Not Charlie Brown /  by Dave Hileman

The Kite Guy was on the beach at the appropriately named Top Sail Hill Preserve State Park. He was flying his two string kite but he also had a four string kite to try out. He was able to perform impressive maneuvers with this kite that had a surprisingly long tail. It was all nylon, very light. I enjoyed watching him for 15 minutes. It looked like fun but I expect that I would end up more like Charlie than Kite Guy.

Apalachicola Chocolate and Coffee Company /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, ChO

Before we begin I must point out that I discovered this hidden gem by the traffic out front of the store. I ascertained the number of people and the smiles coming out meant something good inside. This is not something Paul Hollywood could do cause all of his “discoveries” are delivered to his tent.

But on with the review. Wow. What a great place. “Everything is made in-house” is an oft heard refrain yet more than once I wished they sent out for something decent. NOT HERE. It was excellent. I could go on about the coffee, the cakes, or the chocolates. The young lady behind the counter was very knowledgeable, personable and if she was selling houses I would not have to live in the Big Pill with the PhotoCentric Human. She offered us informed opinions, a sample and as a testimony to her skill got me, yes me, to buy $22 worth of chocolate. Her employer needs to give her a raise. Today! The chocolate was more than good. Fabulous is accurate.

But all that said I want to talk about the cinnamon roll. It is the Great British Baking Show I need to impress and they only use chocolate in stuff. So I will focus on baked goods. Many cinnamon rolls are just not edible. Some are slathered with cream cheese - an affront to mankind, others have hidden raisins - counterfeiters have more decency, some hide nuts - sure, let’s put something hard in a cushion of goodness, or promise cinnamon but deliver aroma. And, please, do not get me started on the place in the mall. Is there even a bun under all that goop?

None of these shenanigans at the Apalachicola Chocolate and Coffee Company. They define cinnamon rolls: yeasty, full of cinnamon, sugar glazed and perfectly raised and baked. This is a roll that you cannot even touch without having to lick your hoof. In other words, flawless. All other cinnamon rolls ought to be judged by this one.

Promise /  by Dave Hileman

Where does the road go, what is over the horizon and what adventures await the traveler? The exciting promise of places you have not seen.

The joy of the road before you and the promise of people to meet, things to see, hikes to take and parks to photograph is more than enticing it is compelling. We have left Florida and heading west. A stop in Louisiana and a couple of days along the Gulf coast of Texas and then we strike out for Big Bend National Park and Guadeloupe Mountains National Park with a couple of smaller sites along the way. Then on to parks in New Mexico, Arizona, Utah, and Colorado before going back to the northern half of New Mexico. Our trailer seems to be OK after a couple of small repairs. We have enjoyed Florida - great parks and great friends (some of those friends are traveling to Texas as well), but I am ready to strike out on more roads that I have not traveled, see the amazing beauty of this country and learn yet more of the history.

Whee /  by Dave Hileman

Slinky Dog Dash at Disney, a “first” coaster. By that they mean small kids and large get to learn how to wait patiently in line for a hour or more for a 2 minute 30 second ride. It is cute, it is fun, but…

Eye of the Storm /  by Dave Hileman

This osprey cast a watchful eye on the bay for both food and threats to the nest 1/4 mile up the river. I saw two heads just barely over the nest. They are a vigilant bird but they, like nearly all wild things, need to be to survive. The more I watch osprey the more I enjoy them.

Northern Parula /  by Dave Hileman

This is a delightful find. I have seen this a couple of times but not for many years. It winters in the West Indies and Mexico and it is on the annual migration now. It likes wet area like swamps and ponds so it is not an easy bird to spot. They also are one of the few birds that will nest in Spanish moss. All warblers are small but this is one of the smallest, well under five inches with a soft trill for a call. This male was a visitor to our trailer at St George Island State Park. Note the split eye ring - an interesting feature.

