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Archives - Dec

Where we've been while you were sleeping.

The eighth month of Adventure !  Here is what we wrote earlier, with conclusion on the Adventure page.

December 1-13: Home in Georgia

The first day of the last month of the year and the end to our Great American Adventure is fast approaching. But what better way than to camp in our home state? We  camped with a great group at Willis Knob Horse Camp in the Chattahoochee National Forest in Clayton, Georgia. We had driven up one hour from our home yesterday afternoon and squeezed in with five other live-in trailers. Three of these couples were with us in Box Canyon, Montana in July and here at home I ride with Pam M. every week. Today breakfast was scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, homemade biscuits and gravy, and potatoes cooked by a great cook, Janice S. So much food but so great when you are about to do a long day of riding. After breakfast we started saddling up. I packed a lunch in the saddle bags. We split into two  groups of six riders. Our group left out about 10 and we were back at about 4. It was a beautiful ride along a mountain ridge still showing some Fall color. We were riding down the river trail with Pam out front when I saw a skunk on the trail up ahead. I keep wondering why Pam was not stopping to let it get off the trail and then finally yelled out. Then others start yelling for her to come back and we all start calling our dogs. Moses is with Nolan and Marsha, Simon is with Tim and Pam, and Gizmo is with Ralph and I. All the dogs got close but in the end, only Moses got any of the spray on him. Pam started backing up and the skunk came after them! And after them! Nolan, who was behind me at the end of the line said he’d go get rid of the bold skunk. He threw rocks and the skunk only slowly and reluctantly left. We later found out that the other group of six had encountered him too and he was just as bold with them! A skunk terrorizing the forest! It may be he was rabid.

The heater ran all night. The next day was overcast, a damp and cold kind of day that goes right to the bones. So I dressed as warm as the day before though I think the temperature was up. For breakfast Janice S. had made eggs, pancakes, bacon and biscuits again. After we ate we started cleaning up and helping one group pack as they were leaving this morning. It was just before eleven when they pulled out. The rest of us went to get saddled up except for Ralph who was staying at camp. Pam and Tim M, Marsha and Nolan P., and I left to do a loop that included trails on the South Carolina side of the Chattahoochee River. We rode the Big Island Ford Trail and crossed the river. We were back at camp at 4 and pulling out for home at 4:30. We were home just as it turned totally dark.

The next eleven days were filled with visits to friends and doctors, shopping for groceries and for wrapping paper, and getting horse feed. I baked four batches of Christmas cookies, pumpkin bread (made from fresh pumpkin given to me by Dave C. in AZ) and banana bread, made spaghetti sauce and several main dishes. It was so odd being back in my full sized kitchen and took me about two days to remember where things were located. (It did not help that we remodeled the kitchen just months before we left.) Ralph and I both made a trip to our chiropractor but I went with my long time friend, Beverly B. Beverly listened to some of our adventure and told me a bit about hers. At eighty years young she made a 2 week trip to China and ministered to an orphanage and home church there. We had a lovely day running errands and sharing a lunch at a Greek restaurant. One of my errands was to Nora Mills. I have been buying my stone ground cornmeal and 3 grain pancake mix there for years. The mill operates on the Chattahoochee River (same river we rode above) in Helen, GA. “The mill was constructed in 1876 by John Martin when he came to Georgia to mine for gold.” Not only is it an interesting look at a timeless method, but it is a cornucopia of specialty foods. This time I decided to try Maple Chocolate Peanut Butter. On Saturday the eighth, I made arrangements to take Carla C. out to Strong Rock Camp and Retreat to ride. My other two horses, KC and Rosette, have been out there while we were gone being ridden and looked after by Director, Corie H. Corie was joining Carla and I on the ride. (If you remember, this is the Camp I put trails in for several years prior.) KC and Rosette are in great shape and we all enjoyed the ride in the Horse Range Mountains of Cleveland. While Gizmo and I were enjoying another day in the woods with Jur, Ralph had taken Talle and gone to assist Craig H. at his home in Dawsonville, GA. Talle went with Ralph so he could return her to her owner, Tim. Tim had called us a couple nights before and was thankful to have found her - even 171 miles away. On Sunday we joined our home church in fellowship. It was fun to be back and be greeted so warmly by so many. Makes the heart glad. But we will be missing some of the most wonderful times of worship during this celebration of our Savior’s coming as a gift to us. It will be after Christmas and the new year before we return. That evening we took a dinner of manicotti to our riding friend Dan S. and Mary Jane H. in Murrayville. Dan had fallen from his horse the day before and broken 2 ribs (been there and done that). He was in a great deal of pain but, like any avid rider, already talking of when he was getting back on. The next week was full of the usual tasks of getting ready to depart as well as the normal daily tasks of eating and paying bills AND wrapping Christmas gifts. I called my friend Jenni L. and placed an order for Lucy’s Low Country Pecan Brittle. If you like brittle you will LOVE this! It came in a couple of days so I could get it in my gifts. I also placed an order (and received) an area rug (horses, of course) from Tiffany’s InStyle Interiors for my in-home office. One bill waiting for us that I could not pre-pay was our property taxes (up 40%!!!). It was actually the biggest reason for us making this stop at our home. Ralph got both of our vehicles’ batteries charged and back in operation. He also did more innovative improvements to the horse trailer. Having been in it so many months we found lots of things we would improve on and so he did when he got back to his shop. Ralph added another drawer in the kitchen, a step outside the third stall, and a gas line for the outside grill. He also pressure washed the horse area and vacuumed the interior, replaced bulbs and greased the wheel bearings. In the two weeks we’ve been at the house, I’ve been trying to find a home for this Arabian stallion. He is an abandonment case but has been well taken care of, he just needs a home. Little is known about him; he is about 8 years young and sweet natured. More could be found out through DNA testing or someone might want a gelding. He is available to a good home. If you don't take him I will be boarding him when I return from The Trip. Now it is on to Florida and The End of The Trip.

