INTJohn’s Winter ‘23-‘24 Van Livin

[Carla618]

Survived the almost tropical storm that hit South Florida last weekend. I think the ocean side may have had the worst of it vs where I’m at but even then was very windy & a lot of rain here.

I think that storm must be what someone on FB was referring to. I just joined a group for seniors who tent camp and someone posted that they were camping in Florida in two Gazelles. One a tent and the other a screen room. They said the tent held up great, but the screen room failed miserably. They were camping in, or near, the Everglades.

From your post it sounds like they weren't exaggerating about the storm and probably few screen rooms would have held up well.

I know you don't tent camp, just glad you verified the weather because I'm considering buying a Gazelle. Thx.

 

[INTJohn]

6 Jan ‘24
Somewhere on Marathon Key, Fla

Awoke this morn just before 6 am and about 5 minutes later heard the unmistakable loud sound of a vehicle collision on US 1 maybe 200 hundred yards from my spot.

Damn! I thought, gotta get moving so I don’t get caught in the inevitable traffic backup that always occurs in The Keys following US 1 accidents.

Poured coffee and escaped just as the police arrived on scene. Yep, you’re not in The Keys unless you’re hearing sirens……..

jonny boi headin to the beach

 

[INTJohn]

16 Jan ‘24 Somewhere in the Florida Keys




Yep; High Tide and Green Grass….
(Key West sushi greens)
intjonny

 

[INTJohn]

18 Jan ‘24 Somewhere in the Florida Keys

Left the mainland and returned to The Keys on 2 Jan. Drive to Key Largo from Naples was uneventful.
Have spent much of the last 2 weeks bouncing between Long Key to the east and Big Pine Key to the west.
Weather has been mostly decent tho nights have been warm & humid; daytime has generally been windy causing some decent size breakers that have made the water to murky. Trying to snorkel is like trying to look thru skim milk.

12 Jan thru the 15th my daughter & son n law visited with me and that was very enjoyable. It was my daughters first time in the Keys so she was very much all about it. She’s already talking of a much longer future stay.

2maro is forecast to finally have calm winds and with a 9am low tide I’m planning on a full morning of snorkeling……..

Original plan was to stay in the Keys till end of January but I might move that departure date up a week or so. Will depend on the winds here in the Keys and nighttime temps on the mainland.

jonny boi livin the dream

 

[INTJohn]

31 Jan ‘24 Somewhere near Dunedin, Fla

Left the Keys 10 days ago and headed to North Naples/Bonita Springs area where I chilled mostly at Lovers Key State Park area; couple other spots.

Woke up 1 morning to deer in the backyard.


Above; an osprey musta liked my music as well as my periodic conch horn blasting as it sat on that limb above me chirping away all afternoon.


And this 5 foot long iguana who is probably the baddest reptile in the park.

Left that area this morning and headed to north Clearwater; Dunedin/Palm Harbor area where I’ll b chillin till Karma says it’s time to go.

Dunedin Causeway; Honeymoon & Caldesi Islands. Yep;
What’s not to like?
jonny boi livin the dream

 

[dandiff]

I really appreciate you posting your photos. I used to live in that area and it's nice to see it again.

 

[INTJohn]

It takes alot for a sunrise or a sunset to impress me as I’ve probably seen thousands but this dawn was worthy of a picture.

jonny boi

 

[INTJohn]

11 Feb. ‘24 Sebastian Inlet State Park

Left Honeymoon Island area this past Tuesday, 6 Feb headed East to Vero Beach/Fort Pierce area on the Atlantic Coast; yes, got bored.

Will beach hop northward over the next several days to Ormond Beach which is north of Daytona where this Friday, 16 Feb will point myself westward once again heading to Dunnellon, west of Ocala and hang out the weekend with an old war buddy & his wife.

Thaz tha plan
jonny boi still drivin & livin

 

[INTJohn]

15 Feb ‘24 Somewhere near Ormond Beach Fla

………in other news today:
While exploring in the mostly vegetation covered dunes at Avalon State Park I came face to face with the largest free ranging snake I've encountered since my time in SE Asia 50 years ago.

