Manatee Springs

Tuesday, March 27, 2018

We broke camp in leisurely fashion and made our way East and South on US 98. The road here does not hug the shore of the Gulf of Mexico the way it does to the west. Instead we passed through rural pine forests and very small communities. Occasionally there would be a side road to the west leading to a “landing” or wildlife refuge. Eventually we crossed the Suwannee River and got to Chiefland.

There we stopped at Manatee Springs State Park.

Manatee Springs is a first magnitude spring, one of 33 in Florida. It is about the average size and produces between 35 and 150 million gallons of crystal clear water every day. The spring runs down stream about ¼ mile and joins the Suwannee River. It is about 25’ deep at this picture. People were swimming and scuba diving, but we did not.

The manatees that shelter here in the winter had packed up and left. We did not see any of the giant, docile creatures.

173 miles today

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

At Manatee Springs State Park

We spent the day on a side trip to Cedar Key near where the Suwannee River empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Cedar Key is a very small “resort” community at the end of a 25 mile long road. In 1861 it was at one end of the Florida Railroad (Jacksonville was at the other) linking the Atlantic Ocean with the Gulf of Mexico. It thrived until the 1880s when the railroad connected Tampa instead. The last train left Cedar Key in 1932.

Walking along the old railroad grade leading out of Cedar Key

Looking out at the remains of old railroad trestles at Cedar Key. Rory pays homage to old railroads wherever we go!

This young Osprey seemed completely unconcerned with Rory being so close.

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Luci found a local seafood dealer and made us paella (sort of) for dinner in our Weber grill pans.. Clams, Shrimp, Chorizo, vegetables. Yum! Camping is great!

On the road

Rory and Luci

Blog: https://roryandluci.wordpress.com/

Ochlockonee River State Park and the Forgotten Coast

Saturday, March 24, 2018 thru Monday, March 26, 2018

At Ochlockonee River State Park

Pronounced O-CLOCK’-n-EE

We spent three lovely days relaxing, birding, sleeping, walking, doing laundry, and exploring Florida’s “Forgotten Coast” east of Apalachicola. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised but there are a lot of escapee New Englanders here. The park has only 30 sites. The site across the road has a couple from Skowhegan, Maine. There are no less than three different groups from Vermont (South Burlington, Danville, and Putney). A year ago, when we were visiting Texas in the Corpus Cristi area, we ran into a couple from Arrowsic, ME. About 10 days later we ran into them again in Ft. Davis, TX (about 400 miles to the west). Last Thursday we ran into them again at St. Andrews St. Park near Panama City, FL. Maybe we ought to look them up when we are home. It’s a lot closer – only about 30 miles away.

This is a Sora. It’s a robin sized, chicken-like member of the Rail family. The are very elusive and we’ve never seen one before. We saw two right under the overlook at the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge.

New construction at Alligator Point. I’m not sure this will defeat the Gulf of Mexico in a Katrina size hurricane, but they will have a nice view until then.

We wondered how deep the posts go.

Felix slept through this encounter of a Rufus Sided Towhee with his frisbee and his supper dish. Rory slept through the Towhee’s visit, too!

Looking down river at the confluence of the Dead River from the left and the Ochlockonee River from the right.

This is a Red Cockaded Woodpecker. It is a rare endangered species and lives only in long leaf pine forests along the Florida-Georgia border. We have seen one before but today we saw two and got the pictures to prove it.

Lastly, they disappeared too fast to photo, but we did enjoy a dozen oysters at one of the coastal eateries. Fish (mahi mahi) tacos were pretty good, too!

Nah,no pics of the laundromat!

On the road

Rory and Luci

Blog: https://roryandluci.wordpress.com/

4Easter BAH

Wednesday, March 21, 2018

We slept in and ignored the snow outside. We lingered over another great breakfast with Sue and Buzzy and watched the weather on TV. The roads seemed bare and wet where we were, but the question was how were they in the higher elevations we might encounter. We had little faith that Tennessee drivers would be able to handle even the scant inch we got. About 10AM the sun peeked out so we hitched up and said good bye. We stayed mostly west of the mountains heading south on I-81 to Knoxville and I-75 to Chattanooga. The roads were wet, but the temps stayed above freezing. The sky spit snow for most of the morning and early afternoon. We stopped for lunch at a BBQ place in Sweetwater TN. I had a sloppy pig. (large baked potato topped with pulled pork, beans, cheese, tomatoes, sour cream etc.) Soon after we crossed into Georgia and joined the Atlanta rush hour traffic. Yikes! Seven lanes in each direction at a standstill. Finally, we wiggled free and stopped at another LaQuinta, this time in Macon, GA. Felix is getting used to the hotel routine.

