“I think I may take you up on the offer to crash your pad again. Looking foward to seeing you again!!”

“Ocala National Forest
Feburary 7, 8 and 9th.
Florida Trail
Start at Juniper Springs
End at Alexander Springs
Total mileage: about 18.5 miles

I would like to meet at 9am on Friday at Juniper. That would give is plenty of time to shuttle cars. For those who arrive later the trail is VERY easy to find and follow.

Friday
The hike today will be about 6.5 miles.
Meet at Juniper Springs campground on State Road 40. Parking is $10 (that may be per night) Anyone that remembers exactly, shout it out to all of us. We then need to shuttle some cars to Alexander springs. Trekker John has a 15 passenger van and has indicated that he is ok with being the shuttle guy (or one of them anyway). We will camp on an Oak hammok (seasonal) island in Farles Prairie affectionately known to some of us as Scattered Porn or simply Porn Island. (Story to be explained on the trip) Water is available from the prairie but please bring a couple of coffee filters to wrap aboud the intake of your filter. The island is covered by a huge spreading Live and Water Oaks. There should be enough trees for hammocks on the island but not if everyone uses one.

Saturday
7 miles today
We hike from Porn Island to Lake Bonney. We will pass Farles Campground and Buck Lake both have hand pumps for water. We will camp along the shore of Lake Bonney. Obviously water is available from the lake but unfortunately the lake isn't much of a swimming hole.

Sunday
5 miles today
Continue towards Alexander Springs and a shuttle back to Juniper Springs.

Om and Arclite were floating the possibility of doing a canoe/kayak run as part of this trip on either Thursday or Monday. Those who are interested in doing that need to coordinate with them. But I do have to say that if you come to Florida and don't take the opprotunity to paddle you are missing out.

Transportation:
Ocala National Forest can be reached from both I95 and I75. State road 40 passes right through the forest and Juniper Springs is directly off of 40 so it's difficult to miss. Juniper and Alexander Springs are both full service campgrounds so if anyone wants to stay there the night before of after the hike it's a good option.

Flying
Treebait and I are in Jacksonville (north east corner) and could pick up two people at the Jacksonville airport and get them back. Those flying in or driving via I95 are welcome to stop overnight at our place before the trip too. Keep in mind that we have 5 cats so if you have allergies be forwarned.

Anything else, drop me a line and I'll do what I can to help.”

“I like the sound of Porn Island! Dare I ask what goes on there? LOL!!”

“Even though this comes in the middle of my move to Cape Canaveral, I will make every effort to make it. Hopefully, a couple of short guys can keep me and Slimmer company at the trailing end of the pack. We have established our ground speed to be right at one mile per hour!!!
The Trekker-Mobile will be available for 10 bodies plus gear.
(bring your heavy duty pruning saw)”

“If memory serves me well, trekker, Gojo and Sarabelle are in charge of the "Forest Beautification Project" They did a FINE job earlier this year during our Ocala hike! You might want to coordinate "utensils" with Gojo first..

Om, I may be driving, or flying or maybe a combo of both. The canoe ride sounds 'interesting' (smirk) let's see if anyone wants to be my partner, if not, the yak sounds fun too from the outfitter. Do you have room on your car for it??

Coop - thanks for covering off on Orlando - that's a big help. I'll do some serious airfare shopping after the holidaze is over..lol

Mather?? You are coming?? That would be Soooooo AWESOME!! We'll talk more this weekend when I stop in to visit. I hope you mean it!!

Flatlander - I'm glad you are still checking this thread - looking forward to hiking with you again!

See y'all later!

Tex”

“I am near the Orlando airport. I am waiting for a coworker to get back from vacation to see if he can work for me on the 7th. If yes then it's a go, and I will be able to pick up and or have someone stay over if need be.”

“i can pick up 2-3 pple and gear in tallahassee or fort walton beach if needed DIBS ON A HAMMOCK TREE or 2”

“nowslimmer....come on over... my only request is that ya leave no trace, especially scattered porn....:)
opie...there is great competition for hammock trees at onf....heh.....

what hpm said about you travelers from long distances considering the paddling....very true!!”

“I am in, not sure yet if time will permit a water cruise, but should know early next month.

I will be at the trailhead at 0900 Friday. I will probably drive down. I have a client in St. Pete and will attempt to make this a work week after the hike. I can pick up anyone who wants to go on the way down, but unfortunately I might not be coming straight back.”

