State parks are great to stay at. It is not bad once in a while to try out a commercial campground. Always enjoy your stories, travels, and videos. I think your kayak needs some grease or oil.
I never have seen you guys at any Florida State Forest campgrounds when you're down this way. There are some real nice ones I think you all would enjoy. Check out Tillis Hill, Silver Lake and Cypress Glen all are in the Withlacoochee tract. Nice bike trail access, lakes to paddle and trails/forest roads to walk. Florida state parks use Reserve America for booking. Enjoy....
We prefer the boondocks 😂and state parks or NF campgrounds. I’m currently running 200ah of lithium and a generator. I’m going up to 400ah and keeping the generator. I like redundancy. 2 is 1 and 1 is none 😊
Your particular brand of "U do U" works for me. Gorgeous river footage. Strange not to see Lynn sitting next to you, Owen, but Maggie seems to be embracing her new co-pilot status.
Definitely have to do you. Agree on grands. ❤. Two beautiful SPks. Some of the county ran parks are very nice. Lk Monroe is pretty nice. Sun Rail near it, can ride to Orlando, have lunch, walk around Lk Eola, or Winter Park. Pretty during holidays. Enjoy, and keep living your best life. 🙂👍🎄
I just love your videos so very much! You both are so adorable and oh so kind and respectful to each other. It’s so refreshing to watch your videos. Couple’s can learn a lot from you Both. I thank you for sharing your adventures with us. Merry Happy Christmas! May God’s love and blessings continue blessing you and your family.🙏🏻🥰♥️
I love the Great Loop idea! I went down the rabbit hole on Ranger Tugs and thought one you could trailer would be awesome, like a 25ft. We still have a few years of adventure in our Solis; hope to run into ya’ll again sometime!
Will y'all be in the area for the Ekko rally happening with the Florida RV Supershow? We will be there in our 2024 Ekko we just purchased which is current with all recalls, so hopefully all the bugs you have experienced have been worked out in ours. We love visiting the Florida State Parks, of course, living here nearly all my life. Alot of folks mistake some of our biggest spiders for tarantulas, especially the Huntsman spider, LOL.
I’m not sure if we are going to the RV Supershow yet. Congratulation on your Ekko, all the bugs should be fixed and you are going to love it. Thanks for the info on the spiders. Hope you see you on the road.
Owen, that is too funny. My dad always wanted a travel van, and never got it. I picked up this dream from him and bought a PleasureWay - about to retire and travel. My dad and I used to boat and fish, and talk about cruisin' the loop. I've always wanted to do it - Donna's a little hesitant about it. Well, don't know if I'll ever get a pocket trawler and do it, but we'll be sure and continue following the channel. Hope we all run into one another one day - keep dreaming! BTW - grew up on the Tomoka, so I get it! Bill & Donna
That was awesome! Thank you so much for taking me along! I'm trying so hard to work out a way to get south this winter (I'm in PA), so riding along with you today was so good! The water was amazing, but I'm not coordinated at all, and excersize is good, but doing it with gators is something else - I'm not sure what to call it, but it must have "cardio" in the name - I was getting cardio watching! I can't believe I'm 55+, but I am and I'd be in the woods with a lake rather than a campground with a pool, too. Looking forward to where we're going next! Thanks again. Peace & Prayers.
O my gosh what you were saying is just how we are, we don't stay in rv parks unless only option. Could picture you all on a boat boondocking near a small island or river. Enjoy 😉
Yeah, we aren't fans of parking lot camping either. Prefer the state parks also. Most in PA have only a 14 day stay limit when open. They close in the winter. Can't tow to FL. Have a 100% success rate of the tow vehicle breaking. Can drive there not towing with no problems. Tent?
My wife and I went sailing 25 years ago and I’m glad we did because nowadays I know I much prefer travel by Promaster. You do you and go try it and then you will be ready to get your custom van built exactly the way you want it. Sailing and living in a boat meant we knew exactly how we wanted to customize our interior and now we’re totally happy with it back in the Republic of Panama after 25 years and ready to continue south. Us doing us! Look forward to your take on the Big Loop. Cheers. ( I do miss Florida though. Gators and all).
I agree we only stay at state and national parks, or boondocking, in off seasons only, I hate crowds. A boat can be fun but only near shore or inland waterways, where you can stop and see things or take a hike. Out in open ocean it can become very monotonous, the only walk you can take is around the deck, just wasn’t for us.
A boat doing the great loop would be very cool After the first one it would be more relaxing just figuring where to get fuel and food could cause some anxiety but once you’ve done it once you’d have it down Breaking down would be a lot more hassle though
If you go the boat/circle route, leave lots of time for the Erie Canal (aka The New York Barge Canal). We've done the Eastern side of the loop twice in our sailboat from Sandusky Ohio to Key West and the west coast of FL. The entire East Coast is a great trip but the Erie Canal is the best part. Just remember when you're looking at boats, the Erie Canal had a 15 foot vertical limit so get a boat that can be easily set up accommodate that. You can get a taste of cruising the Erie Canal by renting a canal boat for a week or two.
Give me wide open spaces, mountains and lots of water and I'm a happy girl. River paddling is so relaxing, as long as a gator doesn't run interference. So glad you were able to get the EKKO fixed up good. That alternator definitely put a glitch into your Newfoundland plans, but getting the upgrade to charge while driving will be a game changer in your planning.. Hope you're all well wherever you are. Stay warm and wet, if you can - live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no one. Enjoy the ride & hugs for sweet Maggie.
try Florida state forest campgrounds. I promise you’ll love ‘em! Hog island campground, mutual mine campground and holder mine. Do you have any meet ups planned?
We quit staying at the St. Pete KOA last year. Getting too pricey. If you want a site on the Bayou its $190/night! We tried getting into a state park but waiting too long and it was full.
