Rich_by_the_Bay
Moderator Emeritus
Spent the last 3 days camping in the Myakka River State Park about 50 miles south of here in our newish class B RV.
This park is a gem. Gorgeous terrain (though flat, of course), clean and pretty campsites, not crowded yet. Sightings: wood storks, bald eagles, cranes, vultures, and about 10 other species; alligators up to 13 feet all over the waterways, deer, wild pigs, red-shouldered hawks. It was quiet as can be at night. We mostly chilled, hiked, chatted with others.
The RV came through nicely. Only glitch was that the furnace (it's a ceramic heater running off propane which is on the exterior of the chassis) went on at about 4 am during a cold snap here. Being the first time it ran, it must have kicked up some dust, setting off the smoke detector. You can't imagine what that sounds like 3 feet from your head in a 22' vehicle. Didn't recur.
Meals: reheated pasta and Gramma's meatball recipe; asparagus and talapia; mostly grazed on nuts and fruit during the day, burgers and sweet potato fries, salad. superb wine each night They don't permit alcohol in the parks.
The Sprinter continues to get 21-22 MPG. Our dog seems to love camping more than we do - all excitement, the necessary marking of her territory (i.e. the entire park). Do have to avoid river banks there - gators love dogs.
We like camping in the RV. It's a womb thing. And we are loving the array of parks in the Fla state system. Makes a great destination rolling hotel room for city touring, too, assuming the campgrounds are available. One of the best was in Charleston when we visited the Astromerias. Another was Anastasia in St. Augustine.
So far, we're glad we went ahead with this now rather than waiting until retirement.
This park is a gem. Gorgeous terrain (though flat, of course), clean and pretty campsites, not crowded yet. Sightings: wood storks, bald eagles, cranes, vultures, and about 10 other species; alligators up to 13 feet all over the waterways, deer, wild pigs, red-shouldered hawks. It was quiet as can be at night. We mostly chilled, hiked, chatted with others.
The RV came through nicely. Only glitch was that the furnace (it's a ceramic heater running off propane which is on the exterior of the chassis) went on at about 4 am during a cold snap here. Being the first time it ran, it must have kicked up some dust, setting off the smoke detector. You can't imagine what that sounds like 3 feet from your head in a 22' vehicle. Didn't recur.
Meals: reheated pasta and Gramma's meatball recipe; asparagus and talapia; mostly grazed on nuts and fruit during the day, burgers and sweet potato fries, salad. superb wine each night They don't permit alcohol in the parks.
The Sprinter continues to get 21-22 MPG. Our dog seems to love camping more than we do - all excitement, the necessary marking of her territory (i.e. the entire park). Do have to avoid river banks there - gators love dogs.
We like camping in the RV. It's a womb thing. And we are loving the array of parks in the Fla state system. Makes a great destination rolling hotel room for city touring, too, assuming the campgrounds are available. One of the best was in Charleston when we visited the Astromerias. Another was Anastasia in St. Augustine.
So far, we're glad we went ahead with this now rather than waiting until retirement.
