Last day on the road

This morning we are waking up in the RV for the last time this trip.  We'll be leaving Pennsylvania today, heading south on I-81.  Then.....just all that unpacking and laundry and cleaning up to do!

Yesterday the temperatures remained in the 70's, just right for hiking. We spent about 2 hours along the Sand Spring Trail which is one of the cross-country skiing trails in the park and considerably better marked than the trail we took the previous day.  

The park is filling up a bit more as the weekend approaches: there are now about 12 sites occupied (on our loop of about 60) compared to the three when we arrived.  

It's been a good trip, but it always feels nice to return to our own bed, shower, and back deck.  Ranger will likely be happy to return to sleeping in "his bathroom" and will probably be glad to leave behind the two barking, snarling big dogs (that have been off-leash) at the campsite down the road.

Off to pack up----

Chilly in the Poconos

Fifty degrees this morning in the Poconos!  Quite a pleasant change from the 90 degree days earlier in the trip, and great for sleeping!

Yesterday we hiked the Shades of Death trail.  Cheery-sounding, and rated as "most difficult" on the trail maps, but we decided to give it a try.  We found that what was most difficult about it was not elevation change or rock-climbing; it was staying ON the trail!  This park seems to put a wooden sign at the start of a trail and then you're on your own.  The trail was supposed to be yellow-blazed, but they were very stingy with that yellow paint, and several times we lost the trail entirely, including once when we ended up hiking on state road 534 for about a quarter to half mile before we happened upon the trail again.  

That being said, it was a lovely trail that ran along Sand Spring Run, a rocky little brook with lots of small waterfalls.  The trail was also full of rhododendron which must have been wonderful to see earlier in the summer.  

 Dan and Ranger along the trail

 Karen and Ranger at one of the waterfalls

 Sand Spring Run

Not many birds in this park but lots of butterflies!

In Pennsylvania (with the bears?)

Yesterday began with steady rain in Littleton, Massachusetts.  Fortunately Dan had put away most of the gear before we went to bed, but we did have to pack up some things soaking wet.  The rain continued into Connecticut as we traveled along the Mass Turnpike to I-84, into New York state.  There were breaks for periods of time, and we managed to check into Hickory Run State Park, near Jim Thorpe PA, just before the sky opened up one more time.  However, within a short period of time the sun came out, and I am hopeful that our rugs and towels will dry out in the coming days.

There are several odd things about this park.  One is their dog policy:  campers with dogs are restricted to certain loops of the campground, and there's a detailed list about where dogs can go.  They can go out on the hiking trails, which we will probably explore later today.  The other question is "Where is everybody?"  This place with 15000 acres and hundreds of campsites is almost deserted.  There's a family with a pop-up a couple of sites away and a total of five sites occupied in our section.  In walking Ranger this morning, we explored another section of the camping area, with dozens of sites, and there were four occupied.  I'm not sure whether it's because it's a weekday or because it's been so hot or because of the numerous warnings about black bears in the area.  

Meanwhile, it's very quiet here, and very dark at night!  

Spending time with family in Boston

Sunday, Sean and his family plus Gene came out to the campground to spend the day with us.  Veronica and Philip were so much bigger than the last time we saw them, and they were busy all day.  Both enjoyed the pool and seemed to like wandering in the little "forest" behind the RV.  It was great to see everyone!

Visiting near Boston

The drive from Maine to Massachusetts was uneventful, aside from a delay of about an hour in bumper-to-bumper traffic on I-495.  It was a relief to arrive at a really nice campground, Minuteman Campground, in Littleton, MA.

It continued to be hot on Saturday, but our site is shady.  I also took advantage of the fact that there is a very good swimming pool here---much appreciated!  It did cool off considerably during the night, no need for air-conditioning here, and today (Sunday, July 21) is supposed to be in the low 80's.  We are expected company: Gene, Sean, Gretchen, Veronica, and  Philip Dorgan.  We haven't seen the kids in several years, and they will no doubt seem so much bigger.  There's lots for them to do here: swimming, a dog park where they can play with Ranger, tetherball, volleyball, ping-pong, and just exploring the woods around the site.  

