Making it back to Florida

I’ve got a lot of catching up to do. My fellow bloggers know how it is, the further behind you get on the blog the harder it is to sit down and catch up!

View Larger Map

Okay so let’s catch up. We left Sulphur Lousiana on April 10th and traveled with Paul and Paula to Mandeville, Lousiana and Fontainebleau State Park . We weren’t able to get two sites together as we arrived without reservations. In fact, we were separated by about 4-5 sites. Supposedly there were only four sites available when we arrived. However, on-line there were over 30 sites available the day before! We paid $20 a night for three nights with 50 amp. electric, water and WiFi. However, there wasn’t a sewer hook-up.

Fontainebleau State Park site 50

We spent three nights in Mandeville which gave us a chance to visit with my brother, his wife, niece and nephews. We also spent a day wandering the streets of the New Orleans French Quarter with Paul and Paula.

New Orleans French Quarter

Cafe Du Monde

Moving along, we traveled to Milton Fla. and Avalon Landing RV Park for another 3 nights. We paid about $39 per night minus a 10% GoodSam discount for waterfront sites with full hook-ups and WiFi. The park is small but beautiful and we’ve been here twice before. We had reservations so we were able to get two sites together. While there, we were able to visit with our dear friends, Rocky and Gloria and Paul got to catch up with an old Coast Guard buddy.  

Rocky and Gloria enjoying the afternoon with us.

Maggie

Unfortunately the weather wasn’t fully cooperating as we had a lot of wind but, we were still able to enjoy the beautiful beaches. The bugs were biting in the evening and were a fitting welcome, back to the State of Florida.

Paula and Paul on the windy Pensacola Beach

Our next move was to the Silver Star Ranch, home of our dear friends, George and Bonnie. Paul and Paula traveled with us for the last time on April 16th (more on that later). Just two miles from the ranch, my TST Tire Pressure Monitor System went off alerting me that the right rear tire on the fifth wheel was loosing air and down to 89 PSI. (cold PSI should be 110). I continued traveling slowly on the county road to the ranch as Paul and Paula kept an eye on my leaking tire. Once on the ranch we got Paul and Paula parked and then moved my rig over to the equipment barn where George removed the tire after loosening the lugs with his air impact wrench.  We discovered a large metal object stuck in the middle of the tread.

Paul and Paula's rig at the Silver Star Ranch.

Paul and I loaded up the Goodyear RST G-rated tire into his truck along with the spare and headed to a local tire shop in Bronson, Fl. The shop repaired the tire and I had them swap the wheels between the spare and the repaired tire thus, making the repaired tire the spare. This was at a cost of $45.

Back at the ranch, we replaced the tires and got parked alongside George and Bonnie’s home. The timing couldn’t have been better with regard to the tire issue and arriving at the ranch.

Sunrise at the Silver Star Ranch.  Our rig next to the house.

The horses, Prince, Ruger and Doc.

We spent two beautiful days on the ranch with Paul and Paula before they had to leave us and head north. We had been traveling companions off and on since July of last year and we already miss them. We've become great friends and we plan to see them again down the road. It’s a lot more comforting traveling with others as opposed to being out on the road alone. However, we were doing it alone before we met and we’ll get used to doing it alone once again.

Paul and Paula ready to leave us.

After Paul and Paula left, we spent a few more days on the ranch and called around the Jacksonville/ St. Augustine area looking for a campground that could take us for a month or more. Our plan was to spend some time with our daughter and son-in-law. Our first choice was Stage Coach RV Park. So, Joyce called but was told that our Boxers would not be welcomed as they are on “the aggressive dog list”. We were shocked to hear that knowing that our boxers could only lick someone to death! So after several more calls we found a campground, Frog Hollow Court Mobile/ RV Park that would take us for a month with our Boxers. However, there was a problem with the site as the previous occupant got his motorhome stuck in the sand trying to pull out. After a few days, the park called us and told us the site was ready as they had brought in coquina rock and limestone to fill in the site. 

A Bike Ride on the Wet Trails, Saying Goodbye to Family

March 10, 2010.


We didn't get the expected rain overnight.  In fact the morning was overcast but dry except for the fog.  Temps were in the low 70's.


I did some preparations for travel day tomorrow.  I checked the air in the rig's tires making sure they were at 80 p.s.i. cold.  The patched tire held its air..so far so good.  Then I put the transponders for the tire pressure monitor on the valve stems.


Sadie came over and dropped off Santo to stay with Joyce as she went to her hair appointment.  Joyce enjoyed looking after Santo.

I decided to go for an off-road bike ride.  The trail which was a mixture of single and double track was very wet and muddy.

I went as far as I could go before the effort became futile as I was running out of dry land and loosing traction in the swampy Louisiana muck.

I made my way back and took a detour to a damaged observation deck, that I can only assume was damaged during one of the hurricanes.

I rode out to the beach in the park at Lake Pontchartrain and took this photo of a solitary cypress tree.  I thought it was cool pic.

A final shot for us of the Fountainebleau State Park pier.  

I took my bike out back and washed it off after taking a shower in the bath house.

