March 24, 2016

Days 44, 45, 46, 47, 48

Bridge Traffic … the first day that we tried going to Sanibel Island we were coming from Fort Meyers in the early afternoon.  We waited in bumper to bumper traffic so long that we finally turned around.

The next time we left around 9:30 a.m.  We had planned to go earlier but  had waited for a thunder and heavy rain storm to pass.  Traffic was considerably lighter.  It might also have helped that the skies were overcast and they were forecasting more rain in the afternoon. Our first stop was the Visitors Center,  where we were pleasantly surprised to find the trail head for Shipley’s Trail to Pond Apple Park.   We didn’t make it to the Pond the tour guides were to slow (see slideshow below).  Next stop was Bowman’s Beach Park.  It was a good thing we got there early,  because parking was limited.   We picked up a late lunch at Jerry’s Foods which is tourist attraction in itself, as well as, Restaurant, Deli, Shops, Spa, etc.  The center courtyard is a beautiful tropical garden,  housing an exotic bird collection.  We had a delicious picnic at Causeway Island Park.   After lunch I gave E T her first swim lesson.  She loves the water,  but will only go in up to her belly.   I had this notion that if I was in the water, I could cox her.   What I’ve been waiting for,  is water that is warm enough and clear enough for my liking.  Today was the day.  I got more than my belly wet,  but not   E T.   Next Time 🙂

Sanibel Island gets Five Stars for Pet Friendly.  All the beaches,  many restaurants,  most hiking trails and the 20 plus miles of paved all purpose trails welcome well behaved dogs on an 8ft or less leash.

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My main reason for wanting to tackle the traffic back to Sanibel was the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.  This is a totally awesome place for anyone with any amount of interest in wildlife viewing.   We were not able to enjoy the indoor Visitor/Education Center, because we had E T with us.  The only places in the park that she isn’t welcome are inside buildings, on the tram and by the water (alligators).  We totally enjoy the outdoor Education Center, as well as,  the 2 mile Indigo hiking trail and the 4 mile Wildlife Drive.  David and I both agree, we would love to come back again on a Friday,  when they close Wildlife Drive to motor vehicles and only  allow bicyclists and hikers.  also, the kayaking looked great.   Our time on the  Wildlife Education Boardwalk and Observation Tower was spectacular.  The kids would love all the Poop on the boardwalk railings (see slideshow).

I FINALLY got to see a Roseate Spoonbill!  A Ranger had told us that one had not been spotted in over two weeks.  She came out to see us!!! This slideshow is all about  JN “Ding” Darling … snakes included!!!

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Lastly,  a few Hot Hazy Overcast quick stops.  David drove around the parking LOTS looking for spaces while I ran and got a couple of peeks of the Sanibel Lighthouse and Lighthouse Beach.  The weather did not keep the beach lovers away.  This is a lovely island, but while we were here there was too much traffic,  not enough parking and way too many people.  We tried to get lunch at a couple of pet friendly restaurants, Schapper’s Hots (we could not get into the parking lot) and Cip’s Place (the wait was over a half hour).   Next Time!  So we had another picnic 🙂

March 22, 2016

This is the closest dog friendly beach to Koreshan.   We got lucky and it was low tide when we arrived.   It is an off leash dog beach,  but  we are overly cautious and keep  E T on a leash.  She was not the only one.  E T is very timid and it seems overly aggressive dogs sense this.  Just like kids in a playground,  the timid ones often get bullied 🙁

I’m not sure who had more fun at the beach David or E T 🙂   Enjoy the slideshow.

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March 21 – March 30, 2016

Days 40, 41, 42, 43

Koreshan Campground is being closed April 15, 2016 for a much needed facelift.  The sites have been taken over by  vegetation.  It is so dense they need to do a controlled burn.  So we are living in a jungle, for nine days.   It’s no big deal, because there is so much to do in the park and nearby that we wouldn’t be spending much time at the site anyway.

The Historic part of the park is the Koreshan Unity Settlement.

A man named Dr. Cyrus Teed (Koresh is Hebrew for Cyrus) had an “illumination” to create a Utopia,  the “New Jerusalem”,  a life without crime, tobacco or drugs.  In 1894,  with a couple of hundred followers,  the community formed.   In 1961 the last few Koreshans donated 305 acres of their holdings to the State of Florida, as a “Gift to the People”.

