March 8-10, 2013

March 8^th was a free day in Homestead.  Carl and I went to the Everglades National Park. We cruised around on our bikes and took a short hike on Bay Loop trail.  We saw several Ospreys and three of their nests.  We took several short boardwalks to lakes and ponds and watched lots of birds.  We saw a couple flamingos in flight.  We were able to follow them with binoculars but did not get photos.  We need a better lens.  Then we drove to Biscayne National Park Visitor Center.  Most of the Park is water.  We were too late for a boat ride.  We walked around the harbor and out on the jetty.  Still in search of the elusive Manatee.  Everywhere we go near the water they say “They were right here yesterday”.  We’re still looking.

 

 

March 9^th was a travel day from Homestead to Key West.  About 137 miles.  It was a beautiful sunny day to travel over Islands and bridges.   Carl and I stopped for a couple hours at Bahia Honda State Park on Bahia Honda Key.  This was said to be the best sandy beach in the Keys.  It fit the bill.  We rode bikes the length of the island and walked on a defunct portion of an old railroad bridge. Got our feet wet before continuing our journey.

 

 

March 10^th 2013
Happy Birthday Mom!  Today started with a Trolly ride around Key West to give us the lay of the land.  We drove back into town and parked at the beach then rode our bikes around down town.  Carl was in search of craft beer but mostly just getting the feel of the area.  Tonight we went on a sunset dinner cruise that included dinner and all you could drink.  There was a D J on the upper deck.  A good time was had by all. 

 

March 7, 2013

Today with Adventure Caravans we visited three places.  Nice weather today.  Chilly early and late but nice most of the day.

Coral Castle was billed as the American Stonehenge.  This place was built by Ed Leedskalnin.  When he was 26 he fell in love with a 16 year old who dumped him one day before the wedding in Latvia. He traveled to the U.S.  He built the castle in her honor.  He mined lime stone, coral blocks and built a unique structure that he charged admission to and earned a living doing so.

We had a guided tour at an Orchid Farm.  The owners of this farm have a beautiful home surrounded by beautiful gardens.

A Bonsai Gardens Tour.  Everything you ever wanted to know about Bonsai. 

All three places were probably not something we would have chosen to do on our own but interesting and educational over all.

Homestead is a very agricultural area.  They grow everything here.  Nursery items as well as food items.

March 3-6, 2013

March 3^rd was a free day in Tampa.  We used the day to rest up and do some housekeeping items.

March 4^th was a travel day from Tampa to Fort Myers.  About 130 miles.  Carl and many other RVers were not happy with the route taken.  Our Trip log sent us on hwy 41 when we could have stayed on the Fwy. #75.  We had red lights every block or two.  En-route at about the 120 mile mark we stopped at the Edison and Ford estates.  In 1926 Henry Ford built a winter home next to the winter home of Thomas Edison who had been wintering there since 1886.  It is a beautiful site on the banks of the Caloosahatchee River.  There is a lot of history to see and learn there.  There is also a museum of Edison’s many patents and his laboratory used when he was trying to invent rubber.  We probably would have enjoyed this more if we had not been so worn out from the stop and go driving.

 

                                                                                   

 

 

March 5th was a free day.  A beautiful sunny day.  No sweater needed all day!  Carl and I took our bikes on the car to Sanibel Island.  We parked at the lighthouse end of the Island.  We were among the first to arrive at the beach and I collected a shell while Carl unloaded the bikes.  We rode our bikes along the outer shore bike path and over to the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  Many people were bird watching in the refuge.  We rode two miles into the refuge and back to the entrance by the indigo trail.  Then we rode our bikes back to the car by a shorter route on the other side of the island.  Our bike miles were 23.  We loaded the bikes on the car and then walked on the beach.  The beach was now quite crowded.   I collected two more shells.  We had a great lunch of Yucatan shrimp, that I hope we can duplicate at home, and spinach salad. We can recommend Doc Ford’s Rum Bar and Grill.  After lunch we drove back to the Refuge and went by car on the four mile trail through the refuge stopping for photo ops. Then we drove to Captiva Island in search of Manatee but had no success then back to the RV park.  Adventure Caravans staff prepared us a BBQ burger dinner.  This may have been the best day we have had so far in Florida.

