Vixen Motorhomes

Had a chance to meet our neighbors this morning before we left the park.  Last night three cars came in and parked right across the street from us, just to the “picture left” of that class A in the above picture.  They were, needless to say, very loud, rude and obnoxious.  They all pulled out very early this morning, made me wonder if they even paid or not.  Anyway, there are at least four of these Vixen Motorhomes in the park….I guess they are having a club meeting or something.  So as I introduced myself this morning I said, “Boy, I have heard about how rowdy you Vixen owners can be.”  He looked up with a startle, then realized I was being factious.  He said, “Oh, they were a bit loud…especially that motorcycle that went around and around the park so late.”  Ya, Marcia had told me about the motorcycle….but I was out…didn’t hear it at all.

Here is another Vixen.  There were only 587 Vixen Motorhomes, three different styles, built between 1986 and 1989.  My “neighbor” had owned his for 24 years…not sure if he was original owner or not.  He told me how the Vixen Owners Association started, and how for the first five to ten years or so that when they gathered, various members would share their information about the engine upkeep, electrical systems, water systems, etc. since the Vixen Company no longer existed.  He said that they had driven their Vixen through nearly every state, up into Canada, and had never had a major problem with it.

  

Above are two more of the Vixens which were in our general vicinity.  Brand new back in the late 80’s the Vixen cost around $45,000.  “IF” you can buy one today that was in pretty good condition, it would put you back by about $20,000.  If you want to read a good history about them I would suggest this Vixen Site, and Wikipedia. 

We made it back to the condo around 1 pm.  It was an easy, fun trip, and we all enjoyed it.  Nice having the four of us together again….I think our next trip will start on March 2nd, probably going to try and get in over at E.G. Simmons Park for Monday through Friday.  They don’t take reservations, but I figure if we stay in the Rest Area along I-75 near there, we could have a good shot of being one of the first ones in line for a spot.  Speaking of Florida Rest Areas….the rest areas we have stayed at have not had signs that either of have seen prohibiting or limiting how long one can stay.  I have seen signs at a very small rest area along I-10 that have very limited numbers of parking places..  Technically, their website says you can stay for 3 hours.  The Feds have asked the State of Florida, and other states, to not have restrictions shorter than ten hours at Interstate rest areas.  I am told it just gives them the right to remove those who camping there every night.  As far as I am concerned, federal money was spent in building the Interstate System, including the rest areas….they are there to rest, and every once in awhile, that is what we will do as long as we feel it is safe.  And in Florida, if the rest area is open at night, there is an armed guard standing watch.

Look Here–Look There–Why I Should Not Hike Alone

“Look at those birds over there”, she says.  “Where?”  “Log??”  “What color??? White!”

“Oh, there…”  [look close, they are in the first picture too]

“Over there…got to get that turtle for you sister Sandy.”  “Where?”  “Grass??”  “Sure it is a turtle???”

“Oh, there…yep, she will like that picture.”

Yep, Marcia was able to make the path today.  The GoGo did very well, got stuck once but it was an easy fix.  Starting at Parking Lot 3, it was not very long before we got to the bridge.  She reminded me that I needed to smell the air, to take it a little slower, and take time to look around.  We decided to leave the dogs in the motorhome…the temps were in the mid-70’s and we just left the vent fan on and a few windows open.  They did fine…but they would have enjoyed being along….but it was best that they stayed, and it ended up being a good decision.

Same bridge as yesterday, from the different side.  Yes, there is a couple on the bridge.

It took a bit of time, and I walked right by it, but we did find “the tree”.  This is from the ground looking up…and the limbs and leaves above right are from this tree.  It is like it something from one of those “living dead” creepy movies.

And she wanted me to get a picture of this Spanish Moss covered tree.  She always tell me how the Spanish Moss is really a slow killer to the trees it lands on.  Yep, this one looks pretty dead to me.

While we were admiring the “Tree from the Living Dead”,  a very nice couple from Wisconsin walked by and in our conversation they told us about an alligator on the other side of the river down pass the next boardwalk.  “You can’t see its head because of how it is positioned,” they said.

Well, that’s the advantage of going instead of coming…since we knew it was there, we could keep looking back at it until the full view opened up.

At the bend in the river I wanted to get a panoramic view of the bend.  Just then, while I had the camera down and off, Marcia says, “Look at this Heron flying along the river…”  By the time I got the camera on and in position I did get one shot….but not the quality that I wanted.  Lucky for you, it landed further down the river, and YES, Marcia saw it first, and I got these pictures below.

Again….  “Look on that log”   “What log?”  “What kind of bird??”  “What side of the river???”

“Oh, that log…..”   We walk on up the river towards the “Big Rapids”.

