Manatee Hammock County Park (Jan 31 - Feb 6)

We made it here in less than an hour and a half. We got set up, then went to Cracker Barrel for dinner and Walmart to pick up supplies for the week. It looks like some rain on the way, so we may check out Kennedy Space Center tomorrow or Wednesday. The sites are much closer together, so having good neighbors is very important. We were greeted by a Red Shouldered Hawk when we arrived.

Tuesday - First on the agenda today was laundry so we got up early and got er done. We heard people were catching trout on Jakes Creek out on Merritt Island NWR so we drove the 21 miles out there to check it out. The reports were correct. We managed five between us plus one small flounder. Even though it was quite windy, it was awesome to get back into fish. We kept two, which will be dinner tomorrow night.

Wednesday - We scouted several areas in the NWR to put in and fish, but none proved to be better and offer us safety for ourselves and our vehicle than Eddy Creek did.

Thursday - We returned to Eddy Creek. The wind was really blowing out there, so we wade fished. Joan caught 2 trout, 1 lady fish and 1 pin fish. John caught 1 trout. 2 trout were keepers but we had already planned on pizza so it was catch and release today. A year ago, we would not have attempted to fly fish with this much wind.

Friday - It was very foggy this morning so we decided to wade fish again instead of kayaking. We returned to Eddy Creek, and this time we were prepared to keep a couple. It took a change to a yellow-headed Clouser before we got a hookup. We ended the day catching a dozen trout and three were keeper size. Joan also caught a couple Pin Fish and John caught a Sea Robin, that has wing shaped fins and legs. It is a very strange looking fish indeed.

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Tomoka SP (Jan 28-30)

We drove about 200 miles to get here. The campground is near Ormond Beach and is very nice. They are not big rig friendly, because of overhanging trees, but we had no problem. We checked out all the sites and hiked down to the boat launch. There is good access to the Tomoka River and hopefully the fishing will be good.

Saturday - We launched the kayaks at the main boat launch and paddled around this beautiful area. We could see fish activity, including a dolphin feeding, but he was catching the only fish. We checked with other fishermen, but no one was catching anything.
In the evening we went down to the park store and enjoyed listening to a lady who played guitar/ukulele and sang and we had coffee and pie.

Sunday - It was a perfect day for kayaking, but still no fish. Packing up in the morning and heading for Manatee Hammock County Park, near Titusville.





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Oscar Scherer SP (Jan 24 - 27)

We got up early this morning and took the MH to RV World to have a few warranty items taken care of. We arrived there at about 8AM and headed to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. The waitress, Robin, remembered us. Are we doing this too often? Naw! We will check into Oscar Scherer SP when we pick up the unit.

Tuesday - We went over to the Nature Center for coffee put on by Friends of O.S. Met some nice fellow campers. It is very windy with a promise of bad weather on the way, so activities will be rather limited today.
There were tornado warnings within two miles, so we headed to the restroom to wait it out.

Wednesday - We got thru the storms last night with no damage and it has cleared off nicely. However, it is very windy, so we will not be getting the kayaks out. We enjoyed the ice cream social and music last night at the nature center. Carl and Betty Ross www.tymespast.com provided excellent and fun entertainment.

Thursday - This morning was pancake breakfast at the nature center. Good breakfast and good friends. We were sad that Ron and Dee couldn't get a campsite here for the night and had to leave. We launched the kayaks here in the park and fished for a couple of hours in South Creek. John caught a couple of small snook and a couple of bigger ladyfish. The snook are out of season and ladyfish are not good eating, so all were released.

View Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/johnjoanW/OscarSchererSPJan2427#

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Lake Manatee SP (Jan 10 - 24)

It was a short 34.7 mile trip from Oscar Scherer SP to here. When we arrived, the folks had not cleared from our site, so we took the opportunity to check out the lake and kayak launch. There are storms in the area that are creating a lot of wind and humidity. It is much more open here than OSSP, but a nice change. We have the lake for fishing, plus we are not far from the gulf areas, such as Palma Sola, Palmetto, Anna Maria, Longboat Key, and Ft. Desoto.

