Relaxing at Lake Kissimmee State Park

One of our go to campgrounds when we just want to get away from the house and do nothing for a few days. The campground is a little west of Lake Wales, just down the road from our house and its best feature: QUIET

There is a lot to do here, though. There are 13 miles of easy to moderate hiking trails, plenty of hardtop for bicycling, a marina and boat launch, an observation tower, and a nice picnic and playground area. And, deer. Plenty of deer to see. 

T

It rained just before we got to our site, #35, but as we checked in it stopped long enough to get backed in and set up. Then the deluge returned. This site is one we frequent as it is level, mostly shaded no matter what the season and it perks well. The standing water was gone in about 30 minutes. The sites here are all back in, level, limestone mix, and shaded to partly shaded. All have 30/20 amps electric, and water.

 

The are two paved loops and no overhangs so they

are easy maneuvering for larger vehicles. There are a few

sites that can handle 43' Class As plus vehicle.

 

 

Glamping at Lake Kissimmee SP

Two tents have been added to the park. One in each loop. If 

you have to say you went tenting this is the way to do it.

 

 In riding around the area we noticed the channel

down a bit. It's been a dry summer this year. Didn't see any wildlife this trip. Unusual. Usually we see a lot of deer and tortoises.

 

 

 

 So being a lazy week we did a lot of cooking and eating,

 

 

 

gazing at the trees overhead,

 

 

 

 

 

And studying dead tree and branch formations.

 

 

 

 

But, one event kept my interest while sitting near the campfire pit.

I noticed these sticks stuck to the bottom of the bench.

 

 

 Looking underneath they were stuck in a hole drilled in the wood.

 

 

Constructed by 2 Black Wasps. Apparently the glue that bonds all these sticks is formed from the wet embers in the fire pit as the wasps would bring a stick and go to the pit and return and pack whatever it picked up into the hole and go get another stick and put it in the hole. This process lasted the whole day. At dusk it stopped. The next day there was no activity. The following morning I went to the bench and all was gone. 

Not a trace in the hole, not a stick on the ground. After all that work. 

 

I guess the female Black Wasp didn't like it.

For us, it was time to pack up, go home and plan for the next adventure.