Apalachicola National Forest -Woods Lake

April 11- Apalachicola National Forest

After deciding to caravan together, Kyra, Louise and I left West tower, Osceola Nat. forest and stopped at Ocean Pond campground to dump our black & grey water tanks ($3). This is a nice campground with some water hookup located on a big pond so no boon docking - you pay a fee. We came over here a few days ago to take showers ($2) and check it out. It fit our needs so this was the 1st leg of our journey today.

We made a stop at Walmart for fuel, groceries and an early dinner. We also wanted to pick up the Thermocell to repel mosquitos and ticks.

Some of our fellow campers were using them at West Tower and they seemed to do the trick along with the home made spray 

recipe Kyra gave us.  It's a combination of Skin-so Soft oil, white 
vinegar, eucalyptus oil, and water. This works well, is all natural 
and good for your skin too. Just spray it on all exposed skin.

We arrived at Apalachicola National Forest, Wood Lake, after traveling down a long, gravel road that was not in the best shape (this is a gross understatement). I actually had to use the 4 wheel drive on the Tahoe to get through a few of the "puddles". 
Fortunately, there were 3 campsites left so we snagged them. There 
are some trees here but also sun for the solar panels. After checking in with the camp host, we learned that there is another road to come in / go out on which is shorter and in much better shape. Wonderful!!!!!! All set for another 2 weeks of free camping. 

I set up camp, unhook "Freedom" (travel trailer now has a name and very fitting, I think) from the Tahoe. What do I find? The power cord that goes from Freedom to the Tahoe has been pinched and broken about half way through. Oh, no! This means I have no lights on the trailer while towing so it has to be fixed before I can tow again. Now I have 2 weeks to find some place to have it done. I have an idea this may have happened when we came down that GREAT (snicker, snicker) road into here. Well, this is the price you pay for all this peace and quiet, in the woods, away from it all. And did I say FREE campsites. Cheap at half the price.  Here is our new home for the next 2 weeks.

We have spent a few days exploring the area. We checked out the other camping & hunt areas here in the National forest, (Hitchcock, Mack, Revel, Whitehead, Porter). Wood Lake is the best of all of them so we will be staying right where we are. The others are more remote, some nice level sites but little sun (not good for solar) and 

NO or very limited cell service (1 G with 1 bar is not good). Take a look at the map.

Kyra & I ventured into Tallahassee for the day to explore, take care of some banking business for me and visit a Pilot travel center. The purpose of this was to take a shower. Since we have limited water in the RV's, we try to go to nearby campgrounds or some where we can use the showers. There's a fee for this but that's better than having to hook up your rig and take it somewhere to dump tanks & take on more water (which costs as well) more often than the 2 weeks we are allowed to stay here. The showers at the Pilot are just like a shower in a nice hotel. They provide towels and soap (you should take your own shampoo and wear shower shoes). The cost is $10-12 but well worth being able to stand under a HOT shower as long as you want. Pilot & Flying J are partnered so same thing applies to Flying J. You can even do laundry if you want. This is one of the things that non-RVer's take for granted every day, along with the unlimited use of electricity. One of the things Rver's (especially full timers) try to do is leave no footprint where you have been. This means you leave a site as you found it, as if you were not there. Haul out all your trash or use trash bins if provided,

 disturb as little as you can (whether it be your neighboring campers or the earth). A good philosophy for everyone to follow as far as I'm concerned.

That's all for now. To my RV friends and bloggers, stay safe. To PA family & friends, I'm glad to hear it's warming up in Pa. I plan on being there Mid-May until the end of June. Then I head out west. Love to all.

MY FIRST FULL WEEK OF BOON DOCKING

March 22 Osceola National Forest, near Lake City, FL 72 degrees

Finally, I have something to blog about. I have been at this campsite about 1 1/2 weeks and am loving it. A quiet, secluded spot in the National Forest with sun, available water and flush toilet. There are about 8 rigs here in the group I met up with. These folks have welcomed me with open arms. Really, a hug for anyone who joins made me feel right at home. The Escapees Boondocker BOF group follow the rendezvous' Trail for free primitive camping, moving to a new spot about every 2 weeks. The week started out slowly with happy hour (or 2) daily @ 4 pm where we just sit in the shade or sun and chat. I have been learning lots of tricks and information from some of the long time members who are so willing to share their knowledge. Starting with places they've been and recommend, tips for handling RV stuff - like where to dump tanks, get propane filled, best prices on fuel, where to camp for free, and experiences they've had. Some have been good experiences but, also, the bad ones just make us realize, we can and will - all make mistakes. They share them so hopefully we learn from these mistakes so we don't make the same ones. Campfires nightly are a nice, relaxing end to a perfect day. Check out the pine pollen on my car. Thankfully, my allergies have not been acting up (fingers crossed).

