I walked and simultaneously had laundry going in the RV and in the campground laundry. Checkout time was 11am and we needed to be out!
Laundry finished, folded and put away. Decent walk accomplished. Ready to roll at 10:10am!
We were driving this morning when we saw this trailer filled with entirely with all kinds of bread…Wonder bread, rolls…all kinds of bread…
We decided to go to Immokalee on our way. This is a agricultural community with the most amazing produce market. There were lots of vendors. We had to use cash which we so seldom use! I started with $27.00 and still had $6.00 when I left. We chose a cantaloupe, butternut squash, mangoes, limes, a cucumber, corn on the cob, tomatoes, an onion, and avocadoes. The community is very diverse and most of the vendors spoke little English. I had fun asking about products and prices in my very elementary Spanish.
We continued our drive to Monument Lake in Big Cypress Preserve.
It rained on and off this afternoon. I rested and listened to the end of a book.
Tim sat outside in the shade, enjoying the breeze. He noticed this rainbow at the end of the lake.
We grilled tuna and made rice bowls with our fresh mangoes and cucumbers and avocadoes. We drizzled everything in the fresh lime juice and that was all we needed…delicious!
1369 October 30, 2026 Moody Skies And Fickle Weather
I started my walk a little later than usual. The sun was out and this Florida sunshine is potent! I saw this red shouldered hawk sitting on a wire. He appeared to be hunting. He was repeatedly divebombed by several very brave or foolish birds!
Can you spot the yellow butterfly among the leaves?
An anhinga hanging out to dry.
Tim found a local private gym where he could purchase a day pass and so off, he went for leg day.
Later this morning we drove north to the small town of Clewiston. We need to collect supplies before venturing further south into Big Cypress and then the Everglades.
The sky was very changeable today with sporadic bursts of rain followed by blue skies and sunshine…Florida weather.
This afternoon we dodged raindrops and rode bikes in the campground. Just after we returned there got a heavy dousing.
The skies were clear at dinnertime and so we packed a picnic and went to John Stretch Park. After eating, we walked around the lake and then up to the berm.
We went for a drive in the countryside.
This area is home to many sugarcane fields. US Sugar is based in Clewiston. They are the largest producer of refined sugar in the country.
More pictures of the sky.
We got back to the campground just in time to watch the sunset.
I had only time for a quick walk. I was able to spend that time catching up with a dear friend. When I got back to the RV, Tim had company. Peter and Vivi had chatted with Tim about our rig. They were interested in someday buying an RV like ours and they were taking the tour. They are eager to get out on the road and see more of the country. We had lots of advice and ideas for them. It is always fun to talk to other people about their future plans!
We packed up and we were ready to move. We had about a three-hour ride to our next campground, South Bay on Lake Okeechobee.
We started on 95S which is a busy and unremarkable ride. As soon as we turned off the interstate, we stopped for fuel. $6.08 a gallon here in Florida. She was a thirsty girl and we put in almost 60 gallons.
On the road again, the scenery changed. We were in the lesser-known interior portion of the state or “Old Florida.” We passed cattle ranches and horse farms and lots of sugar cane fields.
We made a stop at Paul Rardin Park and we had lunch.
Tim saw a large lizard in the tree when we arrived and I went out with my camera to look…no lizards!
We arrived mid-afternoon.
I tried to get out and finish my walking but there were periods of intermittent light rain that kept chasing me back to the RV.
We went for an early dinner at a Cuban food truck where we enjoyed Cuban sandwiches.
This evening, we walked out onto the levee and watched sunset.
Lots of white birds were roosting in the tree across the water.
I walked two miles in loops around the campground. I knew I would get plenty of steps in.
Tim found a Planet Fitness nearby and he went to work out. Tim was inspired today by an older guy who came to the gym in his wheelchair.
We ate eggs for breakfast and then left for our filed trip.
We were just a couple of miles from Kennedy Space Center and to get there, we had to pass through Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. We saw lots of wading birds and we saw two black feral pigs grazing in the grassy verge.
We began our day at the Information Center. This was a good decision. The woman at the desk gave us a map with detailed suggestions about how we might spend our day.
