January 29, 2013. Kayaking With Dolphins

This afternoon we biked a couple of miles to the kayak rental place here in the park. It was a hot afternoon with a warm breeze, perfect for kayaking. We put our lifejackets on, got in the kayaks and shoved off. A small chart of the area was provided as was a bit of information about what we should see out in the bay. We met a couple of paddlers returning from a morning paddle and they very excitedly told us about watching dolphins feeding on mullet in a small bay just "out there". 

It didn't take us long to get "out there" as the wind was at our backs and we were anxious to see dolphins. We were rewarded for our efforts when we saw two dolphins diving near us. We followed them for quite some time and got very close to them. I was close enough that one swam under my kayak. It was quite a thrill. Many pictures were taken and many "wows" we're exclaimed.

Our paddle back was more relaxed as we skirted the shoreline watching various birds and looking for signs of animal life in the mangroves. We did see lots more mullet jumping as well as several herons, one of them blue. A very large osprey nest housed three or four birds. It looked to me like one of the youngsters was getting a flying lesson.

We arrived back at our campsite in time to enjoy some "hammock time" before dinner. We finished off the day with a walk around the park. 

January 28, 2013. Fort DeSoto

Our campsite from the water

Our campsite from the trail

Fort DeSoto  is my favorite campground. The sites are spacious, the washrooms and showers are very clean, the rangers are friendly, and you can get a campsite that overlooks the Gulf. You can string up a hammock, watch fish jump and enjoy beautiful sunsets.

We started the day with a drive to the post office on Corey Ave., in St. Pete's Beach. Walking on this street reminded me of the days when Mom and Dad used to spend winters in St. Pete's. Remembering walking down Corey Avenue (pushing strollers in those days) with my Mom was a pleasant "remember when" for me today.

After lunch we got on our bikes and rode to one of the many beaches. I did put my toes in the water but that was all, as the water was chilly. The air temperature was low 80's. We rode to the other end of the key and walked out on the pier where we enjoyed an ice cream while watching people fish. The pelicans seemed to be having more luck than the people. The remainder of the afternoon was spent back at the campsite, in our hammocks, reading. Wow, what a day.

January 27, 2013. Leaving Venice...for now

We have had a wonderful ten day in Venice. We golfed, walked, rode bikes, read, chatted, relaxed and went to the circus. The International Czechoslovakian Circus was in town for most of January. For $20.00 we saw a three hour performance. Most of the acts were spectacular, from flying trapeze artists to contortionists, to something I had never seen before:  a daredevil act where three people on motorcycles drive around inside a round cage. They literally crisscross each other and are no more than inches apart, sometimes upside down. To add to the danger a woman stood inside as they sped around. The drivers had full protective gear on while the woman was scantily clad in typical circus attire. 

http://www.youtube.com/watchv=K2ltsiDtVgo&feature=youtube_gdata_player     is the link to view a YouTube video for CirKus Snu!

Today we are heading for Fort DeSoto where we will spend five days before returning to Venice. 

January 19, 20, 21, 2013. Venice

Life is very easy in Venice. A typical day might include a long walk, a bike ride, a visit to the golf practice range, coffee at a local cafe, reading and of course, meal preparation and the shopping that goes along with that chore. Shrimp is plentiful and reasonable and so that is a popular ingredient for dinner. 

So far we have done all of the above and more.  On Sunday, for example I went shopping with my friend (author, stoniest and a wonderful host). At Bealls I hummed and hawed over a $40.00 pair of Columbia shorts, carrying them around the store with me while I looked for and tried on cheaper pairs. Fingering the $10.00 off coupon in my pocket, I finally decided that I would buy them. When the cashier rang them in she informed me that I could not use the coupon. With a frown on my face I was about to ask why, when she said that if she did, she would owe me money as the shorts were not only on sale, they were further reduced to clearance and that the total cost was $8.56! Fun times.

January 16, 17, 18, 2013. Lake Manatee State Park and Venice

Plan "A" was to stay at Hillsborough River  State Park and visit friends in Zephyrhills. However when we reached the Park we were informed that it was full. Apparently there is an RV show in Tampa and since this park is the closest to Tampa we were informed that we probably wouldn't find a site anywhere nearby. We immediately headed for the nearest park, Little Manatee, only to find that the ranger at Hillsborough was correct...a little sign at the entrance informed us that the park was full. 

Undeterred, I programmed the GPS to take us to Lake Manatee State Park, about 45 minutes away. We held our breath as we approached the ranger station and asked if there was a site available. The reply, "I've got two left" was music to my ears. Part of the fun here was chatting to a couple from Quebec who were parked next to us in their 88 Westy. Coincidentally, the site was the same site we camped on last March. 

Cool weather, wind and rain was forecast the next morning. We could see the menacing dark clouds approaching and so decided to head for our friend's place in Venice, where we had been invited to stay. After lunch at The Olive Garden, and three loads of laundry at the Hob Nob Laundromat in Sarasota (we discovered that we can go ten days without doing laundry) we drove to Venice. Since we had spent quite a bit of time here last year, it almost felt like we were home. How wonderful to be here!

