January 9, 2008 (Tue) Juniper Springs RA (3) - Although there are no hook-up, electricity or water, at the campsites and a generator can be hear running somewhere nearby almost constantly, we consider this one of our favorite campgrounds. The campsites are open and large with plenty of tropical underbrush around. Most sites are shady but many, like ours, let in plenty of warm sunshine. We spent the day doing what we came here to do - nothing. Our major activity was to get our email via the pay phone in the concession area.
There are two types of sites in this and many National Forest campgrounds, reservable and non-reservable. Reservable sites are available only to those who make reservations - 3 to 6 months ahead! We seldom make reservations - too restricting and they cost extra. When we
came in on Sunday, there were many open sites to choose from. Yesterday and today there have been more unit coming than leaving - unusual so early in the week and we're beginning to wonder if any non-reservable sites will be available when Bob and Pat get here tomorrow.
30 or 40 years ago there was a fad of turning old Volkswagens into "dune buggies" by replacing their bodies with roll cages and equipping them with over sized tires. Now they've pretty much been replaced by commercial ATVs. Late this afternoon a fellow in a class A motor home pulled into the site across the way - the one we vacated yesterday - towing one four down like a toad. It is silver (aluminum?) and shaped more like a stubby dragster than a dune buggy or ATV. It's a two-seater, one in front and one in back, and street licensed.
January 10, 2008 (Wed) Juniper Springs RA (4) - Another warm sunny day. In fact, we had to think about and avoid sunburn. Who would have thought about that a week ago? We both finished the books we were reading and started new ones. Bob and Pat came about 2:00 and found a campsite not too far away. We ended the day with a vigorous couple of dominoes games.
January 11, 2008 (Thu) Juniper Springs RA (5) - 7 1/2 miles by canoe through a tropical forest on a winding spring fed stream was our activity today. The run is quite a challenging one with a slow moving current constantly trying to send us into the heavily foliated banks at every turn. There are low hanging and fallen trees all along the way positioned to knock unwary and careless canoeists into the water and very often do just that. In the past we have seen a huge alligator sunning himself within a paddle length of us but today he chose to stay out of sight. We did see plenty of bird life though and at one point a great blue heron flew so close over head that we could have reached up and touched it. It was a grand adventure and a real work out was We
spent the afternoon recovering.
January 12, 2008 (Fri) Juniper Springs RA (6) - This morning, we hiked a bit of the Florida National Scenic Trail - about three miles of it. The area that had been clear-cut 3 years a go is now covered with new growth. It's not all that tall yet but it's green and more "natural".
This afternoon Mark ran 75 feet of hose out to the nearest water tap and refilled our fresh water tank.Other than that it's been another relaxing day.
January 13, 2008 (Sat) Juniper Springs RA (7) - Bob and Pat came for dinner tonight - our first entertaining in quite some time - and it began to rain as we were having cocktails. It was kind of fitting in a way because it was the first rain we've had on this trip. We rolled out the awning and moved under it. Q is too small for dinner parties of more than 2 inside so we set up our little folding picnic table under the awning. It wasn't elegant but the atmosphere fit the Progresso soup we were serving. Dominoes in Bob and Pat's motor home finished out the evening.
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