December 14 - 24:

Ready to start the final leg of our Trip, we were up at seven on December 14th. We left our house in Cleveland, GA at 9:20. Not bad. The horses were good; let me catch them and loaded right away. The roads were not too bad and after we got through Atlanta, I got out the computer. Near Valdosta, GA around 3, we went west on Hwy 122 toward Thomasville. At one of our stops Gizmo enjoyed a “Puppy Park” made just for dogs. How great! Two and a half hours later we were looking for our exit in the Florida Panhandle. We found Florida Caverns State Park quite easily and were checked in by Ranger Frank. It was getting dark as we pulled into the horse camp so we used our headlights to light the stalls and get the horses settled in. Ranger Frank arrived in his truck and shed some more light on the maneuvering as we needed to turn the trailer around and get it level or we would not sleep well. We thanked him and finished setting up, and got a dinner going. We were both tired from the 8 ½ hour drive and were early to bed.

The next morning there was a very light mist falling off and on so Ralph did not want to ride. Jur and I went for a quick 6 mile ride. I felt only a little mist on my face at times. The trail went along the park fence and then into the woods at the Chipola River where we scared a beautiful blue heron and then a white tailed deer. This trail was full of birds and I realized how much I had missed bird song while out west. Today was like a full orchestra. It was lovely - truly music to the ears. We came out at the defunct fish hatchery with it’s beautiful stone walls and gate pillars built by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in 1938. When I got back Ralph, Gizmo and I took a walk in the woods. After lunch Ralph and I went to see the cave. It was raining lightly and this was a good way to spend the afternoon. We got to the visitor center, gift shop, and cave entrance just before the 2 o’clock tour. We picked out a simple patch from the gift shop and became a part of a rather large group taking the tour of the cave. Billy, the guide, explained that the CCC labored to build the park’s visitor center and dig out passages within the cavern from 1936 to the outbreak of WWII. These workers excavated tons of rock in five gallon buckets for a dollar a day. Imagine digging your way through these openings with a pick and a bucket and ending up with a dollar at day’s end! Though this was not an extensive cave it has a great representation of all the formations. Ancient pottery and Chert tools indicate the caverns were inhabited thousands of years before. The park (the seventh park established in the state of Florida) opened in 1942 and then the cave was opened to the public in 1947. This is the sixth cave I have been in on this Trip and all are very interesting and I saw new things in each one. This one I saw a tiny Eastern Pipistrelle Bat; tiny in sleep (about the size of a thumb) but with about a 10” wing span in flight. I would not take up spelunking but I would go in another cave given the opportunity. When we came out of the cave it was raining steadily and we hurried to the truck. We decided to make a run to the Wal-Mart Supercenter to get some grocery items. Just something to do, really. We came out to heavy rain, drove back to the trailer and carried everything inside including Gizmo who had gone along for the ride. For dinner we made chili. By bedtime the rain stopped.