January 14, 15, 2013. Manatee Springs State Park

The drive from St. George Island State Park to Manatee Springs was not only easy but very pleasant with spectacular beach views and many miles of protected forests. State roads are much more suited to Westy than the interstates.

We pulled into our campsite with enough daylight left to explore the Manatee Spring, the boardwalk and watch the sun begin to set over the Suwanee River. We were on the lookout for manatees, as from November to April, the West Indian Manatees are regular visitors to the Spring. Even though we did not spot any manatees we saw a very large turtle and zillions of vultures getting ready to settle in the trees for the night. We also watched a large, noisy  red headed woodpecker. An evening campfire and a game of scrabble rounded out the day.

On Tuesday morning we explored the 8.5 miles of biking/hiking trails. Most of the trails are sandy and leafy with many armadillo and pig dug potholes and so are more suited to mountain bikes rather than our hybrids. Needless to say, two hours on the trails provided quite a workout. A gang of turkeys fled as we approached the end of the trail.

Later in the day we walked the boardwalk again looking for manatees but since it has been very warm these past few days (80's), they are not around. We did see turtles, fish and lots of birds and a huge sink hole that only scuba divers can enter. Apparently it connects an underwater cave system that leads to the Suwanee River. Manatee Springs State Park is a designated protected area due to the wildlife and the underwater caves. 

January 11, 12, 13, 2013. St. George Island State Park

Although it would have been fun to stay around Destin at one of the great beach state parks in the area,  the weather forecast of fog and showers chased us away, but not before we stocked up on groceries, got a haircut and spent a few $$ at a bookstore. The drive down the coast was very pleasant with views of the Gulf and numerous beaches, along with the occasional condo, restaurant or motel. Our destination:  St. George Island State Park. 

St. George Island is a barrier island, surrounded by beach and sand dunes. It is gorgeous. We finally got to use our bikes and drove the 10 miles (round trip) to the end of the island which is limited to bikes, or those with a special permit. We walked along the beach, saw lots of shells, starfish, hermit crabs and birds. We came across a couple of guys who were fishing. One had caught a 30" long redfish which he had to release as only smaller ones are allowed to be caught by recreational anglers. The water was great for wading but I didn't see anyone swimming.

Since it is so pleasant here we decided to stay an extra day...three nights instead of two, and so got on the bikes again after lunch and peddled the 4 miles to the ranger station. Fortunately our site was available for an extra night. Peddling the 4 miles back against the ocean breeze was a challenge. We spent the rest of the afternoon reading and relaxing in the Florida sunshine.

On Sunday we decided to ride the 8.5 miles to town. We stopped a few times for a water break and to admire the view. A seafood restaurant on the beach was recommended so that is where we had a meal of shrimp. The town is very small and so there is not much to see except a lighthouse that due to erosion fell into the sea in 2005, and was completely rebuilt, with most of the original bricks, by 2009. Back at the Park entrance we met a couple from Rochester, NY and had a great chat with them about the beauty and charm of the area. Another 4 miles and we were back at our campsite. 

We have enough wood for a fire (that makes three nights in a row) and will light it as soon as it gets a bit darker. Needless to say, we are exhausted from the day's activities and will no doubt sleep well tonight, as we have every night here in this very peaceful park. Tomorrow we move on...not sure where. Maybe another State Park as we work our way down the coast to Venice.

January 10, 2013. Fleeing New Orleans

New Orleans Fog

When we woke up this morning the storm that had been talked about for days had not started . However, it was about 15 miles west of New Orleans and closing in.  Since the storm was forecast to bring heavy downpours, thunder, lightening, flash flooding and the possibility of a tornado or two, we decided to take our chances with the dense fog and try to stay ahead of the nasty weather. The morning news mentioned that the fog was so dense that cars were being convoyed across the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (the longest bridge in the world at 24 miles long) but when I heard that "The River" was open I figured that the fog had lifted a bit.

Wind and fog followed us all the way through Louisiana and through most of Mississippi. We saw a glimpse of something bright in the sky when we crossed Alabama,  but that was gone again as we headed into Florida. Originally, I had planned for us to plunk ourselves down at an Alabama or Florida beach state park for a few days,  but the dense fog and predicted showers changed those plans. We drove as far as Destin, Florida where we are warm and cosy in a motel room across the road from the beach. Well, the map indicates that we are across from the beach but I can't see it through the fog. 

Tomorrow will be much clearer and warmer and so we will attempt to stop at a beach state park as we continue to head  down the line.

January 8 & 9, 2013. New Orleans

The Big Easy, The Crescent City, The City That Care Forgot, Nawlins...all nicknames for one of the most fascinating cities I have ever visited. There is a lot to see and do in this city that is still recovering from Hurricane Katrina which hit here in 2005. Over 80% of New Orleans was flooded and The most common words I heard from a tour guide today were, " under renovation". 

