This posting's a little backwards because I still haven't managed to learn how to get things in the right order (if I'd do this more often I might get the hang of it).
Scroll to the bottom for narrative.
Wild trails abound at Myakka
It was pretty crowded in the camping area but still worth while...
Pappy striking a pose on Myakka trail...
Grammy walking the Myakka canopy
Gators R Us at Myakka
Myakka boardwalk to birding spot.
Gators everywhere
Even on the Swanee it was a little chillie
Tight squeeze in the camp ground
.
We rode everywhere.
Myakka! Lots of gators and buzzards.
Gators everywhere
Pappy showing his butt on the Swanee River
Silver Spring River
What's a cracker?
Silver River State Park FL
Today is December 9th and I haven't posted our last camping expedition yet. Yes I know it's a sad story and I won't go into the details except to say... I should have done better. So - I shall make the post this morning. I think this time I'll go short on details and long on photos of where we stayed. Oh, by the way, the primary reason we traveled to FL in Nov was because we wanted to attend the wedding of our nephew, Matt Derums (Cookie & Karl's oldest) to a pretty gal by the name of Nancy Bull. They were married in Ft. Myers on Nov 14th. Congratulations!!
I had said to myself that I wouldn't mention this on the blog, but I just can't give a full picture trip without mentioning my mother's death. Ma died on Nov 2nd. She was 93 years old and lived a wonderful life and we miss her. Her funeral wishes were to have a service here in Athens and to be buried with dad at Ft. Mitchell National Cemetery in Alabama. Accordingly, her internment service was held on Nov 9th, at Ft. Mitchell.
With plans already in the pipeline to travel to Matt & Nancy's wedding we decided to pull the 5th wheel with us as we traveled down for Ma's internment. So, the calender was pretty full as we left home on Nov 8th. Without reservation - I know that Ma would have wanted us to keep our plans as they were. Whenever we visited her at FLEC I would take this computer with me and show her slide shows of our camping trips, recent pics of the g-kids, old pics of her & Dad, ect. She so looked forward to seeing all of these things. She was so happy to hear of Matt getting married but disappointed to be told that she couldn't attend the wedding. Even in her frail state, her mind was pretty sharp and she still thought that she could go to all of these places. So, she loved to listen to all the details of the places that we went and things we did ... and to look at the slide shows. I viewed all of this as her living vicariously through our travels.
The calender shook out like this:
Nov 2 Mom died today
Nov 7 Funeral service
Nov 8 Hook up camper and travel to FDR
Nov 9 Mom's internment service at Mt. Mitchell
Nov 10 Depart FDR en route to Stephen Foster State Park, FL. It rained all the way from a late season hurricane. Spent 1 night at Foster St Pk
Nov 11 Depart Foster SP to Hillsborough River St Pk. Spent 1 night.
Nov 12 Depart Hillsborough River SP to Myakka River St. Pk. Spent 3 nights. Went to wedding. Beautiful park - lots of alligators and vultures - lots to do!
Nov 15 Began return trip - depart Myakka River SP to Silver Springs St Pk. Really cool park. One on the newest SP in FL. Besides the crystal clear river (home of the glass bottom boats) the park also hosts an 1800's Florida "cracker" village. Spent 1 night
Nov 16 Depart Silver Spring SP to Reed Bingham St Pk in GA. Spent 1 night
Nov 17 Depart Reed Bingham to home.
Nov 20 Picked up a nail in camper tire somewhere along the way and had to buy and new tire.
Total trailer towing miles this excursion: 1255 Miles
Reed Bingham State Park - GA
... alas it's time to head home :(
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