December 24, 2017 Most Recent Posts
Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area David’s Trip to West Texas
Flagler Beach, Florida Under the Weather in Wekiwa Springs
Whatever you are celebrating
Solstice Christmas Hanukkah Kwanzaa
We wish you JOY!
Sherry and David
Friday –Friday Most Recent Posts:
November 17-24, 2017 Under the Weather in Wekiwa Springs
San Marcos, Terlingua and Big Bend Texas Is Any Birthday Complete Without It?
As promised, here is David’s account of his holiday week in West Texas while Sherry had an ocean front week alone at Gamble Rogers State Park.
I’ll start with thanks to all who made this unlikely trip happen for me. First, thanks to Sherry for taking me to the Orlando Airport on our 1st day in our beach-front site at Gamble Rogers State Park in Flagler Beach & staying home to keep an eye on Winnona. Park managers frown on having the RV unattended.
Then a huge thank you to my brother Roger who invited me and agreed to meet my plane very late at night & take me out to west Texas & back for Thanksgiving dinner in his new home in San Marcos.
Our plan was to drive west to his daughter Amy & her partner Angela’s latest project, a totally off-the-grid hideaway near Terlingua where we would help put some finishing touches on their “Javelina Hideout” & in the afternoons visit Big Bend National Park on the Rio Grande. That is a lot to spin into 5 days, but here is how we did it.
First day our drive west was about 8 hours from San Marcos to Terlingua. Much to my surprise we were driving up onto a high plateau as we went west and soon were at an elevation of 4900 feet – who knew? As we got further west we began to see big cuts through the high ridges & high buttes and mountains on the horizon. Much to my surprise a line of wind turbines on a high plateau. I was not expecting to see any other form of energy production in Texas other than oil.
We made it to the Javelina Hideout just before dark Sunday evening & next morning we were all at work finishing up some projects to get the place ready to rent on Air BnB. For better pictures and more about this gem in the desert, see the Javelina Hideout website.
Brother Roger’s back
Angela’s smile
Niece Amy and help
Roger’s other side in the “off the grid” kitchen with solar powered full size refrigerator
In the afternoon we took our first trip into Big Bend National Park with Amy as our guide. Here are some views we took in there.
David and Amy beside the Rio Grande
On various trips in & out of Big Bend, we took some comfort in Terlingua with a breakfast at the Bad Rabbit Café & dinner/drinks at the Starlight Restaurant & Bar– two of the few establishments in the area.
Sherry would definitely like many of the boots on display.
Terlingua Cemetery
The stars at night were phenomenal at the Javelina Hideout owing to the super dark sky and new moon the first night of my visit. I could not capture that sky adequately with my camera but suffice it to say I have never seen any night sky as clear and bright as I did there. It was truly spectacular, more stars than I have ever seen and a clear view of the Milky Way – every constellation and more. The sunsets there were also fantastic each night.
A couple more pictures from Big Bend of me at their fabulous new fossil exhibit.
On our return trip to San Marcos – another 8 hour drive east this time, we took a short break at the LBJ State Park & Historic Site and a slow cruise through the little town of Fredericksburg where the German settler influence is still in evidence.
Then after a good rest, I shared Thanksgiving dinner with my brother, his wife Carol and their other two daughters Abby & Karissa at his new home in San Marcos.
Food preparation from left to right, Roger, Karissa, Carol and Abby.
Next morning it was a red-eye flight back to Orlando which my brother was gracious enough to get me to on time. It was a fabulous trip for me and I cannot thank everyone of those who made it possible enough.
Saturday to Sunday Most Recent Posts:
December 9 to December 17, 2017 Is Any Birthday Complete Without It
Wekiwa Springs State Park Campground Birthday in Disney World – Bubbles Forever
Apopka, Florida
On Saturday we move just 40 miles from Fort Wilderness to our Full Hook Up site in Wekiwa Springs State Park. All but 10 sites in both loops are FHU.
We had gorgeous weather in Disney World but a cold front slaps us the day we arrive and it goes down to 37 degrees over night. Out come the electric heaters. I think we’ve used our gas furnace once and determined the smell was just not worth it. The RV is small enough that the electric space heaters will work well in all but the coldest weather and for that we have a stand alone Little Buddy propane heater that will heat it up in an instant.
After minimal set up, we spend the rest of Saturday and most of Sunday getting reorganized, grocery shopping and just chilling after the fast pace of Disney World.
On Monday I had really hoped to be up early and drive up to the Kings Landing put in for kayaking the Rock Spring Run back to the park. It is an absolutely gorgeous paddle and one of the main reasons we come to Wekiwa.
But it turns out that the recent hurricane has left the run blocked in many sections and it won’t be clear until the first of the year. Really disappointing so instead I head out to hike over to Lake Prevatt.
