We’re up pretty early and packed, ready to go after a coffee and farewells. Steve not feeling well (I have that effect on people) so hopefully our departure will improve his wellbeing. It has been a great few days, unbelievable hospitality and loads of fun.
Except for the euchre games.
We’re on our way to Fort Desoto Park in Pinellas County, south of Tampa. We’ll cross the Florida peninsula in a leisurely manner, rather than the fastest route across the turnpike and some major interstates.
First, though, we must fly by DJ Trump’s rez in Palm Beach just up the road from Delray. We take the scenic route there along A1A and wow at the houses on the sea coast. Wow. Turns out to be a good decision traffic-wise too.
OK, Dad wants to rock ‘n’ roll to Fort DeSoto but Mom wants the scenic route so we decide to go with Mom’s route. As Blair would say, gonna be dead a long time.
The scenic route, is not terribly scenic and our mission to see Lake Okeechobee is a bit of a disappointment. Listen, this is the RV capital of the world. We didn’t count them but we passed, no joke, maybe 50 RV parks within about 10 miles. And I’m not talking about nice RV parks either. I can hear banjos playing as we drive. You can’t even see the lake because it’s hidden by the berm that protects against flooding.
We do find a cross-over and see the lake. It’s big. 10th or 2nd largest lake in the US (depending how you count) although it is only 10 feet deep.
Onward.
Stop for a quick lunch, some supplies at Winn Dixie and on to Fort Desoto Park. Now this is a park. Camp sites are great, we can’t get one with waterfront but that’s OK, ours is still pretty sweet – lots of privacy, with water and power. We set up camp and then head to the North Beach by car since it’s about 5 miles away and it will be dark by the time we get back.
The beach is amazing. Wide, long, warm, and almost pristine. We walk to the end of the north beach and stick around for the sunset. Not bad, not bad at all. Wish I was a better photographer with more patience.
Back at the camp, we fry up some rehy and hang out in the Day Building and read, do some work before bedtime.
We have Liz’s inflatable bedroll with us and two thermarests with holes in them. I take the thermarests, C takes the bedroll.
