WHAT'S UP DOCK!?

Leaving Lake Okeechobee, FL we spent a few days in our winter domicile, the Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort, Webster, FL, running errands and acquiring what we will need for our next adventure.

Our Welcoming Committee - Sandhill Cranes - Webster, FL

                 Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort - Webster, FL

The Orange Shop - Highway 301 - Citra, FL 

Old Florida Produce Stands - Along Highway 301 - Florida

 After a few days with our family we depart and our plans are to visit another area of Florida on the Gulf of Mexico for a couple of days.  One of our lessons we have learned in the time that "Ol' Us" have explored "Ol' Florida" is that there is no way to see everything in a couple of months.  We will continue to write about our Old Florida experiences, even after this season of travel because these quaint areas of Florida are rapidly disappearing!

Seafood Food Trucks in Sopchoppy, FL

Scenic Highway U.S. 98 - St. Joe Sound, FL

Our travels throughout the State of Florida have made us aware of the sensitivity of our natural resources.  We commend our Florida State Park System and and our National Park Service and what they do to preserve the delicate balance of nature and continue to enforce the laws throughout our state.  We hope sometimes it isn't too little too late.

US Highway 98 - A Drive along the Coast

Ho Hum RV Park - Carrabelle, FL

Ho Hum RV Park - Carrabelle, FL

We enjoy staying on the St. George Sound, off scenic U.S. Highway 98 and close to Carrabelle, at an unpretentious and popular campground called Ho Hum RV Park.  We said "Good Morning" to our neighbor and he replies "Ho Hum",  and we knew we were in the right place.   Each day, from each unique and regal sunrise, until the last light of day, it is hard to keep your eyes off the activity in the water and the air.

Egret In Flight - Ho Hum RV Park, Carrabelle, FL

Shore birds, passing fishermen in boats, leaping mullet, giant schools of fish, passing dolphin, and fishermen at the end of the dock take up a good part of the day while one attempts to read a few pages of a book.

What's Up Dock!? at Ho Hum RV Park - Must Be Low Tide!

Another glorious day is behind us, and if the tides are right we may join the other fishermen at the end of the 400' dock and attempt to catch a fish, all the while thinking that if one is lucky enough to catch a fish it will have to be cleaned....and that is messy.  So just enjoy the camaraderie and mostly "fake" fishing, and breathe the healthy and clean ocean air.  This scenic area of Ol' Florida never gets Ol' to us.  We have been overwhelmingly blessed... again.

Beautiful Sunrise at Ho Hum - Carrabelle, FL

SAD CATCHERWOMAN - too windy to fish at Ho Hum!

Getting on the road and anticipating what you're going to need for about the next 5 or 6 months takes some organization.  We have a small cottage, suite, etc. at Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort in Webster, FL, and it goes through a major transition when we start storing everything we don't want to take.

Our winter residence at Florida Grande Motorcoach Resort
Webster, FL

Our back yard at Florida Grande - our neighbors are black angus cattle.

Leaving Webster, we travelled 3 hours north to Green Cove Springs, to visit our oldest daughter, Kristen, son-in-law, Harold, and our 4 beautiful grandchildren....like a pre-Mother's Day celebration. From Saturday morning until Monday morning when we departed, we attended a southeast U.S. cheerleading competition in Jacksonville,

Fleming Island Competition Cheerleaders - 2015

 a soccer game, a combined, rolled into one birthday, anniversary, Mother's Day celebration at Tree Steak House, an appointment for Kristen and I for a mani-pedi, and it seems like hundreds of other activities, all simultaneously.  It was hard for us to say goodbye on Monday morning, but getting everyone off to school on time overshadowed any tears and sad goodbyes.  I hope everyone made it to school on time.  We will be back to celebrate Halloween!

