QC21-06 More from Alexander Springs

February 20, 2012 (Mon) Alexander Springs (7) 55/67° - As we walked around "A" loop, this morning, we heard a large vehicle coming from behind. It turned out to be a very large, very old school bus painted (mostly) various odd shades of dark green, almost olive green. Some of the windows were decorated like stained glass windows. It sported a safari type roof rack (maybe two) piled high with all kinds of stuff, including spare tires. It pulled a long utility trailer also loaded down with odd stuff. We guessed it was from the Rainbow encampment down the road. Others who saw it agreed that that's what it was.

The Rainbow people as they are called (by themselves?. By locals?) are an odd assortment of Viet Nam (Iraq?) war veterans, homeless people, junkies, modern day hippies, etc. and hangers-on. (maybe a 1000 or more of them) that have sought and obtained permission to congregate in the forest about a mile East of our campground entrance road. Their access to the campground is severely limited (though the bus had apparently come in to use the dump station) and there is an almost constant police presence near where they are camped according to people who go out in that direction.

February 21, 2012 (Tue) Alexander Springs (7) 47/71° - Cold start - we even pulled out our feather bed last night) but it warmed up nicely during the day. We went into Ocala and met Joy's cousin Bill & his wife Gail for lunch. It was really good seeing them after 35(?) years. Catching up in so short a time after so many years resulted in little lag in conversation and much laughter .

February 22, 2012 (Wed) Alexander Springs (9) 53/75° - Over all the years we have been camping we have railed against people who disturb the quiet with generators, often trying to conjure up spells on them. We have avoided using our own generator except in extreme need situations and given much thought to adding panels to our solar power generation. But we camp mostly in forests where direct sun exposure for them is rare, meaning a big expense for probably little gain.  In recent years we have been impressed by the near silence of the small Honda generators. Often they can't be heard unless you're right next to them, especially the real small ones. Right now, after nearly 4 weeks without hook-ups and a lot of cloudy skies, our house batteries are near exhausted and neither running Q's generator nor his engine is enough to put a decent charge back on them. Conclusion? It may be time to think seriously about getting a little Honda generator - inviting the wrath of extremists like we once were.

February 23, 2012 (Thu) Alexander Springs (10) 67/81° - We went into Orlando to meet Joy's sister Fran who is there to participate in an outing of her high school class. President Obama was also in Orlando today but we didn't see him - though we'd hoped to see Air Force One come in to Orlando International Airport. Reality check: Not really much chance of that either because the airport was on the other side of the city from where we were. We had a wonderful visit with Frannie.

February 24, 2012 (Fri) Alexander Springs (11) 66/86° - Another quiet day in the forest but the weekend influx has begun. All the sites around us are occupied. Unlike last weekend most seem to be of the quiet persuasion. Although there is one group a few sites down that seemed to be just getting started when we came back from Bill and Margret's campfire but they weren't boisterous. Dennis, in a tent across from them, may be slow in getting to sleep though.

February 25, 2012 (Sat) Alexander Springs (12) 60/66° - Apparently the noise got pretty bad over on D loop last night. Bill and Margret told us that they finally got up and walked up to ask security to do something about the "party" going on in the site across from them (next door to Dora). The large group had apparently come in late, after 10, and immediately begun chopping and splitting wood for their camp fire - not a soothing sound to sleep to - and the noise level went up from there.

We are off to Lakeland tomorrow for a week in civilization.

Q083523 Alexander Springs CG, Ocala National Forest. #42 $10.50 dry B (x12)