Loved seeing the family pics! It's a blessing to keep on changing. You both seem at your best at the State Parks in Florida. Familiarity and comfort are good too! It's that balancing act between same and different that can take you to the next level of serenity.
Beautiful filming this week. But what’s plan B when a gator decides it would like to taste an inflatable? Just saying. I gather from your comments you’ll be visiting a few more state parks in Florida if you can get reservations. We’ll be there in Feb headed to the Keys. Thanks for the Campnab tip which got us in the SP in the keys.
I'm glad you are happy with the repairs and upgrades. AND..it's great you had 'family time'...however, you will have to do more than a quick snip of your new drawers and kitchen counter top.."Inquiring minds want to know"...more, and more. Loved the float trip down the river. Thank you for sharing.
We want to be y'all when we grow up. Great from the heart video, in this chapter travel how you and Lynn want to. Glad Jacksonville treated you right and remember if you need anything while you are here we got your back. Thank you for taking us along. Happy tails and safe travels.
So happy to hear about your Ekko back up and running well. I love state parks. Fort De Soto is a nice county park. We have camped there a few times. That alligator was HUGE. Lynn is a brave cookie. Would love to learn about your kayak and your camp chairs. Happy Camping. Thanks for sharing. Bye from Maine
We love Ft De Soto too and we've made several videos of that park in the last few years. And yes, Lynn is a brave cookie! She's learned to trust her instincts on the water and trust me regarding safety and necessary precautions.
I'm totally with you on the RV "resort" lifestyle. I just don't get it. Just too many people. It is camping, after all, which implies hanging out in nature, not bingo! BTW my hubby is from Raleigh and you are the ONLY person we've heard who also "holds yer mouth right!". That gave us a chuckle! Hope to run into you sometime!
UA-cam does stretch time, so grateful for that. You’re home for three months and we only had to miss you for two weeks. Thank you for all your hard work! Such a nice relaxing video. Music is always spot on. We’re not water people but always enjoy your trips down the river. So much to see from the middle of the water. We’re looking forward to seeing our son, daughter in law, and granddaughter in January, and we’ll be staying in this campground. 😊
Another fun adventure! We are in the 55+ crowd and new to RVing. We love the outdoors and hiking. Also have a couple of Beagles we hope to take along on some of our outings. Can’t see us staying in one of those RV resorts where your smack up and surrounded by your neighbors. We have stayed in a couple, but with plenty of room between and I try to get an end location. Love the scene at the end with Maggie’s head out the window… The joy in her face. She pops he head in as says something like, “… this is awesome… can we go a little faster!” ❤
Having a good experience at any campground is all about the site you get and a RV resort is no different, the one we had was just not something we could see ourselves staying at for 3 months and paying that much money for. I guess we are spoiled.
Glad to see you back, friends. Glad you got things fixed up and ready to roll again! We're with you on the State Parks and Nat'l Parks. We have found that we really like the COE Parks, too. Have y'all tried any COE Parks? The sites are spread out more and we like the extra room/privacy. Have a great week! Hope we see you on the road! Merry Christmas (your family is beautiful!)! So much love from SC, Jane ❤🙏🎄
We are so with you on visiting state parks. We actually live in FL and have the pleasure of camping all over the state. We have stayed at Hillsborough and Tomoka so we get it! 💕 We use to have a pontoon boat that we had curtains made so we could have dividing rooms and camped on it especially on the St. John’s River. We do go out of state but love just staying in FL as well. Keep enjoying the journey!
Thanks to your first Florida winter in a Class B where you stayed in Fl State Park campgrounds without reservations, I was bold enough to do that myself in January '21. Without reservations, I spent almost every night in a Florida State Park campground except 1 night on arrival at St. Augustine KOA and one night at Fort Wilderness. It was amazing and so cool for my first trip after my local bug-out trips. I never drove more than a couple hours to the next place (except from Kissimmee Prairie State Park - such a cool place, I miss my armadillo buddies - to John Pennekamp Coral Reef SP CG) and I think I only repeated a campground once. I imagine you'll be doing that again this winter. Oh, my last campground on my way out of Florida was an amazing 3 nights at St. Augustine State Park Campground, that was wonderful and I even saw a rocket launch from the beach one of the nights. About grandkids. I don't know if you're familiar with Allegiant Airlines, but I've used them often for good priced flights out of winter and into Florida. They fly out of Greensboro, Concord, and RDU to several airports in Florida. If you reserve early enough you can get a flight for $35ish each way, and the airline is one of the better choices of the budget airlines.
Glad you had a successful trip to Florida with no reservations it can be a little scary, but very freeing. Thanks for the info on flights, that’s sounds like a great way to get back home for a visit.
Welcome to the Sunshine State, please hit us up when you're over on our side of town! We actually have Rose Villa in our regular rotation now ha. And yea, Grant and the team at FVG are rock solid. They were super helpful when I was upgrading the suspension of our van last spring. We also used to go up there for their rigs and coffee events. And honestly sad to hear about the loss of confidence with your current rig? Makes us feel pretty lucky to have had such a good run with our setup.
WOW! Them gatators sure were close! Anita would have been freakin'! I can see with all them toys how y'all can stay out for 3 plus months. We only just started to bring our bikes while out, but we still only like to be away from home less than 5 weeks. We'll be in Florida next month for a short time. Maybe we can see y'all out that way soon!
What a beautiful video ❤❤. I enjoyed the ride and watching wildlife and I was terrified by those gators. lol Maggie is my best girl ❤❤❤ she knows how to enjoy the breeze ❤
Lynn... you are beautiful, inside and out. Don't ever be shy! Owen... I like you too. Sorry to hear about that Balmar. Embassy (who made our Class B) used to use those, but there were too many issues. Hopefully, you won't have any more problems. I didn't realize EKKO had a generator. Does it make a lot of noise? Be seeing you!