After 2 1/2 days of rain last week, it's finally starting to dry out here. We have had days in the 70's and nights in the low 50's. So far, I have not needed to put heat on. Though on the colder nights, I did sleep in my sweats and with an extra blanket. During the day, I have been working on my tan sitting in the sun, reading on my IPad but wearing sunscreen and a hat so I have plenty of protection. Can't ask for a more relaxed day than that.

We enjoyed 2 days at the local flea market at the Fairgrounds in Lake City and 2 really good lunches out at Sonny's BBQ (pulled pork) and Cedar Creek Seafood (fried oysters and sea scallops and very good hush puppies) The food in both places was wonderful and the service outstanding. Neither place had a problem giving individual checks for us solo gals and we had really fast service at lunchtime for a group of 9-11 people.

Yesterday I had a new experience - group breakfast was eggs in a bag. For those who never did it, you can google it but it's just eggs and the omelet fixings of your choice (which everyone contributes to) in a plastic baggie, the press seal (not the zip lock) kind, squished together to mix and put in a pot of boiling water for about 5 minutes until no longer runny. Top w/ shredded cheese when you take out of bag. Served with sides of potatoes & onions, sausage, fruit, apple cake, biscuits and gravy and
assorted condiments. It was new, different, very good and a nice change of pace. This seems to be a thing the group does at least once every 2 weeks or so. Check out the pictures of our group.

I got this new bracelet at the flea market. One of the gals and her husband that are camping here have had them for over a year. She says, at one point, she had such a problem with her arm, she couldn't raise it to comb her hair. This bracelet has changed that and she can do it now. If it helps with my shoulder and ankle pain and flareups, I'll be happy. It is an embedded wearable flex bracelet that is designed to stabilize and harmonize your body's bioelectric current.  It is made from the same type of silicone as the bracelets you see for cancer awareness and such. It is supposed to help with balance, strength and flexibility and impact your body's overall state of health.  They are available at
www.EFXUSA.com. Take a look at it.

That's all for now. To my fellow RV friends and bloggers, stay safe and happy trails. To friends and family in PA, much love and I hope this new storm I'm hearing about that is coming up the coast, misses you all.

THE START Of MY REAL LIFE OF BOON DOCKING



March 11,2014,  78 degrees - Ocala National Forest

After 7 weeks at my brother's to outfit the Travel Trailer as needed,  I have finally left to start this for real. Again, a great big thanks to Mike and Jan for your help and hospitality. There have been some ups and downs (thankfully-mostly ups), but I think we finally have it all set to go. Just one more add of another solar panel but that will come in May when I'm on my way back to PA to spend time with family. 

I did some fun things while in central FL including two trips to downtown Disney, toured the hotels and had lunch there and just enjoying the atmosphere. A day trip to Tampa for the Arts and Crafts show was a new experience for me. We saw lots of beautiful work, pottery, glass works, paintings, metal sculptures and even sidewalk chalk art. All of it was amazing. I scored these two quirky prints from a young artist, Richard 'Rick' Lorenz. He is the creator of 'U-BIRDZ' - "a birds eye view of the real YOU". The first one is Myrtle and she says "Oh, no you didn't!" The second one is Mini Myrtle (the daughter) and she says "Oh, yes - I did". They are so colorful and just made me smile. So now I have 2 new additions to the RV. What do you think of them? 