The site today,  is a place of beauty,  peace and tranquility.   Walking onto the property,  the first thing I noticed was how good it smelled good.

Pathways made of shells, trails along the Estero River and bridges invite you to enjoy the beautiful grounds,  buildings, gardens and wildlife.  The settlement represents  the hopes and dreams of people that were not afraid of hard work and had a great appreciation for theater,  art,  music and education.  Their beliefs were a little weird in my opinion,  but to each his own.

There are guided tours everyday and scheduled events like,  garden tours,  music series, demonstrations,  a baking program at the Cast Iron Cafe and a Farmers Market on different days.  The grounds are open 8:00 a.m. til sunset everyday and pets on a leash are welcome, but not in the buildings.   It’s an easy bicycle ride from the campground.  I’ve taken to walking E T there at least once a day,  sometimes twice.

March 18 – 20, 2016
DAYS 38 & 39

Oscar Scherer  is one of the campgrounds where we have tried,  for a few years,  to get a reservation.   We finally got “lucky”  for two nights.  Right from the start it was a “lemon”.   Site #95 is not a “pet friendly” site.  It is on an alligator creek.  There are no other sites available,  so the Park Ranger allowed us to stay,  with the promise to keep E T inside the RV when at the site.  Other than that she was welcome, on a six foot or less leash,  everywhere else in the park, except the Osprey Lake Beach.   The problem is her scent.  It attracts alligators.  She is big enough where the alligators should not bother her.  The problem is if a small child plays in the area of her scent,  it could get attacked.

David had to do some fancy finagling to get our RV into the site.   It  is huge,  but the road in front  is loaded with trees and low hanging branches. From the road, the ground is all downhill,  straight on down to the alligator creek.  David pulled forward as close to the road as possible from the creek.  E T may not be a desirable size for an alligator, but we know how sweet she is!

Oscar Scherer is a beautiful park with lots to offer.   We got lucky  the night we arrived, there was a Ranger talk on Things To Do in the Park,  including seeing an American Bald Eagles Family nesting.  A birding expert  would be setting up a scope the next day from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 at the nesting area.   This was thrilling.  There is a female, a male and one known fledgling in the nest.  We were actually watching when the adults switched places from guarding the nest to foraging for food.

There are biking and hiking trails from 1/4 mile to 10 plus miles.  There is a handicap accessible  kayak launch and even a butterfly garden.

E T’s Favorite Spot!

Another good time had by all!

Next Stop … Koreshan Historic State Park in Estero, Florida

March 13 – 17, 2016
DAYS 36 and 37

Cedar Key offers the best of the best of places to kayak.  There are twelve 5 star kayak trails to choose from .. . freshwater,  tidal salt marsh,  hammock,  canal,  riverine swamp,  inside and outside coastal islands,  palm island,  freshwater river,  gulf,  tidal creek and tidal estuary,  all  accessible within a few miles of Sunset Isle Campground.

Our first kayaking experience here was in a tidal salt marsh,  protected from the wind by the mangroves.  The biggest challenge was avoiding getting stuck in oyster beds.   It was great fun.  I was even confident enough to take my good camera in the kayak.

Our second kayaking choice was to paddle from Cedar Key out into the Gulf of Mexico to Atsena Otis Key.  Depending on the direction you take from the Kayak launch at City Beach we’re talking a 3/4 to 1 mile paddle from shore to shore.  It is approximately 3 1/2 miles around the Key.   We could not have picked better weather conditions or time of day to go,  high tide,  gentle breeze,  overcast.

Atsena Otis Key has a lot of history.  There is a well marked trail that takes you past remains of the Old Faber Pencil Factory, the observation deck and The Atsena Otis Key Cemetery.  Pets are welcome on the Island, but the only way to get there is by boat.  E T has not learned to paddle yet 🙂  Photos taken from my phone … not bad.

Who’s buried here

Atsena Otis is home to over 350 bottle nose dolphin.   At the observation dock,  we met some kayak fisherman that told us they had seen dolphin earlier on the back side.   It’s about a 3 1/2 mile paddle around the Island.   We made it about 1/3 of the way around when fog started rolling in,  so we headed back.  No dolphin sightings this time 🙁

Cedar Key is a seafood meca.   It’s clam-based aquaculture is a multimillion-dollar industry.

