of the trailer and into one of the bathhouses. There had been a tornado forming. The power was knocked out for half the park, but we didn't lose ours. All of the rain is playing heck with the fishing. The fresh water flushes into Lake Pontchartrain and changes the salinity and the fish go to where it is just right for them, no following their normal patterns. The water is brackish and holds, Reds, Sea Trout, Sheepshead and black bass. I haven't seen any bait fish or birds diving, but I'll keep watching.
I took the bike out to go look for a place I could launch the kayak. The road to the ramp was closed and blocked. I guess they never got around to repairing it. On the way back I came across a group of guys setting up a bunch of kettles hooked up to propane tanks. They invited me to come take a look. They had 700 lbs. of crawfish and they were getting ready to have a "Crawfish Boil". There were bushel baskets full of crawfish which they dumped into the kettles mixed with onions, corn, mushrooms, lemons, garlic and spices. The left them to boil, and then when done, they set in the liquid for at least an hour to absorb the flavor. They asked if I knew how to eat them properly, and of course I didn't. They proceeded to show me that first you grab the tail close to the body, then twist and pull. Then in the same motion you place the tail in your mouth, meat side facing you, squeeze and suck and pull the crawdad tail meat out with your mouth. After you chew it good and swallow, you take the head which is in your other hand and with the meat side facing you, you squeeze hard and suck out the delicious juices. Now that's how they do it in Louisiana. The Fontaine High School coaches and faculty are having their annual Crawfish Boil here at the park. I'm glad I was here to see how it's really done!
Louisiana, the land of the perpetual puddle. If it rains here, where does the rain go? It goes into puddles, ditches, drainages, culverts, run-offs, swales, bayous, your lawn, anywhere but sink into the earth. Of course puddles get larger or smaller, but they seem ever present. I think one could get around just fine in an air-boat if it wasn't for the raised roads. It seems even in grassy areas, there is about a half inch of water. Crawfish live in the grass around here. I think half of southern Louisiana is an inch below sea-level, while the remaining half is 1 inch above. Current read, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
Our route so far.
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