Camping Along Memory Lane

With the holidays and 6 weeks of life indoors behind me, it was time to hit the road and return to tent life.  Yet, I was feeling both pandemic trepidation (oy, Florida) and nostalgic that this may be my final winter trolling along in this busy, crazy state.  So I opted for familiar places, not only for safety, but to revisit some of my favorite spots. The plan now is to point north, and (Mother Nature permitting), visit the Georgia canyons in March as I'd planned back in 2020.  My first stop is Stuart along the Okeechobee Waterway. 

---

It was grand to pull up to the gate, see a smiling face, and hear, "You've been here before!". "Yes Cathy, quite a few times," and with that, I was happy to be back.  The location, the bike routes, and the little library boxes were welcoming even when the thunderstorms and temps in the '30s were challenging! 

The biggest surprise was that the lock was under repair and closed -- so, no boats sailing in from the lake. While I missed this usual activity, it also meant less people were out and about; though I enjoyed conversation with a local who had me pondering Panama and Water Island, and shared books! The biggest surprise was the number of people from California, Nevada, Idaho and Colorado among the less-than-a-dozen RV campsites throughout the week. Based on a few chats,  they are here buying a winter and/or a permanent spot.  Where am I going to hide?  

---

It was then a comfortable 70-mile drive north to Sebastian Inlet, a place that's always been dear to me.  While my last visit was tainted by tourists, it was a good idea to head here for the cold January nights, and indeed it felt like old times all week long.  The diehards were out -- surfers, fishermen, a touring cyclist, and in general, lovers of the great outdoors. We were a waving, nodding, chatty community of people with the ocean and lagoon at our doorstep. 

I'd called a month or more ahead to get my favorite, private spot, and during the week I had three glorious days in the 70s for walking, reading and napping on the beach. At best, a half-dozen other folks joined me each day. Strangely, a gal approached me one day, asked if I drove a Honda Element, and said we'd met here in 2015! "Yes Elizabeth, I'm still living out of my car!"     

While the surrounding area continues to develop lot by lot,  this little slice of preservation remains a special place. 

---

Weather brought a change of plans as predictions for night temps in the 20s kept me from pushing 150 miles north! So, I visited another old standby in the town of Sebastian where there were nearly a dozen of us crazy folks! In 4 days, I did get to bike through town twice, read two books, and pat myself on the back as my next planned stop was indoors. The first night, I was tucked in like a bug in a rug as I awoke to a light frost covering, then stayed sheltered for most of the 22 hours of on-and-off showers.  Through it all, the tent stayed dry and for the most part, so did I! 

I've now retreated to Gainesville for most of February.