Driftwood makes me swoon. I know its weird maybe, but its me. Plentiful driftwood, like one finds on the beautiful Oregon coast sends me to another dimension. 
Driftwood, I believe, even inspires Mother Nature’s artistic spirit. She takes a raw log, a gnarly root and a bundle of branches or bark, bathes it with waves, polishes it with sand, then turns it out on a beach to let it bask in the sun to provide rich contrasts between light and dark.
Some inquired about our sanity: Floridians heading to Oregon for spring break, renting an RV to enjoy the coast? We even questioned ourselves. I mean, finally good weather seemed here to stay in Florida. We could have had a week to enjoy the boat,work on tans, make pizza on the grill and enjoy Bellini’s and O Maddy’s in Gulfport, why are we going to Oregon? We kept our plans despite a doubt or two, and departing in the PM out of Orlando we headed Northwest.
Oregon was the right decision. So was our Cruise America RV.
Day 1 April 10th
Just booked this site for a October midweek excursion to Ft Desoto. It’s waterfront and pet friendly. Can’t wait to be here. Weather should cool down enough for a great fire, look forward to catching some fish and enjoying some quaility time with Tucker my Border Collie.
In the last 3 or 4 years, it seems that my artistic side has begged to emerge. I now have a secret project on every vacation: paint something. Usually a subject surrounds me and just begs me to paint it. On my Recent trip to Acadia National Park, it was the rocky coast of Maine. I found a perfect spot, on a rocky area right off the Shore Trail, and went to work on Great Head, right across a little Bay from where I was sitting on a big rock. The results I’m posting.
While amateur, like all my “works,” the elements and the essence of my experience, have been captured to my satisfaction and that’s my goal.
Comments Welcome! I want to eventually be able to have others post their vacation paintings as well. I started with watercolor pencils (easy to carry) sketched the scene with colors i saw, and then rendered it into a watercolor with brushes and water and addtional color when i returned home. Here it is!
Planning a vacation in Florida this year? Don’t leave without a visit to Ft Desoto Park at the southern most tip of Pinellas County. Ft Desoto is the flagship of Pinellas County Parks. Its huge, and encompasses many “bests” for outdoor recreation in Florida. The boat ramp, with massive capacity, A campground with a waterfront camping experience that is very hard to leave, one of the best dog beaches in the country, a fishing paradise, with or without a boat, kayak and canoeing that cant be beat, beaches that go for miles, 2 fishing piers, facilities galore for shady picnicking, parties and more, a paved, walking, biking, rollerblading walkway around the entire park, plus a real fort! Pinellas County also works very hard to make every bit of the park accessible for all to enjoy. WOW!
The Campground at Ft Desoto is a camping experience that many long for. The waterfront sites are always in demand and for good reason. If you brought your water toys, kayaks, etc, you can pull them up on shore right at your site, jump on anytime and go out and catch trout for dinner. *best spot for trout? paddle out to the floating bouys to the left of the island, anchor on the edge and cast in to the channel, its a cant miss spot! Sunsets are beautiful and there will be tears on the day you leave! Well built, clean restrooms, showers, laundry are located conveniently near each site. Reservations can be made online 7 months out and there are pictures of EACH site! Visit The official site here
The Beaches at Ft Desoto have once again in 2009 been voted NUMBER ONE in the country!
There are massive paved parking areas and you are also allowed to pull off the road at many points for a more private beach experience. Pavilions abound for parties or reunions. Many beach weddings are performed as well, with the facilities to back them up.
The park wide paved trail, is enjoyed by many biking, walking, roller blade users.
The trail provides a great way to observe the many water birds that live and feed in the area. Winters are a wonderful birding opportunity because so many species call Ft Desoto their Winter home!
Can’t wait to hear about your trip to Ft Desoto Park in Pinellas County Florida! How many fish did you catch? What kind of birds did you see? What kinds of people did you meet? Please post your comments!
As always, have an interesting day!
Beclecto