Last Few Days in Florida...

 Tuesday, March 29, 2022 - We rode our bikes to Campbell Lake and then hiked the Deer Track Trail to the Morris Lake Trail.  It was a 3 mile round trip hike on a lot of soft sand.  We had a picnic along the way, and enjoyed the bike ride back to the campsite on the Campbell Lake bike trail (we sure use that trail a lot!).  Then Kev and I decided to make it a triathlon- day and we swam some laps in the campground pool.

Deer Track Trail

Eric birding

lots of soft sand, makes for a challenging hike on the Morris Lake Trail

I love the boardwalks

Cypress trees

campground pool

We found a no bake key lime pie mix that was soooooo good!

Yum yum

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 - We rode our bikes to the beach and enjoyed an early morning walk.  The double red flag was up, saying that no one was allowed in the water.  After the beach we did a 2 mile hike on the Gopher Tortoise Trail to the Turpentine Trail.  These trails were hard packed sand, so it was a much easier hike than yesterday.  After lunch we biked the Timpoochee Trail to Pecan Jack's ice cream.

Double red flag day

The park has done controlled burns and it's fun to see the bright green new growth in among the charred ground

Turpentine Trail

The much used Campbell Lake Bike Trail (which is shared with a beach tram)

Cheers to great ice cream

Thursday, March 31, 2022 - We walked to the beach this morning (2 miles round trip).  I love a cloudy gray beach day, it makes for some great pics.  In the afternoon we walked to the camp store for ice cream and a game of shuffleboard.  For dinner we went to Stinkey's Fish Camp.  We've ridden our bikes by there and it's always crowded so we figured it must be a good spot.

the rain is coming

Short hike to No Name Lake

Some type of lichen, maybe Reindeer Lichen?

why did the turtle cross the road?

The campground shuffle board

  We had fun talking to these new Nova owners who were also camping at Topsail.

Dinner at Stinkey's Fish Camp, lots of great seafood options (and steak for me)

A few pics on the lake behind Stinkey's

Friday, April 1, 2022 - Our last day!  We decided we needed one more morning fishing on Campbell Lake.   It wasn't quite the best day for me, but at least the guys could try to catch up.  Kevin had a monster day, with at one point, 5 casts yielding 5 fish.  After lunch we took the tram to the beach and enjoyed a few hours on the beach.  After a quick dinner we packed up and drove 5 hours to the Guy Hunt rest stop in Alabama to break up the 12 hour drive home.  This rest stop was where we spent the first night of this trip two and a half months ago!

ready for some fishing?

beautiful morning on the lake

We love to fish!!

Kevin was HOT today!

Last beach day

We were right under the flight path of a nearby Naval base.  It's been fun to watch them fly overhead all day in all sorts of aircraft.

The beach parking lot was full 

We decided to be lazy and try the Topsail tram 

So sad to be leaving Florida, but we sure had a GREAT time.  So glad we got to spend two weeks camping with Ann and Erich!

Saturday, April 2, 2022 - We woke up early this morning and got back on the road...should be home by 1:00. We have to rest up and get ready for our weekend trip to visit Elaine and Ian in a week and a half.  Hard to believe it's only 2 months until we leave for Alaska and we just heard this morning that Canada is loosening it's requirements for visitors...Alaska here we come!!

Last sunrise of the trip

The rocket at the Huntsville, AL welcome center.   

Topsail and a GREAT GREAT fishing lake

 Thursday March 24, 2022 - Today was going to be a rainy day, so we decided to drive the hour to Tallahassee and spend the morning at the Museum of Florida History.  It was a really great spot to spend a few hours, and it was free.  It started with the mastodon bones that were found in Wakulla Springs State Park and ended with WWII.  We then drove to the Alfred B Maclay Gardens State Park, which is a 1000 acre park in Tallahassee known for it's beautiful gardens.  The land was owned by Alfred Maclay who was a NYC financier.  He retired at 35, traveled the world and bought the property in Tallahassee so the family could spend the winters there.  He was very interested in gardening and put together a garden that flowered January to April, since that was when the family was there.  The gardens are only open during this blooming time.  The house was also open, and had all of the original furniture of the Maclay's.  Since it was an overcast day we had the place to ourselves and it was a wonderful spot to wander around for the afternoon.    

The Wakulla Springs Mastadon

Ann and Kev checking out a pretty cool 1923 Model T Ford truck tin can camper.  The windshield windows opened over the motor and it became the "room" for the bed

picnic at Maclay's Garden

Kev taking time to stop and smell the roses

beautiful camillias that are found throughout the gardens 

pavilion overlooking the lake

lots of spanish moss

Mrs Maclay always had fresh cut flowers by the front door to great guests and requested that this tradition continue after the property was donated to the state.

one of the entrances to the walled garden

inside the walled garden

the reflecting pool looking out to the lake

pond walk, the azaleas were a little beyond peak

Friday, March 25, 2022 - Our last day at Ochlockonee...so we decided to take the bikes to the St. Marks/Tallahassee trail and head north this time.  We did a 13 mile round trip bike and then had a beer and some appetizers at the Riverside Cafe in St Marks.  Tomorrow we pack up and head to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park near Destin.

a bike break

Another nice bike ride

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Riverside Cafe

One last beautiful Ochlockonee sunset walk

Saturday, March 26, 2022 - It was a 3 hour drive to Topsail Hill Preserve State Park, our last stop!  We set up camp and rode our bikes down to the Topsail beach for the sunset.

Site 144

Sunday March 27, 2022 - Today we rode our bikes to Campbell lake and rented a tandem kayak, to try out the fishing.  We took turns kayaking or keeping Ann company on the blanket.  The fishing was GREAT, lots of bass (large and small mouth).  We caught at least 12 fish between the 3 of us over 2 and a half hours.  Maybe we need to fish again tomorrow!

lunch at the lake

hanging on the blanket

only pic of us fishing, we forgot to take the camera out with us

a beer at Kith and Kihn at the campstore

Daytime pic of Site 144

sunset walk

Monday March 28, 2022 - Erich, Kev and I spent the morning fishing while Ann did some work at the campsite.  We tried to ride our bikes down the Timpoochee trail to a pizza place for lunch but Ann and Erich had a flat so we drove instead and found a bike shop so we could get a new tire.

bike ride to Campbell lake

the kayak crew

Erich's catch

perfect environment for fishing

the big fish of the day

we probably caught 2 dozen fish today, between the 3 of us over 3 hours!

fish after fish after fish

beautiful day!!

 

fish

fish

and more fish

kev had to remove A LOT of fish off the hook for me

best day fishing EVER

we didn't see any gators, but I guess if there is water in Florida, you have to assume there are gators

pizza for lunch at Pizza by the Sea

concert at Kith and Kin