Ochlockonee River State Park, Sopchoppy, Florida

 After a great breakfast of Cuban toast and cafe con leche we headed towards home stopping at Ocklockonee River State Park for the night. We got there early enough to hike all the trails. 

Our campsite at Ochlockonee River State Park

On Saturday morning we headed over to Bald Island State Park and walked the beach and also drove along Alligator Point. We found the trailhead for Saint Teresa Bluffs Trail which was closed for forest restoration so the the ranger steered us to the Granite Trail before heading back to the campsite and packing up to head back home.

Bald Island State Park

Hiking the Granite Trail along Ochlockonee Bay in Tate's Hell Forest

Little Talbot Island State Park, Jacksonville, Florida

 We left Fort Clinch State Park and stopped at 1928 Cuban Bistro for breakfast before heading towards Little Talbot Island State Park. It was too early to check in to campsite so we parked at the beach and took a long walk down to the pass collecting sea shells along the way. There were just as many in the high rack as along the water line. We enjoyed cooking dinner and relaxing at the campsite as it was across the street from the beach side of the park.

Our campsite at Little Talbot State Park

Beautiful shelling along the beach dotted with jellyfish

Loved that Cuban bread toasted sandwich for breakfast

Fort Clinch State Park, Fernandino Beach, Florida

 We packed up and just got loaded up when we had a few sprinkles of rain. We drove towards Fernandino Beach and since we had time before we could check in to the park we stopped at the Fernandino Beach Historic Site along the intracoastal canal. We then stopped at the Cuban Bistro for a delicious lunch and then on to the park. We hiked the beach and watched a submarine get escorted in on our way to explore the fort.

 Huge instant pots at Cuban bistro

Looking out over intracoastal waterway from historic site

Our campsite at Fort Clinch State Park

Submarine being escorte into port

Fort Clinch

Hand made kayak

Along the trail from fort to camp sites

O'Leno State Park, Highpoint, Florida

 It was a relatively short drive to O'Leno State and a new campground for us for we had to cancel when we cancelled our Thanksgiving trip. We were excited with Valerie and Graham decided to join us for the last two nights of our three night stay.

Our campsite at O'Leno

On Tuesday morning we got up early for breakfast at Blue Star Diner on our way to Gainesville to the Sweetwater Wetlands Preserve. It was a beautiful sunny day and we hiked around the wetland ponds and boardwalks and saw a variety of birds and alligators. We stopped off at Trader Joe's for holiday shopping and then heading back to the park for happy hour and dinner with Graham and Valerie who were just a few campsites away.

On Wednesday we explored the park hiking the river trail to the sink hole. We enjoyed a nice nap before happy hour and dinner with our friends,