2021 Winter RV Trip
After last winter with nearly 3-month work stint in Los Angeles, CA we could not fathom being in the north for the winter, so starting out from Charleston, SC we picked up the RV and headed south to the warmer weather.
Deciding that we would be more stationary than ever before, we bring the pickup truck along as transportation. Having the trailer with motorcycle, kayaks too, it’s quite a sight to see the Rialta towing a trailer and the truck following along. Of course, we could have just used the motorcycle to get around, for Florida is relatively warm this time of year, but I wanted to do some kayaking while Tanya is working, and it made it easier to have the truck along leaving Tanya in the RV while I go kayaking.
Stopping overnight in Gainesville, FL at an Elks Lodge, there was a nice 3-mile trail along a “seeping reek” - of course I just learned that term from the signage posted along the trail. It means water from the canopy forest seeps to the lowest point and creates a creek. On this particular trail, the creek was dry at first and grew rather quickly into a slow flowing clear stream. Other signage pointed out some of the flora and fauna in this environment.
Texting with friends we discover that Joy and Leesa are nearby around Orlando, so we head over there to reconnect. Their campground was booked full, so Leesa suggested other county parks in the area, and we found a site within 10 miles of them. Here it was helpful to have the truck along so we could shuttle back and forth and visit.
Joy had changed RVs since we had seen her last and of course a tour was in order. Very nice! Beautiful, comfortable, and for Joy most of all it is reliable. Her previous RV had many complications, some due to its age (20 years old) and some just seemed to be a lemon. This new coach surely gives her peace of mind while traveling.
Leesa has the same RV we have, and I had the opportunity to help her with a few “honey do’s”. Always want to stay busy – thank you Leesa.
Joy shared an app that showed when rocket launches were going to occur, and we downloaded the app and went off to see a launch at Cape Canaveral. There is a campground for NASA and military that looks over the water to the launch pads and we were lucky to get a waterfront site for an outstanding view.
The launch went off as planned on Thursday. Tanya could not stop saying WOW, WOW, WOW! I too was extremely impressed, for the previous launches I have seen were not as close or as impressive. It seemed 2-3 minutes after the launch the sound reached us as a loud roar! Having the app running at the same time as watching it live made for an interesting combination.
We spent nearly 2 weeks there enjoying the warm weather and water view. Every day there were large flocks of blackbirds moving from their sleeping area to feeding area and back again in the evening. All day long the pelicans would cruise just off the surface of the water then rise up and plop down to catch their prey. Have you ever watched how birds hunt in different fashions? Osprey dive from high up into the water. Seagulls hover over the water then swoop down to scoop up their meal. Several times porpoise was feeding right in front of the campground.
Here is a picture of porpoise feeding in the sunrise
I went out one morning to get a breakfast (occasionally I get tired of my own cooking) and saw a large digital colorful road sign for the Moose Lodge offering breakfast. I decided I would see if they would let me in for breakfast and maybe learn something about the Moose. I am already an Elks member, for I discovered some time ago that many of them have campsites, especially in the west.
Long story short, I am now a Moose Member as well and looking online they are really strong in the east where I need cheaper camping. I also had one excellent breakfast! Later on, when Leesa visited, I shared with her about Moose and she went on over and signed up also.
For most of one-week Leesa came over and joined us as our guest. Her work schedule was mostly flexible, and she had time during the day to go kayaking with me. She also helped me on my “honey do’s”, I had a rack on the trailer built to carry the kayaks. We cut 10” off the legs of the rack and lowered it to the base. So, now the kayaks are easier to load and unload, the trailer looks more proportional to its size and there is still enough room to drive the motorcycle onto the trailer under the kayaks. We bolted the rack legs to the original rack legs so that when we travel west, we can remove the rack and kayaks are stored on top. I usually leave the kayaks at my son’s on sawhorses, now they will remain on their own rack in the kayak saddles. After we finished the rack, Leesa and I took a motorcycle ride. It was fun!
Tanya’s office with a water view was heaven to her. Every day, she would go out of the RV to sit at the picnic table overlooking the water, and when the sun was behind her in the afternoon she would sit on the other side of the table and view the people in the campground relaxing and puttering around. What a wonderful workspace! Almost every day, a great blue heron visited us – he “parked” himself on the rocks near the water and sat there for quite some time. Tom saw him early in the morning when it was still dark, and the heron would also be there in late afternoons. One evening, Tanya was sitting inside the RV, catching up with work after dinner. It was very nice and quiet, and suddenly, she heard a very loud “Craaaack!” near the window. She almost jumped off the chair! The heron must have walked over toward the RV, I guess he wanted to say hi to her, or maybe remind her that the working hours were over 😊.
That is Kennedy Space Center across the water where we watched the missile launch.
Crossing back across Florida to the western side so I can attend a motorcycle safety course, we camped at a Moose Lodge in Homosassa. Hey, using that membership already!
Later that week Joy and Leesa stopped by on their way west to spend the rest of the winter in Texas. We got together for a meal and had such fun! We had communicated with Joy many times in the past and talked about caravanning and now having spent time with Leesa as well, they both offered for us to come along their trip west.
