Lake Kissimmee State Park - Lake Wales, FL (2)

So first of all the accent is on the second syllable Kis-SI-mmee.  Second of all it’s no where near Disney Land, and third of all it’s a long walk to the water.

We did a short little jaunt with Drex to the observation tower.  He was all over going up...going down...not so much.  Then we did the Buster Island Trail... 6.7 mile loop... with 85% humidity in 80 degrees.  But then again, I think that was precisely the reason we came to Florida in the middle of January.  We got back to the campsite about 3:00, sat outside, without really moving for 3 hours till dinner (I think I got up once to get some bug candles).

With the nice weather, I took the opportunity to bathe the dog.  It’s been too cold at home.  We forgot the dog shampoo, so we had to use people soap...he’s nicely moisturized and smells like a spring rain!

Tomorrow, Bok Gardens, and then to Manatee State Park.

Lake Kissimmee State Park - Lake Wales, FL

St. Augustine Lighthouse

Woke up this morning to birds singing...still cool, but nice.  Before leaving St Augustine, “we need to do something besides watching football.” (NFC/AFC championships)  Well there’s the fort, but we are in Goverment Shutdown, so NO.  There’s a winery, but they make sherry and port, so NO.  There’s a lighthouse with 219 steps, YES. It was foggy and the iron spiral staircase was wet.  Climbing the lighthouse is apparently the morning ritual for the local fitness walkers, climbing with weights you have packed onto your body, either externally or internally.  The sound of dozens of squeaky sneakers going up and down the stairs is a little unnerving, but we made it to the top for a lovely foggy view (fortunately, taking in the view is not part of the fitness regimen).

My next idea, since it was a short day, was lunch in a beach front state park.  The park we found was slightly off the beaten path.  Actually, so far off the beaten path, we had to turn around.  So my next idea was a county park on the ocean.  Deb did some investigation and said the only thing was Daytona Beach,  but all I heard was beach.  About an hour later, we did find a county park in the middle of 30 story apartment buildings, with parking (no oversized vehicles).  I asked Deb if she thought we were oversized...it didn’t even merit a response.  While making root vegetable soup...not sure why since by now it was over 80, the local park patrol came up to the RV.  With trepidation, and over 42 potential excuses, I went to beg for mercy...but she said, “Oh, your fine there!” She was just using the RV as some shade.

Ormond Beach

I was getting sleepy driving, after the soup...asked Deb to drive...fell asleep and woke in a construction zone in downtown Orlando.  After about an hour of white knuckle driving, Deb was ready for me to take over (switched right in the middle of I-4 while stopped for an accident.  The rest of the drive was uneventful.  After deciding to do a few extra things, and getting stopped for a few traffic jams, we pulled into our site just at 5:00.  Our campground is in the middle of the lakes area of Florida...there is absolutely nothing for miles from here.

Anastasia State Park - St Augustine, FL

Anastasia SP Beach

We first saw this State Park in 2014.  We checked to see if it had walk-in vacancies...NO.  I tried to reserve two months in advance for the next time we went to Florida...NO.  This time six months in advance, I got one night in the middle of the week in the farthest campsite from the beach (over a mile away).  I asked if there was a chance of a second night, he said “sure, let me check!”  Let’s see 24’....NO.  It’s still a little funky from the hurricanes and the beaches were about 65 degrees. (No dogs allowed).  We walked the beach a little, and then went to find our campsite, hooked up the TV and watched the Patriots take out the local Jacksonville Jaguars.

Tomorrow it’s off to Kissimmee.

Colleton State Park - Walterboro, SC

 In the fall, I got an e-mail that our reservation at Hunting Island was not going to happen.  Hurricane Irma tossed everything and then Hurricane Maria washed it all away.  So pick a place...any place as long as it’s still in South Carolina.  I picked site 9 at Colleton State Park...pig in a poke, as they say.  Oh yeah, South Carolina is one of those, “ya gotta reserve 2 nights minimum.”  The plan was to get there on day two but the trip from Lumberton was so short that we got there for lunch.  As we are pulling into this gorgeous site sitting high over the Edisto River (the longest black water river in the world...I have no idea what I’m talking about....just what I learned from Prof Google.). The camp host comes charging over...seems everyone is trying to take the spot but it’s reserved, and has been for a day.  I apologize for being a little late and blamed the weather.  This is a tiny little park that is along the 63 mile canoe and kayak route.  Nice place to overnight if you don’t want to pull your canoe up on a sandbar and sleep with the alligators, we didn’t want to.  A ways up the river (that’s almost South Carolina speak) they got overnight accommodations in treehouses, over the water.  If alligators can’t climb, we might check them out sometime (I will first check with Prof Google about the alligators).

