Peace River Preserve Thousand Trails Campground

<script async src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js"></script>
<script>
  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({
    google_ad_client: "ca-pub-9021670957502146",
    enable_page_level_ads: true
  });
</script>

We were ready to leave Dupuis early in the morning but then the "guys" came over and started to once more test our battery and its output. With all the talk going on we ended up leaving past lunch time. I was hungry and thirsty. The outcome was that our battery is good but seems to deplete fairly fast due to our refrigerator. So we left with the knowledge that we might not have to replace our trailer's battery but should have a way to keep it charged either by solar or generator.

Generators are very expensive (for quiet ones) and need maintenance (which we're not very good at) so we're looking at solar panels quite seriously.

We arrived at Peace River Preserve late in the day. We were told to look around but to omit lane B as a motorhome had burned down the previous week and there were big trucks getting it out of its site blocking the street. After looking we tried our luck at backing up the trailer into a weird spot with trees and roots. The site turned out to be so badly leveled that we gave up on it. I also hit a tree which dented the rear bumper and later prevented us from getting one of our sewer hoses out (we store them in the hollow bumper for travel). So we ended up having to go to Walmart to go buy another one (turns out this new one was cheaper and is of much better quality than what we originally bought).

So this guy came over to help us. Now I had two guys telling me which way to turn but using two different languages. One would tell me which way to send the rear of the RV and the other one was telling me which way to turn my steering wheel. We finally got it done and we actually like this site as it is perfectly level and on a corner so we don't have any RVs on one side - we overlook the mini golf.

BUT, the sites are small and on the side of our door and awning - where we sit outside - all we see are RV's. First time we're so crunched in. So our first impression was not very good. Turns out it's quiet and quite nice. The pool is warm but the hot tub is not heated right now as the pool heater is broken. The laundry room is nice with machines that you can pay for with a credit card. So convenient! And cheap too compared to the Orlando campground where a wash and dry was double the price. The free internet at the community center is excellent. I even watched a Netflix movie and the hanging rocking wooden benches that line the verandas are so comfortable.

There is a trail that starts at the back of the mini putt and it goes along the Peace River. A lot of people are scraping the bottom of the bottom river to find artifacts - shark teeth and fossils that can be very old as they are from a time when the whole area was covered by the sea (4,000 years ago?). One of our neighbors dug some up to show the first graders that he teaches back home. The river is host to some alligators but they are too small to be of any concern for humans but could decide that a small child or a pet would be good for lunch. Proceed with caution! The first few days we were a bit disappointed as the river didn't seem to attract wildlife. But then we started to see some Ibises, one alligator that favors one area in particular, a Little Blue Heron, a Kingfisher. So our walk along the river became more interesting. We even brought chairs to sit by the river and just watch. When kayakers or canoeists get too close to the alligator, he slips into the water and it can take a long time for him to resurface.

We were here through Christmas and New Year. Hard to get into the Holiday spirit with no snow or family around. The highlight of my Christmas day was Skyping with my son and his wonderful little family. I loved being able to see my grandchildren and hear their voices but our internet got weird and we had to cut it short and continue just on the phone - which was fine too as I love talking with my son. Glen also called his family who were gathered at his sister's place and talked to his sister and his son. We were sad not to be with them but one can't have it all! Jason was telling me that one of his colleague's parents do the same thing as us which made me feel a little better and not such a bad mother for not being close by for 6 months.

There are cabins to be rented also. Although, again, it's not the best set-up we've seen (the best so far for cabins was at Chesapeake Bay) there are a few that have their porch towards nature. And each porch has a hanging swinging bench!

Even though Peace River is not our most favorite campground it was still pretty good and the people around us were all very nice and friendly. We will be coming back here in 2 weeks as it was the only place available for that time.

News break - we discovered another nice trail that is more jungle like but sadly is not close to the river. It's a nice change of scenery and it's in the shade. We're waiting with anticipation to get our 100 W solar panel that we ordered from Amazon. Should arrived tomorrow. We'll tell you all about it during our week at Dupuis Equestrian Centre Campground next week where we'll be testing it out.