Roving Reports by Doug P: 2012-6 Back on the Road, Inverness to Destin Florida

Sunday, March 25, 2012

2012-6 Back on the Road, Inverness to Destin Florida

2012-6

DREAM CATCHER

Campground: Econfina River Resort: 4705 Econfina River Road, Lamont FL, 32336
Local: (850) 584-2135,PA rate: $12.50, Normal Price: $25.00. Full hookups, couple of pull-thrus for short timers. 8 over air TV stations. Great location for fishing.

Campground: Geronimo RV Resort, 75 Arnett Lane, Destin / Miramar Beach , Florida - 32550 Local: (850) 424-6801, PA rate: $22.00 - $24.50, Normal Price: $44.00 - $49.00 Full hookups w/cable Tv approx. 75 channels. I was put in the overflow/pull thru sites which are kind of on the edge of the Rv park, but for half off I can’t complain. One and a half blocks to the beaches of the Gulf of Mexico.
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I’d like to say I’ve been running around in a flurry getting ready to head out, but truth be told, I’m so organized that I’m ready to leave without hardly any effort what so ever. I’ve even had time to order a new sign for my camper since I have officially christened it The Dream Catcher. I’m sure most of you know what a dream catcher is. Indians create these webbed designs out of string, usually with feathers and beads around the outside boarders. They are then hung overhead to catch bad dreams and only let good ones through. Since my camper is affording me the ability to make my dreams come true, it’s like I’m catching all those dreams of travel and adventure throughout the years and making them come to life. I think it’s a pretty good name for the camper.

We had our last Travel Adventure club meeting yesterday, sharing tips and thoughts about traveling all over the U.S. Jumping all over the map from Washington to Wyoming, Colorado and Montana to Pennsylvania. Everyone sharing their favorite places to visit. It’s been a fun club to create and I’m hoping for the chance to refine the format and do it again at another park next year. My maps are now highlighted and covered with lots of new places to explore.

Retirement is as much fun as a person decides to make it and I’ve found that learning and doing something new each day really adds to the experience. The second component is being able to share all those things I’ve learned along the way with others, the travel club being a good example. And of course writing this Blog is part of sharing those experiences and having you along on the adventure for another year of travel is all the more fun.

And during my last few days at 1,000 Palms, it’s been eventful with lots of snake sightings… including a large striped rat snake near my truck today. Got one of the workers to come over and carry it off into the woods. The park is bordered by swamp land and the Withlacoochee River so I’d have to say it’s a pretty good breeding ground for snakes.

The rest of my time has been spent at the swimming pool, where they’ve added a nice shade cabana… table and chairs have been added so far though the owners are concentrating more on the new fun park they’re installing for the summer months. From what I gather a bunch of blow up slides and oversized games will be installed along with a large store up front.

So my last day finally arrived in the park and I was able to get the park staff to bring more firewood to the bonfire for one last night around the campfire with some of the park residences. Originally I’d mentioned my desire for one last campfire to Carol and Don. Carol works the front office and manages the park and their just two of the nicest people in the whole park. They thought it a wonderful idea and said they would make it happen and even suggested Wed., my last day in the park for the campfire. But alas, wouldn’t you know it, they changed their plans and went out to dinner instead. I was still able to have a wonderful campfire with the other park residences and we all enjoyed one last evening together. As I reflected on the way things turned out, I realized it was just another indication of the way the personnel handle things around the park. Going part way, but usually not showing up “metaphorically speaking” in the end.

Thursday morning found me packed up and ready to go. I checked my tires and filled them with air as needed then had to go next door to a big motor home that had moved in the previous day and ask them to move their coach forward so I could hook up my truck and pull out of my campsite. They seemed a bit miffed that I was knocking on their door, even though I’d ask them the previous day if they would mind moving their camper in the morning, even providing them with the time frame of when I planned to leave. Initially they said it was no problem, but when morning came around they were barely out of bed at 9:15am… a bit grumpy I might add, but they did move their coach and within minutes I was out on the road again.