It was quite warm when we went to bed but the temperatures dropped during morning. By 8 o’clock it was about forty degrees with beautiful blue skies. We saddled up and rode the same trail I rode yesterday as I realized I lost my cantle bag while riding yesterday. So I would need to retrace my steps to find it. The horses were pretty jazzed up with the cool weather but behaved wonderfully. We started getting pretty cold in the wind and under the shade of the trees but we did find the bag just past the river. We left the park after one. I spent a lot of time on the phone while Ralph drove. Also did some e-mails and even got the web page updated (a PC card that works best in the East I found). We easily found Copperhorse Farm, our next stop, in Ocala, FL. Joylen C. was out in the yard and greeted us warmly. I jumped out of the truck and ran around and gave her a hug. It was good to see her again. She and Gary (who is not here at this time) live about 45 minutes from us in Blueridge, GA except for several months they spend here at their Florida farm. They are great riding partners when we can get time to ride together. They also compete in Endurance Rides. Joylen had just gotten there herself and was still settling her horses. She showed us where we could put Jur and Silver Girl and I proceeded to unload them and feed them. For dinner I made sweet potatoes, smoked sausage and salad and we ate together. Then we roasted marshmallows and took nice hot showers in her house before calling it a day.

The next morning Joylen joined us for a cup of coffee and breakfast. It was quite cold and never got above 50 for the day. She and I bundled up and rode up Hwy 478 for about 1/3 of a mile to the trail head. This is the Cross Florida Greenway. A multi-use trail built from the abandoned efforts to build a canal across the state that was out dated before it was halfway built. We took it west. We used “The Cross Florida Greenway Land Bridge, a landscaped overpass that connects the east and west sides of the Greenway, allows trail users and wildlife to safely cross six lanes of Interstate 75 traffic.” We also used the tunnel near 49 Street. We rode through the Shangrala Camp and Trailhead and had lunch at Utopia Camp and Trailhead before turning around and heading back. We rode a total of 25 miles and it was a lovely ride. We got back before I got too cold, at five. We both started getting the horses fed and covered for the cold night (below 30). I went in and downloaded the pictures and Ralph grilled hamburgers. We all ate and I showed her some of The Trip pictures before we called it a night.

Ralph made the three of us French Toast the next morning. Then we all saddled up for a ride to the Florida Horse Park and around it. Silver Girl acted jumpy and Ralph lunged her and she settled down and he was able to saddle her without incident. Once all three of us were saddled up we rode down the road again and crossed it to the east on the Cross Florida Greenway. It was about ¼ mile to the Horse Park. It is 500 acres of green expanse. Very nicely done and kept. Anyone can ride it but you have to register to use the jumps (for safety). We did approach a couple. None of them were of a size for amateurs. On the east side we saw some beautiful farms of thoroughbreds. The yearlings were very curious about us. We also went to Via Paradisio, a million dollar equine community to see the million dollar gates. Ostentatious! At about 3 Joylen left to visit a friend and we drove to Ocala. In a store I met Sharon S. She recently sold out of a carriage business and would love to ride. So we exchanged cards. Ralph and I got back after 6 and I started making potatoes, tilapia, and a salad while Ralph got a shower.

In the morning Ralph said he did not sleep well and was not feeling well. He ached all day. It turned out to be a stomach virus. I talked to my brother, Glenn, and he invited us to join his family that night. He was having friends over for dinner at six. I said we’d love to and we’d bring desert. Ralph spent most of the day sawing up downed trees for Joylen. At four we pulled out to Glenn’s. He apparently only just got home as his truck was still running. My brother, Mark, was there as well doing some more work on their kitchen cabinets. Mark was very surprised to see us! So was Glenn’s wife, Ulrika, when she got home in another 15 minutes. It was great to see her and her “tummy” (expecting their third child in January). Ulrika is one of the few people I know gifted with a spontaneity that not much rattles. A very creative lady, she has designed the website and t-shirts: Even Santa Knows. Shortly after Mark left and Ulrika got home, their dinner guests; Steve and Susan W. arrived. I was taken to the play room by my niece and nephew, Evelina and Mattias. Evelina made a tea party. Then Ulrika served us a wonderful dinner of Halibut they caught in Alaska this summer while sharing their talents at Solid Rock Bible Camp for youth.

When I woke up next morning Ralph and his pillows were gone. He had gone into Joylen’s empty house to try to sleep without disturbing me. I got up and put the coffee on. We spent the morning at the two tack shops Joylen recommended. Then we got back to the trailer and ate lunch. Then I got on Ebay to see about a saddle pad like I had seen at the saddle shop. The one at the tack store was too small but I found one on Ebay. With Ralph not feeling well we stayed pretty close to the trailer the rest of the day.

