http://edandcarol.shutterfly.com/action/pictures?a=67b0de21b33ba6594532
Go to this website for pictues . Carol
Sunday, May 7:
Decided to move on. Stopped in Pine Bluff, AR with the intent of spending the night in a City RV park. Not what we had hoped for so we continued on to the Little Rock area. Stayed at the Willow Beach Park, a Corps of Engineers Park on the Missouri River. Very nice. Our site has a great view of the river in front and a pond in back. Plus, we have Verizon internet service and it’s Sunday. Carol got caught up on her Blog. We both checked e-mail. Called Mom. Had Jambalaya for dinner. An easy, one pot meal. For lunches we have been taking canned soup and adding veggies, or rice, or serving with pasta.
Monday, May 08
Went grocery shopping today. First stopped at Harvest Foods in North Little Rock. The main display when you walked in was Hamburger Helper, Vienna Sausages & Mac & Cheese. We left. Used the GPS unit to locate other grocery stores in the area. Went to a Kroger. A very basic store, but better than Harvest Foods. The GPS unit can find stores, restaurants, gas stations, on & on, then lead you right to them. What a wonderful device.
Back to the campground. Ed & Gopher went walking around a lake. It was full of water moccasins. Ed counted three in maybe a five minute walk on the waters edge. All tolled, between us, we counted about ten for the day.
We meet the most interesting people at campgrounds. This morning Carol talked to a lady who lives in their 5th wheel full time. Her husband’s hobby is to buy the contents of storage units that people abandon. Some times they make money by selling the stuff, once it was $4,000. The lady said they check every pocket and envelope looking for stuff. Some times the contents are just trash that get throw away. This lady loves to play Bingo but Arkansas , Utah , and Hawaii don’t allow gambling, so can’t play ‘till they leave Arkansas. A couple pulls in next to us this afternoon. They are from Utah and traveled here to visit their grandkids. They travel with a 20 year old deaf cat who was walking outside driving Gopher nuts . We also had a turtle under the motorhome. Gopher kept sniffing at it , but then it walked under the lawn chair Balou and Bagera were sitting in. They went nuts, it took some heavy pulling by Carol to keep them from following the turtle into the water. Once Carol saw the snake slide by in the water the dogs were dragged to higher ground. Further south it was alligators in the water; now it’s water moccasins. Once we get further north, the waters should be free of dangerous creatures.
Tuesday, May 9
Drove to Branson, MO. The plan was to stay in the Branson City RV Park. What a disappointment that place was. Dirty, no privacy between sites, lots of transients. Instead, we headed for Table Rock State Park. A wonderful place. The campground is located on Table Lake. Clear, cool water. Overall, about the nicest campground yet. There is a really big storm headed this way. Tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, destructive winds & hail. Turned on both of our weather alert radios. We are just across from the bath house. Out tornado plan is the bathhouse. As it turned out, the worst of the storm was to the north & south of us. It rained from about midnight on.
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
The morning weather was partly cloudy & cooler. The high today is supposed to be in the low 60’s with the low tonight in the 40’s. Rained on & off. We went into Branson. Looks just like International Drive in Orlando, Gatlinburg, TN or any other really tourist place. Did some grocery shopping, mailed Moms Mothers Day card and left. Stopped at the Table Rock Dam then back to the campground. We switched camp spots to one right on the lake. A beautiful view. Ed & Gopher took a nice walk along the lakeside trail. Carol cleaned the camper and enjoyed her book.
Carol had called Johnny yesterday about a dentist appointment. Ed has had a sore tooth. Johnny called back and we made an appointment for 2pm Monday. We’ll see how the tooth is doing then.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Up by 7am. Clear, cool (55)& windy day. We all took a nice walk on the Lakeside Trail then had breakfast. Oatmeal. Ed’s tooth is feeling just fine. Cancelled the dentist. Left for Cedar Ridge, C.O.E. park on Stockton Lake near Stockton, MO. Pretty drive.. We shop at the Pro Bass store in Springfield, their largest store. We walked in and it is huge they have a zooquarium and lots of shops but we walked right out when Ed found out they didn’t sell propane for the motorhome. The side trip did take us by a Panera Bread store in Springfield, where Carol bought their biggest loaf of whole grain bread, chocolate chip cookies and trail mix bagels.
Ed made great toasted cheese and ham sandwiches with the bread. Cedar Ridge is really in the boonies. If it wasn’t for the GPS & the Camping with the Corps book we have, we never would have found it. No directional signs at all. Nice campground. Wooded, right on the lake. $6/night with our Golden Age Passport.
