Crooked River State Park - Now we’re camping!

Yeah!  We are being pestered relentlessly by “no see ‘em’s” and everything is coated in pollen.  You can’t open your windows because it all comes in.  The truck is now a lovely shade of lime green and we busted out the “swamp buddy” which is famous for keeping the gnats off.

Crooked River State Park at St. Mary’s/Kingsland Georgia is full of oaks, huge pines and palmettos.  There are about 60 sites, most big rig friendly, a tenting area which I think is closed right now and cabins.  You can’t hear any traffic at night.  No sewer but you get water, electric and cable.  Of course the park is looking over the Crooked River and the Marsh but we took a sheltered sight in the trees to stay away from the gnats which are worse by the river and marsh as we know from previous experience.  But the pollen is horrendous here in the trees making Florida pollen seem wimpy.  So just put on your old clothes and get down and dirty! 

The park filled up today (Thursday) and will be full for the weekend.  People come here to kayak, fish, hike, bike, bird and commune with nature or go to Cumberland.  St. Mary’s is a very small town which would likely get no traffic at all if it weren’t for the Cumberland Island National Park ferry and marina.  It is one of only 2 ways to get to Cumberland and the most likely route.  There are a couple of neat restaurants in St. Mary’s, a lovely town park, a couple of off the beaten track boutique stores and the Blue Goose Cafe which let’s you use their wi-fi while drinking gourmet coffee or boutique wines.   Looks like a good place to eat too.  There is a sea shore museum and several strange antique and book shops in town.  The cemetery is amazing for Civil War history.  There is wi-fi available at the camp office here at Crooked River thank goodness so we can make or change plans with the internet there.  Kingsland is home of one the biggest naval bases on this coast.  

Tonight we will have a much looked forward to campfire with wood that looks punky.  The smoke should help with the gnats.  But at least it won’t go in the RV since we won’t be opening any windows! The park is out of fire wood for heaven’s sake despite knowing they were full.  We bought some at a rather run down looking campground across the road but once we got past the main office it actually looks better.  Maybe another time.  

Laurel Links Golf course is nearby and of course that is a big attraction for us to come here.  It is beautiful!  We went to the range today and marveled at the budding azaleas and other flowering trees and gorgeous landscaping.  We will play it tomorrow.  

We are leaving a day early to arrive at Hardeeville South Carolina Saturday instead of Sunday.  Grant and Gisele are renting a house at nearby Calawassie Island and the weather is coming in cold on Monday so we want to golf with them Sunday.  We may need a break from nature by then.  Not!  It is wonderful to be “really” camping. 

The Great Outdoors Golf and RV Resort, Titusville Florida

After leaving Sanlan we headed to Titusville and The Great Outdoors with a sense of anticipation for a new adventure.  It was less than a 2 hour drive and the Park was easy to find.  Large entry gates and a mile long drive through dense scrub land was intriguing.  Security at the gate asked for our I.D. and sent us on to the Welcome Centre to register.  We later learned that this park is located on a 3000 acre property so no wonder the entry road was so long and the sites so large. 

Our site was in Oak Cove, an area with a combination of RV lots with small casitas and sheds, homes with huge garages or car ports that would hold a motor coach or other types of RV’s and many other interesting scenarios.  It was a bit difficult for John to back into this site because of beautiful trees on both sides and the casita.  He managed  it of course and once the slides were out there were inches between the roof of the small building and the Cedar Creek.  Well done and what a great site!  The concrete was painted with  flecks, the landscaping was gorgeous and the little room held a sofa, chair and TV.  We didn’t really use it however except to keep our bikes out of the rain!  The shed was locked likely with things inside belonging to the owners of the lot.

Once we had landed and got everything organized we headed out on our bikes to explore the park and facilities.  There are some lovely buildings that house a hall/ballroom, a church with a steeple and bells, a gym, large pool and hot tub, pickle ball and tennis courts, bocce ball, and a commerce centre with a bank, post office, cafe, RV repair shop, Real Estate office, golf cart store where you can rent or buy,  and then the golf pro shop and restaurant.  And I’m likely forgetting something.  There are nature trails and I think we only got a glimpse of them but we did see wild turkeys, baby owls and deer.  The deer are brave coming onto lawns at times to get the best grass I would guess!

There are park models, regular homes, and RV lots of every description.  One section called Coach Cove is for motor coaches only but individuals have added buildings and landscaping to beautify their lots.  All lots are owned privately.  And owners can rent them out which is how we were able to get in there.  

The lot we were on is for sale but in the meantime can be rented.   Just down the street from us was a bath house/laundry with a lovely pool and hot tub enclosed in a huge lanai.   So we didn’t bother using the main pool facility since this was so close.  

We golfed on Sunday and hooked up with a single woman who was a very good golfer and fast player!  She was on her way from Daytona to Orlando and stopped to play golf.  I would say she’s addicted.  If something happens to me John may have to look her up.  It was windy and hot but we enjoyed the course.  It’s condition was comparable to many Florida courses we have played.  It has a great lay out with lots of water.  

Long time friends from home arrived the next day and we managed to golf 5 holes before it started to pour.  We got a rain check for the next day.  The pool and hot tub felt good despite the rain coming in through the screen.  No thunder, lightning or tornados despite warnings.  We enjoyed a lovely St. Patrick’s day meal of corn beef and cabbage thanks to Louise and a great evening.  The next day we biked again and got the whole 18 in on Tuesday before they had to head back to Davenport.  

Cardinals were attacking our RV, pecking at the windows every morning.  Birds and bees were hovering around the large bottle brush tree on our site.  Despite the “subdivison” look of this park there was nature to be found!  Garbage is picked up daily at your site which was a real bonus.  This is a very clean park with lots of trees, beautiful landscaping and lots to do.  We would definitely spend longer there next time.  We didn’t do any exploring around Titusville so that would be another reason for going back.  Cape Canaveral, Merritt Island, Cocoa Beach and who knows what else await exploration.