We have now been here almost five weeks. For some reason it feels like a lot longer than that???. Could be with all the turmoil of being evacuated. It cost about $200.00 for us, with gas and campground fees, to leave and come back. This week has been super windy and not a lot of sun, but warm. Going to the beach and sitting there is like getting beat up, with all the sand being blown around in your face and the wind. People are doing it though, if you only have a few days here, i guess. Better weather is coming this week, nothing but sun, way less wind and 80’s. We have been in a low profile, places to go are still closed like visitor centers and museums or you have to wear a mask. Plus the park still has far beach closed, and none of the boats have gone out due to the wind for at least ten days. Our jobs are going good and no complaints, why should there be we are only volunteers HA, HA. The other day Bob and Nicole gave us some yellowtail they caught on a fishing trip. We cooked it up and it was very good.

One thing we are doing is watching Breaking Bad. We are in season three right now and it is wild, we are hooked. Other than that not a lot. All of us volunteers are planning a get together for thanksgiving this Thursday. See how that works out.

We are now back home in Key Largo.

It has been an interesting last 5 days. Saturday, the park here closed, as the storm was upgraded to a warning, as a matter of fact only the state parks closed here in the keys. Everything else was open, i mean open????. We were allowed to stay till Sunday morning which we did. We traveled 190 miles in the rain and wind, up to Labelle Florida just east of Fort Myers. There we stayed at the Ortana corps of engineers park. We have stayed there before and they had a few spots open. You would think 190 miles away would be far enough to get out of the storms path, Nope, outer bands of rain and wind got us. It rained cats and dogs all Sunday, Sunday night and into Monday morning, with Sunday night gust of wind over 50 mph, the RV was rocking baby. Another volunteer couple Bob and Nicole from Colorado stayed at the park also. Sunday early evening she came over and brought us a huge amount of spaghetti, rigatoni, and garlic toast. She cooked all day, What a treat, it was very good. Monday things started to calm down. We decided to go into Labelle and have dinner, we asked Bob and Nicole if they wanted to join us ,and they did. We went to a place i found on the internet that had BBQ. It was called the Log cabin. What a surprise that was. Three of us had the pulled pork sandwich and Bob had the sliced beef sandwich. The dinners came with two sides. This was all for ten bucks each ,what a deal. It was great fun, we got to learn a lot about them and there life in Colorado. When we got back , we all had messages from the park, saying we could come back Tuesday. Since i had to gas up, we decided to have breakfast in town on Tuesday, of course we went to the log cabin, it was great. We then got all hooked up and traveled another 190 miles back to key Lago, just a lot of wind this time. We got to the park after three or so and learned the back gate had a giant tree fall on it. since this is the only way i can get into our spot here, we were told to go to site three for now, which we did. When we came to the volunteer village to look at the tree, we met up with Bob and Nicole. After talking to them and looking over the situation, they persuaded me to try and get into our spot from the front way, OH BOY. Hooked back up and proceeded to pull in, with not a lot of other volunteers here yet, i had room to swing wide, and after a few back and forths i was able to get in. Glad were in and don’t have to move again, Hopefully.

We were also suppose to have worked Monday and Tuesday, but with us out of the park!!!!. today Wednesday we both did work, Melissa was at the aquarium ,and i opened the park, then i had a thirty pound leaf blower strapped to my back all day, and blew my brains out cleaning the park roads of leaves and debris. I am tired tonight. We have the next five days off, but might work Friday to make up one of the days. We are both along with Cooper none the worse for wear, but don’t need to do this again.

We’re here once again at John Pennekamp in Key Largo!

Key Largo is the first of the fabulous Florida Keys and is the self-proclaimed Dive Capital of the World. It is home to the world’s largest artificial reef, the 510-foot USS Spiegel Grove, the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and the African Queen. What more can I say?

It’s good to be back and see some familiar faces and sights.

All you need is a good dose of vitamin sea.

