Pioneer Settlement, Barberville, Florida

 We were up with the sun and luckily a nursery truck unlocked the winery gate so we were good to go north to Melbourne to Oh Biscuit Cafe for breakfast. We cruised through Manatee Hammock Campground for their dump station and then we were on our way to Barberville. This Harvest Host location was hosting music on the porches and the entire historic settlement was decorated for Christmas. The sun was out but cool enough for a jacket as we wandered among the 20 buildings stopping to listen to musicians throughout the settlement. A picnic lunch of a cheeseburger and chips from the concession along with Brazilian candies from one of the vendors and we were content to finish out our walking tour. We have our lawn chairs out by Cutie listening to the music as the park closes at 3 pm and we should have a quiet evening parked in between two Airstream trailers under the palm trees.

Walking the grounds

Our boondocking campsite

The old country store

Great music across from country store

Trying my hand at dipping candles

Musicians on the porch of the  old post office

Petting the donkey

Beauty of the peacock's feathers through the fence

Old tour boat

Pottery Barn

Dragonfly

Old fire house

Brick plantation home under restoration

Musicians on the porch of the Methodist Church

Stained glass vendor on the green

Summer Crush Winery, Fort Pierce, Florida

 A late breakfast at Wawa and a trip to the Ace Hardware Store in Fort Pierce and then we were headed out to the Summer Crush Winery outside Fort Pierce, another Harvest Host. We were the first RV to show up and were directed to a wonderful pull-through site in a roped-off area behind the tasting room. We had three other larger rigs show up before the afternoon was up. The pavilion hosts live music events on Saturday and Sunday afternoons. The plant nursery on the grounds adds additional plantings and greenery beyond the muscadine grapevines. A small pond and a nautical theme and outdoor seating make it a great venue for outdoor events. We were grateful to have the place to ourselves to visit with Dorothy's sister and brother-in-law who drove over from Indian Harbour Beach. The gift shop was fun shopping so we opted out of the fruit wine tasting and just enjoyed happy hour beside the vineyard.

Our boondocking campsite

In the middle of the vineyard

A few grapes escaped being picked

Grounded pontoon boat seating

Marina dock

Picnic table seating in the Pavillion

The tasting room

Gift shop

So true

Relaxing and social distancing

Our neighbors for the night

Bedner's Fresh Market, Boyton Beach, Florida

 We enjoyed the Bee Barn gift shop and the bee lesson from Robin, the geographic pollinator as she told us about raising queen bees. Heading south along the same route we took on our way to Miami to fly to Peru, we enjoyed the rural route along the sugar cane fields. We found our way to the Handmade Mattress company in Fort Lauderdale and loaded our guest berth mattress into the back of the Highlander. It was a quick drive up the Turnpike to Bedner's Fresh Market in Boyton Beach, our harves host. We were given directions to park in the overflow lot  behind the market adjacent to the fields and then we went grocery shopping browsing through the fresh produce and other specialty food items.  We loaded up with homemade chowder and fresh bread and a bottle of red wine for dinner. One other renovated school bus is parked behind us as they close the gates at 7 pm and we can enjoy the wildlife preserve next door for a morning hike.

 

Our boondocking space along the sugar cane fields

Our Harvest Host

Great fresh market

Masks, gloves and social distancing

Local orchids

Spice plants

Sunset over sugar cane fields

Right down the road

Early planting

Cyprus Swamp

Cyprus Swamp boardwalk

Great educatiional tour signs

Deer everywhere

Migrating ducks

Obseration tower

Limpec like a great blue heron

Lots of birds

Rabbit on the path

Flock of green parrots

Bee Barn, Zolfo Springs, Florida

 We had a pleasant drive along old highway 98 through the "Old Florida" finding our way to another Harvest Location at the Bee Barn in Zolfo Springs. We arrived after the shopkeeper had left early for the day  but were directed to park anywhere in the grass around the gift shop for the night. A picnic table under the trees was the perfect spot for happy hour. The Bee Barn usually is open 10 am -4 pm so we'll just have to see if we get a chance to go inside. Robin, the manager dropped by as we were enjoying happy hour and invited us back into the shop in the morning.

Bee Barn Harvest Host location

Gift Shop

Our boondocking camp site

Happy Hour at the Bee Barn

Swinging on the front porch with beehive activity behind

Large grassy area to park

Bee-utiful surroundings

Gorgeous blooming rose