Home again

The past two days were long ones on the road, heading north.  The cold front that came through Florida on Saturday really chilled the whole east coast, so we had two mornings of low 20 degree temperatures.  After our night at Gold Head Branch State Park, we traveled around Jacksonville and back onto I-95.  We got as far as Dillon, SC on Sunday night and spent the night at a privately owned RV park just off the highway.  We had hoped for one last campfire, but there were no fire rings and it was COLD, so we had a quiet evening of reading and watching TV.  Another 6 hours of driving, with a stop at lunchtime for some good North Carolina pulled pork barbecue, got us back home.  Now....lots of unpacking and laundry to do before the return to work!

Brrrrr! It's cold!

It's Sunday morning.  Friday evening I was sitting outside in shorts and t-shirt at Highlands Hammock, and we awoke this morning to 27 degrees!  It was expected: there were National Weather Service alerts on the radio about a hard freeze for the next two nights, and after a walk around the park yesterday, we returned to the RV to find a notice taped to the door, asking that we leave the water faucet dripping to prevent frozen pipes.

Fortunately we are traveling with winter jackets, and this morning the RV warmed right up, thanks to the furnace (which we had not run in about a year).

The campsite here is quite nice, not picturesque but large and private---a nice contrast to the past few nights.  This area is very dry, and we noticed driving up that the formerly lakefront homes now have docks sticking out over dry sand.  The "lake" in our Lakeview campground is just a depression in the ground.

Heading north today for the 2-day drive home!

Highlands Hammock State Park

This is day 2 at Highlands Hammock SP, near Sebring, FL.  The campground itself was quite a disappointment, one of the most crowded we've seen in a Florida park, with neighbors within a short distance out every window of the RV.  This week there was a gathering of Scamp (small towable trailers) owners, and Scamps are everywhere!

Today's time on the trails gave a somewhat more positive impression of the park, which is one of the oldest in the state, with many of the structures built by the CCC.  The area around the campground is scrubby and dry, but the trails go through cypress swamps with stretches of boardwalk. And yes, there are alligators along the trails.

There's rain in the forecast overnight and predictions of temperatures about 20 degrees cooler than we have had all week.  We'll be heading to a park between Gainesville and Jacksonville for one night, then heading home.

Enjoying Myakka River State Park

We are still at Myakka River State Park, home of alligators, wild pigs, and lots of different birds.  While our campsite isn't the best, the birding is great.  We can take a 5-minute walk to the lake (Upper Myakka Lake) and see loads of herons, egrets, pelicans, black vultures (circling overhead constantly!) and roseate spoonbills.

Yesterday we spent the day with Dan's aunt and cousins (Ruth, Mike & Mary, and Judy) who are snowbirds, spending about three months a year in Englewood, a short drive from this park.  We walked around a bit in the morning and watched the many birds on the lake.  After lunch four of us took the park's tram ride and learned about the park's history and ecology.  In late afternoon,  Mary, Mike, Judy and I visited the Canopy Walk, which allowed us to walk along a bridge high up in the treetops and see the park from that angle.  And a pleasant day ended with a great dinner (thanks, Dan!) of pork chops, potato salad, and grilled veggies.

This morning Dan, Ranger, and I walked to the birdwalk, a pier that sticks out into the lake and allows for good views.  There were LOTS of people there. (Who would guess that so many people were birders?)  Ranger behaved beautifully, stretching out in the shade under a bench right next to a French-speaking older woman who kept commenting on the "bon chien". 

Today is windier and cooler, but still wonderful weather for shorts and sandals.  There's rain in the forecast for later in the week, but so far we have lucked out.



Myakka River State Park

After about 200 miles' drive yesterday we set up at our campsite in Myakka River State Park, in Sarasota, a bit south of the Tampa area.  The campground is not one of the better ones; campsites are laid out so that RVs are parked parallel to one another, with little vegetation between.  However, there is shade from live oaks and other trees and we are close to the park gift shop and store, near the banks of the Upper Myakka Lake.

In late afternoon we walked to the lake and found it a wonderful place for birding.  We saw several new species for our list, including limpkins and ---really exciting!---roseate spoonbills.  The latter were in a large group (herd? flock?) near a huge alligator, and after awhile they all rose into the air at once and flew right over our heads.  What a perfect photo it would have been but ----Dan didn't have his camera along and I wasn't quick enough to capture it.   I did manage a few shots, but the internet here is too slow to load them this morning.  Will provide pictures in a later blog.

There really is a prairie...

After a slow start yesterday morning (grading some papers, showering, walking dog), we headed out on the trails in the park.  We took the Lake Trail to the visitors center (and yes, we can  vouch for the fact that there are alligators in the lake) where we climbed the observation tower to look out over Paynes Prairie itself.

According to the information in the visitors center, there are horses, bison, and alligators out there, but we didn't see any of those from the tower.  However, we were able to see some sandhill crane.  Other than that, birding has been a bit of a disappointment here: just several types of woodpecker, crows, and a catbird.  Weather continues warm but overcast.

Ranger is a dirty happy dog. ...and was a tired guy last night after about 5 miles of hiking.

Warm in Florida!

After 6 more hours of driving yesterday, we arrived at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park near Gainesville.  The campsites are not actually on the prairie; they are under live oaks and Spanish moss and quite private, with much vegetation between sites.  Ranger seems to be glad to have settled down in one place and enjoyed a quiet evening guarding the RV while we enjoyed our campfire.  The fire was not really needed for warmth----when we pulled in in late afternoon it was 80 degrees, and I immediately got out of the heavy socks and jeans, trading for capris and sandals.  This morning it's already warm and after a much-needed shower, I'll switch to a sleeveless shirt as well. 

The park has many trails, only a few of which we'll have a chance to explore before moving farther south. Today we'll go to the Visitor's Center and get in some walking and birdwatching. 

Friday, February 3, 2012:  We awoke to a cold clear day in Montpelier and managed a fairly early start to our trip to Florida.  We made good time through Virginia, North Carolina, and into South Carolina.  Tonight we are in Santee State Park in Santee, South Carolina.  We arrived early enough in the afternoon to take Ranger for a walk along Lake Marion.  It was nice enough to set up our chairs and read outside for awhile, but as the sun set, the temperature dropped and I retreated inside the RV.  Tomorrow we'll head for Florida, with about 325 miles to the next stop.