“A picture says more than a thousand words” is an expression I’m not fond of. Rather, I believe a photo instills certain words, telling only part of the story. Understandably, most people want to capture the beauty of a place. It is often possible to cut out less desirable factors, like hordes of people, piles of garbage, incessant bugs, signage obstructing the view, and so on. Personal moods, climate, noise, and other external factors are invisible. There is a lot more to the actual scene than meets the eye…
Locks WMA campground in Fort McCoy
I’ve played with the idea of taking “as it is” shots in sync with the attractive scenes and posting them next to each other. Yet, I too succumb to blue skies and beautiful scenery. So, this post does not quite display that juxtaposition, but it reveals the truth behind some of our camping experiences in Florida that might look “perfect” at first sight.
Dupuis Water Management District
1) Lake Panasoffkee WMD
The Water Management District (WMD) campground with an inconsiderate neighbor who ran his generator 24/7. This resulted in constant noise and all three of us suffocating from the smoke (Mark coughed a lot, my eyes watered and I became nauseous). We were parked just downwind from him when he arrived. After a couple of days, we complained and he moved on.
Another camper drove off every morning before dawn and left his two dogs alone for 14 hours, travel trailer parked in the Florida sun, without any windows open. The weekend after we left, a hunt took place. Each hunter has three pit bulls: two to track down wild, non-native pigs and the third one to go in for the kill. We saw the trailers with cages arrive, as we pulled out after our ten-day stay.
2) Potts Preserve WMD
The campground where gunshots exploded in the primitive tent area – yes, people shot off guns IN the campground – and where Maya was attacked by the neighbors’ dog. The couple had an invisible, electric fence up close to where we parked Zesty. The incident had negative consequences for Maya, but luckily she didn’t get hurt. We stayed two nights.
3) Dirt Road in Ocala National Forest
The campsite under the power lines (we hadn’t found anything better), where a car drove back and forth in front of us, at night, without his lights on. This is one of the rare times Mark and I worried about our safety. We dismissed the behavior – the driver was probably looking for something he didn’t want to scare off. A lost pet? Another car honked when passing by in the dark. We left the following morning.
4) Lake Mary, Ocala National Forest
The campground where we were greeted by starving hunting dogs in the morning. One of them stuck around (lost?) and wanted to enter Zesty and stay with us. Heart-breaking! This was also the spot where a forest ranger told us we couldn’t camp where we were (already the furthest away from the lake), saying it was a day use area. No signs or online reports indicated this at all! The ranger ignored the skinny, disoriented hunting dogs. We stayed two nights.
5) Serenova Tract WMD
The campground where a ranger came by every day to check permits (elsewhere, this was a sporadic occurrence) and kicked people out. They and other campers warned us to store our solar panels inside at night; solar panels had gotten stolen from here. Like many forested campsites, our camper and feet were wallowing in constant dirt. We stayed five nights.
6) Walmarts throughout the State
Well, they are Walmarts. What do we expect? We are grateful that overnight parking is allowed at most stores comprising this chain, but – as for a lot of RVers we know – hunkering down here is a last resort. Semi-trucks arrive throughout the night to deliver goods or run their engine 24/7 when parked. Car drivers honk to disturb the peace, or make donuts in the mostly empty lot. Car stereos blast, less desirables meet up, and traffic runs amok in surrounding streets. Especially 24-hour Walmarts don’t offer the best sleep.
7) Hickory Hammock WMD
The campground where the bugs were atrocious. Mosquitoes, day and night. Somehow, despite our bug netting in the door and all the windows, they managed to swarm us, inside and outside. We didn’t sleep at night and constantly killed mosquitoes with our hands, a clapping sound that scared Maya. It was insane! We ordered a mosquito racket, but didn’t pick it up until later.
It was the beginning of March in Central Florida and the temperatures already soared into the upper eighties (thirties Celsius). We needed shade for our camper, to keep our sanity, and sun for our solar panels, to collect electricity. We moved Zesty back and forth depending on our priorities and the weather…
8) Dupuis WMD
This was the Water Management District Campground we persistently kept an eye on for reservations – it’s always full – as we looked forward to a comfortable oasis for a little while. Indeed, with showers (hot & cold!), fresh water spigots, toilets, trash, and a dump station, all the amenities one could need (except electricity) are present here. For free! Alas, the mosquitoes were equal to those in Hickory Hammock (the heat and humidity too), the road noise was omni-present, and generators are allowed to run until 11pm in this district.
9) Big Cypress National Preserve
The campground where we had to move sites. After State Parks closed due to the worsening pandemic, National Park staff was trying to figure out what to do next. Visitor Centers had been closed and campgrounds were to follow. When we arrived at the Big Cypress campground, employees didn’t want to handle money, so the first night was free. Subsequent nights had to be reserved online. We took advantage of this unexpected policy and parked in the only site that had a little bit of shade. We angled Zesty to be able to breathe in the heat.
Swimming in the gorgeous lake was not allowed. We wished we could let Maya cool off in the pond or rinse her off with buckets along the shore. Nope. Too risky, because of the resident alligator. Happy with our spot and the respite of another free night in a beautiful place, we enjoyed dinner. That’s when our neighbors started a campfire. The smoke entered through the screens and flavored our food. For two hours, we contemplated what to do, hoping they’d extinguish their fire and go to bed. In vain. We packed up and moved to a different campsite at 10pm, to leave the next morning.