There are dozens of restaurants boasting fresh and the best seafood and clam chowders.   David and I chose Robinson Seafood for our  night out on the town.

Robinson Seafood is not fancy.  It’s a one stop shopping place for everything seafood.  You can book a fishing charter,  purchase from the fresh seafood market or do take out or sit down in the restaurant.  They have  “All you can eat seafood specials $13.95” everyday.   David surprised me and passed on the special,  all you can eat  jumbo shrimp, grouper,  crab cakes and choice of two sides.   He chose the oyster dinner and was not disappointed. He said they were the sweetest he’d ever tasted.  Every table gets a basket of hush puppies for starters.  Every order comes with homemade baked beans.

We had been torn between going to Robinson’s or Steamers on Dock St.

Neighbors of ours went to Steamers.  They  said the food was O.K., but the entertainment was excellent.   Next Time!

Sadly,  it was time to move on.  Our next reservation was one night at Lake Manatee State Park in Bradenton, Fl.   We have stayed here before,  big private sites ($31.23 water and electric).

This friendly neighborhood cardinal entertained us while we ate breakfast.

There is a very pretty,  small  park on the big lake.

I guess it could be exciting if you went swimming with the alligators.

This is the first place (Bradenton) since we’ve arrived in Florida that we’ve experienced horrendous traffic.  We went out to the grocery store and we’re so frustrated by the traffic that we turned around.

It is also the first place we had rain during the day.  It’s still hazy,  hot,  humid and buggy.

Next Stop, a bit  further south  … Oscar Scherer State Park  Osprey, Florida

March 13, 2016
Days 33, 34, 35,
Sunset Isle RV Park and Motel, Cedar Key, FL

This is sardine can camping.  What is sardine can camping?  Camp sites so small that if you put your awning out all the way,  it touches your neighbor’s camper.  On top of that you’re paying ” mucho dinero”  to camp there ($54.50 per night (premium site/water view or waterfront)  full hook up).

  After our first day, David is ready to book for a week next year. Why?
This is our view from inside the RV.

View from the dock.

The Location,  1.3 miles from PET FRIENDLY City Beach, shops and restaurants.  There is a bicycle/pedestrian trail that starts about 1/4 mile from the campground and goes all the way into town.
There are two kayak launches right in front of our site (D).
I am ready to book after we go down to City Beach and it’s horseshoe crab mating season!  There are events that I consider phenomena.  Exceptional things that happen totally by chance.  These experiences are pure luck! Who ever expects to just look down on a beach and see dozens of horseshoe crabs mating?  This was very exciting!!!  At one point several flipped over and got caught upside down in the surf.  This lady totally panicked that they were going to drown.  She raced down onto the beach and hopped over and between them.  When she got to the “horseshoe crabs in distress” she paused for a split second.  I wish I had gotten a photo of her face when she realized she was going to have to touch them to “save” them.  But she reached right in and “saved them”!  I hope you like this awesome slideshow!

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Cedar Key has lots of Old Florida  character and natural charisma.

Cemetery  Point Park  is a must visit.  There is an awesome boardwalk,  terrific views, a pet friendly beach and lots of chameleons !!!

This is a kayaking paradise.

I am in my Birding Glory!  Enjoy the slideshow!

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We went to the Archeological Shell Mound and Fishing Pier in the Lower Suwannee National Wildlife Refuge 5 1/2 miles from the campground.

E T’s new  non-canine friends slideshow.    We ALL thoroughly enjoyed our stay here.  It is on our list of must come back.

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I’ve been trying to limit my posting to one for each different  stop we make, but we are just having such a good time here and there is so much to see and do, I’m going to make this a two parter 🙂

March 9 – 12, 2016
Days 29, 30, 31, 32

All  of my photos look grayish.  It is not the camera.  The weather here our entire stay has been hazy and overcast.  The wind has been blowing 15 to 25 knots with lots of sand gusts.  The beaches have been “red flagged” for swimming because of strong  rip currents.

There are a few Florida State Parks that offer resort style camping.   Topsail Hill comprises with The Gregory E. Moore RV Resort offering amenities like a camp store, swimming pool, shuffleboard and horseshoe courts, full hook up,  spacious, level,  landscaped  sites,  some overlooking small lakes ($42 a night).