Friday morning we met my sister’s family at Canaveral National Seashore for our ride at the Atlantic. It had poured all night off and on but was not raining when we left at 7. When we got to the beach at about 9:30 there were beautiful blue skies with a brisk breeze and warm. It would be perfect. After greeting Linda, Dean and David (nephew), we purchased our pass and our patches. Then we drove directly across the street to the beach side and a narrow parking area. No wonder they only allow six horses at a time. Our horses were saddled up and walked by hand across the boardwalk. I was glad to do it that way as the boardwalk was quite long. Ralph and I brought up the rear and stepped out onto the deep white and gold speckled sand. Jur showed some concern for the seaweed but did step on it. David riding Chili lead the way to the water. Chili seemed to have little concern for the waves and water and I think I got Jur in the water much faster because of Chili’s boldness. It was a beautiful ride down about 3 miles of beach before we came to surf fishermen and turned around. When we got back to the boardwalk it was about 12:30 (the rules allow the horses on the beach until 1) and we decided to tie the horses to it and bring the lunch Linda had brought down to the beach. We ate “under the boardwalk, the boardwalk.“ Jur kept mooching chips off Ralph. After we ate David and I did some gallops along the shoreline. Then I took Jur’s saddle off and put it in the trailer and replaced his bridle with the rope halter and leads. Then, barefoot and bareback, Jur, Gizmo and I went down to play in the waves. Linda joined us too. That was fun. We finally called it a day. It was about 3 when we left. We had an easy drive home.

Saturday: Ralph was finally feeling better. Mark invited us for the afternoon and had taken out Red Fish and Ocean Trout that he had caught and Robin was making potatoes and salad and green beans. And we got the grand tour - they have done so much work on their place on the lake which is about 5’down. Jesse set up a tea party and had first me and then Ralph attend. She and I played Ken and Barbie in her very big doll house inside her closet. Jesse is full of smiles and laughter so that you do not always remember the months she spent in the hospital as a premature newborn and the open heart surgery most people do not face until the advance of their lives. Those days it was hard to get her to smile. We ate a delicious dinner with them and enjoyed the evening very much. Mark showed us the creatures in his salt water aquarium. All his coral is alive and multiplying. It is beautiful. Can you find the neon gopie, engineer gopie and peppermint shrimp amongst the coral?

I don’t know how I pulled myself out of bed at 7. I had gotten up sometime in the middle of the night - sick. I contracted Ralph‘s virus. I felt so awful all day. Somehow I managed to get dressed and into the truck. Ralph drove us to Northland Church - Mt. Dora where we were meeting Mark and Glenn‘s families. The service was full of wonderful singing, incredible voices praising God for the gift of His son. They also have a web cast which I have enjoyed. After the service the kids ran around outside for awhile. Glenn helped me settle them for picture and then we slowly gathered them up to go to my Mom’s. We picked my Mom up to join us at a nearby restaurant for lunch. Evelina (age 4) suggested we each go around the table and say a prayer of thankfulness. All three children managed to have a unique prayer of thanks that was a joy to hear. We were in there a couple of hours and Ralph and I shared several highlights from our trip.

Christmas eve I woke up after sleeping nearly 13 hours, not feeling much better for it. I had no energy nor inclination to stay upright. I was feeling hard hit, maybe largely due to not having a virus in about 20 years. But rather than do nothing we went to the mobbed stores. I wanted some wrapping paper and fabric paint and Ralph went to Wal-Mart to buy the dinner rolls for Christmas dinner. He also bought eggs and I made devilled eggs. I also gave the paint to Ralph to paint antler ears for Gizmo. They turned out sufficiently gaudy and Gizmo did not enjoy wearing them much. But they sure are festive! And so was our Christmas Day!

December 25:  Celebrate the Gift of the Christ!

We could not have picked a better way to finish The Trip than to be with family. The first time with all of them was Christmas Day. With 21 of us, there were plenty of lively times and great food. 

It took many trips to the truck getting presents and food loaded and then unloaded at my brother's Glenn and his wife, Ulrika, and their two children Evelina and Mattias (and a third on the way). Gizmo went with us but did not get to visit (allergies of others prevented him from joining the group). Glenn and Ulrika did a great job; tables and chairs from the fire station Glenn works at with tablecloths and candles, even name cards. We greeted Gustaf and Eva from Sweden, Ulrika's parents, they do not look changed in these seven years since I saw them. Linda, Dean and David arrived and then my sister Karen and her husband Peter. It was great to see my nephew's, Kevin and Craig home from college arrive with my brother, Brian, and his wife, Wendy. My Mom arrived next; brother, Mark, and his wife, Robin, arrived with my niece, Jesse, at the last. Dinner was a large turkey and a ham with all the side dishes: sweet and white potatoes, rolls, squash casserole and broccoli with mixed vegetables, salad and devilled eggs, cranberry dish, and four kinds of awesome pies (wipe that drool). Ulrika spread it all out in the kitchen buffet style and with name cards we all found our seats around the long table. Not feeling well I needed to sit - a lot! And unfortunately, ate little. Ralph did a fine job though. After the feast, the guys moved the presents out to the patio (one great thing about Florida and a BIG crowd). We gathered on the patio and the children started handing out presents with the help of Mark who read the tags when they could not.  

