Free at Last

Our little mouse friend almost lost it last night after his long, well fed, trip south.  Brought out the big guns - traps!!!  There was a snap last night in the cupboard above my head along with frantic squeaks!!!  It was extremely upsetting.  Neither Said nor I had the courage to open the cupboard and get it out.  He thrashed around all night and in the morning, Said finally rescued him.  The trap got the mouse across the back and he survived.  He's now living freely just west of St Augustine, FL.  Not bad for a Michigan mouse.   Whew, glad that's over.

Extra post today

Larry was telling us about the new ants invading Florida that are driving out the fire ants.  Well, they are called crazy ants or white footed ants and are a huge problem.  They've infected 90% of Florida counties.  Google them and you'll get freaked out - like me!!!  If they are in my campground, I'll be going to Texas or Arizona or wherever.  There were rings of dead ants around the bases of the trees on Larry's 10 acre forest.   EEEEEEEEE - YUCKIE!!!!

The good and the bad!

As with all things in life, today is a bit of the good and the bad.  We're outside St Augustine at a campground just off I95.  We're next to a little pond all by ourselves cuz we can use 110 and got a tenting spot.  Yippee!  Very nice.  The weather is awesomely body compatable.  Love it.  Well - a couple of mosquitoes nibbled on my ankles and our mouse is still with us.  Got the big guns out today. No, that little plug in thing doesn't work.  Dryer sheets are totally useless - he tore up some paper towel right next to it.  We have TRAPS!!  Brutal, disgusting, cruel traps!!!  And - I'm deleriouslly happy.  Tonight - he dies!!!

Forgot to take pictures of the ocean.  It had surfers and big waves.  It's really a beautiful thing. It appears to be foamier than our fresh water.  It is really awesome.  

Spring Hill with Larry and Edie

Staying a couple of night with Larry and Edie, ex Rialta people.  Now have a Via - bigger and better than our little moho.  Lots of interesting stories and new ideas, good food, beautiful 10 acres of Florida forest for us to experience.  

  Visited a fruit orchard to pick an orange, but the season was over so I enjoyed the lemon trees instead.  Lemon blossoms smell just like trailing arbutus in Michigan.  Heavenly like Jasmine.

Making progress

Our local Sopchoppy mechanic diagnosed our water problem.  He checked the bottom of the moho and said there was nothing he could see that would allow water in.  Then he checked the passenger rear wheel well and it has rusted through in several places.  He jury rigged up something with patching, foam, black tarry paint, ect.  He said he wasn't making any promises and charged us $44.  He wants to know if it solved the problem.  I'll get it done right when I get home.  Love these small "old Florida" towns.

It's been dreary and chilly and just plain yucky.  However, it's not freezing and snowing and slippery and I really am thankful.  Just wondering if there really is a sun.

Winter Trip South 2013

Such a crappy trip south!!!!  Woke up on Friday, 12/20, to a quarter inch of ice on the moho.  Couldn't even walk on the slippery slope of a drive way.  Said had to finish loading and I struggled to keep my footing just to get inside to start the motor.  After lots of chipping and hacking, we started out on the well salted streets and highways. Things went well til we hit Indiana and had dense fog which slowed us down.  We spent the first night at a Cracker Barrel just south of Indianapolis.  After that it was three days of intense rain.  I mean INTENSE!!!  Slowing down to 35 on a 70 mph highway is not my favorite way to travel.  However, we enjoyed the slowly developing green grass and raising temps.  I do like above freezing temps.

We have a terrible leak from underneath.  The floor in front of the fridge was a pool of water.  Have to get that fixed.

We arrived at our destination, Ochlochonee State Park, and were warmly welcomed by our ranger friends, Jason and Robert.  What a wonderful place.  30 sites and forests and rivers and deer and . .  . Everything was fine until tucker nipped a kid.  CRAP!!!  I told Jason I was not comfortable being the host because KT doesn't like strange men carrying stuff and running kids.  I'll be staying at the ranger/volunteer compound which is a beautiful area, too.  I'm the only volunteer so I may get lonesome, but I will still be working in the campground so I'll still have contract with the campers.

King Tucker surely has changed our lives.  Seems like a lot of bad, but the good still wins out.  He's our sweet, wonderful dog and we'll just keep working with him.

