Elaine and Joe CC 2018

July 6th The Everglades On Friday July 6th we headed for the Everglades national park.  There we toured the visitor center, and three scenic trails. We saw the head of an alligator, lots of insects, mahogany trees, and no snakes! We ended the day camping a a lovely county park west of Miami and right near the Miami Zoo, Larry and Penny Thompson County Park. Our travels throught the Everglades from Key Largo. A pose at the Everglades visitor center. Last summer we saw lots of signs warning about moose and never saw one.  This summer we saw lots of signs about alligators and finally saw one!  And I credit Elaine for spotting this one hiding. A view of some interesting nests up in a large tree. More nests. Did I mention the insects are big in the Everglades!

July 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th John Pennekamp State Park We headed north from Curry Hammock towards the beginning of the Keys and camped at John Pennekamp State Park in Key Largo.  This was a large park with a harbor, an aquarium, two beaches and a campground.  We basically chilled here for four nights doing the beach each day and taking a glass bottom boat tour of the Florida corals six miles off shore. Our campsite at John Pennekamp. A local visitor to our campsite. Elaine and I on the upper deck of the glass bottom boat. A view of the coral from the glass bottom. Saw a turtle and lots of small fish. THe wake of the boat as the captain clears the channel and increases the speed. With the salt water rushing under us I could not resist making this video. The glass bottom boat tied up at the pier. A neat exhibit for kids on one way plastic straws are harming our environment. The beach was about a half a mile from the campsite so ...

July 1st Curry Hammock State Park, Florida Keys We headed back towards the mainland for about 30 miles and camped at Curry Hammock State Park for one night.  The site was great, right on the beach.  The beach however had a lot of sargasso seaweed which made swimming not desirable. But as far as campsites, it was up there as one of the best we stayed in for location to beaches.  We only stayed one night as we had reservations in Key Largo.  It was very peaceful sitting under the awning and looking out into the ocean.  By the way we found out later at the Everglades visitor center that a hammock is an island created by leaves congregating together over time. Site 15 Curry Hammock State Park The view sitting under our awning. Saw this little guy while sitting.  I actually took this picture holding my binoculars in front of my iphone lens. Our little guy climbing the palm tree. A view of the beach at our campsite.  The w...

June 29th and 30th, Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge  Our next stop was the Florida keys.  It was difficult getting a camping spot, but one came available mid way down the Keys at Big Pine Key.  It was a private rv camping spot, and things were not as roomy as a state park, but it got us on the Keys.  We were there two nights which allowed us to see Key West.  The city of Key West was interesting and had a few historic sites to tour.  We visited Ernest Hemingway's home and the Truman Little White House. Both were interesting and informative. We ended our visit to Key West by passing by the southern most point in the continental US. A view of our trip from Delray to Big Pine Key. Our spot at Big Pine Key Fishing Lodge.  A big change from what we were used to at a state park.  It did however have many extras like a pool, and other recreational diversions. Downtown Key West at the Ernest Hemingway home. A visual map of what we visited in...

Our next stop was just north of Jupiter, Fl at Jonathan Dickinson State Park.  It was a short 4 mile drive south to Jupiter Beach Park.  The town beach had a nice parking lot that allowed rvs and the beach was 100 feet from where we parked.  The water was warm and the beach and surf were great.  We went to the beach all three days.  We also fit in a visit to the fancy Gardens Mall in Palm Beach Gardens.  I bought a great smoothy and hung out in the food court with my laptop while Elaine shopped.  Jonathan Dickinson State park had some great paved roads for biking.  We explored the highest point in southern Florida, Hobe Mountain, elevation 86 feet! After four nights there we headed south for Delray and a visit to the daughter of a friend.  We stayed at the Delraton RV park near the coast after our visit. A good view of our site at Jonathan Dickinson state park.  We had a frequent bird visitor to the top of the palm tree t...