Kitetour from Germany to Florida-SE, in March 2010

[motzi]

Hello,

We come from Germany (Berlin) and want to make a tour in March with a
campers to kiting through Florida. :D :D
Although often in America we have any questions :rolleyes: since we never were on the road with a motorhome.

Can I anywhere stand with the camper, or is it absolutely to use campgrounds?

Clearly, the state parks already have their charm, but I want to be independent. :rolleyes:
What about in March? Do I have to pre book the campsites in the state park? Or is there enough place at this time?

There are some beaches where one night with the campers stop and can drink a beer with other riders after session?

I hope you can help me and we get to know us in March in Florida. :D

So long! Carsten

[ricki]

Hello Carsten,

For much of the southern part of Florida, you need to stay overnight in a campground to avoid problems. The state parks in the Keys are in heavy demand with bookings out a year not being that uncommon. You may or may not be able to get into State Park campgrounds on the mainland. You can trying getting in touch with them and see if you can find a space. The good news is there are quite a few private campgrounds throughout the Mainland and Keys. Some links to them and other useful info appears in the Florida Kiting Guide at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=2278 (there are other posts in that section that may be helpful to visiting kiters, http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=89).

Have a good trip. March is usually a good wind month here.

[motzi]

Hi Rick,

shame, this is exactly what I didn´t want to hear :rolleyes:

I love to go on Friday after work with my van to the Baltic Sea. Somewhere on the spot at the parking lot or directly to the meadow to spend my weekend. Usually, we arrange to meet in advance of the forum to build a trench on the sea, chillout, hear music, talk and drink a beer together ;)
Of course, new people are always welcome - this is surf-feeling made in Germany :cool:

And this is precisely a no go in "the land of opportunity" :confused:

Anyway thanks for the kind of information :)

So long! Carsten

[ricki]

Hello Carsten,

I can relate, having experiences related to parking in parts of Switzerland in the Alps at resorts or even in some major cities in Europe. I believe it comes down to limited area and diverse use that needs to be satisfied. That is certainly what applies here. Considering in SE Florida you're talking about over 5 million people largely within 8 miles of the ocean over three counties. That amounts to considerable density perhaps ten times that of Germany with limited public access and parking to ocean areas. Then add in many decades of intense tourism (many millions) over the same area. More people but the land stays the same, in fact it shrinks. Fifty year ago you might have been able to just park your caravan for the night on the beach in densely populated SE Florida, say Ft. Lauderdale, but not since. You can still do this in parts of northern Florida however usually where population density is quite low. As far as having a drink with friends after a session on or near the beach, that is quite common. It seems to happen all over. Just not camping over night, at least outside campgrounds. The very reason this practice no longer exists in rapidly growing SE Florida is because it is the land of opportunity. So it goes.

It isn't that bad when you check it out. Lots of pluses, some minuses, just like many places.

[greg meintjes]

There is a great campground called Jabours just outside Key West, if you get down here look us up , we will be happy to kite and share beers with you.

Greg

http://www.keywestkiteboarding.com/

[motzi]

Hi Rick,

okay, I understand ;) a little bit away from the towns and beaches so is also okay?
We'll see if we incorporate the NE which even in our travel plans. What is there really with the wind in March?

Can I in "pinch" use the parking lot of the shopping mall for a night?

There is a great campground called Jabours just outside Key West, if you get down here look us up , we will be happy to kite and share beers with you.

Greg

http://www.keywestkiteboarding.com/
Then I know definitely where I'm going at KW to the campground :)
I'm just views the website and would like to join a nice boat ride with you. Can you send me the exact address or can I see it from the road? Do I have to pre book here, or is there enough space?

So long! Carsten

[ricki]

Hello Carsten,

I haven't really used a camper down here and can only comment on what I've seen. You might get away in a shopping mall parking lot or you might get rousted by the police in the middle of the night. I imagine enforcement varies, there really are a lot of campgrounds. There will be some demand as you will be traveling during spring break and the campgrounds are also popular with the college kids. Others have input on this in SE Florida?

The websites for both public and private camp grounds appear in the link I posted about this at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=2278 (there are other posts in that section that may be helpful to visiting kiters, http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=89).

[b-rad]

check out coconutcoveresort.net in Islamorada and see what they can do...

we might be able to find a parking spot for you...

[greg meintjes]

Hi Carsten, how long you are planning on camping in Key West will depend on if you will have to pre book, The boat leaves from Hurricane hole marina at the entrance to Key West, it is on the highway, just give me a few days notice and I will get you out. How many are coming down?

Greg

[motzi]

Hi Folks,

Thank you once already. There are only two weeks :D
The last few weeks I´ve never came to planning our vacation. We had very good conditions for

snowkiting directly outside my door ;) Here are some pictures of views:

http://www.spotspy.net/imagealbum/index/type/user/id/240

Now the wind has exposed a little bit and I'll do my thoughts about the vacation to you.
And I rejoice also at higher temperatures ;)

What should I pack on kites and boards? :confused:
2 Boards 2 kites, or better 1 Board 3 kites (I have Kite 7; 10 and 14sm / Board 1,31 and 1,40m)
Neo 5mm or submit a shorty?
What size are you going in March?

So, at first we want to get the direction to the keys and then we will make another detour to the Gulf Coast and / or the Atlantic Ocean above Miami, dependend of the forcast ;)

Can anyone recommend a campsite south of Miami in direction off the Keys for the first 2 or 3 days?

@ Greg
we only come in one pair with one camper ;)


So long! Carsten

[greg meintjes]

Bring three kites one board, depending on what you weight,you need to decide which board, I use a 133 cm board 90% of the time.