Photos from Fundy

We're settled into a place with good Wi-Fi, and I have a bit of time to catch up on posting pictures.  These are from our hike in Fundy National Park.

 Typical terrain in Fundy National Park, New Brunswick

 Happy dog out on the trail

 Dan and Ranger at Kinnie Brook

 Stairway down to Kinnie Brook...and of course, also UP from it.

Rocks and spruces, ferns and moss---typical of Fundy

Hot day in Maine

We are experiencing the heat wave that has been featured in the weather news for the past week or so.  Friday was very hot and humid, and by early afternoon, we retreated inside the RV, with air-conditioning, to catch up on emails, read, and relax.  Kelly came over in late afternoon and we took the dogs to Biscay Pond to swim and cool off. (Us too!)  We then did a major grocery shopping trip to the local Hannifords to prepare for our visit with the Boston relatives on Sunday.  Kelly left around 7:30 to head for Portland where she will drop off Rossi with a friend, then head to Boston to catch a plane to Washington State.  

From Canada back to Maine

Thursday was spent on the road, driving from New Brunswick back into Maine.  The drive was uneventful (other than the inspection at the border by US agents who went through the refrigerator and confiscated a bunch of produce).

Lake Pemaquid Campground was selected for its proximity to the Darling Marine Center where Kelly is doing research this summer.  It is close, but aside from that it is not a place I'd choose again.  The campground has many sites, many of which are taken by seasonal campers.  These have added decks, gardens, and various decorations to their sites, which makes for an amusing walk around the park.  The sites are quite close together, and the facilities include Chucky's Choo-Choo (train ride for the kids), a skateboarding park, store, snack bar, boat rental building, miniature golf, large halls for events on rainy days----about anything you'd be looking for in a fun family vacation.  

Our site is on  cul-de-sac somewhat distant from all the above attractions, with only 3 other sites occupied.  So while the site is rocky, uneven, and small, it does have some privacy.

Kelly came over last evening with Rossi, and we all went to a local lobster pound for dinner.  We ate outside on the deck with a great view of some beautiful boats.  It had been quite awhile since I had lobster---what a treat!  The dogs were well-entertained, watching the many people who were there.  The regulars know to bring their own beverages, appetizers, and so forth, and just order a lobster.  

Today will be a quiet day of catching up on emails (now that we have a strong cell signal again), grocery shopping, cleaning, and relaxing.  Kelly will be coming by again for dinner before heading to Boston to catch a plane to Friday Harbor in Washington State.  As she heads west tomorrow, we'll be heading south to the Boston area.

With a strong internet connection now, I'll add a few photos:

 Lighthouse at Cape Enrage

 Campsite at Fundy National Park

Low tide at Alma, New Brunswick

Exploring along the Bay of Fundy

We are still at Fundy National Park, in the Chignecto North campground.  We had originally planned to use our bicycles to get around this large park, but have found that the park is really not set up for cycling.  The only route to the section along the Bay of Fundy is along Route 114, a narrow, windy road with no shoulder.  So we unplugged and drove down the four kilometers to the park headquarters and the town of Alma. 

We headed from Alma to Cape Enrage where there is a lighthouse and a rock-climbing center. There was also a zipline that went from one outcropping to the cliff on which the lighthouse stands; now that would be an experience, sailing over the rocky beach from one tower to the other!  The map indicated that it was a good spot for bird-watching but we didn’t see any at all.  It was, however, a beautiful location with great views of the Bay from high up on a cliff. 

From there we drove back to Alma, parked, and walked around the town. It’s very small with a motel, some B&B’s, restaurants and one store with gas pumps.  We picked up lunch at a take-out shop and ate at a picnic table along the river that empties into the Bay.  Alma is noted as the location with the greatest tidal change along the Bay, and that may be true: there were fishing boats at the town dock that were entirely out of the water but clearly would float free when the tide came in. 

