We always plan ahead for mental health holidays from the parental care vortex to visit some of our favorite Florida locales. Even better, this year we had the opportunity to meet up with some of our fellow full-time traveling friends in the Sunshine State. Despite the challenges, it was another good winter in Florida.
Apalachicola & Friends
We were happily anticipating reconnecting in Apalachicola with our fulltime traveling buddies MonaLiza and Steve of Lowes Travels. We met here several years ago in our first year of fulltime travels, and meet up with them whenever our paths are anywhere nearby in our journeys (which isn’t nearly often enough). We had a great time together in Apalachicola for a few days, exploring the town, feasting on seafood, and catching up on life since we last saw them. With them heading for the west coast and us heading up the east coast, it’s going to be a while before we see them again, so we made the most of our time together.
We were also delighted to have the opportunity to meet up with Sue, Mo and adorable Mattie of MoHo Travels. Although we live only an hour from each other in our southern Oregon hometowns, it took several years and a cross-country trip to finally meet in person. We enjoyed a lovely visit, seafood lunch, and a stroll around Apalachicola, and made plans for a kayaking trip on the Wood River when we return to our hometown in 2020.
And we were especially happy to share a couple of days with Rick and Karren, my uncle and aunt who came up from the Keys to visit. Looking back, I’m very grateful for that time we had together. That may have been the last time for us all to gather at my folks’ home.
Click on any photo for a larger version
Pelican on the waterfront
Silver Springs & Friends
Despite our many kayak adventures in Florida, we had yet to paddle Silver Springs, one of the largest and deepest springs in the world and a destination for nature-seeking travelers since the mid-1800s. We planned our trip to meet up with our dear friends Perry and Beth, who we first met in Florida and have since met up with on Lopez Island, in Nashville, and at Big Bend National Park. (Sharing travel adventures with good friends is the best!)
Campsites at the state park are hard to come by, but we discovered nearby Santos Trailhead State Park. The park is known as a mecca for mountain bikers, but it’s also only 10 miles from Silver Springs State Park. We enjoyed biking the (easy) trails at Santos, an afternoon glass-bottom boat tour at Silver Springs, and a full day of kayaking on the Silver River. There’s nothing like the crystal clear turquoise waters of the Florida springs.
Cedar Key & Friends
We followed up our adventures at Silver Springs with a few days at Cedar Key, one of our all-time favorite spots in Florida. We love the biking, kayaking, the quirky little town, and the birding. And despite the sardine-like accommodations of Sunset Isle RV Park, it’s where we always choose to stay. The people are friendly, it’s biking distance to town, there’s a tiki bar next door, and the sunsets are spectacular. We enjoyed sharing Cedar Key adventures with Beth and Perry, and also met up for a fun happy hour with Karen and Krash, who spend their winters in Cedar Key and with whom we have many friends in common in the RVing world.
Sunset at Cedar Key, Florida
The Okefenokee Swamp (An adventure in south Georgia)
We enjoyed our visit to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in 2018 when we visited the eastern side of the park and were captivated by the beauty of the wetland prairie. This time, we spent several days on the western side at Stephen C. Foster State Park in Fargo, Georgia. We took a guided boat tour of the swamp, kayaked the swamp, biked the trails, and hiked. I’ve seen enough alligators to last me a lifetime, but the bobcat was very cool.
A postscript: The saga with my parents has dramatically escalated since we left Florida in early April. Despite our best efforts to prevent disaster (which I wrote about here), my mother fell and broke her arm 10 days after we left and she’s now in a rehab facility with little hope of returning home. We are tenaciously attempting to continue on with our lives and our travels while managing care for my parents long-distance. I am acutely aware that it is the end of an era, but I take comfort in knowing that they had a good long run. My parents embraced every day, and never held back in going for their dreams. We’re trying our best to do the same.
Happy and sad, happy and sad. Happy for a new post from you, sad when I’m done reading it (never tire of them, I try to read slowly!) Happy you had lots of good friend time in Florida, sad we weren’t among them. Happy you are still grabbing life with tenacity, sad to know of your struggles to help your folks. Mostly happy, though, that they instilled their zest for adventure in you, and that you share it and inspire the rest of us.
P.S. I have fond memories of riding in a glass-bottomed boat at Silver Springs with my brother on our first vacation to visit my grandparents.