Both Joy and Leesa work remotely from their RV just as Tanya does, so scheduling travel and tourist things would not be too difficult. They both are a lot of fun to be around, enjoying much of the same things we do such as tourism, kayaking, hiking.
What a temptation, it would be fun to caravan with others and we really wanted to go along. Choices of expecting work, wanting more Florida kayaking, and snorkeling time, we thought to join them later in the spring.
Turns out the next day I got a job offer for Chicago and another for NC, opting for NC for I love working with this company and it had a hard stop of 2 months which makes it perfect for us to attend Rialta Spring Rally in Florida then go join Joy and Leesa in Utah’s National Parks!
One night, Tanya and I had a couple of drinks and danced outside in front of the RV. Tanya’s little Bluetooth speaker worked great out here. We had spoken about doing this many times and only once with grandson Zach, when he travelled along with us, had we done this. Wow, we must do this more often, such a great time.
Time for Tanya to head out and spend time with Maria for her birthday, our little girl is growing up, she is an adult already, it’s hard to believe how fast the time flies!
I received a call for work starting February 1, so I have one week left of kayaking in Florida. Santa Fe Springs near High Springs, Florida is my destination.
The campground on the Santa Fe River was full (once again I did not realize this was a weekend) so I ended up at another Moose Lodge in Lake City. It’s kind of relaxing, I took the laptop into the lodge and had a beer while catching up on correspondence and the journal. Occasional chats with the locals, it was nice to talk to others.
On Sunday, I parked at the kayak rental place near High Springs Florida so that I could get a shuttle back once I reached my destination. The Santa Fe River is a beautiful river. Over 100 springs along its course and I hit only 12 springs in the 8 miles I paddled. I did see a place where the river went underground, a part of the river that is. This was a little disconcerting; I was not expecting it at all and as I went along, I saw a cutback along the bank and paddled over to check it out. I soon realized that it was not a spring flowing from the cutback - the water was flowing into the cutback! Once I realized that I got a little fearful - would it suck me in? I did not go in for a close look, staying back 30 feet out of the current. Watching the water flow into the pool and swirl and mix in one corner to then disappear. WOW!
FYI, on the map there is a place upstream where the entire river goes underground for 3 miles. I did not see this, but I think I will try to paddle upstream to where it comes out of the ground near O’Leno State Park.
On Monday I launched from the campsite and paddled to Ginny Springs. This is a private campground and springs requiring higher fees to enter. As I arrived at Ginny Springs, divers were coming up out of the underwater caves. They had dual tanks on and as I listened to them, I learned that they were using mixed gas tanks? Why? As far as I know, only deep divers required mixed gas. Something I will have to research when I get stronger internet.
Altogether I saw 2 otters, 2 owls, many white egret, one blue heron, numerous black and brown vultures roosting. Nice on only an 8-mile run! Very clear water at times near a spring, and it is interesting to watch the mixing of clear spring water and the tannin-stained clear water of the Santa Fe River.
This campground had many people that I was able to connect with, chatting with 5 different couples over RV related or travel related topics is something I realized I missed. One fellow had a van he converted, quite interesting all the things he came up with. Solar charging system, a bed that folds up into an ottoman for seating. He had a lot of stories about his home where he was quite innovative as well.
3 couples that are brand new to RVing, hearing them talk about their particular RV and what they like about it - this leads to suggestions concerning additions they may like, helpful apps, places to go and see. One couple’s brand-new RV had an awning that encompassed a horizontal bar midway down the extension. This allowed the awning to be nearly flat for the first 5-6’ then pitch down. I really liked this arrangement.
Several more experienced RV'rs who, like myself, found a way to bring all their toys along - either a motorcycle or electric bike, and kayaks are the most common. One 35’ storage trailer was converted to an RV with extensive solar, bath, skylights. I was particularly impressed with his electrical set up.
Chatting with Laurie, another new RV'r, she told me another spring nearby, quite unique from the others. It is in an underground cave! It is called Devils Den. Laurie showed me a YouTube video of it and we both decided to go see it. On the way there she wanted to pick up a solar panel from Harbor Freight if I would agree to install it for her. OK, always enjoying something to do. We took my RV and Laurie saw my backup camera - and now wanted to have one of those too 😊. After a couple of stops to get the panels and the camera, we finally get to Devils Den. This is a private enterprise, and the price varies if you need to rent snorkel equipment. We both had our own and they also accepted a military discount, so the price went from $27 to $5! Whooee what a deal. I wanted to get a picture of Devil’s Den and was waiting for a moment when there was nobody there, but there was a woman who kept making selfies again and again, so I got tired of waiting and ended up taking a picture with the “selfie woman” in it! 😊
Alas, it’s time to head back to work. I stop in South Carolina for grandson Zach’s graduation early from high school and he selects Sake House – Japanese Sushi and Hibachi for his special day’s celebration. Mom and Dad of course were there along with Zach’s lady friend. I’m so glad I have the opportunity to share in their lives at important events.
Today I head to North Carolina and Tanya will join me while I work 2 months at the local hospital. Following this work stint, we will attend the Rialta Rally in Alabama and begin the spring/summer travel season.
