Jolly Roger Travel Park: Getting Aquainted

My youngest brother Gary and his wife Mary are full-timers who are work-camping at The Jolly Roger Travel Park in the Florida Keys.   They generously invite me to join them, where ever they might be at for the season.  So, I decided to take them up on their offer during this trip.

The Jolly Roger Travel Park is about half-way down
the Keys to Key West.  3/4/14

This is a nice RV park, mostly populated by rigs that are 30-40+' long -- primarily class A's and 5th Wheels.  Although, a few C's, B's, and tent trailers are here too; and up to 5 tent sites at any one time.  Campgrounds and RV parks in the Keys are some of the most expensive in the Lower 48.  So, this is a destination for wealthy retired folks.  And many of these RVers return year after year.  During the winter months, the park is at full capacity.

RV spaces are fairly close to each other,
but the park has maintained lots of large
trees, palms and grassy areas.   3/4/14

Unfortunately, I'm not allowed to sleep in my Prius here.  But, I got a heck of a deal on an efficiency apartment at a rate that is comparable to tent sites at the local state parks.  (Thank you Jolly Roger management, and Gary & Mary for hooking me up!) 

View of a sunset from my 2nd floor efficiency apartment.
Looking above the RVs, I have a peek-a-boo view of the water.  3/1/14

Both guests and staff are very nice here.  Everyone is easy going.  And the staff work exceedingly hard to please.  The place has -- a dock, a little harbor, a swimming/snorkeling area, fishing areas and cleaning station, an open-air pavilion next to the water (w/electrical outlets), restrooms with nice showers, a pool, a laundry room, free wifi and satellite TV, accessible facilities, along with potlucks & activities sponsored by both guests and staff.

Pelicans are plentiful here.  Along with a few egrets,
they beg for scraps as fishermen clean their catch.  3/1/14

Using the pelicans as my models, let me show you around the waterfront area of Jolly Roger Travel Park. 

This is one of the slips of the dock.  A sailboat is moored just off shore.  3/1/14

Looking northeast toward the dock and the Gull of Mexico beyond.  3/1/14

Looking southeast from the dock toward the RV Park.  3/1/14

Looking from the dock toward the eastern side of the
open-air pavilion.  3/1/14

The swimming and snorkeling area, just east of the dock.  3/1/14

Why did the ibis cross the road?
Taken just outside of Gary & Mary's 5th Wheel.  3/2/14

Last night I went out on the dock while Gary fished for sharks (catch & release).  Three times a shark took the bait, and three times he lost it either to a broken leader or becoming unhooked.  He had just upgraded to 100 lb test line.  All the same it was exciting to hear the zing of the reel while the shark ran with the bait.  The last one even jumped out of the water.

Also, I loved just watching the sharks.   The water was clear and calm and we could see them using a flash light.  Some thought they were nurse sharks, others thought they were bull sharks.   One was 6-7' long with several remora suctioned to it.  We could also see crab (one in a conch shell), lobster, sting ray, and other small fish.  It was a fun time while several park guests joined us, offering suggestions and more bait ... ooooh'ing and aaaaah'ing at the predators below.

Getting ready to fish for shark at sunset.  3/3/14

The last of the colors of sunset with a sliver of the moon
in the upper right, and its reflection in the lower right.
3/3/14

Gary is sitting here with me now and says he's going to catch one tonight for sure!  He's borrowing a larger pole, with heavier line and leader.  And the bait will be nice and "ripe;" so it'll smell especially appetizing to the sharks.  Hold your nose and stay tuned.

Louisiana and Putting on the Miles

After spending time in the City of Rocks State Park, I had a good visit with my friend Bri in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.  Often, I set my route in order to meet up with my traveling friends.  Such a treat!

From TorC, I made quick time through Texas using Walmarts to overnight at Fort Stockton and Houston.  I made it to Louisiana and took another traveling friend Cyndi's recommendation to camp several nights at Holbrook Park in Calcasieu Parish (County).

Hobrook Park was a great place to stay for $4 (elect $12) --
nice bathrooms, free showers, picnic tables, BBQ grill, nice
 host, and waterfront sites with amazing views.   2/22/14

A little fishing dock just in front of my campsite at Holbook Park. 2/21/14

Sunset on the little lake.  Holbrook Park, Sulphur, LA  2/21/14

My campsite at Holbrook Park.  2/21/14

Beautiful sunset at Holbrook Park from inside the Prius ...
I put up the no-see-um screens to keep the mosquitoes outside.  2/21/14

On Saturday the mostly-empty campground was filled with locals enjoying
the nice weather.  My Prius (middle left) was joined by many other vehicles,
surrounding my campsite.  2/22/14

After such a wonderful stay at Holbrook Park, I found that Calcasieu Parish has several other campground parks.  Since my plans were to explore the coastal area, I decided on Intracoastal Park next.  Here, I found the same inexpensive camp sites and amenities as Holbrook Park.