Evelina got a new bicycle and was riding it in circles on the patio. Mattias got a ball he was concentrating on; he is going to be quite the soccer player. Mom was overwhelmed by the new Dell computer she received from everyone with printer. Ulrika gave Glenn a wonderful quilt made from all his old triathlon t-shirts! It was awesome! The kids were so much fun to watch, seeing their enjoyment. Glenn had the zip line  running from a tree at the back of the house down the yard. All the kids enjoyed it. The final gift of the evening (just before dark) was Glenn and Ulrika’s to Mattias and Evelina. A trampoline! He had dug out a pit for it and placed it into the ground making it quite safe! What a neat idea. They immediately tried it out.

During the day calls were made to missing family: my Dad (in Miami) and my Great Aunt Helen (in New Jersey) and my niece, Tiffany (in Louisiana). But before we could call our niece, Julie (in Boston), she called Linda (her Mom) and announced that Joey D. had asked her to marry him this Christmas morning and she had ecstatically accepted (pictured on right). Everyone enjoyed all the excitement of the day. As the sun hid for another night, a beautiful full moon rose over Glenn and Ulrika’s backyard lake. 

December 26 - January 3: McGregor-Smith Boy Scout Reservation

The day after Christmas I woke up feeling whole again! A 20 year space with no virus makes one feel pretty bad when you finally get one. Ralph made us two helpings of grits with cheese for our breakfast. We did the usual morning chores and then I called sister-in-family, Wendy. After talking to her, Ralph and I decided to make the drive to my Mom’s (one and a quarter hours south) and see Wendy and her family (staying with Mom) once more (they were not coming to the family camp). Mark’s family was there also, all in an effort to get Mom’s new computer set up. When we got there after 12:00, Kevin was on the computer and Mark had made a run to a store for a connector. They were running some cable in the attic. Pretty sophisticated stuff. Mom would now be more technically updated than any of her children or grandchildren! Ralph played and read with Jesse. After Brian and Wendy’s family left Mark continued to work on Mom’s Internet connection. After he, Robin and Jesse left I got on and tweaked her e-mail, setting up some contacts for her and just cleaning them up. And, I added our web page to her favorites, of course. We left around four and got to our trailer just before dark. We started getting ready for our departure the next morning. We were moving from our camp at Copperhorse Farm in Ocala to McGregor-Smith Scout Reservation in Inverness, about 25 miles away. I made a quick spaghetti dinner which really challenged my recovering intestines but they managed.

We were to meet Glenn and Mark at the gate at 10 am. So the next morning we finished packing things away and had a few minutes with Joylen and Gary. Then we headed down I-75 to Hwy 44, a fifteen minute drive and then another 15 minutes to Boy Scout Road. McGregor-Smith Scout Reservation looked the same with more land cleared. Southwest Florida Water Management District manages the land and was cutting down some of the more aggressive undergrowth allowing the oaks more headway. (The nearly 6000 acres was sold by the Boy Scouts South Florida Council and partially leased back to the Boy Scouts Gulf Ridge Council two years ago. Some members of my family have been camping there annually for 32 years. We now have a tradition of meeting there for a week of camping after Christmas each year.) We drove back to Moisen Camp, one of the sites 2 ½ miles from the gate on a sandy white road. Glenn got out his powered pole saw to clear lower branches and I got out to pick up while Mark and Ralph drove the vehicles with trailers. After we pulled into Moisen we still had to back the rig into a “spot” and level it. (Unlevel rigs are about impossible to get a decent sleep as your body tends to try to compensate for the incline. Ugh!) Soon our camp was set up, even with a clothes line. We started gathering firewood. Surrounded by oak hammocks there is an endless supply of oak firewood. Glenn and Mark set up their tents on the other side of the fire place from us. Glenn’s family joined us for the afternoon. Then later in the afternoon, Linda and Dean and David K. arrived. They brought three horses which they high lined near ours and set up their tents next to our camp. Glenn’s family and Mark went back home for the night. Glenn’s family would come back out tomorrow and Mark was meeting us to go to Tampa for a special part of our Trip.

