Hunting Island State Park

After leaving Thousand Trails, Orlando we did a long drive up to South Carolina against a strong north wind. I had booked our site, at Hunting Island State Park, quite recently and therefore got a really small site (#99) in the bushes! But that is OK, we have our own bed, shower, kitchen wherever we go, so the small site is just the thing to test our attitude. We have decided to like it, no matter what. We have the ocean just a short walk away. We have 50 amps and a water hookup, and Timmy is having a ball. He loves the beach, going crazy and running all over the place, sending up sprays of sand as he does his running and wheeling. A few exploratory gallops into the water before settling down to digging huge holes.

The weather was windy and cold the whole week. Last night we had some severe thunderstorms roll through with the threat of tornadoes. No tornado but some pretty strong winds with some small branches falling down onto the roof of the RV. Today it has been warm and still. It seems the weather blew itself out last night. I wish it had been like this the whole week!

Our site #99 was not the greatest site. It was pretty small and we were at the junction of 2 campground roads.

I met up with my old school friend, Sheila, from Hilton Head Island and the two of us went to the Shrimp Shack for their shrimp burgers. Don't know why they are so popular as we both thought they were decidedly under whelming. Stodgy shrimp burgers on doughy white bread buns with a smear of tartar sauce. Michael and I went back a few days later and bought some flounder fillets and fries which was very tasty.

Sheila and I went to the Penn Center in St Helena. This was very interesting and is totally worth the visit. It is not a big museum, but is very interesting. It was the first school for freed slaves on the Island of St Helena. I did not get any photos inside the museum, but here is one of Sheila and I taken outside.

Bundled up. It was chilly!

Our pathway down to the ocean.

As you can see we are wedged in amongst the vegetation.

The beach and the river.

Interesting water sculptures.

On Wednesday we leave Hunting Island and head North to Myrtle Beach. Closer and closer to home.

 

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HELP! ANY APPLE GURUS OUT THERE?

The screen on my 2008 MacBook has gone black. I have tried everything. The light/dark controls do not work. If I hold a flashlight up to the screen I can see the desktop, but I can hardly hold up a flashlight while I work. I am presuming that the backlight has gone. How do I repair it? Or is it time for a new MacBook?

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Coming full circle!

We are back in Thousand Trails Orlando for a week. This is our last week in Florida. On Wednesday we head out to South Carolina. This time at Orlando we are camped in the wooded area. It is so quiet that we will probably stay here again. The other side of Orlando Thousand Trails is also very nice but not as quiet. The only problem with the sites down here is that many of them are not satellite TV friendly. We were lucky in that we were able to find a lovely site with a clear view of the south west sky. Michael is a happy boy. I can get my Internet connection via my cell phone, even back here in the boonies. I am a happy girl.

One month today we will be back in Ontario. It has been a great winter.

Site D 90

Nice shade trees

The view from the dinette

 

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Camped in a cow pasture!

Not really, but I think it used to be a cow pasture. M RV Resort in Moore Haven to be exact. We needed somewhere cheap to stay for 4 nights after our 3 nights in the Everglades and this place fit the bill. We used our Escapees membership and paid $70 for 4 nights. The campground is very bleak, but adequate. We had full hookup with 50 amp electricity. When we got there we told that we could get a pizza delivered to the RV for just $10. It was one of the best pizzas I have ever eaten. Made fresh for us in the campground kitchen.

Here are the photos of M RV Resort.

Our site. Concrete pad with a concrete patio.

Across the road from us. Lots of empty sites.

The pool was covered because the wind was blowing so hard and was so cold.

Quebecers playing Pétanque

Shuffleboard

Michael walks across the "putting green".

 

 

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Long Pine Key and The Anhinga Trail

From Flamingo we went on to Long Pine Key, which is actually closer to the Royal Palm gate than Flamingo. The park is a lot smaller, but very neat. No hookups. Our site was E28. Nice and level and very roomy. We only stayed one night as the main reason for going to Long Pine Key was to take the Ranger led walk on the Anhinga Trail.
This was the highlight of our trip to the Everglades. Birds galore, alligators and beautiful plants. Again I will let the pictures tell the story.

The start of the trail.

Blue Heron

Stork

Vulture.

Anhinga

Female Anhinga

Wood Stork

Blue Heron

Blue Heron

An Anhinga drying it's wings

I spy with my little eye!

Storks and Herons (I think)

A Green Heron.

On the prowl.

Alligator jumping out of the water to catch a bird in the vegetation. Darn near scared the living daylights out of me!

The Alligator has caught his prey. Look at the fullness on the left side of his throat. He is almost completely out of the water, except for his tail.

Michael on the boardwalk along with the rest of our group.

Bromeliads. Air Plants that have no roots.

Mangrove trees full of birds.

Our very knowledgable guide, Charlie Wilson.

info boards.

Beautiful bromeliads

Mama Anhinga on the nest. On the left, one chick is visible.

Lurking in the vegetation.

Such evil looking reptiles.

Safe above the water and the alligators

Dee on the boardwalk.

Male Anhinga

Female Anhinga

Male Anhinga bird

What makes the Everglades?

If you look very careful you can see a turtle between the two yellow rocks.

Anhinga Trail info board

Pesky Vultures!

Some people come prepared and cover their cars while they are on the trail.

Site E28. Long Pine Key Campground

Plenty of room to park the car on the driver side.

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