We are low on propane, which runs the hot water heater and stove. Carol wanted a shower so she walked up to the new bathhouse. Her comment was” Good thing, I know scary movies are fiction. The only thing between me and the open door was a flimsy shower curtain. The water pressure was great and lots of hot water. I didn’t care how much water I used. The need to be clean over rode scenes from Psycho.
Friday, May 14, 2006
Left early to head towards KC. A pretty drive. Saw some Amish people driving carts. Arrived at John/Marge’s house shortly after noon. The dogs really are enjoying running in the back yard, chasing the ball and such. Johnnie cooked a great dinner for us.
Saturday, May 14, 2006
Went to the local Green Market for fresh fruits & veggies. Stopped at Panera Bread for bagels, lemon cakes, bread for dinner and coffee. Johnnie had bought a bunch of lobster as part of a school fund raiser. Johnnies friend George & his wife came over for dinner. Karen’s 2 children were over while Karen had her husband Andy admitted to the hospitasl. Andy has pneumonia . We had 13 lobsters to share , it was a feast. Karen came by about 9pm ate a little and toke the children home.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Clear & cool. 50* when we woke up. Johnnie had a dog sweater from when they had a dog. Balou is wearing it. He gets very cold. Bagera shivers some because of his thyroid condition. Gopher, with her heavy coat loves this cool weather. Carol, Marge & Johnnie went to church in the morning. Had another of Johnnies great breakfasts. Omelets & hash browns. If you’re ever in the KC area, be sure to stay at the Wagner B & B. It’s a five star joint. Left about noon time. Stopped at Target & a grocery store on the way out of KC. Arrived at Big Lake State Park near Fortescue, MO/Rulo, NE about 3 pm. Cloudy, windy & cool. The “Big Lake” is an oxbow of the Missouri River. Very nice park. There is a small store & restaurant, a few motel rooms and cabins. Lewis & Clark camped here in 1806 on their return trip to St. Louis, MO. Not in this campground actually, but on the other side of the “Big Lake” when the Lake was the main channel of the Missouri River.
Monday, May 15, 2006
It was 52 degrees and windy this morning. The dogs and I were warm and comfy under our electric blanket. If we don’t have electic , I open up a Thermacare and sleep on it to keep warm.
Left about 9am. Destination Summit Lake State Recreation Area near Tekamah, NE. Took I-29 through Iowa then Omaha, NE. Mostly farm land. Corn. Saw a corn ethanol making plant. Summit Lake is a large spring fed lake. Access was via a mile long washboard road. Lots of ducks, geese and other water birds. We were the only campers there. It was a beautiful place. Ate lunch and walked around. Gopher played in the very tall grass. She would crouch down then charge out like she was a lion. About 2:30 we decided to checkout the City RV park in Tekamah. It was part of a very nice park. Ball fields, playgrounds and such. Continued our drive north to Decatur, NE. Decatur has a beautiful City campground on the banks of the Missouri River. The cost is $14 a day for electric and water. And we have internet access. Very well maintained. Beautiful river view. Once again, it was just us. The park gets a lot of use from the residents for walking. The sun came out today. One of the few mostly sunny days we have had on the trip so far. The weather forecast is for warm & sunny the rest of this week.The fun part of this trip is never knowing what type of camp ground we’ll end up in. All have been nice some better than others. Also, since we travel the back roads we go through little towns with populations of 300, 500, or a big place or 1,500 people. We are in the Heartlands, clean well keep little towns all celebrating the 200 anniversary of the Lewis and
Monday, May 15, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
May 7 and 8
Sunday, May 7:
Decided to move on. Stopped in Pine Bluff, AR with the intent of spending the night in a City RV park. Not what we had hoped for so we continued on to the Little Rock area. Stayed at the Willow Beach Park, a Corps of Engineers Park on the Missouri River. Very nice. Our site has a great view of the river in front and a pond in back. Plus, we have Verizon internet service and it’s Sunday. Carol got caught up on her Blog. We both checked e-mail. Called Mom. Had Jambalaya for dinner. An easy, one pot meal. For lunches we have been taking canned soup and adding veggies, or rice, or serving with pasta.
Monday, May 08
Went grocery shopping today. First stopped at Harvest Foods in North Little Rock. The main display when you walked in was Hamburger Helper, Vienna Sausages & Mac & Cheese. We left. Used the GPS unit to locate other grocery stores in the area. Went to a Kroger. A very basic store, but better than Harvest Foods. The GPS unit can find stores, restaurants, gas stations, on & on, then lead you right to them. What a wonderful device.
Back to the campground. Ed & Gopher went walking around a lake. It was full of water moccasins. Ed counted three in maybe a five minute walk on the waters edge. All tolled, between us, we counted about ten for the day.
