Silver Spring to Orlando

Monday, February 24, 2020

We were able to pull out this morning at 9:30. We are getting good at this!

Drove through a lot of farm land and horse ranches to get to Silver Springs. It was a pretty drive. The weather is a lot more Florida-like here. A beautiful 75 and sunny.  It was a good day.  We will be staying in our first 55 and older RV park on this leg.  We will see how that goes.

As soon as we arrived and got set up we rode our bikes across the street to the Silver Springs State Park.  This park is where they first introduced the glass bottom boat and they filmed the old TV series  with Lloyd Bridges, Sea Hunt.

  

  

    

    

 I wish my pictures could really show you how beautiful this place is.  We rode our bikes all over that park. It was a beautiful day and we only turned back when we were afraid it would be dark before we got home.  Didn’t want to cross the major highway in the dark.  We realized we went through all this trouble to bring our kayaks and we did not bring any life jackets.  So I hope to take our kayaks to play in this spring on our way home.

When we got home we looked up the Sea Hunt show and watched the first episode, of course.  It was not as corny as the Redford - Wood show we tried to watch before.

Rainy day on Tuesday so we stayed in and we washed the RV Wednesday.  That is quite a work out.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

We had a busy day today.  We went to the Ocala RV Show this morning.  Man, they have really outdone themselves for 2020.  Can’t wait till we can buy one of those second hand!!!

Then we headed down the road to zip line through the canyons.  We used Canyon Zipline and Adventure Park.  They were very good.  Sean and Josh did a great job and we even had the big boss guy, Pat, to help keep us all safe.  We did the 9 zipline tour and ended with a repel.  This was great, but I anticipated a little more of an adrenaline rush.  I never got nervous or butterflies in my stomach or anything.  It was fun, just not really what I expected to feel flying through the air like that.  I really thought I would have a problem walking off the edge of the platform.  But no!  Dennis either.  We were surprised.

  

  

Here are some highlights from the day.  We started out on a little trial line to ensure that we could break and turn around and pull ourselves if we were unable to make it to the end of the line.  It reminded me of when my father made a zip line in our backyard when we were little and the whole neighborhood would come over and we would zip from one tree to the other. Then we walked a couple of rope bridges over beautiful canyons and spectacular water.  It did not look real. The water was as odd green color, but it was really pretty. The bridges were a little nerve racking. Some of you know how clumsy I am so walking over a wobbling bridge, the fear was real.  Apparently this is in an old limestone quarry, so the canyons are man made.  The company hit the underground aquifer and the canyon filled up with water rather quickly.  Our guide said there is even still equipment in the bottom that they were unable to retrieve before the water covered it. One of the lines we took was 150 feet high and 1100 feet long and was only 10 feet above the water at the lowest point.  A couple of the ladies started breaking too soon on this one and did not make it to the end, so they had to turn around and pull themselves in.  Dennis decided to use a cycling app to see how fast we went on a couple of the lines and one was 36.5 MPH and another was 26 MPH.  Some of the shorter ones seemed like we were going 50 MPH, but it was only 15 MPH or so.  The repelling part was kinda corny, but it made me think I could really do that.  It was only about 25 feet above the ground and they had a weight balance think that only allowed you to go so fast no matter what.  That is kinda cheating.

  

Dennis is calling the 55 and over RV park an old folks home.  But these guys are outside and visiting each other and playing cards in the clubhouse, unlike our park in Bay St. Louis where people stayed in the RVs the whole time.  They are all pretty much snow birds, but these are much more active ones.

Friday, February 28, 2020

Happy birthday my dear friend Cheryl Bryan!  I know you have a lot of celebrating planned.  Wish I could be there with you.

The move from Silver Springs to Orlando was a smooth one.  We could not arrive at Orlando until noon, so we lollygagged all morning to leave at check out time, which is 11:00 and got to our destination around 12:45.  This is a Thousand Trails park and it it HUGE!  We will be staying here in the Orlando area for two weeks before we moved to another Thousand Trails a little farther south.  So I will let you know how this goes.

Jacksonville, Fl

Friday, February 21, 2020

We pulled out of Topsail Hill State Park at about 8:40, earlier than we had anticipated.  We had excellent traveling weather for the longest haul of our trip thus far.  The winds were high, but the sun was shining and the air had a pretty good chill to it.

No mishaps on the road and we arrived at Kelly’s Countryside RV Park about 3:30 in the afternoon.  The sites are not paved here and the ground is very soft.  We had to put out leveling blocks on the starboard side of the RV - I mistakenly put them on the opposite side to start, oops. My hubby is so patient.  We put the blocks down for the front leveling and lifted the RV off the truck when the RV shifted on the blocks.  I had Dennis sit with his foot on the break while I put the weight of the trailer back on the truck to reposition the blocks.  So he couldn’t see what I was doing, he was just sitting there with his foot on the brake.  So brave! So while I was lowing the RV back on the truck the blocks seemed to be slipping out from under one of the front leveling legs.  I got more and lined them up behind the ones already there.  That way, if it did completely slip off of the current ones it would slip onto the new ones, hopefully 🤞.  It worked.  I repositioned the blocks and lifted her back up.  The tire blocks were not quite under the tires after the slip, but the trailer was perfectly level.