 

 

March 6^th was a travel day from Fort Myers to Homestead.  About 143 mile.  Cloudy with a little rain in Ft. Myers in the morning.  We had an en-route stop at the Miccosukee Indian Village & Museum.  There we saw an alligator show and learned a few things about the Miccosukee Indians.  The alligator show was hard to watch at times but interesting.  We also went on an airboat ride.  The airboat ride was fun.  It was quite windy at the Indian village but not cold. 

                          

                                                                   

 

 

 

March 1-2, 2013

March 1^st was a travel day from Ocala Fl to Tampa Fl.  About 82 miles.  After checking in at Lazy Days Campground we visited the Yuengling (pronounced ying-ling) Brewery. The main branch of this brewery is in Pottsville PA.  They bill themselves as “America’s Oldest Brewery”. We went on a tour of the Tampa Fl. Brewery and did a little tasting after the tour.  Their beer is in only 14 states on the east coast. 

Then we visited the Florida Strawberry Festival.  This reminded me a lot of the LA County Fair.  Rides, a few animals, fried anything you want and corn dogs, pretzel dogs, etc.  They did have beautiful, delicious strawberries and strawberry shortcake.

March 2^nd was a bus tour of the Tampa Bay shore including views of many luxury homes and unique buildings.  Then to Ybor City. Ybor City was once the cigar capitol of the world.  You can watch cigars being handmade.  Carl did purchase a few.  We visited a small museum.  We had a Cuban sandwich for lunch.  And we visited a Cuban bakery.  Their specialties were flan, bread pudding and guava pastries. 

Then the bus took us to Tarpon Springs Fl. Greek sponge divers came to this area in the early 1900’s.  We went out on a boat for a short sponge diving demonstration.  It was so cold and windy that everyone was wrapped in blankets.  The boat captain was an 86 year old man that had been a sponge diver until he was 72.  It was very interesting and would have been enjoyable if it were a warmer day.  Back at the dock we went to the Sponge Factory for a little shopping and a movie on sponge diving and its history.  We had an excellent dinner at Dmitri’s waterfront restaurant.

                                                           

 

February 27 – 28, 2013

Wednesday the 27^th was a travel day from Carrabelle Fl to Ocala Fl – 214 miles.  What a difference a day makes.  Yesterday was windy and angry seas and today was beautiful blue sky and smooth seas.  We drove straight through with only a stop for Gas.  It was very good day for a drive day.  This is the last time we have two drive days in a row.  After the drive we went to the bank and gas station and Carl patiently took me to quilt shops.  There was a short social with the whole group then Carl and I played Mexican Train with two other couples.

February 28, 2013

Marion County Fl produces more horses than anywhere in the world.  Today we took a bus tour of horse farms in the county.  We had a carriage ride at Horse Country Carriage Co and a BBQ lunch at same.  The equestrian team from the University for Florida train at the same location.  I love the Spanish moss in the trees in this area. 

We also visited Silver Springs Nature Park.  I would describe it as a combination zoo and adventure park.  We went on a glass bottom boat ride and a Jeep/trailer ride. 

We also toured an area that has a fly in community that has a runway that can accommodate John Travolta’s 707 and he can taxi up to his house.  There are 26 other homes off the runway.

The weather today was beautiful.  Blue sunny sky.

Spanich Moss - Not Spanish, Not Moss. Contains Chiggars.

Horses are Percherons. Mike and Ike

 

These horses were featured in beginning of one of the Prirates of the Carribean and in a Country Western music video.

Lunch

 

                         Aligator Gar Fish                                                           

This Bulls name is Oreo

Blond Kodiak Bear

February 26, 2013

Today we drove about 180 miles from Pensacola to Carrabelle.  This is a shorter distance than many other days but felt longer due to the slower speed and traffic lights, wind, etc.  We only made one stop. We visited the Gulfarium in Fort Walton Beach and had lunch next door at The Angler.  It seemed that we really lucked out at the Gulfarium because as we went from exhibit to exhibit they were feeding the animals so we got to see animals and activity.  We saw miles and miles of coast line, white sand beaches, forests and water crossings.  A beautiful area. There was one spot where the strip of land was narrow enough to see the Gulf of Mexico on one side and a Bay on the other side.

Toll Rt. 281