Sadie and Damon arrived at our rig and Joyce and I left with each of them respectively for a late lunch.  Joyce and Sadie took Santo and went to a Thai restaurant in Mandeville.  Damon and I went to a Mexican restaurant and had a terrific lunch.  Then Damon and I left to pick up Sergio and Sophia from school and brought them back to our rig to hang out and say goodbye.  

We've sure enjoyed our visit and hope to see my brother and his beautiful family again soon.  Something that will be much easier to do in our RV lifestyle.  

Tonight stormy weather is forecasted.  In fact there is a severe storm warning until 2 a.m.  I'm looking forward to our travel day tomorrow.  We plan to head towards Sulphur Louisiana just west of Lake Charles Louisiana.  It should be just over 200 miles.  

Laundry Day and Hanging Out With Family

February 9th, 2010.
It was a cloudy damp day with rain threatening off and on all day.  However, there wasn't any substantial rain fall.


It was laundry day and my brother, Damon was off work early because of the weather.  We met him at a local breakfast restaurant, Sunrise On Second in Slidell.  It was a gourmet style breakfast and lunch restaurant.  The food was excellent.  We each ordered a breakfast as it was only 10:30.

Later we went to Damon's house and used their washer and dryer.  Damon picked up our youngest nephew, Santo and we spent the afternoon together.  The pictures are from a few days earlier, as I failed to take any pictures during our visit today.

Around 4:00 Damon and I went to pick up Sergio and Sophia from their private school.
  

Then we all hung out until Damon's wife Sadie came home.
  

By then it was time for us to get back to Maggie and Rico who had been home alone all day.


We pulled into the park at around 5:30 and took some pics of deer grazing along the road and in the day use park.

Later in the evening, I worked on my Campsite Review page trying to make all the fonts and spacing uniform.  Tomorrow we are expecting rain and wind.  But when it clears I'll make preparations to leave Thursday.

A Hike with Maggie and Rico, Shopping in Slidell

March 8, 2010.
The day started with cloudy skies and cool temps.  Rain was forecasted for the afternoon.

We decided to take Maggie and Rico for a long walk.  We started off by walking around both the old and new campground.  We noted that at least two of the paved loops in the new campground are unimproved sites with paved slabs but no power or water.  It seems at least to us, that a lot of sites and space have been dedicated to dry camping.  However, none of the sites were occupied and haven't been with the exception of one or two during our stay.  The power and water sites appeared to be about 80% full.  I'm not sure why the park would plan for so many dry camping sites.  We also noted a lot of standing water.  But hey, we've seen signs proclaiming Louisiana as "America's Wet lands".


We continued our walk with a hike through Fontainebleau State Park's Alligator Boardwalk trail.  The trail was pretty muddy in spots, but Maggie and Rico were thoroughly enjoying it.  

We made it out to the boardwalk which takes you out over Lake Ponchartrain.

There were a couple of observation areas at the end of the boardwalks.  We saw lots of ducks in the distance. 

Although it was an overcast day, the views out on the lake were beautiful.

Back at the rig, Maggie and Rico were ready of a long nap.  Joyce and I did some cleaning up.  She vacuumed and cleaned inside.  I used our portable tank to empty our gray tank at the dump station.


In the afternoon it began to sprinkle a bit.  Joyce wanted to look for a jacket so we took off to some shops around Slidell.  Before leaving the park, we extended our stay by one day as foul weather is expected through Wednesday.  So now we plan to move on Thursday.  We spent the rest of the evening at home waiting for the heavy rain that never came.

New Orleans, Weekenders and Visting with Family

March 6, 2010.

One of the most beautiful sunny days we’ve had this year, with temps in the low 60’s.

My brother and nephew were on a planned turkey hunting expedition, so they weren’t able to spend the day with us.  However, My brother’s lovely wife, Sadie our niece Sophia, and 6 mos. old nephew Santo, picked us up for a trip to New Orleans. 

We started out the day with breakfast at a local restaurant.  The it was off to New Orleans over the 24 mile long Causeway Bridge crossing Lake Pontchartrain the longest bridge in the world.  

We got down to the French Quarter and were shocked at the number of people downtown.  Sadie tried to find a parking space in the public lot by the Mississippi River however, for the first time in her memory it was full and she couldn’t find a space.  We ended up in another very crowded public parking lot.

We started off with the obligatory shopping through the flea market. Downriver from Jackson Square and Artillery Park the historic French Market on Decatur Street dates to 1791 and is the oldest farmer's market in the U.S

We then wandered through many of the streets in the french quarter, taking  a lot of pictures and checking out the shops and crafts.

We walked through Jackson Square. Jackson Square is surrounded by historic buildings; St. Louis Cathedral—the oldest continuously active cathedral in the United States. 

A statue of General Andrew Jackson stands in the center of the square.

Joan Of Arc was holding the New Orleans Saints Flag.  Hmm...I don’t recall seeing her with the flag when I was here a few years ago!   With all the Saints outfits and paraphernalia, you’d think they had won the Super Bowl this year!