We walked to the bus terminal and started with the tour. It was a fifteen-minute ride to the Gantry at LC-39. On our way, we passed the building where the rockets are assembled. This building is one of the largest in the world and it has the largest doors ever made.
At the Gantry, we took the elevator to the 4th floor and the observation deck. From this vantage point, we could see much of the surrounding wildlife refuge and the launch sites.
We browsed exhibits and watched a video presentation about the NASA grogram.
We hopped on another bus that took us to the Apollo/SaturnV Center. Here we stood in the same control room that was utilized by the launch team for the Apollo mission to the moon.
When the doors opened after the presentation, we found ourselves in a huge warehouse type building. The Apollo rocket hung suspended from the ceiling. The rocket was tremendous. It is impossible to get any picture that captures its entirety. It is more than 400 feet long.
We got to touch a moon rock.
We took the bus back to the main complex and went to explore the Space Shuttle Atlantis. This shuttle was the first designed by NASA to be reused. We learned a lot about the missions, the failures and the successes.
We did the Shuttle Launch Experience which was amazing! An astronaut said that the simulation was very close to what it actually feels like to take off. I was really glad that we had that experience. It made me want to fly!
Forever Remembered was a memorial to the astronauts lost in the Columbia and Challenger disasters. Each person was represented by a shadowbox of the things that they loved. It was a sobering display; a reminder that space exploration is a dangerous undertaking. These men and women were dedicated heroes. They all knew the risks and they were willing to give up their lives in pursuits of their dreams.
It was late afternoon and we were tired! There were other things that we could have seen…two days there would have been even better!
Going to the Space Center was pricey but it was absolutely worth it. The entire complex is very well designed. Every presentation is topnotch. We had been here 15 or 20 years ago and it is completely different. The sights, the sounds, the education, and the science were coming at us from every direction. We were in awe. It made us remember how rare and fragile and small we are in the scope of the larger universe. I would definitely come back.
It was 3pm and we were starving. We went to Latitudes Waterfront Grill. We started at a table on the deck but it was very windy! We found another table closer to the building. We had really good tuna poke bowls.
We had a longer ride today and so we left pretty early.
Most of our ride was on 95S and 295S around Jacksonville.
Who said that you can’t take it with you? We had this Spanish moss hanging on for miles!
We arrived at Manatee Hammock Campground, a Brevard County Park, in mid-afternoon.
We both did some walking here. It was especially windy near the water. The water had risen to the bottom of the dock and was splashing up onto the rocks.
We made roasted chicken and beet salads and took them to the picnic pavilion. For a couple of minutes, we had some sideways blowing rain that chased us to the other side of the pavilion.
Kennedy Space Center is just across the water, the Indian River Lagoon.
Tim was up hours before I was and when I went to make coffee, he was already putting his shoes on to go for his walk. He sent me this video.
I did get myself out there and I took a good three-mile walk. I started at the river’s edge. The water was still very choppy and the wind was wicked. The beach was gone.
I walked among the trees and there I was protected from the whipping winds.
I did venture out to the beach at the Fort.
I made the loop back to the campground.
Tim found a nearby private gym that allowed him to purchase a day pass.
He needed a nap by lunchtime and so I did my stretching and PT and weights while he rested.
This afternoon, we went to see Cousin Curtis. We found him to be so much more tired and weak than he had been last November. He has been greatly saddened by the need to place his wife, Janice, of 51 years, in a memory care facility. We enjoyed our visit, sharing memories and stories and life updates. We were so glad to share this time. Our hearts and thoughts and prayers will be with Curtis and Janice for a long time to come. It was hard to leave today.
Happy Birthday Kyle! We love you and we are so proud of you!
I did a two-mile walk and met Tim on my way back.
We prepped to drive again today. Another short trip across the Georgia-Florida line and to Fort Clinch State Park on Amelia Island.
As we drove, I could feel the wind pushing the RV, particularly on the bridge.
We got to the park and it was too early to check-in. We waited in the beach parking lot. Tim walked out to the beach but the surf was pounding and the sand was blowing and he did not stay out there long. He reported that the beach had eroded from the recent weather. Two guys were out surfing. Based on his assessment, I was not inclined to go out there!
We got to our site before 1pm and spent a long and lazy afternoon. Tim watched the very disappointing Ravens game and I listened to a book.
We were going to have dinner in the RV but Tim was tired of sitting around and he invited me to go out to dinner. We have always had a good meal at Salt Life when we have been in town and tonight was no exception.
After we finished, we were going to go out and walk on the beach but we looked out and saw the rain blowing sideways. We ran to the Jeep and we went for a ride on Ocean Avenue, looking at the beach houses. In the places where we could see the water, it was roiling!
Back at the park we sat for a few minutes along the Amelia River…nasty weather!!
Tim was up earlier than I and he saw this tree filled with white birds.
I woke up with stiff and tired legs. I wasn’t sure how quickly I was going to be able to walk but I was determined to do three miles. I chose a route that was a large loop. This way, I was committed to completing the whole thing. I surprised myself by walking all three miles in 59 minutes! It was windy and chilly and cloudy.
Tim went to the Planet Fitness nearby and I did sheets and laundry and chores.
When he got back with the Jeep, I went to CVS to get a prescription and to a bakery for some fresh bread.
Tim called me when I was on my way back to the campground…we also needed yogurt and bananas. We had a few RV supplies that we needed at Walmart and so I adjusted my route and went to Walmart.
There happened to be a nail salon in the same shopping center. I decided to see if they had an opening for a pedicure and if not then I wouldn’t get one.
I was lucky. The soaking and pampering felt so good on my sore legs and feet!
This evening I made smash burger venison tacos and we ate outside.
I walked over to watch the sunset. I thought that the cloudy sky might make an excellent backdrop and I was right!
A man whose name was Mark, watched with me and offered to take my picture.
The moon is almost full!
Another good day. Kingsland had everything we needed.
1362 October 23, 2026 Cumberland Island National Seashore
Crooked River State Park is another great place for a morning walk. Tim walked and saw this bumper sticker.
I walked and saw this hawk.
We left the campground at 10am and drove to nearby Saint Mary’s. We took our bikes off the Jeep and made our way to the Ferry Terminal.
We boarded the Cumberland Queen and enjoyed a 45-minute boat ride across the river to Cumberland Island, a barrier island that is designated as a National Seashore. We could see horses on the beaches and I started to get excited!
We arrived and hopped on our bikes. It was a lovely ride from the ferry dock to the southern end of the island. The dirt road was mostly hard packed with a few areas of soft sand.
We went to the southern end and walked around the Dungeness Ruins. This was the summer home of Thomas and Lucy Carnegie.
Feral horses greeted us at the entrance.
We continued past the ruins to Raccoon Keys. We were there all by ourselves. It was marshy all the way to the beach. There were more wild horses.
We found a picnic table under the shade of a huge and gnarled live oak tree.
We made an attempt to go to Dungeness Beach. The road became too soft with deep sand and we abandoned our bikes and trudged through the sand.
At long last, we came to a boardwalk that took us around a very wet area.
We walked to the end of the boardwalk and came to a super muddy trail that would take us out to the beach. I opted out first and sat on a bench to dump the cups of sand out of my shoes. Tim continued on but didn’t get very far before he found the trail flooded.
We biked back though the maritime forest and traveled past our ferry dock entrance. We had walked almost 13,000 steps, some in deep sand, and then biked about 7 miles. I had done enough for today! I found a stump and sat while Tim biked on for another ½ a mile and then he quit as well.
We found a bench in the shade where we waited for our ride back to the mainland.
It was a wonderful field trip and someday, I would like to come back and see the northern portion.
Our return ferry got us back to Saint Mary’s at 5:45pm. We had been to Saint Mary’s Harbor Restaurant last fall and we decided to have dinner there tonight.
Now as I write, my legs are tired but I am happy. We were outside in a truly beautiful and wild place and I was grateful to have this experience!
Today was moving day. We had another short drive to Crooked River. We stopped for some groceries and arrived in early afternoon.
Tim went for a bike ride and saw this gopher turtle.
He found a Planet Fitness nearby and he went to work out.
I listened to a Noom seminar on Living Better Longer and then I took my bike out. I looked for turtles but they were hiding from me. It was a beautiful sunny day in the mid-seventies…perfect!
This evening, we grilled mushrooms and steaks and had baked sweet potatoes.
I walked the trash to the dumpster and then went to look out over the cliffs.