10) West Tower in Osceola NF
The heat, humidity, bugs, and Covid-19 were chasing us north. We arrived at West Tower after a multitude of failed camping attempts, following our Apalachicola NF departure (see underneath). It was late; we were exhausted. We decided to stay here for the night – more mosquitoes, high temperatures, no breeze, and howling hunting dogs on the property across the street. We lasted one night, before leaving the state altogether.
11) Wood Lake, Apalachicola NF (not free)
The campground that was enveloped in smoke from prescribed forest fires. Day and night, we were smoked out, either by the ongoing smoldering around us or by neighbors’ campfires. Before it was light out, fishermen appeared with their boats to launch them from the ramp. One time, a gigantic bug got trapped inside a plastic contraption in our camper, fluttering and buzzing next to our ears for hours; that happened during our only smoke-free night.
It was still hot, but we managed to snag a relatively shady campsite and the lake offered reprieve for Maya. This is where she learned to swim and retrieve sticks!
We stayed here for five nights as it seemed to be our only option in the area, as the Coronavirus caused more and more campground closures. We desperately wanted this place to work out long-term. One morning, the ranger came by and told us Wood Lake would shut its doors soon as well. We left that day – enough was enough.
Time to go! Again.
12) Fort McCoy Locks WMA (not free)
The campground in Northern Florida that was just wonderful, until logging in the surrounding forest destroyed the peaceful environment. We only stayed a few nights – no AT&T signal either.
Of course, there were many more places we boondocked during our three-month winter visit in Florida. As with everything in life: some things work out better than others. Often, we can expect road noise and we deal with it. Elsewhere, pleasant surprises await us. It’s hit or miss when camping on the fly and for free, but we enjoy the flexibility, space, privacy, and freed up use of funds that it brings.
Frugal Tip:
Camping for free in Florida is VERY difficult. Snowbirds flood the state and even the expensive campgrounds are saturated. We couldn’t believe our luck when we stumbled across a blog post about Water Management Districts in Florida, last year. We saved the information and put it to good use this year. Because of their growing popularity (the word is out), it is becoming increasingly more difficult to book spots last-minute.
There are five different districts in the state and they all have their own websites that require navigating thoroughly in order to find the camping sections. The districts are multiple-use areas, where several activities are allowed for free, with or without a permit, like hiking, hunting, fishing, camping. Campgrounds have to be reserved online, permits and gate codes are sent to you via email, and there are restrictions in the form of rules and maximum stays.
Have you ever spent time at accommodations where things didn’t work out as expected? Where a situation turned awry?
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May 21, 2020 at 15:52
Oh boy Liesbet this was hard to read because I really felt bad for you guys with all these crazy behind the scene “nightmarish” scenarios…. You guys make it all LOOK easy, but for sure it is not. The unexpected bad surprises and inconsiderate neighbors and onslaught of mosquitoes sounds pretty challenging and then of course being on the move constantly as a result, has to be a challenge all in and of itself. Yikes!
Accomodations often don’t turn out as expected and it is those unexpected things that are so annoying! One of our sons is about to move to a different apartment because his current place has a neighbor below that makes fires every weekend, creating masses of smoke that blows into their place, and as well loud blaring music til the wee hours. All the stuff that one only finds out when you actually live in a place!
Hope you are getting a mosquito free, bad neighbor free, intense heat free etc etc break from all of these annoyances!
As for the two dogs that were left alone for 14 hours I sure hope you reported them to authorities.. not sure who.. but that definitely is animal abuse.
Peta
May 22, 2020 at 09:45
Oh Peta, isn’t it awful that someone has to move because of their neighbors? That’s my worst nightmare (even though I’ve never lived anywhere long-term), because I really can’t stand inconsiderate people! They should be the ones having to move, just like in the case with the generator guy in my post. We complained about it to the camp host. You know what he said? That, if it bothered us that much, we should move, even though we were camped there before the other guy arrived…
Funny thing about this post is that it took a range of campsites like these for me to finally realize that we’d had a pretty rough time overall and that I should write something about it. Haha. Because, none of these cases were really that bad as stand-alones; we’ve experienced much worse, where we actually had to leave in the middle of the night. Luckily, none of that was necessary in these situations, although we came close in the “car without lights on” scenario. There was just nowhere else to go…
We mentioned the two dogs being left alone to the camp host, but – on hindsight – we should have called the authorities. It’s tricky, especially in the south, to get into someone else’s business, if you know what I mean. And rarely does it have any effect. This guy let his pitbulls out before he left (before sun up) and when he returned (late at night), not even picking up their poop. Did he go to work? Was this a temporary situation? He left after his maximum allowed stay was up.
May 21, 2020 at 16:09
Liebet, yes we’ve had a few incidents like yours such as the generator though most camps have rules regarding that. I would’ve acted like a banshee and screamed at him! America from what I can gather is a harsh country to live in. The area where you were parked seems a redneck county. Fulltime Trailer folk would be a nightmare!
Here’s to you finding better campsites and perhaps back to housesitting.
