Kingsley Lake – Pt. 2

We had a great time at Kingsley Lake yesterday, even though the sandy beach I think I remember is either no longer there or off-limits to those entering through Camp Blanding.

Camp Blanding is an interesting experience all by itself.  The main gate is surrounded by various military vehicles on display as part of the Camp Blanding World War II Museum.  The Museum, by the way, is open to the public, and we’ll go back someday to take a look at that.  It’s just the base itself that you cannot enter without special permission.

And they mean it!

There was a slight mx-up over the guest list, and we were not allowed to enter until it was resolved.  They got it figured out, however, and we proceeded to drive through the base to the RV park where active and retired members of the military are permitted to camp.

Standard base housing and office buildings.  Straight lines of military precision.

And, then, oddball speed limit signs randomly changing within feet from 15 mph to 30 mph and back again  for no apparent reason.  I don’t know what that’s about.

The RV hookups are right on the edge of the lake, beautifully maintained, each with a grill and a picnic table.  There is a carpet of pine needles down to the reeds and a lot of recreational watercraft moored just off shore.

It seems that there is more boating and jet ski-ing than swimming , although we did see a few people in the water.  We didn’t take a dip ourselves because of an impending thunderstorm.

It’s a beautiful spot, but without the beach, it rang no bells in my memory at all.

We’ll have to plan a trip to Goldhead and see if any vestiges of past glories remain there.  Meanwhile, my lost youth remains lost.