Hike Bike Paddle Camp Florida with authors Sandra Friend and John Keatley as your guides

Prepping Primrose for the Panhandle

April 5, 2013    John Keatley

After careful examination of the tires on our VW camper, I decided that a nearly 1,000-mile trip to attend the Panhandle Trace Hike wouldn’t be a smart or safe thing to do. Remember what I wrote earlier about traveling in a thirty-year-old VW camper having its moments of frustration? Online, I found out more about …

On the 2013 Panhandle Trace Hike

April 4, 2013    Sandra Friend

It was a delight this year – Peggy Grantham’s last as hike leader – to join the Panhandle Trace and get to know the far northern reaches of the Florida Trail. It’s been 11 years since I hiked through Blackwater River State Forest and while some things remain the same, others certainly have changed. I …

Westy Rambles West

April 1, 2013    Sandra Friend

We’re in the thick of our third road trip with Primrose, our 82 Westy, this time hiking the trails of Florida’s Panhandle. It’s a good bit different than home: hilly!

Camp WhereUWanna

March 26, 2013    John Keatley

With our second adventure in our VW camper, Primrose, behind us, it’s good to be home. Before the trip I had a good friend “freshen up” some of the 30-year-old systems on Primrose.  I’ve read too many stories, and have had a close friend lose his camper because of old fuel lines letting go.  Seeing …

A Twisted Valentine Tale

February 27, 2013    John Keatley

A planned Valentines Day hike on the Florida Trail morphs into something completely different as a chain of coincidences fall into place.

Off-roading, Westy-style

February 20, 2013    John Keatley

It’s one bumpy ride as we tunnel our way through the Big Scrub of the Ocala National Forest with Primrose, our brand new vintage Westy, on a jeep road.

Home Sweet Camper

February 14, 2013    John Keatley

What’s an upgrade from tent camping when you’re hiking? A camper van! JK’s history with VW camper vans led us to a Westphalia of our own to use as our base camp.

Hiking can wait

January 31, 2013    John Keatley

Leaving the Florida Trail to chase down a lead on a new antique VW Westfalia camper, JK discovers it’s well worth the detour – and brings it home to support future hiking trips.