Well I've been gone for a couple nights out camping if you want to call it camping. I guess you could since it was in the middle of the woods without any street lights , pavement or TV.
We did have lights and ceiling fans in the cabin along with bunk beds.
We were at Hontoon State Park which is an island in the St Johns River just west of Deland , Fla. The Rangers have to bring the pontoon boat across the river to the landing to pick you up and transport you to the Island. There is no charge for that. Also since it is 3/10ths of a mile to the campground from the reception center they will even transport you to the campground , by a van , to make your stay even nicer. If you have a over stuffed backpack that is really nice. One Ranger told us that some folks bring everything , including the kitchen sink or so it seams like they do. We did not have that much.
As luck would have it Mac and I had cabin #4 for Tuesday and Wednesday night and we were the only ones camping there at that time.
During the week is the best time to go since the weekends get real busy. The middle of the week is really the best time to be there.
While hiking the paths we saw White Tail Deer , Turkeys , Coons , Possums , just all sorts of wildlife. Even while at the cabin enjoying a snack of summer sausage , cheese , Ritz crackers and a coke with ice we had a Turkey walk past the cabin and the 2nd day while having breakfast we had a deer walk past us.
The Cabins are clean , the bunk beds are nice , clean and comfortable. We had the 6 person cabin so one bunk bed was for each of us and the rest were storage for all our gear.
The screen porch was really nice at the cabin , it offered a good place to relax and take a break.
The restroom in the center of the campground is clean with two stalls for relief , two for showers and two basins for washing up , the hot water is HOT. By the way the tent sites are large and really nice along with the Youth Camping area.
Tuesday night it was suppose to be in the middle 60's so all I took was a sheet and pillow with me , big mistake. The temp dropped and I ended up sleeping with my slacks on , socks , two shirts and the sheet. Early morning I woke up and thought something was wrong so I took a look and saw a Field Mouse in the one corner of the cabin , I shined the light on him and Mac asked what was I doing . I told him I saw a field mouse and it ran from the corner to under my bunk. Well looking around I could not find him and I guess Mac thought I had lost my mind since he could not see it from the other side of the cabin.
Back to the cold........... Decided that it was enough in the morning we went into town and picked up a individual throw cover for the two of us to use the coming night. Sure has heck it warmed up but the cover did feel good in the early morning.
Packing up this morning ( Thursday ) Mac got his dry bag which is also a backpack and after picking it up off the cabin floor at the front of his bunk bed he looked in it and looking back was the little Field Mouse. Mr Mouse was escorted out side and released , along with the nest he or she was building in Mac's bag. I am not sure if it was to his ( Mr. Mouse ) liking since the Owls were sounding off each night , there are plenty of them on the island. The owls along with a full moon sure made it a nice trip , the cold weather was comfortable but just a little to cold for summer camping.
I will be back there at times , if not for more then just to get away from everything and enjoy an evening out camping.
***... The tent sites are really large and well thought out. If you are hammock camping all the sites will work for a hammock , Tent site #1 , there are 4 places a person can hang a hammock.
***... When camping in a tent or hammock , make sure you have a secure place for your food , we had one Raccoon we called Bandit , Bandit tried his level best to get on the porch even after we cleaned the cooking gear and took the remains to the trash cans. "O" By the way , he was ... WELL FED .... judging from looking at him. :wink:
Chuck.......
Pictures are from the States web site.
We did have lights and ceiling fans in the cabin along with bunk beds.
We were at Hontoon State Park which is an island in the St Johns River just west of Deland , Fla. The Rangers have to bring the pontoon boat across the river to the landing to pick you up and transport you to the Island. There is no charge for that. Also since it is 3/10ths of a mile to the campground from the reception center they will even transport you to the campground , by a van , to make your stay even nicer. If you have a over stuffed backpack that is really nice. One Ranger told us that some folks bring everything , including the kitchen sink or so it seams like they do. We did not have that much.
As luck would have it Mac and I had cabin #4 for Tuesday and Wednesday night and we were the only ones camping there at that time.
During the week is the best time to go since the weekends get real busy. The middle of the week is really the best time to be there.
While hiking the paths we saw White Tail Deer , Turkeys , Coons , Possums , just all sorts of wildlife. Even while at the cabin enjoying a snack of summer sausage , cheese , Ritz crackers and a coke with ice we had a Turkey walk past the cabin and the 2nd day while having breakfast we had a deer walk past us.
The Cabins are clean , the bunk beds are nice , clean and comfortable. We had the 6 person cabin so one bunk bed was for each of us and the rest were storage for all our gear.
The screen porch was really nice at the cabin , it offered a good place to relax and take a break.
The restroom in the center of the campground is clean with two stalls for relief , two for showers and two basins for washing up , the hot water is HOT. By the way the tent sites are large and really nice along with the Youth Camping area.
Tuesday night it was suppose to be in the middle 60's so all I took was a sheet and pillow with me , big mistake. The temp dropped and I ended up sleeping with my slacks on , socks , two shirts and the sheet. Early morning I woke up and thought something was wrong so I took a look and saw a Field Mouse in the one corner of the cabin , I shined the light on him and Mac asked what was I doing . I told him I saw a field mouse and it ran from the corner to under my bunk. Well looking around I could not find him and I guess Mac thought I had lost my mind since he could not see it from the other side of the cabin.
Back to the cold........... Decided that it was enough in the morning we went into town and picked up a individual throw cover for the two of us to use the coming night. Sure has heck it warmed up but the cover did feel good in the early morning.
Packing up this morning ( Thursday ) Mac got his dry bag which is also a backpack and after picking it up off the cabin floor at the front of his bunk bed he looked in it and looking back was the little Field Mouse. Mr Mouse was escorted out side and released , along with the nest he or she was building in Mac's bag. I am not sure if it was to his ( Mr. Mouse ) liking since the Owls were sounding off each night , there are plenty of them on the island. The owls along with a full moon sure made it a nice trip , the cold weather was comfortable but just a little to cold for summer camping.
I will be back there at times , if not for more then just to get away from everything and enjoy an evening out camping.
***... The tent sites are really large and well thought out. If you are hammock camping all the sites will work for a hammock , Tent site #1 , there are 4 places a person can hang a hammock.
***... When camping in a tent or hammock , make sure you have a secure place for your food , we had one Raccoon we called Bandit , Bandit tried his level best to get on the porch even after we cleaned the cooking gear and took the remains to the trash cans. "O" By the way , he was ... WELL FED .... judging from looking at him. :wink:
Chuck.......
Pictures are from the States web site.