Today I left Mulberry to go to Ocala to meet up with Kyra, a solo boon docking friend I met a few weeks ago at the RVdreams.com Boon docking Rally. I met her and a group of real independent gals who travel with the Escapees Boon dockers. We will go to meet up with the rest of the group tomorrow. The idea is to find primitive 
sites where you can stay at no charge, with no amenities (electric, sewer, cable, wifi). Often these are Wildlife or Water Management areas that are off the beaten track and used for hunting & fishing. We travel as a group so there is safety in numbers. There could be 2 rigs or 20. - come in and out as your time allows. This is great for me and I have learned a lot from talking with these gals and guys. They have helped me make decisions that will make my travels more enjoyable and my retirement $'s go farther. The right batteries, generator and solar panel system ( the heart of your 
electrical system) will make a big difference in the time I can spend with nature, in peace and quiet and off the grid.  I am really looking forward to doing as much of this as I can.  This is my 1st official boon docking campsite.

That's all for now folks. To my RV & blogger friends, safe travels. To PA family and friends, much love. I am glad you are beginning to see warmer days up there.

A DAY AT DOWNTOWN DISNEY

To Jo, a reader of my blog, thanks for the heads up about the battery. I emailed Lifeline about the situation. Let's see if I get any results. 

Today my friend, Louise, and I decided since it was such a beautiful, sunny day we needed to get outside and soak up some of it.  To that end, she suggested a trip to downtown Disney. She and her family are members of the Disney Vacation Club but she says many people don't know you can just go in, explore the hotels, have lunch, shop in the shops and enjoy to atmosphere even without being
a member. So we did just that.

First to the Animal Kingdom Lodge (which is beautiful and exotic). You feel as if you are transported to another country which I'm sure is the intent. We were in Africa backed up onto the Savanna. In the distance, we could see antelope, wildebeests, and, closer still, the giraffes. They just strolled up close to us (to get some lunch at the feeders) but I think it was just to visit us. Giraffes are my favorite animals with those long legs and the graceful necks. Aren't they beautiful?

Next to downtown Disney where we saw the Lego sculptures - they are amazing, detailed and incredible. They can't be called anything other than sculptures because an artist surely did this work. I took some pics that I hope the grand kids will get a kick out of these.

Then a stroll through a few of the shops admiring all the beautiful things for sale that we can't buy cause "there's no room in the RV's." But it's fun to window shop. We had a bite for lunch in the sandwich shop which was very good and inexpensive. Then we sat on the "boardwalk", people watched and soaked up to sun while we enjoyed an ice cream for desert. 

Next, a stop at the Container Store, where I had never been before. It has all things for storage, closet, food, cabinets, garage, etc.  It boggles the mind. I did get a organizer for my lids for pans that saves space under cabinet as well as makes them easier to find. In the small confines of an RV, this is a must.

That's all for today. For my RV and blogger friends, stay safe. To PA family and friends, much love and stay inside and warm with this new storm that's coming. Hope you all got your bread and milk. HA, HA!!

THE HEAT IS ON AND SO ARE THE SWEATS

Feb. 27 cloudy & cool, PERIODS OF RAIN, Mulberry, Fl

I've been busy the last week doing final upgrades and prep for my boon docking adventure which will start for real next week. The solar panel arrived the end of last week. That is hooked up and doing good IF we have sun. Yesterday it rained hard a good part of the afternoon/ evening. Today not much sun either. So currently I am hooked up to the house electric so I can turn on the heat. It's kinda damp outside and inside. I'm wearing sweatpants and sweatshirts not capris and sleeveless and not liking it at all. But it is better than a lot of places I could name (PA).

Tuesday I received the generator and so far so good. Out of the box, I added oil and gas. Three easy pulls it started right up. It is very quiet and my brother is very impressed with it. I guess I made a good choice. I did not run it yesterday (Wednesday) but today, when I went to start it, 1 easy pull and it's running like a champ. It gets a thumbs up from me.

The battery I ordered was supposed to be here yesterday but did not come in. I have checked with the Interstate Battery people and they said, "if not today than tomorrow for sure." We'll see. So this afternoon they call, "my battery is in". Now I told them ( 3 times) I also need a battery box since it is quite a bit bigger than my old battery. When I pick it up, They tell me "they have a battery box that fits the width and depth but not the height." The lid sits on top of the battery but about 2 inches of the sides are exposed. Why they wouldn't have ordered the correct box when they ordered the battery is beyond me. Since I don't have time to wait for another box, I take this one and will made it work. So I ask, "what is the warranty on this battery?" No one knows. Mind you, this is not a cheap battery. Wouldn't you think this would be a question they would be prepared to answer when someone buys a new battery - any battery? They have to go online to Lifeline batteries to get the info. They can not print it out or give me anything in writing. They write it on the back of a business card. Hope the battery meets my expectations because Interstate in Lakeland sure DOES NOT. .