May 22, 2020 at 09:52
I love your comment, Suzanne and you have no idea how correct you are with your statements and observations. I did complain to the generator guy, who sternly told me he needed the AC on for 24 hours a day because of his health issues (Florida is hot and humid) and that he had a note from the government to prove it! The argument turned into quite the situation, believe me. And I hate confrontations! Some of these episodes make stories in themselves. And yes, established campgrounds have rules like that here too, but that doesn’t mean they get enforced…
We’ve encountered lots of rednecks and full-time trailer folk of the kind you mention (hey, we are full-timers as well, but a tad different in our standards :-)), what with one million of Americans living in RVs full-time. But, it’s certainly worse in Florida than anywhere else. If you’re up for a laugh, let me know and I’ll email you a couple of photos… 🙂
May 22, 2020 at 15:53
Liesbet, one of the reasons we decided to stop being fulltime motorhomers was the surge of people both good, bad and the ugly. You two I would class as good 🙂
Now that we are entering one of our biggest recessions will bring more overcrowded freedom camping with people downsizing into motor vehicles.
I hope you get a peaceful and happy place soon. All the best.
May 23, 2020 at 12:25
I appreciate the compliment, Suz! We are definitely considerate neighbors, always aware of our surroundings and following the rules. We even apologize for the few times we really have to run our generator for an hour. 🙂
Sorry to read that it’s because of other people that you quit the motorhome life. That’s the reason we quit our business! People can be such an (unfair) pain in the butt…
May 21, 2020 at 16:10
Hi, Liesbet – Photos (and our own perceptions conjured) can be very deceptive. I would never have guessed all of the behind the scene horrors from your pictures. Inconsiderate neighbours are the worst!
I hope you have had good nights’ sleep and a quiet place to work at your inlaws. When are you on the road again?
May 22, 2020 at 09:57
Hi Donna!
Being in a room full of amenities, with quiet neighbors, no bugs, and controlled heat/cold has been blissful. But, we sure have lost our freedom and sense of adventure.
Yeah… don’t talk to me about inconsiderate people. There are way too many of them. Inconsiderate, or oblivious, or plain old stupid. Especially on the road. Who enjoys driving anymore?
We won’t be on the road again any time soon. Things have to somewhat return to normal, in the states around us, but in Massachusetts as well, since I need health check-ups and that doesn’t seem to be in my near future the way things are happening, or rather, not happening. Take care!!
May 21, 2020 at 16:11
Here is our most recent bad situation. In February we went to Camp Verde in Arizona for this Buffalo Soldier Festival. I thought there was forest camping nearby but it was no longer allowed. So we went back down the highway to another part of the forest. We found a spot right inside the forest boundary close to the highway and some homes.
The place was strewn with trash. I picked it up, filling two grocery bags. I left them outside the van. We took a walk and had a nice afternoon. That evening after dinner while I was reading and Greg was washing dishes, we heard a four-wheeler enter the site (we were the only ones camped, BTW). The four wheeler drive around, then stopped. Then we heard the pull of one of our door handles. Freaky! The four-wheeler drove around some more. Greg wanted to go outside. I said no, let’s just leave. Eventually we heard the four-wheeler drive away. We took down our window coverings and left (leaving my two bags of trash).
We ended up at a rest stop fill of idling trucks. Not a very restful night.
I was thinking about writing a post about the times we had to move in the middle of the night – never, ever a good thing. Often quite scary.
Of course, this stuff happens but it sounds like you had more than your fair share of uncomfortable situations in Florida. I hate that. But thanks for sharing the stuff about “living the dream” that isn’t always dreamy.
May 22, 2020 at 10:04
Wow, Duwan, what a horrible experience! Yes, having to move in the middle of the night is the worst. The feeling of fear and not being safe and then, packing up and driving in the dark in and to an unfamiliar place… We hate it as well. As a matter of fact, we avoided it at all costs in Mexico and Central America. Luckily, none of my described situations in this blog led to that. And as I mentioned in another comment – none of these circumstances were all that bad. It’s when every new place delivers challenges that you start to realize how annoying camping can be!
Then, I think about our time on the boat – those eight years which brought us many, many, many challenges and uncomfortable nights! I don’t think we ever upped anchor and moved in the dark (extremely dangerous with reefs around) – or maybe we did that once – but I do remember way too many nights on “anchor watch”, sitting in the cockpit, engines on, avoiding run-ins with other boats. When I think about those times, I’d take living in a van any time!
May 21, 2020 at 16:38
Wow, what a post and adventure. We lived in Florida for two years and did not like it. We did get lucky and stayed in a 5 star RV park in Tampa for 6 months for free. We cleaned the bathrooms 3 days a week.
Stay safe!
May 22, 2020 at 10:08
Aha, you guys were Workampers at some point in your lives! That’s interesting! We sometimes play with the idea to do this as well – for a free place to stay and a wage – but we “refuse” to clean bathrooms. So far… We almost lined up jobs this summer in a 5-star RV resort in Vermont, but it was not to be. It wouldn’t ave involved cleaning. 🙂
It seems like people either love or hate Florida. We weren’t impressed and have never been; this was our third visit. We just wanted a warm place to get through the brunt of winter. But, I do regret not being able to sightsee more due to Covid.