I appreciate your kind comment, Joodie. I’m very grateful to my folks for all of the adventures that we had as a family camping and boating. They definitely instilled in me a love of travel (although my sister hates to ride in the car, so it had the opposite effect on her, LOL).
How fun that you’ve been to Silver Springs! I remember the glass-bottomed boat ride from my childhood, too. But this was our first time kayaking the river, and it was even better. It would be wonderful to share some of those Florida adventures with you two!
Oh the adventures you two have had this past winter. It’s been almost a year since we saw you here in Montesano; how life quickly changes for all of us. We’re so sorry to hear about your mother’s fall and, now, her being in the rehab center. Here’s hoping you can continue the NE adventure; we totally understand the difficulties of being so far away from family when these things happen. Good luck with all the tasks ahead of you….
It seems like such a long time ago that we were in Montesano with you guys—and it also seems like yesterday. Lots of miles and adventures since then!
Thanks so much for your good wishes. It’s difficult being far away from my folks, but so far, I’m able to manage their care by phone (and there’s a LOT to manage). Hope all is well in your lives! I keep looking for a blog post update from you. :-)
I’m so sorry to hear about your mother’s fall and broken arm. There’s only so much we can do, as adult children, to protect our parents and it sounds like you have done your best to ensure their well-being while continuing to enjoy your own lives.
As always, your wildlife photos are stunning! Love the bobcat, but not the ‘gators!
It’s challenging to manage care for elderly parents, as you know, Les. We’re doing our best to continue our lives and our journey while still helping my folks. It’s not an easy time in life for them or for us.
So glad you enjoyed the photos. The wildlife in Florida really is wonderful!
Ahhh to be that close to both the bobcat and the roseate spoonbills makes me want to come be with you right now! Then I read of the push me pull me of the family vortex and my guts churn knowing what it could mean for you both in the year ahead….the bitter with the sweet…I admire your determination to continue that family legacy of travel adventure and to suck the marrow from the natural bones !!!! YES…YES…YES!!! D.
Diana, I know you understand, having gone through helping your mom in her last years. I’m trying my best to maintain balance, with more grace sometimes than others. But I do have determination in my favor. :-)
We miss you two! Enjoy your beautiful spring blooming gardens!
ah, so good to hear from you, yet sad to hear of your mother’s travails. Difficult situation most assuredly. As always you are handling it with grace as best as you can. So nice to see the photos of Florida, remember our fun afternoon with you. It is amazing how many friends you have accumulated in your travels, all of them sound like so much fun. Interesting people, fun times. Looking forward to reading more about your journey northward along the east side of the country, and really looking forward to that Wood River kayak with you two someday.
Thank you, Sue. We enjoyed so much meeting up with you and Mo and Mattie in Apalachicola. How perfect that we were all there at the same time! We’re happily anticipating kayaking the Wood River with you when we return to Oregon. It’s still one of the most beautiful kayak trips we’ve ever done. It’s an ideal trip with friends because that river is not possible to kayak upstream, and we can leave vehicles at both ends to create our own shuttle.
We’re loving our all-new explorations as we head north and east! Our next post gets us on our way (finally!).
Kayaking the springs in Florida always looked like something I would enjoy. Too bad I would have to go to Florida to do it…haha! Sweet that you were able to meet with so many friends while in the area. Sure hope your parents are able to continue on their own with the necessary help you have gotten for them. This is one of the harder aspects of life on the road.
Yes indeed, you must come back to Florida to kayak with us! You would love it, Pam. (Even that won’t entice you back, will it? 😁)
We had such a great time meeting up with friends during our Florida travels. It really was a bright spot for us in our time there, which was all-consuming with my parents’ care. You are so fortunate that your mom agreed to move into an assisted living facility. I wish my folks would do the same.
So many great wildlife sightings!! That duo in your header is such a great capture. Love your bobcat!! LOL on seeing enough alligators :-)
We agree Cedar Key was our favorite spot in what we saw of Florida – such a quirky and unique little piece of heaven.
So sorry to hear about your mom’s fall, and yet a broken arm may be the lesser of so many possible “evils” that our elder parents can face. You and Eric have been so good about making it possible for them to stay in their home for so long. Keep moving forward.
