Fort DeSoto

As we moved along the western coast Florida, we stopped for a few days in one of our favorite campgrounds in the State, Ft. DeSoto County Park, and combined that with a visit with some "old" friends.  Windy weather on our arrival prevented our planned kayak outing but biking was still a viable option.  With seven miles of paved trails, and rentals available for visitors without bikes, this a wonderful way to get around the 1136 acres of parklands.

Ft. DeSoto

The namesake for the park, Fort DeSoto, has been newly refurbished, and while probably not a strong draw for the park, it is definitely worth checking out while you are there.  Mother Nature is what shines brightest here, with glistening white sand beaches, mangrove-lined shores for kayaking and fishing, two fishing piers, a boat tour to Egmont Key and a variety of Florida's feathered friends for birdwatchers.  Kayak rentals are available, along with two bait shops, a couple of gift shops and snack bars.

Our visit happened to overlap with the Out of the Blue-The Art of Celebrating the Ocean Event at the Saint Petersburg Museum of History, hosted by Chart 411.  The week-long event started off with a slide show and talk given by author, explorer, photographer and conservationist, Michael Aw.  With proceeds benefiting the USF College of Marine Science's Oceanography Camp for Girls and Chart 411's educational programs.  Chart 411 is a St. Pete organization that focuses on issues affecting the Gulf of Mexico.

Camping within the park has always been a positive experience, regardless of the weather.

But we've made the decision to change our travel mode for a while, so the RV is being sold, and this will be our last camping trip to Ft. DeSoto for the foreseeable future.

A short Caribbean cruise is next on the agenda, with a five-week trip to South America on the schedule for 2015.