2021 Camper California To Florida

Starting in early November we loaded up the Host camper to take a couple month trip back to Point Clear to have my Dad’s funeral and celebration of life on November 13th. We will then go on over to Florida in the Tamp Bay area then Stuart to visit friends and family.

California To Florida Trip

Map Point B: November 2 nd 2021, Kern River Campground

Our first over night stop was at Kern River Campground in Bakersfield Ca. This a small camp ground with sites next to the river where the dog’s can swim and you can hear the river at night when sleeping so it is our go to place to stop the first night out from home when traveling south.

Terra got to have a nice swim in the river when we got there.

Terra Swimming Kern River Camp Ground

Some info from Kern River Campground:

Kern River Camp Ground
  • 28 landscaped acres, dry camping only
  • Two sections: 25 campsites each; maximum of 8 people per site
  • Picnic tables and fire rings
  • Restrooms and showers

Map Point C: November 3 rd 2021, Davis Camp Campground

Davis Camp is a Mohave County park where you can dry camp right on the banks of the Colorado River. There are also full service RV sites above the river over looking the dry camping sites below.

We usually take a dry site so we can sit next to the river and watch the water go by and the dog’s can swim.

View From Camp Site, Holly and Terra Swimming

A great hike to take is the Colorado River Heritage Trail which you can take from the camp ground. We started from camp ground and headed north along the river to cross the Davis Dam then  headed south on the other side of river trail on the Laughlin Side (commonly known as the blue bridge trail). You then cross the bridge at the Casino at the south end to return to the camp ground. This route is around 4-5 miles. The loop has parks, restrooms, kayak launch, fishing nodes and tons of information about the area and Davis Dam on placards posted along the route. 

Map Point D: November 4 th 2021, Sierra Blanca Brewery Moriarty, NM

Our next overnight stop was booked via the Harvest Host membership at a brewery where you park out at the west end of parking lot. Lot is dusty and nothing special but the brewey has really good craft beer’s and we sat out back in the beer garden bar and enjoyed talking to the locals. We returned for dinner when a food truck shows up and you order from the truck in the side lot east of beer garden.

The warehouse brewery is a 12,000 square foot operation with a one and a half acre beer garden out back. with a covered bar and seating area, horseshoe pits, bocce ball, tetherball, a pond, barbeque grills, bandstand and a hop covered gazebo where you can swing away the afternoon!

Sierra Blanca Brewery

Alex Enjoying An Alien Pale Ale, Very Good Stuff!

Map Point E: November 5 th 2021, Elk City Lake Park, Elk City OK

Our next over night stop was at the city park outside Elk City. Nice park with lots of open space and hicking trails. Had a nice quiet nite and took a short hike in the morning on the trails going along the lake and frisby golf course.

Amenities:

  • 750 Acre Park with 250 Acre Lake (regularly stocked with fish)
  • Picnic Pavilions
  • Outdoor Grills
  • Kiddie Playground
  • 2 Boat Ramps with Docks (1 Fishing Dock)
  • Campgrounds **
  • 5 RV Parking Slots with water & electric hook-ups **

Map Point F: November 6-7 th 2021, Arrow Head Lake Area

Arrow Head Area At Lake Eufaula

Once we turned off highway 69 we drove down the side of the lake for a ways where we drove through the first camp ground called Turkey Flat which was about 1/2 full. We then drove further down to see what we could find on the water and the next campground was completly empty and right on the lake. We ended up staying for two nights. On the second day we walked south on the road about a mile or so to the boat ramp and then walked back down on the beach since water was low. The dog’s really enjoyed the lake side walk back.

Map Point G: November 8th 2021, Rocky Point Army Corp Of Engineers Camp Ground

We really enjoy staying at Army Corp Of Engineers(ACOE) Camp Grounds which are placed in land areas around ACOE projects. The Wright Patman Lake dam, dam which forms the lake or locks like the Florida locks on the Okeechobee canal.

Rocky Point Campground offers 124 campsites, all with water and electricity. 15 of the sites have sewer hook ups, and 8 of the sites have 50-amp electric service.

Wright Patman Lake

Clear Springs CampgroundPiney Point Campground
Rocky Point CampgroundMalden Lake Campground
Northshore Day UseJackson Creek Park
Thomas Lake ParkOak Park
Spillway ParkMalden Lake Day Use
Elliott BluffSportsman’s Cove
Map Point H: November 8 th 2021, Harvest Host Farm

2020 East To West Coast Return Camping Trip

We left Deckle Beach Florida on Feb 16 to start out trip back to California. The Covid-19 epidemic was just starting so were happy to get out of Alabama and Florida but werent sure how the trip would go through the central US so we ended up doing some long day’s at the end to get back to California.

The My Maps track below shows the first half of the trip back with the locations we stopped at on the way.

Florida To Joplin MO

Our itenarary for first half of trip back:

A. Largo/Dekle Beach Feb
B. Fairhope, AL, USA
C. Moundville, AL
D. T.O. Fuller State Park
E. Pedestal Rocks & Kings Bluff Trailhead
F. Richland Creek Recreation Area
G. Jasper
H. Erbie Group Campground
I. Wolf Pen Recreation Area
J. Joplin, MO, USA

The second half of trip is shown below where we did somme longs days driving from point F on map, Arches National Park to home.

