Big Lagoon State Park - Pensacola, Florida

Big Lagoon was a very nice park.  Our campsite #2 was a little tight but we had good neighbors on both sides so not a problem:

There was plenty of biking on and off road in the park:

While we were there, the Blue Angels came back from the west coast and performed.  We were able to catch some of the show from the park which is only a few miles from the base:

This one flew pretty close by:

The park had many osprey nest perched high atop dead trees.  If you look closely you'll see this guy is carrying a fish that it just grabbed from the river:

A few nest you'd see the female working on the nest and the male close by watching:

this time the male is inspecting her work:

Forest fires nearby would leave haze across the sky (if you look closely here you can see it).  Looked pretty cool with the moon out in the middle of the day too:

One day we drove to Gulf Shores Alabama (only 10-15 miles west).  What a pleasant surprise!  Beaches are very nice here, water was clear too.  We were told that these beaches were hit hard by the oil spill but no signs of it at all:

Another day we drove to Pensacola (about 40 mins away).  This was a much more happening place on the beach than most places we've been so far.  Bars & restaurants lined the bay beach seen here below:

along with the ocean beach across the street.  Fine white sand and clear waters:

Later in the afternoon we had a late lunch at "Crabs" (very good food) on the beach:

As you can see, the beaches here filled up with the spring breakers - they were pretty tame:

While at Pensacola, we made the 10 mile ride down the narrow white sand peninsula to tour Fort Pickens:

Interesting architecture  but a little eerie to walk through:

This fort played a very important role in the civil war as the only southern fort held by union troops which prevented the south from using the naval fleet there.  This fort also held Geronimo and several of his tribe captive here:

For Suze birthday, we kayaked, biked, relaxed and had a very nice dinner on the river at the Oyster Bar restaurant on Perdido Key.  Instead of cake we lit a fire later (yes, we had cake too - just no candles):

A couple of days we kayaked up and down the river from the park's boat ramp.  Beautiful scenery but but the current and the wind (not too bad in this pic) made us work for it:

On another day we rode bikes from the camp over to the National Sea Shore Park (~5 miles one way).  The park was mostly a bright white sandy peninsula with the ocean and inlet river on either side:

This was a great place to camp.  All kinds of stuff to do in the park or near by.  Honorable mention goes to the Shrimp Basket for it's $3 a doz oysters & more!  Now we're off to Gautier, Mississippi (near Biloxi and on the Gulf).  More to come . . .

St Andrews State Park - Panama City, Florida

Wow, St Andrews State Park was a pleasant surprise!  Liked it so much here I decided to stay longer and cancelled moving back down to Grayton Beach.  Started with this nice sunny corner lot:  

But then had to move to this lot closer to the water in order to stay here for additional time.  Not a great shot of the new lot (which was much smaller) but check out our furry friend who came to visit once Suze had returned (finger tip):

This guy welcomed me as I pulled into the park on day 1:

Daily while out riding my bike I would run into these 2 does and their fawns. 

If you looked around real closely you'd usually see 1 or 2 bucks keeping a close eye on them:

There were a couple of areas where numerous birds would all hang out together in the park:

This park offerred everything we wanted.  Bays, inlets and ocean beaches, boat ramps, rental boats, biking and hiking trails, fishing peirs and more.  Highly reccomend staying here!  The bay across from the campsite was beautiful:

and these 3 ducks would cruise the shoreline every day:

The park beach was beautiful with it's white powder sand and clear tourqoise water:

When the wind kicked up the waters here would be full of surfers and kite surfing wake boarders:

Even when the double red flags were out due to dangerous water conditions, the waters were full of these guys (look closely at all the specs in the water):

Here I am doing my favorite thing while here alone . . . giving myself a time out in my beach chair to admire the 4 ringers I just threw . . .

Some of the beaches here had huge sand walls carved into them - tons of sea shells burried in these walls too:

The sunsets here were beautiful too:

While I was here, the St Andrews section of Panama City hosted a Mardi Gras parade.  I gave away half of my beads to kids in front of me but I still left with about 10 lbs of bling around my neck.  Captain Jack Sparrow himself was leading this particular crew:

Later in week there was another Mardi Gras parade at Pier Park.  Weather was a little cooler but Pier Park was packed with people . . . all to get a neckful of plastic beads:

For those of you who haven't seen one of these parades, if you look closely at the float you'll see all the beads hanging on the sides which they will completely unload in about 1/2 mile of parade route:

Even the 4 legged creatures were in party mode:

A special thanks to Larry and Sandee who are "The Best" campground host here at St Andrews SP - thanks for your help - we look forward to seeing you both either in Wisconsin or New Hampshire in the future!