Merry Christmas world!  Love to all.

Last night at Little River

  

Spent Saturday night at the Little River Casino. Won lost won lost etc. beautiful night with fun and good pizza. Arrived home in the afternoon. Tired and ready for a nap. 

Great vacation getting to know new places in our beautiful state and getting to know our new dog. He's a really great dog. Love him a lot already. Still miss my Sulty an awful lot, but KT is helping me heal. 

Enjoyed the state parks

King Tucker enjoying the wind in the trees. 

Harrisville State Park,  north of Tawas was a really beautiful area. Right on the water with lots of old growth trees. It's one of our first state parks. 

Back to St Ignace

Stayed in the Straits SP same site - 18A -  with the outstanding view of the bridge. It's such a beautiful spot. 

Staying in another SP tonight at Harrisville. We're one site away from Lake Huron - love the sound of the waves. The forest is dense and lush. Lots of shapely cedars. Don't even need a sweatshirt tonight. Perfect spot. 

Soo Locks

Terrific campground right on the St Mary's River watching the various vessels going by. My Marine Traffic iPhone ap is really an added benefit with all the details of each ship/boat. 

Watched boats going through the locks. Way interesting. One was a thousand footer - huge and fascinating. It really filled the lock. 

Another night at the Soo

Drove into Canada to Pancake Bay Provincial Park for a couple of nights. Well, at $50 per night I don't think so.  Returned to the Soo Campground and had a perfect night - until - I left the Mohos door open and King mauled our marinating rib eye steak. Oh dear! 

Soo Locks

Good morning world

I just can't get enough of the bridge view.  Sitting at my table, looking out the window - this is my breakfast view. 

2013 Northern Trip

First night was spent at Little River Casino.  Fun and peaceful sleeping   

Second night was at Mill Creek near Mackinaw City. Beautiful secluded site on the water with the Grand Hotel on the island in our view.  

Third and fourth nights (Sun and Mon) at the Straits State Park. Another secluded site on the water with the bridge viewed from our bed. Peaceful and relaxing. I always enjoy the history of this area. Just envision vouyagers and sailing ships and Frenchmen, British, and American explorers, settlers, and soldiers.  What a place!!!

Farewell sweet dog

Such a sweet, gentle soul. Always the gentleman. Shared kisses with a few special people - except me.  Traveled more miles than most people. East coast, west coast - many times to the San Juan's in Washington state - Alaska and has many friends in ochlochnee state park in Florida.  He was one of my best friends, along side Said and Ann. I miss him way too much and my heart is broken. 

Anniversary #25

Today!!! One of my better decisions was made 25 years ago in Cairo, Egypt. I married a very fine, loving person who has made me very happy. I thought I was nuts at the time - I was - but I was crazy in love with the guy and knew I just had to do it. I am so glad I did. My life has never been better.

Home

Great night at Potato Creek SP. Good quiet sleeping kind of place. Especially when there are only two campers - me and someone in a tent. OMG. That had to be nasty cold. The weather was 22 breezy degrees. My hands were almost frost bitten while disconnecting the electricity. There were only a couple of snowflakes, so I decided to head home. Smooth sailing all the way. Just bitter cold.

There was no snow until I reached Grand Haven and just got worse as I reached Muskegon. The ground is covered and Muskegon Lake is still frozen and I am cranky as hell. I really can't get warm. My feet are frozen.

Oh well, it's the first day of spring so it's only a matter of time til things warm up.

Last night out

I am so happy!!!! After traveling through Indiana for my whole life, I never visited one of their state parks. Now I find out that they are open for camping year round and they are outstandingly beautiful even without green leaves. All that long last day drive from Tennessee and Kentucky was unnecessary all those previous years. I'm staying at Potato Creek SP near south bend. Just a short distance home. Of course, last night and tonight I'm the only one in the park. I love it. (Cold as h---). I even had a pizza delivered - first one in 3.5 months.

I almost stayed in a motel. Yuck!!! That was the last thing I wanted to do. I do love my cozy little moho. I have everything I need right here - except husband, family, friends, etc. I always wonder how often they wash the blankets and bedspreads in those places. Do they really sanitize the bathrooms? You know I'm not fussy about much, but those places just gross me out.

