February 24 - 28, 2015. Arcadia

We left Highlands Hammock State Park early and have spent three days at an "RV resort" so that we could have reliable internet access for a few days. It is the kind of RV Park where there are zillions of activities and opportunities to be entertained:  water aerobics, tennis, bocce, bridge, crib, and golf to name a few. Both the American and Canadian flags are flown prominently and French is heard throughout the park.

While out for a walk on Wednesday evening we met up with a woman who encouraged us to stop by the clubhouse to hear a free concert. The Arcadia Community Concert Band entertained a capacity crowd with tunes from the 1950's. I was reminded of the many junior high school band concerts I attended where every once in a while a clarinet would make a squeak. Even so, the audience was appreciative.

We biked into town, had lunch at a restaurant that has been in business forever and found a coffee shop/homemade ice cream shop where we just couldn't resist sharing a decadent desert. 

Yesterday I walked by a lake and on the shore spotted a sandhill crane sitting on a nest. When I returned later with a picture taking implement she was still there although it had started to rain so she was curled up and tucked in. 

                     

Today we are heading for Hillsborough River State Park where we will spend the next ten days.

February 17 - 23, 2015. Highlands Hammock State Park

We stayed at Highlands Hammock for one week. When we arrived we were not impressed as the sites are so close together. However we had great neighbour's and found lots to do both in the park and in Sebring.

The park has nine hiking trails and we did all of them. The most interesting was the Cypress Swamp Trail, where the vegetation and swamp looked prehistoric, maybe even Jurassic. Another trail boasts a 1,000 year old live oak tree.

  

        

We also biked the Park's  bike trails as well as a trail that goes from the park into Sebring. 

The park is home to the Civilian Conservation Corps Museum where  we visit

enjoyed a guided tour. The Corps was formed during the Great Depression to provide work for young men. Apparently we had something similar in Canada, maybe the Forestry Service.

We golfed at the Sebring Municipal Course where we paid $10 each for nine holes. The course is in great shape with wide, relatively long fairways and very fast greens. Although we enjoyed the course I stopped keeping score after the first couple of holes as they were not worthy of print. 

Today we are in Arcadia where we will stay for three days.

February 16 -18, 2015. Swing For The Cure

Last year we volunteered at a scleroderma fundraising event and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. We looked into it again this year and realized that we would be camping too far away to make it. However, when Janet generously offered her driveway as a place to plug in for a couple of nights we took her up on the offer and so were able to volunteer at the 3rd annual Swing For The Cure at the Venetian Golf and River Club.

On the evening before the event we were treated to a delicious meal of barbecued salmon at Janet's. We also enjoyed the company, of course, as well as lots of laughs and catching up with Chris and Carl.

We arrived at the golf club at around 11:30 and met up with the other volunteers. We worked throughout the day at various tasks but also found time to socialize. Over $50,000 was raised at this event! What an amazingly generous community.      

           

Back at the Ranch; Venice Ranch that is, I enjoyed rooting through my goody bag and showing off the goodies I won at the raffle. Among my prizes were Baltimore Orioles Spring Training tickets, and coupons for auto detailing, an oil change and food.

Before leaving Venice on Tuesday Janet showed a piece that she created...a stone plaque commemorating the design and construction of her patio. 

        

         

If you are interested or even curious about the art of stone carving, visit www.thestoneist.com where you will find some fascinating stones. My current favourite are The Sentinals. 

Our current camping spot is at Highlands Hammock State Park where we are going to stay for one week. The weather forecast says "record cold" for the next couple of days. However, we are planning on checking out some of the great bike and hiking trails here.

February 8, 2015. Egmont Key

For the past three years we have talked about taking the ferry to Egmont Key. Each time we went to the ferry dock it was either the wrong day or the ferry wasn't running for some other reason. But, today was our lucky day. We drove our bikes up to the dock and stood in line with about 30 others. The boat left the dock at 11 and ten minutes later we were walking down the ramp on one of the many beaches on Egmont Key.

                               

The 74 degree temperature was perfect for exploring Egmont, a former fort complex surrounded by beautiful sandy beaches. The island is about 1 1/2 miles long and only 1/2 mile wide. Part of the island is a restricted wildlife sanctuary where birds and gopher tortoises nest. 

                               

Strolling down one of the trails that led to sites of former barracks, we came upon a tortoise that seemed to pose for pictures. We crossed over to the other side of the island and walked the beach, examining some beautiful shells and watching various pleasure boats as well as ships making their way to the port of Tampa.

                    

                              

  After two hours of exploring we made our way back to the ferry for the ten minute ride back to the Fort DeSoto wharf. A two mile bike ride later and we were back at our campsite, having thoroughly enjoyed Egmont Key.

February 1 - 6, 2015. Fort DeSoto

We are currently staying at Fort DeSoto campground, the most visited campground in all of Florida. In order to get a site here for any length of time, booking has to be made six months in advance. Fortunately I learned this lesson a few years ago and was able to book this site last August. We are comfortably set up with electricity, water, a picnic table, chairs and hammocks with a water view.

With temperatures dipping down to the high 40's F at night and slowly going back up to the high 60's and low 70's during the day, Floridians, including TV weather forecasters are calling the current stretch of weather a bit of a cold snap. I beg to differ. With a good heater for the early morning and a hoodie to take along during the day, the weather has been great for biking, exploring, reading and relaxing.

We have taken a couple of long bike rides, venturing all the way to St. Pete Beach driving on a bike trail for most of the trip but also having to use bike lanes, one of which was on a very busy street. Stopping at Dolphin Village we discovered a "real" French cafe. The owner and baker left her corporate job in France to open this cafe which has become a very successful business. 

Another great find was a Tuesday market in Gulfport. Since Internet access here is only at the camp store and ranger station and can be quite slow if there are a lot of people online, we decided to go to the Gulfport Public Library. After a couple of hours at the library we walked down the street, bought some fresh vegetables at the market and found Mangia, a quaint little restaurant serving predominately vegan, vegetarian and organic food. Lunch was delicious.

                        

        

                               Sunset at Fort DeSoto campground