McDonXXXX /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, McD

No, absolutely not. No, I am not doing it. Really, its a little Scottish Restaurant? Well, that could be okay. No, wait, you are tricking me. There was no haggis on the menu. I will not review a place that serves its food in a paper sack. You did’t even order the food they gave it to you cause they could not sell it. I heard the girl. I will not stoop to reviewing a place like this. Paul Hollywood would laugh at me and the GBBS would never call. NO, nope, non-starter, fini. I still have the fabulous place in Africa, the desserts at the Boardwalk, the breakfast at the boat place and the pile all the food you can hold on a table place, we can do the breakfast place or even a coffee shop but not, I repeat, not give-a-way burgers in yellow paper. Never. I have standards. Not sure what they are yet but when I get them, your “little Scottish restaurant” won’t be on that list. I will be mortified if Mr. Hollywood even hears about this little conversation.

Just Another Morning /  by Dave Hileman

We were up early to walk on the beach and enjoy sunrise at St. George Island State Park. This has been a gorgeous park. We walked a bit over 2 miles past the end of the paved road and we were still a long way from the end of the island. There were also two other hikes we did not get to do and we discovered after leaving the park how interesting Apalachicola, Florida was. It took just 15 minutes to downtown. The Moose will be reviewing the chocolate store next week. What a great place, we hope to get a spot next year. The only downside were the no-see-ems. Cindy and I got bit a few times she way more than me. See what happens when you are a sweet person. Doesn’t pay!

Camping Recap - Week Six /  by Dave Hileman

We began the week at Ochlockonee River State Park on the “bend” in Florida. We had two sites, #22 for three nights and 16 for one night. This park is very remote, quiet and well managed and offers both electric and water at your site. We enjoyed the river walks, the inland walk in a pine forest with tall grasses and access to Bald River State Park with great beach and lots of birds. Clean restrooms and the sites were well placed with lots of greenery around us and easy access to the river path. Then we moved to St. George Island State Park. We were here for 3 nights in site 21. Again very nice bathhouses, ample space, E & W, lots of green and great paths. The best feature is miles of pristine beach. Miles. Also easy access to the large bay with its more calm water and beautiful spot for kayaking. Both of these places are excellent and we hope to be back. Bonus: the ice cream shop near the bridge opened up on our last night!

In the moonlight at St. George Island

Oliver viewed from the river on the path from our site at the O. River State Park.

Sopchoppy. /  by Dave Hileman

Sopchoppy is a small village on the “bend” of Florida a short distance to the Gulf. We camped nearby at a state park. Sopchoppy was a much busier place years ago. The railroad stopped here, there was a timber, turpentine and fishing industry. The town had a nice high school, community center, several churches, four streets of stores, groceries and farming supply stores and it was home to many more people than live here now. The name may have come from an Indian word for “long, twisty river.”

There is one store left in town, a grocery and I was there a couple of days before it too would close. I was wandering around taking photos - what a surprise, and decided to stop in the store. I did not know it was about to close for good. I worked briefly at one like this back in Springdale. During high school I filled in delivering groceries for a friend who was going a trip with his family. There were at least five of these in a 12 block area where I grew up. None now. As I went toward the store an 80’s era four door sedan pulled up and two women got out and headed for the store. I opened the door for them and the older of the pair said, “Thank you. Folks don’t do that much anymore.” The store’s shelves were nearly empty, the butcher long gone but they still sold biscuits for breakfast. You could sit at one of two tables with plastic checkered table coverings and have breakfast or lunch.

I met the two ladies on an aisle, hard not to, and began a conversation. Turned out Miss Euretha lived here her whole life and just turned 85. She was with one of her four daughters and they were looking forward to a family reunion in July in the old community building. She came to see the store one more time. She said she remembers when as a little girl she got to buy candy here once. I expect life was difficult here for a young black girl in the 1940’s but she has fond memories of this town. Euretha is the minister of the Church of Christ here and we talked about faith for a bit.

She and her daughter added a lot to my walk around a troubled old town with not much of a future. Sopchoppy has become a byword in Florida for a declining rural community. Their claim to fame is the annual Worm Grunting Contest. True.

Chefs de France - EPCOT /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, RoI

Ah, France. Le Tower de Eiffel, Le Left Bank, Le First National Bank, Le Pâtisserie, Le Arc de Triumph, Le Traffic, Le Fiat, Le Repair Shop. The world renowned nourriture au restaurant meets the world renowned critique. Of course, it would be much better if we were actually in France and the Great British Baking Show staff could just stroll over and watch me in action. It looks like just a short walk. Sadly, we are in faux France. However, the food is prepared by a master French chef cuisinier and served by aloof, surly, apprentice actual French wait staff. (ED NOTE: the staff were kind and helpful and there is no place for out-of-date stereotypes in TLT. Moose has been given two demerits.)

