Due to the unexpected weeks gap in our schedule,we decided to blow off the last week in Jacksonville at Little Talbot Island, and head for home. We could have improvised, but to be honest,we were both getting a little sick of being literally attached to to dogs 24/7.
Given the fact that we are highway averse, and that towing the Manor limits us to 60 mph anyway, we set off on the small roads,taking the Wiregrass Parkway heading to Valdosta Georgia.
Mark and I have developed a little love affair with Georgia on these trips,and I believe we haven't really seen anything yet. This particular road was a gorgeous drive, although I couldn't say the same for the next days section from Valdosta to 95 just south of Savannah. We even passed through the "historic" town of Boston, touting its mini marathon in October. Next year we plan to explore more.
Scored a 2 night reservation at Huntington Beach State Park in Murrells Inlet South Carolina, which would merit a return visit if it could be determined that the mid 80's temps weren't totally aberrational. ---A very dog friendly park; for the first time in 3 years we actually got to take the beasts to the beach IN the Campground.
After an overnight in Richmond VA,we decided to avoid the dreaded DC/Baltimore loop by taking 301 up the western Maryland Shore. All was well until the Maryland State line; beyond that to the Cheasapeake Bay Bridge was utter torture. What we did was akin to someone becoming enamored with Route 1 along the Maine coast, and then deciding to drive to New york City via Saugus, Norwood and New Rochelle.
Once across the bridge,301 was GREAT,all the way to the Jersey Turnpike, so next year we will tweak by taking 95 1/2 way around the DC loop to 50 directly.
Caught a great night's sleep at Larry's in NJ, and made it home the next day.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Left the wilderness of Cape San Blas,excited to try the one new to us park on this years trip. We passed through Panama City, home of St. Andrew's St. Park, which was the very first place we camped in the teardrop in 2010. The park is outstanding, but Panama City and Panama City Beach is a pit to be avoided unless you are a young spring breaker,intent on participating in the annual balcony fall olympics. (Sorry,that was cold)
Beyond Panama City, there are several parks stretching West: Grayton Beach, Topsail Hill (---which we planned to recon for the future;this one was a formerly private facility donated to the state,which allows no tent camping,has a swimming pool,shuttle trolleys to the beach and a shuffleboard court. Now that I write this...hmm...) Henderson Beach in Destin, and finally Fort Pickens ,west of Pensacola and part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is shared by Florida and Mississippi. (Boy,Alabama really got screwed on this shorefront deal)
Our destination was Grayton Beach, which turns out to be an absolutely beautiful, VERY upscale town---think Sanibel/Captiva,but a little less stiff/upper crusty. At least that was my impression in our extremely brief stay. Why brief? Turns out that dogs are NOT allowed, even on a leash, to be on any beach in any of these counties to the West of Gulf County. Residents of Grayton Beach participate in a lottery for the privilege of paying hundreds of dollars for a permit to bring their leashed dogs to the beach before 9 and after 7. Violations=$1500.00. Thus,we beat a hasty retreat.
Forgot to put a title on this one,but I guess I'd call it Wicked Witch of the West.
Beyond Panama City, there are several parks stretching West: Grayton Beach, Topsail Hill (---which we planned to recon for the future;this one was a formerly private facility donated to the state,which allows no tent camping,has a swimming pool,shuttle trolleys to the beach and a shuffleboard court. Now that I write this...hmm...) Henderson Beach in Destin, and finally Fort Pickens ,west of Pensacola and part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore, which is shared by Florida and Mississippi. (Boy,Alabama really got screwed on this shorefront deal)
Our destination was Grayton Beach, which turns out to be an absolutely beautiful, VERY upscale town---think Sanibel/Captiva,but a little less stiff/upper crusty. At least that was my impression in our extremely brief stay. Why brief? Turns out that dogs are NOT allowed, even on a leash, to be on any beach in any of these counties to the West of Gulf County. Residents of Grayton Beach participate in a lottery for the privilege of paying hundreds of dollars for a permit to bring their leashed dogs to the beach before 9 and after 7. Violations=$1500.00. Thus,we beat a hasty retreat.
Forgot to put a title on this one,but I guess I'd call it Wicked Witch of the West.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Time
Spent the rest of our week in Cape San Blas relatively uneventfully.
I tried out the Kayak in the bay,and ended up with a dozen croakers and another shark,which,after it jumped and caused me to drop the pliers in the drink, is now swimming with my lure in his mouth.
St.Joe Bay has a summer scallop season where you can wade or snorkel to collect a couple of gallons of little bay scallops a day.
Spent an afternoon backtracking to St. George's Island to check it out for next year. Cape San Blas juts west into the gulf from a place called Indian Pass,and then turns and runs South to North for 15-20 miles. Thus its Gulf beaches are oriented to the West, which combined with the wind make the water often murky.Considering what's in there...
St.George's seems to be an "older"place, which probably means it's been a longer while since it was destroyed by a hurricane. Shopping options seem SOMEWHAT more plentiful than the one option on Cape San Blas: the Trading Post. Actually,I can't say enough about this little place. Everything you need,and they will order you what you want from a store in Mexico Beach. Mark and I ordered up 2 Filet Mignon that were priced well below anything else we'd seen in the State. ( I found grocery prices in Florida to be very high, which is saying a lot, considering where I live.) Friendly people, a good coffee shop w/homemade donuts on the weekends and a full line of liquors.Plus bait and tackle.
At any rate, the plentiful sugar sand and clear turquoise water at the beaches on St. George Island didn't disappoint. Lots of waves too,but could have just been an anomaly.
It's probably a good thing that this area is pretty much a place that time forgot, because Lord, were we having issues with the time. Firstly, we'd just had the ever confusing time change to whatever time we're on now. ---"Spring ahead" said Mark. "That means when I wake up at 6:30,it will be 5:30"
Umm...no,I don't think so. But I couldn't SWEAR you're wrong.
Then we noticed that our GPS was underestimating or overestimating our arrival times by an hour , depending on our direction. THEN we noticed that it was staying light VERY late.
