Ruthie swims with the Manatees

After spending a few days at Wekiwa State Park and canoeing the warm spring waters, we drove the less than an hour drive to Blue Springs State Park (after a stop at the local laundromat).  This being our second time to this really nice State Park, Ruthie built up her courage....

She jumped into the constant 73 degree spring waters, and swam with the Manatees...........and all of the other fish and creatures.  The manatees come into this warm spring area to stay toasty warm after eating greens all day on the big St. Johns River.  So, how could you NOT swim with them?

While here at Blue Springs we biked the expanded paved biking trail which included a bike to the Red Box to pick up an evening movie. 

Blue Springs is one of our favorite Florida Parks.

Miami Beach.................via the Everglades

While our RV resided at Long Pine Campground, we took our rental car to Miami Beach to spend a few days in this happening place.  Spring Break craziness was in full action.  Special thanks to Ruthie's friend Lisa and David, for "loaning" us their "honeymoon suite" right on Miami Beach. 

We enjoyed incredibly great meals with our friends, especially the Stone Crabs and really fresh fish.  Walked Ocean Drive checking out all of the restored art deco hotels.  Stopped into a couple of interesting museums, and even got back to Joe's Stone Crab restaurant.......
we ordered fried chicken and chopped salad (not Stone Crab).

Before heading back to Long Pine and our RV, we took an evening boat tour along the Miami River. 


Pretty incredible history and quite a skyline.

The Florida Everglades

This is the Everglades.................

Leaving the Marco Island area, we drove east along the Tamiami Trail.  Stopped first for a couple of days at Midway campground.  A surprisingly nice place to spend a few days.  Near to the Oasis Visitor Center and Shark Valley.

Then we drove to Long Pine Campground which is near the Everglades National Park entrance.  Originally we had planned to spend almost a week at Flamingo at the southern tip of Florida, but the worst "mosquitoes in 20-30 years" caused us to change our plans.  We rented a car in Homestead and then used Long Pine as our base of operations. 

Headed over to the Anhinga Trail to see the turtle eating alligator, also some nice walks.  Then took a day trip down to Flamingo, checked out where we had planned to spend almost a week, and decided that we made the right choice.

We did some biking including a ride with a park ranger through the open saw grass areas, through the pines, and by the hammocks.  Really loved the Long Pine area!

And we must mention, we only stopped 3 times at Robert is Here for smoothies and milkshakes.  We had to control ourselves.

Enough already! Time to get out of town

On our RV travels, we've had the attack of the fruit flies, the attack of the goatheads, and even the attack of the Stink Bugs....... but this is the worst!

THE ATTACK OF THE MOSQUITOS.......

Having used up two cans of bug spray, and lots of swatting, it's just simply time to revise our travel plans.  I did call down to Flamingo, in the Everglades, and spoke to a Ranger who confirmed "The mosquitos are the worst they've ever been. But come on down, we need some fresh blood."

So we've changed plans and will spend a week in Miami Beach... even a rental car. 

Southwest Florida, our first time in exploration mode

Having only zipped through southwest Florida in the past, it was time to stop,  kick the tires (at Edison's and Ford's winter estates), smell the flowers (at the Naples Botanical Garden),and do a little fishing (eating that is).  And while exploring, our friends Ronnie and Stu joined us for much of this time.

Stopped first at the Edison and Ford winter estates in Ft. Myers, where when we arrived with our RV, we were escorted to the RV/bus parking area, and then shuttled to the entrance.  What service!  Then we checked out the museum which houses many of Edison's inventions, showcases Ford and his development of Ford Motor Company, and finally Edison's search for a rubber substitute that he could grow in the United States.  Then off to see the two winter residences.

Our next stop was at Koreshan State Historical Park, where we checked out the early 20th Century Koreshan Unity Settlement.  Dr. Teed purchased the land in 1894 and brought to Florida his believers.  They built a commune which was self sufficient with gardens, a bakery, a sawmill, and housing for the settlers.  They built the Planetary Court, a large residence which housed the seven female managers of the commune.  All of this they called the Home Grounds; the beginnings of the planned New Jerusalem which they hoped to build.  This Unity Settlement was based on Teed's belief that the Earth was a hollow convex sphere with the sun, planets, and stars at its core.  At the largest, there were 300 believers, but as years continued, the settlement declined, with the final member donating the land and buildings to the state of Florida.


We camped at the adjacent state park campground and walked the 1/2 mile trail to the commune's grounds.  In addition to touring the buildings, there were also some bridges and gardens to view.