May 21, 2020 at 16:42
Yikes, Liesbet! I’m glad that you and Mark love flexibility, space, and privacy enough to put up will all the inconveniences! That would drive me nuts (especially the bugs and inconsiderate neighbors… some of whom may be carrying guns). We’ve had accommodations that didn’t work out as expected but our experiences pale in comparison. Hopefully your future adventures will be smoother for you.
May 22, 2020 at 10:13
Hi Janis!
Now you know why we enjoyed house sitting so much, or even staying in our current room once in a while for a few weeks. But, weirdly enough, there comes a point where we “need” to get that flexibility, space, and privacy back and the only way we know how to do that is to hit the road again. 🙂
By the way, MANY RVers carry guns. More than you – or we – even think and especially in the south… We know some, not from the south. Also, I hate to admit it, but adventures are never smooth. I guess that is part of it being an adventure. Haha.
May 23, 2020 at 16:41
Good point! Maybe I should have said “less stressful.” 🙂
May 25, 2020 at 11:37
🙂
May 21, 2020 at 16:49
Telling it like it really is…that’s rare!
May 22, 2020 at 10:17
You and I, we both tell it as it is. That was actually the tag line of my sailing blog – “Cruising the World the Way It Is”!
May 21, 2020 at 17:03
Eek! Those people driving by at night with no lights on would have freaked me out. Working for the police department, I’m suspicious of everyone! LOL! I would never have thought they were looking for a lost animal. I would assume they were out to rob or do bodily harm. Sleeping with one eye open would have been a must! I laughed at your description of the Walmart parking lots. I’m happy you have the comforts of home right now. Many years ago, I had the vacation from hell when me and an old high school friend traveled to Venezuela. Lets just say, I’m thankful we returned home alive and not in a body bag. Hope you doing well!
May 22, 2020 at 11:33
I don’t know why, but I keep forgetting you work for the police department, Jill! If we would have been in a more shady town or area, we would have moved right there and then, but we overcame our worries with some pep talk. Nobody ever walked up to our camper and we kept an eye on all the movements for a couple of hours. Other cars passed by as well (with lights on), since this was a dirt road short-cut. Plus, there was nowhere else to go – not even a Walmart nearby.
That trip to Venezuela with your friend sounds scary! You must have gone in a dangerous time or visited a dangerous area. I’d love to hear that story one day. I once visited Isla Margarita, many years ago, in my early twenties, by myself. None of the nonsense of these days going on over there then. We also stopped at a few Venezuelan out islands – safe distance away from the mainland – on our sailboat when heading west in 2011. No issues there, but we were relieved not to encounter pirates and being able to avoid sailing to the mainland to check in! Not so safe anymore now…
May 21, 2020 at 18:32
Amazing. I’m sad about the dogs. That tears at me. I once ended up in a hotel–a Red Lion Inn–that was next door to a red light hotel. I just didn’t expect that.
Hope you found somewhere good!
May 22, 2020 at 11:36
Haha, Jacqui! Luckily, you didn’t end up in the other hotel by accident. Now that would be an experience – and story to boot! 🙂
I’m telling you, some of the behaviors down south really rubbed us wrong and upset us, especially the use (and mostly the treatment) of hunting dogs. It’s disgusting, really… Also, we felt extremely helpless in these circumstances, as this is “just” a way of life there.
May 21, 2020 at 18:41
I’m not sure which experience is more horrible. Wow. Some people are so inconsiderate. Very sad about the starving dogs.
May 22, 2020 at 11:38
You got to wonder what’s worse, our mental or our physical discomforts in situations like these. That being said, we’ve survived circumstances that were much more dangerous; all part of the adventurous lifestyle. I guess that’s material for memoirs. Thanks for reading and participating, Alex!
May 21, 2020 at 18:55
Wow, that all sound very stressful and uncomfortable! We’ve moved several times due to other boats anchoring on our chain, etc. And pictures don’t tell the whole story. We’re anchored right next to town now and have had a jackhammer construction crew all day, lol. Thankfully we have bug screens otherwise we’d had bugs to complain about too! I guess everyone has their problems with neighbors and the environment, no matter how good the paradise looks!
May 22, 2020 at 11:42
Hi Lucy!
I totally agree that it’s “always something”, wherever you live or travel, especially travel. Nothing is constant and each location comes with its own challenges. Or, circumstances change with new neighbors, or seasons. Sometimes, that becomes too much. To be honest, it’s one of the reasons why we eventually gave up the cruising life, after eight years. Granted, running your own business in the middle of nowhere doesn’t make things easier, but what I remember vividly (still!!) is all the sleepless nights on Irie, having to reanchor because of inconsiderate neighbors or the weather, rarely being at ease. Especially in the Pacific that became more the norm than the exception. After years of this, it was time to choose another adventure. 🙂
May 21, 2020 at 19:19
i don’t know whether to say BRAVO or SO SORRY though I do admire your showing the HOW IT REALLY IS side of things. Your RV adventures in some ways mirror the writers’ life: full of contradiction, highs and lows – and freedom! Showing vulnerability is admirable, in my books.
One line made me smile: “[Maya] learned to swim and retrieve sticks!.” Good for her!
I see you are still in Newburyport whether the weather must be tolerable – and no mosquitoes, I hope.
