Florida, cont.

Florida is a big state. We’re still here. After our visit with Adrienne on Christmas, we headed south. In Homestead, where millions of people turned left to go to the Keys, turned right and headed to the Everglades. We used two National Park Campgrounds – Flamingo and Long Pine Key – because there is simply no wild (free) camping to be had. It will be a real game changer to cross the Mississippi and find much more free land. We absolutely love the flow of our days. Even chore days and travel days have their allure. Our time is our own, so every decision and action has value.

As we traveled south, then returned north, the change in climate and terrain was palpable. We are measuring our days in bird sightings. Unfortunately we are not good bird photographers, so you’ll have to trust us – and Holly’s paintings. I started typing this in Ocala where Sandy is getting routine bus service. We’re getting some fabrication done soon as well. After that, we’ll be itching to log some serious miles westward. Here are some of our recent adventures . . .

I turned 60 while here. For a treat we took a cruise on Florida Bay (the floor of which is protected wilderness), and got to see mangrove islands up close. I sort of have an idea for a poem based on the ’sacrificial leaf’ on mangroves, which absorbs excess salinity, yellows and falls off – all to save the tree as a whole. Bird life here was crazy.

We are really enjoying the range of places we get to park. We are comfortable in Cracker Barrel parking lots, and in remote campgrounds. What we don’t particularly care for are commercial RV parks. They tend to be cramped and noisy. Still, we meet cool people wherever we go.

As I type this, we are parked in the yard of a welder who will be helping us modify our door. We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time. Fingers crossed this comes out OK. We are planning to head west along the Gulf coast within the next several days. We’re not quite sure what to expect. However, I am also tempted to stick around a couple weeks to be a vendor and show off a Bus Named Sandy at the Florida Suncoast Tiny House Festival on January 29 and 30. Should we do that? Comments are always appreciated.