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.
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