Indian Mountain State Park

Yesterday we camped at Cades Cove campground in Smoky Mt. Nat. Pk. Last night we went on the cades cove 11 mile loop drive. It must have been feeding time for the bears because we wound up seeing 5 of them. Barb spent about an hour taking pictures of the bears until it got too dark. We have been down here many times and this is the first time since 1996 that we have seen bears. It was great. We took another trip around the loop this morning and then Barb took an hour long horseback ride. We left the Smokies about 2 pm and am camped now at Indian Mountain St. Pk. in northern Tennessee. We should be home tomorrow.



We thought this bridge looked like a sailboat


Barb in snow at Newfound Gap, Smoky Mountain Nat. Pk.


2 Bears


Gerry with bear



Bear in Smoky Mountain National Park


Gerry with bear in background

Smoky Mountains National Park

We left Florida Sunday morning and made it to the middle of South Carolina sunday night. We camped at the Santee State Park. We camped on the shore of Lake Marion . It was still in the 70's there. Monday we headed for the Smokies. Stayed at Smokemount campground in the National Park. This was our first campground without electricity, microwave, electric heater, or internet. It sure did get cold last night. About 38 when we got up. On the way over the mountain there was snow on the ground and road. The 7 mile drive up to Clingman's dome was closed. We just refueled in Gatlinburg and and now going to head for Cade's cove campground. Sorry no pictures this time.

More Anastasia St. Pk.

Due to the fact that it is a weekend, it has been hard to get a campsite at the park. We don't have reservations so I have to get up early and ride my bike about a mile to the office each day to get in line to put my name on a list when they open at 8 am. Yesterday I was number 3, today I was number 1 on the list. Then if there is a cancellation before 1pm we can get a campsite. We lucked out and got a site both days. As we have seen St Augustine many times before so we have just stayed at the park. We have been riding bikes on the beach, walking the beach and setting under our umbrella on the beach. We have had beautiful weather. Today we were walking back to our campsite from the beach and walked within 5 feet of about 20 black and green parrots. We didn't have the camera with us so missed some good pictures. We asked around and one of the park employees said that these birds had escaped from the nearby St Augustine alligator farm and zoology park about 2 years ago. Time to head north, I got my first mosquito bite this evening.




Campsite at Anastasia St. Pk.


Barb riding bike on beach


Gerry riding on beach


Gerry with old anchor

Anastasia State Park

We left Jetty park in Cape Canaveral this morning heading north on I95. Stopped at Gamble Rodgers state park north of Daytona beach intending to camp, but they were full. We drove on another 40 miles to St. Augustine and Anastasia St. Pk. We were able to get a campsite for tonight, but they are full for Friday and Saturday nights. I will ride my bike to camp office at 8 am. to get on a list tomorrow for cancellations. If that don't work we move on. This afternoon we walked about 3 miles on the beach for exercise and more sun. The temperature is great in mid 70s, but it did rain a little bit this afternoon. Yesterday afternoon the wind was so strong we had to leave the beach because the blowing sand stung the skin.



Our campsite at Jetty Park for 4 nights


White Ibis at our campsite

Still at Jetty Park Campground

Yesterday we went to Kennedy Space Center. We took the NASA up close tour and it was $59 each. Didn't think it was organized very good. Had lunch there. We both had cheeseburger and french fries and soft drink. The bill was $28. Today we rode bikes around the park and spent time on the beautiful beach. This sure is a great campground. It is $35 per night.



Barb with Space Shuttle


Gerry with Space Shuttle Explorer


Large alligator at Kennedy space center


40 year old 700 pound eagle nest with eaglet in it at Kennedy space center


Bus took us to space shuttle launch site 39b


Barb touching actual moon rock


Gerry in space suit

Jetty Park Campground

This morning we left Sebastian Inlet St. Pk. and drove to Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral. This park is the premier park in the U. S. for location. You can watch the space shuttles go up from this park. The park also borders the channel that many cruise ships use and also it is on the Atlantic ocean with a beach and fishing pier. We rode around in the afternoon of bikes and about 4:30 we were at the gift shop and I asked when the cruise ships go out. They said between 4:30 and 5:30 on Sunday afternoon. So we hurried back over to the channel to watch them all go out. Took a lot of pictures and videos. Tomorrow we plan to tour Kennedy Space center.