Hugs
We had wonderful wildlife sightings in Florida, Jodee. And we were thrilled with the bobcat sighting in the Okefenokee. But as I said, there are way too many gators. I think they need to thin the herd. :-)
You are right that a broken arm seems to be the lesser of so many bad things that can happen to elderly parents. But it’s shocking how debilitating a broken arm is for an 88-year-old with dementia. It has been a downhill cascade, with my dad following close behind. Thanks for the hugs, I need them!
Perhaps the only place I will kayak will be at the Nature Coast in Florida. If we have to come back, Cedar Key will be on the short list.
Time with you and Eric is always precious and we do make the most of our short time together. Thank you so much for being gracious host in your winter state.
Elderly parents are most stubborn, simply because they have done and been to all. Patience is key and hope that your Dad will get by while your mom is under rehab. Know that they love you and understand you. They don’t expect you to be with them all the time.
MonaLiza, we loved our time with you and Steve. It was so much fun being together, catching up, and creating new memories. We can’t wait to see you again! If we can ever entice you to come back to Florida, you will enjoy kayaking around Cedar Key, and also you will love kayaking the beautiful springs.
You understand exactly the dilemma with my folks. I appreciate your support and encouragement. :-)
A bittersweet post to be sure! Sounds like a wonderful winter filled with friends, adventure and even a bob cat sighting! Your swamp pics brought back memories of the Everglades from when I lived in Miami..the first place I lived in America!
I know how challenging it can be with elderly parents, having just spent a month visiting my folks who recently moved to a home for the elderly. So sorry to read about your moms fall. That must be very hard to deal with for her and for you…happening as it did just after you left. How wonderful they cherish all the moments. The hardest thing for me to see is how my dad has such a hard time accepting his new life confined to a wheelchair. And how my mom struggles to be his main caregiver. We can only do so much.
Peta
Peta, you understand on the deepest level how difficult it is to leave elderly parents behind—I wish we lived closer so that we could easily visit often, but we’re far away for most of the year. As you said, we can only do so much. As with your dad, it’s very difficult for my dad to adjust to his declining abilities. I think they still envision themselves as young, which isn’t a bad thing, but it’s dangerous! We can only hope that we will be more accepting of our limitations when we confront the same, right?
I didn’t know you lived in Miami! That’s where I grew up. :-)
We are so sorry to hear about your mom’s health issues, especially since I know how much they wanted to stay in their own home forever. Managing and communicating with mom, dad, and medical staff from the road must be exceptionally hard. Needless to say, you have our sympathy and well wishes. I hope this doesn’t side track your plans this year too much — but luckily you have the flexibility to change plans and/or make a return visit in the future when the situation is more conducive to enjoying travels.
I am at least glad to see that you managed to enjoy many of the highlights of northern Florida. There are many wonderful places to kayak, and the water is almost always warm with abundant wildlife. Sure, some of that wildlife includes mosquitoes, but that’s biodiversity for you!
I appreciate so much your kind words, Shannon. My folks still really want to stay in their home, and it’s excruciating to witness how difficult this is for them. It’s challenging to keep my dad on board with keeping my mom in rehab, but it’s just not safe for her to be at home right now. Part of my challenge is trying to monitor the situation and figure out what is possible. And finding help, which as you can imagine in Apalachicola, is really difficult. It is NOT a locale to “age in place.”
Despite all of the difficulties, we did enjoy some wonderful kayaking and time with friends. Ha, mosquitoes and other biting bugs are one big reason I left Florida behind many years ago. And that’s why we visit Florida only in the winter. :-)
Wishing you strength and patience as you deal with the ongoing challenges of your aging parents.
Thank you, Lisa. I know you understand, having been through a very difficult time when your mom was ill and passed away. I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Wouldn’t you know it, just when we plan on coming up to Lopez Island this summer, you head east to Florida. One of these days….
— jc&bev
Nooo!! That is such a bummer. I can’t believe we’re going to miss meeting up with you two again! We have to plan this better. :-)
We were so happy to finally be able to meet you and Eric this winter in Cedar Key, but are so sorry for what you are now experiencing with your parents. You’ve worked tirelessly to keep them as situated as possible in their home, but despite best efforts, life still happens. Keeping you all in our thoughts, as you venture northeast this summer.
Karen, we were so happy to meet up with you and Krash in Cedar Key! You guys have settled on a wonderful place for your winter home. :-) We look forward to seeing you again there (next winter?) or when our travels take us to Michigan, which is definitely on our list!