I am good with that. It may not look professional, but it works.  We were all set up before dark and fixed us some dinner and stayed in for the night.

We decided to start watching a Netflix series called Schitt’s Creek.  Well I was watching it and since I was laughing out loud Dennis decided to watch it with me.  I first heard about this series when my nephew, Mitchell Morris, posted this photo on Facebook. He went to the up close and personal play where they even have the set you can wander through.  He lives in New York now, so he gets to do all that fun stuff.

Initially, I was a little put off by the photo!  Then I looked it up - It seemed pretty funny to me.  It was not until now that I decided to give it a try.  I cannot say it is right for everyone, but I find it pretty funny.

Saturday, February 22, 2020

Happy Birthday to my dear friend Donna Galloway!  I hope your day was fabulous.

We woke up to 34 degree temperatures here.  WTH!  We went into Jacksonville to run some errands today and with the cold air and high winds, wow!  Florida is not supposed to be this cold.  We got some stuff to make my little sand dollar into a necklace.  We will see how that goes.  Then we wanted to check out Amelia Island.  So we headed that way, but somehow the GPS sent us right into Jackson and to a gas station.  I guess it knew we were low. So, we were now miles away from Amelia Island.  I was getting hungry, so I chose a restaurant that was on the water and had great reviews, Down Under.  It took us almost an hour to get there after the GPS mishap and refueling in Jacksonville.  This restaurant is in the middle of the Amelia River under a bridge. Google had no idea how to get there it just stopped on the bridge where the restaurant is.  We had to drive back and forth across the bridge to find out how to get to it.  Totally worth the wait.  Food and service was awesome.  The bottle of wine was pretty good too.

We left there and drove down the coast on A1A.  The views of the water showed the waves were really high, so we decided to stop and check it out.  We parked, not remembering you can drive on their beaches, and walked over a boardwalk.  When we looked over and saw this little Toyota stuck in the sand in the entrance to the beach.  This older lady was trying to dig out the front tires.  So we went over to see if we could help.  We pushed and that car was not moving an inch.  Dennis went to get his shovel out of the truck and when we got back they were driving out.  Apparently, 3 strong young men had come up and pushed them right out.  Guess we aren’t as young as we think we are.   Anyway, glad they were able to get free!

Going further down the beach we found another cool place, The Surf.  I caught a wave there!  

It is a Motel, bar and restaurant.  We went in there and had a couple of drinks and it is apparently a local hang out.  Everybody knows everybody in there.  Well, except us that is. It was fun people watching and the place had a cool vibe.  They were having live music later in the day, but we had to cruise on.

Sunday, February 23, 2020

After doing some chores around the house we went back out to the islands to see the Kingsley Plantation.  The small size is because this plantation is on an small island and all supplies must come down the river by boat.

Interesting story attached here is that Mr. Kingsley, a wealthy white man, purchased the black Mrs. Kingsley as a slave when she was 13 and they married shortly thereafter. From that time on Mrs. Kingsley ran quite of bit of the operations around the plantation, even to the extent of running and disciplining their slaves.  Hmmmm.  

The drive to the plantation is amazing.  Through the back woods and marshy areas of Florida.

 

We will be back on the road tomorrow as all the snow birds have so many of the parks booked we couldn’t get a full week in this area.  But looking forward to staying at Silver Springs for a few days.

Signing off for now!

Seaside

Tuesday, February 18, 2020

The weather was a little dreary today but that didn't stop us from exploring.  Took a short ride down the coast to a little town named Seaside.  I have been there before when Penny Hobbs, Michelle Hobbs and I went to spend a week in Destin many years ago.  IT HAS CHANGED A LOT!  Come to find out they filmed the movie The Truman Show there.  Needless to say we had to check out the show as soon as we got home.  It is a beautiful town. We walked through the neighborhood and many of the properties had their home names on the white picket fences and where the owners are from.  Many were from Texas! We ate the best Cuban sandwich we have ever had and indulged in a couple of adult beverages at the beach bar.  

         

The movie was great and we certainly recognized Seaside to be the location.

Airstream food trucks are still there!!

  

Wednesday, February 19, 2020.

Sun came back out today and so we hopped on our bikes and cruised back down to the beach.  I usually spend my time at home combing the beach for sea shells,  shark teeth and sea glass, but they don’t have a lot of anything on the beaches here, BUT . . .

  

I totally scored!  Dennis was not sure about keeping the star fish, so we left it there.  We had actually seen it in the water and Dennis wasn’t sure it was really dead.  But it was - it was even missing some of its points like something had been eating it.  What would I do with it anyway, right?  I think I will put the sand dollar on a chain and wear that little feller.

