#Summer2026 - Exploring Ft. Wilderness and Boat Rides.

Today was our explore day.

I had some work to do for summer class, and so while working there had breakfast.  Throughout the day we rode bikes around, visited The Meadows area of the campground, and generally enjoyed being here.   Dad had to take Brandon his car as they checked out of Universal Studios today and moved into Port Orleans Riverside. 

As for us we took the boat to the Magic Kingdom dock to see how Dad's scooter would load, then went to the Grand Floridian hotel to look around.  Mom and Dad headed back while we took the monorail to the Contemporary for the cake we didn't buy last night.  We sat in the lounge and visited with a nice bartender from Puerto Rico.  We had the Chocolate cake (split) and Sadie wanted the creme brulee.

Then boat hopping again to Wilderness Lodge.  Their AC was out, but aside from Fort Wilderness, Wilderness Lodge is the hotel we could see ourselves staying in with its Yellowstone/Western theming. 

Steph decided to take Ferg to the dog park and I went too.  I didn't take the keys out since we were right there, but a man accidently drove away with the golf cart.  Camp personnel helped me get it back; honest mistake.  

We came back to ride the bikes around and cooked sausages in charcoal. Mom and Dad went to Disney Springs and got very tired.  They asked us to pick them up at the entrance, then went back to The Meadows for ice cream.  A bit more riding then off to bed.  Tomorrow - Magic Kingdom.

NOTE - I guess I didn't take many pictures today. 😜

#Summer2026, Day 4 - Silver Springs and arrival at Fort Wilderness

So last night didn't provide a good night's sleep.

Just before bed the AC stopped cooling.  The filters were a bit dirty but not enough to cut off the air flow.  We went to bed with fans.  Around 2 am, however, it started to cool when the compressor kicked on.

We got up at 6 am again, had breakfast and went to Silver Springs for the glass bottom boat ride.  The captain was Captain Claudia, and I recognized her from a fishing trip Dad and I took last time in Marathon.  She said she could afford to live better up here in Central Florida. 

The park was beautiful!

while leaving we called Mom and Dad, and the site next to them at Ft. wilderness opened up, so we got loaded and hooked up and headed to Disney.  

It was much hotter here, but were soon checked in and parked.  After a quick late lunch we went to the trading post and Sadie wanted to see the Tri-Circle D Ranch, where the horses live.

The ranch also has the Caliope used for years in Disney parades.  

We got back, rested, and then crossed the lake by boat to The Contemporary where we had reservations at Steakhouse 71.  It was an awesome meal, and worth the experience!

We were also able to get Mom and Dad into our reservations, so they joined us!

Then we rode the monorails loop, came back, and went to the beach at Fort Wilderness for the water parade and fireworks.  A good end to the day!

#Summer2026 (Day 3): To Silver Springs State Park

June 21

Today was stressful.  After a peaceful cup of coffee in Pensacola we set out.  Storms were on the horizon and we hoped to beat them.  However, we drove with those stormson top of us all day.  The rains quit around 4 pm.

I will say Florida has it down with rest areas!

Finding gas was difficult on this stretch of I-10 because you couldn't see the stations from the interstate.  We got gas at a Sunoco at one point, but had to wait too long because a rude family parked in the end spot and took their time shopping, etc.  We moved to an unoccupied pump and was gone before the dad ever started pumping gas. 

We stopped for a stretch and sandwich around Lake City, and when we got back on the highway found ourselves in a backup due to a wreck in the rain.  It was brief, however, and were soon heading south on I-75. 

The rain began to clear a bit out of Ocala, which happened to be near our destination.  A lot of horses and barns and expensive properties here.  Marrion County has more horses per capita than any other county in the US.

We arrived at Silver Springs and visited with a friendly gate attendant/ranger.  We were soon set up.  The sites have water and electric, and are very spacious.  There is also a nice bath house with laundry machines.  

Since lunch was late we went to publics for breakfast items and a few other things (key lime pie cookies!) and gas.  Once back at camp we cooked sausage and sauerkraut on the electric skilled.  Then we walked to the historic village just down from camp.

Tomorrow at 9 am we have reservations to take the glass bottom boat ride in the Silver River and the springs.  Should be fun!

Then on to Fort Wilderness.

#Summer 2026 On the Road to Avalon Landing

We left Vidalia at 8 am.

Before that I walked the levy to the bridge 1.5 miles round trip) and Stephanie walked Ferg.  A quick breakfast and we hit the road since rain and storms were building.

The rain chased us all day!

We made more stops to stretch today, but arrived at Avalon Landing around 2:30, got set up, and headed for Navarre Beach and was seated at Windjammers by 4 pm.

