Good Sunday Morning, November 19, 2018
So we are all home now, happy, relaxed and still excited about our first camping trip! I have to mention one thing about Highlands Hammock State Park. It was beautiful and peaceful during the week. We arrived Monday evening IN THE DARK – did I mention that? And me, backing into a camping spot in the dark for the first time. It was very stressful! Anyway, I was about 6 inches from a tree and 3 feet from a fire circle – that we didn’t use for our fires. Here is a picture again of the set up (in case you forget – :-)!):
Set Up at HH
See that fire circle????? See that pine tree???? It’s all good! So if you look in the background, you’ll see a little camper. My neighbor is Peter. I have a picture of he and I conversing by Olivi@. I’ll have to try to find that. Anyway, first impressions right????? The first day he was sitting at his picnic table smoking his pipe without a shirt on, which made me nervous – but it was hot that first day so not judging…….. Finally on Thursday, I got up the nerve to go over to speak to him. Turns out he is soloing because his wife is babysitting their great, granddaughter 5 days a week up in Michigan (I believe) and she is joining him down in the Keys when they stay at Big Pine Key for 3 months. He said he was “over” the kid thing, but did not want to deprive his wife of the opportunity to play with their great grand daughter. He retired at 59. Has been retired for 8 years. He bought his 1989 Toyota Camper for $9000 and hit the road. He has a 5th Wheel also that his kids use to go camping. Found the picture:
Peter my neighbor
Yep, that is me in the morning of camping with my PJ’s and sweatshirt on. A vision of beauty! Anyway, Peter was an Army guy (thus the Army hat) and an engineer. He told me what he did, very technical and I didn’t “get” it. He was proud of his rig and gave me a tour. There was a back kitchen and bath. The stove had an oven and 4 burners! The bath was a “wet bath” but he removed the shower component and built a cabinet in there for more storage. He showed me the outside storage and mechanisms. The above the cab space was loaded with kid stuff so they could take their great grand daughter camping with them up in Michigan. I sat in the cab and it was very manageable – not like that HUGE Class C I was going to rent. It was “just the right size” for me! Too bad, they don’t make them any more. He has 150,000 miles on it. I told him I expected my OTIS would take me at least 200,000 miles. He concurred! So, that is what you do at campgrounds. You speak with neighbors and get to know them, and then you will probably never see them again. But it is fun. Steve was another neighbor who helped me back in IN THE DARK. He was in a big rig of some sort. His wife came out for a moment wondering what he was “up to”, and I never saw her again for the next 3 days.
So the second day (Tuesday), the ranger came by our camp to tell us that Bette & Suzan needed to move on Thursday, because someone was coming in to their site on Friday. They could have moved on Thursday, but we decided to move that day and get it over with. They had set up the tent room, and they were a little miffed that they had to move. But it worked out fine and we were settled for the next 4 days. Here is a picture of Betty & Suzan behind me:
First Camp
Bette is sitting with Sadie. Bette & Suzan brought Sadie and Zia with them. They were great entertainment. So Peter and Steve took off on Thursday. Others began arriving on Thursday and the campground began to really fill up. There were a bunch of people camping together on 4 or 5 campsites and then there were many, many little tents popping up all over. They were really over crowded and NOISY. Lots of tiny kids riding bikes and generally having lots of fun playing outside – what’s up with that? Anyway, we drove by their sites and I’ve never seen so much “stuff” in my life! But I think they were having a lot of fun, based on the amount of booze we saw on their tables and food and junk everywhere. Guess they didn’t care if the bears came through at night! They were noisy late into the night, but with my windows closed and the stereo on, I wasn’t disturbed. So this morning I’m typing this blog at my desk with Domino in his spot
Blogging at home
So now I am grateful for fast DSL Internet that isn’t “spotty” although there are moments. But another thing I count as a blessing is a bathroom 4 steps from my bed for the nighttime needs, along with a private, hot water shower. So going on the road FULL Timing I don’t believe is in my future, but you never know. I also like to rest on my couch with my kitties surrounding me!
So now I know why Peter and Steve left on Thursday from Highlands Hammock State Park. It is very noisy on the weekends. But people who need to “party ” on the weekends because they work all week, deserve their time. I’ll just remember that and avoid the weekends!
Well, this post is long enough. 950 words! Thank you for visiting. I’ll be back soon!