Some day I’ll get the courage to break open my journals of spending nearly a year and a half in a travel-trailer with two babies in the 70s. KOA campgrounds were the “thing” back then, my husband had a job, but I experienced danger during the day (woman alone) and utter isolation. Character building? Maybe so!
Thanks for your admissions here, Liesbet. I’m sorry Florida didn’t treat you well this time around. Here’s hoping the second half of 2020 improves for all of us.
May 22, 2020 at 11:48
It’s all part of life, Marian, as you know. The good and the bad – no matter what path we choose, there will be ups and downs. Bottom line is that we still decide to continue this lifestyle (weird as it may appear sometimes) and there is always a way out and a time to change direction if we so desire.
Based on your memories and references about your year and a half in that travel trailer, it left a serious impact on your situation and decisions, and character! Being in survival mode teaches you what’s most important in life, a bit like now during Covid-19. There are actually a lot of parallels between behaviors during this pandemic and as a full-time nomad. I wrote an article about that, but nobody wants to buy it. Whatever we do comes with challenges…
Today, it is summer in Newburyport, Marian. And, we are so happy about that. The first hot day since South Carolina! 🙂 Happy to report that there are no bugs as of yet, except some stubborn ticks. Have a fantastic weekend!
May 21, 2020 at 19:21
Make that “where the weather. . . ” 🙁
May 22, 2020 at 11:49
Got it!! Don’t feel like you have to correct typos, because it’s one of my pet peeves. 🙂 We all make them.
May 21, 2020 at 22:44
Hi Liesbet, You remind me how pictures sometimes look idyllic, yet behind the scenes another story. Like you say “telling only part of the story.”
On my walk today, I was thinking about you, Liesbet, honestly! You and I had a mini discussion last year about hot springs. We have been to many and some exceptionally beautiful, and some look beautiful, yet a major background story of many challenges. This post also discusses how a picture does not necessarily tell the entire story.
The generator 24/7 would really bug me. Usually there are rules. The two dogs alone is very sad. Gunshots, OMgosh!
I appreciate you sharing the full picture of the experience. Re your last question: Many great camping experiences in B.C., Alberta, Alaska, Yukon. One very, very challenging experience, too long a story for here, by fluke camping in Kelowna, B.C. with very young girls during the Kelowna regatta (not intentional, part of our route) a nightmare evening. Hope all is okay in your neck of the woods. xx
May 22, 2020 at 11:57
I truly and honestly LOVE it when you are thinking about me, Erika! As long as those thoughts make you smile. 🙂
I remember our discussion about hot springs last spring – as we were so in search of warmth – and I thought of how lovely it must be for you to have them close and to be able to enjoy them. That’s what photos do, just like social media… while it’s fun to share memories and beautiful photos/experiences, it probably also makes people envious. But, if we always show “the way it is”, people lose interest. It’s a tough line and one that I struggle with as an article writer, since magazines are usually only interested in the magical and positive stuff…
There are generator (and other) rules in established campgrounds here as well, but some people don’t follow them. They are above the law, you know…
Maybe you can share your Kelowna Regatta story one day, either in person or on your blog? Sorry it was such a nightmare, though. You don’t want to be reminded of that, probably. All OK here and hoping for the same there! I was happy to read that restrictions are easing a bit and some businesses are re-opening on VI now. xxx
May 22, 2020 at 12:04
There went all my rosy ideas about RVing someday! 🙂
Seriously, this sounds so difficult – not just the logistical and physical difficulties but dealing with the kinds of people who mistreat animals, don’t follow rules, etc. I really, really hate confrontation, and I’m afraid I’d let all my frustrations build up inside and then carry all that stress the whole time I was around these people. Good for you for being able to move on in every way after a rough stay.
May 23, 2020 at 12:06
Hi Lexie!
I can so relate to all your feelings on this topic. I hate confrontation as well and it took all my guts to walk over to the obnoxious generator guy. That’s how you know it was bad – we were honestly getting sick from the fumes. He didn’t care. He was one of those arrogant and selfish types, more than likely a you-know-who supporter. Many of those in Florida. Also, if you plan stops in pay campgrounds, you might avoid scenes like these.
To instill more of those rosy ideas – the reason I never wrote a post like this before, is because these episodes were extremely rare. In other words: out west is so much more space, beauty, privacy, and a different type of campers, that encounters like these don’t quite happen. The open road – you’d love it better there anyway. 🙂
May 22, 2020 at 13:31
Liesbet I think posts like this are so valuable to those who might consider a nomadic lifestyle. although it is always more fun to talk about the joys of travel, I think showing the complete picture does our readers a lot of good. Nieghbors can be an issue in a permanent home as well of course, as Peta shared about her son moving. Thank you for such an honest review of your time in Florida.
May 23, 2020 at 12:11
Hi Sue!
We were extremely pleased and appreciative to find these free Water Management District campgrounds. Lots of them are attractive and comfortable. But, for some reason, Florida proved to be challenging because of its atmosphere – people and weather-wise. Plus, we were there for three months. As Mark said: “Even though we’d been to Florida multiple times, we never realized it was one big swamp.” 🙂
I do wish we would have been able to sightsee more and expose the beauty and attractions of this state. I’m glad you liked this post, as it’s always been my goal to be transparent about everything about our lifestyle. Have a nice weekend!
May 22, 2020 at 13:44
This sounds the stuff of nightmares!
