We decided to forego the local KOA turned family owned (see: small and commercial) for the more rustic and less known for our "test" trip in the Aliner. Now lets keep in mind my family camping experience here - I've spent a dozen or so nights in a tent in my 31 years, and my wife about the same. The baby has tent camped once already in his short 9 months, so he got a head start. As far as sleeping in a recreational vehicle, this was going to be my first experience. Lets get the dry stuff out of the way first:
The locale
Lake Monroe Park is locted in Debary, FL - on the banks of Lake Monroe, which is wide spot in the St. Johns river. The offical info on the park can be found
here. There are 25 camping sites, all with 30 amp service and water. We previously drove through (as its only 20 minutes from home) and selected our top 3 sites. Site 25 was the winner, since it was the only one vacant. Don't let that fool you though, it was a GREAT site and I'd stay there again any night. The other sites were 15 and 16; long, narrow drives that ended in a cul de sac type area with a large fire pit and several grills and table. Those are the spots you reserve when 10 of you are camping.
Bathrooms are very clean, and the camper bathrooms consist of 4 individual bathrooms in one building. Each has a toilet, sink, and shower. Very clean and accomodating. There are also restrooms across the dirt road from site 25, but they were lockesd at night. The main facilty was 150 yards, so no problem.
Each site has a fire ring with a hinged grate you can fold over the fire for cooking, as well as a grill you can charcoal on. Each site has power and water and a pretty thick oak canopy with palmetto scrub being the primary ground cover. The park has a boat ramp, and is the endpoint of a popular biking trail that spans about 4 miles back to Gemini Springs Park. There was a cut-through from site 25 to the dirt road, and it appeared that there was something similar at most sites.
Arrival and Setup
This is our spot:
We got in about 6pm after a mad dash to pack and run after work. The Park ranger was nice, but a little confusing. She came running out of her booth when we got there, wide eyed and excited. Well actually, she'd seen about 45 years of sun, and not through sunblock, so I have to assume she was wide eyed, since her experssion was actually sun-baked on around 1983. She says "is that one of those A-frame pop ups?", "yes it is". "ohhhh, ummm, you are the folks I ran after last week right?", "umm -no". Now I know tone is hard to translate in the typed word, but everything about this exchange felt like she was about to tell us to leave, and not that she was actually in lust with the Aliner. Turns out it was our first (albeit odd) compliemnt on the little trailer that could."I just love that, it's really neat" she went on. I invited her to come check it out once we got set up. Left my drivers license with her, so she didnt have much of a choice. I pulled half off the entryway (more in a sec), and got out to give mrs. perma-grin my info and cash. One night at Lake Monroe park will run you $24.63. That was referrenced as the "RV rate", which makes me assume there is a tent rate that is even less.
Quickly met some fellow campers that had pulled in behind us, boats in tow, tents in the truck bed. Not sure which of us had the better idea. Now, I had slightly misjudged the initial curve into the park, and had rested the drivers side rear tire of the ALiner on the curb. Needed to fix that and get out of the way, and nice Mr. boat fella was happy enough to back up and to allow me to do so. Backed up, straightened out, and proceeded with minimal rub and only a slightly bruised ego. Found our site, backed her in, and started the set up.
Got the Aliner all set up, while the Mrs. started unpacking. Luckily Mason decided the drive over was as good a time as any to take a nap, and he was snoring with the best of them - giving us 10 mnutes or so after arrival to set up.
The Night
Got a little campfire started, as our friend Nicole and her baby Leon arrived. We took a quick walk through the park, checking out the dock and amenitites:
Not sure the boys were too impressed, or perhaps they were concerned we were going to make them gator food.
Back to the site for some hot dogs, baked beans, and potato salad cooked on the open flame. Excpt the potato salad, that was cooked at publix ha. Mason was quite thrilled with his new chair, as well as opportunity to hang out in just a diaper:
Had a nice dinner, and a few drinsk by the fire. Bugs were minimal, as were the treks to the restrooms thankfully. Somehow though, toward the end of the evening, I managed to walk straight into a large stump and do someting super special to my 2nd toe on my right foot. Pretty confident I'll be losing the toenail:
I let Nicole and Leon out of the park (they give you a lock combination) about 10pm and we went to bed. Christa and Mason took the larger bed and I slept on the dinette side. I was amazed at how comfortable the beds were, especially after reading quite a bit to the contrary. GREAT nights sleep, despite having to pretend to be old people and sleep in seperate beds. Need to find an odd sized toddler bed rail to set up for Mason on the dinette side so we can put him over there alone.
Saturday
Got up about 7:45am, gathered some small peices of wood, just enough to start a small fire to cook a can of corned beef hash. Breakfast, then packed up and off to the
Central Florida Zoo, which is about 3 miles away. Had a nice time checking out the animals and then Mason splashed in the splashpark:
Overall had a great time - the AC worked like a champ, the beds were comfy, the Mitsu towed the Aliner better than I thought she would, and things were about 140% easier than I prepared for (I knocked on wood a lot). Next potential timeframe for the 2nd trip is 13th-15th, so hopefully we can put something together for that weekend. Looking to stay within an hour or so from home so off to research.
Until then,
Todd, .Christa, and Mason
