Shady Acres RV Trvel Park
Trip Start
Oct 01, 2007
1
33
34
Trip End
Apr 28, 2009
Fort Myers,
Florida,
United States
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Next, from a two-night stopover at Walmart in Jersey City where we met up with a couple of Albertans whom we had previously encountered en route, we took a bus into The Big Apple. On our way to that rendezvous with our friends, we ended up hauling all of our 47 feet up 42nd Street past Times Square. This was not the plan but it was a memorable encounter!! We certainly presented a spectacle!! NYC was an experience in itself. We took a double-decker bus tour of the city which included a harbour cruise past The Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and great views of Manhattan.
We travelled through Virginia with the Albertans, Dar & Russ and parted ways in Charlotte, NC. We were headed for Carie's cousins in Columbia, SC again and they on their own agenda. During five days at Gina's & Darren's, we mellowed out and visited with them and their kitty, Babette. Unfortunately, we also had a break-in of our RV whilst it was in storage at an RV park. The "perp" ripped off the bathroom ski-light cover and smashed in the fan and screen to slide through the small opening. The only thing of value missing was Gary's late father's signet ring.
Next stop was Charleston, SC where we again took a carriage/harbour tour to see more beautiful homes of the Deep South. After a couple of days, we moved on to Savannah, GA to experience more southern hospitality. There was a Seafood Festival at the waterfront while we were there and it was quite lively in spite of the drizzling rain. We spent a night further south in GA before crossing into Florida. After another night enjoying the hospitality of Walmart, we arrived in Davenport, FL just outside Orlando and stayed five days. We were only a few miles from Disney World and SeaWorld. One day was spent at SeaWorld and we thought it was well worth it.
The next stop was the Florida Keys where we spent several nights in two different state parks. The first one, John Pennekamp is in Key Largo and from Long Key State Park, we day-tripped to Key West. Key West was somewhat disappointing. In our opinion, it is a little too noisy and very commercialised and pricey for nothing special. We did, however, take a cruise on a catamaran to an island called the Dry Tortugas. The trip was 2 ½ hours each way with snorkelling on the island and included breakfast and lunch. The snorkelling could have been better. It had been so windy that the ocean was stirred up and therefore visibility was limited. The campsite itself in Long Key was amazing as was the weather. Our rig was parked about 12 feet from the ocean and we could walk out and snorkel from our doorstep. We saw spiny lobster and much coral in the waters there.
Port St. Lucie was our next "port of call" on the "Treasure Coast". We hung out here until December 3rd when we could get into our current resort. We booked this one with the view of spending Christmas and New Year's off the road and in one spot. We are at a resort in Fort Myers on the Gulf Coast with a pool, tons of Canadians (particularly Ontarioans (?)) which offers access to great shopping and beaches. We have reconnected with a couple from WA State, Glenda and Terry who are staying nearby and we have made new friends here with whom we will spend Christmas. The clubhouse sponsors a dinner with all the trimmings and a New Year's Eve bash. We are booked here until January 3rd, at which point we move on to Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, FL northwest of Ocala fro a week. There we can swim with the docile and nearly extinct Manatee. There is evidently excellent snorkelling in the area too. After that, who knows?
We wish all of you and yours a very Merry Christmas a Happy and Healthy 2009.
The Saville's
Comments
Nice that SOMEWHERE is sunny and warm !!
Such fun receiving your blog[s] and photos which, by the way, appear to be the clearest ever and have more definition....do you have a different camera? What absolutely wonderful memories you will have and be able to haul them out again and again already sorted and labeled.
You've probably heard from family members about the long stretch of extreme winter weather we and many other areas of NA are experiencing - it's beautiful out there....BUT
I'm being picked up and taken to Salt Spring today, where I'll be celebrating with daughter and family along with a son and his wife from Langley.
Hugs and keep on letting me live vicariously
Suzanne