We had an uneventful trip here and got into our site about noon. Unfortunately John made a big mistake when flushing the black water tank and forgot to open the valve. We ended up with nasty water getting all over the floor inside. Robin Williams has nothing on us. We finally got everything cleaned up and at Joan's insistence, went out to dinner. We had a great meal in the water at Swampy's.
Friday - We met a group of our friends that we kayak with in Georgia, plus others on the river and first kayaked up to the springs, then to the Hwy 41 bridge. The total was about 8 miles. It was a nearly perfect day on the water. We then had lunch at the Blue Gator and had grouper salads.
Saturday - We traveled to The Villages and met folks from Heartland and Windsor Vermont for an annual reunion. We had lunch and chatted at a country club there. It was especially good to see Barry and Julie and Bruce and Cheryl, but great to see everyone.
Sunday - We picked up our friends Dawn and Jeff and went to Dunnellon UMC for a great contemporary service. The folks there were very friendly and welcoming. After we had lunch, we put in on the Rainbow for some fishing. John caught four small bass.
Monday - Despite looking like rain, we put in again and John caught six bream and red breasted sunfish. Joan is having trouble navigating the current and fishing.
Tuesday - Rain, rain, rain. It finally stopped late morning, so we drove towards town so Joan could get her hair cut, then hiked a nice trail at Blue Run Park.
Wednesday - We drove about 50 miles to Weeki Wachee State Park and met our friends Paul and Janet and a group they kayak with every Wednesday. After putting vehicles at Bayport, we launched on the most beautiful river we have kayaked in Florida. This part of the river has no development and is gin clear. We have done the lower part of the river that has a lot of development. After we paddled 6 1/2 miles and reached Bayport, we had lunch at Bayport Inn and had the all-you-can-eat fried fish, which was excellent.
Thursday - Today was an explore day and we wanted to check out a place to launch the kayaks on the Withlacoochee River at Ike's Lodge (Izaak Walton Lodge). The place they give you is not great, but doable. We also had lunch there, which was excellent and not too expensive, even though they had cloth napkins. We then went down to the end of Hwy 40 at Yankeetown, where John fished a little from the bank. He only managed to catch three small silver perch. They only get to a max of about nine inches, but if we were looking for dinner, would have made a tasty meal. The temperature was quite pleasant, but too windy to enjoy fishing from the kayaks.
Friday - We returned to Yankeetown with every intention to launch the kayaks at the place John fished yesterday. When we got there, sadly, it was way too windy. Instead, we donned our waders and wade-fished for about an hour and a half, when we got too cold and the fish stopped biting. Our catching was limited to the same kind of fish as yesterday, but still fun. Later, we picked up our friends Dawn and Jeff for dinner at Swampy's. This time we chose to eat inside, as it had gotten chilly.
Saturday - Cold and very windy today. We took walks, then went to an open house at the place where Joan got her haircut. We had great shrimp, meatballs, and cake. Later we went over to Dawn and Jeff's for delicious baked spaghetti dinner.
Sunday - We holed up today in the warmth of the motorhome.
Monday - It got down to 27 deg last nite and our water supply hose froze up in the nite. Thankfully, it all thawed out about 10 AM with no damage. We should have disconnected and drained them before retiring. By 11 AM it was warm enough to sit outside in the sun. Later in the afternoon, John was able to split some logs a previous camper had left and make a nice fire. Dawn and Jeff came over and helped us enjoy it. Joan is struggling with pollen allergies and taking Micinex DM and Sudifed to survive.
Tuesday - We hung out today. Too windy to fish.
Wednesday - Cooler and still too windy to fish. We said goodbye to Dawn and Jeff. They are heading up to the panhandle.
View Pictures: Click Here
Little Manatee River SP (Feb 7-20)
It was a short 21 mile drive here from Lake Manatee, so we didn't even bother to hook up the Envoy to tow. We are in site 23, which is nicely shaded, large, and level. We took a walk down to the river, but it didn't seem too inviting. We checked out the restrooms, washers and dryers, and all seem quite adequate.