Greg

[ricki]

I agree with what Greg said about kites and boards. Things should warm up some in March but I would still bring a full wetsuit based on current indications. As for camp grounds, I've not stayed in any out of the Keys and can't make recommendations. They are listed in the first stickie at:

http://fksa.org/forumdisplay.php?f=89

The second post also has some useful information.

Have a good trip!

[noel]

Hi Folks,

Thank you once already. There are only two weeks :D
The last few weeks I´ve never came to planning our vacation. We had very good conditions for

snowkiting directly outside my door ;) Here are some pictures of views:

http://www.spotspy.net/imagealbum/index/type/user/id/240

Now the wind has exposed a little bit and I'll do my thoughts about the vacation to you.
And I rejoice also at higher temperatures ;)

What should I pack on kites and boards? :confused:
2 Boards 2 kites, or better 1 Board 3 kites (I have Kite 7; 10 and 14sm / Board 1,31 and 1,40m)
Neo 5mm or submit a shorty?
What size are you going in March?

So, at first we want to get the direction to the keys and then we will make another detour to the Gulf Coast and / or the Atlantic Ocean above Miami, dependend of the forcast ;)

Can anyone recommend a campsite south of Miami in direction off the Keys for the first 2 or 3 days?

@ Greg
we only come in one pair with one camper ;)


So long! Carsten



Motzi,

I also agree with what Greg has said. It's been abit of an off year so bring the wetsuit. As for camping.

Fiesta Key Campgrounds is a KOA campground and closest to Islamorada.

Long Key State Park is awesome as you are camping and kiting right in front of your campsite.

There is a large campground in Marathon but most of the time is crowded and not very Keysy.

Bahia Honda State Park is one of Americas top 10 beaches and you can kite and camp there.

As for Coconut Cove Resort, don't bother unless you are tent camping. No hook-ups for your RV and it's tiny with no launches for kiting on the premises.

If you need anything at all while your here, give us a call at Otherside Boardsports in Islamorada and we'll send you in the right direction.

oTHErside Boardsports
www.othersideboardsports.com
Islamorada, Fl.
305.853.9728

[motzi]

30kn + great :) then I need my 7sm yet ;)
Wetsuit: I've almost thought of me - because of the massive winter on the East Coast :eek:

What is annoying me is the thing with the campgrounds, because I've got the picture of screaming children and their parents in my brain :rolleyes:
I would even be better at night somewhere on parking place and drive somewhere in the morning directly into a state park.
If neither of you has a front-yard where can I park at night? I will get also a box of beer ;)

So long! Carsten

[motzi]

Who really offers boat tours to Stitsville? Very happy as escorted downwinder from or to Stitsville :rolleyes:

[greg meintjes]

The houses in the Keys are pretty small and jammed together and most of them in Key West do not have driveways to park in, but depending on the size of your camper a lot of people with small campers just find a side street out of the way and park for the night and then move to a different spot the next night.

Greg

[motzi]

Greg, what does it mean big???

In Germany I would probably refer to the huge - but to call on you more likely to be small. :rolleyes: The size is 25ft or 7.6m (my van in Germany has less than 5m)
In Key West I´ve no problem to go on a campground - so I have some time to go for docking ;)
But on the way I want to go kiting wherever I find a fine spot and later to make overnight-parking. And I do´t need a pool or something like that ;)

[greg meintjes]

In Key West I think any campert over 22 ft is illegal to park on roadways and have to use campgrounds, remember you can always just say you are from Germany and did not know, just be considerate and I am sure you will get by, remember that lots of other campers and visitors do the same,so I do not think you will have problems.

Greg

[motzi]

That sounds even better to :rolleyes: I add me next to the other ;)

Greg-do you have an address for my navigation where I can meet you for a boattrip when we are in Key West?
Can you tell me, ar there any signs on the parking lot at the Overseas Highway to prohibit overnight parking :confused:

[greg meintjes]

Yes there are signs prohibiting parking along the highway, another thing is that there are not many places along the keys where you can just pull over and kite. We leave to go out kiting from Hurricane hole marina ,this is as you are about to enter Key West on the right of the road. You need to contact me about a week prior to arriving to reserve you spots on the boat, depending on weather etc I go out twice a day. Just to let you know we do not keep the boat at the marina, we use the marina as our meeting point.

Greg

[motzi]

It is really now so unrelaxed as you write, I'll probably never get to Key West. However, I have the keys but significantly different in my mind. And I know some very nice places for kiting on the road.

[greg meintjes]

well I wish you good luck and hope you have a great time and get good winds.

[motzi]

well I wish you good luck and hope you have a great time and get good winds.
Thank you very much,
maybe you´ve still a place on the boat for me if I go to Key West too without registration ;)

[motzi]

Seems so funny to begin :D ;) :D
On Tue W to NW winds for 7 sm, just where to start :confused:

@noel - do you have a place on your pontoon boat on Tuesday / Wednesday and a nice place for our RV for the first few days?

Or I'd better to go at first to Naples-Marco Island. :rolleyes:
But I want to drive at the first day on Monday not more than 100 miles from Miami :eek:

So long! Carsten

[noel]

Motzi,


Check your PM.

[damion_dark]

In the keys there is a park called LONG KEY STATE PARK. They charge 40$/night to camp with water and electricity but you can also camp out in an area on the beach without water and electricity and its only $8/day. I feel your pain. From West Palm Beach county to Key West everything is restricted heavily. There are curfews in effect. Camping on the beach is a definite police magnet. Its a shame but they don't allow that kind of stuff here. Now its becoming more common also that in order to just kitesurf you need to pay for certification.