Today, was very humid, but only 91.  We went to breakfast at Eggs Over. Then we went to Fort King right in the heart of Ocala. It is now a National Historic Landmark, all 37 acres of it. It is surrounded by urban sprawl. The fort which is a reproduction of the original, is about 160 feet square with two blockhouse redouts. There is not much to the fort, but there is a nice visitor center, and soon they will be doing a major redo of the whole place. The fort, which was hacked out of the vast Florida wilderness, was built in 1827 by the army on a bluff overlooking a natural spring. It was built to protect the Seminole Indians from trespassing settlers, but in 1832 President Andrew Jackson, demanded the Seminols leave Florida. So a war broke out after the Seminoles wiped out a unit of about 110 soldiers, and shot the Indian agent. This war which is called the second Seminol wars, lasted 7 years.  After all this the fort was turned over to Marion county and not long after it was called Ocala, after the Seminole chief and the city of Ocala, was born. It was a nice visit with a one mile interprative trail.

The springs

After that, we went back to the Rv ,and I decided to clean off the front cap with all the lovebugs on it. It took me over two hours. Melissa in the meantime cleaned and vacumned the truck interior.

Later in the afternoon we decided to go back to the springs park, which we have been to before, where they have the glass bottom boat ride and all that. We walked the two mile trail they have there, which part of it is on a boardwalk. We heard the boardwalk was closed earlier in the day because the monkey’s were active and on the trail. Yes they have monkey’s there. We made a post about them. As we were leaving the park, what should come running by in front of us, yep a monkey.

Tomorrow we may go to Juniper springs for a swim.

We left Stephen Foster state park today about noon and got to Silver Springs state park, near Ocala, about two today. It was a 105 mile trip, we have been here before and I made a post about it in March. This is the place where they filmed Sea Hunt the TV show, with Lyodd Bridges. We will be here till Saturday. A few things were closed when we were here last, so we may check them out in the next few days. It was sunny and humid here today and only 95 degrees. It is getting closer and closer to Key Largo time, for work camping. Since we have come into Florida, we have noticed these bugs flying around connected to each other. Find out they are love bugs, and it is mating time right now. They fly around with there butts connected.  There aren’t just a few they are all over the place, everywhere.The front of the Rv is full of them and they say they are hard to remove. Will work on cleaning them off tomorrow.

This morning we went out to breakfast, you guessed it to Fat Belly’s, just down the road from the park. It is a quant little mom and pop, rustic diner. Seats about 40 and really nice inside. The breakfast was good, 2 eggs, home fries, lots of em, toast, and bacon, for $4.99, plus coffee, Melissa had grits instead of home fries, yuk.

We then came back here and for the rest of the day, we cleaned the inside of the 5er, and some of the outside, mostly real dirty spots. We also went for a 2 mile walk. It was sunny and a nice 94 today. For dinner , yep you guessed it, we went to Fat Belly’s, I wanted a half chicken dinner but they were out, so I got the pork dinner, it was good, Melissa got the 20 schrimp platter, and all the ice tea we could drink. Once we got back here we went for another walk, and getting ready to leave here tomorrow morning. Melissa took a great picture of me with the sunset.

And then there was light! Or Dave saw the light..???

 

Also today while working outside I found time to shark hunt for teeth at the site, found a good many for only a couple hours. In fact one really big one over 1-1/2 inchs.

Staying two nights here at Stephen Foster state park in Florida, we were here early in the spring and wrote a blog post about it then so will not now. It was 240 miles of driving today, not a bad drive traffic was light. Tomorrow we are going to do a little inside cleaning of the Rv, and laundry. The Rv outside is dirty, dirty, but you cannot wash any vehicles here in state parks, so for now it stays dirty AARRGGGG. This is also the place where I have found a good many shark teeth here at the site. I have already found 15 today. The gravel here comes from a quarry that gets its stuff right out of dredgeings from the ocean. They are over a few million years old so its pretty neat to find them. Anyway may make a post tomorrow night. Leave here Wednesday for Silver Springs state park.