We were up at 7 and on the road at 8:25. We met Mark at Hwy 50 and I-75; he joined us and we drove to Tampa. There I saw brothers, Bob Jr. and Scott D., for the first time in about 25 years. Despite the long span of time we were once one big family on the Fourth of July each year. That was when several families would get together on Key Biscayne for parade, beach, cookout, fireworks, and, of course, boat rides. Today we were going to relive one of those boat rides. And, I was going out with four guys. Woohoo! We went to see Bob Sr. (I had called him Uncle Bob as a youngster.) before going to the marina. It was great to see him and Adrianne again. The boat is dry docked at Tierra Verde Marina on Tampa Bay. It was awesome, simply awesome, to see the race boat turned family boat restored to such pristine racing condition. (For some background on our family boat click here and scroll down and click “read article.“ For the record, my Dad is pictured with the Babe on Bow and NOT with the Beatles though that is a quite famous picture in our family collection.) Bob Jr. fired the boat up and she sounded great, better than I remember. Not far past the first marker I took the wheel for the first time in maybe thirty years. I was thrilled to be on the water but this was an added treat. Soon Mark took the wheel and took us out into the Bay. He piloted us up the coast and after a good run or two Bob directed him to John’s Inlet and we docked at a dockside restaurant for lunch. During our great lunch of grouper sandwiches, we shared stories of times on the boat. Ralph had never been in it. Scott had no stories as he was too young then to remember them now. Bob’s last time on the boat was 42 years ago during one of the many Fourth of July visits. Mark and I had a collection of stories. One of my favorites was one of the last times we were all on the boat as a family. My youngest brother Glenn (now 42) was a toddler in my mother’s arms. We were cruising slowly down Biscayne Bay with her holding Glenn on the cushioned engine cover and the rest of us scattered along the sides of the deck. We had almost reached Mashta Point when a sleek Cigarette of a much more recent year came alongside us. (At that time our boat had no racing decals or name other than a flag and a number.) With reviving of engines, the other Cigarette indicated a desire to race. My Dad stared straight ahead not even indicating he had seen the offer while six kids got round eyes and hopeful and one mother gripped her baby tighter. After a moment the men in the other boat gave it full throttle and left us in their wake. I can remember my disappointment had just sprouted when my Dad did the same. The race was on. We were, by then, in a ten year old race boat loaded with nine people and yet we still overtook the newer boat. I still remember that thrill and apparently got a permanent taste for horsepower. Mark’s told of a more recent story. When the boat was launched in Miami last April all my brothers and my Dad went for a ride. Dad was at the wheel again and they cruised out Government Cut. At a point in the ride Mark glanced back and saw a police boat pulling up behind them. Mark motioned to my Dad who apparently took it to mean “let it rip” because he adjusted the throttle forward. Mark looked back again and sure enough the police were really coming after them. So Mark motioned to my Dad to try to get him to look behind him (you have to get to the ear of the person to be heard on these power boats). My Dad just lowered the throttle again. When Mark again looked behind them they were pulling away from the police boat. So, being a good citizen, Mark yelled to Dad to look behind him. My Dad looked and sort of jerked, he was so surprised. But he brought the throttle down and the police did come alongside. I will not use his language but the officer asked what they thought they were doing? When my Dad replied he was taking the boat for a test drive, the officer relented enough to ask about the boat and then asked for his photo with it. He also asked that they leave those waters as they were protected in anticipation of President Bush’s visit the following day. If it had been 24 hours later the officer said he would have shot at them instead of chasing them. After several such stories and a great lunch in the Florida sun Mark took us back out and then turned us around and I soon got the wheel again. After a few miles I was dying for some more speed and maybe some turns. When I said so, Bob came up behind me and lowered the throttle. Not much but it was great! Then after about 8 miles he said we needed to turn around. Oh thrill, I’d been waiting for this! Around a buoy we went and we raced up on some water birds one of which was slow to get going and ended up coming under the bow. I turned the other way slightly to avoid running it down. Whew! It flew out from my left and was safely away. On we sped! Ralph had been asked earlier to take the wheel and declined. (He had never even been in the boat much less driven it.) Now asked again I encouraged him to take the wheel as he might never pass this way again. So he stepped to the wheel and I went to port. He took us back toward the bay where Mark once again took the wheel. It is quite deep inside this waterway and Mark opened her up. We were following the cruise boat, the “Dolphin Chaser.” When Mark opened up we started running up her . . . stern and passengers were turning around to look. Then Mark turned right, over the wake, and we went airborne (see pictures at above link - these boats are famous for this). We estimate we were above 60 mph at that point and the landing bounced me off my feet for an instant. The moment they were back on deck I lifted my right hand and gave Mark the thumbs up sign. I was grinning. We were all grinning. Mark brought the speed down and we docilely ran back to the dock. Ah, it had been a great day on the water and it was sweet to wash her down and polish her up before saying goodbye to another wonderful time and taking another wonderful memory.