We're off to Big Lagoon State Park in Pensacola, FL . . . more to come  . . .

Amelia Island - Fort Clinch S.P. & St Augustine - Stagecoach RV Park, Florida

Fort Clinch State Park was a very nice park.  They had campsites near the beach which were very wide open (but not available) and beautiful wooded sites inland (narrow maneuvering) which made it challenging for larger rigs.  We had to switch campsites as our 1st site was too narrow but once settled, it was nice:

The park offered miles of bike & hiking trails and beaches to explore.  A thick fog hovered along the coast while we were here - it would roll on and off shore throughout the days:

The beaches weren't the nicest we've seen - the water looked reddish brown (minerals in the water we were told) but the sands were flat and wide which was good for walking:

From camp, you could walk the beach to the fort:

And along the way we spotted dolphins fishing in the channel and this guy trying to catch some rays:



We saw several armadillos throughout the park too.  For a nominal fee, you can enter the Fort from within the park.  O'er the ramparts we watched, the fog gallantly streaming in:

The Fort was a good take with civil war soldiers present to answer any questions:

Our good friends the Taylor's from Cinci referred us to Fort Clinch & Amelia Island  - we may have figured out their angle when we hit the fort's supply house:

Overall, this is a good place to stop for a night or 2.  Wouldn't come here for the beaches but the biking, hiking and fort are worth the visit!

We left Amelia Island (just north of Jacksonville) for St Augustine (just south of Jacksonville) where we stayed at a very nice Stagecoach RV Park!  Sites are all pull throughs with plenty of room.  The park itself doesn't have a whole lot to offer in terms of activities (with the exception of a small playground and horseshoe pits) which is probably why there were very few kids around (making it a nice quiet place).  Everything you need is close by including Camping World, Old Town St Augustine and St Augustine beaches. 

St. Augustine was founded forty-two years before the English colony at Jamestown, Virginia, and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed on Plymouth Rock in Massachusetts - making it the oldest permanent European settlement on the North American continent.   The old city downtown area has streets that are for pedestrians only - and perches with drinks for patrons to observe it all below:

On the water downtown is the fort "Castillo de San Marcos" which was built by the Spanish in the 1600's:

 O'er the ramparts were a great place to sit/lay and watch the boats and people go by:

A few miles east from the old city and you hit St Augustine Beach.  Very nice white sandy beaches:

When I wasn't giving lessons on how to surf here:

My other favorite thing about these beaches was that they were wide, flat and hard so you could bike for miles . . . and we did . . . with the wind . . . lots of cool sights along the way but not fun against the wind on the way back!

Another day we hit Anastasia State Park there . . . same thing but a lot fewer people (very nice!):

From the park beach you could see the 1874 replacement for the oldest lighthouse in the country which we climbed (all ~300 steps):

Incredible views once you reached the top:

Another day we took a sail out of downtown aboard EcoTours with Captain Aaron - great trip!

We had to wait for the bridge to open (which happens every 30 mins of the hour and half hour):

Incredible views of the city as we sailed:

Along with great views of the fort:

And the lighthouse:

So, back to camp.  Like I said, this place didn't have a whole lot to offer but it's high on our recommendation list.  You never know what you might see as you travel the country:

It's 5 O'clock everywhere with these guys!  I managed to catch the shuttle taking off (120 miles south) - very cool thing to see!

One of the things I enjoyed the most on our visit to St Augustine and Stagecoach RV park was the folks I met there on the horseshoe pits!  Dan (right, my partner, carried me in a 2-1 win) & Bill (who I may have converted from a spinner to a flipper - we'll see if he orders his own pythons) pictured here:

And blurry John (who was doing battle with me here covering each others ringers):

I have to also mention "slick" Willie (with a reputation but no worse than any of my friends or relatives that play) and Bob who weren't there for picture day - all there for the winter and great guys to pitch with!

It's off to Panama City Beach & Grayton Beach again as we start to work our way west before heading north.  Suze is back home playing in the snow (and "working") while I rough it on the snow white beaches.  So far St Andrews State Park in Panama City is looking pretty nice!

more to come . . .