I'll be home tomorrow if the snow and ice aren't too bad. I don't drive on slippery stuff. We'll see.

Elkmont/Great Smoky NP

Such peace, beauty, tall trees, stream/river rushing by. Picture below is from our campsite Such music to sleep with. Two days weren't enough, but Sulty was feeling very poorly the first day so I felt like I needed to get him back to Said. Now there's a bad storm so we're in limbo for a couple of days. There aren't any campgrounds open from Indiana north, so we will stay at a motel for a couple of nights. Yup, I ain't gonna like it, but I'll do it.

Tonight we're staying at a state park in Indiana called Versailles SP. it's really a beautiful park. I've stayed here before on my way home. The river that runs through the park is screaming flooded. It is an awesome sight!!! A little scary!!
39° 4' 44" N 85° 13' 49" W

Best spot ever

In between Maggie Valley and waynesville, North Carolina, nestled in the mountains. It's way pretty. Wish there was some green to be seen. I have wifi and lots of cable channels. Kind of civilized camping for me. The best part is, I'm the only camper here- besides the hosts. The pictures are the view in front and in back of my Moho. Really a great spot.

Last night my hose froze no damage, but there could have been. I filled my water tank and disconnected the hose.

35° 33' 34" N 83° 2' 7" W

An even better spot

Tallulah Gorge State Park. Stunning gorge in the foothills of the Appalachian mts. No cable at this park. I'm fine with that. At least I can get the net here. My post last night couldn't be published til today for lack of access. Now is when Netflix comes into use. Only about 8 other campers here. Two of them are spring break frozen tenters. Yes - I used to come here for spring break in my tent and froze my butt off. Times have changed for me. I do love my little moho. One makes changes in their lifestyle as they mature.

No pictures today. I'm heading into non-spring areas. There are daffodils, but when one is wearing their down vest, the beauty of the flowers doesn't have a lot of significance. I sure hope it warms up - like NOW!!!!

Onward to Cherokee tomorrow to gamble my brains out - oh - and to get into my Appalachian mode. I just love the area - it's history, it's people, the mountains - the whole thing is so interesting. If it warms up ill spend a couple of days in the area. I've been coming here for about 30 years and can't wait to return.

Another quiet night in the wilderness. One of my favorite things.

Much better spot

I've decided I just hate Rv parks that aren't state parks. I don't care about cable and wifi. When I go camping, I'm there to camp in different environments. I watch very little tv and I have the internet on my phone. I want mountains, rivers, oceans, wilderness full of wild animals, and my campfire. I don't like my neighbor so close - kind of like getting a slip when you're cruising. No privacy.

I'm at Little Ocmulgee sp. it's near McCea, Georgia. We didn't go far today. Just taking it easy and enjoying stuff.

Had lunch at Cracker Barrel - roast beef dinner. Oh my. Yum!

Not my favorite day!

Left my park this am with mixed feelings. It's such a beautiful, peaceful place. I really enjoyed my time there. I felt I was doing something!!! I realize that cleaning campsites and bathrooms lacks romanticism, but I was doing something useful. I think I've gotten tired of the read, eat, drink, sitting type of life. Well, at least for 2 months of the year.

I'm in a campground in valdosta, georgia, right next to I75. It is so dreadfully miserable. The wifi is useless. There are pickers on the grass - poor Sulty. I could go on . . . . And I'm paying $29 for it. OMG. The state parks were full. Valdosta Oaks - sounds nice, eh? Where are the f------ oak trees? There isn't a tree on the whole place. Okay - I'd better just shut up about it.

There is a bilboard in the picture advertising strippers. Crap!!!!

Bears in the campground.

Spotted this torn up tree along a well used trail about 20 feet from a tent camper - right in the campground. I told the park manager and he told me not to worry. These little black bears don't bother people at all. Very people shy. The biggest problem is they keep getting hit by cars. Weird!!!

Had dinner at a Mexican restaurant complete with terrific trio of musicians/singers. It was way, way fun. Went with the other volunteer couple and park ranger and his wife. Fun night.

Who are these people

Boy, that was a long time ago. Was I ever that young? Said looks the same. He never looks older, just gets better looking as he ages. Best part is, he's so darn nice!! Lucky me!!!!

