Topsail SP Florida

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Most state, national and provincial parks we have used are always a little rustic, and usually established to protect some unique geographical or  historical feature. Topsail is not that. It appears to be a former private RV resort with shuttle service to the beach. Every site has a large level cement pad and full hook-ups.

Sites in this park are $45.00/night.

No tents here, just huge motor-homes and 5th wheel trailers.

This very nice rig pulled in this afternoon. Now that is travelling in style.  We will be here until Saturday then start our long haul west to Arizona.

Cool in Florida

We've enjoyed our stay at St. Josephs SP, Florida even though it has been too cool for sitting on the beach.

Cool days call for warm food and we both love hot chocolate cake fresh out of the oven. Delicious!

Banana chocolate muffins are also a treat we like. These ones are packed with all kinds of healthy ingredients. (walnuts, flax seed, dates, dark chocolate, whole wheat flour)

Friends gave us "Rummy-O" and we have been enjoying it sitting in our warm trailer.

Whether it's hot or cool, whether you are 8 or 80, time at the beach holds great memories.

Today we are back on the road, heading north to Topsail SP, Florida. If the internet connection is good I'll write again tomorrow.

St Joseph Peninsula State Park

Yesterday we used "Skype" to chat with everyone at Margaret and Andrew's. It was great to be a small part of the gathering even though we were 2,000 miles away.

Today we were up early, had breakfast then pulled out and headed south. I know, we are suppose to be moving west, but we heard about St. Joseph SP and wanted to see it for ourselves, so back we went.

This is a lovely park, right on the gulf, with long white sandy beaches and high sand dunes. Unfortunately it has turned cooler and windy so it's not much fun walking the beach.

If it warms up and the wind disappears then we will take our usual one hour hike along this beach.

The red flags are up because the surf is just too dangerous for swimming.

So we are hunkered down, inside our silver bullet, and Mary is baking a chocolate cake. Yes, we saw the desserts at Margaret's and since we couldn't have one decided to bake one.

Enjoy the day, we are staying warm and well fed.

Skype

Yesterday was Christmas and today we are looking forward to chatting with everyone on Skype.

A traditional Christmas breakfast for us is cinnamon buns. I know, not healthy but delicious and it's something my mom always did at Christmas. We didn't have cinnamon buns but we had delicious "French toast" covered with blueberries and pineapple, yogurt and then sprinkled with fresh nutmeg, scrumptious.
.

Mary cooked sweet potatoes, turkey breast, vegetables, squash, and pumpkin pie for dessert. Not bad meals prepared in our little trailer.

We also walked for an hour and a half on the beach so did burn up some of those calories.

Yes, Mary has learned to love dogs. This is Jenny an Australian sheep dog that is remarkably well behaved and belongs to Jean and Nancy from Georgia.

We had afternoon snacks on the beach behind their trailer. A lovely afternoon spent with new friends.

No Snow

MERRY CHRISTMAS from the gulf coast of Florida

The beach we walk every day........................

and the same beach looking towards St. Andrews state park. The white sand crunches under your feet; like walking on snow without the cold.

Merry Christmas

Wishing all our family, friends and readers a wonderful Christmas. May the celebration of the season and the time with family and friends be a blessing to you.

Good cheer sent to you all from St. Andrew's State Park, Florida.

           For unto us a child is born.......... on Christmas day.

        Guess who visited us at the park!

         Florida's version of a Christmas tree......... a palm tree no less =)

A white squirrel spotted..............must be a Christmas squirrel  .................... oh I am so excited!

Manatee State Park

Spent the last two days camping at Manatee Springs SP, Florida.

As you see we have the solar panels up, not because we need them but ..............

.................. these guys kept falling with a loud "WACK!" on our roof. I was afraid they might crack a solar panel so elevated them to reduce the impact.

We were told that we might see manatee swim up the river so hiked the board-walk out to the observation deck.

Overlooking the Suwannee River. You know the song .... "Way Down Upon the Suwannee River ...."

Can you see the 4 manatee just below the surface of the water? They are lazy creatures and move very slowly, preferring to float rather than swim.

Every few minutes the lift their nose and take in more air. This guy really came up for a look around.

Today we are moving further north to Ochlockonee River SP. If the internet connection is good I'll report again tomorrow.

Highway 41

Yesterday we drove north on highway 41 and 19. We left Oscar Scherer SP at 10:30 and arrived at Manatee Springs SP at 5:15, just before they closed for the day. We are set up on site 57 and will stay here for the day.

Campsites have water and electrical services and usually cost about $28.00/night here in Florida.

Mary's collection of shells from our beach walks on Tuesday.

Driving north on 41. We only stopped for lunch in the trailer and for a thousand traffic lights. Highway 41 takes you through every business section of every town you drive through heading north. It took us almost 7 hours to drive 175 miles. It was a lon..................g day.

Driving across a causeway and over a unique bridge you will see below.

Looks like this bridge is supported by these two tall columns, and the yellow cables.


Today we are going for a hike down to the river and hoping to see some manatees which sometimes swim up here to the fresh water springs.  


Wifi is very slow in this park so I might not report again until Saturday. Have a great day.

Beaches of Florida

Yesterday we decided to check out several beaches in the area. As the sun began to set we arrived at the #1 beach in Florida, Siesta Beach near Sarasota. This is a fabulous beach with powder soft sand almost as fine as talcum powder.  Thanks for the tip, Annie.

Mary likes to walk the beach, I like to sit and watch the parade go by.

The girls were dancing to impress the boys and the boys were throwing hoops to impress the girls.

There was even a crew doing a TV show called, "Sand Wars"

As the sun set, the crowds began to disperse .......................

but the younger generation stayed on to play.

Life is good on the beach.

Friends

Friends are like memories, you can go back and visit any time and start where you left off.

Pulling a 30 ft. trailer has its limitations and narrow streets are one so we parked at a mall and Brian and Lydia picked us up there.

This shot I really like. It was fired off quickly, little prep, but the lighting was right, the expression is happiness and the arm says love. Thanks for a great afternoon and more memories, Brian and Lydia.

Next stop; Oscar Scherer state park. We arrived at 5, got set up by 5:30 and it was pitch dark by 6 so we didn't get a chance to explore the park. That's first on our agenda this morning.

Pulled in beside this  "78" volkswagen camper ............. great memories. I wish I was as well preserved.
You can check her out at "http://floridavwrentals.com/ourfieet.html"

Looks rather small beside our silver rig. We will stay here today and move again on Wednesday.

Hope all is well in Toronto.

Thats for stopping by.

Family

One great thing about travelling in an RV is being able to visit friends and family along the way. Yesterday we spent a lovely day with my cousin Ann and her husband Ron in Fort Myers Florida.

Rom gave us a tour of their retirement complex.

That's their home across the channel.

Mary and Ann in the "back seat".

Checking out a rental property.

Supper on the docks......................... delicious.

Today we leave and drive 2 hours north to Oscar Scherer SP.