Our first stop in Florida was Manatee Hammock RV Park in Titusville FL, from where we explored Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge and had a dip in the ocean at Canaveral National Seashore’s Playalinda Beach (#13). We also had a picnic lunch on the shore of Indian River Lagoon along the Bio Lab Road. We had a clear view of Artemis, a huge rocket that launched to the moon in November.

Jennifer and I then spent a few days in the Everglades, camping at Long Pine Key and exploring as far as Flamingo, where we have previously camped. The Everglades are unimaginably beautiful and filled with wildlife.

A trip to southern Florida is incomplete without exploring down the Florida Keys. Though way over-developed, it’s still an awesome experience travelling the Overseas Highway, and taking in the relaxed ambience of life there.

From the Florida Keys, Jen and I travelled along the Tamiami Trail, cycled the Shark Valley trail, and detouring on the Loop Road in Big Cypress National Preserve. Then to Everglades City, where we took a boat tour into the Everglade’s Ten Thousand Islands. Then to Marco Island, where we met up with an old friend. Then to Naples, where we swam and cycled. Then we headed past the north shore of Lake Okeechobee and Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge to Merritt Island and Cocoa Beach, where we met up with new friends. We then travelled inland to Lake Louisa State Park for a couple days before starting our trek northward towards the Blue Ridge Parkway.