Decisions

I made my decision to leave tuesday, 3/12. The week days are usually quiet so the host won't be doing much - especially when they won't be here til 3/15. I'm feeling really sad leaving cuz I really love this beautiful park. However, I've really become quite homesick. I've been gone 3 months and I want to go home. I just hope the weather will cooperate. I want my husband and my house and my family and . . . all of it.

Gosh - wont have to worry about snakes and bathrooms and campsites and noisy campers and . . .

Another beautiful night

It's 69 degrees and I'm one of the few people outside enjoying a campfire with the associated critter and wind noises. Some things are changing in the campgrounds. People are sitting inside their cozy rvs watching tv. Even some tent campers are inside. It's 7:30, warm, peacefully quiet except for frogs chirping. I'm wondering why these people are here in this fabulous wilderness watching tv. I guess some do it because they have their own "house" as opposed to a motel and restaurants. Not at all like it was several years ago.

Guess I'm getting old and closed minded.

View from my back window

Looks like I'll be staying for another week or two. It's nasty weather in MI and my relief volunteers won't be here til the 15th. If I come home and there is snow and ice - I get cranky. It's better for my husband, family, and friends in Muskegon if I stay a bit longer. I'm one of those people who doesn't keep her crankiness inside. If I'm cranky, the world around me suffers!!!!

We are having the same cold air as the northern states. The next 2 mornings it will be below freezing. Yup - I'm cranky!!

Such a cutie

I really don't want to bore people with my family pictures, but this is really just a dang cute baby picture. She has four teeth and such a cutie she just makes me smile. Sweet Samantha. She's my second great-granddaughter.

Oh my!!!!!!!!!!!

This "little" guy/girl was occupying site 16 this morning without paying. I decided it could do whatever it wanted and just took the picture from my cart at a great distance and quietly drove away.

We've had a great deal of rain for 6 days with the resultant flooding moving snakes to higher ground. The rangers said to expect some snake issues. Oh goody! I guess the skinny ones - like my snake are harmless. The shorter, fatter ones are the bad ones. We have 3 kinds of poisonous snakes in this area. Oh goody!!!!

Said left at 3 am for his 5:45 flight. Nasty weather - rain and 70-80 mph winds - forced an 8am flight & a new itinerary. The special joys of weather and flying.

Easy Life?

Looks like it doesn't it? Well, at the moment, it was. However, Said's five days were composed of rain, moping the campground bathroom, rain, shoveling ashes from campfires, rain, picking up litter, rain, raking campsites into orderly spots, rain, rain, etc. However, he loved it. You know the man, he loves to keep busy. We had some down time and cooked hotdogs over the fire a couple of times, ate some great seafood dinners in great restaurants, enjoyed some rainy days at the beach, walked the dog a hundred twenty times, etc. It's been great. His flight leaves at 5:47 tomorrow morning and he arrives in chilly Muskegon at 12:30 or so.

I have no idea what I'll be doing after the 28th. I may stay and work at the park for a bit or I may go to pretty places. I'll know when it happens. That's why I enjoy myself so much. I'm always full of surprises - especially for me.

I've not done my blog for a week because I've been busy with Said. Take that comment any way you want to!!!! Even then, you won't be close to how great it was to have him here sharing my weird way of life.

Valentine's Day without my Valentine

Well, he'll be here with Sulty and I a week from today.

Great dinner with the other Valentine couples. Jason, a park ranger, his wife Tiffany, who is a ranger at st George sp, and Dana and Brenda, a volunteer couple here at ochlochnee. Dana took us all to dinner as a gift to his wife. That was such a really nice gift for her. Very original thinking on Dana' s part. I just loved my time with them. We laughed a lot. My kind of fun.

I'm beginning to think of Said and our home. I love our house and my Muskegon family and friends. However, Sulty and I really need warmth for our bodies. I really don't want to deal with snow and ice. I want to sit on my deck with a beverage in the sunshine and a book and look at the lake between pages. I want to go sailing in the warm sun with a comfortable breeze. I want my shower and my kiln and my little car and my bed and my comfy chair by the fireplace and my Dish tv channels and . . . . Guess I'm getting homesick. One can have the simple life for just so long - then I want my luxurious life back.