It was checking Mark's phone for the time that REALLY threw us for a loop. Turns out the park operates in the Eastern Time Zone,but that the line,by satellite,was somewhere between the gate and our campsite. In fact,the towns of Port St Joe and Mexico Beach run shuttles on New Years Eve so that you can have twice the fun.
I suppose normal people (meaning those that have any reason at all to actually know what time it is) might have figured this out sooner, but Mark and I realized that 2 years ago we spent an entire week in Panama City (about an hour? or was it 2??) and never once realized we were in another Time Zone.
Philosophical Question: If your campsite is in the Eastern Zone and your TV station is in Dothan Alabama, and Desperate Housewives is on at 9 Eastern, 8 Central...
I tried out the Kayak in the bay,and ended up with a dozen croakers and another shark,which,after it jumped and caused me to drop the pliers in the drink, is now swimming with my lure in his mouth.
St.Joe Bay has a summer scallop season where you can wade or snorkel to collect a couple of gallons of little bay scallops a day.
Spent an afternoon backtracking to St. George's Island to check it out for next year. Cape San Blas juts west into the gulf from a place called Indian Pass,and then turns and runs South to North for 15-20 miles. Thus its Gulf beaches are oriented to the West, which combined with the wind make the water often murky.Considering what's in there...
St.George's seems to be an "older"place, which probably means it's been a longer while since it was destroyed by a hurricane. Shopping options seem SOMEWHAT more plentiful than the one option on Cape San Blas: the Trading Post. Actually,I can't say enough about this little place. Everything you need,and they will order you what you want from a store in Mexico Beach. Mark and I ordered up 2 Filet Mignon that were priced well below anything else we'd seen in the State. ( I found grocery prices in Florida to be very high, which is saying a lot, considering where I live.) Friendly people, a good coffee shop w/homemade donuts on the weekends and a full line of liquors.Plus bait and tackle.
At any rate, the plentiful sugar sand and clear turquoise water at the beaches on St. George Island didn't disappoint. Lots of waves too,but could have just been an anomaly.
It's probably a good thing that this area is pretty much a place that time forgot, because Lord, were we having issues with the time. Firstly, we'd just had the ever confusing time change to whatever time we're on now. ---"Spring ahead" said Mark. "That means when I wake up at 6:30,it will be 5:30"
Umm...no,I don't think so. But I couldn't SWEAR you're wrong.
Then we noticed that our GPS was underestimating or overestimating our arrival times by an hour , depending on our direction. THEN we noticed that it was staying light VERY late.
It was checking Mark's phone for the time that REALLY threw us for a loop. Turns out the park operates in the Eastern Time Zone,but that the line,by satellite,was somewhere between the gate and our campsite. In fact,the towns of Port St Joe and Mexico Beach run shuttles on New Years Eve so that you can have twice the fun.
I suppose normal people (meaning those that have any reason at all to actually know what time it is) might have figured this out sooner, but Mark and I realized that 2 years ago we spent an entire week in Panama City (about an hour? or was it 2??) and never once realized we were in another Time Zone.
Philosophical Question: If your campsite is in the Eastern Zone and your TV station is in Dothan Alabama, and Desperate Housewives is on at 9 Eastern, 8 Central...
Monday, April 2, 2012
Revenge of the Catfish
Left Gainesville (Tebow Town! In fact,for you college football fans,we Red Roofed it just minutes from "The Swamp")intent on avoiding Rt.19 and the town of Chiefland--both odious. Thus we made our way to Florida's "Forgotten Coast" on Rt. 27 to Rt.98. The drive was actually beautiful and relaxing,even though as we made our way through 7 or 8 different counties, we were treated to a viewing of each one's own correctional facility,nestled in the pines. Logging country gave way to oysters,turpentine production and Tupelo Honey (Ulee's Gold) as we skirted the coast along Apalachee Bay past Alligator Point and St. George Sound.
We'd visited our destination,St.Joseph Peninsula St. Park on Cape San Blas 2 years ago---the COLD year. This time temps remained in the 80's,as they'd been in Tampa. This place couldn't be more of a contrast to Fort Desoto though...just VERY rural and natural. Supplies were 22 miles away in the town of Port St. Joe...a familiar routine for us.
The park has frontage on both the Gulf and the Bay, which set up to be a fishing paradise for me.
Well...
Day 1 of surfcasting I caught the same whiting I'd been catching way down in Hobe Sound, and a shark. Not a sand shark,or dog fish like we have on Cape Cod,but an honest to goodness I'm -really- pissed- off- to -have- this -hook- in- my- mouth- and -be -flopping- on- the- sand Shark.
Day 2 of surfcasting,I caught,you guessed it, a Catfish. Buoyed by my success in freeing the last one in Tampa,and armed with pliers,I deftly removed it from the hook,and then proceeded to drag it back into the water,by the tail,being careful to avoid those nasty whiskers.
Allow me now to share the information I've gleaned from my too-little-and REALLY too- late research:These little bast*rds are among the biggest pests in the ocean. They are called hard head catfish,and have nothing to do with their freshwater cousins. The ugly whiskers are NOT the weapons...THOSE are located in slimy venomous spikes on both the pectoral and dorsal fins...DUH...back by the tail.
Let me attest to the wallop these things pack: what amounted to a 1/4 inch paper cut,sustained THROUGH a glove , bled PROFUSELY for a good 5 minutes,numbing my entire hand,( not enough!)and totally spazzing out my forearm and bicep. I was starting to get a little worried,thinking of the croc hunter and all, so consulted an observer to my little "dance".
"Oh,you'll be fine" he said..."but most guys have thrown up by now"
We'd visited our destination,St.Joseph Peninsula St. Park on Cape San Blas 2 years ago---the COLD year. This time temps remained in the 80's,as they'd been in Tampa. This place couldn't be more of a contrast to Fort Desoto though...just VERY rural and natural. Supplies were 22 miles away in the town of Port St. Joe...a familiar routine for us.
The park has frontage on both the Gulf and the Bay, which set up to be a fishing paradise for me.
Well...
Day 1 of surfcasting I caught the same whiting I'd been catching way down in Hobe Sound, and a shark. Not a sand shark,or dog fish like we have on Cape Cod,but an honest to goodness I'm -really- pissed- off- to -have- this -hook- in- my- mouth- and -be -flopping- on- the- sand Shark.