Thanks for another great video & sincere conversation. If I may be so bold as to add to your narrative, I think it was Dr Wayne Dyer who said "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change". Do you know where "putting on the dog" came from? Williamsburg in Colonial Times.
I am always amazed at how peaceful it is to watch your videos! You are always so positive, and show us the best of RVing. We spent a month in Florida in January of this year, and the weather was cold, but we enjoyed the Florida state parks too. We are going to try an RV resort in Texas this time, but not sure we will like staying the two months we are signed up for. Thank you again for sharing your adventures and life chapters.
We look forward to your videos each week and have been watching since the Travato days. This video convinced us that we are kindred spirits😊. With four grandchildren, we know the feelings of wanting to be on the road but also with family. Your comments about the KOA are exactly our thoughts too. We will be hitting the Florida SPs starting in January and hope to end up sharing a laugh or two with our favorite UA-cam couple. Stella wants to hang with Maggie❤️🐾
Hi Owen and Lynn! So glad you are back with another video. I was wondering how you all were doing. Glad you had visits either your family for a few months. Glad you got the Ekko fixed either way the alternator. And recalls. Glad you decided to get back into camping. 7 years of traveling. Happy anniversary. I’ve been watching you for 5 years. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. But it has. Hope you enjoyed the stay in Florida and I know I wouldn’t like that bug tarantula in my boat. Lol! It’s Goff to see you back and Maggie too! Safe travels and have a great week and see you soon!
Thanks. Looking forward to the next few days. It will be cooler but I’ve got warm clothing & cold weather gear in the tent. I’ve camped in Moosehead Lake, Maine in July several years ago & the night temps were 37F. I do my best to be prepared.
Your paddle down the Hillsborough was beautiful. Also glad to hear the inflatable paddle board has held up so well and am extremely curious about your motorized peddle/paddle board. Do you still have the Oru Kayaks? I will be traveling in a much smaller van and need to decide on the most versatile watercraft for my needs. I also have a dog that I hope will be able to ride with me. I would love your insight on this. Thank you for sharing you you U do U.
We do still have the Oru’s and I’m sure we still take them when we have limited space. But to be honest we are not totally in love with them, they do not track very well which makes it hard unless you have very smooth water, which is not the case very often in Florida. This was the first time we’ve travel with the inflatable paddle board in awhile and I will say I much prefer it to the Oru and it takes up about the same about of space but you do have to have a pump to inflate it and it’s just as easy to setup and pack up.
Great video. We love that park and we are so close to it. I ride my bike past that KOA frequently. You are right, nice park, but not for us. We decided to get our campervan over a Great Loop boat as my Lynn was not quite comfortable with the great loop journey. The trawler you showed looked awesome. What was that. We wanted the fiberglass version or the Grand Banks 32. Good luck on your decision down the road. We will likely go back to boating after our explorations in our Campervan. BTW, you were ten minutes from our home. Next time you are close and have free time give us a shout. MIke and Lynn
Doing the boat thing is Owen’s dream, but we still have a lot of research to do. There is still so much for us to see on land so who knows. Thanks for sharing your comment.
Van life is great, but it ain't everything. It's a chapter, for sure. So skip a chapter to the next and keep your life vibrant with whatever works for you. Life is short. I just got back from Texas to see the launch of SpaceX's Starship 2. I actually camped for two nights right across the street from the launch facility, as the road is public and the parking is for anyone. That was Surreal watching the Starship being stacked, unstacked and stacked in preparation for the launch. For the launch, I rented three days at Isla Blanca RV park. It's one of the best places to watch launches. I agree with you about "55+" and didn't like the place too much. It was an means to an end. I found myself just parking my Embassy right at the parking area by the gulf within the RV grounds. It was a bucket list trip that I will never forget. If you Ever get a chance to catch a launch of Starship, just put Boca Chica Beach in your nav and you will run right past all the SpaceX facilities before running into the Gulf Of Mexico...
Sounds like an awesome experience! We tried to watch a launch in Florida but it was nothing like yours, we may have to add that to our list. Thanks so much for sharing.
Any questions on boats, just ask me…..I live in blocks of 3-4 years……I have got 8 new boats in the last 35 years because my cruising plans change within that 3-4 year period…..Change is good. The great loop is as close to RVing as possible…….You would love it. Now boats are more work and costly than RVing, but you would love it.
That is a nice offer that we may take you up on and we have a lot to learn. So first question would be, What is the best boat to do the great loop? We prefer smaller.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle No one can answer that question on the exact boat for the loop….Everyone has different needs and wants. They also have different abilities with handling boats……With that said because I watch your UA-cam, you people are not all glitz and glamour and can adapt to a lot of boat in a small package…..I would recommend a 32-34 tug or trawler. When doing the loop, storage is the number one priority (I know there are other things to) due to the fact you cruise through 2-3 seasons. it can be cold or hot and everything in between so clothing is important when doing the loop. Food not so much as you can get almost everywhere like RV’ing. I love Nordic Tugs and I am really getting to love Ranger Tugs. We call them the Swiss Army Knife of boats. They do everything. Used vs new is another issue….New boats can have a 1-3 year wait. Used boats can be had, but it is more difficult to find the right boat. I would highly recommend you take the RV to Miami in February and start hitting the boat shows so you can touch and feel what boats offer and don’t offer. As you know, a happy wife is a happy life so get on boats and see what layouts work for you……
What a thoughtful and helpful comment. Thank you. Funny, we already in love with Ranger Tugs. Thinking R27 so we can still tow and stow without having to dry dock or keep at a marina when we want land life.
I’m so glad Owen came to his senses too… it was all dependent on the site and it was bad, really bad. Who knows we may come your way this winter. If you paddle in Florida you have to paddle with gators.
