Gulf Pier and Historic Fort de Soto, Florida

The girls and I went out to explore Gulf Pier and Fort just before sunset.

The Fort is mostly all opened up so you can go inside a lot of the rooms. They are however dark so we only explored a couple smaller, lighter rooms. The girls thought it was fun to be "in jail".

There were a couple trees that were begging to be climbed.

There was a nice picnic area here too and large open fields as well. Perfect for a picnic another day.

We saw a walkway behind the fort too which took you to the top of the fort but the sun was starting to set so we opted to go out on the pier instead.

 From the pier the view back to the fort looked like this...

You can see on the top of the tree line there is a platform with people on it (which we didn't walk up to) but otherwise when this was used as a fort it was well hidden.

There were quite a few people out fishing on the pier and the sun setting was pretty to watch.

We saw this poor little guy who was missing some of his toes. Sierra wanted to catch him to help him so we had a big discussion on how this bird was learning to survive with his own abilities as he looked very healthy otherwise; and his toes had healed a long time ago. Her heart always goes out to all the animals in need.

We walked back to the beach area and had a few minutes to explore before the sun set.

Sierra found what she said, and I quote; "the most awesomest shell EVER"!

A beautiful evening all around!

Fort De Soto Park: North Beach

Although the sun is shining here in February and it's warm...the water is still cold...

Well too cold for most of us. Aayla still got in to enjoy the waves.

 After she was ready to get warmed up we headed over to the picnic area for a snack. The sheltered areas are very nice with picnic tables and barbeque pits.

 The playground was very nice too!

Tomorrow we are off to explore the Fort.

Fort Island Beach and Fort Island Trail Park, Crystal River, Florida

Last time we visited Crystal River we had a wonderful time and enjoyed all of our outings. The only thing we felt Crystal River was missing was a beach...little did I know it has one!

This time I did a bit of homework. I even asked some locals and was told, "Nope sorry no beaches around here". I guess they want to keep this area a secret and rightly so I guess as it's not very big so don't go expecting a beach similar to St Petersburg or Clearwater. This is small and quaint.

This beach may not be big and today was too cold to actually venture into the water but I can imagine a nice hot day, slipping into the water here would be wonderful.

There is a a nice little beach with quite a few covered tables with barbeques for cooking. There are wash rooms, drinking fountain and an outside shower to get the sand off yourself or your feet.

 As well as lots and lots of birds.

To the right you can see a wooden fishing pier. 

There is a trail from the beach along a raised wooden board walk.

Near the end of the pier where it joins the board walk there is another covered area with multiple tables. From here the path continues either to the pier, or to another smaller parking lot.

View of the beach from the pier

 This sign is posted from the other smaller parking lot.

My girls found some fallen palm fronds and were using them as walking sticks and fans...however the breeze was a huge fan it'self today!

There are also boat ramps at the end of the road just a minute from the beach with a large parking lot. There was no sign-age to say no over night parking here. Has anyone boondocked at this location over night before?

When we left here we headed back along the road we came in on as the boat ramps are the end of the road. I did however neglect to take a picture of these ramps. We stopped at Fort Island Trail Park. I'm not sure where the trail is or goes as we only stayed here long enough to snap a couple pictures. My girls were cold.

The fishing pier

The boat ramps from the parking area closer to the pier.

One of the covered picnic areas

This park also had wash room facilities and a few different covered picnic areas. The boat dock had a large parking lot which is open from dusk until dawn.

 We left to try to find a community playground I heard about but without a data plan on my phone I wasn't able to find it. I did however find it when we returned to the camp ground and hope it is nice enough tomorrow to go check it out.

Wasaga Beach visit one

After leaving Kingston we headed out to Wasga Beach with one stop planned in Trenton to visit an old friend. However I didn't realize how short of a drive it was from Kingston to Eric's so by the time I left him a message saying we were on our way, to the time we arrived...we missed him :( About 45 minutes past Trenton, Eric called after returning home and we decided we would try to get together later in our Ontario visit.

Sorry to have missed you Eric but I am positive we will find a way to get together soon to catch up. (Eric lived 3 houses down from where I grew up in Torbrook Mines and other then good old facebook we haven't seen eachother since grade 6!)

