Plans for Florida

We had big plans for today.  One of the reasons we selected Silver Springs for our stay in Florida was its proximity to Ocala National Forest and its trail system.  For our first full day here we had plans to hike.  The weather, however, didn’t cooperate.  It started raining last night about bed time and rained, heavily at times, almost all day.

Not wanting to just sit in the house, we opted for the next best thing to hiking--eating.  No, no.  We went first to the Public Lands Visitor Center and then to one of the Ocala National Forest Ranger Stations in search of trail information, maps, recommendations, and all that other stuff we like to have in order to make a plan of attack.  We came away with a sack full of brochures, maps, and trail descriptions as well as a whole lot of information passed on by the folks manning the desks.

Some of that information wasn’t what we wanted to hear.  We were strongly encouraged not to drive on any dirt roads during or shortly after a heavy rain.  That pretty much took care of hiking plans for today.  We also found out that it is small game season and there are hunters about, especially looking for wild hogs.  When the ranger said, “small game” I thought of squirrels and rabbits; I did not think of wild hogs.  Better dig out my red shirt and orange bandana.

There were, at both of these places, books and pictures to look at.  I came across a book on how to survive in the Florida wilderness.  I was dismayed to learn that Florida has three brands of rattlesnakes and coral snakes.  Well, well now.  The ranger, who was originally from Montana, refuses to hike in Florida because of the snakes.  That was not the information we came for.  Looking at the nice $3 map of Ocala National Forest we noticed a large square shaded gray and labeled “US Naval Bombing Range”.  Well, well now.

So I think what we learned about hiking in Florida is that if the rain, the hogs, the hunters, or the snakes don’t get you, the US Navy will.  We came home.  I’ll think about hiking another day.

At home, and the safety of our dining table, we spread out the map of Florida and tried to make a rough plan for our stay here.  There are several things we want to do like visit with full-timing friends Bill and Helen who are just a couple miles down the road.  Gene also has a distant cousin in the area we want to meet.  Our campground is just across the street from one of those glass-bottom boat adventures.  And, it just so happens, Gene’s brother and sister-in-law are also in Florida for the winter trying to escape the cold of Columbus, Ohio.  Tomorrow we’re driving to Tampa to spend the day with them.

I’m feeling much better today.  Not yet in the perky range, but much better than yesterday.  Lots of rest helps.

No more news for today.