Yep lots of changes at the KOA. Totally agree with you about being one with nature. Enjoy the warm weather and wishing you Lynn and Mags a very Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year ❤️
Hey Guys nice to see the EKKO fixed up, love the woodwork Mods. You guys are in my neck of the wood I am over in Spring Hill on the west coast 1 hr from Tampa. If you guys are in FL for a few months maybe we can meet up and say Hi & see Maggie LOL Maybe even camp at the same park ?? stay safe
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyleNot afraid of spiders at all. It’s the “reptilian” of it all! Oh, and then you talk about “one bite” on Lynn’s paddle board. 😳😳😳😳. 😂😅😂😅
First, thanks for those videos. They are so personal, yet so down to earth and entertaining. Got a question Owen - I own an Ekko as well but I am struggling with the weight limit (and space) of the Ekko. We have bicycles, hiking gear, and other toys that we would love to carry but the other "must have" things take up the room (and add to the weight), which means less available space for the toys. I see that you guys also enjoy using your outdoor toys (like the kayaks, ebikes, BBQ's, etc). How do you manage carrying them without going over the weight (and space) limitation of the Ekko? I would love to grab your techniques since you guys have been doing this for a long time. Thanks in advance and blessings to all of you!!
Whew...that's a subject. For a while I'm sure we inadvertently were overweight. We upgraded the springs, shocks and suspension which adds a little more comfort both with the ride and with more carrying capacity. We do need to stop by a Cat Scale and weigh again soon though. I'm sure we're borderline over even now. One of those don't do as we do things I bet.
Loved this episode especially. You two are similar to us and our Van travel lifestyle. Not much into RV parks. Luckily we are out West where there are lots of open spaces, BLM, National Forests, National parks to get away for awhile. We’ve been pondering heading to Florida after the first of the year but no reservations. I see one or two night stays can be had in the state parks, here and there, so we might go for it. We also have access to Military Rv camp grounds of which there are many in Florida as a back up. What are some of your favorite State parks in Florida? Happy trails!
You gave us an idea for a video… thanks. Here’s a start. Bahia Honda Curry Hammock St Andrews SP Grayton Beach Tomoka Anastasia Oscar Scherer Fort Wilderness
Those gaters still make me nervous! Was that a blue heron? Beautiful bird! Which camera did you use during your paddle down the river? I'm debating a new GoPro or a 360.
Believe it or not all the footage on the river kayak trip was shot with our iPhone 15 Pro Max phones. Crazy how good phone cameras are these days and they are waterproof too.
Lynn is a lot braver than I am to be on a stand up paddle board with all those gators around. Thanks for taking us along.
We are with you. Give us provincial and state parks any day.
We did the sailing thing for many years before moving over to land travel.
3 months in one park is a major commitment, I could never do it either. I just spent a week in a park like that and was ready to leave after 3 days.
We thought we would try something different, but it’s not for us. Now we know.
State parks are great to stay at. It is not bad once in a while to try out a commercial campground. Always enjoy your stories, travels, and videos. I think your kayak needs some grease or oil.
I think you are right about the kayak needing some grease… it was driving us both a little crazy. Thanks for watching!
Thanks!
Thank you so much!
I never have seen you guys at any Florida State Forest campgrounds when you're down this way. There are some real nice ones I think you all would enjoy. Check out Tillis Hill, Silver Lake and Cypress Glen all are in the Withlacoochee tract. Nice bike trail access, lakes to paddle and trails/forest roads to walk. Florida state parks use Reserve America for booking. Enjoy....
Thank you for the recommendation we will check them out. Sound like they have the things we love.
Hello, just wanted to check on you guys hoping you are just taking breaks and all is well with you two and Maggie! Hugs to you all ❤
You’re finally talking Lynn into the boat idea??? 🤣🤣🤣
Not yet, but at least I’m willing to look.
Florida has some beautiful State Parks. Love Tomoka.
We prefer the boondocks 😂and state parks or NF campgrounds. I’m currently running 200ah of lithium and a generator. I’m going up to 400ah and keeping the generator. I like redundancy. 2 is 1 and 1 is none 😊
Your particular brand of "U do U" works for me. Gorgeous river footage. Strange not to see Lynn sitting next to you, Owen, but Maggie seems to be embracing her new co-pilot status.
Maggie is a great co-pilot. Thanks for watching.
Another great video.
Definitely have to do you. Agree on grands. ❤. Two beautiful SPks. Some of the county ran parks are very nice. Lk Monroe is pretty nice. Sun Rail near it, can ride to Orlando, have lunch, walk around Lk Eola, or Winter Park. Pretty during holidays. Enjoy, and keep living your best life. 🙂👍🎄
Thanks for the county park suggestions, we will check them out next time.
I just love your videos so very much!
You both are so adorable and oh so kind and respectful to each other.
It’s so refreshing to watch your videos.
Couple’s can learn a lot from you Both.
I thank you for sharing your adventures with us.
Merry Happy Christmas!
May God’s love and blessings continue blessing you and your family.🙏🏻🥰♥️
Ditto. Amen!
Thank you so much for your kind comment… it made our day. Blessing to you!
I love the Great Loop idea! I went down the rabbit hole on Ranger Tugs and thought one you could trailer would be awesome, like a 25ft. We still have a few years of adventure in our Solis; hope to run into ya’ll again sometime!
Will y'all be in the area for the Ekko rally happening with the Florida RV Supershow? We will be there in our 2024 Ekko we just purchased which is current with all recalls, so hopefully all the bugs you have experienced have been worked out in ours. We love visiting the Florida State Parks, of course, living here nearly all my life. Alot of folks mistake some of our biggest spiders for tarantulas, especially the Huntsman spider, LOL.
I’m not sure if we are going to the RV Supershow yet. Congratulation on your Ekko, all the bugs should be fixed and you are going to love it. Thanks for the info on the spiders. Hope you see you on the road.
