MetalDad

All is well, thanks, ready to get it going again, packing the dog and the scooter for a 4-day trip! Me too. It set the tone not to take it too seriously! It was interesting to say the least. we were somewhere between Dances With Wolves and Duck Dynasty. Why is it always booze related with you...and me? I love me some Brady Bunch. I came from a big family (, so I can relate. Plus they camped in a popup. I didn't even like beans as a kid, but I always thought that they would be awesome in one of those old school silver Everready flashlights. I might go to the dollar store, get a bunch of ch

Some random thoughts... It seems we have a run on TR hideous pajamas lately. That's what I love about campers. Comfortable in our own skin, salt of the earth! PBR...being a beer snob, I thought this was my dirty little secret, like dating a girl from across the tracks. I see I'm not alone! HOB...great venue, I saw a great Metal show there a few years ago. One of my favorite reggae bands is playing there for New Years Eve, and I know a certain fiend that will be there at the Fort (pssst...it's me!) The cool part is MetalWife and I can take the bus in to DTD, but wonder if the kennel will take t

Now that the war was over, the dog relaxed a little, and I was reunited with the family, it was time to check out the rest of the park. Meahwhile, Ben was still furiously texting me with fishing questions. I sent him this! This bridge was built by hand in the 30’s. It was suspended by cables. Let that sink in… 80 year old cable! It was also not very wide, certainly it was not built with today’s average girth in mind! This is the Santa Fe River. It passes through the park, and at one point goes underground at a place called River Sink. It travels 3 miles underground then, pops back up at

BTW, Stef the same ownership has a very similar location in Sarasota called Fun n Sun. http://www.sunnfunfl.com/ We definitely need to put together a locals trip! Check schedules! Let's pick a place!

We camped our coldest trip ever there between Christmas and New Years 2010. I like that CG, we'll be back!

It was. I'd do it again some time! There was a lot of funny details like that. Like one kid dressed in full native garb and a Lakers hat! The locals were into it, and it sure looked like a lot of care went into the war and the dances, but they had so much room, the choice of dancefloor was definitely off. One guy had a huge wolf on a leash. The only animal we've met that Josie was content not to play with!

After the dances, they asked us to walk through the woods until we saw a rope…stop there! On the way, I noticed that our neighbors in the RV were behind us, carrying their big box of arms. I had to snap a photo of the kids with them, but couldn’t stop traffic, so I snapped this whilst jogging backwards through the woods! We came to a rope strewn through the trees. That’s where we stopped. There was a slight path that ran the length of the rope. From the rope on in to the end of the clearing was the battle grounds. It was a section about 100 yards deep, and 300-400 yards long. We waited for a

Day Two Sounds: War Dance and gunfire Smells: southern cooking and gunsmoke Tastes: potluck, and blue agave juice. Everyone was full, bathed, and bug sprayed. We were on our way to the Alligator Warrior Festival. But first, a run for some provisions. We needed Ice, Tums, and some more Dr. Pepper! Winn Dixie was 6 miles away. On the way, MetalWife and my son played Haunted/Not Haunted. I secretly kept track, and they saw more buildings that looked haunted than not. I had to ask… Why does a bunch of crap piled in the yard make it look haunted? It’s not like ghosts need more room? Back at the par

I do mine in the iron skillet, healthy dose of garlic and Old Bay, nice and crispy. Next time I'm thinking of shaving a little onion into it. We've since switched to iron skillets at home as well as a result! Also...Everything gets hot sauce! Thanks for reading along! I look forward to my son being big enough to walk her. That will be almost as sweet as hearing him mow the yard from the comfort of the couch! The scooter thing is that typically this camping group usually hosts a race, all the old, big guys on the little kiddie scooters, but due to the layout and distance of the loops, it didn

Day Two Sounds: New records by Soja (reggae) and Old Crow Medicine Show (string band) Smells: southern cooking and gunsmoke Tastes: CB Hash, potluck, and blue agave juice. Wake up…said the bark! Apparently I’m the only one that hears a giant black lab bark at point blank range, so I got Josie duty! And, I just noticed, we have neighbors in a big RV next door. After the dog walk and feeding, I started to prepare for one of my favorite camping elements…breakfast! I don’t normally eat breakfast, or just a lite snack, as my regular lunch time is 11am during the week, so it’s just another treat tha

Random thoughts: As far as parking lots go, that looks like a small one, unless they go up and build a huge monolithic garage. That looks like tracks from a deer that wears a left flip-flop. Same brand as yours! I wonder if they took the calliope away for some theming at the 4 Seasons or Fort DVC, wouldn't that be a slap in the mouth? The calliope button just goes to show you how dumb they think we are! I love the half log benches. That will be sad if they go! More homogenous campground stuff, they seem to be slowly but surely stripping away a lot of the Fort's character.

Thanks. I always mention the music, a priority for sure. I'll take 45 minutes to plan the music for a 30 minute car ride. The soundtruck is kind of sullen, but interesting. Thanks! Yes, we zipped right up 19. I should have gotten in touch, could've met the fam! They have 1 or 2 of the green ones marked down to $15, which is good, I have one of those green ones, it's in the same photo above. It was $30, marked to $15.

You're correct. Which one do you think answers when I ask "Who's my good girl?" A very cool park, site was amazing. Beer is at Neighborhood Market on 580. Donkey Bird was real. The shirt goes everywhere! I found that chair maked down to $25 at Wal-Mart Neighborhood market, just got a second one too. I've been looking at it for years now. Now that I have them, love them. you'll notice most of our gear is Coleman, even the truck has a Coleman sticker. Love RV, hate how nasty the family is to each other. Join up on the rally, good group! Yes Dave, anything with Punch Brothers is good with me.

