Visiting Family: Ormond Beach and Satsuma, Florida

We drove up the coastal highway past Daytona to Ormond Beach to visit my nephew Alex and his wife Katie. This is a busy couple. And happy! We managed to squeeze in a nice dinner with them at The Dish which Katie managed until getting a new job. Great food, atmosphere and fun company. Afterwards, we enjoyed a backyard campfire. They have a beautiful home in a wonderful location. Nice neighbors, big yard and lots of green space.



And they have two friendly and playful pups- Kaya and Shelby. Sorry we over slept Katie and missed wishing you well on your first day at the new job. We swear we had nothing to do with the chewed shoe...






Next stop, the tiny country hamlet of Satsuma. Glenna and Eric have a lovely home on the St. John's River. Their driveway was lined with azalea blossoms.


And their yard too!



Here's the happy couple outside Corky Bell's Restaurant after we enjoyed a delicious fish dinner. So many wedding anniversaries and still in love. I hope Philip and I will be so lucky.



We stayed three nights and enjoyed beautiful sunsets from their porch. Dinner at Mema's and at home. Kayaking on the river- gators and turtles. Wonderful company.



Thanks for the visits!!



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Sebastian Inlet, Florida

Sebastian Inlet State Park is 15 miles north of Vero Beach. It lies on a barrier island with the Indian River lagoon on it's west side. The park spans from lagoon to ocean front. The campground is bayside and every evening we were treated to beautiful sunsets.



In addition to the park lands there is the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge and county parks, so this coastal area is unusually green with a beautiful expanse of undeveloped beach. Fishing is very popular in the man-made inlet and on both sides of the island. It's also a popular surfing and kayaking spot. Surprisingly there was a variety of biking options too. The park has about 6 miles of single track. The roads have a very generous bike lane and there is also the wonderful 14 mile Jungle Trail, which has a hard packed sand surface. The jungle trail was built when this area grew grapefruits and pineapples. Philip had a lot of work to do, so I got out and biked most days during our week-long stay.






Morning glories are common along the dunes and bay woodlands.



We experienced our first rainy day. Amazing actually because we've been on the road nearly six months. In some ways it was a treat to hunker down in the van for the day.



The winds were quite strong as the storm blew in from the west. The van was actually rocking for a short time.



I got to retreat to the bedside.



While Philip worked in the office. I think he uses ear plugs when he is trying to work and I am bored. Yack, yack, yacking away!



We had a couple of wonderful kayak paddles. Once we were escorted by dolphins. Our paddle in the Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge was incredible. We saw a pelican rookery loaded with nesting brown and white pelicans, a bald eagle, a golden eagle, an enormous great blue heron with superb mating plumage and a night heron. The yellow-crowned night-heron is a really striking bird and it was our first sighting of one. But, alas, we lost many of our photos while trying to download them.

So, we are left with this warning. Who knew?



And this photo of an adorable (look closely) wood stork. Thankfully, these storks do not deliver babies or else they would be traumatized from the start.



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Everglades National Park: Flamingo

We spent three nights at Flamingo Campground in Everglades National Park. If you are not into wildlife (hard to imagine), especially birds, you will be after visiting this national treasure. Winter and early spring are best. Do not go in the summer or early fall...even the rangers leave!

Our first stop was the Anhinga Trail just inside the main park entrance. There is so much to see along the boardwalk you might think it's a zoo but the animals are free and in their natural environment and they love to show off for you.

Anhinga drying it's wings.



Alligator.



Green heron.



Lots of sunbathing alligators and vultures. Your two favorite creatures, right?!



I did not identify this duck. Anyone?



Egret.



Tricolor Heron.




Grasslands...the Everglades river of grass.



The Prairie Coastal Trail. There's lots of green even in the dry season.



Tiny and very brave land crab.



Shoreline along Florida Bay.



Mud flats.



Sunrise in the campground.



Eco Pond in the early morning. Egrets, spoonbills, wood stocks, ibises.



Beautiful spoonbill. No flamingos in Flamingo but these pink beauties are incredible.







Vulture. Watch out, they like windshield wipers!



In addition to hiking and sight seeing, we also kayaked Eight Mile Pond. There is so much to do that three nights is not enough.

For some really good photos and travel tips check out this blog:

http://rv-dreams.typepad.com/rvdreams_journal/2011/03/eco-pond-other-everglades-stops-everglades-national-park-flamingo-fl.html


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The Keys Collection

The weather was perfect while we were in Big Pine Key (February 11- March 3). No rain. Moderate day time temps 70-85 and warm nights. Finally warm nights and hot days. We relaxed a lot. Enjoyed dining outdoors. Kayaking. Biking. Snorkeling.

We did a full moon kayak trip, which was a fundraiser for a nonprofit. There were about 50 boaters. The timing was perfect. As the sun was setting in the west the moon was rising in the east. Hard to choose which way to look.









Afterwards, we dined at the locals' favorite No Name Pub. Yes, those are dollar bills hanging from every millimeter of the ceiling.



We did a lot of paddling in our new Sea Eagle inflatable kayak, the Fast Track 360. It's a tandem...another relationship challenge as if living in a van isn't enough. But Philip is still smiling as we explore a mangrove channel.



How about that pedicure! Oh, I mean, what a beautiful wild place.



Our view of Sombrero Beach on Marathon Key.



Ouch! Portuguese Man O' War. Cool shepherd fish feeding below. They are immune to sting. These are so cool to watch, but not so fun to swim with as we did on one snorkel trip.



Love the motto for the Keys Fisheries Restaurant.



While I do love a good cook, I'm not so sure we can live without friends. However, I would trade a good book for a good meal.



We did two long bike trips and several short ones. Yes very flat, but if you count the bridges and the strong head winds it kinda like climbing a mountain pass. Well...




We went on two snorkel tours. One to Looe Key and the other to Sombrero Reef. Both wonderful and affordably priced.



Iguana. Non native species. Former pet. People get tired of them and release them. Not good for the indigenous species. This one shares a refuge with lots of companions- all neutered for free by a local veterinarian.



Philip and I visited with dolphins at the Dolphin Research Center, a nonprofit on Grassy Key. We had mixed feeling about this, did some research and caved to the temptation. Our guilt was eased by thinking that our money would be put to good use. However, we later learned that only 10% of the money goes to research with no appreciable results. All but one dolphin was born and raised in captivity, not rescued. It was a unique experience, however we both agreed that we'd much rather just enjoy these wonderful mammals from afar the way nature intended.










After 18 nights at the Lodge, we camped one night at John Pennecamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo. There are four state park campgrounds in the Keys. They are nearly impossible to get into. They take reservations 11 months in advance and have few walk-in sites. The two we visited (Bahia Honda & Pennecamp) are beautiful.



Our last two nights in Key Largo were spent at the Key Largo Kampground. It was just okay. Very small sites, but it does have direct water access.

We liked the low-key feel if the Keys. Loved the warm temperatures and crystal blue waters. So much more kayaking and snorkeling to do!


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