September 21, 2010 by LadyCC.

This was the CurbCrusher’s and Lady CC’s first time camping in the MH w/o PreTeen CC -who got to spend her weekend at the Nick Hotel with friends. We decided to camp at Kelly Park/Rock Springs. It is close by in Apopka and since it was still hot we wanted to tube the river. We had also decided before hand that we would not cook dinner this trip since it was only the 2 of us.

So we set up and got our tubes out and filled them and preceded to head to the spring head. The water was refreshing cold and it was a hot day so it was pure joy to cool off. On our first trip down the river CC put a hole in his tube when he ran into some rocks. So he was left holding the side the entire run to keep the air from leaking out. This greatly lessened his picture taking on the run so we don’t have much in the way of pics on the first trip. When we exited the run his tube was less than 1/2 inflated so we needed to return to the RV to patch and refill.

Upon returning we found that our power was out and so we called the ranger. CC went around and determined that the 4 sites adjacent to us also had no power. In about 10 minutes the ranger on duty showed up and flipped the breaker and all was good. I think she doesn’t understand how RV’s work because she told me that if we were using all 30 amps and we plugged in a fan, for example, we would blow the breaker. In our case, we have a power management system on our MH and it would shut something down if we added more appliances instead of throwing the breaker. In our 5th W, the fuse would blow 1st before a breaker. So the power problem was really the park’s and not because we were over using.

Well after that happened and was resolved we went and got showers and decided to head out to dinner. We seemed to have to drive awhile before we found what we were looking for: a Mexican restaurant.  We had dinner then stopped to get ice cream and headed back to thr RV to watch a movie and take a nightly walk.

Saturday morning we decided to fill the tubes with more air and then take a hike which we have never had enough time for. We walked the Kelly loop trail. It is said to be 2.1 miles and rings the park and springs. It didn’t seem very long but there were parts of it that were pleasant to hike. We saw 2 deer and got to see the 3rd landing area for camping. We walked the boardwalk behind the springs and came back out in front of the ranger house. Then it was an easy walk back to the campsite. We loaded up our tubes and then headed to the springs.  We did a couple of runs and then bought lunch from the concession stand. We had hamburgers and onion rings and both were very good and were not too bad in price either.

it started to sprinkle so we loaded our stuff up and headed back to the RV where we found a neighbor setting up for a party. I guess it is cheaper to rent a campsite for $18 then the pavilion for $50 so they did. They set up, then went tubing and when we were gone for dinner they came back to have cake and ice cream and packed up and left.

We showered then had naps and read our books and then went to the Melting Pot for dinner. We bought coupons last year and this was our last one to use before they expired. We had an excellent dinner, went back to the RV and took a walk around the springs. We saw a deer drinking on the other side of the river but some tubers scared it away. Turtles were swimming around as well as some very large fish. We weren’t lucky enough to see the otters this time though.

After our walk we came back had ice cream, and watched another movie and went to bed. Sunday was restful and we got up and had breakfast and then cleaned up, dumped the tanks and made it home. It’s lovebug season but we were lucky and didn’t hit a swarm of them so clean up was pretty easy. We took the RV back to storage and went  to pickup PTCC at the Nick Hotel. She had a great weekend and so did we.

Here’s our review I posted:

We camped in site #8. Very shady with w/e, fire ring/grill combo, picnic table on a concrete slab. Sites are long enough for the longest RV’s. We did have a problem with the power going out, but it was rectified quickly with the ranger. This our 3rd time camping here and we still really like this campground. It is quiet, but close to the river where the tubing is. Park is not crowded during the week but does get full on weekends. We saw deer on the Kelly park Loop Trail hike, as well as turkeys, raccoons, and a bear was sighted in the campground during the weekend.

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September 8, 2010 by LadyCC.

The Curbcrusher family loaded up, plus a friend of Preteen CC’s and headed up to Salt Springs for Labor Day weekend. When we got there we met up with CC’s parents the Old Insiders (or the G’s as PTCC calls them) and a new to us camping group, NorthEast FL Camping Club. Plans were made to have a hot dog cookout on Friday night, a potluck on Saturday night and a brunch on Sunday. Sounds good to us as we like to eat and meet new people.

We arrived about 3 pm in the campground and set up. Then said hi to the relatives and scoped out the NEFCC’s sites so we could find out the scoop about the goings on. We met with a couple of them and found out the sites for the festivities and then went back to the RV to load up to head to the springs. It was about 92 degrees out and the springs are always 72 degrees so we couldn’t wait to get in and cool off.

We haven’t been to this campground since August 2007 (see previous blog entries) and the park was closed for about 2 years as they renovated the springhead walls and nearby area. The campground remained open but everyone had to go 7 miles down the road to Silver Glen to swim so we elected to wait until they were finished before coming back. They new swim area looks great and the water looks clearer as well. The only downside is that they took the beach area away so no place to play in the sand  for the little kids anymore.

After cooling off in the springs we came back to get showers so we could head to the hot dog cookout. We have camped with other clubs in the past but this one is the most laid back. Usually there is a set time to start dinner and everyone gathers and a prayer is said then we eat, but this group had a window of time to eat, 6-8 pm, and everyone just helped themselves as they got there. Since we were newbies we didn’t know the protocol and didn’t know to just help ourselves until we figured out people had started to load their plates.  We met a few people that night and found out that there were a lot of people who lived near our relatives in the Leesburg area. Most of the club is from around the Jacksonville area so that was good news for them.

After eating and visiting, we went back to the RV and the girls watched movies and CC and I walked the campground for our nightly routine. Stopped and visited with his parents for awhile, then came back and had ice cream for dessert and went to bed.

Saturday started with our traditional breakfast of pancakes and then we went across the street to the small flea market that seems to be there most weekends. We started with the National Forest office and then toured the stalls. Bought some chow-chow which I hope to use soon. Then loaded up on boiled peanuts and watermelon and we were in heaven. Went back to the RV and got suited up for the springs again and spent a good portion of the day there again. Then came back to the RV and the girls took naps and CC and I read books for the rest of the afternoon until dinner.

Had dinner with the NEFCC, this time was a potluck, and afterwards CC’s dad got to play his guitar for the crowd. He played for about an hour and since we have been blessed to hear him play often, CC and I took our nightly walk again and the girls once more watched movies and made snow cones to eat. After he finished playing we once again visited until bedtime and then turned in.

Sunday we had more pancakes and then went to the springs again. The weather didn’t look as good as the other days so we got out earlier. The girls were tired of snorkeling and CC had taken all the pictures he wanted so we left. The girls went to visit and have lunch with the G’s and we went to find a store to get more milk. On the way, CC told me about his partner at work telling him about a restaurant in Astor that served a huge smothered hamburger and he wanted to see if we could find it so off we went. We found the restaurant named Sparky’s and had a delicious meal. The fries were some of the best I ever ate. Then off back to find a store and get the milk. When we returned the G’s had dinner ready for us but we were pretty stuffed but tried to eat some more. The girls couldn’t wait to get their brownies that they had smelled cooking earlier in the day.We stayed and visited some more with his parents as they were off to Pensacola the next day and we probably won’t see them for another month until they get back.

On Monday we cleaned up and said our goodbyes and traveled back  home to unload and do our laundry and restock for the next trip. It will be a first for us as our child will not be camping with us but enjoying the Nickalodean Hotel with her friends for the weekend and we will have the RV all to ourselves.

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