Van made it to USA

Brilliant thread,enjoy reading every page. Well written and thought out. Thank you for posting.
Cheers. David
 
Very interested and impressed- we aspire to do this after meeting seabridge at NEC in October .. thanks for sharing
 
Hurricane Michael
We always planned the coastal route from New Orleans to Florida Keys which necessitated driving through the destruction caused only two months ago.Having never experienced or seen the aftermath of a hurricane it was a shock to see the power unleashed.
We decided to boondock (free camp) in the badly hit town of Port St Joe to spend some money on the few businesses now back up and running.
Using the shops,deisel and a restaurant every little helps.Christmas lights are going up and the children were visiting Santa in the street having lost his grotto.Life goes on.IMG-20181211-WA0006.jpgIMG_20181211_181906.jpgIMG_20181211_184325.jpgIMG_20181211_170104.jpgIMG_20181211_184420.jpg
 
Good read, had a taste of America 50 years ago, would love to do what you are doing, alas too late and my wife has no desire to visit the USA.
 
Arrived on site for seven nights here at Bradenton , Sarasota, Florida.Paid 300 dollars and concerned how good it would be considering many USA sites are rubbish.
Landed on our feet.Swimming pool,hot tub,sports facilities and lots of social activities. Unfortunately it's been raining IMG_20181215_190842.jpgIMG_20181215_191050.jpgIMG_20181215_190700.jpgIMG_20181215_190927.jpglast two days since our arrival.They are really getting in to the Xmas spirit here on site.
 
Visited the very interesting Ringling Legazy.John Ringling made a fortune of 200 million by 1920 from his travelling circus.When he died he had 340 dollars in the bank !
Consisting of his mansion Ca'D'Zan ,a large art gallery housing famous artist's including Ruebens and a fascinating museum on his circus days.The circus employed 1,300 to entertain and move the "town" every 24 hrs on the 150 rail carriages.
The afternoon used to visit Siesta Key with its white quartz beach.Lovely beach but no restaurants or bars for the miles of Condo's.IMG_20181217_174946.jpgIMG_20181217_174624.jpg
 
Nearly dark,getting golf carts ready for the campsite Xmas parade here in Florida.IMG_20181218_174838.jpg
 
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Homestead, Florida 20 December

Left the Sarasota site after a week's stay.A four hour drive according to Google maps but always takes longer with breaks and points of interest.
Apart from visiting Marco Island for nostalgic reasons the main interest laid in driving through the Everglades NP on the 41.
Not many roads have alligators basking along the roadside water.
Overnight at Home Depot (B&Q) on the mainland before we set off tomorrow on the famous US 1 along the 100 mile chain of islands to Key West.
Pouring ,outside 20 inside 30 Deg .STICKYIMG_20181220_190850.jpgIMG_20181220_154209.jpg
 
In the spirit of motorhome exploration I have set myself the task of trying the food in all these American restaurant chains.With less than a month left I should have started earlier.
They are in every town and on numerous billboards so what the heck,it's America .
Have so far-
Cracker Barrel -strange concoctions
Golden Coral - value buffet all type food
McDonald - sausage muffin ,yummy
Burger King - so,so burger
Steak and Shake - cheap but nice burger
Panda- Chinese ,returned,skin more than chicken
Waffle House ,cheap,enjoyed with maple syrup

So many left to do ! Suggestions ?IMG_20181220_201631.jpgIMG_20181213_211532.jpg
 
Makes me feel ill just reading the menu.
Every time we went to USA , it always ended in me needing gastric tablets, that’s how poor the food they serve is.
Hence our own van, like you, gives control and quality.
 
Makes me feel ill just reading the menu.
Every time we went to USA , it always ended in me needing gastric tablets, that’s how poor the food they serve is.
Hence our own van, like you, gives control and quality.
And beans on toast in van
 
A long and windy drive today along the US 1 through the keys to Big Pine Key.Some seriously long bridges connecting the islands.
We have got lucky again in our choice of campsite.After expensive quotes for a week's camping in the keys I found online this small site not in any of my camping books.
For a quarter of the cost to other sites we had low expectations.They trusted us to arrive with no deposit as they don't take credit cards.
Greeted by the snowbirds like old friends.Helping to pitch up ,offers of a beer and within two hours of arrival sitting with the group for "Happy Hour" at 5 pm .Later at 7pm we all met for a full moon walk followed by ice cream and a movie in the temporary clubhouse using a static with internal walls removed.The original was destroyed in the hurricane.
They already have us signed up for Xmas lunch
and other planned get togethers including present swapping on Xmas eve.
We had hoped to find a small friendly place for our Xmas week rather than a large site .
Most are here for 4/5 months .IMG_20181219_122801.jpgIMG-20181221-WA0000.jpg
 
Big Pine Key. 22 December
The weather has at long last started to improve.The sun is out and only light winds.A walking and cycling day today exploring our Island.
There are many Key Deer around with no fear of humans,just interested in the food.Saw four fighting over a pizza from upturned bin.Large fines if caught feeding them.
Off now to the camp happy hour group at 4.30 pm.IMG_20181222_141629.jpgIMG_20181222_141456.jpgIMG_20181222_141304.jpg
 
You have too try the I HOP 16oz T bone breakfast comes with three eggs hash browns and never ending jug of coffee. You can spot them a mile away the one with the blue roof.
 
Key West 23 Dec
We are 30 miles north of Key West.Advise from the tourist office was to visit today because after Xmas the tourists will quadruple.We parked the van in Sears carpark just outside.
Only here have we seen other scooters being used.It was usefull to get around with easy parking.
Crowds everywhere including Hemingway's House.The harbour walk and busy Duval St not so crowded untill we came to the Southernmost Point in the USA.A long queue just to take your picture at the marker.Finished the day off with more crowds at Mallory Square for its popular sunset .Can not imagine how manic this place will get in a few days time .The locals on warpath very cortical shops overchargeing.IMG_20181223_162543.jpgIMG_20181223_152923.jpgIMG_20181223_153234.jpgIMG_20181223_210738.jpgIMG_20181223_153629.jpgIMG_20181223_210758.jpg
 

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