May 23, 2020 at 12:12
Some of it is, but nothing compared to some real nightmares we had on our sailboat or having to move in the middle of the night. 🙂
May 22, 2020 at 14:00
Ooof. Yeah, we’ve had a few of these nights and they have definitely given us pause. As awesome as it is to be in some of these free spots, they do attract some seriously undesirable people. One time, we drove into a Walmart parking lot expecting to spend the night there. We didn’t even turn the motor off. The lot was absolutely crawling with drug addicts and we just hit the gas and kept moving. At least, in that case, we knew right away. Other times, it’s been in the middle of the night that something happens and then you’re just kinda stuck. It’s not as easy to just drive off as some people may think.
Florida is tough for multiple reasons. There are definitely a lot of irresponsible people, but the heat, humidity, and bugs add to the difficulties. While we enjoyed visiting the Florida state parks, I have to say, winter in the desert southwest is just easier. Very few bugs, no humidity, warm days and chilly nights. And with all the available space out there, I think it’s much easier to find open spaces away from creepy people.
Anyway, I’m glad to see you sharing these kinds of posts. It’s important for people considering the lifestyle to understand the realities of life on the road.
May 23, 2020 at 12:22
Hi Laura!
Having to leave in the middle of the night for some daunting reason is the worst! Luckily, that didn’t have to happen in the situations I mentioned here. I actually didn’t realize how tricky camping in Florida was – hey we’d found an attractive way to free camp, as those WMD areas are welcome and amazing. We’ve come to the conclusion – again – that the main (only) reason to spend many months in Florida is for the pleasant winter weather. And that’s why everyone else (desirable or not) is there!
The desert Southwest has become our favorite destination to spend time. Unfortunately, the previous winters had been a bit disappointing there because of colder than usual weather, which is why we decided to switch it up and become snowbirds in Florida. It was worth a try, but our hearts belong out west, for the reasons you mention With the bonus of incredible scenery.
Like you two, we’re all about transparency and sharing the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to this lifestyle. 🙂
May 22, 2020 at 16:27
Even when paying for camping, we found good and bad camp sites. It was really tough with the kids. They always wanted a pool and playground. I liked the primitive sites with no electricity. The stars are beautiful in those areas. So sorry to hear of all the troubles you’ve run into. Were you ever visited by a skunk at your campsite at night? The logging always makes me cry.
Be safe, Liesbet!
May 23, 2020 at 12:30
Hi Victoria!
No skunk visit yet, but a couple of years ago, we had rodents steal our flip flops and destroy them many feet away from the camper. Since then, we never leave our shoes out at night anymore. As with everything you learn from your mistakes. 🙂
I realize that even paid campsites can have issues. It’s actually one of the reasons we avoid paying, because we know those sites are not necessarily better (they usually are more crowded and we don’t care for the hook-ups) and I’d rather be bummed about a free campsite than about one that cost me precious money. Like you, we prefer the open spaces and stars at night.
May 22, 2020 at 18:45
I am so glad that I was a full timer from 2004-2020. A few years ago all those places you visited in Florida, well they were wonderful 3 years ago. BTW…no bugs if you go in mid winter. No reservations needed at most in years past. I never had a problem. So much has changed in the past few years.
May 23, 2020 at 14:23
Hi Chris!
Thanks for swinging by and leaving your thoughts. Everything changes over time, that’s for sure. We sailed from 2007-2015 and discovered that much has changed in the Caribbean since then as well. We heard from others we met that these WMD campgrounds were perfect a few years ago, with rarely anyone staying, no reservation system, and campers who behaved. With popularity come more issues. 🙁
I think the bigger concentration of bugs also had to do with Florida warming up much quicker than other years. It started to make sense to us why other campers set up bug tents to be able to sit outside…
May 23, 2020 at 03:55
OMG. I read this with a sinking heart. I guess it’s only part of the picture and that makes it bearable, but there’s a lot of stuff here that makes me think twice about motor-homing. Duwan’s story is quite scary! I’m thinking about camper van travel in Europe post Corona. Trying to do research so I can convince Jim who would rather eat his own hair. Better not let him see this post!
May 23, 2020 at 14:31
Hi Trace!
Yes, Duwan’s story is seriously scary and the “worst nightmare” when camping in the wild. We are aware this can happen (and it has happened to us, that we needed to move at night for our perceived safety, or because we were told to leave). Realistically, though, if you boondock full-time, which is A LOT, unexpectedly vacating a spot in the middle of the night is rare. Maybe that happens once every two years or so. But we are aware of the risk and expect a knock on our door at some point.
If you stay in paid established campgrounds with an office or rangers, situations like Duwan’s won’t happen. But, you can always have bad neighbors or incessant bugs. The good thing is: you’re mobile and you can move in the morning. No such thing as the same bad neighbors forever. 🙂 Having a sleepless night once in a while is par for the course.
May 23, 2020 at 05:44
This made interesting reading, Liesbet. I can now see why you dislike the saying ‘A picture says more than a thousand words.’ Like hotels, do campgrounds have their own ratings? I’m guessing you can read reviews online, although I know we have to be careful when reading reviews as some are fake.
I felt the anxiety when reading what happened to you at each of these sites. As you know, I’m not a lover of heat and humidity. Many of the situations you described would have been hell to me. I’m just glad that you guys found a safe place to stay during the lockdown. Are campgrounds now reopening?
