Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2004 09:41:49 -0500
Reply-To: "Thomas, Geoffrey" <Geoffrey.Thomas1@DEFENCE.GOV.AU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: "Thomas, Geoffrey" <Geoffrey.Thomas1@DEFENCE.GOV.AU>
Subject: unclas : Florida Camping
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
We went down to KW between Christmas/New Year. We opted not to camp at KW,
but rather at Long Key SP at about MP50. Beautiful spot right on the water
and quite a few Westies as well. We would go back.
Geoff Thomas
88Westy
-----Original Message-----
From: Tracey Estevez [mailto:boatshop@INTERCOM.NET]
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2004 8:48 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Florida Camping
If you plan to boondock in KW always have a "backup plan" The cops are
pretty lenient, but will ask you to move repeatedly especially if you are
down at Higgs Beach with your poptop up. We figured this out one sleepless
night after moving 3 times at the request of the police, who drive around
looking for people sleeping in their cars. We ended up scouting out a
deserted road on another key and camped out there until a spot at Lazy Lakes
CG opened up. The police will "suggest" that you can park and sleep on Stock
Island, but this is not a good idea if you are not familiar with the island
and it's bad neighborhoods. There are many roads along US1 that end in
mangroves and are suitable for temporary camping, just be low-key and
respectful. Kmart parking lot on KW is another option if you can stand the
smell of urine permeating from every clump of shrubbery.
Bahia Honda state park, as suggested by another listee, is a great spot with
the most incredible views, but you are limited to the times you can come and
go and pets are not allowed.
Wherever you camp bring your bugspray...those gnats are horrible!
-Tracey
***snip****I did not do any Stealth camping, but looks feasible in the upper
keys,
may be tough in Key West. In KW, I saw a number of Westys and
motorhomes that may be stealthing in a public beach/park called Higgs Beach.
Otherwise, a "campground" named Jobert's is located in the heart of the
action, 2 blocks from Duvall St, 1 block from the docks in Old Town.
Pricey, tho, at $70 per night.
Not being the high season, you may be able to stealth on the streets - I
saw one EVC parked near the "southernmost point" that seemed to be there
for several days.
Also, at the Fort [???] beach, just before you enter the State Park,
there is a parking area that may be for day use only, but seemed to be a
good steath site. I think it is
part of the old Navy base because it is inside the gates, past a
gatehouse, but the gatehouse is unmanned and there are no signs
indicating that you cannot park there.
One additional idea - I just recalled meeting a Rialta owner in KW who
had stayed in the Publix Supermarket parking lot with several other
motorhomes. The location is on Highway 1 soon after arriving on KW****
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