Next we motored down to Collier-Seminole State Park, which became our base for the next week.  Thanks to Ronnie & Stu, we traveled to many parts of southwest Florida.  We drove to downtown Naples and checked out the classy houses.  We did the same at Marco Island. 





Spent a day at the Botanical Gardens with the incredible orchids, and a special exhibit of Origami inspired sculptures.  Also had a great lunch at the garden café.  Pictures tell a thousand words!

Our last day with our friends, we first drove to the Big Cypress Swamp boardwalk.  It was a good thing we all paid the $3 admittance fee, as the 6 foot alligator was checking tickets at the beginning of the boardwalk.

 
Next onto Everglades City and a boat ride through the 10,000 Islands.  The culmination was our dinner at Triad, which specializes in Stone Crab claws.  Right off of their boats and to our table.  We even met the owner, Orlo, who told us he was the first supplier to Joe's Stone Crab in Miami Beach.  "Joe paid me in cash on delivery!"

After all of this exploring, and our friends departing, it was time to relax....or so we thought.  So we packed lunch and biked to Marco Island Beach from the campground.  Twelve miles each way isn't so bad....but it was 86 degrees .  And the road....no shoulder.  So tomorrow we really RELAX !!

Sarasota & Oscar Scherer State Park

When we were here two years ago, we said we had to come back.  What a great campground, along the South Creek in the town of Osprey.  Great campsites, lots of activities, and the best part is the Legacy Bike Trail which is accessed at the back of the park.  The Legacy is an 11 mile rail to trail ride that took us up to the Walmart for shopping, but better....south down to Venice.

But first we rented a car for a few days to check out downtown Sarasota and the barrier island in the Gulf.  First stop the Saturday Farmers Market; plus a bonus of a nice art show to wander.  Morey loved the food from the Empanada stand for a breakfast supplement!  And then of course we bought some veggies, and lunch at a deli.

Then off to Longboat key, checking out the beaches, then dinner at the Dry Dock Waterfront Grill where we enjoyed fresh Grouper and Stone Crabs.  Oh, and down here in Florida instead of remote controlled Seagulls, they have remote controlled Pelicans.  Push the correct button, and they land on the dock piling.....WOW.   

Biking on the Legacy Trail become a daily activity for us.  Especially when our friends, the Zamostnys joined us.  Trips included a ride down to the town of Venice, and of course, a stop in town for a raspberry soda! Then there were a number of bike rides down to different beaches, and exploration of the barrier islands.

Two rides to Casey Key Fish House, and Morey had to order a Tom Collins for old times sake.  And we passed the Venice Train Station many times, and stopped for a tour -  Built 80 years ago, recently restored, and for 30 years the winter home of the Barnum & Bailey Circus....Unloaded the rail cars right at the station; even the elephants!

Can't forget an unforgettable stop at Walts Fish Market, a fun and great eating fish place.  All in all, a great couple of weeks here.

Cinnamon Bay 2017 !!!

We first hit this beach in 1977, and now 40 years later we're back for the sixteenth time (we think).  For many years, not much changed....except everything got older (like us).  But now with a new concessionaire, changes are happening. 

We slept the first night in the cottages, so that we could wake up in the bright morning sun, stake out our campsite claim, and get settled for this three week trip.  This year with the ECO tents going up at all of our favorite bare sites, we had to wait until Mary could find us a place to hammer in our tent stakes.  Actually, no hammering this year, as we were given a pre-setup tent in the Group Site area where we camped on our very first trip.  Among neighbors who have been coming every January for years, it was like "back-to-home" for us.

Settled in, we checked out the new ECO tents, the expanded pavilion with the huge bar..


...but then we snorkeled at Cinnamon, Maho, and some new places including Brown Bay and the south side of Haul Over Bay.....nice and less destroyed coral. 




We took a 7 mile guided kayak paddle leaving from Cruz Bay, followed the north shore to Caneel Bay, then across to some islands.  Snorkeled at some much less disturbed areas; nice!

Another day we did some volunteer work for Friends of St. John at a former sugar plantation home.  With loppers and gloves we cleared jungle growth and learned all about Catch-N-Keep; the nasty little vines that grab hold of your skin, and don't let go.

Other highlights:  Many visits to the Joe's Rum Hut for happy hour, brunch at Miss Lucy's, Salt Pond and our first (finally) hike to Rams Head.  But mostly, we snorkeled, seeing some great fish, coral, turtles, and rays....and enjoyed this wonderful St. John island.

TRADITION !