Owen, that is too funny. My dad always wanted a travel van, and never got it. I picked up this dream from him and bought a PleasureWay - about to retire and travel. My dad and I used to boat and fish, and talk about cruisin' the loop. I've always wanted to do it - Donna's a little hesitant about it. Well, don't know if I'll ever get a pocket trawler and do it, but we'll be sure and continue following the channel. Hope we all run into one another one day - keep dreaming!
BTW - grew up on the Tomoka, so I get it!
Bill & Donna
Doing the loop is still a dream… with a lot of research ahead of us. We love Tomoka!
The big gator usually hangs out atop the huge rock across from site #25. Love that park.
That was awesome! Thank you so much for taking me along! I'm trying so hard to work out a way to get south this winter (I'm in PA), so riding along with you today was so good! The water was amazing, but I'm not coordinated at all, and excersize is good, but doing it with gators is something else - I'm not sure what to call it, but it must have "cardio" in the name - I was getting cardio watching! I can't believe I'm 55+, but I am and I'd be in the woods with a lake rather than a campground with a pool, too. Looking forward to where we're going next! Thanks again. Peace & Prayers.
O my gosh what you were saying is just how we are, we don't stay in rv parks unless only option. Could picture you all on a boat boondocking near a small island or river. Enjoy 😉
Boat life would be fun too! I’ll still watch you no matter which life you choose! Enjoy Florida!
Didn't take too long for yall to head to Florida...we mimic yall style of travel state parks, national forest etc....we don't KOA. Happy Trails 🐕
Yeah, we aren't fans of parking lot camping either. Prefer the state parks also. Most in PA have only a 14 day stay limit when open. They close in the winter. Can't tow to FL. Have a 100% success rate of the tow vehicle breaking. Can drive there not towing with no problems. Tent?
At tent would work. Problems on the road are no fun.
Canada was interesting but we're happy to see you back in your happy place. Thanks for sharing.
My wife and I went sailing 25 years ago and I’m glad we did because nowadays I know I much prefer travel by Promaster. You do you and go try it and then you will be ready to get your custom van built exactly the way you want it. Sailing and living in a boat meant we knew exactly how we wanted to customize our interior and now we’re totally happy with it back in the Republic of Panama after 25 years and ready to continue south. Us doing us! Look forward to your take on the Big Loop. Cheers. ( I do miss Florida though. Gators and all).
The boat is a big dream of Owen’s… we are still doing our research, which may take awhile. Thanks for sharing!
I agree we only stay at state and national parks, or boondocking, in off seasons only, I hate crowds. A boat can be fun but only near shore or inland waterways, where you can stop and see things or take a hike. Out in open ocean it can become very monotonous, the only walk you can take is around the deck, just wasn’t for us.
Thanks for your input on the boat, I’m still on the fence as I like taking walks longer than around the deck.
A boat doing the great loop would be very cool
After the first one it would be more relaxing just figuring where to get fuel and food could cause some anxiety but once you’ve done it once you’d have it down
Breaking down would be a lot more hassle though
I totally agree with your comment. Thanks for sharing.
If you go the boat/circle route, leave lots of time for the Erie Canal (aka The New York Barge Canal). We've done the Eastern side of the loop twice in our sailboat from Sandusky Ohio to Key West and the west coast of FL. The entire East Coast is a great trip but the Erie Canal is the best part. Just remember when you're looking at boats, the Erie Canal had a 15 foot vertical limit so get a boat that can be easily set up accommodate that. You can get a taste of cruising the Erie Canal by renting a canal boat for a week or two.
Thank you for all the great information. I think renting at boat for a week is a great idea.
Great video. Thanks.
Give me wide open spaces, mountains and lots of water and I'm a happy girl. River paddling is so relaxing, as long as a gator doesn't run interference. So glad you were able to get the EKKO fixed up good. That alternator definitely put a glitch into your Newfoundland plans, but getting the upgrade to charge while driving will be a game changer in your planning.. Hope you're all well wherever you are. Stay warm and wet, if you can - live for today, for tomorrow is promised to no one. Enjoy the ride & hugs for sweet Maggie.
Thank you so much for your inspiring comment.
try Florida state forest campgrounds. I promise you’ll love ‘em! Hog island campground, mutual mine campground and holder mine. Do you have any meet ups planned?
Thank you for the suggestion we will try them for sure. We do not have any plans for a meet up at this time.
We quit staying at the St. Pete KOA last year. Getting too pricey. If you want a site on the Bayou its $190/night! We tried getting into a state park but waiting too long and it was full.
I agree it is very expensive and the site we had was inches from someone’s patio. I do love the area and the bayou there.
Grant is great. He was a great resource for us when we built our van. Jax is our hometown and LOVE St. Augustine
Owen, I’ve missed you, Lynn and Maggie. I’m glad you guys are doing well and have the van back in working shape.
You’ve always known that your “happy place” is on the water!
I guess we both know that. Miss you my friend!
Loved seeing the family pics! It's a blessing to keep on changing. You both seem at your best at the State Parks in Florida. Familiarity and comfort are good too! It's that balancing act between same and different that can take you to the next level of serenity.
Thank you for the wise words and they are so very true. I like different but I also love familiarly.
I've stayed at Hillsborough River State Park a couple of times. It's nice! I'll have to go back and do the river.
Don’t bring Maggie down to the river to see that gator. Lol
So...Boat Trekking? Doesn't have the same ring to it, but it sure would be a great experience! We'd love hearing all about your travels there too!
Beautiful filming this week. But what’s plan B when a gator decides it would like to taste an inflatable? Just saying.
I gather from your comments you’ll be visiting a few more state parks in Florida if you can get reservations. We’ll be there in Feb headed to the Keys. Thanks for the Campnab tip which got us in the SP in the keys.
So glad to hear Campnab worked for you. We have found that if you leave the gators along they want bother you.
