snowbirding – Wandering Dawgs

Throwback Thursday #18 – January 30, 2012

January 30, 2020January 29, 2020Posted in Georgia, Nature, RVing, State ParksTagged Memories, Okefenokee Swamp, snowbirding, snowbirds, Throwback Thursday12 Comments

We’re not traveling as much in our fifth wheel anymore so I thought it would be fun to relive some of our most memorable days from previous RV trips. This January I am highlighting our January, 2012 snowbird trip to Florida.

Part 5 of our January, 2012 RV trip around Florida

After enjoying our stay in Alafia State Park, we spent a few days in Salt Springs in the Ocala National Forest before stopping at one of our all time favorite campgrounds on our way north. On this day eight years ago, January 30, 2012, we were camped at Stephen C. Foster State Park in Fargo, Georgia in the Okefenokee Swamp National Wildlife Refuge. It was our last stop before going home.

We had camped there several times before but this stay at the park was quite different from our other visits. In 2011, a wildfire burned for days in the area and a lot of the woods were badly burned.

As we the drove the last few miles to the park entrance we were saddened to see the devastation caused by the 2011 wildfire.

20120130 Stephen C Foster (3) — Stephen C Foster State Park after 2011 wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp

The fire also destroyed part of the walkway through the nature trail.

20120130 Stephen C Foster (2) — Stephen C Foster State Park after 2011 wildfire in the Okefenokee Swamp

We returned to the park several times after the fire and the area is recovering nicely. There are pictures from our 2018 visit at The Land of Trembling Earth.

It was great fun wandering around Florida that year. Except for a few cold days in the early part of the trip, most of the days were warm and sunny. We even had a few days when we could wear shorts!

We were gone for 36 days and went a total of about 3000 miles and have lots of good memories.

Throwback Thursday #17 – January 23, 2012

January 23, 2020Posted in Florida, RVing, State ParksTagged Alafia River State Park, Memories, snowbirding, Throwback Thursday8 Comments

Part 4 of our January, 2012 RV trip around Florida

After leaving Everglades National Park we spent a couple of nights in the Big Cypress Swamp before heading north for the rest of our journey back to Georgia. On this day eight years ago, January 23, 2012, we were camped at Alafia River State Park in Lithia, Florida, east of Tampa. A quiet waterfront site on Lake Alafia (pronounced Al-a-FI) was just what we needed.

20120122Alafia-River-(2) — Alafia River State Park, Florida

20120122Alafia-River-(3) — Alafia River State Park, Florida

Would you believe there is mountain biking in the state of Florida? The state park is located on land which was once a phosphate mine. The mining company donated over 6000 acres to the state for the state park and there are several mountain bike trails on the mounds which were created by the mining. We walked along some of the trails and even saw a few mountain bikers.

20120124Alafia-River-(11) — Alafia River State Park, Florida

20120124Alafia-River-(16) — Alafia River State Park, Florida

There is also Equestrian camping in the campground and we saw several horses during our stay.

20120124Alafia-River-(4) — We met a few horseback riders in the park

Sunsets, Geocaching, and Exploring around Eastbank Campground

March 4, 2016November 14, 2018Posted in COE Park, Georgia, RVing, Sunset, WildlifeTagged Alligator, Chattahoochee, geocaching, Jim Woodruff Dam, Lake Seminole, snowbirding18 Comments

Our latest RV journey took us past many pecan orchards in south Georgia before we arrived at our first destination, Eastbank Campground on the banks of Lake Seminole. Although located in Georgia, the closest town is Chattahoochee, Florida. From our campsite we were treated to a beautiful sunset our first night.

Sunset over Lake Seminole at Eastbank Campground

The campsites are large and many are waterfront. It was a great place to wind down from the hustle and bustle of being at home.

Foggy morning on Lake Seminole at Eastbank

We tried geocaching in nearby Chattahoochee, Florida. Our first two attempts were a bust but we enjoyed looking around the train car at the Heritage Park.

We ended the day watching another beautiful sunset.

Another beautiful sunset over Lake Seminole

Our second geocaching excursion took us to part of the Chattachoochee Nature Trail along the Apalachicola River.

No amount of looking over, under, and around the boardwalk helped us find the geocache but I found something better. A baby alligator was sunning himself beside the boardwalk.

Palmettos beside the boardwalk on the nature trail

We were determined to find the geocache at the train car so we returned there and Henry found it!

Later we drove to the Jim Woodruff Lock and Dam to take a look. The dam and locks were constructed for navigation, hydro- power and recreation purposes on the Apalachicola, Chattahoochee, and Flint River systems.

Our last sunset over Lake Seminole.

Our first trip of 2016 is off to a great start!

My review of Eastbank Campground can be found on Campendium.

Snowbird Season

February 23, 2016February 25, 2016Posted in Birds, Florida, Photography, RVing, WildlifeTagged Fifth Wheel, Nature, nature photography, Seasons, snowbird, snowbirding, Weekly Photo Challenge33 Comments

Snowbird – one who travels to warm climes for the winter (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)

No, we’re not snowbirding this year – yet. Doctor’s appointments and household chores caused us to get a late start this year. Instead of hitting Florida during the peak snowbird season we will be arriving in Florida in early March just before spring break.

While we have been home, I’ve been thinking about all the places in Florida we have enjoyed. Here are just a few highlights from our snowbirding adventures from past years.

We had white sandy beaches almost completely to ourselves at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park.

The beach at sunset at St. Joseph Peninsula State Park

Watching the sunset was a perfect way to end the day at Cedar Key.

20090217Cedar Key (118) — Cedar Key Sunset

We loved Everglades National Park and camped at the Flamingo Campground twice.

Pa-Hay-Otee Overlook in Everglades National Park

There was a lot of bird watching in Cedar Key.

White Pelicans and Cormorants at Cedar Key

And lots of alligators in Everglades National Park.

Alligators along the Anhinga Trial, Everglades National Park 2012

It was fun seeing manatees at Homossassa Springs Wildlife State Park.

This Gopher Tortoise walked across our campsite at Silver River State Park (now Silver Springs State Park).

Gopher Tortoise at our campsite Silver River State Park

We rode the Fort Gate Ferry across the St. John’s River near Salt Springs Recreation Area.

Waiting to cross the St. John's River on the Fort Gates Ferry — Waiting to cross the St. John’s River on the Fort Gates Ferry

And of course we went for boat rides.

Went for a boat ride in the Salt Springs Run

We ate our fill of stone crab claws and other fresh seafood.

Delicious Stone Crab Claws in Everglades City, Florida

Soon we will be hitching up the fifth wheel to do a little late snowbirding this year. We are going to a few new places and returning to a couple of favorites. Stay tuned to see where we wander next!

This is my contribution to the WordPress Weekly Photo Challenge. For more Seasons photography go to WordPress Photo Challenge: Seasons