Today Mike made online reservations for Hillsborough River State Park, site # 51C, for a week starting July 15. Hillsborough State Park in about 10 miles southwest of Zephyrhills, FL.
He also made reservations for Curry Hammock State Park, site # 11, for a week starting August 27.
Mike looked the campgrounds up on Google Earth. He chose the campsites by comparing the campground maps with the images on Google Earth. We've been using Google Earth to help pick campsites for a couple of years now.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Mill Creek RV Park
We've settled in here at Mill Creek in Kissimmee. We'll be here for a month visiting with my brother and his family.
Since it's June the winter residents have all gone back up north - we understand that the park is pretty full during the winter season.
There are quite a lot of permanent residents here at Mill Creek and some of them have recognized us from our previous stays here and have stopped to welcome us back.
Since it's June the winter residents have all gone back up north - we understand that the park is pretty full during the winter season.
There are quite a lot of permanent residents here at Mill Creek and some of them have recognized us from our previous stays here and have stopped to welcome us back.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Lake Louisa State Park to Kissimmee
We left Lake Louisa State Park this morning at 10 a.m. We headed south on US-27 to US-192 and then east to Kissimmee. We stopped at RaceTrac to fill up the tanks in the car & RV. We paid $2.599 a gallon which is up from the $2.489 we paid last Thursday when we were in Kissimmee. You can tell summer is here because the temperatures are rising and so are gas prices!
We continued east on US-192 to Michigan Avenue and took it north to Mill Creek RV Park where we usually stay when we are in Kissimmee. We had a short trip today - it was only 31 miles from Lake Louisa to Mill Creek.
Mike had called a while back & talked with Chris in the office here at Mill Creek and we are in our favorite site - #210. When we arrived at 11:30 we parked the RV in front of our site and walked up to the office to see Chris & Gordon, the owner.
After checking in and paying for a month's rent ($395) plus the $50 electric deposit, we backed the RV in to our site and set up camp. We have full hookup (50 amp electric) and free wifi.
We continued east on US-192 to Michigan Avenue and took it north to Mill Creek RV Park where we usually stay when we are in Kissimmee. We had a short trip today - it was only 31 miles from Lake Louisa to Mill Creek.
Mike had called a while back & talked with Chris in the office here at Mill Creek and we are in our favorite site - #210. When we arrived at 11:30 we parked the RV in front of our site and walked up to the office to see Chris & Gordon, the owner.
After checking in and paying for a month's rent ($395) plus the $50 electric deposit, we backed the RV in to our site and set up camp. We have full hookup (50 amp electric) and free wifi.
 |
| From Kissimmee |
Monday, June 14, 2010
Citrus Tower & Clermont, FL
This morning after breakfast we drove up to Clermont to visit the Citrus Tower. At the Gift Shop we paid $4.00 a piece and entered the elevator that took us to the observation deck at the top of the Citrus Tower.
The Citrus Tower was built in 1956 as a tribute to Florida's citrus industry and was one of the early Florida "attractions". The original plans called for a 75 foot tower to be built on one of the highest hills in Central Florida. The tower ended up being 226 feet tall and the top of the tallest antenna makes it 500 feet above sea level - which makes it the highest observation point in Florida.
The observation deck is completely glass enclosed and gives a great 360° view of the area. There are signs on the posts that tell you what sights you can see in each direction.
We enjoyed the sights from the tower even though the orange groves are gone now and have been replaced with housing areas.
After leaving the Citrus Tower, we drove into Clermont to see what the town looked like. Clermont is situated between 2 lakes - Lake Minneola and Lake Minnehaha. There is a historic downtown area and a beautiful Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola.
Before returning to the RV, we stopped at Publix to get a few groceries. Back at the RV we fixed lunch and then I took some clothes to the laundromat here at the park. There is only 1 washer & dryer in the laundromat, so it took a while to do a few loads of clothes.
This is our last night here at Lake Louisa State Park. Tomorrow we go to Mill Creek RV Park at Kissimmee.