Saturday. Michael P., Mark’s 17 y/o son, arrived early and Mark and Glenn’s families were out mid morning. (Glenn camped every night but Ulrika slept at home so she could get sleep at 8 months pregnant.) Mark’s family were the only ones to see an alligator, we usually see a few. We started the day by doing some tree trimming around some of the buildings to make it easier for mowing. Around eleven the guys took their RC planes to the athletic field which David had mowed for this purpose. Dean and David flew at the same time Mark flew his with Michael. Ralph and I and Gizmo walked over there (less than ½ mile) and Mom came after with her dog, Molly. Then Linda arrived walking her Irish Setter, Willow. All three dogs got along but Molly and Gizmo had a great time running and chasing one another. Gizmo also tried to chase each plane but he got too close so we had to give the plane a head start. Then David got out a remote control car which Gizmo really had a challenge with because it stayed grounded but could make sharp turns and even turn back on Gizmo! Most the day was spent around the campground. Lot’s of time to relax or have a chat. A swing was put in a tall tree for the kids though a few adults took a turn on it to the entertainment of the kids. The girls enjoyed it greatly but Mattias would always revert to kicking a ball. In the evening the kids used a box trailer Mark and Glenn hauled their gear in to put on performances. They would make up a dance and entertain whoever stayed to watch. Robin became part of the troupe at one point and Bob was the sole audience at another.

The next day Joylen C. called me to tell me she was on her way with her daughter, Melissa, to ride with us. Robin rode Silver Girl and Linda rode her horse, Gracie, the five of us mounted up and packing lunches, rode out of camp. We rode to the Withlacoochee River and back but in six hours. The ride itself was lovely. We crossed Shin’s Ditch and rode through oak hammocks. The area is gorgeous with the big old oak trees covered in Resurrection Fern and Spanish Moss. We had lunch there. Then we rode on to the river. We got out to the river and took photos before heading back to camp. Glenn was cooking steaks and all the trimmings for dinner and Joylen and Melissa stayed to eat with us. We had a full house around the campfire.

New Year’s Eve is always a big day for us at camp. A bunch of us went over to the field to watch Mark and David fly their model planes. Ralph and I played with the kids. We took turns pushing them on the swing and Michael joined us. Glenn put up a climbing line and gave each of the guys a turn: Michael, David and Mark tried and then Glenn did some timed climbs. Four year old Evelina also climbed. I cooked a spaghetti dinner for everyone: 3 lbs of pasta, a huge pot of sauce with sausage and meatballs, garlic bread (by Ralph and kids) and Robin put together a salad. I also made devilled eggs. I passed around the prickly pear cactus candy I had picked up in Arizona and cookies for dessert. We also roasted marshmallows, the campfire treat. After dinner Mark and Dean put together some fireworks and we all went out to the athletic field to watch. They were small but great. The best was watching David race across the dark field after two of the rockets to recover them. And there was one brilliant falling star to top off the night. Quite the entertainment! By the end the kids had fallen asleep. We were in bed at ten thirty but at 11:45 I woke to hear the horses dancing around and Ralph and I jerked out of bed. Jur was tangled in his line but he held still for me to remove him. We were back in bed before the new year.

The new year started with rain in the night. We were awake at 8 and started our generator just after Bob started his. It was a beautiful day. I made French Toast for whoever wanted some. Ulrika, Eva, Gustaf, Evelina and Mattias arrived next. Eva and Gustaf went for a walk appreciating the mild Florida weather so different from Sweden this time of year. Mom and Jesse took Molly for a walk and Linda and Dean saddled up their horses and went for a ride. Mark and David went to fly the planes but were back in little time, the breeze was picking up. So David saddled up Chili and went to catch up to Linda and Dean. It got cooler throughout the day. Mark and Glenn kept the fire going. After lunch Glenn cut down a dead Hickory Tree. Then the logs were quickly cut up and we stacked it as firewood. Linda’s family spent the rest of the day packing up and left after 3. Ulrika’s family left around four. That left Bob and Mom, Mark’s family and Ralph and I. We all enjoyed Robin’s chili for dinner and then watched my slide show of The Trip. Then Mark’s family left for home at 8 because Robin was feeling so ill (the virus was spreading). The rest of us retired to our trailers and Ralph and I read and worked on the computer.

