Billy Goes Camping at Fort DeSoto

Well, we're doing a little land traveling in the Land Yacht and Billy is on high alert as his bedding, food, dishes and toys are gathered up and ushered out the door.  He has a new crate since the wire crate was so large we could not get it into the back of the car without taking it apart.  My girl friend Dianne showed me a collapsible crate that folds up into a small ring that they use on their boat for Sandy. 

 I located a large one on Target and ordered it up. It is the same size as the wire crate but collapses into a twelve inch disk.  We put it up in the living room to get Billy used to it.  He didn't like it at all - crouched down and barked at it as he circled around it.  We threw his toys into it and he was very clever extracting the toys without having to go too far into the crate.  We kept it up in the living room moving it next to his crate in the den for a week before we left on this trip with the hope he would eventually come to terms with this new bed.

We were in luck.  The first night we put his bedding into the crate and then snacks and eventually gave him a gentle push.  Closed it up and after a few moments of whimpering he slept the night and was happy in the crate each night afterwards.  This will work out well on the boat as we can store it easily when he's not using it and it will, hopefully, keep him out of the vee-berth!

The new crate wasn't Billy's only challenge this week.  He was traumatized by the vibrations and noise in the motor home.  He wedged himself behind the drivers seat, tail tucked tightly under his belly.  That was OK until he started to slink around the other side of the seat and ended up under the brake pedal.  Dave yanked him out by his halter which only traumatized him more.  I picked him up and sat him down on the couch with me.  He melded himself to my body and we drove on to Tampa.  He's still a baby and everything is a new experience for him.

We spent Sunday night at Dave's sister's place in Wesley Chapel where we watched the Super Bowl.   Billy had a blast running the yard and barking at the horses.  This time he actually explored the corral area when the horses were elsewhere.

Monday morning we headed out for Ft Desoto County Park in St Petersburg.  This is a beautiful park on the Gulf of Mexico just before the Sunshine Bridge.  It actually loops back around to St Pete Beach.  Our site is very shaded and private.  We have some water behind us but not the Gulf.  The sites that do not allow dogs are out on the Gulf side.  

 Billy nemesis turns out to be a squirrel that taunts him from the trees.  There was no peace as long as that squirrel hung around the campsite.

We took a ride down to the beaches, in particular paw beach where Billy could meet the Gulf of Mexico.  We walked past the dog park on the way down.  I was behind Dave and Billy when I noticed a corn snake stretched out cross the path.  Dave was just about to step on it and Billy was oblivious.  My heart stopped.  Since it was late in the afternoon and chilly, the snake wouldn't move off the path.  Instead it sat up with his mouth open!  Dave had to nudge it along with his foot to get it to move into the grass.  I should have gotten the picture of him stretched across the path but was too stunned, so this is the best I could do!

We walked down to the beach and brought reluctant Billy to the water.  As the water moved up on him, he wasn’t too thrilled about getting close.  

WHAT IS THAT!  IT'S COMING AT ME!

Despite all of the birds flying around, Billy felt compelled to protect us from the floating buoy!

He would NOT walk down the beach until that buoy went away!  Wonder what he thought he was seeing!

Sunset on the west coast.  Despite the fronts coming through, the sunset was beautiful. Eventually a full moon came out but the skies were full of clouds.

TUESDAY we woke to rain.  We decided to take a trip up to Tarpon Springs for some Greek food.  It was a rather long drive up Route 19 which goes thru all the towns.  We arrived in time for late lunch and there is nothing better than a Greek lunch!  First we walked the sponge docks giving Billy a chance to stretch his legs and learn more socialization skills.  As we walked out of the parking lot, the attendant said "That's a fine looking dog,"  and that he is.

Still waiting for the cruising grounds for US Citizens in Cuba open up.  May not live long enough!

CUBAN-looking Cigars - closest we'll be getting to Cuba for a while.

We walked the length of the Sponge Docks under very cloudy skies and lots of people!  Brought Billy back to the car for a nap while we ate lunch.  We split a platter of Mousaka, Souvlaki, stuffed grape leaves and  and Greek Salad.   We had enough for lunch and dinner.

On the way back to the car we stopped at a Greek bakery and loaded up on variations on Baklava.  Don't know what we were thinkin'

WEDNESDAY turned out to be a beautiful day - one we probably should have saved for Tarpon Springs!  Today we just kicked around and took a ride across the Skyline Highway Bridge.  For me that was a knuckle whitener!

THURSDAY headed over to the Dali Museum which was impressive.  It is located across from the St Petersburg Marina and the building design is as you would expect for a Dali Museum.

Of course one couldn't take pictures inside the museum, but his artwork is wonderful and I never really understood Dali before.  Definitely pick up the museum earbuds and take the self-guided tour.  You can stop at any of the paintings and stare which is really what you need to do.  His paintings aren't something you just waltz by.


PERSISTENCE OF MEMORY

Dalí was a skilled draftsman, best known for the striking and bizarre images in his surrealist work. His painterly skills are often attributed to the influence ofRenaissance masters.^[2][3] His best-known work, The Persistence of Memory, was completed in 1931. Dalí's expansive artistic repertoire includes film, sculpture, and photography, in collaboration with a range of artists in a variety of media.  (Wikipedia)

The interior lobby, lunch area and gift shop are geometric as anticipated.  Interesting staircase and lines.

Walking around the grounds is just as rewarding.  Dave sporting a Dali mustache!

and Dali's wonderful timepiece!  I'd love to have this on my front porch.   I'm becoming quite a Dali fan.

And...... I never realized that "Bird of Paradise" plants look like birds!

It was a great day visiting a museum.  A real treat as we don't have that many renowned museums in Central Florida!

Returned to the campground to clean up and meet Tim and Dianne for dinner.  I love seeing them and so glad they moved to St Pete.  It is such a wonderful place to visit and a great excuse to come over!!!

Headed back to New Smyrna ending our week away!  Stored the motorhome until our next adventure!