Perry Florida

Anyone been to Perry Florida? "Traveling Robert" is a youtuber who is building a 1 acre 4 site camp, presumably for him and family, and friends. His Neighbors who were helping with the logistics have a commercial campground next door --- small, similar -- 5 or 6 sites. Its about 15 miles south weste from Perry -Literally in the middle of nowhere. I found 2 bars and a beach near by...

Anyone familiar with the general area? I think there was a tourist there in 1973, but he found it by mistake -- hoping there's some more wisdom in our little group about this area...

 

We have driven through Perry on our way to the panhandle area of Florida. All I really remember is it didn’t take long to drive through it. If memory serves me correct, it appeared to be beyond its glory years.

 

I don't think it ever HAD glory years

I have heard that area has some really nice smaller towns -- "the forgotten coast" if you will. I am not expecting orlando, for that matter I don't want that. This micro-trip is just to escape the cold up here, and there isn't a state park (Kissimmee by Lakeland or Silver Springs have been my favorites) so we are having to look around a bit.

Good excuse to see if I wnat to buy some undeveloped land in that area --- its still "cheap" compared to the rest of the places I've looked...but there may be good reason for that

 

I just stayed at Ochlockonee State Park, within St Marks Wildlife Refuge. Its a nice little park with proximity to St Marks, Bald Point SP, and bike trails(but not connecting). Perry is not far away. I used to have a sawmill subscriber account there and my best friend was married there. People live to have a bass boat and hunting lease. It has all the things you expect in Florida: Heat+humidity, noseeums, mosquitos, bears, snakes, alligators, marshes, sinkholes, cold wet days in winter, hurricanes, did I mention heat+humidity?

 

No heat and humidity these days. Freeze warnings tonight across most of the state. Clear blue skies and gale force gusts today.

 

We had to cancel the trip anyway. Sounds like the weather didn’t look all that great this week anyway…

Covid visited me. Symptoms came last Tuesday, the test took a couple days. By the time I got the results I was almost over it.

ao we reschedule in a couple weeks….try again.

 

Sweeny, are you heading down to the gulf coast?

 

We were thinking about it. This was supposed to happen 2 weeks ago -- but I (then my wife) came down with the coupf. So we're trying to figure out when we can make it back down. I'm 99% better, my wife probably 90 -- both WAY done with the primary infection, but dealing with the lingering aftereffects....

The goal was to escape the winter --- the week we left, we got about 8 inches of the fluffly white crap then a week with lows in the single digits. I think we are turning the corner tonight, it looks like we'll be getting above freezing daytime highs.

We'll be heading back down in the summer to be sure -- I'm half way looking for a property. I can't take the cold here any more. This winter has been miserable. Of course, I can't really take the heat either --- but I am told you get used to it. By brother lives way south and tells me that every time I mention it.

I really "need" to be northern 1/3 --- the though of having water on both sides and swamp in the middle doens't appeal to me. I'd like to be able to make a run west without first having to go north 3 hours....

 

Greenbush, your part of the world is my summer home…..love the high planes…..BIG sky….especially at night…

We'll be at Sylvan Lake again - I think I got the last free spot for 2022

A side trip to Wyoming, I finally going to see Devils Tower with an overnight stop at the filming location of the military base from the movie....Now A KOA. Boy is that tourist or what!

I was really sad to hear though (I can't recall the name) in Sturgis was this OLD SCHOOL donut shop....I saw it burned to the ground.

 

Quiet in the forums!

We added 9 more nights...was supposed to be 14 possibly 15. A sudden shift from 80s and sunny to 70s and rain for 4 days straight, combined with some tech glitches (internet dropped, and we work remote) with no working AT&T for the hotspot pushed us to an early departure.

We got to see a couple state parks near White Springs. Enjoyed a dock-side restaurant, visit my brother and his wife...it wasn't a bad escape. Next time, we just try to leave "work" at home and take it as a pure vacation trip -- it probably would be much better.

We stayed just outside of Perry Florida at a small campground about 25 minutes outside of Perry, closer to Keaton Beach. There are several like these in the area. The zoning laws are quite nice there. Looks like one of the few places where government leaves people alone. We liked it!

Worst part was waking up and starting to work at 7AM -- only to lose all intenet by 7:30...so we decided to pack it in, and head back. 1 hour 30 minutes then began a 16 hour drive-day....I forgot how much I hate those!! 1:00am we crawled into bed for a 6:30am wake-up call to go to work. yikes.

I also got my first Buc-ee's experience --- 120 gas pumps. That was an experience. It reminded me of the first time I went to Cabellas in their "big" store on the west side of Pennsylvania before Bass-Pro destroyed the company.

Back to Buck-ee's, What I found strange is even though there were 120 pumps, they were just as congested as the Love's and Flying J's. I think I'll stick with those, although the brisket wasn't the worst I've ever had at Buc-ees, though I didn't see a smoker or stacks of hardwood...and they would need stacks. The place was massive and both times I stopped.