Tram service to the beach,  rental cabins,  paved pedestrian and biking trails,  amphitheater with free concerts on Thursday nights, the list goes on and on.  We biked 3 miles to Campbell Lake and then hiked a portion of the 1.5 mile Deer Track Trail.  There are over 10 miles of hiking and biking trails.

There is a  .3 mile boardwalk over the dunes to the beach.  What is different about this beach than any other we have been too?  No seashells, No seaweed, Salt and Pepper Sand.

Look what happens after a morning at the beach!

The closest dog friendly  beach is a half hour drive at Pier Park in Panama City Beach.

We went out to dinner one night at a restaurant that David’s cousin’s John and Nancy recommended in nearby Miramar.   Unfortunately,  the wind forced us to sit indoors.  The food is very good,  the drinks even better and the atmosphere over the top.   Funky Monkey’s for me and Fish Fingers for  David!   The Whale’s Tail gets five stars for atmosphere.  Well behaved dogs are welcome on a special area of the deck.  They are not allowed on the beach.

Next Stop … Cedar Key, Florida

March 3, 2016
Everything you’ve heard about life in the south moving at a slower pace is true.  That combined with the warmer temperatures people seem happier and more relaxed.
Southern Customer Service can be exceptionally friendly and helpful.  Sometimes to the point of being entertaining.
I recently had a very enjoyable shopping experience at a Tallahassee, Florida CVS.   Thanks to Vahoolaree, Vahoo for short!   Yes, by the time I left the store, we were on a nickname basis. I was calling her Vahoo and she was calling me Honey!
Vahoo was the one woman show performing exclusively at the CVS  front check out/photo center.  She had a small plastic stool, that had an old sofa cushion balancing on it, setting in front of the  check out candy display.  This was so she could set down when she was stocking the candy.   I don’t know when she had time to do that, because there always seemed to be a line of two or three people at the register.  I am glad though that she took the time to explain why it was there.
Checking out took time.  Often, Vahoo had to run out from behind the register to hug someone.  She hugged one older gentleman so hard that I was afraid she was going to break every bone in his upper torso.  While she was squeezing and he was turning purple, she announced to anyone listening, that he hadn’t been in for awhile and she was just so happy he was doin’ good.  At least he was before the hug!
At times she had to run out from behind the counter and disappear down an isle to find someone, something they needed, before they even said they needed it.  Apparently, these people were regulars!
One of the items that she had “run out for” was a three pack of VHS tapes.  Who is still using VHS to record?  Apparently, this customer.  The “announced” price of $18.57 was payed with dismay,  but the customer did received plenty of sympathy and understanding from Vahoo.  Not enough to be hug worthy though.  I think that was because he was whining and she was just being condescending.  You could hear it in her voice.
You may be wondering what I was doing all this time and how my friendship with Vahoo developed!   I was at the photo kiosk trying to make a DVD.  I had already taken my turn in line and purchased a blank DVD.  Vahoo had put it in the computer and punch in the magic code.   The machine was not working.  In between customers she was running over apologizing and trying to get the darn thing to work.  She made a phone call to someone,  that she was obviously smitten with.  After a lot of oohing,  aaahing and giggling she hung up and announced she to needed to reboot!
Meanwhile,  A gentleman asked to have passport photos taken.  She apologized to him and explained about how she needed to reboot and there were a few customers ahead of him.  He told her that he was not in a hurry,  but could he have a stool to sit on.  Not the short one, please!  Out she comes from behind the counter with a tall wooden stool.  She gives him the stool, a quick pat on the shoulder and Hi! Ho! Hi! Ho!  Back to work she goes.   Every so often she’d holler over to me “Honey!  How’s that thing workin’ ?”
You’re probably thinking, “Well, How long is this taking?”  I’ll tell you!  It took so long that the man sitting on the wooden stool waiting to have his passport photo taken, fell asleep.  I’m not kidding.  He had the whole “head bob, nod” going on.  I was a little concerned that he was going to fall off,  but I was close enough to catch him if need be.
When it was finally his turn, she came over and woke him with a poke, a giggle, and announced to anyone listening that he had fallen asleep.  Of course he got a hug!
She pulled down a screen and the photo shoot began. You would have thought the photos were for G Q  magazine!  She posed him, had him turn his head a bit this way and a little that way.  All the time he’s getting into it, asking questions and making suggestions.  When it’s all said and done she takes him over to the register to ring him out and Dead Pan she says to him “That’ll be $87.42!   Now I wish I’d had my camera.  His face dropped and he did this little twitching dance.  Before he could say a word, Vahoo laughingly says “Only Kidding!”
How does the story end.  The photo kiosk was broken and to her dismay, Vahoo, very apologetically,  refunded me my money and we parted ways.
If you like that story I have a shorter Walmart one.  This time we were in Alabama and stopped at a Walmart.  I needed to buy a needle and thread to sew a tear in E T’s dog bed.  An employee, Shanda, was walking by and I asked her where I could find them.  She didn’t tell me, she took me, talking all the time.  She lives in Pensacola, not far from where the tornado touched down, night before last. Was everything alright with me and mine?  She was born and raised in Missouri right on down Tornado Alley.  Got tired of them Tornado’s com in’ through all the time and moved to Florida.  Now Florida ain’t suppose to have Tornado’s, but sure enough, soon as she moves there, there com in’.  Almost without taking a breath, she asks “Darlin’ what size needle you need and what color thread?”  This was Walmart.  I was not picking out a prom dress.  She was not leaving until me until I had everything I needed.  My only regret was I hadn’t brought the dog bed with me.  I’ll bet she would have sewed it if I asked her 🙂

