Thursday, April 30, 2015

Driving Across the Everglades

Driving Across the Everglades San Angelo, TX, Library

    There are two routes across the Everglades. The northernmost, which is a toll-road extension of I-75 and is also know as "Alligator Alley." The southernmost, which is a continuation of US41, the main highway south along the western coast of Florida, runs from Naples to the Miami Metropolitan Area. I chose the latter hoping to get better photos than from Alligator Alley. [Photos taken 6 May 2015]

 

    I thought I saw some fish; so I took another photo. A school of about 10 brownish fish is barely visible to the lower left of the reflected cloud just above the top of the white tules on this side of the canal or waterway.

 

 

 

    There aren't a lot of trees in the everglades, but here's a shot taken farther along US41 which does include a small tree.
    But the everglades are the only place where you'll see panther or crocodile crossings!!

 

 

 

 

    Here's all that's left of Monroe Junction; it apparently didn't keep pace with other similar enterprises which drew tourists to see their live alligator(s).

 

 

 

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Links:

Routes:

Su 17 May Actual Route: I-10 Rest Area - Monticello, FL - Thomasville,GA,- Albany - Eufala, AL, - Montgomery W/M

M 18 May Actual Route: Montgomery W/M - Selma - Demopolis - I-20 - Mississippi Rest Area

T 19 May Actual Route: Miss Rest Area - Meridian - Jackson - Vicksburg - Monroe, LA

W 20 May Actual Route: Monroe, LA, W/M - Shreveport, LA - Tyler, TX - Corsicana W/M

Th 21 May Actual Route: Corsicana, TX, W/M - Fairfield - Mexia - Waco - Brownwood - Ballinger, TX, W/M

F 22 May Actual Route: Balliner, TX, W/M - San Angelo - WTX RV Rpr

Sa 23 May Actual Route: WTX RV Rpr - Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr Sherwood Way W/M

Su 24 May Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

M 25 May Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Dollar Tree - Big Lots Sherwood Way W/M

T 26 May Route: Sherwood Way W/M - W TX RV Rpr - Lib - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.

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Saturday, April 25, 2015

Florida's West Coast

Florida's West Coast Naranja, FL, Library

    Because of its heavier population the east coast of Florida seems to receive the most publicity. However, parts of the west coast are just as scenic.

 

    I stopped for lunch in my camper near Palmetto at a Manatee County Park. Although I did drive north on US41 during the Christmas holidays in 1961 while on a three-day pass, I'm certain the multi-story buildings were not there then.

 

 

 

 

 

    Panning right, there are a few more high-rise buildings on the coast.

 

 

 

 

    Panning right again, there don't appear to be more beach-front condos. However, I did see a sign as I left the parking area for the baseball diamond which spoke of yet another high-rise. Though it's unlikely it would be built this far from the beach, that was the impression I got.

 

 

    At Port Charlotte I made a spur-of-the-moment trip to the water's edge even though there wasn't much room to park. It's unclear whether the property owner has to maintain the vegetation from his property to the water. As you can see, some of those areas are quite large.

 

 

 

 

    Panning right...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Panning right again I discovered afterward that the earth might have tilted. [:-)>]

 

 

 

 

 

 

    A final shot of the Port Charlotte Bay.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Fort Myers offered a scenic view as US41 ran along one of its beaches.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Panning right includes some picturesque clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

    More clouds.

 

 

 

 

 

    One final look from a Fort Myers beach. If you're plush, my guess is that the high-rises are hotels; and if your wallet is as thin as mine, you can always have a picnic lunch at one of the tables in the foreground when the weather is good.

 

 

 

 

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Links:

Routes:

F 15 May Actual Route: Cocoa W/M - Orlando - Lady Lake W/M

Sa 16 May Actual Route: Lady Lake W/M - Williston McDs - Perry W/M - I-10 Rest Area

Su 17 May Actual Route: I-10 Rest Area - Monticello, FL - Thomasville,GA,- Albany - Eufala, AL, - Montgomery W/M

M 18 May Actual Route: Montgomery W/M - Selma - Demopolis - I-20 - Mississippi Rest Area

T 19 May Actual Route: Miss Rest Area - Meridian - Jackson - Vicksburg - Monroe, LA

W 20 May Actual Route: Monroe, LA, W/M - Shreveport, LA - Tyler, TX - Corsicana W/M

Th 21 May Actual Route: Corsicana, TX, W/M - Fairfield - Mexia - Waco - Brownwood - Ballinger, TX, W/M

F 22 May Actual Route: Ballinger, TX, W/M - San Angelo - WTX RV Rpr

Sa 23 May Actual Route: WTX RV Rpr - Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

Su 24 May Actual Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

Su 25 May Route: Sherwood Way W/M - Visitor Ctr - Sherwood Way W/M

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Jefferson's Monticello

Jefferson's Monticello North Port, FL, Library

    The title of this post is deliberately misleading; that is, the post is not about Jefferson's estate in Virginia but rather about Monticello, the county seat of Jefferson County on the northern border of Florida.
    I was particularly impressed by not only the newer houses in and around Monticello were but also by how well-kept the older houses were. In other words, I saw no lawns with every vehicle the owner ever owned and used. [I'm sure a neighbor would have said, "John, parking your tractor and old Dodge Dart there looks so schlock.]

 

 

 

    Here's the Jefferson County Court House as seen from the east.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Directly across the street from where I took the above photo was Farmers & Merchants Bank.

 

 

 

 

[Return to the top of the page]
Links:

Routes:

Su 26 Apr Actual Route: Quincy W/M - Tallahassee W/M - I-10 Rest Area

M 27 Apr Actual Route: I-10 Rest Area - Live Oak Lib - P.O. - Walmart

T 28 Apr Actual Route: Live Oak Walmart - Lowe's - Live Oak W/M

W 29 Apr Actual Route: Live Oak Walmart - Lowe's - Gainesville, FL, VA Hosp - Walmart

Th 30 Apr Actual Route: Live Oak Walmart - VA Hosp - Ocala I-75 Rest Area

F 1 May Actual Route: Ocala I-75 Rest Area - Inverness Lib - Floral City Lib - Lutz Walmart

Sa 2 May Actual Route: Lutz W/M - Lutz Br Lib - Walmart

Su 3 May Actual Route: Lutz W/M - Lutz Br Lib - Tampa - North Port Walmart

M 4 May Actual Route: North Port W/M - North Port Br Lib - Tampa - North Port W/M

T 5 May Actual Route: North Port W/M - Port Charlotte - Fort Myers - Naples W/M

W 6 May Actual Route: Naples W/M - Monroe Jcn - Homestead - Florida City W/M - Hm Depot

Finding Campgrounds:

N.B. I receive nothing from Trailer Life, Woodalls, or FreeCampsites.net for including links to their free campground lookups.

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