Returning to the campsite, full from our late lunch, we had a campfire and relaxed until bedtime. 

In Canada--Monday, July 15

The drive from Mt. Desert Island to our site in New Brunswick was a slower, longer one than expected, about seven hours total.  Maine Route 9 carried us through wilderness with almost no houses, stores, or gas stations.  (The latter was of particular interest in that we were at “2 bars” on the gauge, but we found a diesel pump in Wesley, Maine, at a combination café, gift shop, market, and gas station that was in total about the size of most people’s living rooms.  The owner said that hers was the only stop along the length of Route 9 that offered diesel.)  At Calais, we went through the check station to enter Canada---lots of questions about carrying alcohol or firearms, where we were going and why.  Then we took NB 1 for just over 200 km to the exit for Alma and Fundy National Park. 

The park feels very remote.  Our site is secluded, tucked back into spruce trees, and at quite a slope. In walking around the campground it was clear that this was not the best choice of a site, but who can tell in choosing one over the internet?!  The campground has wi-fi near the office, about a ten minute walk from here, so later I will walk down to post this.

Yesterday late afternoon was actually hot, not what I expected in Canada.  In addition, being as far north and east as we are, the light comes early----at around 4:30!  Ranger woke us up at 4:19 with his “hrumph” at the door, meaning that he was ready for his usual morning walk.  Fortunately, he could be convinced to go back to bed for a few more hours. (Actually we have changed to Atlantic time zone, so it was really 5:19---but still too early for a walk!)

Chignecto North is the only campground in the park with electric hook-ups, but it about 4 km from the Bay of Fundy.  So later today we may bicycle down the steep hill to the coast. There’s also a hiking trail that starts just a few sites from here that looks good.  There’s no cell service from here (or rather, we could get it but it’s not on our plan and is quite expensive) so the phones are turned off, to be returned when we cross back over into Maine on Thursday.  

A visit with Kelly

Sunday afternoon Kelly came for a visit from Damariscotta.  We five (3 adults, 2 dogs) took two short hikes, one out onto the rocks at Ships Harbor Trail and the other along the shore of Long Pond.  Two happy dogs found much to sniff.

Dan grilled dinner and we enjoyed a campfire.  This morning Kelly heads out to Orono, while we head north to Canada.

Saturday---Different campground, still on Mt. Desert Island, ME

Ah, Maine!  What a view to take in first thing in the morning!

We left the Bar Harbor side of the island this morning and drove to "Quietside", the west part of Mt. Desert Island.  What this campground near Southwest Harbor lacks in charm, it makes up for in amenities.  I'm finally back on the Internet, have updated the blog---including photos even!---and the laundry has been done.  

Off for a bike ride!  Still sunny, low 80's.  

Friday (7/12) was the best weather of the trip so far.  We awoke to clear skies and temperatures in the sixties, warming up into the high 70’s during the day.  Having found out that dogs are welcome on the free buses around Mt. Desert Island, we headed out after breakfast to explore.

The first stop was at Sieur Des Monts Springs.  We picked up a trail (rated easy) to The Tarn, a large wetland. The trail was made up of large blocks of granite, which Ranger handled well, leaping from one to the next.  Circling around, we spotted a yellowthroat, the first interesting bird sighting of the trip.  From the nature center, we took the Jessup Path, a boardwalk over wetlands that was supposed to be a great bird-watching place in early morning.  Given that by now it was early afternoon, we didn’t see anything but enjoyed the walk through beautiful scenery.

We then caught a bus into downtown Bar Harbor. What a zoo!  It was so crowded with tourists that it was tough to simply walk down the sidewalks.  It appeared that since our earliest visits to the town, there have been a number of expansive hotels added---too much new fancy construction for our liking! There was even a large cruise ship in the harbor, and I guess the passengers of that added to the crowds.   At this point, it was well past lunchtime, so we stopped at a restaurant with outdoor seating for a sandwich. Ranger behaved beautifully, lying down next to the table with chin on the railing to watch the people (and many dogs) go by.

