Camelot RV Park, Malabar, FL, to KOA, Valdosta, GA:  Left Malabar this morning at 8:30.  Took I95 over to Rt. 192 and then picked up Florida’s Turnpike in St. Cloud.  Took that through Orlando to I75 north and then stopped just south of Ocala for some fuel and food.  Then Mike took over driving.  Stopped once again for fuel before we pulled into our KOA just south of Valdosta.  It’s been windy all day.  When will it ever let up?  North Florida is so pretty with all the horse and cattle ranches and their pretty flat board fencing.  And all the flowering trees are blooming with signs of spring.  Should be really pretty driving through Georgia tomorrow.  Only 56 today for the high (sigh).

Bruce and Sally--dinner last night at Squid Lips

Mike and Bruce--dinner last night at Squid Lips

Sally and Carolyn--dinner last night at Squid Lips

Carolyn and I--dinner last night at Squid Lips
picture by Bruce

Valdosta KOA

Camelot RV Park, Malabar, FL:  Had a great time last night at Bruce & Sally’s place.  Our friend, Carolyn, is visiting her sister for 3 weeks.  Our dinner was superb.  Apparently, Bruce used to be a chef.  A wonderful meal.  Too stuffed for dessert.  We sat out on the lanai most of the evening, even when a storm came through.  Fortunately, we didn’t get anything severe.  We’re meeting them for dinner tonight at Squid Lips.  It has cooled off quite a bit and should be painfully so as we head north.  Tomorrow bright and early (I hope) we leave for Valdosta, GA.

Carolyn and I awaiting the ferry out to Little Palm Island--2006

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Jupiter, FL, to Camelot RV Park, Malabar, FL:  Left this morning at 9:45.  Since I opted to drive first, I just went up Hwy. 1.  Got tired of all the stop-and-go traffic and got on I95 at Port St. Lucie.  I hate I95.  And the wind is even worse today.  Stopped at a rest area and Mike took over.  Got here and were set up by 12:30.  We stopped here because I got an e-mail from our Canadian friend, Carolyn.  She’s flying down to visit her sister and brother-in-law who live in Palm Bay.  We’re invited over there for dinner tonight.  For shrimp primavera to be exact. Bruce will be doing the cooking. Looking forward to it.  Figured we wouldn’t be home until the wee hours and not in the best of shape.  So figured I’d better post this now.  82 today so far.  And WINDY! 

Another nice sunset last night.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park (Site 86), Jupiter, FL:  Yesterday was cool and windy.  Today was hot and steamy.  What a difference!  Mike wanted to take the boat trip down the Loxahatchee River to Trapper John’s camp.  Planned on the 1:00 trip, but we were told they wouldn’t go all the way to the camp because of low tides.  So, we went back at 3:00 but were told the same thing.  On the way back to our site, we stopped at Hobe Mt., the highest point in southern Florida—86 ft.  Climbed the tower there and checked out the view.  This park used to be home of the 801^st Signal Corps during WWII.  Sitting on over 11,000 acres this base was comprised of over 1000 buildings, including a church, store, bowling alley, hospital, movie theater and barracks.  It was ceded to the state as a state park in 1947 and became Jonathan Dickinson State Park in 1950.  It is huge and boasts all kinds of trails, including equestrian trails.  Out to Schooners for dinner tonight.  88 today!

Intracoastal waterway, Jupiter Island, Atlantic Ocean.

801st based here during WWII.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Jupiter, FL:  Got really cold last night.  And when I finally forced myself out of bed to turn on the furnace, it was 41 in here.  Got back under the covers to wait for it to warm up enough to take a shower.  It warmed up quickly outside though.  By the time I showered and dressed we had the door open and could sit outside.  Wasn’t long though before the clouds rolled in and the winds really picked up.  So, we decided to do our laundry and grocery shopping today and get it over with.  While driving up to Hobe Sound to the laundry, we realized that the land all the way from Burt’s place to Hobe Sound was natural and undeveloped.  Love this area.  Got our chores done.  Mike grilled chicken for dinner. Probably only in the mid-70s today.

Jupiter Light

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Jupiter, FL:  Sunny this morning, but really cool and windy.  So glad we went biking yesterday.  Decided to run some errands and go to see a movie again.  After we finished our errands we drove over to Jupiter Island to see how the top 1% live.  Those homes are amazing.  Most of them have a main entrance, and a service entrance. I asked the girl at the hardware store while we were running our errands if she ever sees Burt Reynolds.  His home is just across Hwy. 1 from our park.  Says she never has seen him but sees Joe Namath regularly.  And Olivia Newton John.  I wouldn’t know either one if they bumped into me.  It would be fun to see Burt though.  72 today.

The Atlantic is beautiful today--a deep, deep blue--Jupiter Island.

Driving the streets of Jupiter Island.

Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Jupiter, FL:  Got the bikes out this morning and rode down to the Loxahatchee River.  There are a lot of bike paths, bike trails, and hiking trails in this park.  And you bike through what Florida was like back in the day.  Slash pines, palmettos, and wild flowers. Really pretty and smells wonderful.  A nice day for biking—mostly cloudy and hardly any wind—at first, anyway.  Had a snack and something to drink down by the river and then biked back.  Winds had picked up by now and it was a little hard slogging here and there.  Back to our site.  I was all sweaty and gritty, so took another shower and washed my hair.  Think we’ll go see a movie this afternoon.  Low 80s today. 

Bikerchic

Mike spotted this gopher tortoise.

What a beautiful biking trail!

Cacti are blooming in the park right now.