Back in GA.

When we were still in High Falls Park in GA. we came across this family in the woods. I think they have been waiting for dinner way to long.

 

Today was a nice day, this park has been a nice surprise. It was sunny and a comfy 91 out today, we hiked a total of 5 miles or so. Our first hike was on the tranquility trail. It was about 2 miles in a pine forest , up and down through ravines to grandma’s house we go. The next hike was the river hike, up and down through the rocks and boulders near the river, and looped around. That showed great views of the river, which is very low. Last year it was almost at flood stage. Just after the dam there is an 85 foot falls, which is pretty neat.

Let’s go tubin!  Be neat to take an inner tube down here, but someone would get hurt.

I kept bumping into this very pretty lady, with her dog.

Back in the day after the Indians scalped you, say mid 1800’s settler’s put up a grist mill here, and a small town started to spring up ,and soon was pretty big for the day. During the civil war it was producing a lot of grain and stuff, and even the confederates burned it down so not to fall into union hands. After that in the 1880’s the main railroad bypassed here and soon it became a ghost town.

Ruins of the grist mill.

As it looked in the day.

In the early 1900’s they built a dam to contained the water and create a lake ,and to harness the water for electricity.

Manmade dam in the background.

Then in the 30’s they built a hydro, electric plant and harnessed even more water for electricity. By the early 60’s it became obsolete and all the property was turned over to the state for a park.

Water rushed through the tunnels to create power in the turbines.

All in all it was a nice visit here. Tomorrow we leave and head to Steven Foster state park where we have been before.

 

We are now at High Falls State park in Georgia, which is between Atlanta and Macon. We left this morning about 9:30 and got here at 2:30. Atlanta traffic was bad, glad we were not in the north bound lane as there was an accident and at least a 10 mile back up. The park here is pretty nice, it has paved roads although narraow and a little curvey. They have 90 spots or so, we are in the last loop, which runs right along the Towaliga river. The Creek Indians lived here and in the early 1800’s , scalped many a white settler. They would come down to this part of the river and dry or smoke them. The name “Towaliga”,  means roasted scalp. Yep, not pleasant. Pics of our site below.

We are now at Croft state park in South Carolina. We left Mayberry campground about 10 or so and got here about 2. It was 171 miles. The engine light did not come on, thank you lord.  It was a nice drive until about 50 miles to here as there is construction all over. Tomorrow we head to High Falls State park in Georgia by Macon, for two days. The park here is by a lake and back in the day was a WWII prison camp for captured germans, many of whom never went back to Germany, deciding to stay here instead. As we are here only for the day, we did a lake hike, which was about 2 miles long. The campground is right near Spartinburg, way too busy for me. Also the three mile road to get to the campground is one of the worst roads I have been on. Below is pictures of our site the hike we took and a cemetery we found..

I am on a rise above the RV.

Steps up to the firepit.

The lake hike

Posing for the camera

This is a early 1800’s cemetery

A newer stoner for a Rev war Vet

 

Today we left Walnut hills campground early and were supposed to go to Croft State park in South Carolina, a 320 mile journey, but like I said supposed to. About a hundred miles in or so ,the engine light came on. Everything seemed to be fine and we stopped off at the next rest stop. I checked things out and no leaks, everything seemed to be working fine. We pushed on and in a little while I told Melissa to call the Mayberry campground in North Carolina, and see if they had a spot for the night. They did and we got here about two  or so. Instead of 320 miles, we went 193. After we unhooked I went to the nearest Auto zone and had them put the sensor on. No major codes came up, except it was reading a lean running engine. When I got back into the truck and started it up, the engine light was off, go figure. So, I called my main man back in Pendleton, and he said it may have been just a fluke as I was going up a hill, and triggered a sensor or it may be an oxygen sensor. Either way he said, most likely not a big issue unless the truck does not run right. It could even be bad gas. Tomorrow we will see but I have hopes it will not go on again. For the night we are here at Mayberry and have a 116 mile drive to Croft state park tomorrow, hopefully. As a side issue yesterday I finally got to go to breakfast at my favorite place, yep you guessed it Waffle House, boy was it good, as you can see.