Friday - We wanted to check out a local lake here, so we took our hike there, it is a beautiful spot, but a long trek to wheel the kayaks. We will bring the rods and try an area from shore. Afterwards, we took our lunch to Ft. Hamer park, then fished from the dock. No success. It is cooling down some here.
Saturday - We went on a hike with Chip, a park ranger on the Oxbow Trail, which runs along a part of the Little Manatee River that was left when the river changed course hundreds of years ago. It was a very interesting experience. In the evening the same ranger led a fireside chat at the amphitheater on white tail deer.
Sunday - We attended a wonderful contemporary worship service at Sun City Center U. M. Church. We met some nice folks from Michigan, worshipped our Lord, and heard a great message about serving. After lunch we checked out a few places to launch on Bishop's Harbor and Terra Ceia Bay. We also looked at Frog Creek RV Park, a good place to settle down some day. Finally, we had BBQ dinner at Kojak's in Palmetto.
Monday - We took our coffee to the amphitheater in hopes of seeing deer passing thru, but saw birds and pigs instead. Wild pigs are a major problem in Florida because of the damage they do rooting for food. They were brought here by early settlers and extensive efforts to control them have been unsuccessful. We also saw a red-shouldered hawk and a red-bellied woodpecker.
Tuesday - Finally, we put in at Hamer Park for some fishing. Joan started things off with a needlefish, a ladyfish, a redfish and a sea trout. John followed with a redfish about the same size. He had three ladyfish on, but they got away. The redfish and trout would have made a great dinner, but they were a little small to be legal. We found a good area that has to be walked at low tide. We were the only one fishing there.
Wednesday - In an effort to beat the bad weather coming this way, we headed over to E.G. Simmon's County Park near Ruskin and fished from shore. The area we usually launch the kayaks turned out to be protected from the high winds we had today. John did the catching today, bringing in three ladyfish and a stingray. Sadly again, nothing for the table. While we were fishing, we saw two dolphin and a manatee swimming only a few feet from us.
Thursday - We took our usual morning walk down to the river and lake. The mostly sand road to the river had received enough rain to make it a great media to receive fresh tracks from the local fauna. We saw those of deer, hogs, a fox (we think), and ants. click "view pictures" to see. The weather has deteriorated some, so we are doing alternative activities. Our friends, Pastor Dave & Shirley called, so we met them at Ruby Tuesday's for dinner. It was great to see them. Afterwards we did some shopping at the mall, John's Valentines gift to Joan.
Saturday - Our friends, Ray and Fay, in Floral City were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, so we drove up to other friends, John and Vicky's place in Spring Hill to drive the rest of the way with them. We also stayed at their place overnight, so we wouldn't have to drive back late today. We also stopped to see friends, Gene and Lynda's new place, which is on the Withlacoochee River. There is so much water around their place, it is almost like being on a houseboat. The party was great and we felt honored to be able to share that special time with them. Special thanks to John and Vicky for sharing their beautiful home with us and putting us up for the night.
Sunday - With temps only in the low 50s, we are limiting our activities and staying close to the motorhome.
Monday - It dropped to the low 30s in the night, but warmed up to near 70 in the PM. It was too windy to put the kayaks in, however.
Tuesday - We drive about 50 miles to Myakka SP to visit our friends Tom and Jane who were camping there. We had a great visit and even did some fishing in the Myakka River. John caught a couple small crappie, a couple small rock bass and an even smaller tilapia. Tom caught a small tilapia. The new area of the campground is nice, the older part not so much. We enjoyed the warmer weather and our friend's pups.
Wednesday - We drove down to Hamer Park and launched the kayaks. We paddled to the same area as last time, where there was a shallow area that opened into a bay with a good hole, and caught a few ladyfish. After returning to the launch area, we had lunch, then returned to the river near the launch and fished some more. We each caught several more ladyfish and Joan also caught a couple of small trout.