This frikkin thing was all of 8' long and a good 2” maybe 3ish" in diameter and I'm 1000% sure that it was not anymore enthralled to see me as I was it.

Snake startled and not knowing anything as to what kind of snake it was other than it was really long; I was awed by its sheer length & upraised blackish head; didn’t know if it was poisonous and it sure went into “I’m a badass cobra” mode.

We stared at each other for 10 seconds max. About 6’ apart each of us wondering who is going to make the first move. I moved to my left and it moved to my right and we both hastily parted ways.
I can't speak for the snake but it took me some 100 yards or so of walking down the beach for my fight or flight adrenaline infusion to subside.

Returning to the van I immediately began the google search for info re aforementioned snake and VOILA! This is it:
https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/snakes/coachwhip.shtml

Says these things live in coastal dunes and can exceed 8 feet in length and I can personally attest to both those facts.

But does it taste like chicken?
jonny boi just sayin

 

[NctryBen]

Poor snake is still searching the internet trying to figure out your breed!!! Haha!

 

[Carla618]

15 Feb ‘24 Somewhere near Ormond Beach Fla

………in other news today:
While exploring in the mostly vegetation covered dunes at Avalon State Park I came face to face with the largest free ranging snake I've encountered since my time in SE Asia 50 years ago.

This frikkin thing was all of 8' long and a good 2” maybe 3ish" in diameter and I'm 1000% sure that it was not anymore enthralled to see me as I was it.

Snake startled and not knowing anything as to what kind of snake it was other than it was really long; I was awed by its sheer length & upraised blackish head; didn’t know if it was poisonous and it sure went into “I’m a badass cobra” mode.

We stared at each other for 10 seconds max. About 6’ apart each of us wondering who is going to make the first move. I moved to my left and it moved to my right and we both hastily parted ways.
I can't speak for the snake but it took me some 100 yards or so of walking down the beach for my fight or flight adrenaline infusion to subside.

Returning to the van I immediately began the google search for info re aforementioned snake and VOILA! This is it:
https://ufwildlife.ifas.ufl.edu/snakes/coachwhip.shtml

Says these things live in coastal dunes and can exceed 8 feet in length and I can personally attest to both those facts.

But does it taste like chicken?
jonny boi just sayin

Now I don't even want to visit Florida

 

[INTJohn]

Now I don't even want to visit Florida

If you want to read about further reptilian encounters while I was in Florida couple years back, go here:
https://vanlivingforum.com/threads/intjohns-very-belated-winter-20-21-truck-livin.46849/page-2

Post #33 & #34
jonny boi

 

[NctryBen]

Now I don't even want to visit Florida

There’s no real snakes Carla… they just toss fake ones around the state for effects. If you do go, carry a gun. And travel with Jonny boi… that way you can run and if Jonny tries to run pass you, shoot him in the foot!

 

[INTJohn]

21 Feb ‘23 Somewhere near Ormond Beach, Fla

Spent 4 days near Dunnellon, west of Ocala, at friend’s house. Had my own suite. A HOT shower in a real shower room; Sleeping in a king size bed; damn forgot what that was all about.

And Food! Ok, I bought 16” meat lovers pizza & a 16 pc KFC bucket and my buddy made blueberry pancake & eggs breakfasts and homemade cherry cobbler! R U Kidding?!

How’s Life get better than blueberry pancakes & cherry cobbler?! Nope, it just don’t.
One evening his wife grilled a huge Texas steak with the trimmins. Life’s just tooo goood!

Damn! I might never leave!

Weather sukt tho; cold hard rain for over 2 days straight meant lotsa indoor time so we spent a lot of time playing cards & chewin the fat and I was able to sort my seashells and get them bleach cleaned.

Also; did some routine stuff on the van. Oil & filter change, washer fluid, tire pressures, etc. then I left and drove back to Ormond on the Ocean coast.