As you can see from the map below, the park has a network of trails that can be combined in many ways to make hikes of nearly any length up to 13.5 miles.. I decide to start at the campground, the loops at the bottom of the map and do most of the Volksmarch orange trail from #3 to #10 which will take me by the lake and then over to 30 and down 29, 28, 27, 25 to #2 and back home. I’m figuring about 6 miles.
It’s a very nice hike through the Sandhill ecosystem which is a critically endangered habitat unique to Florida. It contains widely spaced Long Leaf Pine and Turkey Oak Trees, a sparce understory and a fairly dense groundcover of wire grass over rolling hills of sand. The absence of a closed canopy creates high fluctuations in humidity and temperature. Pretty darned hot in the summer. Really lovely this time of year. The pines require fire every 2 to 5 years to provide viable seeds and have a thick protective bark to withstand it. Animals which call this area home include the Gopher Tortoise, Sherman’s Fox Squirrel, the Red Cockaded Woodpecker and the Barking Tree Frog. I’ve seen the first two here previously but never the latter two.
It’s clear I’ve moved into a different habitat and am nearing the water.
I find the lake is so over full that it is without banks to stand on. The trees you used to be able to stand under on the edge of the water to scope out what birds might be there are now in the water and their branches are blocking the view.
By the time I get to #30 which I think is about half way I realize I am uncharacteristically tired.. I have plenty of water so that’s not the problem. But after number 28 I decide to cut the hike short and head back. By the time I get back, It turns out to be 5 miles anyway and that night I develope a scratchy throat which for me nearly always means a cold.
David brought a cold back with him from Texas, probably from the airplane but he was feeling well enough 9 days later when we went to Disney so I’m thinking I didn’t get this from him but from Disney. This is a real consideration at Disney World or any high traffic place where you are going to be putting your hands on lots of things other people have also put their hands on. Having just had a cold and having a compromised immune system made David hyper careful. I guess I wasn’t as careful.
It’s difficult to send mail to campers in Fort Wilderness because you never know your site number until you get there. So Carrie sent my birthday present to Wekiwa and it came on Wednesday and definitely cheered me up. Only those who know me well would know why I would think a set of 60 glitter gel pens would be a perfect gift. Thank you Sweetheart! And what a surprise! When I looked at this picture I realized I really do look under the weather.
By day six, the following Saturday I’m starting to feel a bit better and go out for another but shorter hike just down to the spring.
I like to take the boardwalk trail down to the spring itself but this like the Rock Spring Run, it’s closed due to hurricane damage.
So I walk on to the top of the spring area. Florida’s springs are absolute treasures and each one is different in size and in the way it has been preserved. Many have been turned in to defacto swimming pools with cement sides as here at Wekiwa Springs. But there are others that have been left in their natural state like Blue Springs.
Only the sides of the spring have been altered. The bottom is natural. Even the big rocks have been left. And even with the reflections, the water shows crystal clear.
The bridge crosses over the spring mouth flowing into the Wekiva River, yes WekiWa Spring and WekiVa River. Don’t ask me. Crossing the bridge and forking left will bring you to the boat launch area.
I’ve never asked if it is the WekiWA Spring Run from here or the WekiVA Spring Run. I would think the former but who knows. I investigated the WA vs VA thing in a previous visit and got no clear explanation. I’m betting it has something to do with marketing.
Sure wish these orange and blue kayaks were ours ready and waiting for us.
On my way back to the spring I notice the far end of the boardwalk trail and I can see at least some of the unrepaired damage.
I walk down the steps to the water and put my hand in. The water temperature is perfect and I really wished I’d brought my bathing suit so I could join the few people who are here but as I turned to walk back I had a coughing fit and can barely get my breath. Back home and to the couch I go.
Some things that did manage to get done over these days of being sick were mostly done by David. He had his regular weekly clinic appointment and also drove to Tampa for some screening tests at Moffitt on two days of the week. I went with him on Thursday to drive him back from a bone marrow biopsy.
He also mounted our 4 new fire extinguishers. I talked about why we replaced ours with ones that could handle both flame and smoke fires without ruining the items they are sprayed over.
We have one by the front door, one in the bedroom, one in an outside unlocked compartment and one in the car. They are non-powder which eliminates the messy clean up. They won’t damage engine or car parts and are environmentally safe, non-toxic, non-corrosive, biodegradable and have No CFCs.
We also replaced our heavy and just aggrevating Canon printer with a new HP Envy.
We had some great neighbors here at Wekiwa Springs. Looks like a young Red Shouldered Hawk but my better birding friends might want to correct me.
This little fella liked to hop all around the campsite gravel area. Not sure what he was looking for but it was fun watching him as I rested in my anti-gravity chair.
Next up will be David’s report on his trip to Texas.
We moved back to my favorite place, Gamble Rogers State Recreation Area, on Monday
and on Thursday are taking a short trip to visit Carrie, Celia and Matthew for the holidays.
The colds or whatever are still hanging on mostly as coughing and tiredness.
Sure hope we’re both feeling better by then but time’s running out.
