Ocala Part 3

“All those people are going this weekend? Where have I been?

Nowslimmer refuses to drop the "Big" and he's making me all sentimental.

TJ - I do want to do that someday - but I think I'll devote a whole day to it. I will probably be going to Ft. McCoy to visit my family after were done hikin' on Sunday.”

“My attendance is now iffy. I have to wait and see how medication affects an infection I picked up. Doctor's orders. Well, P.A.'s orders, actually. He understands, he's a backpacker too.”

“Treebeast666 with a name like that you just HAVE to show up. Really I hope you feel better enough to come out and hike.

That is some list. I don't know some of the names. Who is:

Ken
Pewter Beard
Wally
Pemsit
Dinoman
Hinds feet

I am looking forward to meet all of you.”

“Coop - I copied the state list as shown on Phil's Photo Page. I imagine you need to send an e-mail to Phil to get your name changed on that list.”

“NS - naw - too much trouble. I like the fact that those who have met me still use the "Big."

Anyway - now your list makes sense. I knew I had seen a lot of those names before, but not on this thread.

As far as I can see the group for this weekend is much like last year's recon:

Humanpackmule
Madman?
Tango
Nowslimmer
Arclite
Trekker John
Coop
om - maybe
Flatlander?

Am I forgetting anyone?

I've heard from one other new person on e-mail but they never posted here.”

“Nope, I can't make this one either. I have an annual meeting I have to attend.

Seems like I am never going to get to go hiking again.

I am still planning on getting to the actual ONF 3 hike. Even if I have to come in late on Friday like I did on ONF 1.”

“Bummer Flatlander. I hope to see you again soon.

Lotsa hiking for me the last few weeks. I got back from Cumberland Island with Walkindude and Packrat today. This weekend makes it three in a row and then I have two more Scout related trips after this.

I hate to say it but a weekend at home would be nice. LOL!”

“trekker john....is there a safe place to stow the kayaks saturday night?”

“Hinds' Feet was a woman that Father Goose and I met on the AT last year. She posted a few times, but I believe we scared her off.

Of course she might still lurk.”

“I remember. We had a lot of fun finding information on that name, like
Hinds' Feet on High Places
by Hannah Hurnard.”

“There at Rodman Dam seems like a lot of folks leave their cars and boat trailers overnight. Other than that, Salt Springs is 16 miles down the road with "somewhat" secure parking. I have not visited the Boys Ranch that is at the Buckman Lock so don't know about that area. Maybe HPM knows a bit more than I do on that one.

I just measured my van and if your yak is LESS THAN 16" high and 13' long and 4' wide, it will slide over the seats and it can be very secure there. I have a Dodge 15 passenger van.

A quick trip on the Oklawaha will spoil you for good, just as it did with my family back in 1962. And, we have been going back ever since.
It will definately be worth your efforts to visit it on a close encounter of the yackin kind !!!”

“Buckman Lock is kinda like a wide spot in the road. When I parked there we were the only folks doing so. I'd guess it doesn't get much traffic.”

“If the skies are clear we should see a perfect half moon according to this site. It looks like a little rain and warmer temps have crept into the forecast.”

“I'll be going on the hike this weekend. The doc gave me some serious antibiotics. The infection is almost gone already!”

“YEA!!!”

“um - it's not that flesh-eating bacteria is it?

Cool - I'll finally get a chance to meet you.”

“Nope, a nasty bladder infection. Very painful.”

“Madman emailed me today.

He's out for this one.”

“Fri
Oct 31 Partly Cloudy 85°/64° 0 %
Sat
Nov 01 Partly Cloudy 83°/66° 20 %
Sun
Nov 02 Partly Cloudy 83°/66° 20 %

Looks good to me!”

“Bleah, too warm!”

“The 66 part is perfect.”

“I was hoping for crisper temps at night. I guess I'll leave the sleeping bag at home and take the fleece blanket.

It's actually fairly cool here tonight.”

“Did you measure your yaks to see if they would fit in the van?
The 4' wide figure is the door width...... the actual inside width is 5'”

“Actually, the forecast for Southeast Missouri looks about the same.