We ended a non-eventful 250-plus miles to Carrabelle, FL, at a campground we have stayed several times.  The foul weather up north has been an economic shot in the arm for one of our favorite no-frills campgrounds - Ho Hum RV Park.  It was difficult to get a reservation because everyone loves this laid back lifestyle.   I brought fish bait and a rod and reel and then the wind picked up so that the water was so stirred up the only fish biting were catfish.  I reluctantly gave my dead shrimp bait to our new friend next door who was very appreciative

Entrance to Ho Hum RV Park - Carrabelle, FL

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Front row of Ho Hum - you have a view of Dog Island

We are at Ho Hum Campground for 2 nights until we point our coach in the direction of Florence, AL, but we found a new seafood restaurant - The Pearl - not fancy but it is a pearl.   Delicious local oysters on the half shell, fried Gulf shrimp, oysters and scallops, homemade tartar sauce, hushpuppies, and slaw.  We thought we might have enough to take home for dinner.  Key word: THOUGHT. 

Nothing fancy in Carrabelle, FL

Just another Ho Hum afternoon

We usually stay at Ho Hum towards the end of late October.  Note to self - coming at the end of a successful season is a good idea.  Restaurants are still open and lots of activity and inventory are still in the shops.

Get Hooked in Carrabelle!

Carrabelle, FL Downtown

Sorry I can't post a trophy fish photo on this leg of our trip.  Maybe next stop when we're near the water.  BTW, it was explained to me by one of the local fishermen in Carrabelle that they don't fish here....they catch....thus, I am a SAD CATCHERWOMAN since I was unable to fish because of the weather.

THE ORANGE BLOSSOM SPECIAL

After leaving St. George Island State Park we meandered in an easterly direction on scenic U.S. Highway 98 about 35 miles to Ho Hum RV Park.  If you remember back a few weeks ago we stayed at Ho Hum when we were heading west along the coastline of Florida toward Miramar Beach.

U. S. Highway 98 heading east, near Carrabelle, FL

U. S. Highway 98 heading east near Carrabelle, FL

We enjoyed a quiet evening on a waterfront lot facing the Bay, and finished the day with a beautiful sunset and some pier fishing.   Carrabelle is a VERY quiet little town during the week while the weekends are usually filled with fishermen, boats and all kinds of activities.

Ho Hum RV Park - Carrabelle, FL

Our lot before we parked at Ho Hum 

Fishing Pier at Ho Hum 

Another beautiful sunset at Ho Hum

We are on the last couple of legs of a 7 month long road trip!  For the next couple of days we will be with our daughter and son-in-law and 4 grandchildren in Green Cove Springs, FL, as they prepare to celebrate Halloween.  

Getting ready for Halloween in Green Cove Springs

Getting ready for Halloween in Green Cove Springs, FL

This skeleton just came out of the closet!

Jake the dog, Hello Kitty, Uncle Si and a Teenage Vampire

Austin, Kenneth and Cody on Halloween Night

Uncle Si and the Werewolf on Halloween

While we are in Green Cove Springs we can also accomplish so much before heading south to Webster, FL, for the winter months.   On Halloween night the entire neighborhood goes trick or treating together, parents and all, while we stay at their house to welcome little visitors.  

Ready for Trick or Treaters to ring the doorbell anytime!

 In the past we've discontinued our blog through the winter months.  This year we're planning to continue and hope you will follow our blog when you can.

Clubhouse at Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

Clubhouse

Our back yard at Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

For the past 5 years we have spent most of the winter at Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort in Webster, FL.  While many think our development may be out in the middle of cattle country, it is, and that's one of the reasons we love it.  There are black Angus cattle ranches literally surrounding us.  Our development is located on about 275 acres, with a total of 499 Class A RV sites (although many lots are still undeveloped). 

Winter Residence - Florida Grande Motor Coach Resort

Pool at clubhouse - FGMCR

Clubhouse kitchen - FGMCR

Activities Room - FGMCR

 Being Jacksonville, FL natives, we could never understand the concept of "snowbirds" or why all these people would leave their homes for 6+ months to stay in Florida during the winter months.  Now we understand!  At Florida Grande there are people from just about every direction you can imagine, but several that stand out are Oklahoma, Indiana, Ohio, Nova Scotia, (more Michiganders than you can imagine), Ontario, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, and many more.  If you're a Floridian you should welcome snowbirds with open arms - they make a tremendous difference in local economies where they reside and contribute to every community where they live, whether it be in purchases they make or volunteer opportunities throughout the state.