Travel to Florida

1^st Dec – South Carolina

After spending a fantastic four weeks with Louise we left Oxford, NC to drive 280 miles into South Carolina.  Louise’s dog Tazer, volunteered to accompany us and made himself comfortable in the RV as we were getting ready to leave.

We appeared to have a slow puncture in one of the RV tyres so we made a detour via a local tyre garage but fortunately it was only a leaking valve.  (A similar problem in Yuma last year but on a different tyre).

At the end of the drive we found a campsite on Lake Marion, it was a beautiful site for an RV park but the long term residence were not very tidy with their sites, it gave a bad overall appearance, but as it was right on the side of the lake it meant Paul could get in a couple of hours fishing before the sun set.  We knew we were in the southern states now as we were surrounded by trees with Spanish moss hanging from them.

2^nd Dec – Through Georgia

The following day we continued on the I-95 all the way through Georgia and into Florida.  The temperature gradually rose to a balmy 23C and we were back into T-shirts.

We camped in St Augustine and thought to drive the 3 miles into the town that evening to see the beach and the town’s Xmas lights.  Unfortunately the re-occurring battery problem with car raised its head again.  This was the 5^th time the battery was flat so we stayed in the RV for the evening; which was probably just as well as it started to rain.

3^rd Dec – Daytona Beach

We bought and fitted a new car battery and then continued on the I-95 to Port Orange.  

The temperature was rising and Paul was into his shorts again (not a pretty sight). 

Mid- afternoon we drove out to spend time on Daytona Beach ie sipping cocktails and watch the sun set on the waves etc. Ha! It was not to be.  A fog bank came in with visibility down to 50yds and a temperature drop of about 20 degrees. 

High tide meant the beach was closed to traffic.  We are destined not to enjoy the sunny Florida coast line.

4^th Dec – Palm Bay

In the morning we continued south on the I-95 towards Miami.  This time we stopped at Palm Bay to visit friends, Maggie and Grant, whom we met when we first began travelling in August 2012. When we arrived at their house we were greeted by another German Shepherd, this one was named Krieger.

At this point we had travelled over 600 miles on the I-95.

5^th Dec – Indian River & Sebastian Inlet

We got up early (ie 7am) to watch the Orion space shuttle take off from Cape Canaveral.  Maggie & Grants back garden makes a perfect place to watch space shuttle take-offs – except on this occasion there was too much low cloud to see anything.  So we watched it on TV.

Later in the day Maggie drove us onto the barrier island and we followed the Indian River south to  Sebastian Inlet. From the shore we watched people fishing, pelicans and dolphins and surfers riding the waves.  It had turned into a lovely sunny day and just how you expect “the Sunshine State” to be.

6^th Dec – Cape Canaveral

Maggie drove north up along the Indian River up to Cape Canaveral.  We stopped to walk on Cocoa Beach where there was a couple having some wedding photos taken.  However Paul chose to photograph the cheeky Racoon that was hanging around the café.  When we stopped for a meal near the docks we spotted a Corvette Car Rally group parking up and had a close up look at some of the vehicles.

7^th Dec – Fort Christmas

Grant drove us up to Fort Christmas in the morning where there was a big Christmas Market in the grounds of the historic Fort.  The Fort was founded on 25 Dec 1837 and was one of 200 forts built during the Seminole Indian War.  These forts were positioned to be a day’s march from each other.  The reconstructed Fort and old buildings were interesting to walk around.

 

 

We also learnt that Florida is the oldest cattle-raising state and were a chief supplier of cattle during the Civil War.  Florida Ranchers currently raise the third largest number of cattle east of the Mississippi.  The cowboys used herd dogs and also developed their own breed of horse called a’ Florida Cracker Horse’.

8^th Dec – Travel to Clearwater

We said our farewells to Maggie & Grant and set off west towards Clearwater near Tampa Bay. 

It poured with rain all day!

We arrived at the campsite where our friends Charlie and Doreen, from Michigan, were staying.  This campground is to be our home for the next month or so.

9^th – 21^st Dec – Clearwater, FL

We spent the next 2 weeks getting to know the area as well as meeting people at the campground and getting involved with activities. One regular visitor to our home is “Oreo” a black and white cat. We have been Ten Pin Bowling with about 12 other residence.

Many of the residents are French Canadian escaping the cold northern weather.

On the days that we do not go out we sit by the pool or in the hot tub.(its a hard life being retired)

One day Charlie took us out to see his Aircraft business near Lakeland where they repair aircraft etc.

We also had a day out to Tarpon Springs.  This town grew up around the Sea Sponge industry and was populated by Greeks so there were many Greek Restaurants around the docks.  Sponges are still harvested from this area of the Gulf of Mexico.

Campground activities included a Cookie Bake, 10 pin bowling, line dancing, karaoke, and playing cards in the evening.  We have learnt 2 new card games – Euchre and Auction 45 and everyone was very friendly and patient at teaching us the new games.

Alison was invited to join the Red Hat ladies for lunch.  Everyone dressed up in purple with red hats and accessories.

 

 

In the morning we will head down to Tampa ready to board our cruise liner. A five day cruise to the Bahamas would be a very different Christmas for us.
We wish all our readers a very merry Christmas and a prosperous new year.