Tuesday - We drove west on hwy 64, thru Bradenton and parked along the road. We then put on our waders and fished a bay near the bridge that joins Anna Marie Island. John had the hot hand and landed a ladyfish and two nice trout. One was about 16 inches and the other about 18. We stopped at Walmart on the way back and checked out Rye Preserve Park. It would be a long, tricky hike down with the kayaks to launch them on the Manatee River.

Critters we've seen so far:
Bald Eagle
Dolphin
Pine Warblers
Robins
Armadillos
Red Shouldered Hawk
Coopers Hawk
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Spotted Sea Trout
Ladyfish
Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great White Egret

Wednesday - We decided to do an explore today due to the cool temps and strong winds. We checked out a few areas around Terra Ceia Bay where we can launch the kayaks and fish when the weather improves.

Thursday - Today was a good one to visit the Tampa RV Supershow held at the state fair grounds near I-4 and Rt 301. It was fun to see the new models of the Regency and Bighorn and to visit with the folks we bought ours from. We also picked up some flyers for campgrounds to visit. It was a great day and we managed to resist buying anything this year.

Friday - We fished at the pier twice on the lake here and Joan caught three fish, including a nice tilapia.

Saturday - We started the day with a coffee social at the host's campsite. We enjoyed sharing experiences and good campgrounds with the other campers. We also returned to the fishing pier where John caught one bream.

Sunday - Joan's brother Skip, his wife Shirl, and son Chad came down and visited for an afternoon of kayaking and fishing preceded by a cookout lunch. Even with the four experts trying all sorts of
flys and lures, we didn't catch a single fish. It was a great time though. Also the Bears beat Seattle, so it was a great day.

Monday - Today was laundry day, so we stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast, then headed to a laundromat named Bright & Clean on the other side of I-75 that was recommended to us by another camper. It was neither Bright OR Clean and many of the washers and dryers didn't work. Never the less we got the job done. It really poured while we were there and we were under a tornado watch most if the day, but all stayed quite calm.

Tuesday - Skip & Chad drove down to meet us on Palma Sola Bay for some kayaking and fishing. We wanted to launch where we waded last week and where John caught fish. However the wind was blowing the opposite direction making that unwise, so instead, we put in on the other side. We saw a group of kayakers head into a small opening in the mangroves so we decided to see where it went. We discovered that it opened into a beautiful bay. We fished it, but caught nothing. That turned out to be the story of the day. Great kayaking, but disappointing fishing. We consoled ourselves by stopping for pizza on the way back to camp. Bella Mia Pizza & Italian Restaurant was excellent.

Wednesday - We decided to hang out today and get our reservations made for late December this year. We were able to get site 91 at Oscar Scherer SP again. We walked down to the fishing pier here and Joan managed to catch three bream and lost two. John did not even get a hit, even though he used identical flies.

Thursday - Ft Desoto kayaking & fishing. No fish. We are really in a slump. The weather was beautiful & warm and kayaking great. It was also great to see friends Jodie & Andy who are working in the campground and Guy & Nancy whom we met at Oscar Scherer.











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Oscar Scherer SP (Jan 3-9)

We had a nice trip down after closing the house for our 2 1/2 month trip. Traffic was not bad and the 95 miles quite pleasant. We got set up, met, and talked to a nice couple who summer not to far from us up north. Joan was able to get her Doberman fix with their nice one.

Tuesday - We launched the kayaks by the Ranger Station and fished for awhile. Joan had one on, but lost it while John managed a few ladyfish. They are not good to eat, so all were released. It was mostly cloudy, but nice, and not too windy.

Wednesday - Today was mostly a down day, except for a little unsuccessful fishing, with our new friend Tom, in the creek that runs thru the park. In the evening, we enjoyed authentic Appalachian music and ice cream down in the nature center.

Thursday - There was quite heavy rain during the night and through the morning. We too the opportunity to make a Walmart trip and get necessary items, then joined many in the campground for a pancake breakfast put on by campground volunteers at the Nature Center. It was very nice.

Friday - Today we went to Casperson Park south of Venice. We told out friends, Tom and Jane about the park and decided to meet them there. We fished a little, but caught nothing, but we enjoyed talking and just walking around.

Saturday - We enjoyed an early dinner at Pop's on the Intercoastal Waterway with Tom and Jane and watched the Colts get beat by NY at our place.

Sunday - In the morning we went to the Nature Center for a very nice worship service that was led by the same couple who did the music program on Wednesday evening.


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