We are staying in the French Quarter, the most historic and most famous area of the city.  All the must see spots are within walking distance from here and in 1  1/2 days we have visited most of them. The streets are narrow, the 18th century architecture unique, the restaurants inviting, and the tourist shops are filled with t-shirts, voodoo  dolls, Mardi Gras beads, and hot sauces. 

In spite of the damp, cool weather, we saw many homeless people huddled on benches. We were asked a few times for spare change and witnessed a few displays of public intoxication. 

Preservation Hall

We walked on Bourbon Street, Canal Street and many streets in between. We strolled along the muddy Mississippi and yet could barely see the other side through the fog, even though it is only about 1/2 mile across. We planned to take the ferry to Algiers on the other side of the river but just before we boarded were informed that the river was shutting down due to dense fog. Apparently, all traffic on the river was halted. 

Coffee and beignets at Cafe du Monde is must. The hot, deep fried, icing sugar coated donuts have been a New Orleans tradition since 1862. Among other things, over the past two days we have eaten creole crab cakes, shrimp, redfish po boy, crawfish and praline bread pudding. The food here is excellent.

We visited Jackson Square, The Riverfront, St. Paul' s Cathedral and the Ursuline Convent. The Convent building is the oldest building in the Mississippi Valley, constructed around 1750. Most of the original, old buildings in New Orleans (founded in 1718) were destroyed by fire. 

Outside of the French Quarter we visited St. Louis Cemetery # 1, a cemetery of above ground vaults, most constructed in the 18th and early 19 centuries. It is the final resting place of many famous New Orleanians, most notably Marie Laveau, a renounced voodoo priestess. Since we were warned not to walk to the cemetery as we would have to walk through a high crime area (New Orleans is the murder capital of the US) we took a hop on hop off tour bus. The tour turned out to be great as we got to see other city districts and learn more about New Orleans.

All in all we walked about 10 miles today.

It looks like a big storm is headed this way and so we may spend another day here as warnings if high winds, flash flooding, dense fog and the occasional tornado are not ideal driving conditions. Fortunately, one of the things we have lots of is time.

January 4, 2013. Atlanta

Atlanta, the capital and most populous city in Georgia (over 5,000,000 in the metropolitan area) is a mere two hours from Auburn. Since our airport pickup was not until midnight, we had a full day to spend exploring the city. We chose two major Atlanta attractions to visit: The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum and The World of Coca-Cola.

The Carter Museum traces the life and accomplishments of the 39th President of the United States.  It also serves as an historical record of world events during his lifetime and particularly during his presidency, from 1977 to 1981. The museum contains a life size replica of the oval office as well as lots of Carter's speeches that centre around his major accomplishments while in office, namely the creation of a National Energy Policy and  the Department of Education and brokering a peace plan between Israel and Egypt. He can also claim success in ending the Iran Hostage Crisis although the hostages were released on the day he turned over the presidency to Ronald Reagan.

One of Atlanta's other top attractions is The World of Coca-Cola, visited by over one million people each year. It is ironic that one pays $8 to visit the Carter Museum to learn about history and yet pays $16 to visit a site so that this marketing giant can very cleverly entertain you while, of course, promoting their products. 

There are numerous exhibits, videos, a look at the vault where the secret formula is kept and a Taste It room where you can sample as many as 64 coke products from all over the world. You could literally spend hours just going from "continent" to "continent" drinking the many flavours of coke products.  There was even a festive gingerbread coke, produced just for the holiday season. You can even get your picture taken with the Coca-Cola polar bear and are offered a free bottle of original Coke on your way out. Of course, to exit one must pass through a massive gift shop. In spit of the obviousness of the marketing, a visit to The World of Coca Cola was so much fun that it was worth every penny.

We completed our day in downtown Atlanta with a walk through Olympic Park and a great meal of shrimp, followed by a decadent pecan, caramel, chocolate desert. 

Atlanta is easy to navigate, it was clean, people were friendly and I would go again as there is lots more to see and do in this city!

January 3, 2013. Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve

Since it was too cool for golf but we did want to spend some time outside and get some exercise, we decided to visit a local park, the Louise Kreher Forest Ecology Preserve.

In 1993, Dr. Louise Kreher Turner and her husband donated 120 acres of forest land to Auburn University.  The Preserve serves as an outreach program of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences and as the outdoor classroom for the university.

The Preserve is open to the public and includes over 30 trails through various habitats, with ponds and streams, an old homestead barn and a former still as well as a nature playground. The trails are well marked and the map easy to follow. There are numerous panels describing the various habitats and points of interest.  The only wildlife we saw and heard were birds. As far as we could tell, we were the only humans in the park.

We spent part of the afternoon exploring the park, after which we enjoyed a snack at a local coffee shop/bookstore.