We left Orlando this morning, saying our see you laters to Josh and JP before heading off for Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, FL. This will be our first time volunteering in the State Park system and staying in one place for two months. We are excited about the opportunity and giving back to the Florida State Parks.
We were given site V6 in Volunteer Village, we were greeted from other volunteers to the park including a couple from Lakeland, FL (Richard & Judith) and via Village (Erin & Jules).
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We made it
Three miles to the east of the park on September 23, 1696, the British barkentine Reformation floundered off Jupiter Island. The 24 survivors, included a party of Quakers, bound for Jamaica to Pennsylvania. Leader of the Quakers was Jonathan Dickinson who described the trials of the group in his book, God's Protecting Providence, the first account of Indians on the southeast coast. Hence the name for the park.
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Our home set up for the next couple of months
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| Full moon over the park |
We had to break camp on the third day here, Keith was feeling under the weather so he had an appointment at CVS for a COVID test. He stood outside the window since the RV could not fit under their carport. After our return from CVS and doing some errands, Judith stopped by to check on Keith. She is real sweet person.
Our 4th day in the park we rode the bikes 16 miles (11.2 in the morning and 4.8 in the afternoon). We ran out to the Kimbell Education Center, our WIFI connection then checked out the River Campground on the other side of the park. River Campground was under water, as well as much of that part of the park.
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Loxahatchee River from the boat ramp
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Juvenile Northern Mockingbird
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| Blind Creek Beach, Hutchinson Inlet, Fort Pierce |
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Blind Creek Beach
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Blind Creek Beach is a beautiful, natural eight-mile stretch of beach. The beach is clean with some waves to body surf and play in the water. It has plenty of parking but can be busy on the weekends.
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| High water levels throughout the park |
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| Hiking around the hiking trail via bike trail |
We thoroughly enjoyed working at the park and meeting like minded people that volunteer in State Parks and come down to Florida to get away from the cold weather up north. We did meet and made friends with local guys that quarantine because of their work.
In the morning, we would walk up to the Pine Grove Pavilion to watch the sun come up over Jupiter Inlet. Relax sometimes with a coffee and sit on a picnic table watching the day come to life.
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| Sunrise over Jupiter Inlet across Federal Highway from the park |
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| Rainbow following thunderstorms |
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| Looking over Jonathan Dickinson with the sun reflecting over the park at sunrise |
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| Another heavy rain passes over the park leaving this sunset |
We have been watching the series Peaky Blinders, liking the haircuts from the early 20th century take a chance on new haircut. Keith helped me with the haircut.
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| New Haircut, Peaky Blinders style |
Our new local friends came over for dinner a couple of times and we went over to see them. Nice having local friends to hang out with and show us the area. Ray, Kurt and Hamilton came over for sunset from Hobe Mountain, 86' high 'hill' is an ancient sand dune formed when sea levels were much higher than today. On the top of the dune is an observation tower giving views of the scrub park west and east to Jupiter Inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.
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| Sunset over Jonathan Dickinson State Park |
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| Hamilton, Ray and Kurt |
A couple of days later, when Keith was not working at the Ranger Station, we went up to the Tower for the sunset. Our friend Ray was very generous and left his truck with us to use. We ran errands to the market and drove to his and Kurt's when we did dinner.
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| The West side of the park towards the Loxahatchee River |
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| The two of us up on Hobe Mountain for sunset |
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| Another gorgeous sunset |
The sunrise and sunset did not disappoint us one minute, the amount of flora and fauna was remarkable for the varieties we had never seen before. We explored the park with friends and guests. Our friend, David Caldwell was in Miami getting away from the cold in Virginia. We met David in Manila when Keith was there for a project when he was working at BackOffice. David could not leave the US to get back to the Philippines and came up for a few days to visit with us. Glad he did, spent time exploring and playing Mexican Train.
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| Sunrise over Pine Grove Campground from our rig |
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| View from behind the Kimball Center over the Loxahatchee River |
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| Keith and David Caldwell playing Mexican Train |
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| Gopher Tortoise are federally protected and roam all over the park |
We showed David around Jonathan Dickinson, Hobe Sound Beach, Jupiter Inlet and some of the area. Keith had to work, so David and Wayne went over to the Squared Grouper (recommended by one of the volunteers, since she knew they required masks). The view of Jupiter Lighthouse was good, we had a drink and chatted.
