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Herschel is continuing to explore more of FL. We stayed over night at the Sumter Oaks RV Park that is run by the Escapees. When ever I stop at an Escapees park it is like going to stay with family...they have to take you and the price is reasonable. This park is much smaller than the one outside Mobile but very quiet.


From here we headed down I75 past Tampa and then headed over to look at the fancy boats and trees along Rt 41. The state parks were full so as we headed across the Tamiami Rt 42 we stayed at Monument Lake. Here is a picture of the site that the rangers suggested that I leave due to the alligator sitting next to the bank waiting to come up and clean up the food that the officers had thrown out.


Here is the handsome alligator himself.


And, yes, he was still hanging around the next morning.


"I stay right here next to the RV, right? I promise not to even look at the lake. You might have to remind the Izzy pup," says Remi


Herschel enjoys the morning view on the other side of the road away from the lake.....



The view out across small lake in the early morning.


The alligators at the visitor center down the road.


AIR BOAT RIDE Now I just want to ask...Do all Air Boat vendors claim to have the air boat from the CSI Miami credits and direct the tourist to look at the boat sitting off under trees to the left...with the naked lady on the back? ...and say that the filming was done there? Oh, well...I think I may have heard the sound of the credits above the roar of the boat.....and the bad alligator jokes of the tour guide......




The river of grass.....




One view of the Atlantic as I drove down the Keys......



Now we are heading up the east coast and planning to meet up with Carolyn so that she can get OT back and we can maybe go explore some GA swamps ...after I stop at a Walmart or auto store to replace the gas cap I left at the last gas station......I was getting tired and concentrating on the maps and where I should call to find a place to stay.........

OH, OH, Herschel, Izzy, and Remi coming to GA!!! Oh, yeah, Tina and Carolyn, too..... If you plan to travel up I95 exit off on exit 90 and come visit us!!! Ft. McAlister State Park is really close and Savannah Oaks RV Resort is too.....We're full up here, so can't get ya' in here, but will give phone numbers or do the reservations for ya', if you'd like.....Just give me a YELL!!!!! We can do Savannah......

Did you look under the RV in the morning before letting the dogs out? I would have worried about the gator hiding underneath waiting to chomp, chomp...

Your photos always look so nice and clear! What kind of camera do you have?

Barb

Great pics and story Tina. So glad you didn't have to wrestle that alligator!

I was excited to hear from you and know that I'll have a buddy to do the Okefenokee Swamp with. Saw on the website that we can't take our furbabies with us. It will be fun even if it is scheduled to rain on Thurs. Won't be the first time we have taken a hike in the rain. LOL

we have the same kind of dim wits in the west only they attract bears!!! got to shake your head in wonderment at what will they do next to wreck it for others
glad that you are safe and on to other sites and fun
sheila

Wonderful Wonderful photos. would keep those furbabies close with all those crocks around.

Mostly I worried after dark....spent some time flashing the light back and forth LOOKING VERY CAREFULLY before exiting the rig The rangers expected him to come up after dark to get more of the goodies. They really didn't expect him to come up to our sites since we had moved two sites over...but he may have heard about some small gray fuzzy thing that likes to come out and pee at 10 pm......so I wasn't taking any chances...

Tina, do you belong to Escapees...I'm guessing yes. Do you stay on their parks often? Pros & Cons?

Tina, don't know about the CSI airboats, but several places we visited in the 70s displayed and claimed to have the original boat from the film African Queen, with Humphrey Bogart and Katherine Hepburn!

wow, look at the alligators!!
I'd be just like a little kid to see something for real that I'd never seen before.
Seeing them in the zoo just isn't the same thing as seeing them in the wild.

I went to one of the Escapees rallys the first year after I got my first rig.....Lots of interesting seminars and I met a few people....there were lots of couples......but there is a solo group, too. I use the Knoxville Raccoon Valley park a lot coming to and from Charlotte, NC...well I did before the land slide on I 40...... The parks are no competition to the beautiful state parks but the people have always be very nice and welcoming...... I was really impressed with hearing about their CARE Center in Livingston, TX.....Just nice to know that there are places like that.......

avalen wrote:wow, look at the alligators!!
Seeing them in the zoo just isn't the same thing as seeing them in the wild.

Personally, I'd rather see them in a zoo, than in the wild. At least at a zoo, there is a fence between us!

Barbie

avalen wrote:wow, look at the alligators!!
I'd be just like a little kid to see something for real that I'd never seen before.
Seeing them in the zoo just isn't the same thing as seeing them in the wild.

Take a closer look Ava! CHOMP! CHOMP!

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I held one, once. It was about 1 1/2' to 2' long. Really heavy, and STINK...I couldn't wash the smell off my hands. YUCK!

Did anyone notice poor Remi - the look on his face. I was going to doctor up his picture, but I just couldn't do it to that little sweetheart!

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