Blackwater River State Park – Milton, FL

This is one of our favorite parks in the south.  First of all, Florida (along with VA and GA) has really nice campgrounds.  They’ve thought about what campers want/need, and even in times when the economy isn’t strong, they maintain pride and keep their properties in good condition.   As for Blackwater River SP in particular – what’s not to like about a smaller, well-kept campground, next to a pristine sandy bottom river, with canoeing, kayaking, and hiking, wildlife, and the occasional mosquito for snacking?  Seriously, my two-legged friends, this is

a beautiful place to spend a few days.  Sites are a level gravel pad, with clothesline, fire pit and grill.  There are two loops, each with about 12 – 20 sites.  One central bathhouse, with showers that each have a separate private dressing area, a bench and plenty of hooks.  And they’re free.

Say hi to my new pal Ninja

The Blackwater River is one of the nation’s purest sandy-bottomed rivers, and remains in its natural beauty for most of its length.   The state park  is about 600 acres in size, and abuts the state’s Blackwater River State Forest – which encompasses another 190,000 acres or so of land chock full of lovely rivers, creeks, lakes, forests, swamps, bogs and oh yeh – campgrounds.  Here at the Park we were in our favorite site – number 9, across from the host.  It’s a private site, and like all the others, is gravel, level, and sports full hookups.

While staying here we met a professional singer who was taking a cross-country bike trip – traveling from Sun City, AZ to Jacksonville, FL.   He appeared one afternoon at our campsite, introducing himself as a fellow Casita owner.  He and Carlos got into quite a discussion about modifications that each has made, and how satisfied each is with their home on wheels.   Because he was taking a break, staying for two nights, we all took off the next day for a kayak paddle down the river (Minkie wouldn’t let me just swim along – “too cold” she said).  Our new pal really enjoyed the scenery  –  and Minkie took some pictures for a reminder of the day.   We later learned that he is also a guitar player who has recently taken up the ukulele (which he had with him), and to our collective delight, he entertained us that evening with songs and stories.  We were all amazed how good a uke can sound, and how versatile it can be.  In fact, I won’t be surprised if Minkie doesn’t take it up…..  Stay tuned for updates on THAT one!

Lots of sandbars for picnics or swimming

 

… and even a few little bluffs for added interest

 

 

 

 

 

In addition to spending a lazy day on the river (since the paddling is all downstream, I can’t give my TLs credit for a hard day of exercise….) we also checked out some of the campgrounds in the Blackwater River State Forest.  For clarification – the State Park is managed by the FL Department of Environmental Protection, the campgrounds in the Forest are managed by the FL Department of Agriculture.  (Another case of TLs making things more complicated than they need to be – oh well, I guess that’s just one of those things that separates TLs from toads.)  Anyway – we  spent a few days roaming around the likes of Lakes Krul, Bear, Hurricane, and Karick.

Krul Lake is the smallest of this group, though it has the most campsites, and nearly all have water and electricity.  It’s primarily a lake for swimming, which suits this toad just fine – that means none of those alligator-beasts to worry with.  There is also a gristmill on site though it appears not to be run except maybe on very special occasions.  And there is also a trail to Bear Lake, with a mile or so of wooden walkway that overlooks a beautiful creek and includes a cool suspension bridge!

 

Bear Lake is nearby, with another 40 or so sites, and a 4 mile trail that loops around the lake itself.  The forest in this area includes a lot of long leaf pine and wiregrass, with a few swamps and bogs thrown in for variety.  You can fish at Bear Lake too – and it appears a good number of folks do just that.

A nice lake for fishing

Longleaf pine and wiregrass ecosystem

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hurricane Lake has two campgrounds, but only the northern one has electric hookups.  Here too, a trail runs between the two campgrounds, though we didn’t walk this one.  It’s a pretty campground too!

