Apalachicola National Forest @ Camel Lake

Good morning It's cold!! Heater was on all night, and no wifi!  Luckily we downloaded a couple of episodes of Z for entertainment, but not our favorite. 

We are in Apalachicola National Forest at Camel Lake, a 5 hour drive that took us 11 1/2 hours. We stopped at Dicks and picked up a couple of S hook/carabiners, fire starter and Capris and shorts for me. Yes, of course I needed more clothes, now where will I put them? We then went to Best Buy to get an iPhone AV adapter and HDMI cable. Needed to figure out how to watch something downloaded, not on a 2x5 inch screen.  After Best Buy we went to Whole Foods, a bit disappointing, no Cheerios!  and the coffee selection wasn't great!  On to Wash Around The Clock for some new fangled laundromat prepaid card figuring.  Laundry done and feeling the call of clean clothes we headed to camp! Finally!  

We were met by one of the camp hosts, JR? TR?, I'll get it figured later.  He let us know that they had regular bathrooms with "real hot water". He also said it be pretty safe to walk on the trails, but "make sure you wear orange". Guess we really didn't think through the hunting/camping issues. Don't remember bringing any orange. JR? Said most of the campers were good guys, mostly quiet and would be leaving today. I can hear one group packing up and another driving out as I write. These hunters have a bunch of dogs 😳 with them, all chained up to a trailer cage, sorry dog lovers. 


Off to hike a section of the Florida Trail.  This section was recovering from being part of a planned burn.  Unfortunately, some of the tree signs have been burned on what would have been a nice educational section of the trail.  The trail, after several miles was not discernible so we turned back.

We are without any power for an extended period of time for the first time. Decided to try camping without all the bells and whistles for the week!  What were we thinking. We have or had a full charge in the battery but we are parked under trees so the solar panels probably aren't recharging it (the battery) very well. We got here and remembered we hadn't dumped the grey and black tanks (like we wanted to) and they're both mostly full (still newbie RVers I see)!  We have lots of fresh water and supposedly propane. We'll see. Going to have to dump the tanks sometime this week, sooner than later I'm guessing. Feet freezing so better get something on them. 

So here we are in the middle of a beautiful forest, in a campground needing to dump our tanks… so off we go to find a dump station…out NF105 to 12 to 65 (right or left) dang the other way. We did find the local detention camp…South on 65 to Wright Lake Campground. Dumped and filled (water) then checked out the campground and talked with Laura who cut across the camp on her golf cart to meet us (head us off?). Heading to East Point in search of propane for these cold days. 

Beach along St Georges Island

Ended up having lunch at St George's Island 🌴 near the State Park, a bit windy and chilly but beautiful.  

Path around lake

Almost back to camp Jim decided to take a short cut. We followed a nice sandy but firm road for several miles when a group in a pickup stopped us and said "this ain't no scenic drive" there's a "big ol sand trap" and bushes that would "scratch this here rv". But he said he'd follow us and tow us out if we wanted.… we turned around … 😢

It's JR!! I know you thought I'd forget!!

Back at camp we walked around the lake…about 1 mile.  Just a glorious day!

Dinner was beef stroganoff and either riced veggies (me) or rice (Jim).

Read and then watched two Game of Thrones episodes.  Life is so hard!

Up, with Cheerios and blueberries with almond milk, devotionals and we're off for a Florida trail hike…walked about 8 miles today and the day was glorious (again!)!  Met "Ohio" as we were crossing road 105, he was a bit scary. Asked too many logistical questions, like does anyone know where you are and do you have a cell phone "haha it probably doesn't get reception...

Had lunch at a lake, no clue what the name was but the sun was sparkling off the water and the wind was blowing the moss on the cedars very quiet and peaceful. 

                                 

Bike riding day....we did just under 15 miles today.  In several places the sand was so deep we had to push the bikes and we attempted a short cut.....  Saw deer, hunters, a snake and a lake....had lunch at the lake.

Not his favorite part of the trail.....

Had lunch here, very nice!

Trying to figure where we are and where we need to go!

There is a red tint to many of the little streams

At 1am an alarm woke us, we think is was telling us we had no more battery.  We were too tired to investigate so we just turned off everything, including the furnace.  It was cold, maybe 45F.  Put on another blanket and was snug! 

Coffee, devotions and breakfast (that's how most mornings roll)!  

Jim had been industrious and working on fixing the blind on the sliding door (again) and figuring out the large drawer that hasn't been working since shortly after we got the van.  Need a hardware store run.

Another bike ride but shorter!

Time for a shower!!!! (brrrrrr)

This afternoon we were entertained with a helicopter getting water from the lake.  They were probably keeping the planned burn on the other side of route 12 under control, about 2 miles away.  The helicopter returned around 10 times.  Several times while here we could smell the fire and once even see the smoke in camp.  

We took pictures and waded in the lake watching the show.  I did a little Yoga.  Have been most mornings until we got here.

Walked around the lake, played Yahtzee and had chili for dinner.

Cold this morning but snug last night.  Only put on the furnace this am to take the chill out of the camper.  Coffee, breakfast of eggs, Canadian bacon and bagels and devotions.  Warming up wonderfully!  Another shower!!!

Heading to New Orleans tomorrow morning.  Staying at one of Mom’s time shares for 3 nights.  While in New Orleans we must get a bit of business done.  We have tax items to find and send, and should figure out a surgeon for Jim’s shoulder.  He hurt it (rehurt it) while trying to swing on a rope swing at “The Crack” at Chassahowtzki River.  Figuring we’ll head to Texas until the end of February and then head to Delaware for surgery and recoup.  After Kelsey’s graduation, May 15^th, we’ll head to Telluride, CO.

In search of internet. 

The girls have been texting and I'm not getting any, but Jim is getting a couple but can't send any out… the nature of a National Forest. Into Bristal and out again… on to Blountstown, grocery and internet (at the McDonald's) always thought of McDs as Americas bathroom but now I'm thinking of it now as bathroom, coffee and internet all wrapped up in one!!

The beginning - January 2017

Yes, it has begun! Retired and on the road.  1st stop Walmart (Milford, De), about an hour from home!  Just had to get moving or we'd never leave!  After a days work, my last, we were just too tired to go any farther.  The next night we enjoyed the hospitality of yet another Walmart. This one in Walterboro, North Carolina. Great breakfast place!  On to join up with Mom and Kris near Miami, Weston, Florida.