Got the Volunteer Job

Mae & Grandma (Red Marshmallows)
ready for Church in Ocala

Sunday we went to church at the Spanish Branch in Ocala.  Why not?  Our weekend fire-bugs are all fluent  en Español .  We got so hungry working our brains to understand everything that was going on in the meeting that we stopped to eat.  Good thing, as we were served up the BEST Mexican food I'd ever had.  Give me more!  The horchata had real Cinnamon and ground almonds added to the rice beverage, and the tacos were seasoned perfectly.  Viva Mexico!  

The day kept getting better, because when we returned Dan Johnson, the host we are replacing, had the good news that all we had to do was fill out the paper application for the file, and we could start.  The job is only until the end of the month, but how fun!  We get to stay!  (Good thing, since I said I'd never leave.) 

It was so sad after the kids packed up their tents and left.  The only cure was to go on a canoe ride the next day.  Bob was up for the adventure and pedaled the mile to the Ranger Station to check out the paddles and life preservers for the half-mile trek to the river.  We were amazed at the natural beauty we encountered.  Bright yellow and purply-pink flowers painted the river banks, as did bumpy-backed gators.  The last one we spotted was the biggest alligator I'd ever seen in Florida.  He didn't look real.  Bob wacked the water with his paddle to splash water on him, and oh, yah...his growl was real enough to get us out of there.   

We found a band of playful rhesus monkeys.  They didn't mind us floating alongside to greet them.  Not even the moms with babies seemed nervous.  Three of them hung in the branches over us and were swinging in a way I thought they'd fall in the boat!  I'd recently been reminded about the woman who had her face torn off by a monkey, and the thought actually made me nervous, so Bob moved near a group who were posing by sitting together on a log grooming each other. 

The Cormorants put on a full-length show.  Three of them fought over a fish that was quickly swallowed by the rightful owner, making a huge bulge in his neck.  It was certainly evident why they are called snake birds, but I mistook one that was swimming under the water as a gator. 

We paddled up to Silver Springs and it was unnerving to see all of way to the bottom through the ultra-clear water.  The boil keeps it free from sea grass, so the bigger fish enjoy drifting about unencumbered.  Gar and bass of a "Wow" size abounded.  We didn't need a glass-bottomed boat to see everything.  Mah-velous!

Our Personal Paradise...FOUND




Sites have HUGE pads for ANY RV or Tent (see table 4 scale)

Not a problem at all at Silver River SP

I researched all of the state parks in the central area of Florida and felt Silver River SP was perfect for us.  I sent in an application (the best I could write) to http://volunteer.gov/gov/  (which is a super place to apply for work all across America)...and have been waiting for several weeks.  No word, so we took our own advice and called (no help needed) and then drove straight there to see the park for ourselves.  It was BETTER than we imagined.  As soon as we were parked in our huge space, I took off on my bike and soon met Don, one of the hosts.  I spooked him, walking up on him as he was enjoying going through his fishing rods.  He told me one host couple would have to be leaving early (for the unhappy job of having a hip replaced).  Don told me to head for the Ranger Station to talk with the Volunteer Coordinator...but she had just left for several days.  



Well then, it's time to explore the surprises that await in this incredibly fascinating park.  We soon found 15 miles (24.1 km) of pine needle-strewn trails...all shaded and wonderfully twisted through the live oaks and palmettos.   The Swamp Trail led to a sacred spot along the river...known for the great peace it can bring to a soul in turmoil.

 

Recreated Cracker Homestead



Straight down the road from the campground we found a village of restored or "newly-built" 19th century farm buildings (houses, meeting house, sheds, blacksmith, etc.) and a museum that has more bang-for-the-buck than any its size in the world!  The next weekend was Ocali County Days, an action-packed festival re-creating Florida a century ago. This is a living history event with displays, tours, and performances incorporating living historians: real buckskins, rifles, hides, Seminole Indians, Spanish Andalusians (horses) cows, all of the farm animals...and my favorite--bunnies!  It has become a popular annual attraction in the area, so Bob invited our nephew and his wife.  They insisted our son, who is a resident at Florida Hospital, take time off and come with his family.  This was all very exciting, except the campground had been sold out for the event since last year!  A quick check confirmed what I feared:  no other park took tents, and they had no openings for the weekend anyway.  Bob took a fistful of money and his faith in his own convincing ways, and said he'd find a tenting spot.

Unusual trailers started pulling into the park.  This vendor had his goods and a generator on the back of this trailer.  The beards on the men were grown to stare at, and the costuming was extraordinary. 

  

This is the first time in a LONG time where I felt like I could really relax.   Ahhhhh......