Intuitively, I know we had a great year this past year. But, as always, it is not until I go back through our journals that I recognize just how beautiful, complex, and in some areas stressful it was. I know many of you are expecting the crème de la crème this year to be our… Read More 2022 in Review – Dec 2022
Another successful year for the Canopener! What is the Canopener you say? First and foremost, it is a rally of friends and strangers-soon-to-be-friends of (mostly) Airstream owners. It is a purely democratic event, lead and directed by ad hoc volunteers, with no rules – only, at most, a few guidelines. It is a wonderful event… Read More Canopener – Jan 2022
We don’t write a year-in-review post every year, but when we do, I always start by thinking, what the hell did we even do this past year? And after going through our pictures, I’m like – wow – we did a bunch! Of course, this is not an historical world view of 2021 – just… Read More 2021 in Review – Dec 2021
If you are looking for a campground that is both chill and warm, this might be your ticket. We recently camped for a few days at Forth Clinch State Park in Fernandina Beach (FL), on Amelia Island, and it is a hidden gem. This state park is like Fort DeSoto Regional Park (if you have… Read More Fort Clinch – Oct 2021
Crown jewel. That’s what Oscar Shearer is to the Florida State Park system. Located in Osprey, FL (near Venice on the west coast), this is a flat-out great state park, and it really is a beautiful cocoon away from the hustle and bustle. We may not be the only ones who think that – just… Read More Oscar Shearer State Park – Feb. 2021
The new year has started, and, yes, we are out on the road – albeit without any social plans, dinners out, friends, or family until things get better. We pulled the “Get Out of Cold Weather” card, and decided to head to Florida for a few weeks – warm up a bit. I know Georgia… Read More Head’n South – Jan 2021
Even after 20 years living in the south, no one has ever mistaken me for being a good ole southern boy. I’ll say three words, and inevitably the first thing I hear is, “Boy, yarnt from around here, arya.” To which I usually and quite smartly say, “Well, gosh, no I am not!” “Bless your heart.”… Read More Southern Living – Sept 2018
Once again we have made the trek to the Florida Panhandle for the annual opening of Crazy Season – the Canopener! For those uninitiated, this Airforums rally, in its 11th year, is a gathering of Airstream-related craziness, food and fellowship. Held on the first weekend in January at Topsail State Park in Santa Rosa Beach,… Read More Canopener – Jan 2018
AMANDA, TURN ON THE DAMN TV! Technology. Jeez. At home it takes me 4 remotes just to adjust the TV. I just turned 65 years old (how did HE make it to 65 you are saying to yourselves). I could be “that guy” on the SNL skit about Alexa. If you haven’t seen it, it… Read More Fort Desoto – Dec 2017
Almost to the day for me, it has been 3 years since I (we) retired. Oh, how I miss those days of quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily, hourly forecasts… And who doesn’t love a well-placed flaming email distributed to the world. After retirement, one is forced to forego the joys and luxury of business travel: cramped… Read More 3 Years Post Retirement – Mar 2017
Just when you thought it was safe to head west… Arghh! The Roberts’ are doin’ it – again! Sad but true, as I write these thoughts we are but miles from the California border, sitting on BLM (Bureau Land Management) lands in Quartzite, AZ. But I get ahead of myself. We started our journey west… Read More Heading West – Jan 2016
Today was the Canopener Cornhole Competition, a highly competitive event as part of the Airforums rally for Airstreams called Canopener, at Topsail SP in Santa Rosa Beach, FL. The cornhole event was made either more or less competitive as it followed Margaritaville (thank you Pat and Greg) and a homemade chili extravaganza (thank you everyone).… Read More Canopener Cornhole – 2016
We are here at Topsail State Park for the Canopener, an Airstream rally that is enjoying its 10th anniversary this year. Canopener is a loose collection of like-minded Airstream owners who look forward to “opening” the year with a rally on the panhandle of Florida on the first full weekend of the New Year. I… Read More Topsail Prescribed Burn – 2016
Ixnay Hunting Island – on to Little Talbot Island SP near Fernandino Beach, FL. Five days previously the Little Talbot area had received 9 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. If you look at the picture of the dock in one of the pictures, we were told that as a result of the rain,… Read More Little Talbot Island – Nov 2015
A splendid few days in the keys! We were extremely lucky to get reservations at Bahia Honda State Park. Beautiful weather, although a bit windy; didn’t seem to keep the locals away.
One of our favorite campgrounds ever, Fort DeSoto County Park is the perfect getaway near St. Petersburg, FL, particularly if you like nature, camping, kayaking, beaches, biking… you get the picture. Went out this morning and paddled right alongside porpoises, and saw all kinds of bird wildlife, including an Ospree. Yesterday I was paddling side… Read More Fort Desoto CP (FL) – May 2014
Like every other Florida State Park we have been to, Oscar Scherer State Park is terrific. Located in a fairly densely populated area between Venice and Sarasota on the Florida gulf coast, you would never know you were camped in an urban area. Hiking, bike trails, kayaking – awesome. We watched a parent bald eagle… Read More Oscar Scherer SP (FL) – Jan 2014
We got to Topsail a week early so we could work. Sometimes it’s lonely at the Top! A lot of empty sites – the poor folks in Site 145 (how sad). What a great time, great people, lots of fun, obviously better pictures of the event from others. Topsail is a great SP in Florida,… Read More Canopener (FL) – Jan 2014