Making and then putting everything together

Seagrass is important

Seagrasses are sensitive to changes in the environment and act as a key indicator of the lagoon’s health. Seagrasses are marine flowering plants that require sunlight and thrive in clear, shallow waters. As a key foundational habitat.  Lagoon, seagrasses form complex and expansive meadows. Essential to the lagoon, seagrasses provide nursery and refuge habitat for many species, produce oxygen for animals, absorb excess nutrients, and help maintain water quality. Do I sound like Dave?

Look up in the sky…… it’s ……..

NO IT’S RANGER DAVE!

Aquarium Maintenance

I got a great volunteer opportunity, even though the aquarium is closed due to covid and being short staffed, I still get to be at the aquarium behind the scenes.  Helping Lindsey & Serena, two great rangers, with the goings on in the daily activates of the aquarium. 

I only was there for one day so far, but it’s all about Chemistry.

I got to  monitor the water levels in the different tanks..  We never had an aquarium as kids , so this is all new to me.  We monitored  the Ammonia, Nitrite, Nitrate and  ph levels with test tubes, eye droppers, different dye solutions and color strips.   We also tested the temperature with a thermometer and the salinity level with a refractometer which is kinda hard to read.

Then they started talking about different corals and fishes, it was like they were talking another language.  It was a fun day! Looking forward to learning about aquariums!

Ranger Lindsey cleaning one of the aquariums

Ranger Serena, is holding a large piece of paper for Lindsey so she can see the “limescale, dirt, on the aquarium walls.

So, I am no longer in maintanance. Last weekend the volunteer supervisor called me and asked if i would change positions, after talking it over i said, what ever the park needs, i am fine with. With that, i am now an Open Ranger, this positon is sometimes given to a volunteer, but the volunteer is always with a park ranger during the shift. I will not have a park ranger with me and will be on my own during my shift. This is normally never done, the simple reason is that a number of park rangers have retired, and a few have just left. So the park is extremely short handed right now.

So what is an open ranger, well they open the park for the day basically. There are about 30 specified tasks that need to be done in order to do that, from opening gates, putting the 5 flags up, opening bathhouses, cleaning beaches, blowing leaves out of walk ways and parking areas,getting weather data from the other park, etc , etc,. The park opens at 7:45, so guess what , i now get up at 6:00 A.M. and start my shift at 6:45 A.M., for me that’s too damn early, but i have agreed to it. I have completed my three days of training and they feel i am ready to start on my own. My first day will be Nov 2nd. I am sure i can do it, i just am not used to getting up that early.

For now that’s about it, the weather is still mid 80’s every day ,and more sunshine of late. Today both of us went in the ocean for a little swim ,and snorkeling.

Yep, feel like a duck ,it has rained here everyday we have been here, except yesterday, which was a beauty of a day. It has been in the mid 80’s also which brings in the humidity. The far out Atlantic, is very warm and bringing in storms, normally they are over by now, but not this year. Forecast maybe ten more days of rainy weather.

Meanwhile our first week of work camping is over, we both put in our three days, 20 hour work week, (Funny, work week, ha). I am in maintanance and Melissa is at the aquarium. Other than that, not much else, till next week.

So, we are pretty settled here now at our spot for our work camping job. We both start tomorrow. We also both seem to be way more at ease than last year, as we had no idea what to expect. The weather here has been some sun, pop up thunderstorms and windy, at times. Temps are in the mid 80’s. Normally the storms are over but not yet for this year. This is now our 3rd year coming to this park in the winter, and second time work camping. Below is some points of interest of our travels down here.

• We have now been full timing for 2 years plus, where does the time go.
• I now have 12,000 total miles towing the 5er, still can’t back up.
• Towed the 5er this trip, 1,973 miles from our home base to here.
• Took us 13 days to get here, drove 10 of those days.
• Ran the truck on medium grade high test gas this time, it ran very well.
• Spent $800.00 or so on gas to get here.
• Spent $510 on camp fees to get here.
• When we left i was wearing long pants, when we got here, i was wearing shorts.
• All my long pants are put away for at least 9 months.
• Our first night out we had the heat on, the last night out before we got here the air conditioner was on.
• Elevation above sea level, at home base is 580 feet, elevation above sea level here at our spot is less than 12 inchs.
• Lastly, WE will not miss the winters up north.

