Since our mode of travel has been to stay in one place for a few days and then move on, staying at the same campground for 10 days while visiting our Florida family in south Florida has been a great experience. We had checked out this campground a few years ago and all we saw then was dirt and open fields. But . . . life has improved at Phipps Park Campground in Martin County, and it’s a lovely place to stay.
Finding a campsite in Florida during the winter months is a real challenge because of all the winter visitors from northern states. Phipps Park had spots because they only have a few sites with electrical and water hookups so we were basically boondocking for 10 days. Luckily we had our generator for mornings and evenings (after 8:00 a.m. and before 10:00 p.m.).
Phipps Park is along the St. Lucie River waterway just before the locks leading to the other river waterways around Stuart.
Phipps Park has undergone major improvements from the first time we came to look at it. The county wanting to have a place where groups can come for an overnight, they’ve built a tent area where provided tents are built on foundations so they’re not on the ground. Campers bring their own beds and food, and they have to transport their supplies across a walking bridge using carts provided by the campground. Keeping vehicles on the other side of the bridge means the tent area stays quiet and peaceful. Campers have to walk across the bridge so they can use the bathrooms and showers.
During the week, the campground was fairly empty, but over the weekend, campers were everywhere. The plans for Phipps Park over the summer is to add electricity and water to every campsite. We may not be able to get a spot, or really plan ahead, when visiting our Florida family during winter months!
Minnesota fish house toy hauler in Florida
One of the days we were spending in the campground, we walked to the boat ramp that gives access to the river and saw this interesting RV.
Dick and Sue invited us into their home so we could see what an ice house looks like inside. Not what we remember seeing in movies!
a look inside:
Right picture: Here are 2 of the holes that can be opened for ice fishing. The trailer has at least 6 of these holes.
time with family
One of our fun outings was going to the Martin County Fair. Even the rain didn’t stop our fun . . . until it did.
While the grans love the rides, we really enjoyed seeing the animals with the 4H students.
Did you know?
grands
While we’re with our Florida family, Barney spends hours outside with Brian and the grandsons throwing a baseball. I can’t understand the draw, but Barney has always loved playing catch with his sons and grandsons (and granddaughters if they want to).
Cash loves to read, but one night we got to sit with Colson while he read out loud to us.
Over the last weekend with the family, Brian and Cash had to go looking for an outfit he could wear to an outing on Monday to an old fashioned school house in Palm Beach. Cash looks so handsome as a middle class newspaper boy from the day. At least he has loafers he can grow into since they were too big for him. Love his hat!
brunch out
A favorite place to go for brunch in Stuart is First Watch; we have a couple of locations in the Alpharetta area. When Barney and I went with Brian after church on our first Sunday when Jana and the boys were visiting family in the Tampa area, I saw this picture of beet toast. I love beets, and Peggy had introduced me to avocado toast when we were with the Mountain Martins in January. This Sunday I didn’t have enough nerve to try it but got my courage together the next Sunday. It was absolutely delicious! The mixture of tastes was perfect.
I’m thinking of awarding this as “the best toast ever,” but may have to try it again to make sure. The vanilla chai latte pancakes looked good too, but we didn’t have a third Sunday in town for me to try it.
We had such a good time with our Florida family and were sad to say good-bye. But we did have an oops on our way home that we’re still dealing with.
an oops driving home
Outside of Lake City, Florida, we stopped at a rest stop. As Barney was walking back to the truck, he saw something silver on the tires. When looking closer, he saw this tire.
A couple drove in next to us, and he offered his help to put on the spare. Since he repairs tires as a business, he even had a floor jack to raise the RV to get the tire off.
The guy at Discount Tires in Lake City told us the split tire came from a bent axle so we shouldn’t put on the new tire until we got the axle fixed. He quickly let the air out of the tire since it was ready to blow.
So what do we do in a city where we don’t know anyone? Our warranty people told us a Camping World was nearby that had a service center. We drove a couple of miles to get there, and they confirmed the axle problem.
We left the RV with them and transferred clothes, supplies, and food to the truck. An ice chest from Walmart got us home with frozen food still frozen and cold food still cold after having a good night’s sleep at a hotel in Valdosta, Georgia.
Now we’re home waiting for our RV to be fixed and planning our next trip. With the virus problems we’re facing, we’re glad we’re home instead of on the road with museums and campgrounds closing.
Once we get our RV back and don’t have to stay so close to home because of the virus, we’ll let you know what are plans are. Wonder what we’ll find to do while we’re supposed to stay socially distant?
