Less than 3 weeks left in Florida

Our time in Florida was winding down.  We had less than three weeks left before we started our journey home.  We were going to spend four days in St. Petersburg but with our grandkids visiting, we cut it down to two days.  It turned out to be a good thing.  I guess one can say we're spoiled because we prefer small towns to large cities.  Too much traffic, too many people, and too much road construction just doesn't make it fun driving a motorhome and pulling a car.  And with Florida getting set to become the 3rd most populous state in the U.S. (surpassing New York), the coastal areas have too many people.  And St. Petersburg was no different.  

While in St. Petersburg, we had decided to stay at an Encore RV Park, which is part of the Thousand Trails network of which we are members.  We still have to pay to stay but we've come to expect a certain level of comfort.  So, here is a picture of the brochure and then a picture of reality!

Vacation Village RV Resort, Largo, Florida

We are parked half on a concrete pad and half on dirt.  Backing in a 38' motorhome was a real treat because of the tree on one side, a light post on the other side and right across the street a very large 5th wheel that was right at the edge of the narrow road.  But, Lee made it!  We did ask the neighbor to move their barbecue if they were going to use it so it wouldn't blister our paint!  We never did see a site that looked like the one in their brochure.  Maybe the picture was taken in the off-season when the park wasn't full.  Oh, well.  It was only two nights.  Needless to say, we wouldn't come back even if we were in Florida again.

Vacation Village RV Resort, Largo, Florida

St. Petersburg, Florida

St. Petersburg

Demens Landing Park, Police Officer's Memorial, St. Petersburg

The pier in St. Petersburg was built in 1973.  Called the "Inverted Pyramid", the pier was closed in 2013 because the 1/2 mile approach was deteriorating.  The city council had approved a new pier but a voter referendum in August, 2013, saved the old pier.  When a new mayor took office he restored access to the pier.  The hope is that the "Inverted Pyramid" will soon be reopened also.

South Straub Park, St. Petersburg, FL

A massive tree, St. Petersburg

Sunken Garden, St. Petersburg

Sunken Gardens

Sunken Gardens

Sunken Gardens

Sunken Gardens

Sunken Gardens

Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg,

Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg,

Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg,

Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg,

Fort De Soto Park, St. Petersburg,

We arrived at Three Flags RV Park, in Wildwood, Florida, on February 10, 2014, and stayed for two weeks.  It was convenient for our sightseeing ventures and would be our last "long term" park for a while.  

Three Flags RV Park

Brownwood at The Villages, near Wildwood, Florida - a retirement community

Brownwood at The Villages

Highbanks Marina, St. John's River, DeBary, Florida

Highbanks Marina, St. John's River, DeBary, Florida

Swamp House Grill, where I experienced my first taste of alligator. It was delicious!  And, no, it did not taste like chicken!!!

Lunch with our friends, Janet and Richard, Swamphouse Grill

Manatees at Blue Spring State Park, Orange City, Florida

 Blue Spring State Park

 Blue Spring State Park

 Blue Spring State Park

More manatees,  Blue Spring State Park

Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River, Florida

Crystal River nuclear plant has been offline since 2009.  In 2013 it was decided that the plant would be permanently closed.  Crystal River, Florida

Fort Island Gulf Beach, Crystal River

The time had come to start heading back to California, so we followed Highway 98 to Carrabelle, Florida, in the eastern part of the Florida Panhandle.  Located on the Gulf of Mexico, the beaches are beautiful white sand, the population is small and buildings are restricted to three stories or less.  

Carrabelle, Florida

Carrabelle, Florida

Carrabelle, Florida sunrise

Carrabelle, Florida

Carrabelle, Florida

I have no idea how old these tree stumps are but they were once in a forest but are now underwater at  high tide.  The water has sculpted the stumps into interesting designs.  Carrabelle, Florida

Carrabelle, Florida

Carrabelle, Florida

Crooked River Lighthouse, built in 1895 to replace three other lighthouses that had been destroyed by storms.  It was decommissioned in 1995.  Carrabelle, Florida

World's smallest police station.  In 1953, the Town's only Police Officer would park his Patrol Car by this phone booth and answer calls for service.  Carrabelle, Florida

Carrabelle Bottle House lighthouse is 12 feet tall and is made entirely of beer bottles.

