It’s funny to be writing this post during the summer as we are headed to the UP of Michigan. Florida in the winter and Michigan in the summer, two very different places and yet with many similarities. Both are quite pleasant to visit during the respective times. Flip flop the time of visiting and you will be met with swelting heat or cold and gray weather. They both boast access to beautiful beaches and water. Wonderful kayaking is available. And both are my happy places.
This past winter we approached our travels south with a new plan. Head further south into Florida and arrive in Florida earlier than before. We succeeded on both fronts. Arriving in Florida the beginning of December and traveling as far south as Fort Myers. Both paid off big time. We were rewarded with warm and sunny weather all winter long. There were rainy and cooler days but overall we could not have asked for better weather. Florida I absolutely love you in the winter!
Fort Myers
Spent New Year’s at my cousins house in Fort Myers, where her dog Cody officially won the award for largest dog in our RV. Look at that face!
First time seeing a swamp buggy, interesting vehicles for sure. They are everywhere around southern Florida.
Camped at the Babcock/Webb wildlife management area for free for 2 weeks. Less than an hour from Sanibel Island & Fort Myers. Spent some time enjoying downtown Fort Myers. Plenty of good food including more crab legs (they were a good price what can I say) and fresh in season Florida strawberries on top of ice cream.
We noticed a bald eagle sitting in the tree while at the WMA, only had my cell phone so the picture isn’t the best. Also spent an afternoon exploring nearby Punta Gorda and enjoyed a few frosty beverages.
And this Capricorn gal from Indiana enjoyed her birthday on the beach in shorts and sandals. Our first visit to Sanibel Island. Beautiful there despite the damage that remains from the hurricane. Some of the businesses are still being rebuilt. Having a beer on the beach at sunset, the perfect birthday gift!
More WMA’s
Town of KICCO (pronounced Kisso) turned out to be a real gem. This is part of the South Florida Water Management. Free camping with permit obtained online. Getting to this spot was interesting. You first pass through a gate to a dude ranch resort, where there are a variety of paid camping options. Including glamping, wagon themed camping, and RV parking to name a few. This is not what we were after. We continued on through another gate this one for the water management district owned land. A camp host greeted us and sent us on our way after checking our permit. Our spot was very spacious and very near the river making for great kayaking.
We heard a truck and camper pull up next to us, thinking who is trying to camp right next to us. Turned out to be Joe and Jen, the couple we met back at Gores Landing! The four of us went for a nice paddle on the river. Well five, including Josie, of course. (They also have the same kayak we do.)
Found this old car and cemetery at another WMA. This particular camping experience was less than ideal as it was mostly a hunt camp for locals to long term camp. When we arrived there were tons of campers but no people, it was like a scene out of horror movie. Met an older lady from Canada. We spent an afternoon with her exploring the WMA via Jeep, where we found the old car and cemetery.
The area worked for a short stay but it will not be on our list to return to. A loud generator that ran all night one night made us happy to be leaving the next day.
Satellite Beach + The Space Coast
Friends we met on the road last year invited us over to stay with them at their home in Satellite Beach. We took them up on the offer, leaving Ralphie behind at the aforementioned hunt camp, for an overnight trip at their place. After a day of of exploring around town and getting as close to the Space Force gate as was allowed, it was nice to have a spot to crash for the night.
A huge thanks to Patty and Steve for wonderful accommodations. We had a great time catching up with them and trading road stories.
On our way to the beach we drove through a neighborhood where peacocks roam free. Once again Amy found her happy place, beach time on the Atlantic!
Shane & Josie “breaking the rules” by standing on the non dog friendly side of the beach sign. We were happy to find a dog friendly beach as many are not.
Near Tampa
Our various campsites within 45 minutes to 1 hour of Tampa.
We had a lot of rain at one of our spots. Leaving was interesting as there was a large puddle of water spanning the width of the road out. Ralphie had no problem but there was some initial concern about the route out.
Kayaked with family on old Tampa Bay. The weather was beautiful and again we sighted dolphins playing in the water nearby. Also enjoyed a boat ride with Captain Bill and Anita (family) where we spotted more dolphins and manatees.
Anita & Holly once again camped out with us. We even made space for Anita to do her small puzzle at the shared desk space with Shane.
Shane found the stoplight he really wants for the RV, except it was a regular stoplight size. He of course is looking for a much smaller version. (I personally am hoping he doesn’t find one – where will it go?)
My plants soaked up some Florida sunshine. And I painted a sunset over water, my best one yet. (Remember I am strictly an amateur painter – all for fun).
We attended the Strawberry Festival in Floral City, a much smaller affair than the one we attended last year near Plant City. The highlight was dogs “playing soccer”. One of them even had a referee shirt on with a whistle hanging from his mouth.
This year while staying at Serenova, we hiked further after hearing about an old chimney that still stood where a homestead used to be. We also found a lake, a shelter house and picnic tables. All out in the middle of the nowhere about a 5 mile hike from our campsite.
And of course lots of fresh from Florida strawberries. Once you’ve had those, other strawberries just do not compare.
The Panhandle
Our stay in the panhandle was interesting this year. We ventured out to a different spot and found a nice tucked away campground right on a lake and river.
However, one day we were greeted by a fire crew, informing us they were doing a controlled burn on the road leading in and around part of the campground. They told us we were fine to stay in our spot as they would not be burning there but they wanted to give us a heads up in case we wanted to leave.
Turns out the heads up wasn’t much of one. Shane jumped in the Jeep to assess the road out. The fire was already going full force. He said it was so hot he had to roll the windows up. We choose to stay and lucky for us the wind was blowing the smoke away from the RV. It was pretty wild to be that close to a controlled burn. Of course we opted to stay at the rig for the day to keep an eye on things.
The crew was out of Oregon and they did a great job. Very preciously burning just what they intended. It smoldered for several days after.
Found these cool native pitcher plants after the burn. They survived and really stuck out in stark contrast to the burned land around them. Shane had to clown around with one.
We explored Fort Gadsden, nothing much is left at the site and it is technically closed. But you can park at a gate and then walk into the grounds.
There was also a lot of rain during our stay here. We watched as the nearby water continued to rise covering over half of the boat ramp but never reaching Ralphie, safely on dry and higher ground.
Our remaining travels included an overnight stay at a boat ramp parking area. Not the best stay as a guy with a truck that was truly falling apart parked next to us. Despite tent camping he ran a loud generator in his truck with a long cord to what we have no idea. Lucky for us he did not run it all night. There would have been words exchanged in that case.
We stayed for a few nights in the Desoto National Forest. The spot was quiet and near a river but oddly with no river access despite being a “kayak drop in site”. Nearby was the most uninspiring interpretive trail we have ever been on. After reading the entrance signs we were befuddled to find only 2 signs on the trail. Guess they ran out of budget with the big sign at the entrance.
Wrapping up winter travels in Louisiana at a campground right off the Natchez Trace Parkway. Found some interesting history at Rocky Springs including an old bank vault from days gone by.
This photo sums up winter in Florida. The key, get there in December and leave sometime in March before it gets too hot.
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