One more bus ride brought us back to Blackwoods Campground.  On the bus, Ranger was entertained by a trio of small children who wanted to pet him.  He did not mind the attention at all. 

Tomorrow we move to Smugglers Den, a privately owned campground with full hookups, showers, and laundry.  The latter two will be especially appreciated!

It’s now Thursday and we are at Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park.  It has no electrical or water hookups and there are no bars on my phone, so no Internet.  I’ll try to get this posted in the coming days.

Meanwhile, we did almost 400 miles on Wednesday.  Actually I should say that Dan drove almost 400 miles.  I had good intentions of doing my share, but it was a miserably rainy, foggy day, and Dan is by far the better driver of this thing.  The most stressful part of the trip was coming through Bar Harbor on Route 3.  I should have known to figure out an alternate route, but there we were, around 4:30 on a weekday afternoon, in a small town with extremely narrow streets, packed with people with their cars parked all along both sides-----with a huge beer truck right in front of us that at one point, tried to back up (into us??) in order to make a wide turn.  Yikes!  It was a relief to arrive on one piece.

This campground has over 300 sites and most are taken.  They are a bit close together but not too bad.  We have a neighbor out one side who lives about an hour north of here, and he’s been over to chat a bit---very friendly.

Last evening was damp and cool, the first time on the trip that I changed from shorts to long pants. All is still wet from our time in Vermont, so we have damp towels hanging all over and three of my four pairs of shoes are quite soggy.  Today is overcast but not actually raining, so we’re hoping things will begin to dry out.  The forecast for the coming days looks great: upper 70’s and clear.  We are overdue for such good weather!

Without electricity, it feels much more like camping.  We can use some lights minimally, but no appliances or microwave.  This afternoon we’re running the generator for a while to charge phones and warm some water in the water heater, so I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to catch up on news of the trip.

This morning we hiked a bit under four miles, from the campground to Eagle Crag which looks out over the hills and water around Mt Desert Island.  We both agreed that we are out of shape!  While it’s not hot, it is very humid, so we worked up a sweat.  Even Ranger is lounging now, recovering from the activity.

Assuming that we don’t get more rain, tonight we’ll have a campfire and roast hot dogs for dinner---a meal we never have at home but reserve for camping out!

Wet weather in Vermont

 Sunday night brought a big thunderstorm with very loud thunder to send Ranger scurrying under the table, trembling.  Lots of lightning and heavy rain!  It was another of those times when we were glad to not be in a tent. 

Monday morning’s walk was damp and foggy, but again it cleared somewhat in late morning.  We rode our bicycles to the town of South Londonderry, which consists of a railroad depot (not currently in use), a post office, and The Pantry, a combination deli, market, and gift shop.  The houses were typical New England style and all clustered around the two shores of the West River.

We had a quiet afternoon of lounging and reading.  (I already finished one novel: J K Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy.)  While there did not seem to be any threat of another thunderstorm, we moved the bikes and chairs into the screened room, and a good thing we did.  Later in the evening, we had another heavy downpour.  So this morning (Tuesday) everything is soaking wet and again Ranger and I had a foggy walk.  Hoping for some sunshine today to dry everything out a bit….

 South Londonderry, VT

I finally have a strong enough signal to post some photos.  Both Sunday and Monday, Ranger got to go swimming in the river.  Sunday was more fun in that there was another dog to romp around with.  In fact, after a fully-occupied park over the holiday weekend, it's cleared out quite a bit.  Our circle is still mostly occupied, being the only section of the park with electrical and water hookups, but there are large sections in the tenting area available.

The bottom picture is along a trail in the park on Sunday.  Beautiful, but very buggy!

As has been the pattern since our arrival, today we had a rainy morning, with sun coming through around lunchtime.  We hope to dry everything out today, as it needs to be packed up this evening so we can get an early start tomorrow, driving to Maine.  