Day One Sounds: A dreamy blend of 70’s Soul, Disco, Black Sabbath, Bluegrass, and the Hunger Games Soundtrack Smells: The woods and canvas Tastes: Orange Crush and Wally’s Brews In as much as I’m a loyal Fiend, I also on occasion participate in a camping forum for folks that own and camp in pop-up campers. I originally got involved looking for a copy of the owner’s manual for our unit when we purchased it several years ago. After a few months of the odd post here and there, I stumbled upon a group loosely based out of the southeast, mostly Florida, that discussed local campgrounds, tips and tr

Thanks. That's so great that you are involved. Good luck on this year's campaign! Awesome. I tried to take one, but I couldn't get mine around my shoulders without destroying it. Ever see Chris Farley in the film Tommy Boy? "Fat guy in a little coat!" Appreciate it! And, thanks for bumping the TR! Another trip this weekend, so I hope to have a new TR soon!

Yvonne, I wanted to comment on yours seperately. We spend a lot of time, energy, and effort in this fight. On behalf of my father and brother being survivors, losing my grandmother and mother-in-law, and other scares throughout my family, I feel like I can't do enough. My sister is part of a group that helps patients and survivors year round. We perform at their big fund-raiser to prepare for the big walk. We also are involved with a group that raises funds for the American Cancer Society and their big walk event this month. we performed for them this past weekend. Here's a shot of Ben with th

Thanks! He looks tough but he's a mush. A good man to be sure! Awesome, I hope a TR follows! Thanks. I'm blessed to have wonderful women in my life! My mom, sisters, wife, and daughters. Thanks, she already is rehashing stories. Thanks. I watched that with my wife. Great video. I need to get a video camera, the one I have is still the old tape model. Haven't even seen it in years. Many thanks sir, in all fairness, my brother has had a full-on ZZ Top beard, a goatee, clean shaven, fu manchu, and that thing he currently sports (who knows, maybe a little Rollie Fingers handle-bar wax next!)

That is classic! We always keep a G2 stash available (grape, no less! Good taste!). Honestly, a quicker fix is Pedialite! Or, McDonald's breakfast! After I posted that last bit, I stopped at 3 places to find the Participation Pack. Ben came over to help me set-up a network printer, so we sampled! Hocus Pocus has a note of rosewater, unique! HIPA is very hoppy, Hex is quite nice, 9 is Biblical! Not familiar with Broudy's. Apparently the Magic Woody is half MH #9 and half Woodchuck Cider, unless you have a really big glass, then just a bottle of each. I'm skeptical. Not a fan of fruiting the be

What the heck? Why am I just getting here now? Especially since the beer is gone. Not only that...good beer! I see the MH Participation pack...nice. I'm a huge fan of Newcastle Brown, have been forever. Now I know where to get Innis & Gunn! Sorry we didn't make it up to say hello. Fun report! BTW, I saw a sign this weekend that you would've enjoyed. It was for Magic Hat 9/Woodchuck Cider, they call it a Magic Woody!

Day Two and Three: Music: Stones, Old Crow Medicine Show, Punch Brothers, 70’s Soul. Drink: More Diet Dr. Pepper and Kool-Aid.Hat…and a guest appearance by Newky B! Smell: Campfire and Chlorine Early to bed, early to rise, so they say. I’ve said it before in my TR’s. I’m not a morning person. I don’t know why… When I camp? I’m up and down with the sun. Since we had a killer waterfront site, I thought I’d share my first sight! We were able to sleep soundly under natural conditions… For pop-up owners…we were unzipped! As I lay there, enjoying the quiet peaceful bunk-end panorama, the gentle lap

Thanks. We are already planning some others, and now the other two want dibs...hmmm... camping or re-tile the floor, mow the yard... I hope You plan some trips before she really hits 18. I'm not so much worried about them thinking I'm cool... I'm worried about the not wanting to spend any time at all! Thanks! Awesome screen name. "His son Bingo...Fabio..."

Ding! The trick is to beat the light. Setting up in the dark sucks, so MetalWife delivers the child, and half my travels are covered! Not only is it cool to have the camper parked outside your office, but there's a weird euphoria pulling a camper through rush hour, knowing you're going to the office, but also knowing you're going camping, kind of regal, mentally. Whatever that means! Sometimes, we'll set-up for 10 days, and I commute during the week from the campground. That's interesting.

I feel like a proud papa! I'm friends with Hat on facebook. Electronic inspiration! Hmmm, now I gotta stop at Publix on the way home. She has great names for her stuffies. She's colorful to be sure. Agreed. We try to split up into sub-groups... mother/son bowling. Things like that. It's a frou-frou pink satiny girly sleeping bag, strawberry dirtbag chuckle patch kids or something like that! Yeah, they've cut me off down there till I get some production from the street team. Get crackin'!

Amen, We're going to a Father/Daughter dance this weekend! They keep asking me to DJ, but I have an important date, so I'm happy to be in the crowd instead. The rain was OK, an early night was probably a good thing. Thanks. Yeah, some camping boards bag on KOA. "Too cookie-cutter!" "Motel 8 with campers!"...that sort of thing! It's in St. Pete/Mad Beach near Bay Pines, it's on Long Bayou. My big brother is the grounds manager there! Let me know if you wanna join up some weekend down there. Great...that's inherently dangerous in my case! Yeah, actually made Mommy cry...so that backfired!

It was cool. As I mentioned, the other two got 2 solo trips. We'll continue the practice. They really respond to them. Thanks. I don't know about that. It dawned on me...you met Annie! Indeed, I made a new camping mix... heavy on the Rocks/Draw The Line/Night In The Ruts-era Aerosmith (76-79) Welcome aboard! I can see that, my oldest seems to get the least attention, but it's because she's the least needy. I try to remember that and make sure she does an errand with me, or we'll sneak and get a cone, something like that!