We meet the most interesting people at campgrounds. This morning Carol talked to a lady who lives in their 5th wheel full time. Her husband’s hobby is to buy the contents of storage units that people abandon. Some times they make money by selling the stuff, once it was $4,000. The lady said they check every pocket and envelope looking for stuff. Some times the contents are just trash that get throw away. This lady loves to play Bingo but Arkansas , Utah , and Hawaii don’t allow gambling, so can’t play ‘till they leave Arkansas. A couple pull in next to us this afternoon. They are from Utah and traveled here to visit their grandkids. They travel with a 20 year old deaf cat who was walking outside driving Gopher nuts . We also had a turtle under the motorhome. Gopher kept sniffing at it , but then it walked under the lawn chair Balou and Bagera were sitting in. They went nuts, it took some heavy pulling by Carol to keep them from following the turtle into the water. Once Carol saw the snake slide by in the water the dogs were dragged to higher ground. Further south it was alligators in the water; now it’s water moccasins. Once we get further north, the waters should be free of dangerous creatures.
Decided to move on. Stopped in Pine Bluff, AR with the intent of spending the night in a City RV park. Not what we had hoped for so we continued on to the Little Rock area. Stayed at the Willow Beach Park, a Corps of Engineers Park on the Missouri River. Very nice. Our site has a great view of the river in front and a pond in back. Plus, we have Verizon internet service and it’s Sunday. Carol got caught up on her Blog. We both checked e-mail. Called Mom. Had Jambalaya for dinner. An easy, one pot meal. For lunches we have been taking canned soup and adding veggies, or rice, or serving with pasta.
Monday, May 08
Went grocery shopping today. First stopped at Harvest Foods in North Little Rock. The main display when you walked in was Hamburger Helper, Vienna Sausages & Mac & Cheese. We left. Used the GPS unit to locate other grocery stores in the area. Went to a Kroger. A very basic store, but better than Harvest Foods. The GPS unit can find stores, restaurants, gas stations, on & on, then lead you right to them. What a wonderful device.
Back to the campground. Ed & Gopher went walking around a lake. It was full of water moccasins. Ed counted three in maybe a five minute walk on the waters edge. All tolled, between us, we counted about ten for the day.
We meet the most interesting people at campgrounds. This morning Carol talked to a lady who lives in their 5th wheel full time. Her husband’s hobby is to buy the contents of storage units that people abandon. Some times they make money by selling the stuff, once it was $4,000. The lady said they check every pocket and envelope looking for stuff. Some times the contents are just trash that get throw away. This lady loves to play Bingo but Arkansas , Utah , and Hawaii don’t allow gambling, so can’t play ‘till they leave Arkansas. A couple pull in next to us this afternoon. They are from Utah and traveled here to visit their grandkids. They travel with a 20 year old deaf cat who was walking outside driving Gopher nuts . We also had a turtle under the motorhome. Gopher kept sniffing at it , but then it walked under the lawn chair Balou and Bagera were sitting in. They went nuts, it took some heavy pulling by Carol to keep them from following the turtle into the water. Once Carol saw the snake slide by in the water the dogs were dragged to higher ground. Further south it was alligators in the water; now it’s water moccasins. Once we get further north, the waters should be free of dangerous creatures.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Retirement trip has begun
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
RETIRMENT HAS BEGUN
Our first stop was Suwannee River State Park campground, off I-10, near Live Oak, FL. It was 290 mile from home. Cost of camping and day use of the park was $16.35. Campground is wooded and there is nice buffer of trees between campsites. We walked the dogs along the Suwannee River trail and found a spring that feeds into the river. No alligators in the stream so we let Gopher go for a swim.
Thanks to the NEXT EXIT Book, we found the cheapest gas available. Stopped for gas, $2.73/gallon. Cost to fill up the motor home with 44 gallons of gas was $121 at a Pilot station.
Thursday, May 4th: We headed farther west to Black Water River State Park near Holt, Fl not far from Pensacola. It boasts “one of the purest sand bottom rivers in the world”. Price of camping $13.14. We saw signs for canoe float trips. The outfitter takes you up river and then you paddle down and they pick you up at the end. The campers near us said it was a beautiful trip with lots of white sand bars to stop at if you want. The sand along the Black Water River is very fine and when you walk on it the sand, squeaks’ like the powered sugar sand at Destin and Pensacola. The water is clear and we found a place for Gopher to get wet. Gator warning signs are posted in several places. The wood footpaths were elevated over cypress swamps, which are home to gators and snakes. On our way back to I-10, we came across State Road #1. Built in 1921. Paved with brick.
Friday, May 5th: Left Florida at 8:52am. Entered Mississippi at 9:56am. We found a Circuit City and stopped to buy a “gadget” that plugs into the cassette player so the Sirius radio can play through the car radio speakers. Went to Hattiesburg MS, and stayed at the Paul B Johnson State Park. It’s on a large lake. Right now it’s home to about 50 FEMA trailers. People displaced by hurricane Wilma. We are in a new section that just open this morning. Not quite what we were hoping for.
