Whispering Pines campground near Savananah, GA

Left Florida today after 2 nights at Longpoint and drove to Savananah, GA.   Last night a raccoon broke into our ice chest and stole all our oranges and apples.  Yesterday was spent hiking around scout island, which is attached to our campground by bridge and also seen many birds.  This place has a lot of  woodstorks.  Also watched Ohio State beat Michigan and that was about it.   Here are some
pics.

                                           Gerry with woodstorks

Longpoint county park, north of Vero Beach

After we left Long Key state park we wound up at Flamingo campground in the Everglades National Park.  We spent 3 nights there, and we were 40 miles from the nearest cell tower, so no cell phone or internet.  It was way back in the swamp.  The first night we had no electric, and had to stand in line for an hour to get an electric campsite for the next 2 nights.  They said they had alligator, crocodile, and manatee,  but didn't see any.  Seen a lot of birds mostly common.  Rode bikes a lot,  temp in the 80's, lots of sun, sprinkled one day.  We spent several hours watching Osprey feed their young on many nests.  Today, saturday we drove north to a camground north of Vero Beach.  Here are the pics.

                                           Kiteboarding in the keys

                                           Campsite at Flamingo

                                           Barb watching birds on the Eco pond

                                           Roseate Spoonbill

                                           At Flamingo visitor center

                                          Osprey

                                          Osprey on nest with young

Still at Long Key SP

Leaving tomorrow, after 3 nights here.  This is a beautiful park and it ranks high on our list of all time favorites.  Been reading, riding bikes, hiking trails along the ocean, swimming  and just enjoying this park. We also have been watching the tide go in and out on our beachfront campsite.  To swim at low tide, you have to walk out about 300 ft. thru a lot of dead coral,  so you must wear foot protection. Our camper refrigerator  has been giving us some problems.  It could be the 80 degree temperature and bright sun, not cooling right.  Had to buy ice to keep food cold.  Our beach is south facing so we get sunrise and not sunset. Here are the pics.

                                           Sunrise on the Atlantic ocean

                                           Hermit crap living in spray can top

                                           Me in the water at low tide

Long Key State Park

Jan 21st we celebrated our 50the wedding anniversary by taking the bus downtown  Key West and eating at Sloppy Joe's.  This place is famous for being the hangout of Ernest Hemingway.  Then it was over to Mallory Square for sunset celebration.  After 5 days at Boyd's and Key West we decided that was enough and today headed to Long Key where they have about 60 beachfront campsites.  We lucked out because they are planning construction and this state park will close till finished,  and it is walk in only, no reservations.   Weather remains beautiful with temperatures in the 70's and 80's.  We don't miss Ohio cold and snow at all.  Here are the pics.

Boyd's campground

Rode buses yesterday and today getting to and from Downtown.  Seen Fort Zackory Taylor then walked all over Key West seeing the other sights.  Seen Roosters all over the island. Ate at Jimmy Buffet"s Margarettaville yesterday, splitting a Cheeseburger in Paridise.  Great place.  We got our pictures taken with the parrot, with a cruise ship in the background on Mallory square.   Today we ate at Caroline's  on Duval st.  and stayed downtown long enough to watch sunset at Mallory  square.  It was one of the best sunsets we ever saw.  Barb says she saw the green flash.  I had my eye on the camera and missed it.  The bus rides are really an experience as it is a challenge to find the bus stops and to figure out where we are going.  Here are the pics.

Boyd's campground, Key West, FL

We finally arrived at Boyd's campground after 6 days on the road.  It is a long way down here.   We had reservations for a water front site and after we got down here all they could give us was a waterfront site behind thick trees.  The price was reduced from about a $100 a night down to $80 as a way of compensation.  We are between two airports and we get a lot of jet noise.   One airport is at a naval air station on the next island over.  The fighter jets are taking off and landing all day.  Luckily they stop flying about 7 pm so sleeping is noise free.  Rode the bikes heading for downtown Key West which is 5 miles.   About half way there we had enough with the  sun was so hot and I am too old, had to head back to camp.  We spent the afternoon setting on the shore line watching the jets, pelicans, boats and fish in the water.  Water very clear, and some places a aquamarine color.  Tonight the campground put on a free hot dog and beans supper.  I have never seen so many people getting free hot dogs.  To pay for some of these expensive motorhomes they probably have to cut back on eating .We also had free ice cream.  Here are some of the pics.

                                           navy fighter jet

                                           coconut palm

                                           turned around here and went back to camp

                                           Pelican roost

                                           our campsite is to left behind trees

                                         

John Pennekamp state park

Tonight we are at John Pennekamp SP in the keys about a 100 miles from our destination.  Last night we stayed at another state park, Collier-Seminole SP.  We spent most of the free time riding bikes and walking on trails and boardwalks in the Everglade's NP.  The weather is great and in the 70's.  Here are some pics.  The machine is the Bay city Michigan walking dredge machine from 1920's.  It was used to build the road thru the Everglades from the west coast of Florida to the East coast called the Tamiami trail.  The butterfly's are Zebra Longwing.  The alligators were in the Everglades.