Glad to be home...can't wait to go again. Few more weeks --- its still freezing here at night. I'm looking for 50's and 60's during the day...

 

@Sweeney ...Buck-ees...what a place, we stopped at the one in Macon Georgia last fall when we were on our way back from Tampa. It is big but like you said it is somewhat of a tourist trap. The food is okay, but nothing spectacular.

I am interested in the camp grounds by Perry, hook ups?

 

Not really. The prices are quite high at this point...with all that is going on, I'm expecting an UGLY and massive correction.

The subdivision we stayed in wasn't bad, all 1 acre lots -- which are zoned to have as many as 4 RV's on them....it wasn't bad, but it was a little slab city --- meaning barking dogs and people screaming at kid a few times. The place we were most definitely drew a type.

The area had some appeal however. Just a matter of finding the right one. We discovered that in general this area isn't bad. We'll go back when we have actual time...we "worked" our day jobs when we were there, not giving us much time to really get opt.

 

That correction is coming, it can NOT keep going this direction. At some point (I think now) the pricing is going to outpace the ability to pay,maintain, and taxation. Wait and purchase when things go on sale.

 

Same one we stopped at -- there are 2 now, and a couple more coming --- 1 just south of lexitgon. The one south of Macon has 120 lanes....120 --- and they were BUSY. I was a bit gobsmacked when we saw it --- the response I had was similar to the first time I went to "Jungle Jims" in Cincinatti -- a MUST stop if you are in the area, or the first mega-Cabellas.

Perry area is full of small campgrounds....the one we stayed at was "Captain's Hideaway" I debated if I should plug them...We kind of wanted to keep this gem to ourselves. We liked it We found out by watching a youtube channel, apparently there is kind of a youtube community there ...."Traveling Robert" is who we heard about it from. His channel is pretty entertaining.

The campground is on 1 acre, and has 4 sites. 3 rented, 1 used as "Captains quarters" These style of "Boutique" campgrounds aren't uncommon in the area, I think there were 3 others within a mile. "Rock and roll Retreat" and "Turtle Pines" come to mind.

Site 1 - right by the road and dusty, on the other side is a communal fire-pit. Big site, perhaps the biggest -- mostly sunny. I'd pass on this site myself.

Site 2 - Captains Quarters - the owners private site. Sadly we didn't get to meet them. There were no camphosts while we were there. I was disappointed by this fact, but they don't have a staff, and life happens.

Site 3 and 4 - farthest to the back. Both about the same size - certainly long enough though maybe a little narrow. Each of these two sites were separated by palmetto and 'scrub brush' --- actually, pretty nice. Site 4 had a "turnaround" loop directly in front of it, but with 2 sites...it wasn't like it was busy, only 1 class A turning around in it while we were there.

Each site had 30 (maybe 50 - I didn't look) with water and sewer. The water didn't smell bad or taste funny. I was hoping that we could run a garden hose from the "gray dump" to a sewer using a "donut" adapter. There wasn't enough drop to get a good syphon going. We improvised and emptied our tank while we were there....it just wasn't as easy as I thought it would be.

The shower house: It is just small tin-building. The shower was powered by a camping style hot water on demand which worked well. The exterior shower walls from 8 foot up to the ceiling were open to the outside. At 45 degrees....you towled off quickly. The shower and the toilet area were separated by a wall. There was no sink or vanity. Ideal? No, but certainly usable. I did not feel exposed or uncomfortable at all. It was just a little primative.

The camp site has only been open for about a year. They're still building things out. I assume it will improve. Just doing walk-by's, the other campsites we walked past were not as nice as this one was.

Bottom line --- I'd definately go back there again, looking specifically at site 3 or 4 again.

 

Thanks Sweeny,

I had watched Traveling Robert a few years ago and tune in once in a while still. Heck I even have his music CD and sticker.

I find that he started to be come more "content" or revenue focused. He has a bunch of advertising now. And alot of his videos are rehashed from previous videos. Then he started his mini tini lounge broadcasts, Friday night follies, etc, just to publish content.

The same can be said with Playing with Sticks.

Now we follow Slim Potatohead.

We will check out the Captains Hide a Way when we are down there.

Bill

 

I can see your point. I don't mind people selling stuff, as long as it is good stuff. I hate shills for bad products. Although, admittedly I am a little tired of seeing battery banks "reviewed"...

I don't watch ANY livestream of any content people. I hate them! I find the con...hi bob..stant ..interuptio...Mary nice to see you...ns very very annoying. A lot of youtubers are doing the same thing, that platform has become very hard to make money with unless you get sponsors, patrons, or affiliate links.

I saw Robert had a music CD -- I was amused. Not big on stickers on my trailer. I'll put on a obligatory Wall Drug, and perhaps a custom Vinyl sticker with things that serve my needs...

<< -- PASSING SIDE SUICIDE -->>