It is going to be unbelievably nice this weekend.”

“Gettin' packed up - I figure there won't be a whole lot of time tomorrow with trick r' treating and all. Boy - there really isn't much to take on a warm overnight.”

“Looks like this weekend it'll be:
HPM
Treebait
Coop
Tango
Trekker John
Nowslimmer
Om

9am @ Buckman lock. Be aware that the first 5 miles has limited shade. Wear a sun hat and sunscreen or somesuch.

Did I miss anyone?”

“Arclite?

I just went to wally world and picked up some of that packaged ground beef. Hmm - not sure if the trail is the best place to try this stuff for the first time.”

“Nope, Arclite is out for the recon.”

“Hey Big Coop! Let us know if that crap is any good!”

“if i come saturday it will be in the night because i am on call until 9pm.
......trekker john...if i come saturday i will not be able to stow the kayak in your van most likely..even tho it will fit (12 ft long, way less than 3 ft wide.)and i reely wanna paddle on sunday!

hmm...online thinking.....hmm..
when are you all expecting to emerge on sunday?”

“If you get there late Saturday night and you wanna hike in anyway, I can leave a spare key to the van somewhere so you can lock up your yak safely. I would hate for you to come all that way and not be able to paddle a short stretch of the Oklawaha. I am in no hurry to get back Sunday so I could hang back with you some to get you started.”

“Sorry, gang, I do not expect to make it. I have not recovered from the Smokies, yet. Have a great hike.”

“Slim.... do you know how fast I will have to trot now in order to keep up with Sasquatch???
Just know that you will be missed!!”

“Which of us is Sasquatch? Hey TJ - you won't be last in line - om's not hitting the trail until about 10:30. If she passes you...well we won't just be talking about your moving tent last year.

StoveStomper - the crap going in or out? I'm not sure which will be more rewarding.”

“Bummer Paul, you will be missed.

With love,
Sasquatch”

“Om, I'm not sure about our emergence but Saturday night will be at Penner Ponds near the road side of the ponds. Gotta scout out a winner of a site.

You want my cell #? I'm not sure how usefull it will be as I normally get signal on 19 only.”

“LOL @ Coop!”

“Nowslimmer - I'll catch you on the flip side in February.”

“Packin' up and headin' out.”

“Us too.”

“I'm home and clean! Good hike! Lovely meeting the treebeast666!!! I had a great time trip report and pics later. Good night!”

“It was great meeting you Tango. Remember what I said about being pressed against the mesh of the tent side? I now have about 30 mosquito bites in 1 armpit. I'm doing my best to ignore them. Those things were killers!
Hey Coop, did you go to Hardee's afterwards?”

“Can't wait to see pic's!


8)”

“There are lots of critter pictures this time. From giant grasshoppers to 5 inch long snakes. And spiders. etc.”

“Cool can't wait to seem them.


8)”

“treebait - Eckerd's used to sell "Sting Ease," which worked great for those bites. But I have not seen any for years. I believe it contained camphor.

You might want to check the items on this page under "Sting Relief." ”

“Try clicking on "Bites & Sting Relief," to get to the right page or area.”

“Treebait (TB doesn't really work?) no Hardees on the way home so I will need to go for lunch sometime this week.

I Had a blast as always with this gang. Pictures and more thoughts will be posted eventually.

"Who have I met" addition: Treebait is great to hike with becuase she is like an outdoor encyclopedia by the end of the hike I was hollering her over while pointing at little plants on the ground and saying "what's this?"

Biggest regret: Being the one to stand up first from a wonderful rest break when we all could have spent more time recapturing one of those perfect times from some forgotten day in our youth with the breeze blowing thorugh the grass and the sun shining on our bare feet.

Second beggest regret: Learning first hand (thumb actually) that I need to fashion some sort of a pour spout onto my grease pot. My thumb's still bright red with a few annoying blisters. Let's give Coop a big Homer Simpson D'oh!”

“more more more!”

“Thanks for the compliment Coop. I hope your burn blisters heal really fast. Yeah, that break alongside the canal was wonderful.”