And what a great feeling it is, heading over to the west coast of Florida and up hwy 19/98. A great ride along one of the least traveled roads in Florida. The camper being towed behind my Chevy truck, rolling mile after mile down the smooth black pavement. Miles of straight as an arrow roadway boardered by tall pine trees and a mix of native Palms. Occasionally hitting a one or two light town along the way. All is right with the world.

My first stop is at Ecofina Rv Resort for a couple of days and then onto Destin Florida where I’ll dip my toes in the Gulf of Mexico’s waters and walk along pristine white beaches.

St Marks is just a hop and a skip down the road from Ecofina, so I drove down to take a few more pictures of the St Marks lighthouse. Well ok about 75 pictures. Wish I could have gotten up early enough to catch the sunrise, but early morning light turned out really well for picture taking. Then it was off to the small hamlet of St Marks for lunch at The Riverside Café where I had an awesome blackened grouper and some really great coleslaw. A Miller Light and the meal was perfection. Oh and St Marks is the start of one of the rails to trails for bikes. It heads north to Tallahassee and is approx. 16 miles long of perfectly paved blacktop through rustic country settings.

St Marks Lighthouse

Miramar/Destin Florida.

It took me about 4 hours to drive to Miramar/Destin area for my week at the beach. I’ve got a great location that’s only about a block from the beach. The weather appears to be spring perfect with temps in the low 80’s and 60’s at night. I’ll be driving into Pensacola tomorrow and doing a bit of site seeing along the way. The gulf coast is crowed with people and cars so I’ll need a little bit of patients to handle it all. But how cool to say I’m living at the beach for a week. Walking along the beach today sure felt good. The breeze, the sun, the sound of the surf washing on shore. Well before I get sand all over this report I’ll send it on out.

More photo's on Picasa...

Till next weeks adventure…. Enjoy life

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Favorite Camping Resource Books

Camping on a Shoestring, 3rd Eastern Edition by Don Wright (Great list of free and cheap campgrounds eastcoast, lists many city and county park/campgrounds)
Camping with the Corps of Engineers by S.L. Hinkle (a complete guide to campgrounds owned and operated by the US Army Corps)
Coleman, National Forest Campground & Recreation Directory (A detailed list of all the campgrounds in National Forests)
Don Wright's Guide to Free Campgrounds, Western Edition (Great list of free and cheap campgrounds, lists many city and county park/campgrounds)
GOOGLE SEARCH (Don't forget to use the Internet to search: use (city name, campgound, camping for your search)
Military Travel Guide USA (Lists all the Military campgrounds for DoD and retired military)
Passport America book (lists all the half price campgrounds)
RV Camping in State Parks, D.J Davins (A listing of all state parks)

Camping Club Info:

CAMPING CLUBS:

Joining the various camping clubs can be a great help. Each makes their own mark on camping and building communities within the camping world.

Many of the camping clubs I've listed are 1/2 off clubs. By joining, you get 1/2 off the camping rate for one night, a week and some are unlimited stays at their campgrounds.

Also, most everyone who plans on camping for part of the year or is thinking about full-timing get either the Motor Home or Trailer Life magazine. Both offer tons of helpful hints and trips to take throughout the year. Good Sam’s has Highways magazine which you get free with your membership.

I joined a number of clubs and magazines the first couple of years before I became a full timer, just to get an idea of what the community was like out there. After a couple of years, I’ve kept my favorites and dropped the rest. Listed in no particular order.

TIP: Always call ahead and inform them you are a member of a particular CLUB. Sometimes campgrounds drop out or change their policy. It's always good to call ahead and confirm they are still members in the club you've joined.

