Monday, October 12, 2015

W.P. FRANKLIN COE CAMPGROUND…ALVA, FL

Monday, October 12 – We moved over to the Gulf Coast of Florida this morning, stopping at the W.P. Franklin Campground in Alva, FL, which is just outside of Fort Myers.

The driveway to the campground is lovely.WP Franklin COE Campground

WP Franklin COE Campground

WP Franklin COE Campground

The campground is almost completely surrounded by the Caloosahatchee River with just a narrow stretch of land connecting it to the shore. This is a Corp of Engineering park with 50 amp electric and water. The streets and campsites are concrete with nice spacing between the sites. We have a nice patio, fire ring, grill and covered picnic table. There is also a dump station available. They accept the America the Beautiful discount card so with half off we are only paying $15 per night. :-)

WP Franklin COE Campground

WP Franklin COE Campground

Looking right.
WP Franklin COE Campground

Looking left.
WP Franklin COE Campground

Looking at the dam from our picnic table.
WP Franklin COE Campground

There are actually two camping areas. We are right on the water in Site #22 and feel this section has better spacing between the sites and is less crowded. We have one of two pull-thru sites. There are three pull-thru sites in the other loop, but they are not water front sites. So we recommend Site #22-30 if available. We talked to a neighbor and he said it is nearly impossible to get a site here in the winter.

There are even boat dockage sites. 50 amp electric is available. W.P. Franklin Campground

There is a boat ramp here, and it is very busy. People are boating, fishing for Mullet and Tilapia, kayaking, etc.

W.P. Franklin Campground

After getting set-up, we headed back into town to get groceries and to fuel the truck at $2.23/gallon. Upon returning to the CG, Marsha had some laundry to do so Paul relaxed along the shore. He had Bella, our cat, to keep him company and another friend stopped by to say hello......a Manatee!

Manatee

How neat is that. He was enjoying lunch of lily pads. A fellow stopped by and said it is unusual for them to be here. We are up river of the lock and dam, and they usually are out closer to the Gulf.

Manatee

We will be here for five days so stop back and see what adventures we find.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!

REST AND RELAXATION DAY

Sunday, October 11 – A nice quiet day here at Midway Campground in Big Cypress. We walked our loop road several times for our exercise and then decided to just chill for the day.

When we were on our boardwalk walk yesterday, Marsha asked the Ranger if he had seen any Wood Storks yet this year. He said that they should be on there way. He did see three the other day. The Wood Stork is a large American wading bird. Well, lo and behold, we were sitting in the fifth wheel, and Marsha looked out the window. Guess what she saw…not one, not two, but THREE Wood Storks in the trees. She jumped up and ran out with her camera. She is easy to make happy.

Wood Stork

Wood Stork

The American crows in this area are as big as small hens. Each time we take Bella out, there are two that come around just to annoy her. We don’t know which one is bigger…Bella or the crow.

Bella eyeing the monster.
Bella

The monster.The photo just doesn’t do the size justice.
American crow

Marsha has never seen a white bristle brush. She has only seen red. Easily excited...yet again.

DSC04681

The End.
Wood Stork

Monday morning we are headed for St. Petersburg. We will be staying in the COE campground in Alva, FL.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see y’all back real soon. Have a great day!