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| Hobe Sound Beach on Jupiter Island |
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| Jupiter Lighthouse |
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| Unexpected guest near our table |
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| David Caldwell and Wayne at the Squared Grouper |
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| Wayne and Keith out on the bikes touring Jupiter |
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| Jupiter Lighthouse from the bridge |
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| Jupiter Inlet |
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| Sida rhombifloria |
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| Largeflower Mexican Clover |
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| Laccaria laccata, commonly known as the deceiver, or waxy laccaria |
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| Cardinal in the scrub |
Learning about the inhabitants, different eco-systems and sustainability of flora and fauna, need for prescribed burns, as well as educating ourselves on the balance of life in this scrub environment. Throughout our stay there were intense rain storms passing through just the park, to the south 3 miles or to the north along the perimeter of the park there were days when they received no rain. During Hurricane ETA we received leeward winds of 60 mph. The Keys were evacuated, volunteers from those parks came north to wait out the storm.
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| Boardwalk to the observation tower during sunrise, the scrub and dunes |
We had a very pleasant surprise guest, Ashley joined us for a few days. We were so excited she joined us. We changed shifts so Keith could pick her up in Fort Lauderdale, then joined the volunteers for the potluck afterwards (still socially distancing at other picnic tables).
We had made plans to go to Orlando to vote, we stayed at Moss Park County Campground about a mile for Josh and JP. They came over one night to visit with us, keeping masked and socially distant. We had a great time seeing them the days we were in Orlando.
Our time with Ashley was short but we did get to spend quality family time together. We hiked a little, had deep conversations on everything and shared our personal experiences. It was sad to see her go.
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| Full moon over Boxi Park in Lake Nona |
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| Ashley and Keith walking the Split Oak Trail |
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker |
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| Lake Hart, on the loop off Split Oak |
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| Tranquility and peace |
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| Keith, Ashley and Wayne sunrising over the camp |
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| Ashley completed my Peaky Blinders 1920's style haircut |
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| Great White Egret |
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| November, the River Campground is flooded more from after effects of Hurricane ETA |
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| The River Campground |
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| We were out riding bikes and caught in another downpour |
We did a lot of bicycle riding with pedal assist off, sometimes on depending on the wind in our faces. We rode 197.15 miles in total. We rode the bikes to the market, to the lighthouse, to work at the Kimball Center on Sundays or to just ride around the park exploring.
Thanksgiving morning, Ray stopped by to pick us up for a trip to Blind Creek Beach, we returned for dinner with Richard and Judith at the picnic table on their site. We enjoyed our time with them, Jeff & Donna, Erin & Jules while volunteering. We had a small bubble where we could interact with each other and be safe.
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| Red-bellied Woodpecker, practicing and photographing |
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| SpaceX rocket launch seen from the Hobe Mountain Observation Tower |
We rode the bikes up to the River to book tickets for the Trapper Nelson boat trip but no one showed to book it, Keith would not have enough time to return and get to the Ranger Station. Wayne ended up going on the 11:30 boat trip to Trapper Nelson's.
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| Keith protecting a Gopher Tortoise from traffic |
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Trapper Nelson's cabin
He arrived from New jersey in the early 1930's. Vincent Natulkiewski, know as Vince "Trapper" Nelson found the area still teaming with widllfe. for decades he lived off the land, supplementing his diet of raccoon, goher tortoise, opossum with fruit from his citrus grove. He established a business clled "Trapper's Zoo and Jungle Garden'. His dock, cages, cabins and shleters were hand made from pine trees. He used money he made to purchase land and increase his property in those times which is now part of Jonathan Dickinson State park.
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| Boat trip from the concession to Trapper Nelson |
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| Kayaking and Canoeing on the Laxahatchee is a must do |
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| Fire pit with Richard, Judith, Erin, Jules, Jeff, Donna, Keith and Wayne |
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| Thanksgiving |
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| Campfire with Jeff & Donna |
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| Full moon over the campground, our last night in JDSP |
We met some really awesome people here at JDSP, Ranger Jane, Ranger Diane, Ranger Sarah and the volunteers. The volunteer coordinator Kirrin Peart is amazing to work with and for. We learned so much working the ranger station and at the Kimbal Educational Center. We really would enjoy being at Jonathan Dickinson State Park and grateful for all the wonderful people we had the opportunity to meet and connections we made.
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