Back to Lakeland - #61-10

March 4, 2006 (Sat) Juniper Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF (6) - The whole campground has filled up with young adults (20ish). Fortunately most of the large groups are in another area of the campground loop. We can hear them - and their loud music - but they are far enough away not to be intrusive. There is a young family across the way whose teenage son likes to have the radio on the pickup loud enough to be annoying. It doesn't last too long though and we can close ourselves in Q when we go into overload.

Nothing else of interest to report other than it has been cold in the mornings. The sun warms things up nicely though so sitting out has been enjoyable.
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March 5, 2006 (Sun) Juniper Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF (7) - Most of the young people have gone. They packed up and left this morning. We had a few hours of peace, even the fighter jets were quiet, but this afternoon the motorcycle enthusiasts started to come in - most with their bikes on trailers. (It is "Bike Week" in Daytona Beach a few miles east of here.) There have been a few around all week and we have found them to be considerate neighbors.

It was cold again this morning (40°) but the sun has been hot. We took advantage of that and the peacefulness by spending most of the day reading and taking a short hike to watch the canoes and kayaks being put into the water.

Just before supper we heard the sound of a low flying helicopter. When it seemed to be hanging around we went out to take a look. It appeared as if the door was open and a man was leaning out and looking down. About then a park ranger driving a golf cart pulled up and walked over. He asked if we'd seen a young fellow come by wearing blue shorts and a white shirt (Mark was wearing denim shorts and T-shirt) "No. What's going on?" "The store was robbed." (the concession stand at the springs). Apparently Mark didn't fit the description close enough - old age has its advantages - because he said thank you and went on to the next campsite. The helicopter circled until it began to get dark then all was quiet again.

Juniper Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF #22 (x2) #15 (x5)
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March 6, 2006 (Mon)
Silver Springs, FL to Altoona, FL (31/2556 miles)

It wasn't as cold last night, 45°, but the weather forecasts are calling for a cold front to move in tonight or tomorrow. It would be depressing except that the sun really warms it up during the day. We got off this morning at about 8:00 and turned west on SR-40 then south on SR-19. We did laundry in Umatilla then went on south into the outskirts of Eustis to a Publix supermarket.

Once replenished we headed back north to Alexander Springs Recreational Area where we were a week ago and found that Ed and Kathy had gotten there only a short time before. We had reservations this time to ensure that Ed and Kathy got a site big enough for their motor home. As it turned out it wouldn't have been a problem but this way was safer. We are across the road from them and are the only two camping units on the loop. The rest rooms are being rebuilt in this area which means a longer walk (or bike ride) but it's not too far.

As we sat out visiting, Bill and Margaret - our neighbors the last time we were here - came walking by and stopped for a short visit. Dinner was spaghetti and meatballs in Ed and Kathy's motor home - there was an evening chill in the air and we were going to play dominoes inside later anyway.

Q029804 Alexander Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF #9 dry 8.50g (+ reservation fee & tax) B
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March 7, 2006 (Tue) Alexander Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF (2) - It has been an interesting experience looking at campsites and trying to determine which, if any, are large enough for Ed and Kathy's 40' long class A motor home. And it produced an interesting phenomenon. As we researched the three National Forest Campgrounds - Alexander Springs, Juniper Springs, and Salt Springs - our perception of how big 40' is grew and grew until we became convinced that there were very few sites big enough. But as soon as we let Ed and Kathy know that Alexander Springs presented the best hope with one, perhaps two sites, the sites all got bigger. Even at Juniper Springs, where the maximum pad length is 35', we saw a few sites that might actually take a 40' motor home. This morning we and Ed and Kathy walked around the whole Alexander Springs campground and learned from those who know best that there are very few they could NOT get into. It was also determined that the one they were assigned - the one we had recommended was unavailable - was the best.

This afternoon we spent reading, knitting and working on our sun tans (while trying to stay warm at 67°). This evening it was another game of dominoes.
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March 8, 2006 (Wed) Alexander Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF (3) - Another cold (for Florida) night last night, 41° but again it warmed up nicely during the day. At about 10:00 we took off with Ed and Kathy (in their toad) for Silver Springs (the village). On the way we took a short tour of the Juniper Springs campground and found many of those sites - though not nearly as many as at Alexander Springs - were also big enough for their motorhome. In Silver Springs Ed and Mark went to a model trains store while Joy and Kathy did some of the clothing and consignment shops in the shopping center. The net result of this was two new railroad cars for Ed's G gauge train layout. Lunch was Chinese buffet (very good)

After we got back Bill and Margaret - our former neighbors - stopped by to tell us they would not be having the campfire they'd invited us to - too cold - so we had to resort to another game of dominoes in the evening.

March 9, 2006 (Thu) Alexander Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF (4) - It did get cold last night (39°) but they say this is it for a while and maybe for the winter. That would be nice. As always, it warmed up and became a beautiful day. Bill and Margaret again invited us to their campfire but we decided to have one of our own.

Alexander Springs Recreational Area, Ocala NF #9 (x4)
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March 10, 2006 (Fri)
Altoona, FL to Lakeland, FL (140/2696 miles)

Our thermometer recorded 57° over night. That's more like it! (51° in New York City.) After getting ready to go we loaded our leftover wood onto Q's rear step and took it down to Bill and Margaret's site. They are a nice couple and we look forward to seeing them again, if we stop at Alexander Springs again next year.

On the way to Lakeland we stopped in Umatilla to do some laundry and to replenish our propane. In Eustis Hildene gave us a late prompt causing us to miss a turn and unnecessarily get caught up in road construction. (It was really our fault. We knew the turn was coming up and didn't get ready for it.) We stopped at a familiar Chinese buffet restaurant in Lakeland for lunch and then went on to the Camping World store in Seffner. In Kissimmee Prairie Preserve State Park the mechanism that operates Q's rear step broke and we have had to deploy it manually since. We were able to get a replacement for the broken part at Camping World.

Ed and Kathy generously offered their yard as our next campsite even though they wouldn't be home. So here we are. They plan to be home early Sunday morning so we may see them then and maybe not. Either way, thank you, guys.

Q029944 Ed & Kathy's yard