They said I could stay as long as I wanted but it was time for jonny boi to head on down the road.
Better to leave peeps wishin you would stay then stayin and have them wishin you would leave. Have always treated girl friends the same way.

vagabon jon is movin on

 

[bullfrog !]

Better start walking off some of that food! Lol!!! Yesterday was at one of my son’s fancy birthday dinner, had a piece of a white chocolate topped raspberry bun cake. Who would have thought they make something so delicious! I’ll be walking today for sure!

 

[INTJohn]

27 Feb ‘24 Sebastian Inlet State Park

After returning to Ormond Beach for a day decided on the 3 hour drive south back to Fort Pierce/Vero Beach area to avoid an approaching rainy & cooler weather front.

Warm temps, lotsa sunshine and beautiful beaches really is the only reason to be in Florida so ummm, yeah!

Days filled with massive beach time and Saturday treated myself to a social fix at the Square Grouper on the Fort Pierce jetty waterfront. Decent band, decent drinks.

Left Vero Beach lil bit ago, north to my present location. Sebastian Inlet State Park is Florida’s only open 24 hours state park and a main stop for me on my way up & down the Atlantic Coast.

Also, I’m officially declaring my northward migration back to Michigan; Beach hopping northward along the Atlantic Coast toward the Assateague National Seashore Park in Maryland where I’ll then turn Northwest and arrive back to my camp spot near Lake Michigan around mid to late April……..

Jacksonville, Georgia, South & North Carolina, Virginia Beach & Maryland? jonny boi is on his way!

vagabon jon livin the Dream

 

[INTJohn]

Now I don't even want to visit Florida

Another thing to keep in mind while in Florida is
Stay Away from the Armadillos!

I see people getting close to these things pictures taking etc blah blah all the time. They think they’re just such cute lil things like their cat or their poochy poodle.
Studies are showing that as many as 20% of Floridas armadillos are carriers of Leprosy.

https://epi.ufl.edu/2023/10/16/lepr...nal animal, the only,in a burrow below patios.

https://epi.ufl.edu/2023/10/05/uf-expert-discusses-leprosy-and-increased-cases-in-florida/

ain’t sayin jus sayin
jonny boi

 

[Carla618]

Another thing to keep in mind while in Florida is
Stay Away from the Armadillos!

I see people getting close to these things pictures taking etc blah blah all the time. They think they’re just such cute lil things like their cat or their poochy poodle.
Studies are showing that as many as 20% of Floridas armadillos are carriers of Leprosy.

https://epi.ufl.edu/2023/10/16/leprosy-in-florida-medical-experts-monitoring-unusual-new-cases-of-hansens-disease/#:~:text=This nocturnal animal, the only,in a burrow below patios.

https://epi.ufl.edu/2023/10/05/uf-expert-discusses-leprosy-and-increased-cases-in-florida/

ain’t sayin jus sayin
jonny boi

I knew that about armadillos. They are in Illinois. No idea when they appeared here. Really bizarre!

The DNR's website just says they "recently" moved into Illinois, but who knows when that was written. Pretty sure I saw the first dead one (road kill) 20+ years ago in southern Illinois. Saw a live one years later.

 

[LargeMarge]

... in Florida...Stay Away from the Armadillos...armadillos are carriers of Leprosy...

.
So, you would steer away from armadillo on the half-shell?
.
Shucks.
I was hoping to collect some tasty recipes for the CHEAP MEALS thread.

 

[INTJohn]

.
So, you would steer away from armadillo on the half-shell?
.
Shucks.
I was hoping to collect some tasty recipes for the CHEAP MEALS thread.

Prolly not. Doubt I would have a problem devouring a well prepared, tasty, savory & flavorful ‘dillo meal .

Prepping ‘Dillo:

I just wouldn’t want to be the one to catch it, clean it, prepare it.
Wear a full body rubber Covid suit.
Prepare & cook outside.
Let me know when ‘dillo is served.

yum, yum
jonny boi