14th Annual South Florida Gathering 2025 (12/12-12/14 2025)

[Fueling Around]

...
Miranda and I are planning to tent camp on Bill and Darcy's site and/or sleep in their RV. Maybe next year we'll join the RV club and rent something :)
...

Mark introduced me to Outdoorsy.com for a rental site. Find something in the local area so you don't have to burn the fuel hauling it down and back.
That's how we found a Class C close to the action last year

If anybody can manage it... Golf carts and UTV's (side by sides) are allowed to ride all the trails in the woods... It's pretty fun to make a drink or two and spend a couple hours on the trails...

Isn't there a fee for the pleasure vehicles?

 

[JckDanls 07]

Yes... $10 a day...

 

[carol506]

Keith
Here is the confirmed list from page 1

Doug hasn't added the last 2 reservations
#13 @j-regn
#27 JckDanls 07

We're missing orlandosmoking and carol506 from the usual attendees.
Never met Soccerbot @bobcats110 in my short time with you all

edit
It wouldn't my tag of dougmays and Miranda are tenting in site #30 with her parents.

We sold camper just too much work at our age. Depending upon how John recovers from knee surgery we hope to be there. Need to find a hotel nearby.

 

[JckDanls 07]

carol506 ... Tell John we are praying everything goes well (they usually do)...

As for Hotels near by... I don't beleive you'll be very successful as the park is in the sticks... But still search for them, there might be one closer than I think...

 

[Fueling Around]

We sold camper just too much work at our age. Depending upon how John recovers from knee surgery we hope to be there. Need to find a hotel nearby.

You can always get a large tent and sleep on cots. Almost a camper except for the walk to the bathhouse.

 

[dougmays]

Yea.. I got a buddy (Dirk) that has site 14... He will be bringing another freind of ours, plus our golf carts... I haven't made up my mind yet on snack sticks...

Adding Dirk to Post #1, glad we've got more coming :) No worries on the snack sticks either way.

If anybody can manage it... Golf carts and UTV's (side by sides) are allowed to ride all the trails in the woods... It's pretty fun to make a drink or two and spend a couple hours on the trails...

I would need to decide if i'm bringing my trailer smoker or a trailer with golf cart and barrel smoker. Depends if we need additional smoker space for the group or not?


carol506 / JckDanls 07 - Are there fixed mobile homes there available for rent, like the rangers at HH? Or maybe a rental cabin or something?


Glad to see this thread getting active again :) BIG THANK YOU to Fueling Around for keeping me organized on here and the conversation flowing !

 

[dougmays]

Fueling Around I think we are going to look more into Outdoorsy.com next year, with alot of life and fiscal changes in the last year, i'm saving some pennies this year :) I'll keep an eye out though for any last minute deals if they pop up

 

[JckDanls 07]

dougmays , No , there is no cabins or the like...

 

[Fueling Around]

Thanks for the shout out Doug I'm just more focused in things being a twin state resident.

Fueling Around I think we are going to look more into Outdoorsy.com next year, with alot of life and fiscal changes in the last year, i'm saving some pennies this year :) I'll keep an eye out though for any last minute deals if they pop up

I don't recall your exact tow vehicle, you have a lot more options than our puny Buick thus why we went a class C last year. A regular travel trailer is much less cost.
orlandosmoking rented a small unit from ? for a decent cost. Carla (and probably the boys) said no more sleeping in a tent.

 

[dougmays]

Just checking in, Folks! How are we looking?

Cooking competition....I wasn't there last year, but we had talked about choosing a meat genre (Beef, Pork, Chicken, etc...) instead of the traditional "rib cookoff". How do we feel about this year's comp? Do we want to stick with a Rib Cook off? Pork Cook off? Open for thoughts/ideas?

i'm counting down the days, cannot wait till this year!

 

[JckDanls 07]

Yup... More than ready here... While we're both feeling pretty well at the momment...

I also have some freinds , Drew and family and they have been to Sebring before, They have a site over on the waterside but will have the golf cart to run back and forth...

 

[JckDanls 07]

OK.. Our grandaughter (Katie) and fiancé are in site 15 .. Robbie (grandson) and family are coming too... Not sure if they reserved yet... But I see sites 16 and 17 are booked so one of those might be him...

 

[JckDanls 07]

And more... Robby (grandson) and family will be in 16.. I know I mentioned above that Drew (family friend) and family was going to be over by the water... But he has changed and will be in 17 ...

The numbers are getting up there to be another big success... Those of you hesitant and worried about meeting complete strangers... Rest assured that all are welcomed and invited in with open arms... We are all family here at SMF.. .BUT... Even more so at these Gatherings throughout the country...

 

[dougmays]

And more... Robby (grandson) and family will be in 16.. I know I mentioned above that Drew (family friend) and family was going to be over by the water... But he has changed and will be in 17 ...

The numbers are getting up there to be another big success... Those of you hesitant and worried about meeting complete strangers... Rest assured that all are welcomed and invited in with open arms... We are all family here at SMF.. .BUT... Even more so at these Gatherings throughout the country...

The group is growing, awesome!

 

[JckDanls 07]

carol506 , pineywoods and any others that were wondering about hotel/motels... There are 2 or 3 in Bowling Green which is only a 15 minute ride from the park...

So those of you holding out because we thought no rooms were close... You can change your mind now and attend..

 

[Fueling Around]

Who all is interested in a sourdough learning experience?
I'm thinking to make a number of starters to pass out and a boule if my rented RV oven is large enough for the dutch oven.

 

[dougmays]

Who all is interested in a sourdough learning experience?
I'm thinking to make a number of starters to pass out and a boule if my rented RV oven is large enough for the dutch oven.

I would like to learn as well as my girlfriend. We talked about making our own bread recently. Let me know if i can help contribute :)

Good news Keith about the local hotels for anyone not able to stay on site!

 

[JckDanls 07]

I'm in on the sour dough... I have my dry starter from Rick and still haven't tried to get it going as I am unsure of the process...

 

[Fueling Around]

I would like to learn as well as my girlfriend. We talked about making our own bread recently. Let me know if i can help contribute :)
...

I'm in on the sour dough... I have my dry starter from Rick and still haven't tried to get it going as I am unsure of the process...

You reminded that Darcy & Bill will be there, too. I believe their RV oven is large enough for a dutch oven to make a boule.
I'm no where the skill of Rick BGKYSmoker , but I can you started on the basics.

I'll make it easier to get started by providing a live starter and we will go through the feeding and discard process. I make most of my sourdough these days using discard and yeast similar to Rich chopsaw . Not a true sourdough, but if you abuse the culture and get a lot of hooch (sour liquid) it adds a nice flavor with the speed and convenience of using baker's yeast.
I can even make up packs of baker's yeast. I purchase it in 2# packs that last me for years.

Hopefully, I remember all this in a few months.

 

[dougmays]

I'm sure Bill and Darcy would have no problem lending their oven. I'll ask them tonight to confirm