Filled up with gas. $2.759/gallon, total was $96.76. Found a Wal-Mart on the way in and did some shopping. We had fried chicken fingers and honey barbecue nuggets with Cole slaw and potato salad. My kind of lunch, I bought so much we ate it for dinner too.
Saturday, May 6th: Left around 7:30am for Lake Chicot State Park near Lake Village, Arkansas. Stopped in Jackson, Ms for a rest break at the local high school. Found a great breakfast /bakery. The Do-Nut Shop & Bakery. They had a breakfast buffet for $5.99. Carol bought one buffet & a bagel & coffee for $8. Enough for both of us. Crossed the Mississippi River at 10:48am. Stopped at the Louisiana State Welcome Center for a rest & to pick up a map. Carol met a truck driver with a long hair black & brown daushund. Passed through Transylvania, MS. They had a bat painted on the town water tower. Drove next to the levy along the Mississippi river all the way to Lake Village, AR. Saw cotton & corn fields, pecan tree groves and cotton warehouses and lumber mills. Lots of very small towns. IGA grocery stores. Went into a bakery in Lake Providence, AR. There were three Amish ladies with black hair nets & long dresses sitting in front of the bakery having a snack. Didn’t get any bread. By this time of the day, 12:15pm, everything but the plain white bread was gone. Sonic Drive In’s are popular around here. Most towns have one. Rained most of the way from about Lake Providence until we got to Lake Chicot S.P. Arrived at Lake Chicot SP at 1:30pm. The weather forecast is for rain for the next two days so we decided to stay here for two days to avoid having to drive in the rain. This is a nice place. On an old oxbow of the Mississippi River that was cut off when the river changed its course many years ago. It’s “situated in a grove of majestic wild pecans ringed with cypress trees literally “up to their knees” in water along the nation’s largest natural oxbow remnant”. Our campsite has a beautiful view of the lake. Rained on & off all day. This reminds us of Okee-Tanti Campground in Okeechobee. Mostly fisherman.
Sunday, May 7:
Decided to move on. Right mow we’re at the Willow Beach Corps of Engineers campground outside of Little Rock, AR. On the Arkansas River.
RETIRMENT HAS BEGUN
Our first stop was Suwannee River State Park campground, off I-10, near Live Oak, FL. It was 290 mile from home. Cost of camping and day use of the park was $16.35. Campground is wooded and there is nice buffer of trees between campsites. We walked the dogs along the Suwannee River trail and found a spring that feeds into the river. No alligators in the stream so we let Gopher go for a swim.
Thanks to the NEXT EXIT Book, we found the cheapest gas available. Stopped for gas, $2.73/gallon. Cost to fill up the motor home with 44 gallons of gas was $121 at a Pilot station.
Thursday, May 4th: We headed farther west to Black Water River State Park near Holt, Fl not far from Pensacola. It boasts “one of the purest sand bottom rivers in the world”. Price of camping $13.14. We saw signs for canoe float trips. The outfitter takes you up river and then you paddle down and they pick you up at the end. The campers near us said it was a beautiful trip with lots of white sand bars to stop at if you want. The sand along the Black Water River is very fine and when you walk on it the sand, squeaks’ like the powered sugar sand at Destin and Pensacola. The water is clear and we found a place for Gopher to get wet. Gator warning signs are posted in several places. The wood footpaths were elevated over cypress swamps, which are home to gators and snakes. On our way back to I-10, we came across State Road #1. Built in 1921. Paved with brick.
Friday, May 5th: Left Florida at 8:52am. Entered Mississippi at 9:56am. We found a Circuit City and stopped to buy a “gadget” that plugs into the cassette player so the Sirius radio can play through the car radio speakers. Went to Hattiesburg MS, and stayed at the Paul B Johnson State Park. It’s on a large lake. Right now it’s home to about 50 FEMA trailers. People displaced by hurricane Wilma. We are in a new section that just open this morning. Not quite what we were hoping for.
Filled up with gas. $2.759/gallon, total was $96.76. Found a Wal-Mart on the way in and did some shopping. We had fried chicken fingers and honey barbecue nuggets with Cole slaw and potato salad. My kind of lunch, I bought so much we ate it for dinner too.
