Feb 24, 2010 - Anastasia State Park

Anastasia State Park Dunes

This morning we had to switch campsites, but it didn’t take long. We only had to move down a half dozen sites. We left the rDome attached, sort of rolled it up, and tossed it over the roof of the pod. Everything else that was loose we just set on top of the truck bed and then carefully moved to the new site. We looked like the Beverly Hillbillies. The only thing we were missing was a rocking chair with Granny in it on top of the truck.



Bad hair day on the beach

Struck up a conversation with at lady from Canada this morning. We were sharing a picnic table up at Island Joes WiFi hotspot, checking our email. She and her husband are one of the host couples here at the park, staying January through March, and had been doing so for several years now. She gave me the lowdown on how that works. You’re expected to stay between 60 and 120 days, during which you get your site for free. In exchange you work 20 hrs per week helping maintain the park. You could be doing anything: painting, cleaning bathrooms, landscaping, sprucing up vacated campsites before the next visitor checks in, whatever’s needed. She also told us many of the private campgrounds in Florida have host campers as well, and that there’s an online forum and a magazine devoted to folks that do just that sort of thing. The popular parks can be hard to get into, but you just never know. She said a couple checked in while on vacation two years ago, and just for fun filled out an app when they checked in. Before they got to their assigned site, their cell rang and they were hired to stay here at Anastasia. Seems one of their host couples had failed to show up, they were already there and available, so they got the job. She also gave us tips on how to apply and get into the system. We may check that out when we get home.

Irish Eyes Were Smilin'

We went for a walk on the beach today with Dennis and Carol. It’s supposed to rain this afternoon so we thought we’d try to get this in before the weather turns foul. I think there may have seen 3 or 4 other people along the entire 4 mile stretch. It was pretty chilly with an onshore breeze, making for a cold fog in the air. As we were leaving, we saw a kite boarder headed out toward the beach to take advantage of the breeze. Those guys are nuts anyway. While we were at it we took in the nature trail inside the park.

By this time it was late afternoon, so we moved the heater out under the tent and spent the afternoon gabbing while it rained. A simple potluck supper of hot dogs on the grill, and then it seemed like it was dark and time to turn in. Finally got to hear Dennis play the fiddle.