368 miles today

Thursday, March 22, 2018

It is easy to oversleep when you pull the curtains to keep the streetlights out and the sun doesn’t rise until after 7AM. We continued south on I-75 for another 75 miles and then split off onto the lesser roads. We went southwest through Albany and Bainbridge, GA and then crossed into Florida almost at the Alabama – Georgia line. Almost immediately we crossed the Apalachicola River into the central time zone. We continued southwest across the panhandle to Panama City, FL. We had originally planned to stay at St. Andrews State Park on the beach for 5 nights. Unfortunately, all of that got cancelled due to the weather and my pneumonia. All the state parks in Florida tend to get completely booked very early and we didn’t think we could get in. However, Luci persevered and after several telephone calls determined that they had two first come first served sites. We just had to get there before two other groups. And we did!!!!.

We are camped on a barrier island between the Gulf and the intracoastal waterway. It is still only 60 degrees and windy but it is sunny and there is no snow!

280 miles today

Friday, March 23, 2018

We spent the morning exploring the park.

Luci found this interesting scene with White Tailed Deer, Tricolored Heron, and Wood Duck pair.

Luci tried to get the Snowy Egret to show her his cute yellow feet but he didn’t.

St. Andrews State Park has beautiful white sugar sand beaches. I’m sure it would be very crowded if it was more than 60 degrees!

We went back to the campsite for lunch and packed up. We drove east on US 98 from Panama City through Tyndall AFB, St. Joe, and Apalachicola to Ochlockonee River State Park. It is a much smaller park and not right on the beach but we have a lovely site and the birding is promising. Rare Red Cockaded Woodpeckers live here!

112 miles today.

On the road

Rory and Luci

Blog: https://roryandluci.wordpress.com/

We’ve escaped!

Sunday, March 18, 2018

Let’s go! We left Walpole at about 7:15 AM. It was 8 degrees and the sun was rising and glinting off the nearly two feet of snow on the ground.

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Although we prefer the roads less travelled by it was a day to put the miles behind us! We travelled south along I-95, I-495, I-290, I-90, I-84, I-81 for about 11 hours. The temperature slowly got above freezing and we left the snow behind for good near Wilkes-Barre. We found a LaQuinta that welcomed pets just a little north of Harrisburg, PA. We had left over St. Patty’s Day corned beef and cabbage in our room and watched more NCAA basketball as favored teams and our brackets bit the dust in eye popping upsets. It was Felix’s first hotel and he was a little confused, but very good.

561 miles today

Monday, March 19, 2018

We continued south across the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg on I-81 through PA, MD, WV, and Virginia all day. We drove into the magic of flowering trees and daffodils near Harrisonburg, VA and the temp was in the 50s. We arrived at Sue and Buzzy Elwell’s house in Telford, TN about 5PM. Buzzy is an amazing gardener and spring is popping everywhere!

It was 60 degrees and the birds were singing. We relaxed and visited around the firepit in their lovely backyard.

Thunderstorms late, after bedtime, and Felix was nervous, but we survived w/o damage. South of us, in Alabama there was giant hail that punched out windshields and tornadoes that ripped roofs off college dorms.

481 miles today

Tuesday, March 20, 2018

The day broke sunny, 60 degrees, and damp. Robins, Cardinals, Mourning Doves, and Tufted Titmouse were all singing their little hearts out. After breakfast we de-winterized the trailer. We replaced all the plugs, flushed the tanks, and checked the pressure pump and hot water tanks. Luci sanitized everything with bleach. After a few hours we were ready for another season of camping. The rain of the “fourth northeaster” held off until later afternoon. We hope to slide out from under it to the south tomorrow morning, but the winds in the southern part of the forecast are a little alarming. Luci is doing her best to worry enough for both of us!

No miles today.

On the road

Rory and Luci

Blog: https://roryandluci.wordpress.com/

Southward (not quite yet) Ho! Spring 2018

Happy Spring!!!

Well, that may be a little optimistic. We were scheduled to leave Maine with Felix and Mini, our travel trailer, on March 8 for a six week swing through the panhandle and west coast of Florida and circling back north along the Atlantic seaboard. We were looking forward to warm beaches, singing songbirds, and flowering trees and shrubs.

Then, we got 18” of heavy, wet, snow on Thursday, March 8. I (Rory) was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday, March 9. I was sent home with drugs and orders to rest. We got another 18” of snow last night (Tuesday). It is still snowing lightly as I write this. The drugs seem to have done the job and I am better than I was, but still have a way to go. Yesterday’s milestone was carrying a basket of laundry upstairs with stopping to rest and without coughing. Any progress is better than no progress. We are now tentatively planning on leaving on Sunday, March 18 (weather and coughing permitting).

We will keep you posted!

Rory plowing a swath to get Mini out of the garage. (eventually)

Luci and Felix shoveling the path.

Felix would rather play ball than shovel. He loves the snow.

Not quite on the road again with Luci & Rory and Felix