Back at Mikes', we finish work on the awning sun screen we made from the fabric I bought when I went shopping last week with my friend, Louise.  
A little sweat equity and a sewing machine and we're good to go. It turned out great and at a fraction of what I would have paid pre made. Here's a pic - what do you think?

That's all for today, folks. To all my RV and bloggers friends, safe travels and to PA friends and family, much love. Until next time...

A DAY TRIP WITH A NEW FRIEND

Feb. 20  Mulberry, FL.     70 degrees

I spent the day with friend, Louise, who I met at the boon docking rally last week. We hit it off great and seem to have a lot of the same interests. She has a really cool Nexus Viper motorhome (Miss Kitty) which she ordered made for her. Since she enjoys felting, spinning yarn, knitting and many other crafts, Miss Kitty was specially designed to help her accomplish this.

We took a trip to Centre Hill, Fl. to a little place where they sell outdoor fabrics such as RV grass mats, sunscreens, wind shield covers, etc. Beasley Mfg. Inc. is a great place with friendly, helpful staff. You can purchase ready made screens or 
fabric off the roll and do it yourself fabric at a 
great savings. Of course, I'm the do-it-yourselfer and save money type so I got grass mat fabric, awning screening and material for some bags.  Now I have some projects for next week while I'm waiting for my new battery and generator to arrive.

Then on to Ikea where I have never been before. 
When I saw some of the space saving things Louise had in her RV, she told me they came from Ikea. I wanted to check them out myself. The added bonus is she says these things stay hanging in your RV when traveling and you never have to move them. Sounds good to me. Lunch at Ikea was good and very reasonably priced. Here are 
some of the things I found that will make my life in my RV easier.

Then we took a little walk around Winter Park, in and out a couple of the specialty stores. A few purchases later, we called it a successful day.

On the way home, we decided to stop at Cracker barrel for dinner. Not surprisingly, we both ordered the pecan catfish dinner special and it was gooooood. Even though we were told there was a 30 minute wait time, we were seated in less than 15.  I am never disappointed with the food here and the service was great.  Also it's nice they have parking here for RVs and lunch specials that are very inexpensive.

Enough for now. All my RV & blogger friends, stay safe. And love to all my family & friends in PA. Stay warm.

TIME TO DO MY UPGRADES

Feb. 19.     61 degrees.  Mulberry, FL
I am back at my brothers and have been going over my notes from the rally. It is time to decide which upgrades are the most important and start out with those. From what I learned and experienced, it's the batteries 1st and foremost. They are the heart of your system. So I go off to Interstate Batteries in Lakeland to see what they have. On a recommendation from my new friend, 

Monte, I inquire about the Lifeline GPL-30 HT deep cycle AGM 150 amp hour battery. Although they do carry RV batteries they don't have this one but can get it for me in 4/5 days. All they have is 2 6 v. Golf cart batteries. I choose to trust my friends recommendation and have them order it. It is costly but I believe it is my best option. Now I just wait for it to come in.

Next I look at generators. The small one I used at the rally did not work half the time and the rest of the time, I couldn't start it. So I took it back, got my money refunded and bought a Honda 2000i. It's alot of money but for boon docking, it is very important to keep the battery charged. The money 
I spend now will be saved later when I don't have to pay campground fees as I will be self-contained and off the grid.

My plan is to stay here in Mulberry "mooch 
docking" (as "the solo ladies" call it) at my brothers for about 2 weeks. This will allow time for the deliveries from Amazon to arrive and, once everything is installed & tested, I will join my new friends on the EKP rondavous trail. They have been boon docking for over 120 days and not paid any campground fees. That sounds really good to me and they are a lot of fun to boot. Kyra, Gina, Arlene, DJ, Kris and Louise are a great source of knowledge and I am looking forward to learning more from them.

That's all for today. I am looking forward to spending the day with my friend,  Louise, tomorrow. To my RV & blogger friends, stay safe and to PA family and friends, sending much love your way.