Ocala Part 4- Cletus strikes back!

“Dub I am sure it can be worked out this time.”

“Allowed?
You are very welcome to come.”

“Tango, now that my car has a new set of tires I could probably drive there. But...flying is sooo much cheaper. This time I'm gonna plan early, couple months in advance.”

“Yes, but won't your arms be tired by the time you get there?”

“Of course not, I fly on a magical weed whacker, duh.”

“Since I won't be in the middle of a move this next time, I'll prlly be going, if so, I could pick you up Dub.”

“It's less than a year away, I recon it's time to start planning this trip.”

“Aww c'mon, this is Dub. He will probably PLAN to make the trip, then CANCEL or CHANGE his plans 23 times by February of 2005.

LOL!”

“So what's a Florida backpacking trip like? Are there lots of bugs? Any wild life other than snakes, cockroaches, and alligators? Is it even worth the effort? LOL”

“Bugs in Florida? Nah!”

“lizs does have a point...plus I graduate college in Oct...so who knows where I'll be in Feb.”

“Twinks, there's lotsa lotsa Ocala trip reports on here. Take a look, cuz it will give a good feel for what it's like.”

“Twinks, that IS your name today is it not?

Let's see, this will be the fourth Ocala/FL trail trip, 20-30 TTers have a great time each year and most return year after year.

Naaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwww, you don't want to come. ;-)”

“from what I've seen in S. Fl, what we lack in hills and mountains is made up for in variety of plant life, lots of flowers and different plants than I'm used to seeing along with variety of wetlands areas, lots of different birds, etc.

ya, more than gators and snakes. check it out when you get here.

I'm still jonesing for a mountain trip though.

Headed for the smokies this weekend.”

“Lizards, snakes, gators, deer, bear, eagles, cranes, storks, boar seen 'em all.

Our winter is pretty much everyone else's spring/summer so bugs depend on how warm it is. Shorts during the day, fleece at night.

Ocala is rolling hills in parts and vast prairie in others. Mostly pine sandhill ecosystem with sections of hardwood mix.

It's nice.”

“bears? and boars?

do you have to worry about getting gouged to death by a crazy boar?”

“Only if you smell like Artex.”

“LOL!”

“As others have mentioned, Ocala NF has a very diverse ecosystem, and is rich in wildlife. You'd be very surprised.

And the boar are fun to catch. If you ever get the chance to do a hunt... do NOT pass it up.”

“More important - This Florida hike is in February long after the winter snows are gone (sometimes by decades).

Plant and animal life! I go to see the people, especially the girls.”

“Twinks the Wild Boar Hunter? LOL I think I've already done that here in NY - except it was called dating! j/k

It would be cool to explore Fl in a different light. :)”

“lol”

“Florida has a lot to offer. More than most long time residents are even aware of.

However a mountain range wouldn't hurt. I'm not asking for much just a couple of 3000-4000 footers. It that too much to ask?”

“How about I sink everthing south of Orlando to make a few mountains around Gainesville?
Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha”

“actually - sinking everything south of orlando would not help in the mountain building process....you need to shove everything south up toward the gainsville area - crushing and thrusting and folding and all that mountian building crap of all that lies between miami and gainsville (that means good buy evil mouse empire! yes!)

that would be cool....tropical beaches within a short walk of kick a$$ mountains :)”

“Well, the keys would be a much shorter drive for me.

I wonder how Coop and Tango feel about soon having mountain top property?

Hmmmmm....this plan has potential.”

“From a t-shirt:

"I climbed Mt. Dora, Florida!"”

“just what is Florida's "high point", where and how high?

just a guess, it's prolly what, 30 feet above sea level?”

“Guess again!”

“No more mountains? *sniff* *waaaaaaaaaa*

No more 9 months of winter? *woooowhooo!*

Being able to walk around half naked in January and not get frostbite? *wooowhoooo*


HPM - you figure out how to build those mountains yet?”

“Being able to walk around half naked in January and not get frostbite? *wooowhoooo*

Twinks LIPWH

wooowhooooo!”

“HPM-Brigadoon!

I wouldn't mind the mountain top property, just go slow so I can acclimatize properly!”