Saturday, May 6th: Left around 7:30am for Lake Chicot State Park near Lake Village, Arkansas. Stopped in Jackson, Ms for a rest break at the local high school. Found a great breakfast /bakery. The Do-Nut Shop & Bakery. They had a breakfast buffet for $5.99. Carol bought one buffet & a bagel & coffee for $8. Enough for both of us. Crossed the Mississippi River at 10:48am. Stopped at the Louisiana State Welcome Center for a rest & to pick up a map. Carol met a truck driver with a long hair black & brown daushund. Passed through Transylvania, MS. They had a bat painted on the town water tower. Drove next to the levy along the Mississippi river all the way to Lake Village, AR. Saw cotton & corn fields, pecan tree groves and cotton warehouses and lumber mills. Lots of very small towns. IGA grocery stores. Went into a bakery in Lake Providence, AR. There were three Amish ladies with black hair nets & long dresses sitting in front of the bakery having a snack. Didn’t get any bread. By this time of the day, 12:15pm, everything but the plain white bread was gone. Sonic Drive In’s are popular around here. Most towns have one. Rained most of the way from about Lake Providence until we got to Lake Chicot S.P. Arrived at Lake Chicot SP at 1:30pm. The weather forecast is for rain for the next two days so we decided to stay here for two days to avoid having to drive in the rain. This is a nice place. On an old oxbow of the Mississippi River that was cut off when the river changed its course many years ago. It’s “situated in a grove of majestic wild pecans ringed with cypress trees literally “up to their knees” in water along the nation’s largest natural oxbow remnant”. Our campsite has a beautiful view of the lake. Rained on & off all day. This reminds us of Okee-Tanti Campground in Okeechobee. Mostly fisherman.
Sunday, May 7:
Decided to move on. Right mow we’re at the Willow Beach Corps of Engineers campground outside of Little Rock, AR. On the Arkansas River.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Travel plans
Leave here May 4th.
Stopping in FL, MS & AR and spending two nights in
Then north through SD & ND stopping several times.
Arrive in KC to visit Johnny/Marge on the 12th.
Then through the top part of MT stopping in Fort Peck & Shelby. Then to Glacier(MT)/
Then north through
Then to Lake Roosevelt Nat. Rec. Area (Grand Coulee Dam) Washington then to Henry's Lake SP in Idaho. We have reservations here for June 16-18. I saved an article from I don't remember where that said this just might by
Then through
Suzanne in
After
We have reservations in
After Dillon we will just drift here & there to arrive in Driggs by July 22nd. Might head towards Rifle, CO then northwest to Vernal, UT, depending on the weather. If it's hot, we'll stay in the mountains and head towards the Flaming Gorge area then north towards the Grand Tetons. If the weather is pleasant, we may head over towards
Monday, April 10, 2006
Wyoming campgrounds
Snowy Range is on 130 west of Centennial (great breakfast place) turn south off route 80 near Laramie- there are several camp grounds- Brooklyn Lake was the one we liked the best. There was still snow on the ground in July. the other is also off RT.80 at Sinclar it is an hour ride to the north -Seminoe Dam and State Park. A few mile in there is a turn off where we saw some people camped . It was 20 minutes from 80 at the North Platte River . 8 miles north of Sinclar and free camping, BLM boondocking. Some of these places have mosquietos and some have flys . If you have a good wind neither. Semino is a big boating camp area but it has a great view just for looking a senery.
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Colorado Campgrounds
Dillon Colorado Heaton bay campground -near highway, shopping , pave bike and highing trails .
Pawnee Campground Branard Lake near Longmont CO. 10,000 ft elevation cool and beautiful.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Lazy Daze Rally # 2
Rock Crusher RV Park Morning Coffee and Carol, Barb , and Marylou at Potluck Dinner
Sawnee Campground near 75 and I10
The second Sout East Rally was held at Rock Crusher Park in Crystal River. Fourteen LD with owners were there. Thursday March 23 was the ice cream social. Barb and Bob from Chicago cleaned and sliced 25 pounds of Plant City strawberries and made a great hot fudge sauce. Bill and Dorothy set up the dinning room and provided the ice cream and other toppings. Friday night was the covered dish dinner organized by Dorsey. Bill gave a presentation on tire sensors to prevent damage to your toad or your motor home by alerting you to low tire pressure. We had lots of great casseroles , ham, pork and great desserts. In the afternoon Bob, Marilyn, Pualine and Paul organized a trip to Homassas Spring wild live perserve. Everyone that went really enjoyed the trip and they were very impressed by all the rescued birds and animals. Saturday, Bob and Marilyn went to the Indian Mounds which were 2,500 years old. They though it was worth the trip and some people were going on Sunday. Saturady night Kathy Douton organized a Boston Market catered dinner. We had chucken, turkey, meatlaof, creamed spinich, green beens, mashed or garlic potatoes and dinner rolls. It was a great meal and then Ken Douton gave a talk about care of batteries.
