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OTRA15 · 01-28-2019, 04:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by centennialman

. . .
....margaritas and sunshine are just down the road.

Hee Haw!

”Keep on truckin’ Bob . . . “

CruizinDux · 01-28-2019, 04:30 PM

We have been at Grand Lake RV Resort N of Ocala, FL for 5 days and have one more before departure. There are a lot of 6 monthers from Michigan etc that lease a space, often eave their rig here and come down for the winter. This is also the most dog friendly place we have experienced. We are ahead of schedule and since it was so cold on the FL panhandle, where we expected to spend more time, Grand Lake has worked out well for us. This is a great place to relax, taste some BBQ https://www.facebook.com/FatBoysBBQOcala/ had lunch there today...the sheriff likes it too. It was outstanding. Also close to the coast as Peter mentioned and a bir sanctuary just N of us.

Being from CA I'm used to big oaks or thought I knew what big was. We stayed at Big Oak RV Park in Tallahassee and their was one across from us. Certainly a grand dame.

Note sure how to post pics in between text but they'll be in order.

There is a huge one across from us at Grand Lake on the adjacent farm. Another big boy.

Had a great spot on Navarre, FL with a great spot that backed up tot he beach...and the 35 knot winds.

Dropped by Seaside, since it was included in a book we have called Parallel Utopias, which compared Seaside to Sea Ranch, CA. our home before EUG for almost 20 years. A great walk-able design (Seaside) Sea Ranch was also walk-able but generally via the 10 mile long bluff edge trail

Followed the coast to Panama City and turned N to I10 (which by the way except for the area around Beaumont TX, is in great shape) The devastation PC after Michael last October was incredible. Still lots of infrastructure to do. Clearing tree debris will be a lifetime assignment.

I also included a picture of our site at AVI Casino Resort where we stayed on our way to PHO. We had also stayed there last year...same spot I think. Right at the 17th green/18th tee. Quite the cocktail location. I'm thinking $32 maybe. Space 721.

subfan1 · 01-28-2019, 08:12 PM

Great job Bob, love the pictures. Let me know if you’ll be coming up the east coast of Florida, I have some camping suggestions if you’d like. I worked at the Cape on many launch campaigns over the years there. Looks and sounds like you guys are enjoying your trip!

OTRA15 · 01-28-2019, 09:45 PM

Thanks for the update and great photos!

Peter

CruizinDux · 01-29-2019, 09:24 AM

Jose, thanks for the offer. Much appreciated. Yes we are NB on the east side.. Thinking of one nt Pompano Beach area, then 2x Coco Bch area....need to stock upon that Indian River GF juice, fresh squeezed from a road side stands...goes so well with the Tito's. Next stop north somewhere. We're heading for Atl/Suwanee for relatives and have 7 travel days from Boyd's Key West. Hoping the last day is a short one for early arrival...resies at Shoal Creek CG nearby Suwanee.
I

Woo hoo...feels like 69 degrees today...65 yesterday. That after 36 straight hours of rain. Nothing but blue sky do I see

Bob

Quote:

Originally Posted by subfan1

Great job Bob, love the pictures. Let me know if you’ll be coming up the east coast of Florida, I have some camping suggestions if you’d like. I worked at the Cape on many launch campaigns over the years there. Looks and sounds like you guys are enjoying your trip!

subfan1 · 01-29-2019, 09:31 PM

Great!
I recommend Jetty Park in Port Canaveral which is just north of Cocoa Beach. You may be lucky and view a rocket launch. Take a look at the local newspaper and at the top right hand corner of the paper, they indicate the next launch. All you have to do is walk out to the beach and look to the north which is Canaveral Air Force station.