What a fun day you had. Enjoyed the adventure.
I'm glad you are happy with the repairs and upgrades. AND..it's great you had 'family time'...however, you will have to do more than a quick snip of your new drawers and kitchen counter top.."Inquiring minds want to know"...more, and more. Loved the float trip down the river. Thank you for sharing.
We’ll try to show more of the upgrades we did to the van. Thanks for watching.
great video my friend. keep update, see you in BALI
We want to be y'all when we grow up. Great from the heart video, in this chapter travel how you and Lynn want to. Glad Jacksonville treated you right and remember if you need anything while you are here we got your back. Thank you for taking us along. Happy tails and safe travels.
Thank you David!
So happy to hear about your Ekko back up and running well. I love state parks. Fort De Soto is a nice county park. We have camped there a few times. That alligator was HUGE. Lynn is a brave cookie. Would love to learn about your kayak and your camp chairs. Happy Camping. Thanks for sharing. Bye from Maine
We love Ft De Soto too and we've made several videos of that park in the last few years. And yes, Lynn is a brave cookie! She's learned to trust her instincts on the water and trust me regarding safety and necessary precautions.
Glad the Ekko is fixed. Nice to see you on the Hobie! I have an I9 inflatable pedal kayak.
I'm totally with you on the RV "resort" lifestyle. I just don't get it. Just too many people. It is camping, after all, which implies hanging out in nature, not bingo! BTW my hubby is from Raleigh and you are the ONLY person we've heard who also "holds yer mouth right!". That gave us a chuckle! Hope to run into you sometime!
That is so funny, maybe that saying is a southern thing 🤷♀️.
He got that from his Dad who is from Winston Salem. You from there too by chance? @@VANTREKKINGlifestyle
You’re just north of us. We are in Sarasota, drove down from Montréal a week ago. We only do State parks and HH.
What a lovely video. The music was so nice and relaxing. Thank you...
You are so welcome and thank you for watching.
UA-cam does stretch time, so grateful for that. You’re home for three months and we only had to miss you for two weeks. Thank you for all your hard work! Such a nice relaxing video. Music is always spot on. We’re not water people but always enjoy your trips down the river. So much to see from the middle of the water. We’re looking forward to seeing our son, daughter in law, and granddaughter in January, and we’ll be staying in this campground. 😊
I meant to add that I’m glad you had some quality family time and that you are all fixed up again.
Thank you Ann. It is great to have family time and I’m glad you are going to be able to spend time with yours.
Another fun adventure! We are in the 55+ crowd and new to RVing. We love the outdoors and hiking. Also have a couple of Beagles we hope to take along on some of our outings. Can’t see us staying in one of those RV resorts where your smack up and surrounded by your neighbors. We have stayed in a couple, but with plenty of room between and I try to get an end location. Love the scene at the end with Maggie’s head out the window… The joy in her face. She pops he head in as says something like, “… this is awesome… can we go a little faster!” ❤
Having a good experience at any campground is all about the site you get and a RV resort is no different, the one we had was just not something we could see ourselves staying at for 3 months and paying that much money for. I guess we are spoiled.
I love state parks too. Heading to Oscar Scherer and Myakka over Christmas and New Years I so love your videos you highlight the parks so well
Both of those parks are great. Hope you have a great time.
bS & BK & BC !!! As always enjoy your channel and happy you are spending time camping !!
Thanks, we appreciate you following along.
Yup state parks are way better than KOA's! And cheaper too! Go figure :o)
Glad to see you back, friends. Glad you got things fixed up and ready to roll again! We're with you on the State Parks and Nat'l Parks. We have found that we really like the COE Parks, too. Have y'all tried any COE Parks? The sites are spread out more and we like the extra room/privacy. Have a great week! Hope we see you on the road! Merry Christmas (your family is beautiful!)! So much love from SC, Jane ❤🙏🎄
Yes, we love COE parks and should have included them in our list. Hope you have a wonderful and blessed Holiday season. Much love to you my friend!
We are so with you on visiting state parks. We actually live in FL and have the pleasure of camping all over the state. We have stayed at Hillsborough and Tomoka so we get it! 💕 We use to have a pontoon boat that we had curtains made so we could have dividing rooms and camped on it especially on the St. John’s River. We do go out of state but love just staying in FL as well. Keep enjoying the journey!
Florida has wonderful state parks with such a variety. It’s hard for us to think about going somewhere else for the winter.
Thanks to your first Florida winter in a Class B where you stayed in Fl State Park campgrounds without reservations, I was bold enough to do that myself in January '21. Without reservations, I spent almost every night in a Florida State Park campground except 1 night on arrival at St. Augustine KOA and one night at Fort Wilderness. It was amazing and so cool for my first trip after my local bug-out trips. I never drove more than a couple hours to the next place (except from Kissimmee Prairie State Park - such a cool place, I miss my armadillo buddies - to John Pennekamp Coral Reef SP CG) and I think I only repeated a campground once. I imagine you'll be doing that again this winter. Oh, my last campground on my way out of Florida was an amazing 3 nights at St. Augustine State Park Campground, that was wonderful and I even saw a rocket launch from the beach one of the nights.
About grandkids. I don't know if you're familiar with Allegiant Airlines, but I've used them often for good priced flights out of winter and into Florida. They fly out of Greensboro, Concord, and RDU to several airports in Florida. If you reserve early enough you can get a flight for $35ish each way, and the airline is one of the better choices of the budget airlines.
Glad you had a successful trip to Florida with no reservations it can be a little scary, but very freeing. Thanks for the info on flights, that’s sounds like a great way to get back home for a visit.
Thank you, great way to start my day
Welcome to the Sunshine State, please hit us up when you're over on our side of town! We actually have Rose Villa in our regular rotation now ha. And yea, Grant and the team at FVG are rock solid. They were super helpful when I was upgrading the suspension of our van last spring. We also used to go up there for their rigs and coffee events. And honestly sad to hear about the loss of confidence with your current rig? Makes us feel pretty lucky to have had such a good run with our setup.