Escapees: It’s one of the best communities of Rv’ers you’ll ever find. With great support groups and individual clubs with just about every interest and hobby a person could think of. They own a number of campgrounds that you can get really great rates for camping and they provide a 10-15% discount at other campgrounds throughout the country.

http://escapees.com/index2.asp Membership: $60.00 + $10 enrollment fee.

Good Sam’s Is good, but personally I haven’t had much need for them, and their 10% off campground fees has not been much of an incentive. They do have lots of Rally’s and caravans if you have the inclination and are willing to pay for the trips. The trips can be very pricey.

https://www.goodsamclub.com/Membership: $29.95

Passport America: My favorite club!!!!!!!!

It’s a 50% off camping club that gets you 50% off the campgrounds that have signed up with Passport America, (1,800+ campgrounds) good online web site and book for browsing campsites.

If you join, please let them know your were recommended by:

D Palosaari C-271417

http://www.passport-America.com/main/default.asp

Membership: $44.00

Happy Campers: Another 50% off camping club and mirrors Passport America with perhaps a few different campgrounds than what Passport has. Their camp book is small and doesn't have good maps for directions.

http://www.camphalfprice.com/Membership: $49.95

Camping Club USA: recently merged with Passport America

Recreation USA:

I found this club on the Internet and it advertises that all of it’s campgrounds go for $10.00 a night. They also have a half/off section as well. I have been a member for two years, and though I've stayed at a couple of campgrounds on their list, many are no longer available or haven't heard of Rec. USA and I end up not being able to use the camping club discount. Always call ahead on this one to confirm that they are still participating. I've met the owners of the club and they are nice, it's just that they don't seem to keep up with the campgrounds who are supposed to be participating.

http://www.campingandcampgrounds.com/member_updates.html Membership: $44.00 per year.

Brief History

I grew up in the Copper Country's Upper Peninsula of Michigan. I started working from age 13 at the Copperama during the summer as a dishwasher. I remember being so small that I had to stand on two wooden pepsi crates to put the dishes in the dishwasher. After highschool, I attended Suomi College (a Finish oriented college) renamed to Finlandia University a couple years ago.

I had a chance when I was around 20 to travel to Florida with a co-worker from the Copperama (after our usual layoff in the fall) and upon arriving in Fla, I sent a letter home the second day and said, "I'm Staying". My Mom wrote back and said, "Stay, it's the best decision you made in your life.... and when you get settled, we'll come visit".

It worked out well, having moved from one peninsula in the U.P. to Florida, another peninsula surrounded by the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico. I love water.

Mom gave very little advice, but reminded me that no one would ever be able to take care of me after I left home, that I could not come back home after I left (except for a weeks vacation), and that I should never ask for a loan, because they didn't have the money.

What she did give me though, was some advice. And that was to look at the years my Dad struggled with making a living. Getting layed off from his construction work every winter until he finally got a job with the State of Mich. at MTU as a maintenance worker. Life was good after that.

So when I got to Florida, I got the hint and after a short period of working at 7-11 and a couple other small jobs, I started to apply for any Gov. job. City, County, State and Federal.

I finally got a job with the Navy starting out as a GS-2 temporary part time not to exceed 90 days putting cans of beans on the shelves at the commissary. My foot was in the door and a career that eventually spanned 31 years ending up as a Logistics Manager.

my desire to travel was realized after years of camping and enjoying the great outdoors. I got started camping just to save money and it became a lifelong source of joy.

Hint to those just starting out in the working world: Every job has it's fringe benefits, some are written down, some aren't. Learn what they are and take advantage of them.

Example: If I got on committees that required travel, I could travel at the Goverments expense. Plus, I could extend my stay after the work as vacation. The Gov. paid my way out and back for my job and for my vacation!

Dreams do come true. Stay focused and keep working on them and one day, yours will come true too.

Roving Reports by Doug P

Sunday, March 25, 2012

2012-6 Back on the Road, Inverness to Destin Florida

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Provinces traveled in w/camper

States traveled in w/camper