Sunday afternoon

The early morning showers gave way to mostly cloudy, then partly cloudy, and by 11:30 we were off to explore the trails in the park.  A two-hour walk took us along the West River Trail, southbound, cool in the shade (and with many gnats) but hotter and hotter in the sun.  After a cold drink back at the campground and some relaxation, we went to the river for a swim, which Ranger enjoyed greatly.  He got to cool off, plus play "chase the stick" until he tired of it.   As I type this, he's taking his afternoon rest, along with Dan.  

Cell service and internet are very weak here, so I am at the Visitors Center at the top of the hill.  I tried to post a photo but without luck.  Hope to add some when we are at a location with better, quicker service.

Saturday arrival in Vermont

We arrived at Winhall Brook Campground in mid-afternoon on Saturday.  First impressions were good; the office staff were friendly and helpful. The campground is close to Londonderry, VT in the Green Mountains, and it’s run by the Corps of Engineers.  Most of the campsites are on grass, in an open field, but by luck our site is tucked back into trees, affording some cover from neighbors on either side. 

It was a sunny afternoon, mid-80’s, and many people were at the “beach” which has no sand but is a cluster of small rocks along the river.  The Winhall River is a narrow, rocky river with swift current and some deeper pools, and the beach is where the Winhall empties into the West River.  Dogs are not allowed on the beach, but a short distance upstream, near the bridge that allows access to the south shore (where our site is) there was a similar flat, rocky area where adults, kids, and dogs were splashing around and having a great time.  We will definitely want to take Ranger for a swim when weather permits.

“When weather permits” because this Sunday morning, as I type, it is raining lightly.  Fortunately we have plenty of books to read and came prepared for some bad weather.  Cell service is very limited and I have not been able to check the hourly weather report, but I am hopeful that we’ll be able to get out for a walk along one of the hiking trails later in the day.  Can’t complain about the temperatures: it was 69 when Ranger and I got in our early morning walk, just before the rain began.

 Winhall River

Friday on the road

The first day out was mostly driving.  We traveled through Fredericksburg and Warrenton, making a stop in Winchester at Camping World to pick up a few things. Then through West Virginia and Maryland, into Pennsylvania, and through Harrisburg and Allentown/Bethlehem.  Our reservations were for Dingmans Campground, along the Delaware River in northeast Pennsylvania. 

The campground is not too impressive, with roads that need grading and lots of standing water; they have had the same days of rain we did in VA.  That meant, of course, many mosquitoes!  After a good coating of Off, we were able to sit outside for awhile, visiting with Bill who came over for burgers and beer.  We escaped the bugs while eating by going inside----Ok, it was really to enjoy the air-conditioning.  It is HOT and humid!  Both dogs enjoyed the cooler air, though Flower did make herself at home in Ranger’s bed under the dining table.

The sites immediately around us were unoccupied, so we had privacy and quiet for a good night’s sleep.  

Getting ready

Fourth of July, and we'll have a busy day of packing and preparing for our upcoming three-week camping trip to New England.  Tomorrow we plan to be in Dingmans Ferry, PA for one night, where we'll visit with brother Bill before heading to Vermont.

I awoke to a perfect morning, clear and high 60’s.  Ranger and I walked up past the horse stable area, seeing goldfinches and bluebirds along the way.

By the time we had breakfast and cleaned up and were ready to head out for a hike, it was heating up.  We took the River Trail again, an easy flat walk, and again found lots of birds, including yellow warblers in the trees along the river.  We walked beyond where we had left off on Monday afternoon and picked up the Culler Trail within sight of the park boundary.  Much of this was out in the sun, and it was hot.  Ranger managed to cool off in a large puddle/tiny pond resulting from a small brook running through the meadow to the river. 

 

 Actually the above photo was taken of him swimming in the Shenandoah River---a nice way to cool off.

