Ocala

Ahhhh, just came in to the air conditioned coolness of the Umatilla library from getting our pictures developed at the local Walgreens. The lady there really admired our pictures and said we ought to go pro. This batch was of the Everglades and all of the wildlife we encountered. Lots of good bird pics and alligators.

Yesterday we drove up to Ocala National Forest from lake Okeechobee and camped at Lake Dorr. It's a pretty NF campground conveniently located right off the main drag. (Route 19) Today we went to town (Umatilla) to get soup, fresh greenery and ice for the cooler. We're going to chill out somewhere in the forest for a few days, finally organize the jeep, and catch up on writing in our personal journals. Then it's off to one of the springs for snorkeling and canoeing!

Camping is cheap here, usually $5 - $6 a night. Quite the nice change of pace from the $100 a night we had to shell out for camping in the Keys! The really scary part about that is that was the cheapest option available. Camping at other places was even higher, not to mention what the motels got away with charging...

They say if you really want to know someone, go camping or on a road trip together. Jesse and I have been doing both for a month now and haven't killed each other yet. Quite the opposite, really. So for all of those guys who keeping applying to be my boyfriend...that's really sweet of you and I'm flattered, but I'm quite taken at the moment.

Anyhoo, we'll be working our way up the coast pretty soon here. Merle Fest is in less than a month! North Carolina, here we come!

In Southern Florida

This post is coming to you from the southeastern tip of Lake Ochechobee in the South Bay library. We stopped off here on the way to camp for the night to check our mail and download applications for Merle Fest.

After we left Susan's house, we went to the Everglades. Saw lots of alligators and even more mosquitos. Went looking for a place to camp on Key Largo and ended up driving all the way to Key West before we were successful. Gosh, the place gets super, super, SUPER packed on Easter weekend! Stayed two nights, then drove back up to Long Key state park. Pretty primitive sites along a boardwalk and the ocean.

Now we're headed to Ocala for the cooler temps and fewer people. Lately it's been in the 80's and 90's. Ick! Sure beats freezing back at home though. :-) When it gets to hot here, we just jump into the ocean with our snorkeling gear.

Time to leave...my 30 minutes are up.

Fun in Florida!

Jesse and I have finished work here at the evil stepmothers house, and are off to start enjoying the real Florida. Remind me never to work for family again, even if it is a pseudo relationship. Blech!

Mom and us have been packing our respective vehicles all morning. She just walked in to find me writing this blog. "Give me a beer, I need to take a sip, Heather's actually updating!"

We just finished lunch, now it's time to hit the road. I'll try to update within a week.

This is the mother speaking :-)

Personally, I'm REAL tired of signing on only to find Update Central still there! Now that Heather is blissed out with her new boyfriend and being in Florida, you might want to check my blog for updates and pics....

http://journals.aol.com/wsm311/WendyUsuallyWanders/