Carrabelle Bottle House, made from over 6000 bottles.  Carrabelle, Florida

The inside of the Bottle House

The inside of the Bottle House

Carrabelle River

Carrabelle waterfront park

Cape St. George Lighthouse, Florida

St. George Island, Florida

Sunset at Carrabelle Beach

Westward bound, heading to Alabama.

Good-bye Florida, we had a great time.

Lake Placid, Florida, then on to the Everglades!

On the way home from our cruise, we stopped in Lake Placid, Florida, for a short time to view some of the 46 murals and other artwork around town.  In 1992, the Lake Placid Mural Society was founded to help bring the town back to life and to boost tourism.  A guide book tells the story behind each of the murals and the hidden object(s) to look for.  In 2013, Reader's Digest named Lake Placid, Florida, as America's Most Interesting town.

A few days after returning from our cruise, we headed south to Everglades National Park.  It had rained continuously for a couple of days and the lower campground, which was where we were parked, had gotten extremely soggy.  Several RV's needed tow trucks to pull them out.  The motorhome made it out without a problem but our Jeep was on the low side of the site and needed 4x4 to get out!

We did have a slight change of plans though.  While still on our cruise, Diana emailed us and wondered if we would like to watch our grandkids for a few days while they went on a cruise.  Of course I had to say yes.  Isabella and Stephen would stay with us while we were in Everglades National Park.  The only thing was, I came down with a cold the day after we returned from the cruise and it didn't get better.  So, the day after we got to Everglades and the day before the kids were to arrive, I took a trip to the hospital for treatment of acute bronchitis.  It was amazing how quickly I recuperated.  I hope Isabella and Stephen will always remember the time they spent with us in the Everglades, seeing the alligators and crocodiles, all the birds, and participating in the Junior Ranger program.

THE MURALS OF

LAKE PLACID, FLORIDA

A well disguised garbage can in Lake Placid!

Another well disguised garbage can!

The history of oranges and how they get to market

And yet another garbage can

ON TO

EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

US-41, Tamiami Trail, is a 2-lane road through the northern part of the Everglades.  We saw numerous alligators as we traveled along but there was nowhere to pull over to take pictures.  We finally were able to stop at one of the Visitor's Centers where they have a boardwalk to view the gators (the picture above).

 Flamingo Campground

Sunset in Flamingo Campground

Our grandkids, Stephen and Isabella, joined us for five days.  It was so good to see them again!

Our first sighting of an American crocodile.  I had no idea crocodiles lived in the U.S. but they do, in Southern Florida.  Crocodiles are lighter in color than alligators and when their mouth is closed, all their teeth are visible.

How could I forget the visit from our friends, Richard and Janet, while in the Everglades.  Janet was the picture taker!  She takes as many pictures as I do!

River excursion in Everglades National Park

Wildlife was abundant in Everglades National Park

Isabella got to drive the boat!!!  

It got a bit windy crossing the lake

This croc was on the boat ramp.  While sunning themselves, if crocs get too hot, they will open their mouths to cool off.  I think he was waiting for a tasty morsel!

The Anhinga Trail must be a bird-lover's paradise as there so many different birds to view.  Plus, a lot of alligators.  With all the water around, we've been fortunate in that we haven't gotten too many mosquito bites

The most colorful bird I've seen

Before we left, Isabella was sworn in as a Junior Ranger!

Way to go, Isabella!!!

All too soon, it was time to take Isabella and Stephen back to Miami Airport to meet their parents for their trip home.  And we were off to spend a few days in St. Petersburg.