Day 2 of surfcasting,I caught,you guessed it, a Catfish. Buoyed by my success in freeing the last one in Tampa,and armed with pliers,I deftly removed it from the hook,and then proceeded to drag it back into the water,by the tail,being careful to avoid those nasty whiskers.
Allow me now to share the information I've gleaned from my too-little-and REALLY too- late research:These little bast*rds are among the biggest pests in the ocean. They are called hard head catfish,and have nothing to do with their freshwater cousins. The ugly whiskers are NOT the weapons...THOSE are located in slimy venomous spikes on both the pectoral and dorsal fins...DUH...back by the tail.
Let me attest to the wallop these things pack: what amounted to a 1/4 inch paper cut,sustained THROUGH a glove , bled PROFUSELY for a good 5 minutes,numbing my entire hand,( not enough!)and totally spazzing out my forearm and bicep. I was starting to get a little worried,thinking of the croc hunter and all, so consulted an observer to my little "dance".
"Oh,you'll be fine" he said..."but most guys have thrown up by now"
Monday, March 26, 2012
Update Tampa
Spent 2 weeks at Fort DeSoto,highlighted by getting to see nephew Josh's new house in Tampa,located in the historic Hyde Park neighborhood. Unbelievable for all of us that think Florida architecture is all of one piece...this area, full of beautiful craftsman type housing stock from the 1920's looks like it got moved from West Newton hill...if you could walk to the end of your street in West Newton and be on a sidewalk/promenade that goes for dozens of miles along the bay.
Not sure if it was Gordon's leap from the front porch, or the 41 tennis balls he unearthed from the garage and chased down into the not quite finished swimming pool that put him on the DL...pads worn to a frazzle...but he had the time of his life.
Another highlight was using our "guest room" for our friend Suzanne,who flew in for 5-6 days.
Gave my kayak a workout, and finally caught something edible; about 1/2 dozen spotted sea trout (along with myriad pinfish and yes,another catfish. No men in boats or white hats to rescue me this time.
Also no wackos from Detroit anywhere to be found,thankfully.
Left on a Sat. and took 75 up to Gainesville for a night before heading to the panhandle. Saw as many signs around Ocala for "CAFE RISQUE-WE BARE IT ALL" as for Pedro or JR's in the Carolinas. I trust Wayne Giles will check it out for us from his new house nearby.
Next up: Cape San Blas, St. George's Island, Grayton Beach. Confusion in the Time Space Continuum. Revenge of the Catfish.
Not sure if it was Gordon's leap from the front porch, or the 41 tennis balls he unearthed from the garage and chased down into the not quite finished swimming pool that put him on the DL...pads worn to a frazzle...but he had the time of his life.
Another highlight was using our "guest room" for our friend Suzanne,who flew in for 5-6 days.
Gave my kayak a workout, and finally caught something edible; about 1/2 dozen spotted sea trout (along with myriad pinfish and yes,another catfish. No men in boats or white hats to rescue me this time.
Also no wackos from Detroit anywhere to be found,thankfully.
Left on a Sat. and took 75 up to Gainesville for a night before heading to the panhandle. Saw as many signs around Ocala for "CAFE RISQUE-WE BARE IT ALL" as for Pedro or JR's in the Carolinas. I trust Wayne Giles will check it out for us from his new house nearby.
Next up: Cape San Blas, St. George's Island, Grayton Beach. Confusion in the Time Space Continuum. Revenge of the Catfish.
Response
I have been totally remiss,not taking advantage of perfectly good internet access, in both Fort DeSoto and the Red Roof Gainesville before heading to the wilds of the Panhandle. But I'll catch y'all up now. (Note the southern inflection creeping in)
But first, let me respond to your thoughtful questions.
1. To Steve, who is sure the Man in the White Hat was a Bona Fide Ghost:
Well sure. But You can't be that hard on Chad, or Mouseear guy, whichever it was. Think of it from his perspective. Here comes this woman,virtually naked,skin CHARRED. SMOULDERING. And,under the guise of innocently asking directions,she coyly plays the helpless female card. She's towing a CATFISH for god's sake! You'll have to read on to see how she was punished for that.
2. To Jeanne, who recommends I eschew both white and Camo, in favor of denim:
Well of course you would advise wearing Jean(ne)s.
3. To Nick, who is thinking of getting in on this fun life:
Will be interesting to discuss what kind of "rig" you're thinking of getting. Haven't met one soul who stuck with their first choice. So, one word: USED.
4. To Colleen, camp host at Jonathan Dickinson:
Hope to see you this summer. Hope the fallout from Nature Seeking Man re the dogs,baby, and video game kids was mild. BTW, camp hosts at Fort De Soto work like dogs: 5 hrs/day,4 days/wk,including bathrooms. Mark and I are already booked at JDSP next year from 1/21 through Feb! Thanks for the tips.
But first, let me respond to your thoughtful questions.
1. To Steve, who is sure the Man in the White Hat was a Bona Fide Ghost:
Well sure. But You can't be that hard on Chad, or Mouseear guy, whichever it was. Think of it from his perspective. Here comes this woman,virtually naked,skin CHARRED. SMOULDERING. And,under the guise of innocently asking directions,she coyly plays the helpless female card. She's towing a CATFISH for god's sake! You'll have to read on to see how she was punished for that.
2. To Jeanne, who recommends I eschew both white and Camo, in favor of denim:
Well of course you would advise wearing Jean(ne)s.
3. To Nick, who is thinking of getting in on this fun life:
Will be interesting to discuss what kind of "rig" you're thinking of getting. Haven't met one soul who stuck with their first choice. So, one word: USED.
4. To Colleen, camp host at Jonathan Dickinson:
Hope to see you this summer. Hope the fallout from Nature Seeking Man re the dogs,baby, and video game kids was mild. BTW, camp hosts at Fort De Soto work like dogs: 5 hrs/day,4 days/wk,including bathrooms. Mark and I are already booked at JDSP next year from 1/21 through Feb! Thanks for the tips.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
The Mentalist
Ok, now that I've "mastered" posting on the iPain, I'm trying to remember how I post using the computer. This because I'd really like to post a few pics this time. So here I sit, a healthy draught of Black Box Cabernet in my sippy cup, the inverter merrily draining the Honda battery,( this because our computer battery life is at the 15 minutes and die stage) , photos loaded onto the deskop,and we'll see.