“1 Alaska Mount McKinley 20,320 '
2 California Mount Whitney 14,494
3 Colorado Mount Elbert 14,433
4 Washington Mount Rainier 14,410
5 Wyoming Gannett Peak 13,804
6 Hawaii Mauna Kea 13,796
7 Utah Kings Peak 13,528
8 New Mexico Wheeler Peak 13,161
9 Nevada Boundary Peak 13,143
10 Montana Granite Peak 12,799
11 Idaho Borah Peak 12,662
12 Arizona Humphreys Peak 12,633
13 Oregon Mount Hood 11,239
14 Texas Guadalupe Peak 8,749
15 South Dakota Harney Peak 7,242
16 North Carolina Mount Mitchell 6,684
17 Tennessee Clingmans Dome 6,643
18 New Hampshire Mount Washington 6,288
19 Virginia Mount Rogers 5,729
20 Nebraska Mount Constable 5,426
21 New York Mount Marcy 5,344
22 Maine Mount Katahdin 5,268
23 Oklahoma Black Mesa 4,973
24 West Virginia Spruce Knob 4,863
25 Georgia Brasstown Bald 4,784
26 Vermont Mount Mansfield 4,393
27 Kentucky Black Mountain 4,145
58 Kansas Mount Sunflower 4,039
59 South Carolina Sassafras Mountain 3,560
30 North Dakota White Butte 3,506
31 Massachusetts Mount Greylock 3,491
32 Maryland Backbone Mountain 3,360
33 Pennsylvania Mount Davis 3,213
34 Arkansas Magazine Mountain 2,753
35 Alabama Cheaha Mountain 2,407
36 Connecticut Mount Frissell 2,380
37 Minnesota Eagle Mountain 2,301
38 Michigan Mount Arvon 1,979
39 Wisconsin Timm Hill 1,951
40 New Jersey High Point 1,803
41 Missouri Taum Sauk Mountain 1,772
42 Iowa High Point 1,670
43 Ohio Campbell Hill 1,550
44 Indiana High Point 1,257
45 Illinois Charles Mound 1,235
46 Rhode Island Jerimoth Hill 812
47 Mississippi Woodall Mountain 806
48 Louisiana Driskell Mountain 535
49 Delaware Tower Hill 448
50 Florida Britton Hill 345”

“Don't destroy South Beach. There's way too many good looking women down there.”

“good point wd.”

“I have in-laws that live not far from this hike and I would really like to join in, If I may. I've hike some in the area. I believe north of Juniper Springs, can't seem to remember the roads. Then this past christmas I hike from Juniper springs south and got lost on the backcountry roads. Someone told me the end of the trail was a lot farther than I had time to walk so found the road and walked in the dark until my DH found me. Still it was fun.
I'm 47, female, married to a wonderful guy who lets me wander by myself :D, a nurse who knows CPR (can come in handy - you just never know) and get along with almost anyone for a short time, I listen well and Oh I know Txwoodswoman.

I will flying in from So. California into Orlando, probably with the hubby.

Debra”

“Come on then. Everyone's welcome and we love to make new friends.”

“It'll great to meet you. We have so much fun on these hikes your sides will hurt from laughing so much.”

“The group that went on Ocala 3 was terrific... fun group of people, every single person was great. You'll have a blast!”

“you will probably win the prize for coming the farest.”

“Farest? Is that the most expensive?”

“noooooo,

everybody knows the farest is where all the trees grow.”

“We only have 8 months to go until this trip..we might need to do some advance planning! Debra has said she wants to join this group and another friend of mine from Texas is interested too...I sure can't wait until the hot weather breaks here in Texas...Even Florida in February is a welcome change!

Tex”

“Hey Packmule
I'm in for sure.I ustu hunt with those boys over in hog valley,diverse is a good dicrip.
Matt”

“Cool, glad to have you along.”

“I have not been to Florida in Feb. I am looking forward to meeting new friends and some not seen for a while :D

Debra”

“24 yes and 5 maybes already?

YOIKS!”

“I am guessing I am going to have to pull out of this. The wife is due at the end of February.”

“I'm driving down from Huntsville, AL if anyone needs a ride.”

“We should be back in Largo the first, or second, week of January. So, I'm signing on! Looking forward to meeting a lot of you, and seeing some of you again.”