March 4 – 8, 2016
Days 24, 25, 26, 27, 28

David and I belong to Passport America,  which is a campground and travel planning organization,  similar to KOA.   A benefit  we have used a lot,  is half price camping.   A one year membership can be as low as $44.  Two night stays in one of their campgrounds and your membership has paid for itself.

Passport America also hosts Fun Rallies.  That is why we are here at the North Florida Fairgrounds in Tallahassee.

This is our first rally.  Five nights of camping (50 amp electric and water hookup) 3 breakfasts,  4 dinners,  nightly entertainment,  seminars,  vendors,  a pet parade,  games and a Murbles tournament.  ($350).  There is a Hop On, Hop Off Bus Tour of  the Historic District of Tallahassee available for an additional $55.   In our free time we chose to explore the area on our own.

We found great hiking at  Alfred B. Maclay Gardens State Park,  less than 10 miles from the Fairgrounds.   Pets are allowed in all areas of the park except in the Gardens and on the beach at Lake Overstreet.    Entrance to the park is $6.  There is an additional $6 per person fee to tour the Gardens, during the winter months which is peak blossom.

Our next find was Lake Jackson Mounds Archaeological State Park,  less than 5 miles from the Fairgrounds.  There are two ceremonial/burial mounds to explore.   The Interpretive Trail was neat,  because you got to walk in the footpaths of the Indians.   We saw where they took the dirt from and how far they had to carry it,  in pots,  to build the mounds.   Kind of like the American version of the pyramids.

We drove through historic downtown Tallahassee and stopped at an open air Marketplace that’s held on Saturdays in the Park Avenue Chain of Parks.  There were vendors and a folk duo performing.  It was nice.  Then we drove by the Old State Capital building where there was a gathering of youths and someone giving a speech.

The Pet Parade was more of a talent show,  than a parade.  E T won First Prize for Best Trick.  I had her sit, lay down and gave the command “wait”.  Then I placed pieces of chicken on her two front paws and her nose.  When I gave the command “O.K.”  she ate the chicken.  Her new best friend, Darla,  won Best Dressed.  Darla is a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.  She is the cutest, most well behaved dog I’ve ever met, even better than E T!

We spent three hours at the Tallahassee Museum.  It was not enough time.  It is on our list of “next times”.   The one reason we HAVE to come back is to do the Tree To Tree Adventure Course.   It is an obstacle/zip line course with a max height of 60 ft.   It’s recommended, you allow at least 2 1/2 hours to do the full course.   I’m guessing it would have taken David and I at least 3 1/2 hours.   The zips would have been quick, but some of the obstacles looked pretty challenging.  The course goes up, over and all around the Museums 52 acres,    including the Cypress Swamp.  It looked like great fun.

The walking tour, of at least half,  of the Museum is viewed by walking over raised boardwalks, that take you above areas that you otherwise could not walk,  like the Cypress Swamp.  Some take you above animal exhibits.   Unlike Zoo’s where you look into cages,  here you look down into there natural habitat’s and try to find them.   There are several endangered species here that are trying to be saved from extinction.  There are also animals that can not fend for themselves because of injuries or they were bred in captivity.

