QC91-04 Juniper Springs in Winter

January 14, 2009 (Wed) Juniper springs CG, Ocala National Forest (2) - 42° over night wasn't as cold as we'd expected but cold enough to wonder what it's going to be like when the temperature goes down to 20° later on in the week. We've been camping in colder weather but usually we have access to shore power to run a small electric heater. It's going to be a adventure. Showers were definitely an adventure, the restroom/shower house isn't heated. The water is hot though. But haste in transition (clothed to shower and back) was called for.

We walked to the visitor's center this afternoon with the intention of using the data connection in the public phone there to send out the chronicle. After some time to relearn the procedure (required every time we come here although it doesn't change) Mark was able to connected to the internet. But the mail would not go out. Nor could any be retrieved. At 10¢ a minute he didn't take the time to figure out why. There are other ways albeit later. On the way back we bought a bundle of wood for a fire tonight. The walk back to the campsite was a whole lot longer than the walk there. That wood was heavy!!

The generator died. We seldom use it but decided we could get triple duty - heat (from the heat pump), battery charging and exercise for the generator. Our first thought was, Oh no, now what? It turned out that it was doing what it is supposed to do - shutting down when the gas level gets low. This is so that the generator doesn't run the tank dry stranding us.

January 15, 2009 (Thu) Juniper springs CG (3) - 37° The weather reports said that it got down to 27° in Lake City (Ocean Pond). We're glad we're not there! Although it may get that cold here (or lower) in the next couple of days.

Bob and Mark took off this morning to find internet access. Bob's wireless modem can't find a strong enough signal here and the usefulness of the phone at the visitor's center is doubtful. They found a WiFi hotspot in the Aster, FL library. Meanwhile Pat and Joy hung out at home enjoying some time alone.

This campground is usually quite full but there seem to be a lot more empty sites this year. The long Martin Luther King weekend is coming up. It will be interesting to see if it fills up. We think that because of the economy and cold weather, it won't. Our campsite this year is a lot more secluded than the ones we've had in the past. There are other sites and campers nearby but our outside living area is completely surrounded with tropical vegetation. The sun (as when it was out yesterday) warms a nice big area yet there is shade if that were called for. We might try for this one next time.

January 16, 2009 (Fri) Juniper springs CG (4) -  45° over night and only up to 54° during the day. We've heard that running the motor home engine will charge the batteries faster than the generator so we've been doing that - even before the generator died. It also helps a lot with the heating. Although we don't know if this uses more gas that running the generator (or less) it does use gas. We decided not to chance running out and took off to find a gas station. We found one in Forest, FL (not on the map) 8 miles west on US40.

We also did a little shopping at the Winn-Dixie supermarket across the road. Finding a laundromat (a secondary and not really necessary "we're going out anyway so we might as well go on and do it" mission) took us 15 miles further west to Silver Springs. Mark was able to use Bob's wireless modem to "do" email while we were there. Lunch at Arby's was big enough for two meals so we have lunch for tomorrow night. Joy fixed pizza for dinner tonight with Bob and Pat (we used the oven in their motor home) and we finished the evening with dominoes (the game not the pizza).

Q047389 (53/1406 miles) To Silver Springs and back

January 17, 2009 (Sat) Juniper Springs CG (5) - 35° at 6:00 this morning - 41° inside (without the furnace) - but we were very comfortable under our down comforter. It was cold getting up though. The sun warmed it a little when it got high enough but sweatshirts and down vests were appropriate dress. The sun on the solar panel helped replenish some of the power we've been using, so that was good.

We took a walk down by the springs in the early afternoon and  hiked a loop on the Florida National Scenic Trail, about 3 1/2 miles. One of the attractions in this park is the spring fed swimming "pool". Built like a spa in times past, there is a wall surrounding it with steps down into the water every so often. There was one youngster (maybe 15 years old) toweling off at the head of one of the steps. Too cold for swimming? He said it wasn't bad when you get used to it. Ah youth!!

Alexander Springs campground is our next stop. We'll go there tomorrow.