All is Quiet at Ocala National Forest

Still very quiet here in our little corner of the forest.  We have had one camper here for a couple of weeks, and a couple from Australia stopped by to spend the night Tuesday night.  Last night we had two hunters set up camp through the weekend, and we have turned a few away because we don't allow soft sided tents this year.  Apparently the black bears were too active in this area last year.  Yesterday we drove out to Delancy Pond to visit some of the other campground hosts.  Lake Delancy West provides an OHV (Off Highway Vehicle) recreation area along Lake Delancy with OHV corrals, access to numerous marked OHV trails along theOcala North OHV Trail System, and camping along the lake. The recreation area also serves as a trailhead and designated campground along the hiking-only Florida Trail.  It  was beautiful out there; however,I believe we are partial to our very isolated and private "neck of the woods."  

You can double click to enlarge.  These are some bear prints that we found nearby.

Today, the mosquitoes are carrying us away.  Poor little Maggie has zillions of bites all over her skinny little body.  Billy sprayed outside, gave Maggie Benadryl and bathed her in Clamine Lotion, and we rubbed Avon Skin So Soft all over ourselves and Maggie.  Hope that does it.  Day before yesterday I had a Cat Scan on my sternum but haven't received the results yet.  I am very happy to say that I am finally able to tell that the pain is improving somewhat.  I am certain that Billy is very thankful that I don't scream as often.  Closing for now and "Life is Good Today!"  As a side note, Billy went to the store a few days ago and bought Halloween candy for the trick or treaters.  Yeah RIGHT!  I have already eaten all of the Reese cups!

The squirrels have discovered that they can run up and down the trees outside our motor home and harass Maggie.

A Tough Adjustment for Me at Ocala National Forest

I have lost track of days, dates and time as my chest has continued to hurt.  Went to the Dr. in Ocala who took XRays and was so proud of himself by being able to tell me that the sternum was broken.  Well Well!  I did say - I heard something POP!

Billy and I opened the gate to Shanty Pond Campground at 8:00 am on Saturday morning and expected a throng of visitors to drive through!  Wrong!  We only have one camper and have had only one camper all week.  We had a host couple from Hopkins Prairie Campground (Ocala National Forest) drop by to visit us last week.  They said they wanted to see how the other half "lived."  I exclaimed that we don't have water, and to my surprise they related that they do not have electricity.  They were jealous of our concrete slab and the fact that we have a land line telephone.  I don't think I will be in a rush to tell them that we had DSL hooked up to that land line today.  Our cell phones barely work for miles and miles around here; but Billy got a "gizmo" that gives us a boost in the motor home as long as we have the cell phone plugged in to it.  The sluggish and almost non existent internet will not present a problem since we hooked up to DSL.  We are trying to bring our routine back to normal here, because we would really like to return next year as campground hosts on the ATV trails.  Managing the trails sounds like a lot of fun and we would have weekends off to go visit the kids in Tampa!  The Ranger assures us that on November 11th we will have people lined up to come in here for the start of hunting season.  We will see.  Our responsibilities are to keep track of campers and their payments as well as being on site Friday, Saturday and Sunday should we be needed.

I wish I felt like a million dollars so that could finish some sewing projects that I have started. I did finish Kinley's little "Fall" dress.  So "Life Is Good Today!"

A Short Visit to Tampa before the Campground Opens

Billy and I left on Wednesday to spend the night and enjoy a birthday dinner with Marianne and her family.  We are both beside ourselves with an unlimited supply of water and an internet that is not slow as Christmas. Closing quickly so I can upload some photos.  Life is Good Today.

Shanty Pond - Ocala National Forest

Much has happened since our last post.  We did find a tenant who is renting our home.  He moved in on Saturday.  On Thursday as I was standing on our bed cleaning windows I fell forward and hit my chest bone on the headboard.  Heard a loud crack!  Ouch.  Missed a night out with our neighbors on Friday night to have it checked out in the ER!  No broken ribs but the sternum may be cracked.  It does not seem to be any better today.  Two natural childbirths, spinal fusion, gall bladder surgery, and cervical fusion and NOTHING has ever hurt like this does.  It hurts tremendously every time I move, hiccup, try to talk loudly, or God forbid - sneeze!  I have spent almost every minute in bed since our arrival!  Yuck!  If it is not better in a few days I plan to make another trip to the doctor.

We left Saturday morning to camphost at Ocala National Forest.  I was not able to tow the boat, so we plan to pick it up at a later date.  Primitive, wilderness, muddy, and isolated are the descriptive words of the day.  We traveled over rutty and muddy dirt roads and have had the truck in 4 wheel drive since our arrival.   There have been many "Big Foot" sightings in the Ocala National Forest (http://www.bigfootresearcher.com/2009/11/ocala-national-forest.html)   However, we woke Sunday morning to black bears outside each of our windows - no Sasquatch!  It has rained hard continuously since our arrival, so we haven't explored our surroundings and laid out our plans to find Big Foot.  After our careful washing of the motor home before our departure from Panama City we got it covered in mud driving in to our site.  Billy pressure washed the mud off it and had to go pick up another 100 gallons of water in short order.  I think he may have to yet make one more water run before he finishes.

