Ochlockonee River State Park, Sopchoppy, Florida

 We packed up after dinner with Valerie and Graham except for hitching up the car so we got an early start heading north. We stopped in Saint Petersburg Beach at Addicted to the Bean for a great breakfast sandwich and coffee before driving back up to Ochlockonee River State Park. We stopped on the way for an early dinner in Sopchoppy at Hamaknockers BBQ for delicious ribs, smoked chicken, and mac and cheese. We set up camp and then headed out with our binoculars to hike the nature trails before sundown. We enjoyed a chilly happy hour at the campsite before going inside the camper due to the cold. We got an early start to Carrabelle to eat breakfast at the Bubble Waffle Factory before driving back to Valparaiso. We got a chance to unpack before the rain started.

One of several woodpeckers we spotted

Along the Ochlockonee River Trail

So peaceful and calm

Our campsite at Ochlocknee River State Park

The white squirrel near the dump station

Fort de Soto County Park, Tierra Verde, Florida

 We chose the interstate route to drive to Fort de Soto Park near Saint Petersberg Beach and the traffic was busy so we were glad to arrive around 3 pm. We were lucky to be able to change campsites for the same site for both nights a few spaces down from Valerie and Graham. It was a chilly, windy evening sitting out for happy hour and dinner with them but great catching up since we had not seen each other for a while. The next morning we cooked breakfast and took a walk around the campground before meeting up to drive to tour the fort, walk the fishing pier and the beach, and then along another beach with a view of the Skyway Bridge. It was a beautiful sunny day and we warmed up walking and then stopping at Billie's Stone Crab Restaurant for happy hour margaritas. Then back to the campground to grill out and enjoy another fun evening with friends.

Kayaks at the campground

Bicycles around the campground

More white pelicans

My sister's well-traveled puzzles finally made it to Valerie in Dorothy's gift shop bag

In honor of late First Lady Roslyn Carter

Fort de Soto

Wonderful walk about the fort

Great to be with cruising friends

Egmont Key Lighthouse in the background

Skyway bridge we have passed by in our boat

Reflections and remembering past cruising trips together

Yummy margaritas at Billie's

Our campsite at Fort de Soto County Park

American Space Museum, Titusville, Florida

 We arrived at the American Space Museum, a Harvest Host,  in Titusville in time to walk through the museum and then walked over to Playlinda Brewery. We enjoyed our craft beers in the sidewalk seating and ended up with a large pretzel with beer cheese before heading back to Cutie as it got chilly as the sun went down. We had a quiet evening and walked over to the coffee shop in the morning before driving back to Melbourne. We ate breakfast at the Greek restaurant near our financial planner and after our meeting drove back out to our lawyer in Vierra to pick up our old wills and documents before driving over to Saint Petersberg Beach.

Space exhibit out front of Space Museuum

Our campsite at American Space Museum

Sebastian Inlet State Park, Sebastian, Florida

It was a three-hour drive to my sister's house and we got to see my long-lost cousin Ian and my nieces and great nieces and great nephews. We had a nice happy hour before we had to leave to take the camper to Sebastian Inlet State Park to arrive before sundown. We initially pulled into the gated picnic area and then were directed across the bridge to the campground. We enjoyed the turkey soup my sister provided for dinner and made it an early night. In the morning we took our coffee and walked around the inlet park and then off along the beach. We found the bike trail but ended up turning around when we realized it was a 3-mile loop and did not head back to the campground. We packed up and stopped by my sister's house and then on to Longdogger's Restaurant for lunch. By the time we arrived at the American Space Museum, it was almost 3:30 pm.

Our welcome to the park

Our spacious campsite at Sebastian Inlet State Park

Wood storks strolling along the inlet

A gray day at the beach

Sebastian inlet

White pelicans along the bike trail in the mangroves

An osprey continued swooping down on us along the bike trail

A great blue heron among the wood storks

A great white egret fishing

Pelican watching the fishing boats

Tomaka State Park, Ormond Beach, Florida

 We arrived right at sunset at Tomaka State Park on the Halifax River in Ormond Beach. We had a nice wooded private spot for the night. We woke up to a few rain sprinkles so took our coffee and umbrellas and hiked to the Outpost camp store. We sat in their rocking chairs as the rain poured down. It continued to rain as we packed up our wet camping gear to drive to Indian Harbour Beach to see my sister and family.

Our campsite at Tomaka State Park

Heading to the Outpost

Rainy view of the Halifax River that parallels the Intracoastal

The manager had a green thumb and gorgeous plants on display

A nice view under the canopy and in the rocking chair at the Outpost

Chassawahowizka River Campground, Brookville, Florida

 After breakfast in St. Mark's, we headed to the lighthouse at S. Mark's National Wildlife Refuge. We stopped along the way and took the Tower Trail hike. We loved spotting the roseate spoonbills sleeping on the edge of the swamp. We stopped for a late lunch at Deal's Oyster House in Perry before continuing on to our campsite at Chassawhowizka River Campground. We got in after dark and quickly set up before catching up with Connie, Raelyn and Lilly at their site and then Teresa and James camping in our previous teardrop trailer with a new tent addition.

St. Mark's Lighthouse on Apalachee Bay

Great blue heron and white heron

Old turpentine forest

Kestrel perched high up

Osprey hunting

Flock of wading birds

Photo blind

Fire tower

As close as we could get to roseate spoonbills

Along the road

Wading

Cutie Too birdwatching

We cooked corn beef hash and eggs for breakfast before joining up with Jackie and Steve to tour their new house in Brooksville. Afterward, we toured the historic part of Brooksville and hiked the bike path before returning to the campground. The camp hosts cooked a fantastic Thanksgiving luncheon for about 100 campers. Afterward, we walked to the river to watch the girls kayak and then enjoyed playing games and then settling down around the campfire.

On Little Gull Road

Home to Floyd, a red shouldered hawk

Brooksville Park and historic section with grand oaks

Along the bike path

Old train depot

Mermaid in the park

Mermaid downtown

Our camp hosts

Our great nieces kayaking

Campfire and fairy lights in the trees

Manatees in the morning mist

Vultures roosting across the river

Breakfast at Florida Cracker's kitchen across from Monkey Island bar

We packed up Friday night so we could get an early start to drive to Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive. We dropped Cutie off at Magnolia River Park since the road is so narrow they don't allow trailers. It was a gorgeous day and we saw lots of birds and alligators and enjoyed the beauty of the marsh for several hours. We said goodbye to family and found a late lunch at a Mexican restaurant in Apopka before heading to Ormond Beach for the night.