After 2 ½ hours of walking we returned for lunch and some quiet reading time.  It got hotter and hotter, and we finally retreated to the RV and turned on the air-conditioning. (Ah, camping!)  It had gotten to 94 inside, and a thermometer set outside went up to 97. 

We met a couple from a few sites down who are from Midlothian, and they are avid bird-watchers.  They came up near our site to watch and photograph the Baltimore orioles on their nest.  They recommended that while in Maine, we stop in Ellsworth at the Stanwood Bird Sanctuary (“Bird’s Acre”) for some great birding.  They also commented that they had come to Shenandoah River last May and returned this year, just because the birding is unusually good. 

A warm shower to rinse off the day’s sweat sure felt good, and it finally cooled off nicely for sleeping.  

Ranger woke me before 6 am, hrumphing at the door to be let out.  We headed out into a cool morning (50’s) with heavy fog lying over the river.  We took the road beyond where we turned off into our site, heading toward the “cabin area”.  These turned out to be very nice, sitting on a hill above the meadow we walked through last night, some rather small (perhaps 2 bedrooms and a living space?) while another was more like a lodge for larger groups.  I’m not sure what they charge for them, but they would be a nice place to spend a quiet week’s vacation.  (Note: I can’t check any of this on the Internet, as sitting down here in the campground, there is no cell reception and thus no Internet.)

 After a leisurely breakfast, we went out to explore some of the hiking trails.  We first took the Campground Trail up the side of the hill, ending up at Culler’s Overlook which allowed a great view into the river valley.  Another half-mile took us to the large visitor’s center which---for its size---was fairly empty.  They did have quite a display of stuffed birds including a number of those we had seen but also many different owls.  Continuing on a loop, we reached the picnic area along the river and took the Bluebell Trail back to our RV.  This last trail was full of mosquitoes, the first we’d been bothered with, but we did add a new bird to our list: the Northern Waterthrush.

The afternoon was hot with a rain shower in mid afternoon. We read and napped, then took Ranger for one more walk along the River Trail.  The evening continued overcast with intermittent rain, so we had a quiet evening of reading and DVD’s and popcorn

 We left home at around noon and after a drive of about 3 hours arrived at Shenandoah River State Park.  It is about 15 miles south of Front Royal, off Route 340.  A light rain fell as we approached the park, but it stopped in time for us to set up.

The RV campground is new as of 2011, and the sites are good-sized and spread apart, though out in the open without much vegetation between.  We chose site 17, which turned out to be a good one, in that there is a Baltimore oriole nest just across the road and we’ve been able to watch those brilliant orange birds come and go. 

The campground host stopped in to greet us.  He is at this park through May and then going home.  Surprisingly, he said that the state parks have been having trouble finding people who want to be campground hosts, so no one is coming in behind him for either June or July.  He also mentioned that the place was totally packed over the Memorial Day weekend, all 32 sites taken.  (At this point, there are 7 in our loop and 4 or 5 in the other loop, so it’s relatively empty.)

 We donned raincoats and headed out to explore. We picked up the Bluebell/River Trail near the other loop and walked the flat path along the river, where we saw many birds and heard them all around.  In one short walk we noted about 15 types, including summer tanager, red-headed woodpecker, and cedar waxwings.  There are bird boxes everywhere for the many tree swallows that swoop and soar over the large meadow. 

After hamburgers for dinner, we had a nice campfire.  (Wood for sale at the campground host’s site.)

Almost home!

We had our first rain of the trip yesterday while traveling up I-95 from Georgia, across South Carolina and into North Carolina, where we are spending the last night of our vacation near Fayetteville.  While people here have commented on their warm temperatures for February, I felt chilly all day---ready to head back into some warm sunshine!

But the daffodils are blooming in this campground, so spring is on its way.

I do need to return to work, and there's still unpacking to do.  It should be a short day of travel, and we do get to sleep in our own bed tonight (and enjoy the extra space in our own shower!).

An excellent vacation----one of the best!  Now back to reality.....