But I digress. Or pre-gress.
Loaded up at in Hobe Sound on Saturday. Despite the TrailManor Video of a Sandy Duncan look-alike blithely closing up the unit with a mere palm's pressure, this is still a 3 hour or so procedure: load truck bed w/chairs,coolers grill etc. Clean shower for linen storage,unmake bed,disassemble fishing poles etc.etc. Then strap Kayak onto truck...you get the idea.
So,we were well pleased to be pulling off of 95 by 12:15,for the 120 mile or so journey across the Florida Cracker Trail to St. Pete.
"You wouldn't want to break down HERE" I said.
"Bite" said Mark. As in my tongue.
Well,no. We were not blesssed to break down THERE,within arm's reach of civilization. Rather,we waited till we'd slid on by Starvation Slough,Soggy Bottom,Troublesome Creek, the place that sold "show pigs" and Reality Ranch before the event occurred.
BLOWOUT!!!
Turns out getting a flat tire on a fold out camper entails opening the trailer,undoing the kayak,emptying the truck bed. All this fun was had in Florida prairie land. As in dust. 95 degrees,with a steady 40 mile an hour breeze which immediately changed both of our ethnic persuasions.
Thinking ahead,I had bought Mark a new Sears Craftsman Compressor for XMas.
Yes,we tested it in Wellfleet.
No,it didn't work (to inflate the spare) in Basinger Florida.
Thinking ahead, Mark had bought himself a new lug wrench for the trip. Turns out, the space saving design doesn't deliver enough torque for weaklings as ourselves.
Seems also that AAA, no matter how "Super Plus" a membership you are paying for doesn't cover trailers. I sigh to think that the "Good Sam" club is in my future.
Turns out the steel belts from the tire ripped out the trailer brakes,cut a hole in our waste pipe,and knocked our "throne" clear off it's feet. Bah,gives Mark something to do while I go fishing directly from our site, and Mason hunts mullet.
But I digress. Or pre-gress.
Loaded up at in Hobe Sound on Saturday. Despite the TrailManor Video of a Sandy Duncan look-alike blithely closing up the unit with a mere palm's pressure, this is still a 3 hour or so procedure: load truck bed w/chairs,coolers grill etc. Clean shower for linen storage,unmake bed,disassemble fishing poles etc.etc. Then strap Kayak onto truck...you get the idea.
So,we were well pleased to be pulling off of 95 by 12:15,for the 120 mile or so journey across the Florida Cracker Trail to St. Pete.
"You wouldn't want to break down HERE" I said.
"Bite" said Mark. As in my tongue.
Well,no. We were not blesssed to break down THERE,within arm's reach of civilization. Rather,we waited till we'd slid on by Starvation Slough,Soggy Bottom,Troublesome Creek, the place that sold "show pigs" and Reality Ranch before the event occurred.
BLOWOUT!!!
Turns out getting a flat tire on a fold out camper entails opening the trailer,undoing the kayak,emptying the truck bed. All this fun was had in Florida prairie land. As in dust. 95 degrees,with a steady 40 mile an hour breeze which immediately changed both of our ethnic persuasions.
Thinking ahead,I had bought Mark a new Sears Craftsman Compressor for XMas.
Yes,we tested it in Wellfleet.
No,it didn't work (to inflate the spare) in Basinger Florida.
Thinking ahead, Mark had bought himself a new lug wrench for the trip. Turns out, the space saving design doesn't deliver enough torque for weaklings as ourselves.
Seems also that AAA, no matter how "Super Plus" a membership you are paying for doesn't cover trailers. I sigh to think that the "Good Sam" club is in my future.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
The Man in the White Hat, Camo Boy, and Others
Finished our 2nd 2 week stint at Jonathan Dickinson SP in Hobe Sound on Sat. As befits our Cowardly Old World approach this year,there was a lot of same old,same old: temps consistently in the 80's,3-4 hours daily at Jupiter Beach,with some kayak fishing thrown in.
JD Park is located on the Loxahatchee River,which is a designated "wild and scenic" river. When my Mom lived down here she was fond of taking people on a boat ride up river to see the lair of the famous Trapper Nelson. Somehow I avoided ever having to do this with her, but my sister likened it to watching paint dry. Actually,floating along in my newly procured kayak, I liked it...ancient cypress trees,manatees,and myriad heronesque birds.
On day 2, after creeping myself out by catching 2 catfish,I decided to head downriver,to where,theoretically,salt water fish might be found. A few miles and 1 more catfish later I was confronted by a fork, and consulted a fellow kayak fisherman. White Kayak,white pants,white gloves,white hat,and weirdest of all,a white thing covering his entire face and neck...no eyeholes. Not sure what I was dealing with there-- albino? But this guy was really making me regret my forgetting to apply sunscreen. Anyway,he assured me either way would do,as the point of land was part of an island. True enough,I suppose,in the way that,say,Manhattan is an island. Long story short,8 miles our so later I found myself in Jupiter Inlet with a sunburn,needing Advil and a drink. Never trust the man in the white hat.
Back at the campground we had our usual assortment of entertaining characters: the 8 member ( plus 4 dogs) Pesci-Stiller family from Jersey,whose kids would stay up til 4 am playing video games; which irritated Nature Seeking Man, who left in a huff and was replaced by grandpa,dad and 5 year old son. Sonny was decked out head to toe in camo,had his own miniature quad,and a machete.The cops came and took the ATV and the machete. He got to keep the Camo.
Mark and David went to the Concours d'Elegance down in Boca Raton. Lots of cars in the quarter million and up class. In it's own way,just as alien as the campground crowd.Fun to watch either way.
JD Park is located on the Loxahatchee River,which is a designated "wild and scenic" river. When my Mom lived down here she was fond of taking people on a boat ride up river to see the lair of the famous Trapper Nelson. Somehow I avoided ever having to do this with her, but my sister likened it to watching paint dry. Actually,floating along in my newly procured kayak, I liked it...ancient cypress trees,manatees,and myriad heronesque birds.