We finally got the bugs off the RV from the fall, Deb washed the windows and we are ready for a week in warmer Florida.

Comfort Suites - Lumberton, NC

The plan, there is always a plan, was to drive south in the middle of January, spend one night in a hotel, because it would still be too far north to stay comfortably in a campground.  We left home with water, sort of...we had water in the RV but couldn't fill the tanks and the water pump was still frozen. By the time we got to the North Carolina border, we were able to add some water and run the pump.  So it looks as though we should be okay.  It’s suppose to get just a little under freezing tonight but we have the heat on.

Comfort Suites is nice. They even have a little cover on the sofa for the dog.  He loves it, spent the whole night there.  Within walking distance of the hotel is every fast food place I have ever heard of.  I started reading them off to Deb.  She stopped me at Outback.  Turned out to be right next door.  We are stopping here again on the return trip.  Guess I know where Drex and Deb will be.

We were going to a favorite spot on the ocean - Hunting Island but it was destroyed in one of the hurricanes, so we had to select a different place.  Nothing exciting but at least a little further south.

Pipestem Resort, Pipestem, WV

Cross Keys Vineyard

After a quick breakfast, we leave our Loft Mountain hideaway in search of...internet.  You’d figure that in an overlook where you can see the entire Shenandoah Valley, you would be able to get good internet...and you would be right!  E-mail and all those other commitments of modern day living completed, we make our way down into the valley to Cross Keys Vineyard.  We went here last year and had a totally memorable wine tasting and lunch.  Being as it was only 11:00, we passed on the wine tasting, but bought some of our favorite wines to drink on special occasions.  We had lunch at the bistro...trying to keep it light, so we could enjoy dinner at Pipestem, assuming that we actually get there.  We, of course, followed the pairing advice on the menu.   Deb had the Chardonnay with her Caesar Salad and I had the Joy Red with my Caprese Flatbread.  Somehow, I think we will be back.

By 4:00 we make it to Pipestem Resort State Park.  Since it’s the last camping stop of the year and we are here for two night, we go big time...full hook-ups... it’s Friday Night - date night.  Of course, our house is also our car, so we drove to the lodge for dinner.  That means we can walk home.. The restaurant was packed...cause it was all-u-can-eat seafood night for $29.99.  Really...300 miles into the heart of the Appalacian Mountains for seafood...nope...chicken and beef for us.  But it was fun, and we got do so some serious people watching.

Saturday had the requisite bacon & eggs and then off to do some exploring.  Pipestem is located on the top of a thousand foot precipice over looking the Bluestone River.  There is a small lodge at the bottom with a gourmet restaurant that is accessible by a small gondola ride. For an extra $2 you can bring your pet.  Drex has been on cable cars before but this might just as well have been a rollercoaster ride at 6 Flags!  Ears back, eyes out, tongue to the floor kind of ride.  I don’t have the heart to tell him, it’s the only way back!  We broke up the rides with a nice long stroll along the river with plenty of chipmunks.

After lunch Deb and I explored the trails which were obscured by leaves.  We had to pull out all the stops on our trail scouting talents to find our way.  Back to the campsite, where it’s always some time after five, Deb prepares a delicious candelite marinera dinner.  Yup, we still call it camping because after dinner we had our final campfire of the year.  Deb took a video of it so she could have some virtual campfires later.

Tomorrow, it’s up early and off for home.

Loft Mountain - Shenandoah National Park

No reservations, no plans, just a weather forecast of four gorgeous days in October.  The wonders of the internet...I can read my previous blogs and realize that this is not the first or even the second time we have done this, but that doesn’t make it any less enjoyable.  For the last few years, I have been looking at Pipestem Resort in West Virginia as a fall destination. With two hours of packing, etc, we are off.  By lunch time, we decide that Pipestem is a stretch for one day, so regroup to plan B...Big Meadow in Shenandoah National Park, turning onto Skyline Drive, we see a sign that Big Meadow Campground is full...Plan C...Loft Mountain Campground which is actually on the top of Loft Mountain.  Pretty nice place, with the only internet access in the amphitheater.  The place was hopping! Tomorrow...PipeStem...maybe