Mom and Bob packed up the next day. Mark came early and left late in the afternoon. At noon I heated up Robin’s leftover chili and served it on leftover rice and potatoes. At 3, Glenn and I mounted the horses that had stood saddled for several hours. Glenn wanted to ride to the river. So after a picture by Ralph we went out of the back of camp. It was quite chilly and we were both wearing dusters (Glenn wearing Ralph’s) over some layers of clothes. We started at a walk and Glenn asked if we were just going to walk. I asked him what pace he wanted and we then discussed the difference between walking, trotting, loping and galloping. The walk on most horses is generally about 2.5-3 mph and a four beat, meaning the horses places the four hoofs to the ground one at a time. It is usually easiest on the rider taking only balance to maintain. My horses are fast walkers and can do a 3.5 mph walk. The trot is a two beat gait and takes some skill, not only for the rider to “maintain their seat” but also for the rider to control the horse at this speed, 7 mph or greater. This gait has a period of suspension. The horse springs from one diagonal to the other. In between these springs, all four legs are off the ground. Since the trot has two beats each stride has a moment in mid-air, it is more comfortable for the rider (and the horse) to rise up and down every-other beat (this is called "posting"). The lope (or canter) is a three beat gait called the “rocking chair gait” because it can feel like your body is being rocked within the seat of the saddle rather that jolted. Many riders, even inexperienced, find this doable. It can range from the same speed as the trot to about 15 mph. The gallop is similar to the lope except a four beat. It feels like a fast lope but should only be attempted by experienced riders. Glenn opted for the lope. We did the same ride as I had done three days before (in six hours) but in reverse and with one wrong turn that added an additional mile. We encountered four separate groups of deer. The first one spooked Jur in the lead at the time. He jumped to the right, off the trail and into the woods, fortunately not doing any damage. Silver Girl and Glenn were still on the trail when we returned and they took the lead. Then almost back to camp we encountered a herd of boar. The first one I saw was so big I thought it was a black cow! And it was not the biggest. Glenn saw some pretty big tusks on the last one. We were back at camp at 5:30 and thoroughly enjoyed the ride to the river and through the oak hammocks and seeing all the wildlife. We ate a another dinner of spaghetti inside the trailer and then went out and enjoyed the cold evening at the fire. We stayed up until ten. Then we all sought the warmth of our sleeping bags. Glenn was in a tent with three sleeping bags. We just had our one over our bed sheets. It still got down to 43 degrees inside the trailer by morning. I imagine Glenn’s tent was the 27 degrees of the morning. Brrr!

It was so cold on my head I kept pulling the blankets over my head for warmth. That was the only way to sleep. At seven am Ralph turned on the generator and then our heat. It took almost an hour to get it up to 65 degrees in the trailer. Ralph also fed the horses their prepared feed before coming back in for coffee. He made the three of us cheese omelets and grits. Glenn started up the fire again almost immediately and we all frequently gathered around it the rest of the morning. As we packed up we made a decision to stay in Florida through Sunday. We would still break camp, so I called Mark to see if we could camp at his place a couple of days. He said “absolutely.” He was already on his way out to camp with Jesse (giving Robin one more day to recover from the virus) and would see us in another hour. Staying through Sunday would let us go see my Dad in Miami tomorrow with Glenn and for me to attend the baby shower on Saturday for Ulrika. We would drive home Sunday. When Mark arrived we found out he was on his way to Homosassa and we decided to ride there with him. So, after packing up, we gave the horses water and hay still on their high line, said a temporary goodbye to Glenn, and piled into Mark’s extended cab pickup. Jesse and I had a good time in the back seat while Ralph (with Gizmo) and Mark talked in the front. When we got to Jeff M.’s house in Homosassa Springs I took Gizmo and sat at the waterfront while Ralph went in with Mark. Jesse ran off to play with Jeff’s youngest daughter. Abby (one of Jeff’s five daughters) came and talked to me. I shared with her how God had directed so much of our steps on this 7 month trip. She shared that she was “waiting for the Lord’s direction.” What a great place to be as the Lord wants us to patiently wait on His will rather plowing forward with what we think best. Abby and her Mom started True Source Ministries, a ministry to women in crisis. God is already using her so powerfully at 24! What an encouragement she was in a few minutes to me. Mark was done quickly with what he had come to do and we needed to leave. Hopefully the Lord will allow Abby’s and mine steps to cross again. Ralph and I and Mark and Jesse drove back, stopping to eat lunch. We arrived back at Moisen Camp at 4:00 and we drove out at 4:30. We got to Mark and Robin’s just before dark and quickly set the horses up on the high line between two oak trees. Then we set up down by the lake. For two days we enjoyed our lakefront place. After we ate, we went in to watch Shrek 3 with my niece, Jesse, and her parents, Mark and Robin. We enjoyed the movie and then returned to our camper for a very early start the next morning. Ralph had decided to not make the trip to Miami. He will stay around the camper and take advantage of Robin’s offer to use the clothes washer.

To see a family album click on the family picture!    

Next, the final days of The Trip.