On day 2, after creeping myself out by catching 2 catfish,I decided to head downriver,to where,theoretically,salt water fish might be found. A few miles and 1 more catfish later I was confronted by a fork, and consulted a fellow kayak fisherman. White Kayak,white pants,white gloves,white hat,and weirdest of all,a white thing covering his entire face and neck...no eyeholes. Not sure what I was dealing with there-- albino? But this guy was really making me regret my forgetting to apply sunscreen. Anyway,he assured me either way would do,as the point of land was part of an island. True enough,I suppose,in the way that,say,Manhattan is an island. Long story short,8 miles our so later I found myself in Jupiter Inlet with a sunburn,needing Advil and a drink. Never trust the man in the white hat.
Back at the campground we had our usual assortment of entertaining characters: the 8 member ( plus 4 dogs) Pesci-Stiller family from Jersey,whose kids would stay up til 4 am playing video games; which irritated Nature Seeking Man, who left in a huff and was replaced by grandpa,dad and 5 year old son. Sonny was decked out head to toe in camo,had his own miniature quad,and a machete.The cops came and took the ATV and the machete. He got to keep the Camo.
Mark and David went to the Concours d'Elegance down in Boca Raton. Lots of cars in the quarter million and up class. In it's own way,just as alien as the campground crowd.Fun to watch either way.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
So our 11 nights in St.Augustine is almost up.In our past 3or 4 passes through here,Mark and I have really enjoyed the place. The "city" itself is quite attractive,centering around Flager College,which is housed in a former hotel created in 1887 in the Spanish Renaissance style. Supposedly it was one of the very first buildings in the United States to have electricity,wired up by Flagler's buddy Thomas Edison. And the interior touches,stained glass etc. we're handled by Louis Comfort Tiffany. It would be interesting to see what has survived after more than 40 years serving as a residence hall.
This time through though, we felt inundated by police presence. Not since Venezuela have we seen so many different types of cops: sheriffs,State park Rangers,National Park Rangers,State Cops,and Plain ol Police. Honestly,you can't drive a half mile here without seeing some sort of cruiser. 3 dog off the leash busts so far. I'm beginning to think Gordon's frisbee has some sort of chip in it that alerts them to our location.
Never fear...we will extract our revenge by leaving with a 3 year supply of the super high quality poop bags that are dispensed at every beach ramp.
Also got to endure a "cold snap" 23 degrees,wind chill 16. Made us thankful for the 4 sources of heat in the Manor: Our little plug in buddy, the "low heat" setting on the AC unit, the propane furnace and DOGS! This was timed perfectly of course to enjoy 48 hours of 24/7 WHITNEY on TV.(hey,it beat the church channel,of which there are PLENTY)
Otherwise,we 've spent some time on Vilano Beach,about 5 miles north of here.The town must have been completely wiped out in a hurricane,not too long ago,because it seems to be being totally rebuilt. The beach is coquina....crushed shells,that was used around here to make concrete at one time. Also ate out on "Valentimes",as Gabe used to say ,at a place featuring "Urban Cuisine".Anything but the dreaded Southern "Home Cooking".
Looking forward to our return South (Jupiter,Hobe Sound,Stuart) and then on to Tampa,where we get to see nephew Josh and family. Also on tap in Tampa is the arrival of the ever brave Suzanne Osberg, the only one of youse with the gumption to take us up on our guest tent with Aerobed offer. Airport pickup too! Come on people....
Lastly,thanks for the comments...don't forget to check them; wherein specific queries are answered,and you can even find S Beeching's Ring Cycle inspired poem.
Cheers!
PS. Susan Tucker: Florida has 2 more Pelligrino flavours: grapefruit and blood orange. And you thought it was a wasteland. Hah!
This time through though, we felt inundated by police presence. Not since Venezuela have we seen so many different types of cops: sheriffs,State park Rangers,National Park Rangers,State Cops,and Plain ol Police. Honestly,you can't drive a half mile here without seeing some sort of cruiser. 3 dog off the leash busts so far. I'm beginning to think Gordon's frisbee has some sort of chip in it that alerts them to our location.
Never fear...we will extract our revenge by leaving with a 3 year supply of the super high quality poop bags that are dispensed at every beach ramp.
Also got to endure a "cold snap" 23 degrees,wind chill 16. Made us thankful for the 4 sources of heat in the Manor: Our little plug in buddy, the "low heat" setting on the AC unit, the propane furnace and DOGS! This was timed perfectly of course to enjoy 48 hours of 24/7 WHITNEY on TV.(hey,it beat the church channel,of which there are PLENTY)
Otherwise,we 've spent some time on Vilano Beach,about 5 miles north of here.The town must have been completely wiped out in a hurricane,not too long ago,because it seems to be being totally rebuilt. The beach is coquina....crushed shells,that was used around here to make concrete at one time. Also ate out on "Valentimes",as Gabe used to say ,at a place featuring "Urban Cuisine".Anything but the dreaded Southern "Home Cooking".
Looking forward to our return South (Jupiter,Hobe Sound,Stuart) and then on to Tampa,where we get to see nephew Josh and family. Also on tap in Tampa is the arrival of the ever brave Suzanne Osberg, the only one of youse with the gumption to take us up on our guest tent with Aerobed offer. Airport pickup too! Come on people....
Lastly,thanks for the comments...don't forget to check them; wherein specific queries are answered,and you can even find S Beeching's Ring Cycle inspired poem.
Cheers!
PS. Susan Tucker: Florida has 2 more Pelligrino flavours: grapefruit and blood orange. And you thought it was a wasteland. Hah!
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Access and Motivation Align,Finally!
Had a good trip down. Mark passed the driveway test Chez Larry with the new trailer with flying colors.
June 13, 2006
Filed under RV & Trailer Reviews, Trailer Reviews
From its conservative travel length of just over 20 feet, the TrailManor 2720 SL folding travel trailer opens into a liberally sized domicile (27 feet long) that yields 180 square feet of interior living and sleeping space. Much like those ingenious folding Transformer toys kids love to manipulate, this travel trailer can be transformed in a matter of minutes into a spacious home away from home and returned to its travel configuration just as quickly.
