spoilt our enjoyment of the walk though. One, it was cold and we were
dressed for sunshine in shorts and t-shirts; two, I broke my sunglasses; three,
the animals were being put to bed so we did not get to see them all (although
it was quite amusing watching the rangers try to catch the fox, without the
horses and hounds we Brits would have used). All in all not a lucky visit to the
park, but worth it for the manatees alone.
We left the park as it closed and embarked on our regular trial of finding a
campsite before nightfall/offices close.
Five or so minutes later we were checked into the Covered Wagon
Campground. This is a very cheap campsite and included free doughnut and
coffee breakfast, but only on Saturdays. Fortunately (for once) we checked in
on a Friday night. We even got a discount, not for any membership schemes
but as a result of the manager celebrating the approaching weekend a little
early with a liquid lunch.
We began the next day lazily, in stark contrast to most mornings over the last
few weeks, but still did not lie in very late. On this occasion however our sleep
was cut short by a desire for doughnuts rather than a need to cover hundreds
of miles before evening. In return for free breakfast (Krispy Kremes and
mediocre coffee) the price we paid was engaging in conversation with our
fellow 'RV-ers'. We sat with three old women who were classic snowbirds,
spending every winter in Florida. They were friendly enough but grilled us, not
about our travels, but about Diana, Princess of Wales.
'Is it all true what we hear about her?' One Golden Girls look-alike asked, the