Following is a photo of Fran, Bruce, Bill and Billy in our driveway as were preparing to leave on Saturday.  

Still Parked On Our Driveway!

We had many telephone calls inquiring about renting our home BEFORE we arrived here, and then the calls just about came to a halt.  It was sort of depressing; however, we didn't have the time to brood.  Billy has been busy mowing, brush cutting, and burning the yard.  I have pulled weeds, pruned shrubbery and washed the outside of the house.  We currently are entertaining a couple of good potential renters so "Life Is Good Today!"

Naturally, in our free time we rushed into Parker, FL to eat at our favorite restaurant - Rodeo's.  The grouper was even better than I remembered it to be.  The following day we enjoyed Chinese food at our favorite Chinese restaurant.  Bruce and Fran kindly invited us over to grill hamburgers while watching the sun go down on East Bay.  What else can I say?  "Life Is Good Today!"  Our neighbor, DeVaughn looked at me with big question marks in his eyes when I told him that we were enjoying being so close to shopping.  In essence we live 30 minutes from the nearest store, but that is a lot closer than we were while we were staying at Elijah Clark.  It's all relative.

Our remaining days here will be busy with finishing up the house and yard and washing the motor home and truck since we will be supplied with a finite amount of water at Ocala National Forest.  Yesterday, Billy changed the oil on the motor home and performed some routine maintenance.  I simply must indulge in some retail therapy at Pier Park.  Don't need to buy anything, just walk around and rubberneck at the people and finger some of the goods while enjoying a cup of coffee.  Thinking about parking myself in a big chair at Barnes and Nobles and reading the latest book.  Hopefully, in a short time we will be on the roll again AFTER we enjoy some salt water fishing over our cherished fishing holes.

"Life Is Good Today!"  Thanks for stopping by for a visit.

At Home in Panama City to Find a New Tenant for Our Home

It was a long slow drive down to Panama City on Tuesday as Billy drove the motorhome and I followed towing the boat.  Oh BOY!  I can't wait to go salt water fishing out in St. Andrews Bay.  We got here just in time to see the sunset on East Bay so Life Is Good Today.  Tony is still renting the house until October 1st so we are a happily parked and living on the pad in our driveway.  What fun to see ALL (not many neighbors here) of our neighbors again.  The house looks fantastic....just a bit of outside work and hopefully we can find a new tenant.  I am certain that the ducks knew who I was as they came running over to see us when we arrived.  I have been feeding them and giving them fresh drinking water to wash their food down with so they are happy little duckies.

We have accepted the campground host positions at Ocala National Forest beginning October 15th.  We are looking forward to trying something a bit different.  We will be living in the Shanty Pond Section of the forest.
 Shanty Pond is a campground in the heart of the Big Scrub, located south of Salt Springs off SR 19.  A favorite of equestrians and hunters, it is seasonally open from October 15 through April 15.  We will have electric hook-ups, sporadic phone service, sewer, but 100 gallons of water will be delivered to us once a week.  Coupled with our on board 50 gallon water tank that gives up 150 gallons of water a week.  We can go get more water ourselves if we need it.  This should be interesting....maybe it is time to cut my hair.


Closing for today after sharing sunsets on East Bay in our neighborhood!  Thanks Bruce for the photos!  

A Two Month Early Departure From Elijah Clark

Phil and Lincoln spent the weekend with us and attended the Kid's Fest Fishing Tournament on Saturday (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.280761818601840.76538.112967205381303&type=1).  A good time was had by all and Phil came close to catching the most fish.  Billy worked so diligently with the kids all day on Saturday that his back was shot on Saturday night.  On Sunday Brandon, Lori, Kinley, and Caroline stopped in for the afternoon, and we all had a great visit until a horrendous storm blew in, and we all had to run for cover.  It broke my heart to tell them each "good-bye" a full two months earlier than we had planned.  Kinley could be walking before we see her again.

Just a short post because we have to drive in to Augusta today to pick up the part so we can have our motor home repaired somewhere down the road.  Then we have to leave some time for sad good-byes to the wonderful staff here at Elijah Clark.  We have had a great time here but will be leaving early Tuesday morning for the drive back to our driveway in Panama City.  Anyone looking for a great house to rent in Panama City?  Can't wait to see our neighbors!

Big Daddy and Phil with his string of fish!

Oops!  Lincoln spilled the worms!

Phil taking it all in.

Sleep Over at Memaw's and Big Daddy's

Campground Meeting!  Frankie, Chris and Amy

Brenda, Macks, Melissa and Billy!  Campground Hosts!

Just about the entire staff!

Mary Francis and Ray - Campground Hosts!

Life is Good Today!