 Crooked River State Park is on the Georgia side of the GA/FL border, in St. Mary's.  We had a relatively short day of driving yesterday, arriving here at a little after 2.  That allowed time for a late lunch and a walk along the river, as well as a hike on a very easy trail, to allow Ranger to let off steam.  We had stopped here two years ago and the campground was full, but my memory of the place was as the location of Ranger's first sighting of an armadillo.  Sure enough, he heard one in the palmettos behind our site last night (and went nuts).  I was not able to catch a view of it, however.

The park is excellent, with large level sites. It's only about 20% full so we had lots of privacy and a pull-through site.  This is a park that is worth staying at for more than an overnight, so maybe next year.......

 Our campsite at Little Manatee River has been a good one: enough vegetation to provide privacy from neighbors, a mix of sun and shade, and level.  It's a good place to relax. (I finished a second novel while here.)  Yesterday morning we took a leisurely walk around the nature trail to the river, seeing a huge flock of warblers at the picnic area.  Then we returned to the site for a big brunch of eggs, ham, potatoes and toast.

 An afternoon bike ride around the park allowed us a good view of a gopher tortoise.  I guess the original settlers used to eat them, but it does not look very appetizing to me.

This park is geared up for horseback riding with a camping area specifically for equestrian camping and lots of marked trails.  A short walk along one of the nearby horse trails took us to Dude Lake.

All in all, this has been a relaxing couple of days in a well-run, clean state park.  Well-worth the trip here and probably the only Florida park of this trip that I would highly recommend to anyone!

Here's everyone's image of Florida----our first white sandy beach of the trip!

We left Collier-Seminole SP yesterday morning (no plans to ever return--one of the worst of the Florida state parks!) , and rather than jump on I-75 for a three-hour drive to our next destination, we decided to stay with Tamiami Trail (Route 41) up the gulf coast.  We discovered that between Naples and  Fort Myers, both sides of the road are FULL of stores---strip malls, chain restaurants, and so forth, non-stop!  And of course, lots of traffic, making it a slow trip.  We turned off Rte.41 toward Sanibel Island, and as soon as we went over the causeway and saw all that blue and green water, it seemed the side-trip was worthwhile.  Sanibel is a beautiful place, with easily accessible public beaches like the one above.  The community is cute and quaint, lots of little shops and bike paths everyone.  What it is not is RV-friendly!  Narrow two-lane roads and bumper-to-bumper traffic!  Bicycles are definitely the preferred mode of transportation there.  We did manage to find the one public parking area with spaces for "vehicles 20 feet or more in length", which allowed us to take Ranger for a walk on the beach.  Yes, surprisingly, they do allow dogs on the beach there, with just a request that they be on leash and be picked up after.

Little Manatee River State Park is just east of St. Petersburg/Tampa, and it is a small park with only 30 campsites.  We were greeted by an extremely friendly and enthusiastic ranger---always a good start to a stay!---who provided maps and lots of suggestions for things to do.  Our site is private and level, just across the road from clean bathrooms with nice new showers.  Hurray!

Having come about 150 miles north from the Everglades region, it is noticeably cooler--cool enough for a campfire last evening.  Today's high expected to be mid-70's, after 55 this morning for the dog walk.  Still sunny--no rain at all so far on this trip.

 Our morning walk was along the one trail adjacent to the camping area at Collier-Seminole State Park. It passes through a "hardwood hammock" area with many royal palms which are fairly rare.  Mostly it was quite jungle-like!  The trail took you to an observation platform looking out over a salt marsh where we were able to watch quite a few ibises.  Ranger seemed to find lots of interesting things to sniff.

We later unplugged and took a day trip into Naples.  We visited the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve where they had a nice display of critters that live in the mud.  This picture of the display with parchment worm is for you, Kelly!  We also walked around the trails there which were supposed to be a good location for bird-watching; however we saw only a few hawks.  From there, we drove around Marco Island, which seems to have much high-dollar real estate---big houses on canals with large boats parked behind them.    The afternoon ended with some relaxation and reading around the campsite.