Gulfcoast Gator Ranch and airboat tours

Tonight  we are staying  at  a  Gator Ranch in Moss,  Mississippi.    This is a free parking spot overnight,  thanks to Harvest Hosts.    We did the walking  tour and airboat ride for $30 each.   This place was greatly affected by Hurricane  Katrina.  In fact,  all of their  gators floated out.   One of the pictures is the Katrina waterline.  

Johnny 's RV resort, Theodore Alabama

Passport America $17.50,  nice Lake for walking the dogs around off leash.    They could  swim in it.  

What were we thinking!!!

We have arrived at our new location.   Old Pavilion RV park,  Keaton Beach, Florida.  We discovered this gorgeous rv park right on the gulf of mexico .  Or site has a 270 degree view of the ocean.   This site is $20 a night with full hook ups and wifi.  The sunset here is priceless.   The unfortunate part is we arrived here the same day as the arctic blast from up north.   The campground manager had to turn off the water for the evening to prevent ruptured pipes.  The wind is howling and it is cold.   We had to turn on our furnace.  I had to put on a jacket and long pants.   Norm is still being a rebel, wearing shorts.  We were gonna stay for just 2 nights, but after discovering the sewer line for the rv outside is frozen,  we decided to stay until tomorrow when it will be warmer and unhooking won't be a messy job.

My first day of driving the rv

So I figured  it was time.    I  wanted to  start where traffic was light  and  the road straight.    I  started  in florida  on I10.   As soon as I  started I was sorry.     It is  harder  than it looks.    The Rv is 40 ft long plus another 20ft for the tow dolly and car.      So 60 ft to think about  before changing lanes and slowing  and increasing  speed.     The steering wheel is wiggley  and requires  constant  attention.    No just going  straight.   Then a truck  comes up on the side  and it's sideways  air pushes me toward  the  gutter.    As I  am trying  to keep  it straight and not over compensate.   The rumble  strip  is loud.     My stress level  was through  the  roof.    norm said I did fine.     But before finishing up my eighty  miles,  a big Rig came up on my left side.    He must have been texting  and  swerved into my lane  almost  hit me.    The words that came out of me are not fit for this blog.     I  switched  out of driving.    I  will  try another  day.    That is enough for today.

Orange picking, a must do before leaving Florida

Today we are actually heading south from where we are staying.  I went to purchase some oranges.  I asked the man selling them where I could pick them.  He gave me the name  "Hancock Groves"  Dade City, Florida.  I couldn't pass up the opportunity to see orange trees.   We arrived at the grove.   Received our basket picker,  wagon and bag, and we were off!   I have my boots on, because my cousin, Maryann, assures me there are snakes in the trees.   We picked a medium size bag of oranges and grapefruits.  I sent some to my father in Connecticut.  It is his birthday next week.    

 

by the way ,  no snakes observed.   Just the little guy sitting on an orange

Norm's birthday party with the manatees

While talking with some local Florida residents.   Upon being asked where to see manatees,  they states Crystal River, Florida.   After a little internet follow up, we came up with our plans for Norm's birthday.   We went to an RV park just north of Crystal River "Cattail Creek Rv park" Yankeetown, Florida.  It was $15 a night full hook ups and wifi.   I do not recommend this place.   The showers were dirty and there was no hot water.   There does appear to be some amount of work being done there and possibly with some time it will improve.   The next morning, we packed our inflatable kayak and snorkeling equipment into the car.    we went to a dive shop to get myself some flippers.    We were able to rent flippers and a dive flag.   We had already watched on the internet the required video that tells you how to safely watch the manatees in their environments legally and without posing a threat to the manatees.    We blew up the kayak at a local park and paddled out of a river and up into a different branch,    It took about 30 minutes.   We saw many humps of the manatees in an area that is closed to humans.  we went a little more upriver and we came to "Three sisters spring"   there is a roped area where the manatees hang out and rest.  People cannot enter,  but the manatees can swim out.  There was a few manatees.   At one point a mother manatee and her baby swam right under us.   I could see so clearly a scar on her back from a boat propeller.    Her baby was about the same size as me and the mamma was huge.

Withlacoochie preserve, yankeetown, Florida

A short ride from our campsite.  We took the dogs here a a walk and to let them run.

New tow dolly

Unfortunately our tow dolly was malfunctioning on the trip south.  We looked into repairing it.  We discovered it would make more sense to purchase a new one.  So we sold our old one on Craigslist.  We purchased a new one with better tires and LED lights.   We hate using a tow dolly, when we get to Ct we are going to sell it. We will purchase a vehicle that can be flat towed.

Fort Desoto Park, Florida

We have a gorgeous site on the peninsula.  Waterfront,   $42.  per night  water and electric.  This place is heavenly.  The wildlife is abundant,  they are  very dog friendly, the sites are shady and large, there is a dog beach and 3 other beaches. The bathhouse has hot high pressure showers.  There are plenty of places to walk, hike, ride bikes and kayak.  Nicole joined us for  two weeks during Christmas and New Years.  She really enjoyed the place,  although there was no pool or hot tub!  Nicole would go for long walks,   and bike rides.

New years Eve

We went to a 600 dinner with Henry and Steph, Nicole and Norm and myself. We went to Crabby Bill's.   Nicole and Henry had octopus! Everyone enjoyed raw oysters, except me.  Yuck, to seafood.  Then we went home.   Unfortunately I got an headache on the way. So I went to bed.  Norm and Nicole stayed up and watched the times square ball.   I woke up one minute before midnight.