Sorry we missed you this time, we’ll make sure we see you next time. Glad you are still liking your van and yes you are very lucky.
WOW! Them gatators sure were close! Anita would have been freakin'! I can see with all them toys how y'all can stay out for 3 plus months. We only just started to bring our bikes while out, but we still only like to be away from home less than 5 weeks. We'll be in Florida next month for a short time. Maybe we can see y'all out that way soon!
What a beautiful video ❤❤. I enjoyed the ride and watching wildlife and I was terrified by those gators. lol
Maggie is my best girl ❤❤❤ she knows how to enjoy the breeze ❤
Thanks so much for watching and for your comment.
Nice Crocs, Dude!
Lynn... you are beautiful, inside and out. Don't ever be shy!
Owen... I like you too.
Sorry to hear about that Balmar. Embassy (who made our Class B) used to use those, but there were too many issues. Hopefully, you won't have any more problems.
I didn't realize EKKO had a generator. Does it make a lot of noise?
Be seeing you!
Thank you for your kind words. The generator is surprising quiet and I really like having it as a backup.
Thanks for another great video & sincere conversation. If I may be so bold as to add to your narrative, I think it was Dr Wayne Dyer who said "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change". Do you know where "putting on the dog" came from?
Williamsburg in Colonial Times.
What a great quote. Thanks for sharing. Owen got the saying “putting on the dog” from the movie Sweet Home Alabama 🤣.
My my Lynn, you’ve gotten so brave around the alligators! This video makes me want to get to Florida. Can’t wait to catch up with you this winter.
I’m not sure you should use the word brave as I’m still very scared, but nothing will ever come compare to Myakka River.
Welcome back!
I am always amazed at how peaceful it is to watch your videos! You are always so positive, and show us the best of RVing. We spent a month in Florida in January of this year, and the weather was cold, but we enjoyed the Florida state parks too. We are going to try an RV resort in Texas this time, but not sure we will like staying the two months we are signed up for. Thank you again for sharing your adventures and life chapters.
We look forward to your videos each week and have been watching since the Travato days. This video convinced us that we are kindred spirits😊. With four grandchildren, we know the feelings of wanting to be on the road but also with family. Your comments about the KOA are exactly our thoughts too. We will be hitting the Florida SPs starting in January and hope to end up sharing a laugh or two with our favorite UA-cam couple. Stella wants to hang with Maggie❤️🐾
We would love to meet up with you guys. It’s good to hear we are not alone with the way we feel about things.
Hi Owen and Lynn! So glad you are back with another video. I was wondering how you all were doing. Glad you had visits either your family for a few months. Glad you got the Ekko fixed either way the alternator. And recalls. Glad you decided to get back into camping. 7 years of traveling. Happy anniversary. I’ve been watching you for 5 years. It doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. But it has. Hope you enjoyed the stay in Florida and I know I wouldn’t like that bug tarantula in my boat. Lol! It’s Goff to see you back and Maggie too! Safe travels and have a great week and see you soon!
It is good to be back on the road for a short while. We so appreciate you being with us for 5 years.
I’ll be in Tomoka the 17th thru the 21st tenting. Looking forward to the experience. First time camping in over 5 yrs.
Our video on Sunday is in Tomoka, I think you will love it. Have fun!
Thanks. Looking forward to the next few days. It will be cooler but I’ve got warm clothing & cold weather gear in the tent. I’ve camped in Moosehead Lake, Maine in July several years ago & the night temps were 37F. I do my best to be prepared.
Your paddle down the Hillsborough was beautiful. Also glad to hear the inflatable paddle board has held up so well and am extremely curious about your motorized peddle/paddle board. Do you still have the Oru Kayaks? I will be traveling in a much smaller van and need to decide on the most versatile watercraft for my needs. I also have a dog that I hope will be able to ride with me. I would love your insight on this. Thank you for sharing you you U do U.
We do still have the Oru’s and I’m sure we still take them when we have limited space. But to be honest we are not totally in love with them, they do not track very well which makes it hard unless you have very smooth water, which is not the case very often in Florida. This was the first time we’ve travel with the inflatable paddle board in awhile and I will say I much prefer it to the Oru and it takes up about the same about of space but you do have to have a pump to inflate it and it’s just as easy to setup and pack up.
Great video. We love that park and we are so close to it. I ride my bike past that KOA frequently. You are right, nice park, but not for us. We decided to get our campervan over a Great Loop boat as my Lynn was not quite comfortable with the great loop journey. The trawler you showed looked awesome. What was that. We wanted the fiberglass version or the Grand Banks 32. Good luck on your decision down the road. We will likely go back to boating after our explorations in our Campervan. BTW, you were ten minutes from our home. Next time you are close and have free time give us a shout. MIke and Lynn
Doing the boat thing is Owen’s dream, but we still have a lot of research to do. There is still so much for us to see on land so who knows. Thanks for sharing your comment.
Van life is great, but it ain't everything. It's a chapter, for sure. So skip a chapter to the next and keep your life vibrant with whatever works for you. Life is short. I just got back from Texas to see the launch of SpaceX's Starship 2. I actually camped for two nights right across the street from the launch facility, as the road is public and the parking is for anyone. That was Surreal watching the Starship being stacked, unstacked and stacked in preparation for the launch. For the launch, I rented three days at Isla Blanca RV park. It's one of the best places to watch launches. I agree with you about "55+" and didn't like the place too much. It was an means to an end. I found myself just parking my Embassy right at the parking area by the gulf within the RV grounds. It was a bucket list trip that I will never forget. If you Ever get a chance to catch a launch of Starship, just put Boca Chica Beach in your nav and you will run right past all the SpaceX facilities before running into the Gulf Of Mexico...