 

We never got a chance to put up our pictures from our trip to Disney in 2018, so I am now.

 

Disney’s Fort Wilderness is where we stayed, it’s everything you’d expect from Disney. It’s located on 750 acres of a pine & cypress forest. It has old frontier looking buildings with flowers and walking trails. It has a big beach where you can walk and watch the fireworks from, but you can’t swim in it. But to make up for it they have 2 pools. Lots of people having a good time.

Disney’s Animal Kingdom blends live animals like lions, tigers, elephants and rhinos with traditional rides and shows.

Avatar Flight of Passage – ride

Avatar Flight of Passage – a great simulated flight over Pandora’s colorful landscape. You feel like your on the back of a wing-flapping banshee as it  transports you over a sweeping landscape.  You soar, float, plunge in the air and  skim across oceans, leading to a  encounter with the fiercest king of the air. We both loved this ride!

                                  Tree of Life

      

 

    

The tree looks great during the day but when it gets dark, The Tree of Life has flickering fireflies that appear and the animals carved into the tree bring to light a stunning visual rising with vivid color and animated imagery.   It’s amazing to see what Disney can do!

 

                                         Epcot

 Which was originally an acronym meaning “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” Now it is simply a name, and the park is made up of two main sections, Future World and World Showcase. Future World blends learning with entertainment, while World Showcase brings a small taste of 11 countries to Florida.

 

Soarin around the world –  ride

With combination of motion simulators and theatrics, you’ll feel as if you’re hang gliding over spectacular vistas and sights. On your flight you’ll see the Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood forests, Napa Valley, Yosemite, and other landmarks like your gliding over them . The ride is fun and they even have special scents placed in to add to the experience.

 

Test Track –  ride

This ride lets you design your own custom concept vehicle at an interactive design cubicle , so you will choose all your car’s features, and then go for a high-octane spin. We designed a neat looking truck with all the accessories, the only problem the gas efficiency wasn’t good.  A lot of people say that ride was a lot better before it got refurbished.

 

 

Mission Space – ride

Mission:Space uses centrifuges similar to those that NASA trains their astronauts with to give guests a realistic simulation of space flight, so we felt like we were launched into space. You feel tremendous G-forces as they hurtle through our solar system towards Mars. It’s an intense journey most people won’t soon forget. Especially Dave who kept his barf bag at hand.

 

                          Disney’s Hollywood Studios

It has rides and shows based on movies, such as Star Tours, Indiana Jones and the Little Mermaid, and television shows like American Idol.

 

Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular

This attraction premiered on August 25, 1989.   The show includes a large-scale stunt sequence involving a motorcycle and a mammoth Flying Wing aircraft. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981) received 11 Oscar® nominations and won seven, including the awards for Best Sound and Best Visual Effects. It was a really fun stunt show even to this day.

 

 

Rock’n’ Roller Coaster starring Aerosmith – ride

The enclosed roller coaster was a fun experience it is dimly lit while Southern California landmarks illuminate different twists and turns throughout the ride and your listening to Aero Smith songs.

And …..The Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater Restaurant

 

While eating at the Sci-Fi Dine-In, you watch film clips from 1950s and 1960s science fiction and monster movies and  bizarre newsreels . The clips are shown on a large projection screen. This was a real treat and the prices were good and so was the food.

That’s it for Disney….The last time we were there was for our Honeymoon, a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.  We had a fun time, especially at Fort Wilderness campground and seeing Disney fireworks – they are the best – but we don’t think we need to go back again.

 

We are now at Walnut hills Campground, we got here yesterday about two or so. it was a 191 mile trip. We will be here til Thursday morning. We were here last year but in early October and stayed for a week. It is a very nice campground on the rolling hills of Virginia. Today we just lounged around and will do the same tomorrow. Below is a few pics of our site and the campground.