Windjammers was right on the beach near the pier and there was a large free parking lot there as well.  We were seated quickly.  I ordered blackened redfish and fries and a bushwhacker cocktail.  Steph had redfish tacos (huge!) and Sadie had fried shrimp.  They were so large she only ate 4 of 8.  We all split a slice of key lime pie.  Not as good as South Florida, but still.

We decided to drive the island back to Pensacola and that took us through part of the national seashore.  We walked the beach a bit - much quieter than Navarre.  Then we drove to the Fort Pickens section for our America the Beautiful pass but the gatehouse was unmanned.  

So back to camp after getting fuel ($3.39/gal), Walked the dog, and sat by the water.  Sadie and Steph gave me a Fathers Day gift a day early.  So fun!

LED dice!

Tomorrow we leave for Silver Springs.  It is about 360 miles.  

#Summer2026 - Disney Trip, Day 1 (Natchez, MS)

This one started willd!  Earlier this week we were at a horse show with just a few days turn around before we left again.  As such we left the RV plugged in and fridge on.  Then yesterday we discovered that earlier in the day, while packing, the door popped open.  While nothing ruined (we hope!) it worried us, so a little research and a reboot, and we got the compressor running.

Storms were predicted overnight so we decided to finish packing and hooking up in the morning, vowing to leave whenever we could but not stress out about it.

We rolled out at 8:35 am.

Those storms that were supposed to come through were slower than predicted, and we outran them all day. 

First stop was Joaquin, Texas, for gas.  We were just under half a tank.  Gas was $3.39/gal.  

I drove the whole way but that was fine.  No one was hungry for lunch, so we didn't stop again until a bit farther on to stretch at a Love's near Boyce, LA.  We arrived at Vidalia, LA, around 4pm. 

 Storms were predicted for 5-ish, so I filled up at a Racetrack ($3.19/gal) and returned to organize the camper and fix supper, which consisted on leftover pulled pork tacos. 

It started to rain a little after 6 pm

This campground is right on the Mississippi River.  We stayed here before, 3 years ago on our last trip to the Florida Keys.  We liked it enough to return even for an overnight.  

After a quick meal and the rain we walked a bit on the levy.  

Our plan: leave out around 8 am tomorrow.  On to Pensacola!

#Summer2026 begins

This is going to be a busy one! 

Plans are made and preparations beging soon.

So a relaxing sunset is just the ticket!  Have a great day, y'all!

Spring Break - Day 6 and 7

  March 19.

Today was our last day before heading home tomorrow.  It was a busy one.

Quick breakfast then off to the park.  We hiked the Cataract Falls trail.  Valerie, Michael, Mom and Dad all walked it.  

Then to the Metcalf Bottoms Trail to the Walker Sisters cabin.  At the end of it, we had walked 4 miles, with a total of 5 miles or so today.  

We also saw Brandon and his family on the trail, them coming as we were going. 

We took the bypass around Gatlinburg and settled in to relax a bit.  We started packing also as tomorrow we leave for home. Leftovers for supper in order to clean out the fridge a bit.

This was the last time to enjoy the hot tub, but it was really hot tonight.  Mom came over to visit for a bit, and they went back to the Old Mill restaurant with Brandon.  They apparently serve much larger portions in the evening (and lunch is already huge, at that).

March 20. 

We set the alarm for 5:30 and we're on the road by 7 am.  Michael and Valerie are going to Cincinnati to see her sister, so we said our goodbyes.  

Gas is high due to the Iranian situation, but we found gass for $2.99 at Casey's in Pigeon Forge.  We didn't need gas as this truck has a 36 gal tank, but it held 6.6 gallons.  That will almost get us home.

I drove and Stephanie navigated.  Mom showed I-40 closed due to an accident so we hit some back roads.  One took us over a really pretty lake.

Steph took over in I-840 around Nashville and planned to drive to Parker's Crossroads where we could picnic.

We stopped at a rest area with picnic tables for lunch but everyone else ate in the car, moving on.  We didn't stay long but long enough to get our second wind.  I drove through Memphis.

We didn't need gas but I needed a rest so we filled up the tank.  Steph then drove through Little Rock until we got to the Okolona rest area.  I drove from there to Texarkana.  Construction was crazy, and it took a while to get to the Raising Cane's.  But we did.  Are and rolled on.

We took 19 thru Athens; the rest went through Dallas.  We beat them home as there was strange police activity in the city.  Our route was uneventful except for a wrecked truck around the Corsicana loop.  

Home at 11:05 pm.

Trip totals below: