NS:: Ocala NF TR for 1-1-05 to 1-3-05.

“New Year's Day I headed to Ocala NF. I wanted to check out the Clearwater
Recreation Area by Paisley, but the entrance was blocked by money collectors and two vehicles. Just prior to the entrance there was a trailhead and parking lot for the Florida Scenic Trail. I headed to Buck's Lake. The approach road from highway 19 could jar your eye teeth out at just 2-mph. I set my teeth on the seat beside me. I thought to myself, "This is good. I won't want to be driving this road back and forth and, as such, I'll stay put and have a restful weekend." But the campground was full and overflowing with the Rainbow Crowd.

So I headed for Hopkins Prairie, where I enjoyed a great rest from the busy world. Water levels are still high and standing water still exists in the forest. I did some reading, tried to diet and had a couple of great campfires. There was plenty of firewood right at the site. On Monday morning after a leisurely breakfast, I broke camp and headed back to the Paisley area for some hiking.

The parking area seemed adequate, but it appears that it might be crowded at times. A sign on the bulletin board said that when the lot was filled, vehicles could be parked along the road leading into the Clearwater Recreation Area.

I drove around and back north on 538-1 to the area of Duck Pond. I entered a narrow, sand road leading in the direction of the pond. The road was like a miniature roller coaster with rolls 2-3 feet high every 6-8 feet. I was lucky that my car did not get stuck. I saw some water left by the hurricanes, but missed the pond beyond the water. When I reached some power lines, I turned back. If you have a map, you should be able to locate the power lines. This time I saw the pond as I returned to a small parking area near the Florida Scenic Trail(FT). Hiking on the FT I went around the west and north sides of the pond, but did not see any areas adequate for camping by a large group. After passing all the water and prairie areas, I came to another narrrow, sand road. Just past the road was a large, dry area which could accommodate a TT group. It had plenty of trees for the hammock crowd.

Returning I hiked on this sand road on the east side of the pond and back on the original road south of the pond. I explored a little and found an area which would be good for a TT Group. The pond was to the north and the hurricane water was to the east of the area. Then some short-cuts became long-cuts and I hiked to the area NW of the pond before reaching the FT which led back to the car. I did some driving on 538 and 539 to see more of the area. A water crossing stopped me on 539 before I returned to Paisley, to the library to post my bag nights and then home for my evening aikijutsu class.

Based upon what I saw, I can recommend that area for a TT Hike. It is 10 miles from Paisley to Alexander Springs on the FT. It should be possible to drive to the site NE of the pond to cache some water, beer, etc., at what could be the first night's site. It is about 3.7 miles from the trailhead.

Rainbow Crowd Information:

Florida Regional Gatherings, Ocala, FL-1998

Forest Service Regulations, Annual Rainbow Gatherings, much more.

Forest Service: Rainbow gathering illegal in Shawnee

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BTW, if you would like to see some of the things that I do in my aikijutsu classs, which includes Toide, tune in your TV on Thursday morning. It should be a good program.

Fukasa-Kai Toide Makes Network Television: The WB Channel 11, NY, Thurs.
Jan.
6th, 8am!

Be late to work and watch the News on WB Channel 11 and see Fukasa-Kai Toide
at its best! C. Nemeroff, Soke along with his Central Hombu Dojo will be
featured on the News at 8am, Thursday, January 6th 2005 for a little early
morning body slamming to wake up NYC! Listen to the interview and watch the
action as this is filmed live from NYC... No pulling punches, no "take 2's,"
this is the real thing! Don't miss this!.. Miss work for it!

last edited: 1/04/05 1:09:00 PM”

“Cool! :D”

“Nice report!

Is that guy drinking a Milwaukee's Best?”

“That guy is missing some teeth.”

“It's probably just his homemade bong.”

“and to think...I used to hang with those people. :)”

“Damn hippies.”

“Now that you say that Spirit, that kinda looks like Mike!”

“When Mike grows his beard out he looks like one of the Amish.”

“Nah, that doesn't look like CMB. That dude looks stoned; CMB looks wired.”

“Ha Ha!

Look at that face!”

“Watch it Treebait or you'll be feeding the fishes! :P”

“Oh, eek eek, I'm so intimidated.”

“Through hiked the forest many times. Came across the Rain $ bowers a couple of times. Once at Delancy and once at Hopkins had to hike five extra miles one time to escape. I would tell more but... maybe at the hike”

“"The Pick" picks "The Beast"”