The roof is a two-part structure (independent halves). The roof’s front section is released first and extended, followed by releasing the latch pins on the rear half of the roof. To send the front roof section out and up, you simply grab hold at the bottom front leading edge and pull toward you (out). You don’t have to lift the roof because the torsion mechanism TrailManor uses does the job for you. As you pull the roof toward you, it also raises to its fully extended position. Next, you flip up the two front stabilizer bars (one on each side at front) and insert the locking pin.
Standing under the raised front roof section you are now ready to pull out the slide-out living area to where it matches the solid walls that are part of the roof structure. After completing a similar set of evolutions on the rear roof section, you are ready to pull the slide-out bed platform into position. Upon opening and positioning the two halves of the Dutch-style main entry door, you are finished on the outside.
Once inside, you simply position the Velcro-backed insulated vinyl panels around the front perimeter of the living area to make the unit airtight. The double door cabinet that is stowed for travel on the floor is lifted and latched into place on the exterior wall above the galley sink. The silverware drawer/cabinet is set into place on the countertop.
The wardrobe design is another example of TrailManor ingenuity: It rotates up and slides along a rail (to which it’s permanently attached) to its own platform, against the opposite exterior wall. Lastly, the solid walls and the door on the bathroom are folded up and into place and the interior is ready to be enjoyed.
Body Build. TrailManor uses pre-cut sections of ultra lightweight polystyrene foam and sandwiches and laminates them between sheets of aircraft-grade aluminum. This combination of materials and the lamination process is what helps provide the strength, excellent insulation and the lightweight characteristics of this trailer. The foam insulation is a dense material (1 to 3 inches thick, depending on where it’s used in the unit) and by sandwiching it between aircraft-grade aluminum (which is also strong and yields minimal weight), the final unitized structure becomes even stronger than the parts are individually.
Slung under the steel frame (2×5-inch tubular members) are the rubber torsion axle, independent suspension, 14-inch wheels and radial tires, 10-inch electric drum brakes, and the overall low travel profile of the folded-down body that makes this unit tow and track so well. To protect the underbelly from any kicked-up road debris, the underside is dressed with aluminum sheet metal.
Inner Beauty. Inside a TrailManor you’ll find the things you would expect in a conventional travel trailer: Beds are permanent and not stuck in the middle of the living space; and bright maple cabinets and granite-look countertops provide a stylish touch.
The 2720 SL comes standard with an upholstered lounge chair that can be placed anywhere in the living area. There is also a unit-wide sofa/bed and two fold-down tables (one at each end of the sofa) in the front-end living/dining area of the 2720 SL that can be used for meals or lounging. This dual-purpose area covers for the lack of a separate and unique dining area.
The rest of the coach interior is filled out with a decent-sized galley area with a large single sink and faucet, refrigerator, cook-top and plenty of open countertop space on both sides of the kitchen; a private bathroom with cabinets, 12-volt-power recirculating toilet, sink, tub surround and shower; and a queen-size bed and full-height wardrobe at the tail end of the trailer.
Its electrical, plumbing, HVAC (heat, vent and air conditioning) and other utility systems and components found on the 2720 SL work well, and are yet another example of the care that goes into designing and building the TrailManor. In addition to the large freshwater tank, there is a 30-gallon wastewater tank for the lavy, shower/tub and galley sink.
The interior lighting system, porch light, and Fantastic Fan are 12-volt, but this unit also features a 30-amp, 25-foot power cord that permits the unit to tap into shore power at an RV campground for such things as the optional roof air conditioner and microwave oven (in place of the LPG oven). The system also includes a 45-amp power converter and battery charger.
Twin 20-pound LPG tanks located forward and nestled in between the structural steel members of the trailer tongue provide fuel to the cook-top range (with oven), the 20,000 BTU furnace and the LPG (or electric) water heater. For safety, an LPG-leak detector is included as standard equipment.
Road Manners. Our tow vehicle was a Dodge 1500 Hemi Mega Cab, and we didn’t use a load-leveling or sway-control device. Based on our experience over a variety of roads, the 2720 SL and the Dodge 1500 did not need these trailer-taming devices. Except for when we looked in the side or rear-view mirrors, the fact that the 2720 SL was behind us was transparent to those inside, especially to the driver. We also found it reassuring to be able to look out the rear-view mirror of the Dodge and see (over the top of the TrailManor roofline) any traffic that was directly behind our rig. Its travel height is only 64 inches.
The TrailManor exhibits excellent road manners and towing behavior, but ease of towing is only one of several pluses associated with owning this fold-up trailer. One of the options offered on the TrailManor is its hinged, foldable trailer tongue, reducing the overall length of the unit by 2 feet for storage. Many neighborhoods have codes and regulations that prevent an RV from being parked even in the driveway, let alone on the street. This means the TrailManor can often be stowed in the typical-sized family home garage with the door closed.
The wet gross (including a full tank of fresh water) and tongue weights gathered at a public scale were 3300 and 400 pounds, respectively. An effective cargo capacity of approximately 875 pounds remained, good for extended vacations. And due to its reasonable weight, many “family” vehicles can easily tow the unit with minimal impact on ever-increasingly important fuel economy.
For many, the TrailManor 2720 SL makes good sense. It incorporates the desirable features associated with a typical folding trailer, but comes with the security of solid walls. However, it’s far from just an upgraded tent trailer. Once set up, the trailer offers roomy comfort, and “big” trailer amenities and equipment. For those who want to begin enjoying trailer-camping in comfort and style, the TrailManor may be just the ticket. It’s an adult Transformer you can go on vacation in.
Major Standard Features. Independent suspension rubber torsion axles, double entrance steps, four scissor jacks, 110-volt outside receptacle, three porch lights, 12-volt demand water system, city water hook-up, auto-ignition gas/electric water heater, three-way refrigerator, 20,000-BTU furnace, twin 20-gallon LPG tanks, monitor panel, granite-look countertops, stainless steel kitchen sink, spare tire and carrier, outside shower, TV/cable outlet, park cable and phone jack, maple cabinet doors.