Joan of Arc—the "Maid of Orleans"—a the French peasant girl who saw heavenly beings and heard their voices led an army to break the siege of Orleans, changed the tide of The 100 Years' War and bacame a national herione of France. This Joan of Arc statue was presented to the City of New Orleans as a gift from the people of France by President Charles de Gaulle during a state visit in 1959.

We continued our stroll through the French Quarter taking the obligatory French Quarter balcony shots.

Before long we were all tired and hungry again.  So we headed to Cafe Du Monde for some coffee and beignets. 

As usual we had to wait in line.  However, this time the service was particularly bad as we sat for over 30 mins. before we had a waitress clear the table from the previous customers.  Anyhow, it was worth the wait...I guess.  At least that’s what the girls told me!

Afterwards, we went for a walk on the Mississippi River Walk and made our way back to the car.  

This paddle boat was making it’s way down The Mississippi River after having traversed the crest in the river the namesake for the Crescent City.

We made it back to our campsite, where we shared dinner with Sadie and Sophia before they had to call it a night.  We had a great time and appreciated the guided tour by native born Sadie.

March 7, 2010.  We again woke to a beautiful sunny day that quickly warmed to the low 60’s.  We stayed home during the morning hanging out in the sun while being entertained by the weekenders packing up and heading home.  Friday and Saturday this park was full.  Just about every third camper had a fire going.  At night it was foggy and the smoke was hanging thick in the air.  

It was nice to see the weekenders clear out with all their noisy kids, dogs and adults.  I’m sure the air quality will clear up with the weekenders gone!  Perhaps I’m sounding snobbish.  Seriously, I like that the weekenders enjoy camping and taking their kids out to enjoy camping.

It’s just different, when Rv’ing is your lifestyle and not a weekend adventure.  So it’s kinda interesting and fun to watch the weekenders come and go.  There were four families in the sites next to us that were obviously all camping together perhaps as an extended family in separate rvs.  Between them there must have been 8-12 kids aged 5-12 with 4 dogs.  The noise they all created was borderline ridiculous.  But apparently they camp here often.  I was entertained by the fellow in the site next to me attempting to hitch up his fifth wheel while being assisted by two or more of his friends.  He could sure use some practice!

In the afternoon, we went over to Damon and Sadie’s home and enjoyed playing with the kids and grilling out.  We also celebrated Sadie’s mom’s birthday.  We had a great time and look forward to some other activities together throughout the week.

Fontaine Bleu Vistor Center, Tandem Bike Tour via Mandeville and Abita Springs,

March 5, 2010.

The day was sunny and bright in the morning with temps in the 30’s.  It quickly warmed to the high 50’s in the bright sun.  

After walking Maggie and Rico, we decided to take a ride on our Cannondale Road Tandem. Of course by then it was approaching noon!  We started off with a ride through Fontainebleau State Park.  After cruising by Lake Ponchartrain we came across the visitor center which we had overlooked until now. 

Inside, we saw some historical artifacts from the area and learned that Fontainebleau once had an operational sugar mill on the property at the turn of the century.  The mill ruins are just outside of the visitor center.

The crumbling brick ruins of a sugar mill built in 1829 by Bernard de Marigny de Mandeville, founder of the nearby town of Mandeville, suggest an interesting history for this site, and indeed there is. The wealthy Marigny developed this area across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans as a sugar plantation until 1852. The plantation income helped support his lavish lifestyle. He named his large land holding Fontainebleau after the beautiful forest near Paris, a favorite recreation area of the French kings.

Some additional displays on the history of the area and Fontainebleau State Park were found in the visitor’s center.

We spoke for a while with the park ranger in the visitor center.  He told us about a Bald Eagle’s nest and then made arrangements to have a staffer meet us at the site with a scope to see the nest.  The nest was far from the road in a tall pine tree.  Through the scope we were able to see the nest and just make out the eaglet. 

Afterwards, we left the park and went west on the paved Tammany Trace Bike trail, one of the national Rails to Trails projects.  We rode through Mandeville, La and continued into Abita Springs, La.

The trail had some interesting features to include an underpass under La Hwy 190.

Also of interest to me was this section of the trail with a bridge over a water feature, and the trail going under interstate I-12 before approaching construction. I mean how many times do you ride a bike under an interstate!  It was a first for us.  And for my friend, Rocky I was sure to include the cell tower in the photo!

A fair portion of the trail up to this point involved a lot of intersections.

However as the trail turned north there were long spans of uninterrupted trail.  I noted there were signs all over for horse trails intersecting the Trace Trail.

Once we got to Abita Springs, we decided to have a late lunch.  A local resident suggested we go to the Brew Pub.  Inside we split a Muffuletta sandwich a local favorite.

By the time we got back home we had ridden close to 30 miles.  We spent the rest of the day hanging out at the rig. Just another beautiful day in our Rv lifestyle.


We made plans with my sister in law to go to New Orleans tomorrow.  My Brother and nephew Sergio won’t be with us as they had plans before our arrival to go on a turkey hunting trip over the weekend.  So we will continue our visit with them when they get back!