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Dog Beaches
Two great dog beaches are Fort Desoto south of St. Pete and Bonita Beach Dog Park near Fort Myers.
Pictures
Above left-Ed and Carol at Hanna Park LD rally- Balou and Bagera in reflective coats for night time walks. It's hard to see 2 little black dogs in the dark.
Hanna Park Rally
The Hanna Park rally was a great success. Eighteen LD were there with families. We had an ice cream social on Friday, coffee and goodies each morning, Potluck dinner on Saturday and Pizza party Sunday. The weather was cool but sunny. People were able to walk around and see each others rigs and the neat stuff peopel had added. the beach was close and dogs were allowed on the beach. Check out the Se Lazy Daze link above.The next rally is planned for Rock Crusher RV Park in Crystal River above Tampa March 23-26.
http://ldse.shutterfly.com/action/
Check out the pictures from the Hanna Park Rally
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/se_lazy_dazers/
South East Lazy Daze Chat Group
http://ldse.shutterfly.com/action/
Check out the pictures from the Hanna Park Rally
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/se_lazy_dazers/
South East Lazy Daze Chat Group
Monday, November 28, 2005
Laze Daze Group meeting Jan. 13-16 2006
UPDATE-SE Lazy Daze Group
November 27, 2005.
Carol & I spent the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving at Hanna Park. This update reflects our visit.
Here is where we stand at this point.
The mailing by Lazy Daze on their letterhead about the new SE group has gone out to all buyers during the last three years who live in AL, FL, GA, SC and NC. Thanks goes to Ron Von Soosten for making this happen.
Location:
The City of Jacksonville operates a 300 unit campground with full hookups. It’s the Kathryn Abby Hanna Park. It’s located on the ocean, just south and east of the Mayport Naval Station. It’s a family orientated campground. Ocean front, has a lake for kayaking and fishing, hiking and dirt biking trails, playgrounds, etc. The beach is a five minute walk from the campground. Some pictures we took are at http://ldse.shutterfly.com/action/
Here is the website for Hanna Park.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Parks+and+Recreation/Recreation+Activities/Hanna+Park/default.htm
Date: January 13-16, 2006 ; the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. This will allow families with school age children to participate. You don’t have to stay for the entire time period if that doesn’t meet with your plans.
The Office has set aside a group of contiguous campsites for us to use but cannot guarantee there will not be an unrelated camper in our midst. Reservations are first come, first served. The earlier we all reserve a site the better our chances of all being able to camp together. The manager urges people to make reservations by December 1st to be reasonably certain of getting a nearby spot. A covered pavilion will be available for our communal Saturday night pot luck supper, morning coffee, etc. As long as we get ten reserved sites, we can also reserve, for free, the pavilion. Look on the on-line map of the campground. The “pavilion” is called the Amphitheater and it’s located between sites 162 and 176. I have made arrangements to temporarily assign sites 177 through 187 to our Lazy Daze group. These sites back onto a beautiful wooded area. Additional nearby sites 188 through 193 are also available. All sites are dirt and require leveling. Sites 188 through 193 are large pull-thru sites. I would suggest reserving one of these sites if you have not already registered. Some of these sites look large enough to be used for our morning coffee if the people occupying the site are agreeable ( need electric power for the coffee pots). As of this date, as best I know, sites 177 through 185 have been reserved. When you call for reservations, (904) 249-4700. Fax (904) 247-8688, be sure to tell them you’re with the Lazy Daze group so they assign you to one of “our” campsites. No on-line reservations. Phone call only. You are free to chose any non-reserved site.
Once you have reserved your site please let me know the site number. In early January I will send an e-mail with everyone’s name and site number.
General plan:
Friday. Check in. Ice cream social at 7 pm.
Saturday: morning coffee and finger foods. Evening Pot Luck supper. Details to follow. If anyone would like to coordinate the pot luck dinner, raise you electronic hand.
Sunday: morning coffee. Sunday night. We talked to the campground hosts and office staff about ideas & nearby good food places. There is a good Bar-B-Que place that has takeout, a good Wings place and the usual number of pizza joints. We saw one place that advertised fresh shrimp. Still in the idea stage. If someone has one of those big outdoor propane cookers we might be able to boil up some fresh shrimp and have shrimp and leftovers? There is also a Publix nearby where we could get a variety of carry-out foods. Ideas??
Monday: morning coffee. Brief meeting to discuss the Golden Caravan in Cheyenne and future meeting of the SE Lazy Daze Group. Give some thought to if you would like to host the next campout someplace in your neighborhood. Two per year? Three? Need to decide where we want to go from here.