Major Optional Features. Roof air conditioner with heater, awning, TV antenna with power amplifier, swingaway hitch tongue, microwave oven, hanging kitchen cabinet, electric tongue jack, three-drawer dresser, stove cover, bike carrier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh,new trailer you say? A third? Yes our friend Chester warned us of this syndrome,and predicts we'll be driving a full sized bus and towing a car behind it before we are through. Don't think so. Great as it is to have our own bathroom in the middle of the night, a little fridge, an oven, and separate living and sleeping rooms,the trade off is reduced spontaneity and mobility. We do find ourselves waxing nostalgic when we see a teardrop or an Aliner. But for now, the 4 of us are enjoying all the creature comforts.
Oh,4 you say? Yes,we have an extra dog on this trip. Mason is really no trouble,save for the tangling hassle involved in having 2 dogs tethered to the picnic table, and his tendency to be out cavorting with glee in the water as the sheriff approaches when we are trying to quickly gather and leash them.
Anyway, the trip down was good.I had a 30% off internet coupon code from our favorite pet friendly hotel chain that our daughter ( a professional fine print reader) told us would work once,at best twice. Well,this thing was like the oil that lasted for 8 days. Thus we made it to Florida spending a grand total of $100 in lodging.
Checked into the first of a series of 2 week State Park reservations in Hobe Sound on the day of the AFC championship, which we watched with the dogs at a tiki bar that turned out to be owned by a relative of the owner of the Ravens. Jonathan Dickinson is one of our favorite parks,due to its proximity to Jupiter Beach and Hobe Sound Beach. Two Beauties! The park has done a lot of prescriptive burning,which has reduced the racoon/armadillo population in the camping area by quite a bit.Did see a deer running behind our campsite on day 1. The weather was in the 80's for all of the 2 weeks, and I got to do a bit of fishing:2 yellow jacks,2 blue runners, 1 Pompano, and 1/2 dozen whiting. A few interesting people : the two guys in their 60's who were traveling on a tandem recumbent bicycle; the guy traveling with doves and rabbits (Itinerant Magician??); Bob from Michigan who is awaiting his SSDI decision, and who bemoans Florida's lack of medicinal marijuana, and the highly talkative Norm from Pennsylvania who has 21 engineering jobs for the taking in Fracking country. Got to see Dave and Ann a couple of times, had a great dinner out in Jensen Beach.
Right now we're up in St. Augustine. Anastasia Park is nice, but the dog regulations are MUCH more of a hassle up here. And the temps are enough cooler to make us thankful we're headed back South in a couple of weeks. (Our itinerary is a bit ping-pongy due to the difficulties with the Reserve America system---it's a little like trying to get Red Sox Playoff tickets online)
As you can probably tell, mundane and routine are pretty much what we're going for this year. Doesn't make for great blogging...but I'm counting on you commenters to spice things up for all of us.
Trailer Review: Trailmanor 2720 SL
Filed under RV & Trailer Reviews, Trailer Reviews
From its conservative travel length of just over 20 feet, the TrailManor 2720 SL folding travel trailer opens into a liberally sized domicile (27 feet long) that yields 180 square feet of interior living and sleeping space. Much like those ingenious folding Transformer toys kids love to manipulate, this travel trailer can be transformed in a matter of minutes into a spacious home away from home and returned to its travel configuration just as quickly.The roof is a two-part structure (independent halves). The roof’s front section is released first and extended, followed by releasing the latch pins on the rear half of the roof. To send the front roof section out and up, you simply grab hold at the bottom front leading edge and pull toward you (out). You don’t have to lift the roof because the torsion mechanism TrailManor uses does the job for you. As you pull the roof toward you, it also raises to its fully extended position. Next, you flip up the two front stabilizer bars (one on each side at front) and insert the locking pin.
Standing under the raised front roof section you are now ready to pull out the slide-out living area to where it matches the solid walls that are part of the roof structure. After completing a similar set of evolutions on the rear roof section, you are ready to pull the slide-out bed platform into position. Upon opening and positioning the two halves of the Dutch-style main entry door, you are finished on the outside.
Once inside, you simply position the Velcro-backed insulated vinyl panels around the front perimeter of the living area to make the unit airtight. The double door cabinet that is stowed for travel on the floor is lifted and latched into place on the exterior wall above the galley sink. The silverware drawer/cabinet is set into place on the countertop.
The wardrobe design is another example of TrailManor ingenuity: It rotates up and slides along a rail (to which it’s permanently attached) to its own platform, against the opposite exterior wall. Lastly, the solid walls and the door on the bathroom are folded up and into place and the interior is ready to be enjoyed.
Body Build. TrailManor uses pre-cut sections of ultra lightweight polystyrene foam and sandwiches and laminates them between sheets of aircraft-grade aluminum. This combination of materials and the lamination process is what helps provide the strength, excellent insulation and the lightweight characteristics of this trailer. The foam insulation is a dense material (1 to 3 inches thick, depending on where it’s used in the unit) and by sandwiching it between aircraft-grade aluminum (which is also strong and yields minimal weight), the final unitized structure becomes even stronger than the parts are individually.
Slung under the steel frame (2×5-inch tubular members) are the rubber torsion axle, independent suspension, 14-inch wheels and radial tires, 10-inch electric drum brakes, and the overall low travel profile of the folded-down body that makes this unit tow and track so well. To protect the underbelly from any kicked-up road debris, the underside is dressed with aluminum sheet metal.
Inner Beauty. Inside a TrailManor you’ll find the things you would expect in a conventional travel trailer: Beds are permanent and not stuck in the middle of the living space; and bright maple cabinets and granite-look countertops provide a stylish touch.
The 2720 SL comes standard with an upholstered lounge chair that can be placed anywhere in the living area. There is also a unit-wide sofa/bed and two fold-down tables (one at each end of the sofa) in the front-end living/dining area of the 2720 SL that can be used for meals or lounging. This dual-purpose area covers for the lack of a separate and unique dining area.