Bike Path in Pendleton

The 2 places I worked this summer, Brown Electric and Pendleton Star Pharmay. I had the opportunity to work with incredible people. Thanks once again!

Having one of Dave’s good grilled dinners!

Two of our favorite places we visited a few times this summer

Popcorn at Bye’s and ice cream at Reid’s, who can resist?

We celebrated 4th of July with Doug & Jennifer at their house. The pics are of all the neighbors showing off their works.

Still had a few things left from selling our house, have just a tiny bit now!

Hangin out with great folks

My parents took me and my sister here when we were little. We went here again and it was even more delicious then I remember. O.K. I’m going to be like Dave and give a little history about the place. I wish I had some Now!

Hibbard’s Original Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard opened in April of 1939 in a small 25’ X 25’ building which is where it still is. Recently, after doing some extensive research, it was discovered that Hibbard’s Original Frozen Custard is the sixth oldest family-owned, continuously operated frozen custard stand in the United States which still operates from its original location.

Why Hibbard’s custard is so good…. the main reason for Hibbard’s deliciousness (besides the fact that it’s made fresh throughout the day) is that in the design of the custard machine, less air gets pumped into custard. Leaving you with a creamier and much richer treat than ice cream. Hibbard’s custard will put your ordinary soft serve ice cream to shame.

Stayed at Sleepy Hollow and met with some old friends!😊

Our time has come to say farewell to the cabin in Holland.  We have been going there for about 27 years. When Doug & Jennifer first took us there we were just sleeping in our trucks. Then started building a new cabin, taking down the old cabin and rebuilding a shed in its place.   Lots of good memories.

The pictures below are of Dave’s and mine last two times at the cabin in Holland.

• 

Putting up a plaque in memory of our Dad. He really liked it here.

Leaving the cabin and property in Holland was like saying good-bye to a dear old friend.

The saddest thing about burning a bridge is realizing that you can never get back to the beautiful place it used to take you. Unknown

We didn’t realize we were making memories we just knew we were having fun. Unknown

We are now in Key Largo at John Pennekamp State park. We will be work camping here until Jan 1st 2021. I am glad we are now here. Drove 190 miles today from La Belle. It was an OK drive, but getting into our volunteer site here was tight, I mean real tight, took me 45 minutes to get in. Had the help of a few volunteers, while backing in. We are sort of in the middle of the site, so in a few days I may jocky around a little to one side for more room on the door side. It was way over 90 today, hot and humid, will have some rain tonight. We do not have to start work until Tuesday, after we get re-orianated on Monday. For now that’s it. Picture below is of our site.

We are now near Fort Myers, staying one night at Ortano Corps of Engineer park. We have been here before, its nice but not near anything. Today we drove 173 miles . Last night we thought it might be best if we just stayed right off interstate 75 in Fort Myers at the Cracker Barrel. This way we would not have to travel east about 35 miles to get here. So that’s what we planned. We got to the Cracker Barrel before 2 pm, and unhitched, then i went and got gas. When i got back i thought what are we going to do all day, plus with no power to the Rv (as it was 90 today) i mention to Melissa lets just go to Ortano. So, while we were already at Cracker Barrel we decide to have a early dinner. We sat outside, which was nice as we could have Cooper with us, (did not want to leave him in the hot truck.) It was nice i had ice tea ,and the trout dinner with fries and green beans, Melissa had water and the chicken pot pie. After that we drove here and set up, glad we did, even though it is a little out of the way. Tomorrow we head to Key Largo. Pictures below of our site.

We are near Tampa now at the state park, we have been here before. The park is right along the Hillsborough river. Pretty large sites and in the woods, marsh areas. Today drove 193 miles , nice drive and nice weather. Here for one night then on to Fort Myers area tomorrow.

Picture of our site.