Marjy and Manatees

We began our journey back north after a great Key West experience.  A few hours back through Homestead where we picked up the RV's and drove an extra couple of hours through the Everglades and into Collier Seminole State Park.  It was a very long day and we were weary as we pulled into the dark park and found our spots.  Normally, this park is completely full, but they had computer problems and were unable to reserve spots, so we got lucky.  It's a typical beautiful Florida state park where we enjoyed canoe rides down the river, spotting alligator and biking the pathways. Interesting and sad side note, that same highway we were on (the Alligator Alley or Hwy 41) was on the news a few days ago.  A car had been traveling at night, as we did, and hit a black bear.  They stopped as did the car behind them to check out the damage. A third car did not see them in time and ran right into both cars, killing three people and the bear.  Reminds me always how fast life can change. 

I love this view of our site at the state park.  Palm trees are growing on me.

A cool old visitors center

A canoe ride down the river where we spotted two alligators!

Tanner and Debbie next to us going through the mangrove trees

The night before we left, the rain fell.  We had great puddles all over the next day to ride through.  We continued up to drop the RV's off at an RV park for storage for Thanksgiving weekend with Aunt Marjy.  It was very nice to have some stretch and relax time with Marjy at her beautiful home in Apollo Beach.  We went to Busch Gardens on Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, as we all just wanted to celebrate a good day together in an unconventional way.  It's so sad to miss Uncle Bob for yet another holiday, and we all thought he'd want us to help Marjy find her smile again.  We enjoyed many stories about Bob, laughing with Marjy all weekend and gaining a greater idea of what an amazing man and husband he was to her.

Start of the day energized!  End of the day, shivering and smiling

Love these photos for later use.  Waiting for the pet show

Lorakeets!!

Tanner was in bird heaven.  He researched these for days afterwards

On Friday, we prepared for the big garage sale.  Marjy is getting ready to sell the house she and Bob had bought before he was diagnosed with cancer.  We pulled all the extras out and had a very successful day in the open market.  Marjy ended the weekend with a greater understanding of her sweet neighbors, a wad of cash and best of all, a nearly cleaned out garage to ease her move back to Oregon.  Tanner took away several of Bob's things to use in his survival kit.  The kids met some friends who live a few houses away and enjoyed picking, squeezing and drinking fresh orange juice together.

Picked, squeezed and tossed oranges off Marjy's dock.  Such fun!

She's such a good Auntie!  All our kids AND new neighborhood friends brought their freshly squeezed orange juice inside to her

As hard as it was to leave Marj, we packed up and got on the road, only to face Sunday "after the holiday" traffic.  Ugh.  Our 4 hour day turned into 7 and we missed our deadline to get into the next state park.  So, we boondocked it in a field in a small town just south of Manatee Springs State Park.

Traffic after Thanksgiving weekend

The next day, we drove into this great state park and discovered an amazing natural spring that we enjoyed snorkeling each day.  It was so beautiful in the park, with the fall leaves and sunny days. We didn't want to leave.  So, we extended another day and went an hour south to Crystal River.  It houses a big population of the Indian Manatee that migrate up the Gulf, to the river and into the springs.  We found Captain Tim, who took us up the river to swim with these gentle giants.  I think this experience, for all of us, can be considered in our top ten best days of the year.  To be that near to the manatees, watching them and getting lucky enough to reach out and touch them as they swam by us.....well, it just simply beautiful and made our hearts race at the same time!  Tanner was very nervous, and later regretted pulling back when we could have touched one.  Next time, buddy, next time.  We will certainly do this again given the opportunity.  Matt has put together two YouTube videos of us swimming in the springs and with the manatees, but here are a few pictures we captured from the GoPro videos.  Love that thing.

Note the boat propeller marks on its tail

Hi Alex

The gentle giants rise to the top for a breath of air, even when they are still asleep

Debbie got to touch more manatees than all of us combined

Alex got some good manatee time as they were waking (and fluffing)

We packed up the RV's once again and made our way north towards Pensacola.  We had another Walmart night in between in Panama City Beach.  This was the coolest looking Walmart I'd ever seen in true Floridian beachy style.  Funny enough, we used to dread Walmart nights, but we've had no bad experiences yet and they truly are a great stop over night with promised fresh donuts in the morning.  Not bad.

Although cool on the outside, nearly all Walmarts are exactly the same on the inside

We drove the scenic Hwy 98, where we stopped to take photos of the smallest police station in the world in Carabelle Florida.  Come to find out, Florida also has the smallest working post office which we passed too quickly on Hwy 41 through the Everglades to take a photo of.  It's the size of a small shed. 

True story...this small town of two police officers used this for years

We had to stop at our FAVORITE beach spot......Destin, Florida.  We drove into Henderson State Park and enjoyed lunch and beach time on this gorgeous stretch of warm white sandy beaches.  Matt and Tanner even took a dip in the 64 degree water.  It was the same spot we spent a few great days three years ago during our first RV trip.  Quite nostalgic. I have a feeling it's not our last time here.

Matt taking in the gorgeous Gulf view

Watch out for the waves!

softest, most white sandy beaches

Hello Destin

64 degrees doesn't stop these guys

Always time for a sand creation

Finally, we made it to Pensacola where Debbie booked us into the Blue Angel's Recreational RV park through the Naval base.  It's a great little spot where the boys got to experience their first paintball battle (against mom and dad).  I wasn't thrilled to be put in the mix, but it turned out to be fun, although hot in all the layers of clothes we wore to offset the sting of getting shot.  We got to see all the young soldiers "playing war".  They were much better at it than us.  Afterwards, we enjoyed our second visit to the great Naval Air and Space Museum, where the Blue Angels are housed.  Such a wonderful hands on museum to see history through all the planes of different eras.  A must see in this area.  Ironically, a young soldier saw my Idaho Vandals shirt and told me that his parents went to school in Moscow!  Small world.

Miniature golf number 112 (slight exaggeration)

Alex tight on target

A family of rebels

Even Elise got in the action

Tanner is complete captivated.  He's now researched it for his own set

Our 2nd trip to the Air and Space Museum in Pensacola. I have this photo three years ago as well.

We, sadly, say goodbye to our friend Debbie who really has just become part of our family on this trip.  She has truly added so much fun and pushed us to experience more than we would have otherwise.  As we turn towards Texas, she will drive up to Virginia to spend Christmas with her kids there.  Looks like we'll join up again in the spring to travel the West coast together, so that helps us to as we hug and kiss her, Gracie and Daisy dog farewell for now.

9 year old Daisy is a Hurricane Katrina dog always on high alert

Happy crew!

Sweet 14 year old Gracie, whom we love