Christmas Getaway Part Deaux

So now it was Sunday morning and time to pull up stakes and move to the Prairie!   I was up at a reasonable 7:30 and made some coffee.  Stumbled outside and took a look around.  No particular hurry as it was only about an hour ten to the other camp ground. 

Time for pancakes and bacon!   We set up the kitchen on the picnic table, too cramped inside to cook and who wants bacon grease on the wallpaper?   Cooked the bacon and woke up the two teenagers around 8:30.   Finished breakfast and cleaned up.   Started packing up the coach and what not and we rolled out after a bike ride and a few other little activities. 

Hopped on I-95 for one exit (close to 10 miles) which took us more west than north and then off on a new section of Florida road, I have never driven.   The Martin Hwy, west to the BeeLine Highway.  Noted as a Florida Scenic Roadway, it was with canopy across the whole road for most of the way.

Hit the very familiar BeeLine just south of Okeechobee, FL and rolled into town for a stop at the grocery for a few odds and ends we had devoured over the past two days, as well as the all important bag-o-ice for the tropical drinks.

We had reserved a swamp buggy ride for 2PM and at 1:45 I was in the park but the rain had turned the gravel road into a puddle filled adventure.  I called the office and let them know we were minutes out, but they had pulled the plug on the buggy ride due to the rain (2nd time they have done this and the rain was fleeting at best).  Well on the plus side I saved some money.   We checked in and then proceeded to the site.

 The Pineapple and the Green Machine.

 The pics really don't convey how dirty she got.   I'll be washing her this weekend.

 Wait what's that?   Another yellow GMC????

 Our buddy Michael and his yellow 1973.  If you notice the windows are in different places as his is a side bath with the bed in the back and ours is a rear bath.   Totally different floor plans.

Probably the most horses I have ever seen out here.  At least 3 families had horses.

 The fraternal twins lined up.  The ranger asked if we were a convention.   I told him there were more lol!  Would love to have a rally and fill the whole place with GMCs.

 With supporting vehicles.   Mike did a test run towing his TOAD, Lucy had to leave for work early in the morning, so she joined late and left early....

 The amazing big sky views are what keep us coming back.

 One of the families had a pony and were using it to pull a cart around for their little ones.  Reminded me of Amish people wearing camo...

 As the girls get older, they seem to get lazier.  Didn't want to bike, so after lunch I demanded we take a hike. 

 Last trip, I let them pick and they picked a 5 mile walk and although it was February, it was HOT.   This time it was alot nicer (low 70s with wind) and I selected a 2.5 mile milk run.

 Naya found a deer path and the two of them took off across the prairie following it.  The hammock was about a third of a mile and they went most of the way out there until they were two dots in the grass.  I opted out as I had shorts and learned the hard way on a previous trip, the grass will cut you up a bit, if in shorts....  I waited it out patiently.

 Soon we were back on track and heading back toward the camping area.  I was looking forward to see if I could still see the tornado damage from 2 years ago.  I could only see a little bit, where 2 years ago the path of destruction was obvious.

 Very cool fungus growing out of an oak log.

 For as noisy as the girls were, they managed to sneak up on a pair of deer just off the trail.  This was the section of trail they complained that I was making them walk (a .2 mile loop vs. the shortcut).  We would have missed them otherwise.

 Their best Elmer Fudd impersonation stalking the deer.

 15 min later I'm positive these are the same two over by the ranger station.  You can see the statue of the extinct Carolina Parakeet on the left (last place ever seen).

 Amazing how fast the weather changes out here (and all of FL for that matter). 20 min before there were no clouds.

 10 min after the above shot.   20 min later it rained for 2 hours.   I watched it come all day on the radar.   After it passed we burned ALOT of wood and made a scrumptious dinner and the clouds cleared to a clear sky with the Milky Way and tons of stars out.     The girls went out and fell asleep in the field.  I went and got them as it was going down to about 50 that night.  I woke up at 7AM to 55 inside the coach.

 Rousted the girls by 9 and we were packed and rolling by 10 according to plan.  Here is my Cousin Eddie pic for Christmas Eve.

 The gravel road not looking too bad.   in the summer it can get pretty muddy.  I always hum this song to myself driving down it.

 Back in WPB and a stop off for some last minute shopping.   I got an Elvis Blue Hawaii Ornament and a new Hawaiian shirt, WIN!

If you zoom in (click on it) you can see the Elvis ornament and about 5 o'clock off the fish on the wall.   Santa came but didn't get crazy this year as we already have most of what we need...
Splurged on a real tree this year though.  I smells great.

Hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Getaway in the Pineapple

This fall has been busy with our daughter's school, my work, and the circus school.   There was a Christmas Parade in early December, but that one should show up soon under separate cover....

Realizing the coach was not being used much, about a month ago I looked into the pre Christmas weekend for a quick trip to the Prairie (KPSPP) that we love so much.    I looked and both Friday and Sat nights, the park was sold out.    Having off the days before the holiday, I looked at Sunday and Monday nights and they were wide open so I booked them.   I put the word out to my friends and Mike with the other yellow 23' was interested (but I didn't know he booked it until the day before we arrived).   

Work went on and Thanksgiving passed.   I had so upheaval at work and just wasn't feeling in the 'holiday spirit' this year.    Last week decided I wanted to bail out of town with the 6 days I had off in a row and just decompress.   I looked at the Prairie and it was not only sold out for Fri&Sat, but also now for Sun and Mon! I looked at Johnathan Dickinson too, and there was one spot left!   I tried to call Lucy, she didn't pick up, thought screw it and tried to book, but bam it was gone.  Local knowledge being the key to success, I looked at Phipps Park in Martin County.   Much lesser known, but also fewer spots with power.   Magically, they had several available for Friday and Sat, so I booked in right away.

Last time we were there was also last minute a few years ago for my birthday.

We arrived around 3:30 on Friday afternoon and had a nice chat with the ranger, who asked alot of questions about the coach.   At first our spot seemed pretty tight on the driver's side as the neighbor was tight up against the power pedestal.  This really was a non-issue as they didn't seem to be staying in the coach at all.   Never saw a person go in or come out the whole two days we were there, although I did see a couple of cars in front of it for a couple hours on Sat.   Friday night the other side was open.

Last time we were here, we were in roughly the same spot.   The water was of course there (waterway was built in the early 1920s), but there was a steep bank and lots of trees/bushes, so you couldn't even see the water from the site.   They have been busy with this nice promenade and wall.

Shot from the dock on the waterway.  Plenty of room to tie up a few boats if you brought one along with your RV.

. Shot of the dock from the previous pic up from the campsite.  It was nice to sit by the edge and enjoy the view.   Weather was iffy, so not alot of boat traffic this time.

First fire of the trip, looking over at the lock.

We were the only site with Christmas lights up. 

Hugo, Freddy, Orange Bird, and Tommy were bored with the girls playing card games, so we had a rum tasting.   Organge Bird liked the Bumbu a little too much and got a bit sloppy later....

On the quest to improve the camping experience, this was the first of the permanent tents they are erecting. They had decks for about 15-20 of them.   Biggest issue I see is having to haul your stuff out to them from the car, but for beginners it's a great idea.   Tent, table and grille all set up for you.

 Hard to see here but the next morning had rainbows on tap for a few hours.  The girls slept right through them.

Shot of the lineup with a zoom from the lock.  Man the coach looks small.  you can see the passenger side neighbor has already arrived.  They were right next door at the Army Corp Campground at the lock (8 spots).

 The lock in action.   Funny I saw a mullet get pulled through and jump around alot...

 Boat traversing the lock.   This kid and his Dad were nice and I learned from them that they finished the updates to the park recently with the wall and walkway.

 If you squint, you can see the yellow coach back there.   Shot from the top of the lock gate looking back east toward out campground.

 North side looking back toward the lock.  These flood control gates help regulate the level in Lake Okeechobee.

 On the north side there is a nature trail that is part of the Army Corp land.   It's an easy 30-45 min walk.

 DIrectly across from our campsite on the nature trail.

 Gopher Tortoise den.

 This sign made me laugh out loud.

 Apparently the wood has been there awhile.

I guess the firepit is all for show here.   I guess they only allow supervised fires here....(part of the Corp property)

 Random Heron

 Lucy is an avid Geo Cacher.  I'm only moderately interested.  After digging around for 20 min (and seeing a bunny), I found this one.

 5 min and about 50 yards away I found another one.  This was a micro cache.   It was a 35mm film canister.   I was the first to sign it.

 Time to roast up the fire for some dinner!

 After dinner entertainment was Fantasia.  I wanted to watch Rudolph but the DVD wouldn't play on my laptop :( 

 Tried to get a flash pic, but it's washed out....

 You can see the coach stripes in the pics...the movie is in the older 4;3 format.  the newere 16:9 works better on the available space.

Discussing the finer points of the animation...  Soon it was bedtime...