Take care.
May 23, 2020 at 14:39
Hi Hugh!
We find most of our free camping on an app called iOverlander and there are reviews of all those places on there as well. Thing is that all of the awry reasons mentioned in my post are situational. They can happen anywhere, depending on the time of year or kind of neighbors. If we would have spent our time out west during the winter, there would have been more space and privacy, less bugs and humidity, and a different atmosphere.
Full-time RV travel comes with challenges and that’s why we enjoy a little break without any of those, once in a while. Our current room is climate-controlled, has no bugs, and has any amenity (as simple as running water and a flush toilet) we could wish for. 🙂
In other states, campgrounds are reopening, yes. Here in New England, where it was cold until yesterday, things will take much longer to somewhat return to normal. We won’t be leaving soon.
May 23, 2020 at 14:46
A sad picture painted indeed, Liesbet, seems like each site had their own “charm.” You saw your share of wildlife; mosquitoes, abandoned dogs and alligators and the occasional idiot! As I write this, we are towing the trailer to our windsurf campground in the Sacramento River Delta as it officially opened today! There we boondock all summer, our last one before we move. Hope you all are well!
May 25, 2020 at 11:37
As you know, Terri, the RV life has its ups and downs. I’m so excited for you and Hans to be able to spend time at the Delta again. It might be later than usual, but still darn good to have the campground open for Memorial Day Weekend! Enjoy your last summer in California!!
May 24, 2020 at 12:20
OMG – your fellow campers at Lake Panasoffkee do not sound like the types I would want to share an anchorage with. And then gun shots and Maya attacked at Potts Persevere… I am glad that the driver along the dirt road Ocala National Forest didn’t turn into anything sinister. I am sorry that Dupuis WMD was a BUG FILLED oasis. Florida sounds like a tough place to free-camp. Hope you are well.
May 25, 2020 at 11:43
Hi Lisa!
One good thing about cruising is that you can often anchor in the breeze (no mosquitoes) and far enough away from your neighbor to not be bothered by a generator, naked escapades, or released sewage. 🙂 Unless some ignorant charter boat captain, Frenchman, or idiot anchors on top of you… Florida was an interesting place to boondock for three months, that’s for sure.
We are doing well! I happily be stuck in a room for months, with the amount of work and inspiration going on. But, Mark is ready for a change of scenery. Next Sunday, we will head up to Maine for a couple of weeks.
May 24, 2020 at 18:13
You are far more adventurous and tolerant than I. After the first couple of nights in conditions like that I’d have thrown in the towel on the whole idea. That sink full of mosquitoes just made me cringe!
But your final question made me laugh out loud. I only travel once or twice a year, but I have the WORST luck with hotels of anyone I know. In fact, I’ve blogged about it several times over the years. Here are the links, if you dare. (Warning: These stories include rappelling nudists, loud cows, prostitutes, and sticky dick-prints. And those were in the nicer hotels…)
https://blog.dianehenders.com/2011/03/12/bad-hotel-karma/
https://blog.dianehenders.com/2014/08/13/karmas-dicking-with-me/
https://blog.dianehenders.com/2011/09/07/totally-freakin%e2%80%99-inadequate/
May 25, 2020 at 11:45
Oh no, Diane! Why am I not surprised that you have multiple stories and experiences on that topic!? Looking forward to digging into reading about them, one of these days. I’m not easily deterred or shocked, if you hadn’t noticed. 🙂
May 24, 2020 at 18:19
You are far more adventurous and tolerant than I. After the first couple of nights in conditions like that I’d have thrown in the towel on the whole idea. That sink full of mosquitoes just made me cringe!
But your final question made me laugh out loud. I only travel once or twice a year, but I have the WORST luck with hotels of anyone I know. In fact, I’ve blogged about it several times over the years. I tried to put in several links but my comment got eaten by your spam filter, so I’ll try just one (and it has an internal link to another set of bad hotel experiences).
Here’s the link, if you dare: (Warning: These stories include rappelling nudists, loud cows, prostitutes, and sticky dick-prints. And those were in the nicer hotels.) https://blog.dianehenders.com/2014/08/13/karmas-dicking-with-me/
May 25, 2020 at 11:50
Hi again! Your previous comment went through moderation, but did go through. I think I have my settings at not allowing more than one link to be attached to comments, to avoid spam comments. Sorry about that. Good that you copied your comment. At least, I think you did. Or you’re an amazing re-creator of written thoughts, something I’m bad at. When I lose a comment without having done the “select and copy” strategy before hitting “reply”, I’m utterly annoyed and can never repeat exactly what I wanted to say.
May 25, 2020 at 20:26
Sorry for the duplicate! I’m wary of spam settings and I’ve been burned too many times by the dreaded “vanishing comment”, so I almost always do a quick Ctrl-C before hitting the magic button. I think my spam policy is the same as yours, so I realized what had happened right away. 🙂
May 25, 2020 at 20:34
Great minds think alike! Especially when it comes to Ctrl-C! 🙂 Except when the mind turns forgetful, as I planned to leave only one of your comments up and reply to both with my comment and then I forgot and kept both and replied to both. Haha.
