Camping at Fort Desoto

Once again, my sadness of being too late to reserve a waterfront campsite has turned to joy as the winds blow across the bay, and we are tucked into an interior site. The last time we were here, it blew so hard that some people parked their cars and trucks sideways at the water’s edge in futile attempts to block the wind. Others just packed up and left. We were fine. Of course, even though I knew better, I tried for waterfront. Fortunately, no sites available.

We are here to test our new Coleman Instant Tent that pops up with just extending 4 corner poles. And it did. It was also easy to move when we realized one of the guy-lines was too close to the electric box to stake down easily. We are also testing the foldout cots Grant ordered. They opened easily, are a comfortable height, and support us well. If only our vintage sleep pads held air. Those will be repaired or replaced when we get home. All good.

With the gentle rain now falling, we are also getting to test how waterproof the tent is (one would hope completely) and if our fly will keep the rain off of us as we sit under it at the picnic table. So far, so good.

We’ve been to the beach several times, once just to walk, once to look at the sunset which was medium with a line of clouds about 10 degrees above the horizon, and once take the scope to look at shore birds. I’d checked eBird which reported 2 snowy plovers seen the day before. So far, no plovers of any flavor. We did try at the easternmost part of the park, but it was so windy there were no birds at all. At least 20 kite surfers were enjoying the weather. The other possible site for the snowy is a hike out north beach. Looking less likely as the rain keeps up. We did see Royal, sandwich, and least terns; laughing, ring-billed, and one black backed gulls; a few black skimmers; rudy turnstones; willets; and sanderlings.

Another evening, we saw the sunset from the rooftop bar at Hurricane Seafood Restaurant in Pass-a-grille, before we ate dinner at Sea Critters which features underwater lights. Diners can see snook and catfish swimming around the docks. We joined Jamey and April who are spending a couple of weeks practicing being snowbirds, first in old St Pete and now at the beach. Their kitty, Tigerlily, came on the trip but didn’t join us at dinner. She is a lovely tabby with yellow undertones, just like Zach I had many years ago. He shared the house with Zeke, a tabby with grey undertones. When Steve and I got divorced, he took Zack, and Zeke stayed with me. I don’t think they were heartbroken.

We have at least 3 catbirds at our campsite. They cry almost continuously, periodically getting more vocal about something, but I can’t figure out what, perhaps a grackle. Often the cardinal pair joins in, and once a couple of bluejays and a black-and-white warbler came to see. High in the oak trees are yellow rump warblers which I IDed using the Merlin app’s sound identification and confirmed after much peering to finally see a yellow rump. Ospreys call, and a pair of fish crows come by each morning.

This is a county park opened in 1948. Mixed with native oaks, sables and other flora are flowering Hong Kong Orchid trees, African tulip trees, and several varieties of hibiscus. My soul aches for it to be all native, but the flowers are pretty. 

Friday morning we took the ferry over to Egmont Key State Park, to begin my quest to go to the Florida state parks I’ve never visited. We were scheduled on the 9:00 ride, but night before, the marina called, texted, and emailed that trip was cancelled because the waves would be rough. When we woke up, the wind had died some, so we took the 11:00 over to the barrier island. Grant faithfully toted the scope, but no new species to see. It is the largest bird sanctuary in Florida, however the nesting has not begun. We’ll be back.

Our last day was Saturday, when early morning thunderstorms were predicted, so we packed up everything but the tent, cots, and sleeping bags the night before, just in case. It would give us a chance to practice quick breakdown. Fortunately, the rain held off until 9:15, so we had our coffee and PBJ sandwich breakfast at the campsite in leisure. Our neighbor, Susie, had kindly offered to let us stay in her trailer’s spare (!) bedroom during the storm. I almost felt guilty about grousing over her extensive light strings, lit-up picnic table cover, and fairy lights in the big oaks at her campsite. Almost. I still don’t understand why people come to the dark(ish) woods, and then make their site bright as the city. Still, it was an amazingly generous offer. A sweet ending to a lovely camping trip.

Takeaways: 1) Tent did leak a little at the joint between the side and floor in 2 places. I’m not sure whether seam seal will help. It may have been drips where the side slopes in. 2) Best rig in the campground: Tesla sedan pulling a 16’ Airstream Bambi. Yes, I DO need that! Grant is less enthusiastic.