Carnival Sensation leaving on cruise


Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas with Barb



Disney Wonder with Gerry


Disney Wonder cruise ship leaving on cruise


Sea turtle in channel that the cruise ship use



Beach at our campground Jetty Park with Barb in foreground

Still at Sebastian Inlet State Park

Yesterday we watched the waverunners playing off our beach. Today we spent a couple of hours on the beach. About the only thing exciting was the surfers. The waves were pretty high.




Waverunner , looks like fun


Gerry with loose buoy



Barb with loose Buoy


Watching the surfers


Gerry relaxing on the beach

Sebastian Inlet State Park

Yesterday we moved down the road about 1.5 miles to Sebastian Inlet State Park. The sign said FULL CAMPGROUND but they happened to have one campsite left. We took that and drove on to the city of Sebastian to the Wal-Mart for our staples. It is about 3 miles away as the crow flies, but 30 miles round trip by the nearest bridge. I think you folks back in Ohio have sent us your weather. The high yesterday was 62 and very strong winds. It did get to 70 today, but with the wind blowing hard still had sweatshirt on all day. Went to the beach today and was ready to head back because of the wind, when the Kiteboarders showed up. They gave us quite a show, and Barb took a lot of pictures. As we were leaving the beach to walk back to our campsite we seen the Kiteboarders truck which was labeled with this website if you are interested in Kiteboarding.
http://www.kitetricity.com/





I was trying to get out of the wind, the blowing sand stung the skin


This shows size of kite compared to girl


Kiteboarding


Kiteboarding with the Pelicans


This guy was really good


High in the air

Still at Long Point park

We just love it so here at Long Point park, that we are having a hard time leaving. We are finally leaving this park tomorrow, Tuesday. Yesterday we drove down the road to Pelican Island National Wildlife Reserve. This was the very first wildlife reserve opened in 1903. We did see a few species, but evidently most of the birds have migrated north. It turned cloudy yesterday and then quite a bit cooler last night. It was all the way down to 60 when we woke up. It did get up to 72 today. Today we walked back to Scout Island to take more pictures of dolphins and hermit crabs, and what ever else we could find.



White Pelicans eating fish


Family of ducks at Pelican Island National Wildlife Reserve


This perfectly good car seat was just setting on the beach


Barb walking in the surf




Getting closer to the dolpins


Me with a very friendly Hermit crab


Pond with our campsite over looking the Indian river


Me up a tree

More Longpoint park

We are still camped at this park, although we had to move from our waterfront site to the center for Friday and Saturday night. Sunday we are going to try to get a better site, all the weekenders will leave. Last night celebrated Barb's birthday by eating out at the Surfin' Turtle restaurant in Melbourne Beach, about 8 miles up the road. We both had jumbo sea scallops, really good, best ever. Today walked over to Scout Island again exploring and playing with the Hermit crabs. We were in our little cove setting on our chairs in the shade when 2 dolphins came along chasing fish and jumping to entertain us for about an hour. Yesterday we had sat in the shade by our camper overlooking a wildlife pond. We got a little too much sun (reflected) even in the shade, a little burned. Beautiful weather, down to 70 at night 85 during the day. It is still 78 at 9 PM.





At the moment we are camped by that pond in center (Longpoint park) Scout island on left, where we been exploring.


Longpoint park center left, Sebastian Inlet state park right center



American egret in top of tree close to our camper


Bird with huge feet (Common Moorhen)





Greenback Heron (very hard to photograph, hid in tree a lot)


Gerry with Dolphin in background


Barb with Dolphin