Although I typically prefer forested campgrounds, the activity on the
Intracoastal Waterway made up for the lack of trees and privacy.
Pictured above is a tug pushing a barge westward.  2/13/14

The Ellender Draw Bridge for LA-27. 
It's a vertical lift bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway,
as seen from my campsite.  2/23/14

Only once during my 3-day stay at Intracoastal Park did I see the vertical span of the Ellener Bridge go up.  A barge with 2 tall masts needed pass by.  Four blasts of a very loud air horn sounded as it was about to lift.

 

Near my campsite, left to right,
the northern approach to the Ellener Draw Bridge, fish cleaning station,
and a west bound tug boat on the Intracoastal Waterway.
This park is a popular local fishing and crabbing spot.  2/23/14

Inlet and boat ramp, guarded by pelicans on either side.
Taken just east of my campsite.  2/24/14

I had planned to spend only one night at Intracoastal Park, but I accidently killed my 12v battery on Saturday night and needed to wait until Monday to get it replaced.  I had planned to explore the Creole Nature Trail on Sunday, but really enjoyed the Intracoastal Park instead.  My Prius, being a hybrid, was a challenge to jump or tow by the local towing companies.  But, a third driver knew his hybrids and gave me a jump.  He then followed me to get the replacement battery (just to make sure I didn't stall out).  A traveling friend correctly summarized the experience by saying, "Bummer + Serendipity = made it an adventure!"  After my car was fixed, I did my laundry then returned to Holbrook Park for a shower and a good night's sleep.

In the morning, I continued my drive east.  I stopped at the Atchafalaya Visitor's Center in south central Louisiana. It was a combination rest area and museum about the Atchafalaya River Swamp, the biggest river swamp in the world!  They even had a cute animatronic show where a raccoon, turtle and alligator talk about the area   The coffee was good and the displays were very nice too.  My route east on I-10 was a raised roadway over this swampland.  An interesting place to which I hope to return and explore.

The next few days were spent putting on more miles, overnighting in Grand Bay in western AL, Live Oak in northern FL, and Napels in southern FL before reaching my destination (and turn around point) in the Florida Keys.

On my last day of driving, I made a couple of quick stops at Big Cypress National Preserve.  This is one of my favorite places from a couple of years ago.

The H.P. Williams Roadside Park usually has good wildlife viewing
opportunities.  I love how the Old Man's Beard hangs from the
trees.  Here a cormorant overlooks from high in a tree.  2/28/14

Brown Water Snake sunning itself at the
H.P Williams Roadside Park in the
Big Cypress National Preserve.  2/28/14

At the Oasis Visitors Center on the east side of the preserve is a boardwalk
that keeps you a safe distance above the resting alligators.  2/28/14

I really enjoyed my stay in Louisiana.  Now, I'm here in the Florida Keys resting up from the miles.  The weather is perfect.  And I'm enjoying a visit with my brother Gary and his wife Mary.  I'll have pictures in my next blog post.

City of Rocks

Since the weather had finally warmed up east of Arizona, I headed into New Mexico to visit my friend Bri.  On my way there, via the State Route back roads, I knew that I'd be passing by several National Forest Campgrounds in which I could spend the night.  But, as fate would have it, I saw a sign to turn right for the City of Rocks State Park.  I made the turn.

Friends Jerry and Nelda spoke highly of this park; and they were right!  It has an other-worldly feel about it.  The campsites are hidden among monolithic boulders.  It reminds me a lot of the rock formations at Joshua Tree National Park.



The road to the park, looking away from the rocks. 
Gently rolling hills, grassland with yucca and ocotillo.  2/18/14

This is from that same road, looking toward the City of Rocks.  2/18/14. 



Sign placed near where the two pictures above were taken.
It reads, in part, "Wind and water gradually sculpted the volcanic
 tuff  ... creating the rows of monolithic blocks ... sites are
tucked away among these Stonehenge-like formations ..."  2/18/14



My Prius in the campsite, dwarfed by the super large rocks.  2/16/14



My Prius and campsite to the left,
and my nearest neighbor hidden among the rocks to the right.  2/16/14

My first night at this campground I kept hearing a loud squeaking noise every now and again, echoing among the rocks.  The next morning I realized that it was a windmill creaking every time it began to turn.  It pumps water.  Somehow knowing that the noise came from a windmill made it less annoying.

 

What did become a bit annoying was the constant wind.  It was most windy in the afternoons.

 

When this windmill starts to turn in the wind, it creaks loudly.  2/16/14

Such a pleasant surprise to find this park.  I would return again, despite the wind and the squeaking windmill.