The rest of the coach interior is filled out with a decent-sized galley area with a large single sink and faucet, refrigerator, cook-top and plenty of open countertop space on both sides of the kitchen; a private bathroom with cabinets, 12-volt-power recirculating toilet, sink, tub surround and shower; and a queen-size bed and full-height wardrobe at the tail end of the trailer.
Its electrical, plumbing, HVAC (heat, vent and air conditioning) and other utility systems and components found on the 2720 SL work well, and are yet another example of the care that goes into designing and building the TrailManor. In addition to the large freshwater tank, there is a 30-gallon wastewater tank for the lavy, shower/tub and galley sink.
The interior lighting system, porch light, and Fantastic Fan are 12-volt, but this unit also features a 30-amp, 25-foot power cord that permits the unit to tap into shore power at an RV campground for such things as the optional roof air conditioner and microwave oven (in place of the LPG oven). The system also includes a 45-amp power converter and battery charger.
Twin 20-pound LPG tanks located forward and nestled in between the structural steel members of the trailer tongue provide fuel to the cook-top range (with oven), the 20,000 BTU furnace and the LPG (or electric) water heater. For safety, an LPG-leak detector is included as standard equipment.
Road Manners. Our tow vehicle was a Dodge 1500 Hemi Mega Cab, and we didn’t use a load-leveling or sway-control device. Based on our experience over a variety of roads, the 2720 SL and the Dodge 1500 did not need these trailer-taming devices. Except for when we looked in the side or rear-view mirrors, the fact that the 2720 SL was behind us was transparent to those inside, especially to the driver. We also found it reassuring to be able to look out the rear-view mirror of the Dodge and see (over the top of the TrailManor roofline) any traffic that was directly behind our rig. Its travel height is only 64 inches.
The TrailManor exhibits excellent road manners and towing behavior, but ease of towing is only one of several pluses associated with owning this fold-up trailer. One of the options offered on the TrailManor is its hinged, foldable trailer tongue, reducing the overall length of the unit by 2 feet for storage. Many neighborhoods have codes and regulations that prevent an RV from being parked even in the driveway, let alone on the street. This means the TrailManor can often be stowed in the typical-sized family home garage with the door closed.
The wet gross (including a full tank of fresh water) and tongue weights gathered at a public scale were 3300 and 400 pounds, respectively. An effective cargo capacity of approximately 875 pounds remained, good for extended vacations. And due to its reasonable weight, many “family” vehicles can easily tow the unit with minimal impact on ever-increasingly important fuel economy.
For many, the TrailManor 2720 SL makes good sense. It incorporates the desirable features associated with a typical folding trailer, but comes with the security of solid walls. However, it’s far from just an upgraded tent trailer. Once set up, the trailer offers roomy comfort, and “big” trailer amenities and equipment. For those who want to begin enjoying trailer-camping in comfort and style, the TrailManor may be just the ticket. It’s an adult Transformer you can go on vacation in.
Major Standard Features. Independent suspension rubber torsion axles, double entrance steps, four scissor jacks, 110-volt outside receptacle, three porch lights, 12-volt demand water system, city water hook-up, auto-ignition gas/electric water heater, three-way refrigerator, 20,000-BTU furnace, twin 20-gallon LPG tanks, monitor panel, granite-look countertops, stainless steel kitchen sink, spare tire and carrier, outside shower, TV/cable outlet, park cable and phone jack, maple cabinet doors.
Major Optional Features. Roof air conditioner with heater, awning, TV antenna with power amplifier, swingaway hitch tongue, microwave oven, hanging kitchen cabinet, electric tongue jack, three-drawer dresser, stove cover, bike carrier
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oh,new trailer you say? A third? Yes our friend Chester warned us of this syndrome,and predicts we'll be driving a full sized bus and towing a car behind it before we are through. Don't think so. Great as it is to have our own bathroom in the middle of the night, a little fridge, an oven, and separate living and sleeping rooms,the trade off is reduced spontaneity and mobility. We do find ourselves waxing nostalgic when we see a teardrop or an Aliner. But for now, the 4 of us are enjoying all the creature comforts.
Oh,4 you say? Yes,we have an extra dog on this trip. Mason is really no trouble,save for the tangling hassle involved in having 2 dogs tethered to the picnic table, and his tendency to be out cavorting with glee in the water as the sheriff approaches when we are trying to quickly gather and leash them.
Anyway, the trip down was good.I had a 30% off internet coupon code from our favorite pet friendly hotel chain that our daughter ( a professional fine print reader) told us would work once,at best twice. Well,this thing was like the oil that lasted for 8 days. Thus we made it to Florida spending a grand total of $100 in lodging.
Checked into the first of a series of 2 week State Park reservations in Hobe Sound on the day of the AFC championship, which we watched with the dogs at a tiki bar that turned out to be owned by a relative of the owner of the Ravens. Jonathan Dickinson is one of our favorite parks,due to its proximity to Jupiter Beach and Hobe Sound Beach. Two Beauties! The park has done a lot of prescriptive burning,which has reduced the racoon/armadillo population in the camping area by quite a bit.Did see a deer running behind our campsite on day 1. The weather was in the 80's for all of the 2 weeks, and I got to do a bit of fishing:2 yellow jacks,2 blue runners, 1 Pompano, and 1/2 dozen whiting. A few interesting people : the two guys in their 60's who were traveling on a tandem recumbent bicycle; the guy traveling with doves and rabbits (Itinerant Magician??); Bob from Michigan who is awaiting his SSDI decision, and who bemoans Florida's lack of medicinal marijuana, and the highly talkative Norm from Pennsylvania who has 21 engineering jobs for the taking in Fracking country. Got to see Dave and Ann a couple of times, had a great dinner out in Jensen Beach.
Right now we're up in St. Augustine. Anastasia Park is nice, but the dog regulations are MUCH more of a hassle up here. And the temps are enough cooler to make us thankful we're headed back South in a couple of weeks. (Our itinerary is a bit ping-pongy due to the difficulties with the Reserve America system---it's a little like trying to get Red Sox Playoff tickets online)
As you can probably tell, mundane and routine are pretty much what we're going for this year. Doesn't make for great blogging...but I'm counting on you commenters to spice things up for all of us.
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