Friday, August 28, 2015

ANOTHER CAMPING TRIP to LAKE KISSIMMEE STATE PARK

Tuesday we were off for our Sixth camping trip in our Coach House Motorhome...another trip to Lake Kissimmee State Park...we love that place...what's not to love...just look at this "old Florida" scene that was our campsite!



Like every trip we have made to Lake Kissimmee State Park the wildlife never disappoints us!  On the way from the Ranger Station back the three or four miles to the campground we saw a turtle traveling along the roadside and as soon as we stepped out of the camper we were greeted by an Armadillo...well, really he did not "greet" us as they seem to be in their own private world and did not show any fear or even any concern when we set up our camp right in their area!!!


While sitting in our campsite we never know what is going to wander through...check out this beauty who visited our campsite!
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As we explored around the two camp loops we always came back having seen a variety of wildlife...it might be deer, hawks, armadillo, rabbits, turtles, as well as any number of various kinds of birds...not always seen but always heard!  The Pileated Woodpecker stayed out of sight this time...but we sure enjoy the abundance of beautiful Cardinals and listening to all the variety of birds!


Denny loves taking pictures of the wildlife and I love the pictures he takes as a remembrance of our adventures, but as I recently told him I never tire of seeing a beautiful deer stare back at me...it is always like the first time I have ever seen a deer (or whatever animal it might be)!

While Denny was out taking pictures, I glanced out the camper window and saw this amazing sight...an adult armadillo chasing a tiny armadillo...then the tiny armadillo went into the water hole and swam out and around back to the shore!  Denny's thought was that it was Mama armadillo telling the baby armadillo to "get out there and take your bath"!!!  That might have been the case but I just felt so privileged that I got to witness the experience!  Denny got a picture of the little one swimming back to shore!


We had the opportunity to pretty much have the pick out of 60 campsites this time as only two other sites were occupied while we were there and one of them was a volunteer worker!  Our favorite site is #26 as it has a little pool of water pretty much year round and that little pool draws in animals as well as birds!  There is at least one owl who lives in or very nearby to site #26 and it is wonderful to hear it call out and get an answer from across the way!  Also to frequent the area around site #26 is a hawk that we have often seen and Denny was able to capture both of them on this camping trip!


Well...another camping adventure comes to a close for now..but check back often...who knows where we might go next!!!  Hope you have enjoyed the pictures and hearing about our trip back to Lake Kissimmee State Park!!!

P.S.  Oh...I do not know how I neglected to include this picture of our little camping buddy, Kiotie...he loves to go in the motorhome and loves to explore the park...no matter where we may go...and...he also loves to relax on one of our beds as he is here!

Monday, August 10, 2015

FIFTH CAMPING TRIP WITH OUR COACH HOUSE MOTORHOME!

Finally...we got our act together and were off on our 5th camping trip...
this time to Alafia State Park...about 28 miles to our southwest...south of Plant City and east of Tampa! It is a park developed from reclaimed phosphate mining land...it is a clean, quiet park and we were blessed with a beautiful herd of about 10 deer who hung around pretty close the campground! We had trees that gave us afternoon shade...but morning was very sunny! There were a few brief showers that passed through quickly and did help keep the temperatures down slightly! This park is known for its mountain biking trails as well as equestrian trails and facilities...there were stables as well as turn-out pads but no one was using them while we were there...what a shame!
Here is a "Florida Mountain"...the remnants of the mining operation and now has trees growing on it!
There was an abundance of lush GREEN GRASS everywhere as they had received over 11 inches of rain over the last few weeks in this area...the deer had good eating!
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We had a beautiful campsite complete with level paved pad and trees on the west side of the site...not too far from the restrooms and with a view to the small lake!
The deer were definitely the "main attraction" for us here at this park...it was wonderful to see them grazing and playing every time we took a spin around the park! Occasionally...there would be a Quail or Dove to watch as well as there were lots of birds singing in the trees...Red-winged blackbirds, Cardinals, Mockingbirds, etc. but they did not come down to visit us! Once again...our camping adventure came to a quick close...Saturday morning we broke camp shortly after breakfast hoping to "beat the heat" and that is hard to do these days because the temps are usually about 80 degrees when we get up in the morning! Kiotie had a good time too and was very good...he seems to feel very comfortable and "at home" in the motorhome! I will close now with one more "deer" picture...Tune back in again soon for more camping adventures...THANKS for looking!!!

HEMLOCK HOLLOW INN & PAINT CREEK CAFE VISIT JULY, 2017

Our destination was 645 Chandler Circle, Greeneville, TN ... as that is the place our son Russ and daughter-in-law Dianna purchased back in ...