The Citrus Tower was built in 1956 as a tribute to Florida's citrus industry and was one of the early Florida "attractions". The original plans called for a 75 foot tower to be built on one of the highest hills in Central Florida. The tower ended up being 226 feet tall and the top of the tallest antenna makes it 500 feet above sea level - which makes it the highest observation point in Florida.
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
The observation deck is completely glass enclosed and gives a great 360° view of the area. There are signs on the posts that tell you what sights you can see in each direction.
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
We enjoyed the sights from the tower even though the orange groves are gone now and have been replaced with housing areas.
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
After leaving the Citrus Tower, we drove into Clermont to see what the town looked like. Clermont is situated between 2 lakes - Lake Minneola and Lake Minnehaha. There is a historic downtown area and a beautiful Waterfront Park on Lake Minneola.
Before returning to the RV, we stopped at Publix to get a few groceries. Back at the RV we fixed lunch and then I took some clothes to the laundromat here at the park. There is only 1 washer & dryer in the laundromat, so it took a while to do a few loads of clothes.
This is our last night here at Lake Louisa State Park. Tomorrow we go to Mill Creek RV Park at Kissimmee.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Another trip to Kissimmee
We left Lake Louisa early this morning to go over to Kissimmee. Tinker had a grooming appointment at Bass Pet Resort in Kissimmee. We had had him groomed there a few years ago and they had done a great job.
After taking Tinker to Bass Pet Resort we went to Camping World to purchase a Thousand Trails campground membership. They had now divided their preserves (campgrounds) into 4 sections instead of just the East & West part of the U.S.
We selected the Southeast area - it has the highest number of preserves and is also an area we frequently travel. After filling out the paper work and paying our $499 for annual dues, we were now Thousand Trails members.
While we were waiting for the call from the groomer that Tinker was ready, we went over to my brother's house in Kissimmee for a visit. We'll be coming back to Kissimmee for a month's stay after we leave Lake Louisa State Park.
After picking Tinker up at the groomer, we stopped by Wal-Mart Supercenter to do a little shopping.
On the way back to Lake Louisa we stopped at the Thousand Trails Orlando Preserve to look around. We showed our temporary membership card and explained we had just joined at Camping World. There are 850 sites in the preserve and I'm sure that it is full during the winter months. But today there were only a few RVs there - it is June in Florida and off-season.
It was good to get back to the RV this afternoon. Tinker is always tired after his time at the groomer's (he doesn't get his daily quota of naps) and we enjoyed looking through the Thousand Trails packet and information we got.
After taking Tinker to Bass Pet Resort we went to Camping World to purchase a Thousand Trails campground membership. They had now divided their preserves (campgrounds) into 4 sections instead of just the East & West part of the U.S.
We selected the Southeast area - it has the highest number of preserves and is also an area we frequently travel. After filling out the paper work and paying our $499 for annual dues, we were now Thousand Trails members.
While we were waiting for the call from the groomer that Tinker was ready, we went over to my brother's house in Kissimmee for a visit. We'll be coming back to Kissimmee for a month's stay after we leave Lake Louisa State Park.
After picking Tinker up at the groomer, we stopped by Wal-Mart Supercenter to do a little shopping.
On the way back to Lake Louisa we stopped at the Thousand Trails Orlando Preserve to look around. We showed our temporary membership card and explained we had just joined at Camping World. There are 850 sites in the preserve and I'm sure that it is full during the winter months. But today there were only a few RVs there - it is June in Florida and off-season.
It was good to get back to the RV this afternoon. Tinker is always tired after his time at the groomer's (he doesn't get his daily quota of naps) and we enjoyed looking through the Thousand Trails packet and information we got.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Trip to Kissimmee
This morning we drove over to Kissimmee to Camping World - about a 25 mile drive.
One of the slider assemblies for our awning had broken and we needed to get a new one. The guy in Camping World's parts department knew exactly what we needed when Mike described the broken part to him. In addition to the new awning slider assembly, we bought a Winegard DTV antenna sensor to attach to our Sensor antenna (it's supposed to boost reception of local DTV signals).
While we were at Camping World a woman approached us about buying into Thousand Trails membership campgrounds. She and her husband were there selling memberships in Thousand Trails. We learned that Thousand Trails has changed their memberships & fees making it less expensive to join. We told them that we had to come back over to Kissimmee tomorrow and we wanted to talk it over tonight before we decided about buying in.
