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Old 10-04-2015, 10:15 PM   #1
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Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
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Florida road trip

This year my wife and I decided to head south from Ontario for our annual road trip. I said if we're going south lets go way south. All the way to Key West, as far south as you can get on four wheels.

We loaded up the Boler and left Sept 17. We drove non stop taking turns at the wheel with breaks only for gas and to stretch our legs. We rolled into the north end of Florida about 26 hours later. We continued down to Ocala and stopped around dinner time at a KOA, made a meal and went to bed early for some much needed sleep.

My main reason for stopping in Ocala was to visit the Don Garlits museum of drag racing which we did the following morning. If you're a motor head of any description you'll love this place. It's filled with an incredible array of cars, motors, and memorabilia that Don has collected over the years. Any future trip I make through Florida will require an additional visit here because it's impossible to take it all in during one walk through. We spent one more night in the KOA and the next morning it was onward to the Keys.

We continued south sticking to the interstates since our next destination was Long Key State Park where we had four nights booked.

We arrived at Long Key, checked in on site 39 and settled in for four days of sun and relaxation. The sites are narrow and close together but provide more than enough room for the Boler. Privacy between sites was not bad especially those from mid 30's and up with a thick band of greenery between each. The showers and bathrooms were always clean. We ate well, slept well (a/c would have been a welcome addition in the trailer) waded in the ocean, played cards and generally relaxed. We did have a screen room set up so when the mosquitoes became aggressive we retreated into that.

After checkout we started southward towards Key West for a four night stay at Boyds campground. On the way we stopped at various spots for photos and general touristy stuff. We detoured off the main road for lunch at the No Name Pub. The food was good, the beer was cold and we ordered a pizza to go so we wouldn't have to cook dinner that night. Checked in at Boyds and settled into our site, cramped, no privacy and far from cheap. But it is Key West, space is at a premium and prices are high. On the bright side the pool was great, the staff was nice, the facilities are spotless, the park was less than half full and you're a ten minute drive from Duval Street. We spent the four days wandering around Duval Street, lounging around the pool and sitting at our site watching the boats go by.
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Old 10-04-2015, 10:38 PM   #2
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Name: Martin
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Ontario
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A few more pics from Key West.

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Old 10-04-2015, 10:47 PM   #3
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We checked out and headed north towards Anastasia State Park where we were booked for three nights. We called the park since we were going to arrive well after dark and they gave us the gate code. We set up on site 74, got some sleep and headed for the beach the next morning. The beach is huge, virtually empty, looks spectacular and you can walk for ages and not bump into anyone. The campsites are private with lots of shade and the facilities were clean. The only drawback was the mosquitoes which were vicious and relentless day and night. The screen room was once again a welcome addition. A few days longing on the beach and a visit to St. Augustine and we were packed up and heading north.

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Old 10-04-2015, 10:57 PM   #4
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Our northward journey was supposed to take us to Wildwood New Jersey for a weekend of custom cars and hot rods on the Jersey shore. http://www.theraceofgentlemen.com/
Sadly howling winds and pouring rain washed out the entire weekend. So we headed for home and called it a wrap.

The Boler performed flawlessly during the whole two weeks. The PD4045 converter, the Truckfridge, the Fantastic vent and all of the other mods we've done performed as they should. The new axle I put in prior to leaving improved towing immensely.

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Old 10-05-2015, 04:31 AM   #5
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Wow, sounds like a great trip! I'm loving the photos of your beachsite camping. What great sunsets. Thanks for sharing!
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Old 10-05-2015, 05:10 AM   #6
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Wow, what a great adventure Martin. I too would like to check out the Garlit museum one day.
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Old 10-05-2015, 07:31 AM   #7
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Raff,


I'll be in St. Augustine this coming February - any recommendations for breakfast and supper?


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Old 10-05-2015, 08:35 AM   #8
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We ate exclusively at our campsite except for a quick dinner at the Sunset Grille which is located near the beach. Not fancy, family friendly, an extensive menu, the food was good and the price was fair.


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Old 10-05-2015, 09:17 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raff View Post
Our northward journey was supposed to take us to Wildwood New Jersey for a weekend of custom cars and hot rods on the Jersey shore. Welcome to The Race Of Gentlemen Presented by Oilers Car Club
Sadly howling winds and pouring rain washed out the entire weekend. So we headed for home and called it a wrap.

The Boler performed flawlessly during the whole two weeks. The PD4045 converter, the Truckfridge, the Fantastic vent and all of the other mods we've done performed as they should. The new axle I put in prior to leaving improved towing immensely.

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Wow, what a wonderful trip! I am a retired pilot, but I married a younger gal. She has 4 more years to work, then its the road for us! We are planning a westward trip, way out west.
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Old 10-05-2015, 10:30 AM   #10
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Thank you for sharing! Your pics are lovely! I was just sitting here looking at the map, thinking a trip to the Keys from Colorado might be in store for us next year! Perfect timing!
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Old 10-05-2015, 11:02 AM   #11
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on are bucket list
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Old 10-08-2015, 09:49 AM   #12
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Great info, thanks for sharing.
We're planning a similar trip for Dec 25-Jan 10.
Ohio- Savannah-Ft Lauderdale-Keys-CapeCanaveral-Charleston-Ohio.
As a gearhead, I will lobby the social director to add a stop at the Garlits Museum...
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Old 10-08-2015, 09:53 AM   #13
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Next time stop in Daytona Beach and take the tour of the track and it's history, very interesting.
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Old 10-08-2015, 10:35 AM   #14
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Daytona is on my list. Didn't have time this trip. I think I'll be in the sunshine state more often after I can get rid of this whole business of working for a living. It really cuts into my free time.


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Old 04-21-2016, 06:45 PM   #15
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getting ready for a road trip from Ocala Fl ( near Garlits Museum) got his autogragh and his books.Awesome guy. to Syracuse NY and back any close parks To interstate open in April/May traveling I-95 any ideas greatly appeciated thank u
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Old 04-21-2016, 07:58 PM   #16
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Mike; why I 95 all the way? I would take 95 only to I 26 and then to Columbia SC then I-77 over to I-81 which will take you up through Virginia and PA and right to Syracuse NY. We have done a few campgrounds on this route, a KOA in Staunton VA which is OK, Candy Hill near Winchester VA was so-so but OK for overnight, and Jonestown KOA which has way too much traffic noise. We have stayed at all of these off season, November and March. Won't do the Jonestown KOA again. I always go through all my books before heading south in Nov. and north in March, KOA directory, Woodalls from AAA, and a state campground book, and make a list of what campgrounds on my route are open. We sometimes stay at the state park in Cheraw SC, then go up to Greensboro NC and north on 29, then pick up either I 64 to Staunton VA or farther up to I 66 over to Winchester VA and then on up I 81.
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Old 04-21-2016, 10:32 PM   #17
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Wish I could offer some suggestions but we did a straight drive south from Toronto to Ocala. On the return north the weather had turned exceptionally nasty and we ended up heading straight home and cutting our trip short. Enjoy your journey.


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Old 04-22-2016, 05:06 AM   #18
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Yes, by all means avoid I95, take I81 all the way down from Syracuse thru Pennsylvania and Virginia and see Shenandoah NP and Great Smokey NP. I95 is a parking lot sometimes whereas I81 is a very scenic drive.
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