Guess whose feet are whose

  

Of course the Blue Angels were soaring overhead all day long, but you can’t really get a good picture of them because they are so fast and far away.  The dolphins were everywhere too - I guess it was lunch time for them.

We practically had the beach to ourselves most of the time.  There were some folks fishing and a few people near the park beach entrance, but not many.  We looked it up and the water is supposed to be about 72-74 degrees.  It feels pretty cold, but not something you can’t get used to.  There was a couple kayaking and they had wetsuits on.  I totally get that.  We haven’t unleashed our kayaks on this trip yet.  Maybe on the way back.

I can’t remember seeing this last time we were here, but I am sure I did.  The sand is layered like the Grand Canyon, just not as colorful.  There were several places that had long stretches of the little cliffs.  I was surprised - it was pretty neat to see.

We also did some tracking on the beach.  We were convinced we were tracking a bear who was after a couple of deer.  Looked it up when we got back and it appears the bear print was just a dog.  Bear has 5 fingers, not just 4.  That had to be one HUGE dog.  They do have bears here and we see the deer tracks on the beach and in the dunes.  Not something I have ever seen at our beaches.

Florida - Destin

Friday, February 14, 2020

Happy Valentines Day! And a beautiful day it is!  We have had some rainy hazy lazy weather in Mississippi but awoke to the sun shining brightly this morning!!! Praise the Lord!!

We took our time this morning and pulled out of the Bay Hide Away RV Park about 10:40 am. It was pretty chilly out there this morning. Glad most of my work is on the inside!  We should arrive at Topsail Hill State Park around check in time at 3:30. We will take our time and stop for lunch so we don’t arrive too early.

We stopped at the Alabama visitors center and by the looks of the brochures this is where my antebellum homes are, so probably stop and stay in Mobile on the way back!

Got camp set up by 4:30 and got some supper.  Tomorrow we will check this place out.

Saturday, February 15, 2020

After breakfast we got on our bikes to explore! This is an amazing place to stay! Absolutely my favorite this far!  The emerald water is pretty chilly, but I was wishing I had my shorts instead of pants on. We walked down the beach towards Destin and the beach is just beautiful.

Check out the couple in the foreground with blankets
and the background with swimsuits

Me and D by the sea!  LOL

Destin down the beach

Then we got back on the bikes to explore more of the park.  There are 3 lakes in addition to the coastal waterfront.  They have paddle boards, canoes and kayaks for rent.  We have our own kayaks, but they will not allow them on the lakes due to transfer of foreign bacteria.  But we could use them on the beach if it weren’t so darned cold.

One of the three lakes at the park

They have tent camp sites and even glamping and cabins.  I think we ran through an actual neighborhood too.  Not sure how you get to live in a state park, but I am down if it is this one.

We left there and found us a beachside bar to see the sunset and found The Whale’s Tail.  I got déjà vu  real bad!  I realized it was precisely where I was when my friend John Ross got married many years ago.  It was a week long affair and the condo I stayed at was across the street!  It was an accident, but it is still a cool place after all these years.

    

    

Beautiful sunset with red skies - You know - Red Skies at Night Sailor’s Delight. But we aren’t sailing so who cares.  The fog started rolling in after the sun set - it was pretty moist by the time we left the bar.

Sunday, February 16, 2020

RAINY DAY ALL DAY!

We finally decided to get out in it and went to Lulu’s for lunch and they had live music and a great vibe.  The beach outside has kayaks and paddle boards - again. They are everywhere. Food was real good.  So glad we got out in this cold rainy mess.  I think a little of this mist got on my camera lense - sorry for the fuzzy pics.

  

We left Lulu’s with our belly’s full and decided to stop by the Bass Pro Shop 

to walk off some of this food.

 

I don’t think I have ever been to a Bass Pro Shop, but I think they get way too many kudos.  

We left without buying a thing.

Monday, February 17, 2020 - Happy President’s Day

Another gloomy day here. We spent the day shopping at the outlet mall like the rest of Destin!  Decided to give Bass Pro Shop another chance by eating at their Uncle Buck’s restaurant.  

The shrimp tacos were great, but what a weird place.  They have the bowling allies on either side of the BAR.  The actual restaurant is enclosed in glass.  Reminded me of the Main Event or Itz in the Houston area. Definitely not what I expected.  But it was a great family place.

Met a lot a friendly people at the laundromat tonight.  One guy from Boston just left an RV gathering - a rally or something - and got to meet all these bloggers he follows.  Maybe I should look up these bloggers and see what that is all about.

Looks like the rest of the week will be gloomy weather as well, but we will be heading to the little village of Seaside tomorrow.  My friends and I went there years ago and it is a real treat.  Can’t wait for Dennis to see it.

Signing off for now folks.  Catch you soon.