View Pictures: Click Here
Friday - We wanted to check out a local lake here, so we took our hike there, it is a beautiful spot, but a long trek to wheel the kayaks. We will bring the rods and try an area from shore. Afterwards, we took our lunch to Ft. Hamer park, then fished from the dock. No success. It is cooling down some here.
Saturday - We went on a hike with Chip, a park ranger on the Oxbow Trail, which runs along a part of the Little Manatee River that was left when the river changed course hundreds of years ago. It was a very interesting experience. In the evening the same ranger led a fireside chat at the amphitheater on white tail deer.
Sunday - We attended a wonderful contemporary worship service at Sun City Center U. M. Church. We met some nice folks from Michigan, worshipped our Lord, and heard a great message about serving. After lunch we checked out a few places to launch on Bishop's Harbor and Terra Ceia Bay. We also looked at Frog Creek RV Park, a good place to settle down some day. Finally, we had BBQ dinner at Kojak's in Palmetto.
Monday - We took our coffee to the amphitheater in hopes of seeing deer passing thru, but saw birds and pigs instead. Wild pigs are a major problem in Florida because of the damage they do rooting for food. They were brought here by early settlers and extensive efforts to control them have been unsuccessful. We also saw a red-shouldered hawk and a red-bellied woodpecker.
Tuesday - Finally, we put in at Hamer Park for some fishing. Joan started things off with a needlefish, a ladyfish, a redfish and a sea trout. John followed with a redfish about the same size. He had three ladyfish on, but they got away. The redfish and trout would have made a great dinner, but they were a little small to be legal. We found a good area that has to be walked at low tide. We were the only one fishing there.
Wednesday - In an effort to beat the bad weather coming this way, we headed over to E.G. Simmon's County Park near Ruskin and fished from shore. The area we usually launch the kayaks turned out to be protected from the high winds we had today. John did the catching today, bringing in three ladyfish and a stingray. Sadly again, nothing for the table. While we were fishing, we saw two dolphin and a manatee swimming only a few feet from us.
Thursday - We took our usual morning walk down to the river and lake. The mostly sand road to the river had received enough rain to make it a great media to receive fresh tracks from the local fauna. We saw those of deer, hogs, a fox (we think), and ants. click "view pictures" to see. The weather has deteriorated some, so we are doing alternative activities. Our friends, Pastor Dave & Shirley called, so we met them at Ruby Tuesday's for dinner. It was great to see them. Afterwards we did some shopping at the mall, John's Valentines gift to Joan.
Saturday - Our friends, Ray and Fay, in Floral City were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary, so we drove up to other friends, John and Vicky's place in Spring Hill to drive the rest of the way with them. We also stayed at their place overnight, so we wouldn't have to drive back late today. We also stopped to see friends, Gene and Lynda's new place, which is on the Withlacoochee River. There is so much water around their place, it is almost like being on a houseboat. The party was great and we felt honored to be able to share that special time with them. Special thanks to John and Vicky for sharing their beautiful home with us and putting us up for the night.
Sunday - With temps only in the low 50s, we are limiting our activities and staying close to the motorhome.
Monday - It dropped to the low 30s in the night, but warmed up to near 70 in the PM. It was too windy to put the kayaks in, however.
Tuesday - We drive about 50 miles to Myakka SP to visit our friends Tom and Jane who were camping there. We had a great visit and even did some fishing in the Myakka River. John caught a couple small crappie, a couple small rock bass and an even smaller tilapia. Tom caught a small tilapia. The new area of the campground is nice, the older part not so much. We enjoyed the warmer weather and our friend's pups.
Wednesday - We drove down to Hamer Park and launched the kayaks. We paddled to the same area as last time, where there was a shallow area that opened into a bay with a good hole, and caught a few ladyfish. After returning to the launch area, we had lunch, then returned to the river near the launch and fished some more. We each caught several more ladyfish and Joan also caught a couple of small trout.
View Pictures: Click Here
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