Ocala NF ECT2, Florida Y'all

“Jerbear, Om said that you might be interested in seeing the manatees at Crystal River or Homassassa. If you are, what day would you like to go? Tuesday or Friday works best for me. Let me know so that I can make arrangements for a hotel and time off.

The best time to be out there is right before sunrise, before the dive boats start bringing the touristas. Man, if you've never seen those Caspers from places up north like Ohio or New Jersey its not a pretty site. They're so pastey white they glow in the water and scare away the manatees.”

“Hey! You just described my brother-in-law! So pale he glows! Computer geek, ya know.”

“arc and jer.
my vote is for homosassa, cuz you can get out and swim with them and seems less crowded and cozier than crystal river....there is a place to rent wet suits if ya need one too....but that is just my 2 cents.”

“HPM..i'm just planning on getting to ocala and getting on hwy 40 or whatever to the campsite? there should be signs right?..i'm pretty good at finding my way..pple keep telling me to get lost..and i keep finding my way back”

“Just had a scare. The Boss called me into his office for a "chat" about my leave request. I convinced him I had everthing at work lined up and running and the place wouldn't go into the crapper if I took a few days off. Hee Hee.
Funny how you can be so necessary at work and yet so disposable when cut back time comes.
He signed my leave slip so I'll be there Friday morning come rain or shine. Right now I think the forecast is rain Fri-Sun. Rain's part of backpacking. Yoo Hoo.”

“my very first TT trip was spent almost entirely in the rain.....boy.....you can really do some bonding as a group of drowned rats.....
not to worry! we can build lean tos out of palmetto fronds...if it rains.......right HPM.. we can earn a frond hut badge....LOL

lots of folks drive for hundreds of miles to go backpacking in the rain and snow and love it... everywhere......except florida......like, it is supposed to never rain or get cold here!
we need precip too! keep that water table from going dry!”

“To get to Juniper Springs just take I75 South to SR40 East through Ocala (I believe SR40 is the same as US27) Once you enter the Ocala National Forest Juniper Springs will be to your left.

Very easy to find.”

“here's a great, secret shortcut. it's easier to take 432 south. go left, at the fork, onto 49, 23 miles north of ocala. you can cut through atlantic street onto 32, then cut a right onto 14. when you intersect with 29a, go left and it'll be RIGHT THERE!”

“Is that the way that goes past the tire factory and the sewage treatment plant?”

“it used to be, but now the tire factory is a disco.”

“Phone number for Juniper Springs: (352)625-3147.
Fee: $10.75/night, tent loop. $12.75/night other loops.
Facilities: Hot showers, flush toilets, water spigots, pay phone, camp store.
Each site has: Tent pad, concrete picnic table, fire ring.

CAMPGROUND RATINGS (out of five stars)
Beauty: 5
Site privacy: 3
Site spaciousness: 3
Quiet: 3
Security: 5
Cleanliness/upkeep: 4


Weather update:
Today: 70/39 (cloudy, 60% chance thunderstorms)
Wednesday: 65/36 (mostly sunny)
Thursday: 65/49 (partly cloudy)”

“Since this trip looks rainy and doesn't have any elevation changes over 10 feet, I going to go non-ultralight for this trip.
Question # 1: Is the trail fairly wide so an umbrella might be used?
Question # 2: Do I need to bring my water filter (Will we be using pond water or well water at the camping sites)? I will have iodine tabs. I carry my day use water.”

“There are some parts where an umbrella will have a hard time due to ducking and weaving around sray limbs but from what I remember the trail isn't super tight.

Pond water at the campsites. We will be passing near a couple of places that have pumps but we won't be camping near them.

I always bring my filter.”

“mary poppins”

“Trekker John is vry doubtful for this trip due to his big move.

We need to just meet at Juiper and shuttle cars.

Those who are willing to shuttle us back to Juniper just pay the day-use fee when you get to Juniper.

Opie you were willing to be a shuttle right?

Last time we fit about 9 folks w/packs in your truck right Coop?”

“Everybody please state how many are coming with you.

Just me.
1”

“me!”

“"Me"”

“i'm in-just 1
like i said..mine will hold 5 pple and has a 4 foot bed for gear and pple....”

“I am packing as I type!

I am in like flin!

8)”

“i sense that i will not be at the trailhead at nine a.m. , but ya never know....if those crazy northerners end up in my yard , i will definitely help them out with a shuttling, as i will be guiding them down to ocala sometime that morning.

i am not known for my sense of being on time or commitments...:) when i am away from work.”

“Just stay away from my bacon Mike.”

“There will be 5 people leaving from my house and heading down. We will be using 2 vehicles on the way down.”

“Yes, I will be there. I expect to arrive around noon on Thursday. Will try to leave the site number at the entrance. They should have a message board.

