bugs

The state Georgia is just about 30 to 40 minutes driving from Tallahassee. We went to this little town called Bainbridge, just past the border with Florida. It's a very cute place to be, with a very distinct kind of style and feel to it. The houses are absolutely beautiful, dating back to the late 19th century. I was mostly amazed by the colors and the decorations giving it a 'homely' feel. The little shops surrounding a city center square were all closed due to the fact it was Sunday, making it almost seem deserted. I think in the half hour we were there we ran into just two people. The strangest thing about being there were the amount of bugs flying around. It was almost impossible to take pictures and have a normal conversation without having bugs flying in al facial crevices. It was hard imagining people actually living here and being able to deal with the bugs while going shopping!

Speaking of bugs, they really kill me here. I must be some kind of European bug magnet or something. We went to look for a campsite in the Apalachee forest close to Tallahassee. It's a incredibly beautiful area. We found the site we were looking for and decided to look around a little to see if we liked it. We came across some crazy bugs including a lubber grasshopper, about the size of a finger. After that for some reason I got chased down by a very desperate deerfly. It stings really bad and it wouldn't stop coming after me. I started running and jumping and stomping on the ground but every time I managed to get rid of it within 20 seconds it would be on me again. It followed me everywhere no matter how fast I ran. And it was NOT interested in Dave!! He on the other hand had a horsefly coming after him that wasn't interested in ME!! Within 15 minutes we were back in the car yelling with fright (ok ok, I have to admit that was just me...) and left without intention to go back to camp there. The bug spray and bug repelling bracelets didn't seem to do the trick, and even two hours later I was still checking to make sure the deerfly didn't come in the car with us, just like the horsefly twice attempted to.

Shellpoint, a coastal village half an hour driving south from Tallahassee, is something quite different. Most of the houses are truly just villas built on pillars. They have magnificent verandas looking out over the ocean. The ocean breeze makes the heat bearable and people drive around there in golf carts instead of cars. The speed limit is 15 mph, making it possible for even children to drive around in golf carts without the assistance of a grownup. I've never seen anything like it. Most people own boats around the area, making it clear that only rich people live around there. We took a peek at some sale flyers for houses there and saw prices up to and above a million dollars. We're fantasizing about buying a house on pillars there now :) The beaches are filled with little and big crabs, the big ones we saw were about the size of a big adult hand. It a true battle zone out there when the crabs attack the hermit crabs in the cone shaped shells that sometimes flip upside down because of the current of the waves, making the vulnerable for attack. I will never forget the big eyes on Dave's face and him yelling, 'O no! We have to save it!' almost running into the water with clothes and shoes on, ready to fight this huge crab off. I love him :)

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