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Published: January 7th 2011
After a week re-grouping at at Linda's - spending nice, relaxing time with her, and lot of snuggly nights with Skeffy, I found myself jonesing for the road (has anyone established TA - traveling anonymous?). Off I went. Hadn't yet made big decisions about what's really next - didn't yet know what the next chapter would hold for Skeffy, among other things - so just heading south for a week or two (to warmer, campable weather) seemed reasonable. Florida here I come.
Bonnie, a wonderful woman I met at the Tennessee Fitness Spa (2nd chapter of the trip...Sept 26-Oct 10), lives in Alpharetta...under 2 hours from Linda. Stop one.
Lovely evening. Great walk with dogs, dinner and wine, exceptional sleep in beautiful guest room...best B&B to date! : )
Hit the road after coffee and breakfast, and headed south. Great farm stand stop (kittens hanging out in canopy, sacks of peanuts in corner, and nice cash register conversation); A town sign that seemed perfectly timed to my thoughts on the drive.
Found a campsite just across the entrance to the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge. A bit chilly. Briefly considered a cabin over a tentsite - but feeling a
Serendipity
Passing through McRae - what timing!bit anxious about money matters with the start of the new year (shoot - am I ever going to be willing to look for a reasonably paying job again?) I opted for saving the $25 and braving the cold. Big tip: warmer to be IN your sleeping bag than to use it as a blanket!
Wednesday morning I shot across the road and entered the Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge in search of gators. Parked my car just inside the entrance and set off on my bike. Biked down swamp drive - about 10 miles - through beautiful, quiet, lush swamp land. Eager (and a tad afraid) to see alligators, I stared into a number of puddles and ditches, but to no avail. Just as I approached the Chesser Homestead - a homestead built in 1927 and inhabited for many years- the skies opened up. I was thankful for the several outbuildings and took shelter in the sugaring hut. Found a granola bar in my pack, and sat out the rain. Quite nice really.
Back at the visitor center I got to talking with Kate - a volunteer. Next thing I knew I was putting her 24x36, framed collage, in
Swamp Pedal Scenery
Okefenokee Wildlife Refuge my Jeep - (though not before getting completely soaked pedaling back to get my car). So...now I have a mission. The framed collage of newsclippingings about hurricanes Bonnie and Kate are to be delivered to Kate's dear friend - owner of Coconuts Bar in Big Pine Key, who named her daughter Bonnie Kate.
The rain was a bit relentless. Didn't want to complain - knew the region needed it - but couldn't help laughing as I crossed into Florida: Welcome to the Sunshine State! I ditched my plans to camp on Anastasia Island and found a hostel in St. Augustine - the Pirate Haus. Great choice!
Thursday morning, one thing led to another, and I found myself joining up with a group of cyclists and heading to a bike shop (apparently that little 'oops' outside Bryce Canyon did a bit more damage than I had realized before I started riding through the refuge). This foursome heads out from St. Augustine on Saturday and plans to arrive in Austin Texas in 7 weeks or so. It's tempting to take them up on their invitation to join them!
The bike shopAn hour later, I had two repaired wheels, a rack
where I had only a fender, and a helmet (remember the other oops...the helmet and the tractor trailor incident?).
From the bike shop the group and I peddaled to a very cool lighthouse ( we actually climbed the 200+ stairs to the top), then back over the bridge to St Augustine, and over to the Catiillo de San Marcos - the oldest masonry fort in the country. Impressive!!
The day was topped off with the beautiful sounds of Keith playing the dulcimer. Charmed...the day, the trip to date. So very grateful!
Okay - heading south now...
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Bonnie McBride
non-member comment
HA!
BonnieKate? Really?? How eerie is that? (although MY Cate is spelled with a "C":) Seems like you found some sunshine after all---YAY!