Just returned from the "glades." Had a great trip hiking and canoeing. The highlight of the trip was after a struggle when I reached the summit of Mt. Everglade, elevation 3 feet.

Paul”

“I am all packed and I am ready to go!

8)”

“I haven't even started packing yet. I'll do it tommorrow.”

“Well.....ok Om. We won't give you a tardy slip or send you to the Dean or anything.

About 9am is cool.”

“Give or take.

I'm not packed yet but the cool thing is that I have a hike next weekend too in Osceola NF. I'll be packed for two trips.”

“You're not going to unpack and dry things after the first weekend. Phew!”

“Well, maybe the really stinky stuff after all, the next weekend is with my Scout and they aren't know for freshness.

LOL!”

“man, that's one reason that i love my garage. as i walk from the jeep to the inside of the house, i can just dump all the wet gear out and kick it around a little.

i recently put my old stereo system, my old nintendo, and my beer fridge, from college, in there. now, i can go 'hank hill' and look at my bike, while drinking an ice-cold natty light, while fondling my tools. jen said that i should just move out there. once i get the brass dance pole installed, i might just do that!”

“i wonder if i can get some hooter's girls to dance to 'simple man', by skynyrd?”

“Why not ask Jen?”

“Just finished seamsealing my TarpTent again. Must weigh at least an oz. more. Come on rain!!!”

“Just waterproofed the boots and seam sealed the tent. Bring on the rain!

As previously stated, we'll be a group of two. We'll be getting in to Juniper Springs around 1 PM and will catch up to the rest of you on the trail. I'm a little fuzzy about parking fees at JS but I can clear that up with a phone call. (Thank you Arclite for posting the number!)

Have maps, will travel. See you there!”

“I'm bringing a total of 2.

HPM - So from what I gather I should show up at Juniper and 9:00 and we'll figure out shuttling from there. Bummer on Trekker John, he had some cool stories.

I guess I could do a little pre-packing tonight and tomorrow. Work has been a bear lately so I've been a bit sidetracked.

Stovestomper - glad you were able to get the days off. That is always a bummer when you see your plans fizzle in the concerned look of a boss. I thought the whole umbrella thing was ultralight?

Ocala just won't be the same without Sarabelle...”

“This trip has PIMP writen all over it!

8)

See ya all very soon!”

“I hope you guys all have fun on the trip! I wish that I was able to go with all of you. Keep OPIE straight and don't let him make anyone carry all of his gear since I'm not going to be there to do it.. lol. His truck also has the tendency to want to head toward strip clubs. I told him he's got to fix it!

Have fun and I hope the weather's great!”

“I will keep him in line Miss Opie.

8)”

“Well there's some peace of mind Miss Opie. hehe”

“Well, I am bringing my beater truck. I have to go to Daytona Sunday to pick up some furniture. It is a 2 seater but lots of room in the bed for packs. Let me know where I can best help!”

“im giggling uncontrollably as i read the weather forecast for central indiana and compare it to the forecast for ocala. the lows for ocala are about 20 degrees higher than the highs here.


hehe hhehehehehehehe HEHEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE

~snickersnort~”

“Thu
Feb 06 Mostly Cloudy 75°/44° 20%
Fri
Feb 07 Showers 68°/42° 50%
Sat
Feb 08 Few Showers 65°/45° 30%
Sun
Feb 09 Few Showers 68°/43° 30%”

“The "umbrella thing" is ultralight except when it's in addition to froggtoggs and rain pants, hee hee. 40 degree rain is something to be concerned about.
That dang Ray Jardine guy stole my umbrella idea. I was using an umbrella for Smoky Mt hikes 20 years ago. Only drawback is during thunderstorms. It makes a real good lightning rod while running ridges!
I say I'm not going ultralight this trip because I'm going to use my old 4# frame pack rather than my GoLite Breeze or GVP 4. I have a way to attach my umbrella to the pack frame and it provides excellent rain protection while leaving my hands free. Looks Goofy, but we are close to Disney World. ;)”

“That will be interesting to see Stovestomper. Like HPM said - the trail narrows on occasion, but I think the blow downs will be your biggest adventure with your setup.”

“Well I gotta go and get my gear out and start packing!!!”

“His truck also has the tendency to want to head toward strip clubs.

Miss Opie
08:25:45 PM
02/04/03


I'm riding with Opie!!!!”

“I hope its very warm down there because its suppossed to snow here Thur or Fri! Brrrrr. I told OPIE to take lots of pretty pics for me with his new memory card.

No no strip clubs! He's got to be prepared for me next weekend, Valentines day!”

“Its my last day of work!!!!I am all packed and I am ready to go!

Oh boy Oh Boy!!!!!!!!

8)”

“AAAAAAAAAAA Yes!
Valentines day!
I Love Strippers!!!!”