Cute critter

During the night at Elkmont, we had a furry little visitor. Wasn't a raccoon, more like a woodchuck. Sooo cute. It played with Tucker's toy - rolled around with it - then found a piece of bark to play with. So cute. 

Elkmont

One of my favorite campgrounds. Stream right in back of us, roaring with swirling waters. 

King Tucker was so happy - us too. 

The group next to us was about 10 Pakistani and Indian students - guess they forgot their countries are perpetually at war - from a Texas university.  They are graduating this spring from the school of engineering. Yup, a couple of beers and they were wading out to rocks in the ice cold mountain stream. We laughed so dang hard at them.  They really had a wildly, fun time. 

It was a memorable stay. The weather was perfect and so were the steaks we cooked over the fire. Perfect. 

Handsome Honeys

Two of them. 

A-okay

Two days on the road and all is well. Here we are in Cherokee, North Carolina, in the casino parking lot. Beautiful days - warm. I enjoy it to the utmost cuz it's not going to last. 

Dang!

Everything packed, dog ready, Said ready, I'm ready, moho won't start. Had to get a jump. I'm pissed!  Unbelievable!!!!!

Itchy Hell

I am enduring itchy hell days and nights from my fire ant bites. How can something itch and hurt at the same time. I have more than 10 bites on my left foot. More like 15 or 20. No exaggeration. I'll have said count them. 

They are all over my foot and ankle. The skin is tight from the swelling. I am almost nauseous from the whole thing. It takes over a week for the poison to go away. What a nasty nightmare. 

Said counted them. 18 on my left foot.   I am feeling  itchy all over. I have developed a bug phobia. I have scratched my wrists raw and feel bugs in my clothes. Nats are flying in my face. I'm nuts.   Time to go home. 

Last night in my park

Sad. I have to leave.  Not looking forward to any snow and ice remnants.  We're spending tomorrow night in Sopchoppy, Worm Grunting Capital, at the city park. Such a unique little town. Someplace everyone should experience. 

Yesterday was not a good day for the Shazly duo. Said's flight was canceled - he flew out of GR at 10, spent 3 hours sleeping in a motel in Atlanta, and got to Tallahassee at 10 the next day. I was beating the heck out of a rug and didn't notice the ants on my foot. Well, I have about 10 fire ant bites on my left foot. It's so swollen the skin feels tight, itches like the devil, and hurts at the same time.   It will be a week of discomfort til the poison dgoes away. DAMN I hate those little shits.  

We'll start home - maybe Sunday or so. Spend a couple of nights at Elkmont  campground in the Great Smokey Mountain NP.  Love that place. 

READY TO GET OUT OF HERE

Yes!  It's really warm and I saw a large lizard or a baby alligator - doesn't matter!  I stay in the panhandle because it's chilly and the creepy things are at rest.  Yup I'm ready to go. I don't do that kind of thing. 

Observation of rv people

They tend to be rv'ers - not campers. The have huge, expensive Mohos that they stay inside and don't get their feet dirty or do campfires. Just have a house on wheels that moves around. There is a distinct difference between them and campers. They go to the campgrounds that are packed in like sardines. They have wifi and dish TV of their own, so they really don't need anything else.  Campers like a little space and prefer state parks. However, many Georgia state parks have cable and wifi. 

It's a different world out there. 

Odds and ends

Getting ready for Said to fly in tomorrow night. Thought I would just pop a few comments and pictures for the record. 

Every year, the last weekend in February, the park has a prehistoric festival with loads of activities for everyone. From fish catching baskets to alatal target practice to lots of knappers - you know - arrow head makers. It's fabulously interesting. 

Steven with Monty the mammoth - a target for the alatal. 

Wish I knew how to put videos on my blog. 

Love my two weeks of vegetating in the campground. 

KT and I at the scout campsite. It is an awesome spot. Love the peacefulness. 

Kind of homesick for Said. I just can't face the frozen lakes. I don't like cold at all any more. Remember all those years of ice skating, sledding, cross country skiing, snowmobiling, etc. well, I'm quickly forgetting them.  I just want to be in the warm sunshine. 

Lunch with KT

Lunch in appalachicpla. 

Springtime on the Forgotten Coast

Lunch at a bar next to the St Marks river. 

Have a seat and order lunch.  

Beautiful drive out to St Marks Wildlife Refuge and Lighthouse. 

Otter lake near Panacea

Yuck. I am scared to death of alligators. I'll take a bear anytime.