It was lunch time when we left Camping World, so we decided to go to Olive Garden and have their endless soup, salad and breadsticks.
Before heading back to Lake Louisa we stopped to get gas at RaceTrac and paid $2.489 a gallon.
One of the slider assemblies for our awning had broken and we needed to get a new one. The guy in Camping World's parts department knew exactly what we needed when Mike described the broken part to him. In addition to the new awning slider assembly, we bought a Winegard DTV antenna sensor to attach to our Sensor antenna (it's supposed to boost reception of local DTV signals).
While we were at Camping World a woman approached us about buying into Thousand Trails membership campgrounds. She and her husband were there selling memberships in Thousand Trails. We learned that Thousand Trails has changed their memberships & fees making it less expensive to join. We told them that we had to come back over to Kissimmee tomorrow and we wanted to talk it over tonight before we decided about buying in.
It was lunch time when we left Camping World, so we decided to go to Olive Garden and have their endless soup, salad and breadsticks.
Before heading back to Lake Louisa we stopped to get gas at RaceTrac and paid $2.489 a gallon.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Lake Louisa State Park
Most of the land around Lake Louisa was settled by John and Louise Driggors Hammond. Besides the family home, they built a turpentine still, a combination school & church, a sawmill, shingle mill, cooperage, commissary and worker's cabin. They exported their goods across Lake Louisa by steamboats & barges.
The Bronson family bought some of the land and planted orange groves and had a cattle ranch. The property was purchased by the state in 1973 and became a state park in 1974. Lake Louisa State Park was opened to the public in 1977.
According to the Lake Louisa State Park brochure 2 prehistoric dugout canoes were found in Lake Louisa in 2001 during the drought and the lake level dropped. Later that year the remains of a P-51 Mustang was also found.
Site #35 is a back-in with full hookups (50 amp electric).
The Bronson family bought some of the land and planted orange groves and had a cattle ranch. The property was purchased by the state in 1973 and became a state park in 1974. Lake Louisa State Park was opened to the public in 1977.
According to the Lake Louisa State Park brochure 2 prehistoric dugout canoes were found in Lake Louisa in 2001 during the drought and the lake level dropped. Later that year the remains of a P-51 Mustang was also found.
Site #35 is a back-in with full hookups (50 amp electric).
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Patrick AFB to Lake Louisa State Park
This morning we started breaking camp to head over to Lake Louise State Park near Clermont. Mike had dumped our tanks and I had gotten the inside ready to leave and had the slides in. But when we started to stow the jacks, the left rear jack wouldn't retract. Since we were nearing the checkout time, I went up to the office to tell the camp host about our problem. She said no problem and wanted to know if there was anything she or her husband could do to help. I told her how much we had enjoyed staying at the FamCamp and we look forward to coming back someday.
Mike finally got the jack stowed and we headed out about 11:45 a.m. But when we got to the exit gate we found out that all traffic in and out of Patrick AFB was halted. Apparently there was some kind of security risk (we never found out what it was) and no one could leave or enter. After sitting there for over 1/2 hour, we decided to have lunch. Just as I started to prepare our sandwiches, the gates were opened and we could leave.
We headed south on A1A to SR-404 (Pineda Causeway) the west to CR-509 to CR-518 to get on I-95 south. We were only on I-95 for about 3 miles when we turned west onto US-192. We drove west on US-192 through Kissimmee to US-27 north. We drove north on US-27 about 10 miles to arrive at Lake Louisa State Park at 3:15 p.m. We only traveled 93 miles today.
Since Mike had made our reservation last month, all we had to do was check-in and get our map of the campground and directions to our campsite. After a winding 3 mile drive from the park entrance we arrived at site #35 in the Sandhill Loop.
Mike said he will take photos of our site and the campground tomorrow.
Mike finally got the jack stowed and we headed out about 11:45 a.m. But when we got to the exit gate we found out that all traffic in and out of Patrick AFB was halted. Apparently there was some kind of security risk (we never found out what it was) and no one could leave or enter. After sitting there for over 1/2 hour, we decided to have lunch. Just as I started to prepare our sandwiches, the gates were opened and we could leave.