Biographies:
When I attended the Northeast Group campout the hostess solicited a brief biography from all who would be there. What a great idea. Everyone got to know everyone in advance. Just your basic info: name, where from, kids/grandkids, pets, hobbies, retired, working for a living, special interests or any other generally interesting tidbits. If you have decided you’re coming, please e-mail me the bio. before January 1st so I’ll have time to put them into one document and e-mail it to everyone in a timely manner. My computer skills are minimal. If anyone wants to do this part let me know and everyone can e-mail their bios to you for distribution.
Carol & I will make simple name tags for all participants to wear. If you have name tag expertise, let me know and you’re welcomed to the job. J
Cost:
Everyone pays for their campsite of course. I was quoted a rate of $25.43/night based on a three night stay.
Modest donations for ice cream, coffee, etc. accepted. The daily morning coffee will consist of donated baked goods, fruit salad, or whatever you think appropriate. Make it or buy it; doesn’t matter.
Things we learned during our visit:
No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the campground. At least no public consumption thereof. Enforced.
Pets allowed. The official limit is two dogs per site. This rule is completely ignored and not enforced as best we could tell. Dogs are allowed on the beach. The leash law on the beach is ignored but it is enforced in the rest of the park.
If you have a fat tire bike, bring it. At low tide the sand is exposed and quite hard. You can ride along the beach for many miles.
This is a family campground. Bring the kids & grandkids. The sound of happy children and barking dogs can be heard well into the evening. J
If you are coming from north of Jacksonville via I-95, there is a ferry that crosses the St. John’s River. Called the Mayport Ferry. From I-95 go east on 9A to Heckscher Drive(Hwy 105) to the ferry. Saves drive time plus it’s probably a pretty ride. It will drop you off a few miles from Hanna Park.
If you’re coming in via Highway 10 (Atlantic Blvd.) you will pass an area with all the Big Box stores including a Super WalMart/gas station. Cheapest gas, $2.08/gal, we came across, plus a good area for supplies should you need any.
Bike helmets are required for kids under 16 by State law. Not enforced as best I could tell.
If you have never seen Florida ,BC (Before Condos), you will be amazed by Hanna Park. To get there, you drive through a very commercial part of Jacksonville. As soon as you turn into Hanna Park, you’re in the most beautiful area of mature oaks, palms, palmettos, etc. Wonderful bike and hiking trails wind through the hammocks.
If you like surf fishing, bring your stick. The beach is lined with fishermen.
Nearby Points of Interest:
St. Augustine is about 30 miles south.
Take the Mayport Ferry across the St. John’s River and visit Huguenot Memorial Park or Big and Little Talbot State Parks, Amelia Island S.P. or Fort Clinch S.P.
Web site/Yahoo SE LD Group?
If someone with the know how would like to setup and moderate a web site and/or a new Yahoo group, much like the existing LifeWithLazyDaze group, that would be super. We could use that site/group to coordinate and communicate about our meetings. Any volunteers?
Hope to see you there:
Ed & Carol Daniels
Questions?
My cell phone is 772-579-8130
etdcaw@yahoo.com
November 27, 2005.
Carol & I spent the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving at Hanna Park. This update reflects our visit.
Here is where we stand at this point.
The mailing by Lazy Daze on their letterhead about the new SE group has gone out to all buyers during the last three years who live in AL, FL, GA, SC and NC. Thanks goes to Ron Von Soosten for making this happen.
Location:
The City of Jacksonville operates a 300 unit campground with full hookups. It’s the Kathryn Abby Hanna Park. It’s located on the ocean, just south and east of the Mayport Naval Station. It’s a family orientated campground. Ocean front, has a lake for kayaking and fishing, hiking and dirt biking trails, playgrounds, etc. The beach is a five minute walk from the campground. Some pictures we took are at http://ldse.shutterfly.com/action/
Here is the website for Hanna Park.
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Parks+and+Recreation/Recreation+Activities/Hanna+Park/default.htm
Date: January 13-16, 2006 ; the Martin Luther King holiday weekend. This will allow families with school age children to participate. You don’t have to stay for the entire time period if that doesn’t meet with your plans.
The Office has set aside a group of contiguous campsites for us to use but cannot guarantee there will not be an unrelated camper in our midst. Reservations are first come, first served. The earlier we all reserve a site the better our chances of all being able to camp together. The manager urges people to make reservations by December 1st to be reasonably certain of getting a nearby spot. A covered pavilion will be available for our communal Saturday night pot luck supper, morning coffee, etc. As long as we get ten reserved sites, we can also reserve, for free, the pavilion. Look on the on-line map of the campground. The “pavilion” is called the Amphitheater and it’s located between sites 162 and 176. I have made arrangements to temporarily assign sites 177 through 187 to our Lazy Daze group. These sites back onto a beautiful wooded area. Additional nearby sites 188 through 193 are also available. All sites are dirt and require leveling. Sites 188 through 193 are large pull-thru sites. I would suggest reserving one of these sites if you have not already registered. Some of these sites look large enough to be used for our morning coffee if the people occupying the site are agreeable ( need electric power for the coffee pots). As of this date, as best I know, sites 177 through 185 have been reserved. When you call for reservations, (904) 249-4700. Fax (904) 247-8688, be sure to tell them you’re with the Lazy Daze group so they assign you to one of “our” campsites. No on-line reservations. Phone call only. You are free to chose any non-reserved site.