Native143 · 01-30-2019, 08:45 AM

Hi Bob, Glad to see you're enjoying Florida, albeit the lousy weather. But it goes away quickly. One more recommendation for east coast return up to Melbourne,FL. Land Yacht Harbor, an Airstream park near Canaveral. Also, I give up, what is PHO? I've been sort of following you too, Am in Ocean Springs, MS now. Gulf Islands National Seashore park just east of Biloxi. I guess we never crossed paths. Ready to head home to south Florida where it is a bit warmer!!! Safe travels.

judy

(don't know why pix are always upside down)

OTRA15 · 01-30-2019, 10:54 AM

No expert on attachments, but I think, if you re-size the image, sometimes it posts correctly.

PHO is short for Phoenix?

Peter

CruizinDux · 01-30-2019, 04:01 PM

Judy, albiet !ousey weather...still better than the low 30's in tracktown. We planned to spend more time in the walton beach ~ Gulfport section but decided to head s and maybe warmer weather. However loved the ocean springs area and will be back for sure!

Peter is correct...PHO is Phoenix. I'll checkout the Land Yacht Harbor as we want to spend a few days in cocco bch area. We've done the tour at the cape a number maybe 10 years ago?? and want to explore the area more before jetting up to Suwanee Ga.

Day 29...60+ to go

We're in Sarasota for 3 days, still killing time for fiesta key, tho we have resies at the KOA at Marco Island.

Huge place...sun-n-fun...close to town for grocery shopping...but a little too much going on here. Really liked Grand Lake RV, not too far to town (about 15mi)...lots of activity but all !ocal. Like the next door neighbor said...even the unfriendly people are friendly...plus a very dog friendly place.

Sounds like you've having a great trip...happy trails.

Bob

[QUOTE=Native143;2204855]Hi Bob, Glad to see you're enjoying Florida, albeit the lousy weather. But it goes away quickly. One more recommendation for east coast return up to Melbourne,FL. Land Yacht Harbor, an Airstream park near Canaveral. Also, I give up, what is PHO? I've been sort of following you too, Am in Ocean Springs, MS now. Gulf Islands National Seashore park just east of Biloxi. I guess we never crossed paths. Ready to head home to south Florida where it is a bit warmer!!! Safe travels.

judy

(don't know why pix are always upside down)[/QUOTE]

Jarrod White · 01-31-2019, 08:18 AM

I spent a night at Sun and Fun one my way back from the keys last month. It is huge. But it was fun to swim in the huge heated outdoor pool on New Year’s Day.

CruizinDux · 02-01-2019, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jarrod White

I spent a night at Sun and Fun one my way back from the keys last month. It is huge. But it was fun to swim in the huge heated outdoor pool on New Year’s Day.

Totally agree....and they had a poolside concert last night that we could hear from our unit

Hit 77 today and I'm not talking mph. Finally shorts and flops!

Yesterday afternoon went to the Ringling Museum. Fantastic!...highly recommends it. A lot if history re R Bros...PT Barnum et. al. Didn't realize the first form of circuses in the us were in the late 1700. The wagons were awesome and the miniature layout of the whole circus delio was unbelievable.

Today we checked out the historic Sarasota downtown... had a wonderful lunch and a great time checking out the shops etc. All very walk-able Planned to go to the botanical gardens ( https://selby.org/ ) a few blocks away and Siesta Key but opted to cut things short when my wife received unexpected sad news re a friend.

Tomorrow Marco Island KOA for a night before heading to Fiesta Key.

bob

OTRA15 · 02-02-2019, 04:03 AM

Thanks for the update . . . a great area you are in! 77 and flip flops sounds good. 2 F overnight here . . . no flip flops!

Sorry for the sad news . . . tough to deal with on the road . . .

Have fun on Marco Island . . . a photo or two would be welcome . . . if you have time.

Happy Trails!

Peter

CruizinDux · 02-02-2019, 02:39 PM

I'll bet. I've been watching the weather. Eug isn't far behind.

It was a nice drive s to naples and the koa for a'noniter works fine. Chatted with an as 30 owner from mich...seems everybody has mich p!ates....it must be frozen solid.