We headed south on A1A to SR-404 (Pineda Causeway) the west to CR-509 to CR-518 to get on I-95 south. We were only on I-95 for about 3 miles when we turned west onto US-192. We drove west on US-192 through Kissimmee to US-27 north. We drove north on US-27 about 10 miles to arrive at Lake Louisa State Park at 3:15 p.m. We only traveled 93 miles today.
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
Since Mike had made our reservation last month, all we had to do was check-in and get our map of the campground and directions to our campsite. After a winding 3 mile drive from the park entrance we arrived at site #35 in the Sandhill Loop.
 |
| From Lake Louisa State Park & Clermont, FL |
Mike said he will take photos of our site and the campground tomorrow.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Kennedy Space Center - Day 2
We arrived at Kennedy Space Center this morning about 9:00 to finish our tour. Our first stop was at the Rocket Garden. The rockets on display here are either replicas or backup rockets for actual missions. We saw Saturn 1B, Mercury, & Apollo rockets just to name a few. We all know these rockets are HUGE, but standing next to one really drives that fact home.
After leaving the Rocket Garden, we stopped at the Early Space Exploration exhibit. The exhibit has artifacts from the first manned spaceflights including the actual Mercury and Gemini capsules. You really appreciate the cramped quarters the astronauts were in when you see the Mercury & Gemini capsules up close.
There are 2 IMAX theaters at the KSC. At 10:00 we watched the 3D film "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon" which was written, produced & narrated by Tom Hanks. Dave Scott, Commander of Apollo 15, was the technical consultant for the documentary. The movie contains actual NASA films plus re-enactments of the first man on the moon and the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon.
 |
| From Kennedy Space Center - Day 2 |
After leaving the Rocket Garden, we stopped at the Early Space Exploration exhibit. The exhibit has artifacts from the first manned spaceflights including the actual Mercury and Gemini capsules. You really appreciate the cramped quarters the astronauts were in when you see the Mercury & Gemini capsules up close.
 |
| From Kennedy Space Center - Day 2 |
There are 2 IMAX theaters at the KSC. At 10:00 we watched the 3D film "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon" which was written, produced & narrated by Tom Hanks. Dave Scott, Commander of Apollo 15, was the technical consultant for the documentary. The movie contains actual NASA films plus re-enactments of the first man on the moon and the 12 astronauts who walked on the moon.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Kennedy Space Center
This morning we left the RV about 8:00 and drove north up A1A to SR 528 and then north on SR 3 to the entrance to the Kennedy Space Center - about a 35 minute drive. After parking our car we presented the "tickets" we had purchased at the Patrick AFB Ticket Office and they were exchanged for the official Kennedy Space Center tickets. We picked up a Visitor Guide at Information Central and started to plan out our visit for today.
The bus tours start at 10 a.m. and we decided to go on the first tour. After browsing through some of the exhibits & gift shops, we got in line for the Space Center Tour. During our bus ride out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, our bus driver told us about the history of KSC and about some of the exhibits we would see on the tour. Because a Falcon 9 rocket is to be launched today, one of the normal stops on the tour (the LC-39 Observation Gantry) will not be visited today.
After about a 15-20 minute bus ride, we arrived at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Our tour began in the Firing Room Theater that re-creates an Apollo launch. When we exited the theater, the first thing we saw was a 363 foot moon rocket - the Saturn V. This is a fully restored Saturn V and 1 of 3 only remaining in the world. The Saturn V rockets carried our astronauts to the moon and back home safely.
The Lunar Theater is a second theater in the Saturn V Center that depicts the first moon landing. That brought back memories of watching the moon landing on TV. I can remember sitting in the family room of Mike's parent's house watching the moon landing. I was pregnant with our son, Fletcher, and Mike was soon to be leaving to go to Viet Nam. We all had our eyes glued to the TV to see the landing and to see man walk on the moon!