A. Joplin, MO, USA
B. Lake Afton
C. Lake Scott State Park
D. Lake Pueblo State Park
E. Montrose
F. Arches National Park Visitor Center
G. Cave Lake State Park
H. Lahontan State Park
I. Milpitas, CA

Fairhope, AL, USA Feb 17-24

Me and My Dad At His Parents Tombstone
Me And My Dad At His and My Moms Tombstones
My Dad’s and Mom’s Tombstones


Moundville, AL Feb 25-26


T.O. Fuller State Park , Memphis TN Feb 26

We stayed one night at T.O. Fuller State Park which is in an urban setting near the sewer plant. Nothing special but would be a good spot to stay to take a day to go over and see Elvis’s Graceland which is nearby.


Pedestal Rocks & Kings Bluff Trailhead, AK Feb 28

Richland Creek Recreation Area, AK Feb 27

Richland Creek Camp Ground

This camp has a small mountain stream with waterfalls, rocks, and bluffs right next to the campground. There is access to the Richland Creek Wilderness Area. 11 family camping units. Because of very rough roads, visitors are not encouraged to take camping trailers to Richland Creek.


Jasper AK Feb 27

Scenic and quaint are two words that well describe the town of Jasper, AR. Located in Newton County, the small town is surrounded by natural beauty of where the nation’s first national river, the Buffalo, begins to flow. More than one third of the county is owned by some government entity (National Park Service, U.S.D.A. Forest Service, State of Arkansas and county government).

Erbie Group Campground Feb 27-28

Camping Site Parking Lot Erbie Group Campground


Wolf Pen Recreation Area Feb 29

Wolf Pen Camp Ground


Joplin, MO March 1 st

Stayed at Laquinta Inn

Mildred B Cooper Chapel In Bella Vista


Stop At Wichita then Lake Afton County Park March 2nd

Keeper Of The Plains

This model of the America³ was donated to the Kansas Museum of History by Koch in 1995. Owned by Wichita native William Koch, the America³ (“America Cubed”) won the prestigious America’s Cup competition on May 16, 1992. This is a model of the winning boat.

Lake Afton County Park

March 3 and 4th Historic Lake Scott State Park


Lake Pueblo State Park March 5th and 6th Lake Pueblo State Park, Arkansas


Montrose March 7th, Montrose Holiday In Express


Arches National Park Visitor Center March 8th and 9th,  Arches National Park, Moab, Granstaff Campground

Cave Lake State Park March 10th Cave Lake State Park

Lahontan State Park 3/11/2020 Lahontan Recreation area

Milpitas, CA

Natchez Mississippi to Garner State Park Texas

Sunday Feb 11th To Feb 12 th

We left Natchez early Sunday morning to go to Garner State Park for some hiking on some trails we had read about taking small back roads as usual.

Route: HWY 21 SW, then 12, then 32west, then 3424 South, then 306w, then 281north, then 473W, then 27 through Comfort, TX. Then 39 scenic route SW to 83 south then 1050 to the state park.

On the way over to Garner Patty found the highly rated Picket House Restaurant which is in an old house and serves boarding house style fixed menu.  The walls are covered with antique circus posters and would recommend a stop there.

Fried chicken, chicken and dumplings, biscuits/corn bread was very good and very unique.

Picket House Restaurant

Picket House Restaurant

Once done with lunch we ran in to a very cool small town Comfort Texas: stopped for coffee at Highs Coffe shop, had a bunch of old buildings made of limestone. Went in antique mall and found an ice cream scoop to give to Richard.

Down Town Comfort

Highs Cafe comfort Texas

On Highway 39 we were along the Guadalupe river, very cool but not much river access as mostly youth camps and residences. Saw one public boat ranch

On HWY 39 and 83 we saw a bunch of big ranches with very tall fences. I guessed and then later confirmed these were game hunting ranches with exotic ungulates as well as dear and pigs.

 

This is the hill country of Texas and is dry but beautiful.

Texas Hill Country Drive

Arrived at Garner: had site 143 in river crossing camp which had nice river view.

Garner State Park

Garner State Park

Garner State Park

This place is great on the off season while we are here but during the summer seems very popular with the crowds.  Has putt putt course and boat rental and tube rental and shuttles so likely in hot Texas summer its very crowded.

Walked Blynn river trail that evening very clear fairly rapid flowing river, The river is the Rio Frio which means cold river.

Dogs got wet fun!

Dogs at Garner State Park Blyn River Behind Camp Site

Had Taco Soup from Alice for dinner ?

It seems during season the Texas two step is popular at the “Dancing The Nights Away” at the “Garners Historic Pavilion”.

Garners Historic Pavilion

Monday February 12th

Woke up early and took near 5 mile hike on park trails Blyn River to Bridges trail to Foshee trail up to Old Baldy then down. Great hike with awesome views. Dogs swam at beginning as we started on the Blynn River trail.

Blyn River Holly Swim

Blyn River

Bridges Trail

Bridges Trail

Old Baldy Trail

Old Baldy sign

Got back from hike and had chile. Hope to have fire tonight…we did eventually, burned half our wood.