Last on our survey was Karick Lake, which like Hurricane, has both a northern and southern campground; however, here both have sites with electricity and water.  Karick Lake also has a trail that circles it, with longleaf and wiregrass prominent.  One thing that impressed my TLs with all of the Forest campgrounds was how nice the bathhouses appeared.  All were very clean.  Many were wooden interiors, with pictures on the walls, that contribute to a “homey” feel.  Perhaps it was the time of year, or that we were there during the week (with less campers) – but each campground seemed well cared for.

And of course, we did get a reminder that we were in a wildlife area.  Once again, Minkie had to jump out with the camera while I would have preferred she find a way to just be rid of the darned thing.  No snake is my friend, and and Eastern Diamondback rattle snake is even less so!  But Minkie just snorted at me, and took another close up of this fella’s tail to get a sense of how old he might be.  “Ten or eleven rattles!” Geez – you’d think they were hers, the way she carried on.   Just two-legged nonsense!

 

 

 

 

 

I suppose that pretty much wraps this one up, at least for now.  We’re heading home for a while, but will likely take off again for some short trips in the coming months, so if you’re so inclined, check back once a month or so, and I’ll keep you posted on the places we go next.  And remember, toads can’t jump backwards – so we don’t worry about where we’ve been – we just keep our eyes on the flies ahead!

Cheers for now!  – Smuchi

Golden Memorial State Park – Walnut Grove, MS

Yessir, it’s been wa-a-a-a-ay too long since I’ve posted, and this time, I can’t blame my Two-Leggs not having internet access.  Truth of the matter is, well, this Road Toads been rollin’ on other obligations.  That’s my toadal story.  The end.

Now, on to more important things!

Cool deck for each RV!

Golden Memorial State Park – or, as I’ve come to think of it, Golden Pond, is a pretty neat, little state park!  We are talking 6 RV sites.  Tents camp across the lake in the primitive campground.  Each RV site is a pull through (or pull-over, as there isn’t much room between the trailer and the road), so you sidle up to a 12’x12’wooden deck, situated so that your trailer door opens directly on to it.  Hook ups are behind you, your tow vehicle in front of you.  Slick, huh!  At first we were worried that we might have neighbors beside us, but we quickly learned this is just not that busy a place.  With only 6 sites, and one other camper, life was good.

The park is really quiet.  No swimming in the lake, and day use is over at 5:30 or 6:30 pm depending on the time of year.  It’s a dry county, so adult beverages are prohibited, which no doubt discourages loud and obnoxious behavior.

Yours truly, taking it easy on the deck

The park ranger is a true southern feller – thick Mississippi drawl, and can talk the spots off a leopard.  He told us about the history of the park – before he came some seven years or so earlier, it was a very different place – lots of partying, broken glass and beer cans, and even a few drowning deaths.  He started working with local law enforcement, enforcing local ordinances concerning alcohol, made sure that day users were gone at the end of the day, and apparently played no favorites anytime, under any circumstances.  Everyone got treated the same.  Whatever else may have contributed, it all worked – the park is not a place to come for a late night party, nor does it have a whole lot of recreational opportunities.  You can canoe (though it won’t take long to explore the lake), fish, and walk the nature trail.

Ah, the Nature Trail.  Golden Memorial has a great little trail.  It has a few little hills, it’s very well marked, and it has some fun sites to see.  There’s an old still site.  There’s an old mill site.  AND there is also Mississippi’s second largest loblolly pine.  And let me tell you – it’s a big pine!  The trail leads over the dam, past the primitive campsite, up and down a few hills, around a few gullies, with a couple of side paths to each of the sights. 

Mississippi’s Second Largest Loblolly Pine (with two-legg trying to figure out if he could take it home with him)

This is definitely the place to come for peace and quiet.  Even on a Saturday night!  So, if you head this way and don’t want crowds and don’t have a huge rig, consider Golden Memorial.  And be sure and spend some time with Ranger Tim!

Flower along the nature trail

Next – Blackwater River!