“i too will be going to tampa after the trip”

“Gee, it sounds like I have a reputation to uphold.”

“I'm in for the walk but can't do the boat ride.”

“I can make this trip.”

“Vi0lin? ya, sure.”

“Yes, I am sure. I will go out in public.”

“The "0" is too obvious.”

“All the other Violin's were taken. So, I had to take this one.”

“I was thinking about bringing my Hammock but with all the hammock hangers going, There may not be enough trees.”

“walkindude - We should be able to stack 2 or 3 Hammocks between each pair of trees.”

“I'd prolly step on somebody try to get out or get stepped on myself. LOL!!”

“I got dibs on the bottom of the trees for the first night..the rest of Y'all get in line!!

And no peeing out of the bottom flap either or I'll cut ya down!!

Tex”

“Watch out for the tree snakes with those hammocks folks.”

“Is everybody bringing a Hammock? Are there enough trees?”

“No hammock here.”

“Thanks for the tip Walkindude. It helps to know you'll be there since I've hiked with you before. I'll be watching airfares and this thread. I'm going to try to make it. Per my Feb somewherewarmpalooza thread, I already need a weather break.”

“I've hiked with most everone that will be on this trip. Trust me, You'll be in great company!!
They are kinda like the Michigan crew. They just don't talk funny. LOL!!!!!!!!”

“LMAO @ walkindude.”

“I'll be in a tent or a tarp. I gengerly sat in om's hammock last Ocala trip and hopped out before the creaking turned into actual broken branches.”

“Does anyone have any pics of what this area looks like. The only time I ever go to Florida is to visit the Out-Laws at Christmas (not going this yr) so I really have never see that much of Florida except for the Vero Beach area.
What is the temp. like that time of the yr.

Is there a secert email list where someone can fill me in on this trip?”

“Humanpackmule posted a link to photographs right at the beginning of: Ocala recon hike trip report.”

“sorry nowslimmer, I just now paid attention to this thread and didn't want to go back over the whole thing...ok,ok I am lazy
btw thanks”

“Does anyone have any pics of what this area looks like.
Ewker

Two clicks and you would be looking at photographs. It could have been one click, but you get the recent string as a bonus.

Click here for Ocala, Florida, Weather.”

“clear.”

“Photos of this October in Ocala with my troop

My photos of the last TT Ocala hike

The trip report from the last TT ocala hike

C'mon down Ewker! We'd love to see you.”

“Ewker, you've got mail.”

“HPM, so do you.”

“the snowbirds are coming , the snowbirds are coming...
usually that is not a happy chant for the natives..heh...

but TT snowbirds are pimp and rock and kick ass....~~~~~~~~~~”

“Om, you make us feel so welcome, although, I don;t think I can qualify as a snowbird living in Texas..but they'll all be driving around down here after the New Year, you can bet that much.

so, the pre-hike party is at your house again this year, eh? Let me know when it starts and I'll be there with bells on!!

What about flying into Atlanta and driving down? How far away is ATl from you OM?

See Y'all soooon!!

Tex”

“Tex- I think that's about a 5 hour trip.”

“This trip has been added to the new trips section of this site.”

“Big Coop - THANKS!!

Been trying to keep up with the hiking threads via my sister's computer in NJ. You know, we're going to have a WHITE Christmas here..wow!!

My first Christmas back East in 3 years and it SNOWS!!

YIKES!!

Tex”

“Wow! Watch that snow-driving. It can be interesting when you're out of practice.”

“Thanks, Skully...some things you don't forget, like riding a bicycle, sex and driving in snow..lmbo!! ;-)

Tex”

“No matching acronyms for lmbo
(has been sought 11 times by others.)”

“lmbo - I prefer the use of that F.L.A. than the use of lmao.

lmbo = laughing my butt off
lmao = laughing my arse off

pick one! now you know!!

miss you, nowslimmer...Ocala awaits!!

Tex”

“Thanks, Tex.
I had a blind spot for a while. I've seen it before, but could not recall the definition. (Now I know. I've always seen it in capital letters.)

It's been almost a year. I'm looking forward to hearing how your new life style is progressing.

BTW, I may have a two-seater, inflatable kayak for Ocala. I'll have to check out it's condition. It has not been used for a while.”