We slept with the back of our camper open last night so that we could take advantage of the breeze to cool us. Early this morning the breeze picked up to a gusty wind and raindrops on our faces compelled us to get an earlier start on our day than we had planned. We broke camp quickly in the dark and were on the road before 7:00 a.m. The rain didn’t amount to more than a slight shower and we were treated to a fiery sunrise that was enhanced by the clouds. Although the area is very rural with very little sign of habitation, we were surprised by the amount of traffic on the road. There was a stream of cars and school buses all headed to a large school located at what seemed to be the intersection of the two main roads in the area. It was much darker at 8:00 a.m. for the students arriving at school here in October, than for our students in December.
The drive today wasn’t very scenic as we continued to travel through the pine forest. Logging seems to be a major industry here. It looked as though the area has been logged and re-forested several times.
This afternoon we arrived at Chassahowitzka, where we are camped at the Chassahowitzka River County Park. The campground fronts on the Chassahowitzka River and is surrounded on the other sides by tropical forest. Our campsite backs onto the forest and we look out to palm trees, rubber trees, oak and palmettos. We have the campground pretty much to ourselves.
Our friends, Dave and Linda Blatt, live here. This evening they took us to one of their favourite spots, the Freezer, which is an old fish processing plant on a marina that has been converted to a restaurant. Bob came here with them a couple of years ago when he was visiting and has been raving about it ever since. We enjoyed a meal of clam chowder, smoked mullet and steamed shrimp fresh from the Gulf.
Back at our campsite this evening we sat out in the dark and listened to the many strange sounds coming from the forest. The squirrels jump into the dry leaves of the palm trees which makes a very loud crashing sound that is quite startling until you get used to it. We heard some underbrush snapping and an armadillo came wandering out to the open. This was the first live armadillo we have seen. Add in the sound of the tree frogs and the owls and it all seemed very tropically exotic.
Trip Mileage: 5817 miles
The drive today wasn’t very scenic as we continued to travel through the pine forest. Logging seems to be a major industry here. It looked as though the area has been logged and re-forested several times.
This afternoon we arrived at Chassahowitzka, where we are camped at the Chassahowitzka River County Park. The campground fronts on the Chassahowitzka River and is surrounded on the other sides by tropical forest. Our campsite backs onto the forest and we look out to palm trees, rubber trees, oak and palmettos. We have the campground pretty much to ourselves.
Our friends, Dave and Linda Blatt, live here. This evening they took us to one of their favourite spots, the Freezer, which is an old fish processing plant on a marina that has been converted to a restaurant. Bob came here with them a couple of years ago when he was visiting and has been raving about it ever since. We enjoyed a meal of clam chowder, smoked mullet and steamed shrimp fresh from the Gulf.
Back at our campsite this evening we sat out in the dark and listened to the many strange sounds coming from the forest. The squirrels jump into the dry leaves of the palm trees which makes a very loud crashing sound that is quite startling until you get used to it. We heard some underbrush snapping and an armadillo came wandering out to the open. This was the first live armadillo we have seen. Add in the sound of the tree frogs and the owls and it all seemed very tropically exotic.
Trip Mileage: 5817 miles
Campsite, Chassahowitzka River Park
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