OVERSEAS HIGHWAY TO MARATHON KEY

On a crystal clear day with ideal temperatures we drove South to the Florida Keys - we had only a few hoours to explore and we had not been to the keys since the 1970's. It became clear very soon that much development had happened in these 40 years.

For one thing, the area devastated by hurricane Andrew in the early 90's was again a sea of one story single family homes.

Finally after passing Key Largo we entered the actual overseas highway linking a series of small keys. Above we are leaving one of the keys and are driving over emerald green waters.

Here in Marathon key we stop at a small neighborhood park in a non-gated community. The water lapping the coral reef boulders is clear and warm.

MIAMI IN NOVEMBER

This has been our spot at the LP Thompson Dade County RV Park for the past several years. We have switched our internet from satellite to cell, so we are no longer dependent on getting a spot with a clear South-West view to the sky like in this site. This is a nice wide site - very peaceful.

Usually at this time of the year we have so many avocados dropping from the trees in this old University of Miami experimental fruit tree farm that we eat guacamole spread every day.,. This winter there are few avocado fruit on the trees. Above is a good one.

SNOW ON THE WAY FROM TC TO NJ

We left Traverse Bay early in October, but as we were traveling on I80 east near State College Pennsylvania we were caught in their earliest snow fall on record. I80 remained clear but as you can see the trees still had some fall foliage and were sagging with the weight from fresh wet snow.

That evening we called ahead to our planned overnight campground off-I80 and they warned not to come there - they already had more than 3 inches on the ground and they were in hilly narrow roads we may not be able to manage with our long and heavy rig.

We instead stopped overnight at a Flying J off I80 and the next morning we awoke to 3 new inches of wet snow on our rig. I had to climb on the roof with a broom to remove all that snow from the slide-toppers.

FALL COLOR IN NORTHERN MICHIGAN

Only October and winter weather is making an appearance. Here I am along the North end of the north loop of Traverse Bay RV Resort. The fall color is a little late this year.

A stormy sky to the North with a sunny sky from the West (an usual occurrence here) This is our site with our maple showing its magnificent autumn red flaming colors.

At one of the ponds near our site there is a perfectly shaped apple tree filled with perfect bright red apples.

One of the forest areas in the RV park that is beginning to put on a show of colors. Below a few more of those outstanding maple trees. Many folks have already left and are heading south for the winter.

NATIONAL LAKE SHORE WITH DAVE AND MARYLYN

We found out that our friends and neighbor Dave and Marilyn had not visited the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lake shore, so we are out today to show them this beautiful part of Michigan.

The quaint town of Glenn Arbor is the gateway to the National Lake shore.

As we arrive in town we first head for the shore and a unique perfumed soap factory on the way. There we found someone riding a small, shaggy Icelandic pony. You can see the pony wading near the beach above.

Here we are in downtown. There was a local art gallery with magnificent acrylic paintings by a local artist. That was enjoyable.

A view of the blue, blue waters of Lake Michigan from the beach at Glen Arbor. The water was smooth enough for kayakers to venture far from shore.

A school group visiting the inland side of the dunes. The climb does not look as steep and difficult as it really is. From the top, you can have a beautiful view of farms, lakes, and forests, and turnaround and have a spectacular view of Lake Michigan.

Below at another section of the National Lake Shore park is a boardwalk that leads gently up to this platform where a panoramic view of Lake Michigan, along with some islands can be seen.