May 25, 2020 at 21:59
Wow. Just proves that everything is not always as it seems. And we shouldn’t judge books by covers alone 🙂
May 27, 2020 at 11:34
Ha! I love that quote you threw in there, Debby! Very fitting for this post. Although, covers are very important when it comes to grabbing readers, just as banner photos grab blog readers, I guess. Double-edged swords…:-)
May 29, 2020 at 15:04
Liesbet, because you and Mark are full-timers, I’m sure you’ve learned more tolerance than most when it comes to rude campers and weird campground experiences. So to read all these camping horror stories is certainly upsetting.
We’ve camped for years, always in a tent or with our present soft-side popup camper, so we can relate to, and in fact have experienced, most of the annoyances that you cover. Also, we lived in FL for a few years and have camped in many of the places you discuss. And my advice to anyone interested in camping in FL is: never go during snowbird season! We’ve camped as far into the boonies as one can go in FL, and during the snowbird season, there are no places to escape the insensitive, redneck assholes – especially on weekends. Sorry to say, but true.
It’s truly unfortunate that you had to experience this run of terrible camping luck, but you now know where the low-water mark is and it can only get better. All the best for better camping, good health, and happy trails in the future. ~James
June 4, 2020 at 08:21
Hi James!
As you know, one of the joys and advantages of traveling with your own home/trailer is that you can move any time. That’s all fine when it’s us not being comfortable or happy in a location in general, but if it’s the neighbors chasing us off, it gets frustrating. Of course, situations like these happen, but it wasn’t until Florida where it appeared more consistently, prompting me to write a post about it, after I realized just how many times something went wrong at our campsites.
I couldn’t agree more with your statement about Florida. Thing is that we anticipated all this ahead of time, but still, somehow, hoped we’d be comfortable. We definitely didn’t count on the amount of bugs and heat starting in February! I think we got our wish for a warm, free winter and nothing more. 🙂
Thanks for the well wishes. Let’s hope we can hit the road again soon!
June 2, 2020 at 07:01
Individual incidences can be bad enough, but when they start layering, like you experienced with campsite after campsite, it can become overwhelming. I don’t think anyone handles lack of sleep very well.
I’m not a camper. It’s just never held any appeal for me, and you just gave me 12 more reasons not to consider it.
June 4, 2020 at 08:34
Hi Joanne! Camping sure isn’t for everyone. And neither is RVing. I have many friends and family members who are not attracted to the concept at all. Even Mark and I, when thinking about tent camping in our past, wouldn’t go back to that if we didn’t have to. Comfort levels differ for each of us (and become more important as we age), but not being able to sleep well for external reasons or being uncomfortable “at home” isn’t pleasant in any case.
June 29, 2020 at 13:32
Hi Liesbet. The negative camping experiences may not be the norm, but we sure remember them forever. I remember camping one night at a free pullout beside the river in northern BC in my antique motorhome. It was a hot July night so we had the windows open to try to get a cool breeze. But the area was full of no-see-ums (small biting gnats). They were small enough to get in through the screens. We left after a sweaty sleepless night, our faces and arms swollen with itchy bites. Then there was the time we parked the motorhome in the parking lot of my daughter’s apartment building. She had checked with her building manager and he had said it was ok for us (me, my 13-yr-old son, and our dog) to park there overnight. But in the middle of the night, we were awakened by a drunken male voice. He was pounding on the door and yelling “Open up! I know you’re in there!” My son, dog and I huddled together not making a sound until he finally gave up and went away. I love camping, and most of the time it’s great. But I’m also happy to get home again after weeks or months of camping to enjoy the luxuries you mention – flush toilets, showers with plenty of water, etc.
Jude
June 30, 2020 at 16:47
Oh Jude, those are horrible experiences! Yet, they are bound to happen when someone camps/boondocks a lot, unfortunately. The good thing about you remembering them is that there – hopefully – weren’t too many of these encounters. There are many negative occurrences during our years of RVing of which I don’t remember the location or exact order of events from. 🙁
The no-see-ums are the worst insects! We’ve ran away from sites like these with our boat (some areas in the Marquesas in French Polynesia are horrible because of the “no no’s” as they call them there) and on land. Just because they fit through the screens, there is no escape. And, at night, they are replaced by mosquitoes.
A few days ago, we had the company of bugs like no-see-ums in the van, but they were even smaller as I NEVER saw them pin prick our bodies all night. It was too hot to keep a sheet on us, so we needed to make a choice – which has often happened to us – sweating or being eaten alive. None of these options provide much sleep!
I hear you about it being nice to get home. The fact that Zesty IS our home means that we never get a break, especially since we don’t do house sits anymore. The breaks come when crashing here in Massachusetts. The desire for a comfortable place might guide us towards our own home base one of these years. Or months…
September 7, 2024 at 09:49
Wondering if you have been back to Serenova Tract since Florida installed the 30 day per YEAR camping law in 2023? Now there is a guy who rides a bike through the campground every morning with his 2 off leash, running wild pitbulls and nobody cares. But rest assured the 30 day per year camping law is STRICTLY enforced!
September 9, 2024 at 09:30
Hello Kay,
Thanks for the note and the update.
No, we haven’t been back to Florida since the winter I wrote those blog posts. Rules seem to change all the time and often for the worse! Some people get away with everything, though…