Ocala Part 3 Trip Reports

“I just found this as I was looking back over geocaches in that area and thought y'all would want to know. We noticed the banded trees and so did others. Here is what an area resident said in a cache report:

Along the way we I saw numerous Red Brocaded Woodpecker holes although regretfully I didn't get to see the birds. To find them look for the trees with white stripes painted around them.

It came from the description for a multi-cache.

http://www.geocaching.com/seek/cache_details.aspx?ID=115153&log=y&decrypt=">Hope you can see this without logging in”

“Very cool! I always wondered what those bands on the trees were!”

“Very cool Liz, but I hope Tango doesn't see this. I'll never hear the end of it.”

“Thank you lizs! There was a vicious debate what those bands signified.”

“dang



but it could be a conspiracy.”

“Go look at the website provided. And look at the map. It's right in the area where those trees were, I can tell. Because there was a traveling cache right in that same area, which had been moved, but we found the "cairn" of broken sticks left behind to mark where it was. On the map, it looked to be in this same area.

We didn't hunt for this one because it was a MULTI cache and involved, in essence, FOUR separate cache hunts all rolled into one. That was a bit much for backpackers on a set stretch of trail.

AND YOU **TWO** ANYHOO!! lol”

“I always knew Liz was bad news.”

“MOOOOOOOOOOooohhhhahahahahaha”

“Ha Ha Ha! Darn the luck Pennsy!”

“Ever since I bought my fist lottery ticket the other day and lost, it's been all downhill.

on the plus side, I bought some (ok, a lot!) of Forest Glen and Pepper Grove wines that dhutch recommended. Yummy!”

“Poor Pennsy. Busted, drunk and alone.”

“LMFAO!!!!!


8p”

“HPM and CMB - gee, thanks for backing me up guys. Where's that TT brotherhood?”

“That is funny HPM!!!”

“How do you do that Pennsy?”

“Oh so sorry!


Can't throw you the line just yet!


8p”

“I'm a flippin natural. What can I say?”

“Yeah, that's the word I'd pick! Ha ha ha ha!”

“Oh boy, it's "let's pick on Pennsy" time! Yaaaaaaay!

Wait.. dang.. I have to be careful. He's picking me up in Portland next month for the Baxter trip. But everyone please feel free to let the berating continue. As you were.”

“Shouldn't you be in bed?”

“OH! Low blow Pennsy! (Good one)”

“Ok well how about liquored up and laquered down?”

“TMI HPM!”

“LMAO!!!!

btw - who reopened this dormant thread anywho? Ohhhhh I see.... that dang trouble maker from MN.”

“oh pooooooooooooh! I just had info on the banded trees. You must have created your own troubles, Pennsy. ;-)”

“LOL!!!”

“Cool - I too was wondering about those bands.”

“Hey everyone. Interesting about the bands lizs.

Pennsy - I'm hiking with you! You bring the wine, I'll bring my new 6 oz espresso maker! Artex, it's all your fault I now have an espresso maker for backpacking. lol

I just served up a really nice cabernet for dinner guests Saturday with shrimp and asparagus pasta and homemade french bread. A little more pricey but worth it. Kendall Jackson Vintner's reserve. For special occasions. Mmmmm I have a leftover bottle. :-)

OK - now do we have to have a Pennsylpalozaaa? Or is that a pencil party????”

“Ok, let's see....


Pennsy is drunk and lizs is hugging trees...


Yep, just another day on TT.”

“I want to be a dhutch dinner guest!
Sounds good!”

“You got it, Stovey - that woman can cook! Even her "botched" dishes are to die for...

"Brocaded" woodpecker? LOL!
It's "cocaded"... (methinks).

Yeah... white stripes - whatever. But what about the bronze finished (colored) metal bands with the anti-snake flange? Hmmmmmm? What was up with them?

Red cocaded woodpeckers nest in burrows that they hollow-out in the trunks of mature, healthy pine trees. The nest is susceptable to snake predation due to it's easy access (as opposed to being far out on a weak limb). Therefore, the pecksters peck a ring around the tree below the burrow(s). This results in sap leakage, which creates a pungent, sticky barrier which snakes cannot (will not?) cross.

These turpentiney bands run completely around the tree, and grow to lengths of several feet down. They're whiteish in color, and can be seen from hundreds of miles away. I never saw any such evidence of the bird's presence - either in the forest in general or the metal-banded trees in particular.


The pine beetle is devastating rcw habitat. The pine beetle must die.
Perhaps I'll host a Pine Beetlecide party...”

“dhutch - yeah, those mini-espresso makers are a little heavy, but that's about their only downfall. They make a mean cup everytime, and are really easy to use. Worth the extra few ounces, IMO.”

“They are in the mail and you will get them in about 3 days I am sorry that it has taken me so long to do this.


Hope ya enjoy them.


8)”

“Mike, I finally sat down maybe a week ago and popped the CD in the player. Great music! thanks!

And you know who I think might really like one (unless he's gotten one from you before??) Stikmon. He plays the flute and I bet he'd enjoy it.”

“Mike, got the CD today. Thanks! I must say, I'm very pleasently surprised. Kind of reminds me of Dead Can Dance. Let me know if you've never heard of DCD, I'll be happy to return the favor and send you a CD.”

“No problem I glad that you like it!


8)”

“I got the cd today but I haven't had a chance to listen to it yet. Thank-you Mike!”

“No problem!


8)”

“We got our CD today too. I think Treebait has laid claim to it.
Very cool stuff Mike. Thanks a lot for the CD.”

“thanks mike for the cd, i got mine yesterday. what a nice relaxing cd to listen to. i've been alittle stressed this past week, and found it helped to take my mind off of a few things. that was a very kind of you. look for a package from me in a couple of days.”

“Crazy Mike, I love that cd. It helps me relax quickly, and I really needed that. Thanks!”

“No problem people.


I am happy that you all like it.


8)”

“Thanks for mine, too!

I got my FTA newsletter a couple days ago. There was a message pertaining to Grassy Pond: Closed forever.

All signs of improvement were dismantled and removed, including water pump. Road will be left to 4WDers.

BPer camping still available, and pond can serve as water source.”

“Oh just peachy.”

“Great! (sarcasm must be noted)”

“Wow!”

“That was a really bad decision to remove that water pump. Close the campground? Fine, but at least leave the pump cause those ponds are hell on filters.”

“OK is it just me???"Or does that silhouetted "redneck guy" they're showing in the promos remind anyone on the Ocala '04 trip of someone around the fire Saturday night???

LMAO!! I crack up every time I see that. Somebody tape it!! LMFAO!!”