This is a great place for kids of all ages.  My KID,  loved the dinosaur exhibits that were made of old car parts.

This is also the deal of the day,  $10.50 museum admission for adults.  The Tree To Tree Adventures were fairly priced and included admission.   Prices were based on height and skill not age $19.50,  $34.50 and $51.50.  I’ll let this slide show  you a few examples of this unique Museum.

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David and I participated in our First Murbles Tournament.  It’s kind of like Bocci.  The best part of the tournament, was all the fun people we met.  From that statement I’ll bet you can surmise that we did not win.  David went three rounds and I only went two.  The man that beat me won the Tournament.  I think he was a ringer!

We had a great time at the Rally.  We met lots of new friends.

We even met a couple that we had camped next to a few years ago in the Keys.  Our new friends, Cat and Johnny, gave me my new favorite t-shirt.

Next Stop … Santa Rosa Beach, Florida

March 1 – 3, 2016
DAYS 21, 22, 23
St George Island is on our list of favorites.  Fantastic views start on the ride through historic downtown Apalachicola, over the bridges to St George and right on into the State Park.

   There is a blog in the archives, that talks about the awesome hiking, biking, kayaking, beach combing and birding on the island. 

Dogs are not allowed on the beach in any Florida State Park. They are allowed on any St. George Beach as long as they are on a leash.

This is our third time here and the weather is always a mystery.  Our first time we had to wear winter coats, hats and gloves.  This time sweatshirt mornings and t-shirt afternoons.  Perfect, if you ask me.
David added a bit of adventure to this trip.  He has been reading a murder/mystery series of short stories, by author Dawn Lee McKenna. Guess where the stories take place?  If you guessed St George Island and Apalachicola you guessed right.  Main character,  Lieutenant Maggie, says the best place for fried chicken in the U.S. is  A J’s Neighborhood Bar and Grill on the corner of Martin Luther King Ave and 9 th St. in Appalachicola.

    I was a little apprehensive walking into A J’s.  The neighborhood was a little sketchy and at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday night, we were the only customers.   David walked in like it was old home week.  First thing he did was start chatting up the waitress about the stories he’d read and the fried chicken.  The waitress was very cute and wrote the authors name down and said she would tell the owner.  She said she thought it would be creepy to read murder mysteries about where she lived and worked,  I agreed.  Between the neighborhood and the lack of customers, I was glad I hadn’t read them.
A J’s does a great take – out business,  but we were the only sit down customers.  David ordered the fried chicken and I ordered the grilled blackened chicken.  Lieutenant Maggie, did not exaggerate.  This was the best chicken ever.  We have added it to our list of favorite “take out” restaurants.
Last time we were in the area, we ate at Boss Oyster, which according to Lieutenant Maggie, has the best oysters in the U.S.,  David agreed.  It is right down the street from this awesome waterfront park. 

Next time our plan will be, pick up take-out at A. J’s and then at Boss’  and have a picnic in the park.
I’ll take a quick paragraph here for a romantic tip, I learned from my Grandmother.  She was a firm believer in the “way to anyone’s heart was through his/her stomach”.  To clinch the deal, take them on a picnic.  Combine, delicious fried chicken, oysters and  potato salad with a fine bottle of wine,  while sitting on a blanket, enjoying ocean views and you’ll be reeling in your catch!
If by the very remote chance the picnic doesn’t work, Lieutenant Maggie, suggests a visit to the Old Fashioned Soda Fountain for a banana split. 

I didn’t ask David why we HAD to order the banana split.  Again, I was glad I hadn’t read the stories.  I did keep an eye out for shady characters in the soda fountain, but the coast was clear.
Just before heading back over the bridge from Apalachicola to St George we stopped at the Apalachicola National Estuarine Research Reserve.  Admission is FREE.  This is a find.  The nature center and estuaries are fascinating.  the hiking trails are awesome.  They are all boardwalked, very nice!

This is not a sign we expected to see … both in Apalachicola  and St George Island.  Do Bears Swim???

Next Stop … Tallahassee, for a Passport America Rally.   Passport America  is an organization that connects Rv-ers with Campgrounds that offer discounts to promote there facilities. This will be our first Rally and first time in Tallahassee.