Off we continued to Wasaga Beach to visit my dad. Dad has been in Ontario for many years but in December he moved from Peterborough to Wasaga Beach.

My Dad and step mom Bev

We of course spent time at the beach. Ian has finally proved his point to me. The lakes here in Ontario are so much warmer then in BC. Our lakes in BC are beautiful, usually surrounded by gorgeous mountains...and all glacier fed and therefore freezing!

Dad and Aayla wading in

A few years ago Bev found her son (whom the dad had abducted when he was little) and instantly had 2 beautiful grandchildren...MaKayla and Chloe who just happened to be visiting when we arrived and are staying for a week or so.

Chloe, Aayla, MaKayla and Sierra having fun at the beach

Sierra, Chloe and MaKayla surfing while Ian and Rob keep a look out...
either on the kids or at girls going by ;) who knows

Aayla wanting to try out her surf board like the big girls

MaKayla and Aayla...they were instantly the best of friends

We spent a couple of days here catching up and spending time at the beach. We will use Wasaga Beach as our homebase and will come and go from here to visit other family, friends and look for land near the Muskoka's while we are in Ontario.

This past week we have traveled to Barrie to visit Ian's brother Mark for the night.

Sierra trying to rollerskate with a little help from Daddy and Uncle Mark

Mark and Corey have some vacation time this week (and also they are kidless this week) so the next day they came to visit us at Wasaga Beach along with Ed and Heather (Ed was the master of ceremonies at our wedding and Ian is good friends with Heather from highschool) and we had a great day together at the beach.


Aayla making a sandcastle in Auntie Corey's hand :)



Aayla's the queen of her castle

Sierra having a blast on the turtle with daddy while Uncle Mark chases her

I am so impressed with how well Aayla is now doing in the water

Daddy and Sierra relaxing and watching Aayla swim

Whoooooaaaaaa! Surfing Aayla

Sierra and Ed hanging out on Mr Turtle

Ed taking Mattea and Sierra for a ride on Mr Turtle

Heather and Nella

We are still trying to figure out who had more fun out there...the girls or Ed



Cheese Nella!



Cheese Aayla











Aayla is worn out from a long day at the beach



Uncle Mark is burying Sierra

 Uncle Mark playing a trick on Sierra...everytime she went to sit down, he'd pull the chair and she'd fall...gotta love uncles!   :)

Mark made up for it...he pulled Sierra around the beach spelling her name
and then of course Aayla needed a turn too!

Look mom we spelled my name

We also spent time this week looking at some acerage. There was one I liked with a river but we walked the wrong way because we came to an abandoned house that wasn't on the property listing so the realator will look into it further and we will so see it again.

We saw a couple other ones we liked as well. One with a seasonal pond and rock outcrops, but not really any area to make into a pasture or hay field easily.



This grassy area is a big pond in the spring
but gradually dries up over the summer



Sierra the explorer trecking through the ferns

Mr Toad

Aayla rock climbing

And another very thickly wooded 97 acres.

Indian Smoke Pipes

A tiny little tree frog

 Which across the main road there was another 44 acres with this bit of cleared land and a lake made on it so we got to envision what the land could look like with a lot of work.

When we got back to dad's after seeing the properties I quickly put Aayla to work stacking wood...she might as well get used to it :)

 When her stacking wood chores were done she got to spend some time playing with MaKayla :)

Tomorrow we head to Orangeville for a few days to see Ed and Heather and then we are off to London to go camping with them for the long weekend. Hopefully we will get to see Jay and Liz tomorrow too. Next week after camping we will be back in Wasaga Beach for another little visit.

Ian and I have basically decided that we probably won't buy land here right now even if we see the perfect lot as it would be a shame to buy it then have to leave and not come back for a year. Instead we are getting a feel for areas we like and will go back and look at land in BC again aswell while we pack up and sell off the house this winter before making any final decsions as to where we want to build our earthship.

We probably won't have internet while camping so I might not be back for a week...until then safe travels, happy journeys to you all.

Warm welcome wishes to Ira and Vicky. Thank you for joining us on our journey. If you have a link back to a blog of your own, let me know as I'd love to go check yours out too.