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10-04-2015, 10:15 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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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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10-04-2015, 10:38 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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10-04-2015, 10:47 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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10-04-2015, 10:57 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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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.
Sent from my iPad using Fiberglass RV
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10-05-2015, 04:31 AM
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#5
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Moderator
Trailer: U-Haul 1985
Posts: 3,436
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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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10-05-2015, 05:10 AM
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#6
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Senior Member
Name: Wayne
Trailer: Airstream Sold, Nest Fan
Ontario
Posts: 2,002
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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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10-05-2015, 07:31 AM
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#7
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Member
Name: Bill
Trailer: Oliver
North Carolina
Posts: 32
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Raff,
I'll be in St. Augustine this coming February - any recommendations for breakfast and supper?
Topgun
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10-05-2015, 08:35 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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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.
Sent from my iPad using Fiberglass RV
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10-05-2015, 09:17 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Name: Doug
Trailer: Scamp 16 ft.
Missouri
Posts: 129
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Raff
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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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10-05-2015, 10:30 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Name: Emily
Trailer: 2005 Scamp 16
Colorado
Posts: 505
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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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10-05-2015, 11:02 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Name: Rich & Linda
Trailer: Amerigo
Indiana
Posts: 296
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on are bucket list
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10-08-2015, 09:49 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Name: Jim
Trailer: Scamp 13(sold!) & TDI tugboat
Ohio
Posts: 121
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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...
__________________
Cheers,
Jim C & a 1983 Scamp 13
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10-08-2015, 09:53 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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Next time stop in Daytona Beach and take the tour of the track and it's history, very interesting.
__________________
Jim
Never in doubt, often wrong
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10-08-2015, 10:35 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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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.
Sent from my iPhone using Fiberglass RV
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04-21-2016, 06:45 PM
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#15
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Member
Name: Mike
Trailer: Uhaul
Florida
Posts: 49
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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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04-21-2016, 07:58 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Name: bob
Trailer: 1996 Casita 17 Spirit Deluxe; 1946 Modernistic teardrop
New York
Posts: 5,416
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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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04-21-2016, 10:32 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Name: Martin
Trailer: Boler
Ontario
Posts: 180
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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.
Sent from my iPad using Fiberglass RV
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04-22-2016, 05:06 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Name: jim
Trailer: 2022 Escape19 pulled by 2014 Dodge Ram Hemi Sport
Pennsylvania
Posts: 6,710
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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.
__________________
Jim
Never in doubt, often wrong
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