Otis takes a ride.
Yeah, I know – a cat. This past fall ‘Otis’ wandered up and after spending the $ to have him ‘fixed;’ we’re giving him every opportunity to ‘fit-in,’ so far he has passed all his exams. Anyway, –
a cat wandered up…. other than that it’s been a quiet winter in the foothills of South Carolina. More often than not it was comfortable weather, the frigid weather held back until the first part of January – then we got a dash of it!
Within it all I have nothing to complain about – i didn’t have to pull out my ‘jong-johns,’ the pipes didn’t freeze, and nothing broke. Another month, another set of bills – seasons’ pass, and another sunset hits the mountains; ‘Life’ is good.
In this rotation is February – a time to trade any sense of ‘cabin-fever’ for another snowbird ‘loop’ through Florida – my homestate. It’s ironic growing up hating tourists because of their impact on our little town, and now having an “R-U-V!” But at at this time also (life at 60 ) it fits, so well, why not?
btw; one of the GK’s (James) calls our RV an R-‘U’-V, James is a pretty smart guy, so with this our ‘Little Bessie‘ is now considered a first class “R-U-V!”.
On last year’s ‘loop’ I wanted to ride the backroads of W Georgia to Florida; long story short – it didn’t happen (‘fluid’ decisions). We stay off of the interstates as much as possible; this year in the direction of South Georgia and Plains, Ga – home of Former President Jimmy Carter. I always liked this guy – still do, he’s a good man. So we spent the day ‘lolly-gagging’ around the town stores and finding out first-hand just how much he is thought of as ‘a friend’ and neighbor. He has a lot of friends.
The old brick elementary school he attended has been preserved by the National Park System, really nice – and a place where the halls can easily remind one of where real ‘friendships’ begin. The above picture was on the wall – I liked the character and took a picture of it.
Sometime in the night Otis came out of his nest, looked around – then curled up and went back to sleep. Kims done a good job training him.. His eating/cat activities were normal with no messes. When morning came we continued southward on Ga Highway 19 into Florida with a stop at Fanning Springs.
Fanning Springs is a clear spring along the Suwannee River that I’ve paddled through several times – and it was a good time to show Kim where’d I been the past several years.
I was really hoping for Kim to see some Manatees, and surprisingly we found 6 or seven ‘lazing-around’ just below the clear spring waters in the thin February sunshine.
Next stop along the way was to see an old friend, Dan Goddard (FMHS 70). I’m a ‘drop-in’ kinda guy, and Dan is always good with it. A schoolmate, we chatted as we walked through his back-yard (‘bone-yard‘) of old-cars and rusty projects – I’m into that stuff too; just don’t have a pace to put it – so I enjoy others stuff. Old-friends are good; and after a mmmmeaty burger and a beer at nearby Willards with Dan – Kim and I were off to Rainbow Springs.
We had five days and four nights at Rainbow Springs State Park waiting. Long enough to get comfortable, and a good place to get Kim in a kayak – on the water. The North Carolina Carr’s gave us a tandem-kayak for use at the lake, and when Kim said she would get out in it; I threw it on the trailer (along with my solo) and took them both with us.
The Rainbow river
If I ever have another home; along the Rainbow river would be the place.
The place worked well for getting her introduced to a kayak, and I think she liked the clear water. The Rainbow Springs ‘head’ is about a mile upstream, an easy paddle so we worked our way up river – then with our ‘feet-up,’ completed a very mellow hour-long trip back to the campground ramp.
I was wondering if I could get her back in (kinda hoping not so I could solo) but I blew it when I mentioned there was beverage at the other end. The following day we paddled (lightly) with the current a few hours down the Rainbow river to the Withlacoochee. A little further from there was the Blue Gator tiki bar – and next door was a shuttle (at our convenience) back to the Park.
– it is true, at the end of the Rainbow – was a cold little cup of gold.
Oh yeah, and Otis – he figured right in to this park-life stuff.
After a week at Rainbow, we hit the bacroads once again – down the road stopping to visit a cousin, Ellen (Lakeland/Kathleen is family land, Mom’s side).
Ellen’s got a neat little place off Scrotum rd (Socrum rd) with just the right amount of livestock – and a little gator in her pond. Julie, her daughter is the only female gator-trapper for the area and drops one off on occasion. Good to see Ellen and her other daughter Ginger whom was enjoying a birthday.
To “Creek Week”
and some paddlin time…
The goal for the past year was this ‘week at the Creek’ – with friends.
Al and Ava (FMHS 71) came in for a few days, and ‘pitched’ in – right beside us.
It was a time to enjoy what a place and folks have in common…..
(now Ava, was that mouse really that big??)
and there was plenty of ez time within the weekday peace to take a paddle….
gator watch
maybe even reflect,
or share a laugh
Life can be, a tire swing – if you let it.
Kim paddled the waters too
even got some gator watchin time in
Of course there were a few other stories floating around the camp too…
another good thing about old friends
It was a simple time, with the best of friends
Kim and I remained through the weekend, as the crowds came – weekend at the creek changed, it was like a festival without the band.
Full of people and their activities – all the canoes and kayaks were rented out, the campsites were full – even had a ‘Joe Dirt’ wedding taking place. I was impressed how the staff kept up with everything. We just rode the bikes around and watched it all in amusement, kinda like hanging around a boat ramp – cheap entertainment.
Sunday was the best though; we watched as the crowds departed…..
Monday the peace and tranquility of the creek was back; later that day we headed North
Otis’s first ride in the RUV was a positive; he operated at the same pace as everyone else and fit in just fine.
“….can’t we all just get along?”
.
link; Tom Haynie
Hey you three Haynies:
This is GREAT read Tom. I feel as if I really experienced this FL trip
with you, Kim…and of course, Otis!
I truly regret not meeting him, as I’m an animal-lover.
Even though he’s not “blood”,
we would have accepted him into the clan.
Does he get to play around outside of your R-U-V,
or are his accommodations inside?
Hope you put all your “thinkin’ on paper” into book form sometime soon.
You have a real talent. Who would have thunk…most Hilliard’s don’t like
to write, unless they’re signin’ their paychecks. Ha!
May God continue to keep your little 3-some SAFE, satisfied, and happy!
BLESSINGS!
Always, Yore Cuzin’ Ellen
P.S. It took me a second to recognize the angle you took the pic of my
place from. Hummm…wonder if’in I’d been gone longer, would you have
found my buried treasure?!??
Thanks Ellen, Good to see you – and I appreciate you letting us ‘drop-in’ like that (and now I know where to start looking for that treasure). 🙂
(Chicken train)……