Now on to the food. Spectacular! We started with a lovely salad, crunchy actual French bread and a light chardonnay. Everything is done right. There is cream for the coffee, actual butter for the bread and a fancy glass for the wine. How cool is that, no paper cup like in the trailer. Next came the plat principal. PhotoNut had a filet, rice and haricots verts sautés. Superbly done but so ordinary that I will not show the photo. KindOne ordered brilliantly - Bœuf Bourguignon with buttered noodles. And then dessert. Magnifique. It was a chocolate tart, with chocolate mousse and crumbles and homemade vanilla ice cream or as I like to say, Tarte au chocolat, avec mousse au chocolat et crumbles et glace maison à la vanille. A simply perfect meal, perfectly done, perfectly served, and perfectly enjoyed.

Over all -  Five Antlers! Certain gagnant

Editor is not as accomplished in French as I. He tried to give me an award for merit but misspelled the French, it is “d’un grand mérite.”

One Morning /  by Dave Hileman

We were out to see sun rise a few times at the Ochlocknee River State Park but this morning was the only one where the sun peaked out and even on this day it was not for long. The mist rolled in about 5 in the evening and canceled sunset - one night a few rays shown across the grasses, and stayed until mid-morning. This spot was only a few yards from the campsite and made a great place to enjoy morning coffee even without the light show, the sky lightened and the river was still before the wind picked up for the day.

Muffin - Moose Mini Appraisal /  by Dave Hileman

by Cadillac Moose, PhD, REM

Ah, the muffin, a perfect accompaniment to a morning coffee. But what makes the ultimate muffin? It must be a tinge sweet but not overdone like a cupcake, it must have a golden brown domed top and served warm. A great muffin will be mixed properly and often includes a bit of fruit, some berries or nuts or a crumb topping and, of course, no frosting in sight.

One morning we trekked to the Poly and had a pot of pressed Kona coffee and a single mocha muffin. It was perfection in a fluted paper. I took a small crumb and expertly pressed it together to ascertain the moisture content, savored the spicy aroma and ate the whole thing, not leaving pieces on the plate.

Overall rating - 5 Antlers

Postscript: I hope the review was not to technical for the lay reader but I need to show the Great British Baking Show that I am not just a stare and a handshake like one unnamed host.

A Little Balance /  by Dave Hileman

We are in a slow area and striving to slow down a bit after the very busy time in central Florida. It seems as if we are either going too fast or not going at all. I would rather strike a balance but then, apparently, not to much cause I am the one who usually makes the schedules and packs the trips. Why, I don’t exactly know. But each day seems like things need to happen, places to go, photos to take or repairs and planning or….

Maybe next week.

DIY RV Repair /  by Dave Hileman

I am so pleased to have not only fixed my furnace with a new sail switch, hung a new mirror in the bathroom and, big applause, replaced my water pump. To add even more drama, this involved, pipes, water, wires, stubborn bolts and a big knife. Now, I will add I had an able assistant who handled tools, sought out parts, loaned a tool or two and offered both advice and encouragement - so thank you Rusty. But I do note he couldn’t keep a bit of surprise from his voice when I said “no leaks.” Understandable considering my level or fixitness. But I am tired paying 150 /189 dollars per hour labor charges, so I am learning. It is a steep curve. It is also my experience that many of the repairs done are not done that well anyway, so at least I know who to blame now:)

Funds to send me to RV College can be sent to: C. Moose, PhD and Dean of Student.

Camping Recap Fifth Week /  by Dave Hileman

We were in three campgrounds (four sites) on week five. We began the week at Lake Louisa State Park and were there also on Friday. In between we were at Fort Wilderness Campground, our last Disney days this trip. Then on Saturday and Sunday we were near Land O Lakes, FL at a Harvest Host called Landscape. Nice place and close enough for us to go and see some friends Sunday morning.

Fort Wilderness, site 20 in section 2100, Bobcat Bend

Landscape Place near Land O Lakes, FL

Lake Louisa State Park, site 45