Thank you so much for your kind wishes for my folks and for us. Hope you two have a delightful summer!
Hope your mom is mending. Aging is a tough job that can be unkind. As much as we want to help them and fix them, we can’t. Enjoy your journey.
Aging is most definitely a tough job, Deb. I don’t know if it’s ever easy for anyone. But truthfully, I didn’t know it was going to be so challenging with my folks. We’re just taking it day by day, and doing our best to enjoy our lives along the way.
You are never far from my thoughts these days. I sympathize and empathize with everything you’re going through. I’m so glad you’ve been able to keep getting out, traveling, spending time with your friends, and making the best of a horrendously difficult situation. It is so difficult to balance these challenges and you are doing so admirably. I’m sending along the biggest of hugs.
I appreciate so much your loving support, Laura. You have been enormously encouraging during these challenging times, including reminding me to take breaks and to take care of myself while also caring for my folks. No one can ever prepare us for this job, but friends make it more bearable.
Hi Laurel and Eric,
I just discovered your Blog after reading a comment you made on Green Global Trek. Something about your sincerity made me want to come over and check you guys out. I’m glad I did. We are not RV’ers, but we do love to travel, and we live in Florida. We take a lot of road trips,and I have written quite a lot about Florida’s Coasts on our blog.
The Forgotten Coast (Apalachicola) is a favorite for many reasons, but natural beauty is the first thing that comes to mind. Your photographs (which are beautiful) make me want to plan another visit in the Fall. There are so many beautiful state parks in Florida, and I am sure you have visited a lot of them, but if you want to discover a few more, please drop by and read our Discover Florida Series. So nice to meet you.
Safe travels. Suzanne
Suzanne, thank you for your kind comments about our blog. Apalachicola and the Forgotten Coast are dear to my heart not only for their natural beauty but also because of my family roots there. I will definitely be checking out your blog! It’s fun to meet another Floridian, especially someone with an appreciation for the natural side of Florida. :-)
From the pics and your post, sounds like you guys had a great summer and re-connected with some fellow full-timers…always good times. So sorry to hear about your mom’s fall and broken arm. It is hard to watch the decline of your parents and know they are in a new phase of their lives.
We too enjoyed Cedar Key, it so reminded us of Old Florida…not the commercial Florida.
Thanks for sharing your winter with us.
Gerri, we love Cedar Key and Apalachicola for exactly that reason—they are the “Old Florida,” and the total opposite of the commercialized side of Florida (which doesn’t appeal to us at all).
We’ve been thinking about you two and hoping that all is well.
I seem to be as behind in reading blog posts as you often say you are in writing them Laurel! It was great to see that you had some wonderful adventures with friends while in Florida. The balance between living our lives and assisting with elderly parents can be very trying. I pray that your parents’ situation is a bit better as of this writing.
Oh, LuAnn, I am always so happy to hear from you! We did have many wonderful moments in Florida with friends and many sweet moments with my family. As you said, it’s very challenging to find the balance between living our lives and helping my parents. Thank you for your loving thoughts.
Yay! Another post to pour over. As always, your photographs take one away to the beauty you saw. I have a love/hate relationship with Florida. Many lovely memories on the books, many not so lovely ones too! We’re both looking forward to a little time there during the holidays this year but I’m not sure we’ll return after that. We’ve missed Cedar Key, perhaps the sardine ish campgrounds put me off, but we’ll give it another chance this January. Through your eyes it looks perfect!
End of an era, handle with grace, balance, empathy, challenge, fighting hard, stubborn, tears, sad, broken, dementia, kindness, excrutiating, best efforts, tough job, managing, flexibility, visit, beautiful, unbearable, understanding, patience, cherish, aging, fix, all-consuming, love, memories……all of these words and none of these words can describe what you’re all going through. This, too, shall pass.
Sue, I have a love/hate relationship with Florida, too. So many things I love (in addition to my family), including the natural beauty, wildlife, and the feeling of “home” for me. But I don’t at all enjoy heat, humidity, and bugs—hence, we leave in April. :-)
Everything you said about our experience with my folks is exactly right. I’m just doing my best to stay present with what is happening in the moment and trying to maintain some semblance of balance (as you have witnessed). It’s a challenging situation, to say the least.
A Bob Cat???!!!!! How Fabulous!