Once you have reserved your site please let me know the site number. In early January I will send an e-mail with everyone’s name and site number.
General plan:
Friday. Check in. Ice cream social at 7 pm.
Saturday: morning coffee and finger foods. Evening Pot Luck supper. Details to follow. If anyone would like to coordinate the pot luck dinner, raise you electronic hand.
Sunday: morning coffee. Sunday night. We talked to the campground hosts and office staff about ideas & nearby good food places. There is a good Bar-B-Que place that has takeout, a good Wings place and the usual number of pizza joints. We saw one place that advertised fresh shrimp. Still in the idea stage. If someone has one of those big outdoor propane cookers we might be able to boil up some fresh shrimp and have shrimp and leftovers? There is also a Publix nearby where we could get a variety of carry-out foods. Ideas??
Monday: morning coffee. Brief meeting to discuss the Golden Caravan in Cheyenne and future meeting of the SE Lazy Daze Group. Give some thought to if you would like to host the next campout someplace in your neighborhood. Two per year? Three? Need to decide where we want to go from here.
Biographies:
When I attended the Northeast Group campout the hostess solicited a brief biography from all who would be there. What a great idea. Everyone got to know everyone in advance. Just your basic info: name, where from, kids/grandkids, pets, hobbies, retired, working for a living, special interests or any other generally interesting tidbits. If you have decided you’re coming, please e-mail me the bio. before January 1st so I’ll have time to put them into one document and e-mail it to everyone in a timely manner. My computer skills are minimal. If anyone wants to do this part let me know and everyone can e-mail their bios to you for distribution.
Carol & I will make simple name tags for all participants to wear. If you have name tag expertise, let me know and you’re welcomed to the job. J
Cost:
Everyone pays for their campsite of course. I was quoted a rate of $25.43/night based on a three night stay.
Modest donations for ice cream, coffee, etc. accepted. The daily morning coffee will consist of donated baked goods, fruit salad, or whatever you think appropriate. Make it or buy it; doesn’t matter.
Things we learned during our visit:
No alcoholic beverages are permitted in the campground. At least no public consumption thereof. Enforced.
Pets allowed. The official limit is two dogs per site. This rule is completely ignored and not enforced as best we could tell. Dogs are allowed on the beach. The leash law on the beach is ignored but it is enforced in the rest of the park.
If you have a fat tire bike, bring it. At low tide the sand is exposed and quite hard. You can ride along the beach for many miles.
This is a family campground. Bring the kids & grandkids. The sound of happy children and barking dogs can be heard well into the evening. J
If you are coming from north of Jacksonville via I-95, there is a ferry that crosses the St. John’s River. Called the Mayport Ferry. From I-95 go east on 9A to Heckscher Drive(Hwy 105) to the ferry. Saves drive time plus it’s probably a pretty ride. It will drop you off a few miles from Hanna Park.
If you’re coming in via Highway 10 (Atlantic Blvd.) you will pass an area with all the Big Box stores including a Super WalMart/gas station. Cheapest gas, $2.08/gal, we came across, plus a good area for supplies should you need any.
Bike helmets are required for kids under 16 by State law. Not enforced as best I could tell.
If you have never seen Florida ,BC (Before Condos), you will be amazed by Hanna Park. To get there, you drive through a very commercial part of Jacksonville. As soon as you turn into Hanna Park, you’re in the most beautiful area of mature oaks, palms, palmettos, etc. Wonderful bike and hiking trails wind through the hammocks.
If you like surf fishing, bring your stick. The beach is lined with fishermen.
Nearby Points of Interest:
St. Augustine is about 30 miles south.
Take the Mayport Ferry across the St. John’s River and visit Huguenot Memorial Park or Big and Little Talbot State Parks, Amelia Island S.P. or Fort Clinch S.P.
Web site/Yahoo SE LD Group?
If someone with the know how would like to setup and moderate a web site and/or a new Yahoo group, much like the existing LifeWithLazyDaze group, that would be super. We could use that site/group to coordinate and communicate about our meetings. Any volunteers?
Hope to see you there:
Ed & Carol Daniels
Questions?
My cell phone is 772-579-8130
etdcaw@yahoo.com
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