The Apollo Treasures Gallery in the Saturn V Center has items from the Apollo moon missions
 |
| From Kennedy Space Center |
The bus tours start at 10 a.m. and we decided to go on the first tour. After browsing through some of the exhibits & gift shops, we got in line for the Space Center Tour. During our bus ride out to the Apollo/Saturn V Center, our bus driver told us about the history of KSC and about some of the exhibits we would see on the tour. Because a Falcon 9 rocket is to be launched today, one of the normal stops on the tour (the LC-39 Observation Gantry) will not be visited today.
After about a 15-20 minute bus ride, we arrived at the Apollo/Saturn V Center. Our tour began in the Firing Room Theater that re-creates an Apollo launch. When we exited the theater, the first thing we saw was a 363 foot moon rocket - the Saturn V. This is a fully restored Saturn V and 1 of 3 only remaining in the world. The Saturn V rockets carried our astronauts to the moon and back home safely.
 |
| From Kennedy Space Center |
The Lunar Theater is a second theater in the Saturn V Center that depicts the first moon landing. That brought back memories of watching the moon landing on TV. I can remember sitting in the family room of Mike's parent's house watching the moon landing. I was pregnant with our son, Fletcher, and Mike was soon to be leaving to go to Viet Nam. We all had our eyes glued to the TV to see the landing and to see man walk on the moon!
The Apollo Treasures Gallery in the Saturn V Center has items from the Apollo moon missions
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science
This morning we drove up to the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science in Cocoa. Mike's cousin, Lyn & her husband Brian, highly recommended the museum. We paid $5.50 each for senior tickets and received a brochure for a self-guided tour of the museum.
We started out in the By-Gone Beasts Exhibit where we saw displays of giant sloths, mammoths & saber-tooth cats to name just a few.
We then viewed displays of the early inhabitants of Florida and learned about the Spanish influence.
The next exhibits were on the Florida pioneers, the development of the railroad in Florida and who the Florida Crackers were.
Then we reached the exhibit Lyn & Brian had told us about - the Windover Archaeological Exhibit. The exhibit had artifacts from a 7,000 year-old Native American burial ground found in
We started out in the By-Gone Beasts Exhibit where we saw displays of giant sloths, mammoths & saber-tooth cats to name just a few.
 |
| From Brevard Museum |
The next exhibits were on the Florida pioneers, the development of the railroad in Florida and who the Florida Crackers were.
 |
| From Brevard Museum |
Then we reached the exhibit Lyn & Brian had told us about - the Windover Archaeological Exhibit. The exhibit had artifacts from a 7,000 year-old Native American burial ground found in
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Lyn & Brian Visit
This afternoon Lyn & Brian, Mike's cousin & her husband, came down to Patrick AFB for dinner. Mike had to drive up to the post gate to meet them & sign for them to enter the base.
Before dinner we walked over to the benches across from the RV and sat there enjoying the view of the Banana River and listening to the Great Blue Herons that are nested in the trees by the river. Lyn & Brian couldn't get over the unbirdlike noises the herons were making - it sounds like "clacking", that's the only description I've been able to come up with.
For dinner Mike grilled some steaks and we had baked potatoes, salad and wine.
Afterwards we showed Lyn & Brian some of our photos we've taken on our travels. Tinker really enjoyed their visit - he and Brian had a great time playing.
We told Lyn & Brian that we were going to visit the Brevard Museum of History tomorrow which they had highly recommended. We had a really great time visiting with them and look forward to seeing them the next time we're in the area.
Before dinner we walked over to the benches across from the RV and sat there enjoying the view of the Banana River and listening to the Great Blue Herons that are nested in the trees by the river. Lyn & Brian couldn't get over the unbirdlike noises the herons were making - it sounds like "clacking", that's the only description I've been able to come up with.
For dinner Mike grilled some steaks and we had baked potatoes, salad and wine.
 |
| From Patrick AFB |
Afterwards we showed Lyn & Brian some of our photos we've taken on our travels. Tinker really enjoyed their visit - he and Brian had a great time playing.
 |
| From Patrick AFB |
We told Lyn & Brian that we were going to visit the Brevard Museum of History tomorrow which they had highly recommended. We had a really great time visiting with them and look forward to seeing them the next time we're in the area.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)