Jacqueline’s Jaunts

21 May 2025, Everglades National Park, Florida Everglades National Park, here we come. The park is only about an hour’s drive from Southern Comfort RV Park. We arrived at the Shark Valley Visitor Center in time to get our Passport Books stamped before our tram tour. At 9:00 AM, we boarded the Shark Valley Tram after a ranger orientation. The tram offers a guided, two-hour tour along a 15-mile loop trail through the "River of Grass." The tram was shaded, which made me happy.  It was the dry season, so there was not much water until we got to the observation tower. We would stop along the way to view alligators in what water was available. Our Ranger Guide informed us that the alligators will stay in the pipes that run under the road from side to side. The water is cool in the pipes. We also got to see baby alligators a few times. Halfway, we stopped at the observation tower that looks over the river that flows through this part of the park. This location is the heart of the Ev...

29 March 2025, Santa Nella, California I did not fall asleep until 4:00 AM, but Barry let me sleep until about 8:30 this morning. I wish I knew why I cannot sleep. I am turning into my mother. I walked out to see birds while Barry did his thing with the RV. I saw a Turkey Vulture, hundreds of Red-winged Blackbirds and about eight Rock Pigeons. We packed up after breakfast and headed down I-5.  We do not miss the road conditions in California. Not much has changed on I-5, other than more housing. We made it to Santa Nella around 2:30 PM. Uncle Richard and Aunt Laura met us at our RV park around 3:00 PM. They came from Uncle Richard's seventy-first Turlock High School reunion in Turlock, California. Aunt Laura and I took off to the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in her new car. It is only about ten minutes west of the RV park. The whole reason we camped here is to visit this cemetery. My Uncle Sam Threet, Aunt Florence and Laura’s first husband, George Heiser, are buried there....

Today was another property search day with K & J, Santa Maria, Nipomo, and Orcutt. We drove through a few gated communities but nothing with room for RV and boat storage. We did see a few lovely older homes with large lots, but the houses need a lot of work.  We ate in Orcutt at Blast 825 Brewery, Brussels sprouts, super tater-tots, steak bites, and onion rings. Don't worry; we did order a basket of fries. We love this place. Great looking brewery. Unfortunately, there were only a few homes to see in this area after lunch.  Long-Billed Curlew We were home by 4 PM. We decided to walk the campground to stretch our legs. Then we had a last-minute decision and walked to the beach. It was cool and windy, but a great time to be on the beach. Only a few people and lots of birds. Just to hear the ocean and birds was worth dealing with the cool air.  Most of the clam shells were complete Long-Billed Curlew While we went on our walk. Jan put the lasagne in the oven and prepared...