Nice koa...w/e onlybut we have the sat/wallycor our news fix and have set up the bbq. Small, campers next door are from tex just s of college station,
But have a son sho is a dentist in paso robles where wife grew up and her bro had a vet practice for years...not to mention numerous trips to their zin festival.
I guess the 6 degrees of separation applies.

Time to head in as the noseeum bugs are making their presence known. I'lltry to post some pics from laptop tonight.

84 and cloudy..over and out for awhile.

B

Almost forgot...water snakes in gulf shores...gaters...well seemingly everywhere...saw black panther signs on the road in. Permanent signs as opposed to recent sightings. Full disclosure at checkin...within the last 75 days..in the park......ooooooookay. Thanks for the heads up.

CruizinDux · 02-02-2019, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by subfan1

Great job Bob, love the pictures. Let me know if you’ll be coming up the east coast of Florida, I have some camping suggestions if you’d like. I worked at the Cape on many launch campaigns over the years there. Looks and sounds like you guys are enjoying your trip!

Just a reminder...love some of your recommendations.

I checked out the landyacht parks rec by native but we have 2 dogs.

As an aside...we cruised Punta Gorda on the way down i75... Very nice. Love to return to that town/area.

Grabbed some nice sunset pics tonight...just waiting for my turn on the laptop.

CruizinDux · 02-02-2019, 05:16 PM

The first image was at Grand Lake RV resort just N of Oclala FL. Sites were deep...maybe 60ft and 45ft wide. No tight rows here.

The rest were today's stop, Marco Island KOA outside of Naples. Actually a nice relaxing place and a great lay up before heading to Fiesta Key. We plan to revisit the area on another trip to explore Punta Gorda down to Naples. Looks like a nice section of coast.

Nice sunsets too.

Note the panther habitat behind the site....meoowwwww

Like my first solo back packing trip on the Tahoe Yosemite trail camped at Brown Bear Pass...I heard EVERY twig that broke that night!

B

OTRA15 · 02-03-2019, 02:09 PM

Thanks for the photos and update. Have a great drive south of Miami, the color of the water is amazing, plus great sunrises and sunsets!

Peter

lewster · 02-03-2019, 03:19 PM

Hey Dux,

I'm in Naples for the season! Why not drop me a line while you're here.

CruizinDux · 02-04-2019, 05:42 AM

Rats. I always think of you in the context of hood river (snow event apparently in Eug) so you dodged that front. Good time to be Fl. I'll make note for the next Fl trip as we've moved on from Naples to Fiesta Key and will be N bound east coast to Atl/Carolinas from Key West, our next stop.

Also, I'll keep hood river in mind as that is our normal range. I'd love to meet you sometime!

B

Quote:

Originally Posted by lewster

Hey Dux,

I'm in Naples for the season! Why not drop me a line while you're here.

lewster · 02-04-2019, 03:11 PM

Sounds cool! We'll plan on it..........

Travel safe.

CruizinDux · 02-04-2019, 07:06 PM

Settled in at Fiesta Key ( https://www.thousandtrails.com/flori...key-rv-resort/ ) I can now understand the draw of the keys. This place is a little pricier (IMO) but there seems to be plenty of room between units and a great location. It also has a great restaurant/Tiki Bar on the point (see 3rd image)

Checked out the Hurricane memorial and it explained a lot abut the history of the keys re our veterans, jobs, the great depression and lastly hurricanes (specifically the 35' one). http://www.keyshistory.org/hurrmemorial.html

Getting off track a bit....this thread's name was inspired by the movie "it's a wonderful live and the Sam Wainwright quote...!Florida...Hee Haw. When we toured the Ringling Museum in Sarasota, I Noticed in a display that James Stewart (George Bailey) and Gloria Grahame (Violet) both starred in the movie..."The greatest show on earth". When driving thru Islamorada, we say " Martini's Liquor and wine" another reference to the movie's bar owner. Too many signs....something is sure pointing us to Florida! (Hee Haw)

Tomorrow is Boyd's in Key West. It was foggy this am so still hoping to see a sunrise and sunset in the same town.