Happy news

Yes, I have been literally working my butt off. My brand new jeans are a comfortable size smaller. All that physical work is a lot more fun than just exercising. Who would have thought it of me - even I'm shocked at myself. However, I haven't made a serious career change to cleaning bathrooms and campsites. I'll find something different. Maybe digging ditches or building bridges or . . . .

I keep getting adopted by other campers because I'm by myself and am so cute and charming (chuckle). Last week it was a great steak dinner with some charming and entertaining folks. The steak was awesome until I asked them where they found such great meat around here. Walmart was their answer. Hey it was good. (Yuck) Tonight I was brought a Spanish dinner with some kind of cooked plantains. The mixture contained ground beef, peppers of some kind, capers, green olives, raisins, tomatoes, and some other stuff. They are emailing me the recipe. It was out of this world. Who would have thought, out in redneck wilderness in the FL panhandle, I would be eating Spanish food - not Mexican - Spanish. Sulty loved the plantains. Funny boy.

Pictures: Fog on the Ochlocknee
Spring is here - white violet

Weird birds - guess I'm the weird one

I have peterson's bird ap on my iPhone. I was playing the towhee call and a towhe kept flying real close. I felt like he was a bit aggressive. I stopped the towhee song. I played the cardinal song cuz there are a zillion cardinals here. The towhee kept flying too close. I quit - dang bird won.

I feel real tired after finishing my work today. Guess ill just sit in the sun a while and do nothing.

Heres a picture of my dream boat. Way cute little thing.

Interesting day

Two of the rangers have beehives for honey. One of the hive's bees were "swarming". That means they left the hive and are flying around in a small black cloud. Grrrrrross! The have settled on a tree and the guys have suited up and are going to either shake them out or smoke them out. Pretty scary either way. I left - just couldn't watch!!! Here is a picture is the swarm in the tree.

Somehow they got the queen to go into the box - set the box at the foot of the tree and the bees are all flying to the box. Now Jason has two hives.

How interesting.

a day in my life hosting! (boring).

I am obligated to work 20 hours a week - at my leisure = my hosting activities count toward that.

Breakfast about 8:30 or 9:00 am Sometimes earlier - depending on whatever.

Drive my little Gem hot rod to the rangers' office to pick up the list of reservations and departures. Take Sulty with me to change the little signs by sites that have something happening. There are 30 sites. Sulty waits outside for me while I check toilet paper and the immediate need of bathrooms.

Drive my cart around to the departure sites and check for litter - maybe shovel ashes out of the fire pit - rake around the firepit.

Go back to campsite and have a Diet Coke and maybe a little lunch.

12 noon - clean bathrooms (I know, I know, my friends and family will find this extremely hard to believe, but, remember, I get free camping for 20 hours a week's work). Wipe down all areas with a soapy sanitizer concoction, showers, sinks, toilets. Mop floors with a bleach/soap mixture. Hey - don't laugh - I do a heck of a job and get tons of compliments.

There are other jobs to do if I have leftover time. Mostly I like to ride my little Gem-mobile along the river and on the scenic drive and assorted trails looking for litter. I can work at my own pace and rest when I get tired.

Actually - I love it!!! I have Tues and Wed off. Tues I just vegetate and Wed I drive to Crawfordville and get supples and go someplace pretty for a hike with Sulty. There are great beaches and trails all over the place.

Not a bad life!!!!

New friend lost

My new dear friends, Ella and JB, left for another park today. I have only known Ella for a month but it seems like forever. Some of you remember my friend Ellen - well, Ella was very similar to Ellen in many ways. I miss both of them. It's not often that I find people that I connect to with such depth. Sad.

It's my moms birthday today. I miss her so much.

Okay, enough sad stuff. How about a pretty spring flower or two. It is spring in the panhandle.

Wild dog

Sulty ran like crazy tonight!!! It was nuts!! I got kind of scared. He ran more than he did last year at this time!!! Last year, he felt very weak. This year he is much stronger. I hope it's not a last gasp for life

It's so hard when you are dealing with an elderly person or a pet. You watch them with microscopic eyes analyzing their every move. Sheeze - I need a life.