As we sit there at an area where one can sit on a bench and enjoy the river, the Heron moves over near us….

What’s that you say Mr. Heron?   Yep, you are right….I’m darn lucky to have Marcia along, just think what I would have missed….

Oh, and she even saw the first flowers of the early Florida Spring too….   So we left from parking lot #3, and we came out at parking lot #2.  I have about a 4/10ths of a mile walk to the car parked in the next lot.  After yesterday’s hike, and now todays hike, my mind got to thinking.  Now I know you all wish I had a picture of this…but you are just going to have to use your own imagination.   As we got out onto the bike path, I asked her to turn her seat 180 degrees so that she faced the wrong way.  I adjusted the steering column a bit, and stood up leaning on the back of her seat and that little GoGo became the Little Train that Could.  Now you know why it turned out to be a good idea that we did not bring the dogs.  The GoGo carried us well over half way to the car…but when Marcia said, “There is a big Class A headed down the road…” I decided to stop and walk the rest of the way.  Besides, the ride was a pleasant break.  And no, the GoGo did not break….had it, I would probably be writing this from the HHR where I am sure I would have to sleep the night away…..

Hillsborough River State Park

It is always nice to be back in the RV, especially when we have the dogs with us.  Hillsborough River State Park is one of the eight original Florida State Parks created in 1938.  The sites are very close together, and many of the sites are very small.  We are here for two nights, and then back to the condo.  Since it is only 45 miles from where we live, and just a couple miles south of the county boarder of Pasco in which we live, it seemed to be a good place to come for just a few nights.  With the Florida Senior savior price of $14.50 per night, heck, it is a good deal.

    

When I registered I saw sites of varying lengths, from 20’ to 50’.  Well, if it says 20’, believe them…it is only 20’.  There are, as you can see, a wide range.  The 20’-25’ sights were full of tent campers and vans, and a small truck camper too.

The person above was really struggling trying to get his trailer into his slot.  I waited patiently in the car for him to finish…after about six or seven tries, he finally got it in…but his truck was still blocking the street…..so I backed up until I could turn around.  He did not look like a very happy camper…what a way to start his camping trip off.  But he was not the only one we saw struggling…the 5th wheel right across from us took about six or seven tries too…with “him” yelling at “her” and “her” yelling back at “him”.  They are from Michigan…probably down for the winter.  One time he got out, went back to look and giver her more instructions, and it did not seem that his camping trip was starting off right either.  About an hour after they got set up, I saw him head over to the showers area….and thirty minutes he came back as happy as could be.  Hmmm….I wonder if he was told to “go take a shower and come back happy, or don’t come back at all.”

Skruffy was with me as did our drive around the 115 camping spots, and then around the State Park itself.  There is about a 1 1/2 mile one way road that goes around the park, with many parking areas and the camping area road connected to it.  As you can see above, the right lane is for bikes, it is a real good park for taking bike rides, and many people have bicycles.

In the center of this large circle road are Flatwood Ponds, which you can read for yourself in the picture below.

 

Just past the entrance there is this Interpretive Center for the Fort Foster State Historic Site, which is part of the park.

Even though I told Marcia that we (Skruffy and I) were going for a drive around the park, I just had to see how the trail was for possible walks tomorrow.  Marcia has her GoGo, and the ground has to be such for the weight of the GoGo to no sink into the ground.  At Crystal River I just did not think the trail that I saw was as good as the one you see Skruffy on below.  I think there is a good chance we will do a trail or two tomorrow, with or without the dogs is the biggest question.

Skruffy was so happy to be on a walk that she was pulling on me and her collar was chocking her.  I had to settle her down, and ask her to walk next to me…eventually she calmed down and all went well.

    

At first my eyes could not be taken off the trees above….

Then I got a peek through the trees at the Hillsborough River and the reflection of the trees and the skies in the water.

There were so many small views of the water and the reflection, many of the pictures turned out pretty, and pretty confusing due to all the “stuff” going on within the picture.  Where is it water, where is it not…what is up close, what is far away.  Bright area, dark areas, and that ever blue water reflecting the blue sky.

But eventually there is this suspension bridge, and thank goodness no one else was on it because it swayed as you walked.  But it did provide for some better picture taking.

Above is a picture to the left (west), and below is a picture to the right (east)

As I headed back to the car, I took a route which hugged the river even longer than the shorter route I took on the way.  There is a large bend in the river, and I got this shot below.

And a little further up river…

…and the water is moving faster.

…and there they were…the famous class 2, sometimes class 3, Florida rapids.  Skruffy did real good on this 1 1/2 mile hike.  Tomorrow I hope we can get Marcia to the bridge, there is a shorter route there from another parking lot.  And knowing Marcia, part of her reasons for going is because she loves to see trees that look like this….