Sounds like an awesome experience! We tried to watch a launch in Florida but it was nothing like yours, we may have to add that to our list. Thanks so much for sharing.
Any questions on boats, just ask me…..I live in blocks of 3-4 years……I have got 8 new boats in the last 35 years because my cruising plans change within that 3-4 year period…..Change is good. The great loop is as close to RVing as possible…….You would love it. Now boats are more work and costly than RVing, but you would love it.
That is a nice offer that we may take you up on and we have a lot to learn. So first question would be, What is the best boat to do the great loop? We prefer smaller.
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyle No one can answer that question on the exact boat for the loop….Everyone has different needs and wants. They also have different abilities with handling boats……With that said because I watch your UA-cam, you people are not all glitz and glamour and can adapt to a lot of boat in a small package…..I would recommend a 32-34 tug or trawler. When doing the loop, storage is the number one priority (I know there are other things to) due to the fact you cruise through 2-3 seasons. it can be cold or hot and everything in between so clothing is important when doing the loop. Food not so much as you can get almost everywhere like RV’ing. I love Nordic Tugs and I am really getting to love Ranger Tugs. We call them the Swiss Army Knife of boats. They do everything. Used vs new is another issue….New boats can have a 1-3 year wait. Used boats can be had, but it is more difficult to find the right boat. I would highly recommend you take the RV to Miami in February and start hitting the boat shows so you can touch and feel what boats offer and don’t offer. As you know, a happy wife is a happy life so get on boats and see what layouts work for you……
What a thoughtful and helpful comment. Thank you. Funny, we already in love with Ranger Tugs. Thinking R27 so we can still tow and stow without having to dry dock or keep at a marina when we want land life.
I knew you’d come to your senses. I just didn’t think it would take a nanosecond. But at least I have the sense not to paddle with gators. 😅
I’m so glad Owen came to his senses too… it was all dependent on the site and it was bad, really bad. Who knows we may come your way this winter. If you paddle in Florida you have to paddle with gators.
Yep lots of changes at the KOA. Totally agree with you about being one with nature. Enjoy the warm weather and wishing you Lynn and Mags a very Merry Christmas and the happiest New Year ❤️
I hope you and Neil have a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year!
Hey Guys nice to see the EKKO fixed up, love the woodwork Mods. You guys are in my neck of the wood I am over in Spring Hill on the west coast 1 hr from Tampa. If you guys are in FL for a few months maybe we can meet up and say Hi & see Maggie LOL Maybe even camp at the same park ?? stay safe
We’ll let you know if we head back to Florida after the first of the year. We would love to meet up.
Thanks
The anxiety is palpable! ❤🐾
You sweet lady would have walked on water getting to shore when those guys got the big spider in their canoe. 😂
@@VANTREKKINGlifestyleNot afraid of spiders at all. It’s the “reptilian” of it all! Oh, and then you talk about “one bite” on Lynn’s paddle board. 😳😳😳😳. 😂😅😂😅
👍🏻
Lynn needs to turn that paddle around, she’s using it backwards.
I do believe I’m using the paddle correctly. That is the way I was taught.
First, thanks for those videos. They are so personal, yet so down to earth and entertaining. Got a question Owen - I own an Ekko as well but I am struggling with the weight limit (and space) of the Ekko. We have bicycles, hiking gear, and other toys that we would love to carry but the other "must have" things take up the room (and add to the weight), which means less available space for the toys. I see that you guys also enjoy using your outdoor toys (like the kayaks, ebikes, BBQ's, etc). How do you manage carrying them without going over the weight (and space) limitation of the Ekko? I would love to grab your techniques since you guys have been doing this for a long time. Thanks in advance and blessings to all of you!!
Whew...that's a subject. For a while I'm sure we inadvertently were overweight. We upgraded the springs, shocks and suspension which adds a little more comfort both with the ride and with more carrying capacity. We do need to stop by a Cat Scale and weigh again soon though. I'm sure we're borderline over even now. One of those don't do as we do things I bet.
Great vid, I also am not sure I want to be that close to alligators! Curious, the car you are loading your boats on, was that towed behind your EKKO?
No, we cannot tow our car. We both drove separate because we thought we were staying in one place for awhile, we don’t recommend driving two vehicles.
Loved this episode especially. You two are similar to us and our Van travel lifestyle. Not much into RV parks. Luckily we are out West where there are lots of open spaces, BLM, National Forests, National parks to get away for awhile. We’ve been pondering heading to Florida after the first of the year but no reservations. I see one or two night stays can be had in the state parks, here and there, so we might go for it. We also have access to Military Rv camp grounds of which there are many in Florida as a back up. What are some of your favorite State parks in Florida? Happy trails!
You gave us an idea for a video… thanks. Here’s a start.
Bahia Honda
Curry Hammock
St Andrews SP
Grayton Beach
Tomoka
Anastasia
Oscar Scherer
Fort Wilderness
Which 55+ campground wre you referring to in this video? I'm going to camp at different FL locations in January and February. Thanks!
It was the KOA in Madeira Beach. They have some long term sites. It is very expensive and for the site we had we just couldn’t justify it.
I do not know anything about alligators but what if Lynn falls? Or can an alligator jump up and knock her off?
We have found that if you don’t bother alligators they don’t bother you. However, I would not want to fall off. I sit down if there is any chance.
How big of a battery do you have if generator stopped working?
We have the standard 320ah Lithionics battery in our first gen Ekko
Those gaters still make me nervous! Was that a blue heron? Beautiful bird! Which camera did you use during your paddle down the river? I'm debating a new GoPro or a 360.
Believe it or not all the footage on the river kayak trip was shot with our iPhone 15 Pro Max phones. Crazy how good phone cameras are these days and they are waterproof too.