March 30, 2011

Starke, Fla KOA Campground....
Well maintained park in small town just 30 minutes from East Coast....
Wal-Mart just down the road....Stocked up for trip back to Ohio....

Departing for Ohio Thursday AM.....
Stopping to visit with Mark & Lisa &
 Grand Daughter Emily, in West Milton, Ohio,
 on way back to Vermilion.

March 27, 2011

Traveled to Hudson, Fl on Gulf Coast....Hudson is a stop described in
 cruising guides when cruising around the Big Bend area of the Gulf...
As usual, access to the water is limited from the land side unless you
 have a boat at one ofthe marinas....
Community heavily canalized and mostly dated real estate...

March 26, 2011

Traveled to Cedar Key, Fla which extends out into the Big Bend Coast of NW Florida.
Huge Indian Shell Mound built over many years of depositing clam shells
Indians camped on top of shell mound as this was the only "High Ground" in the area....





View from top of shell mound looking out to Gulf of Mexico....

March 25, 2011

Traveled to Homosassa, Fla to take River Boat Tour....
Tour conducted by Captain Bob who move to area 16 years ago from
Washington State.
We where only customers for tour, had boat and Captain Bob all to ourselves.
Captain Bob gave us a wonderful tour of the area...

Monkey Island....Created in 20's from dredging spoils....
Later, Spider Monkeys adopted from early defunct tourist attraction
and relocated to island.
Monkeys are fed and cared for by locals and Florida DNR.

Osprey nest with mother and two chicks....

Many nest in this area, mostly undeveloped and protected land....
Great area for Birding.....

Canal leading to past home site of a Mr Levy who came to Homossa
in the early 1800's and built a large sugar plantation.
Plantation was burned by the Union Army during the Civil War and
Mr Levy was imprisoned for two years for having slaves...

Linda enjoying the Boat Tour

Pelicans waiting to feed on fish cleaning scraps....

March 24, 2011
Left Bonita Springs and traveled to Crystal River, Fla. to stay at Crystal Isles RV Park.
Nice setting on River, near Crytal River attractions...No Seeums are a negative....

Encountered this street sign which is the name of Linda's brother Roy.

March 20, 2011
Our good friends , Bill & Barb Roderick treated us to a day at their Private Island Beach and a BBQ in the evening.

March 18, 2011
Traveled to Everglades City in Motorhome accompanied by our boating friends, Bill & Barb Roderick and Dale & Karen Katzfey.
Lunch at Oysterhouse Resturant followed by Pontoon Boat tour into Thousand Islands area.          

Returned to Bonita Lakes RV Park for one week to visit with Ohio freinds who are renting a condo
here in Bonita Springs.

Discovered Snapping Turtle behind RV, apparently got on wrong side of fence.
When approached...receeds into shell, when senses safe....comes out of shell...extends head and legs....raises up on all four's and walks toward canal....

Leaving Pioner Village RV Park, reurning to Bonita Lakes RV Park for one week to visit with freinds
from Ohio renting condo in Bonita Springs.