The “Real” Florida

May 25, 2021

I do mean real.

So today we traveled to Torreya State Park south of Tallahassee. Actually it’s south of 3C campground at which we stayed before. Travel time was short, but there was a change in time zone. The road southward from 3C campground was winding, and two lane. But doable.

Met our camp hostess when we arrived. Nice lady. Set up in our site number 28. It was sandy but Appeared level. Notice I said the word “appeared”. Everything hooked up easily, sweated profusely, and welcomed a cold water. Oops, water was not replenished. But, found one in the freezer.

So, as I sat down on the couch looking to the back of the trailer. I tilted my head to the left. Then, I tilted my head to the right. It just didn’t look right. OK, I got out the electronic level. During the short interval of trailer set up, the passenger side sunk into the sand, by 2°.

For those of you that are trailer neophytes, the set up and leveling has to be done before stabilizers, and locking chocks. And the trailer has to be moved. No big deal, but it is hot outside. Decided to wait until after it cools.

We unhooked, moved the trailer back and put down long boards to raise the side. Deja vous. The tire caused the board to drop into the sand and the other end flipped up into the undercarriage. That is the last time I use long boards in sand. Replaced with short boards and lifted trailer.

I am hot. I’m tired. And I do not want a hot supper. So, we collected all of our fruit we could find and mixed together with marshmallow

Life is good. God is good.

So, I decided to check out the undercarriage to ensure no damage. As I stepped out of the trailer, there in front of me was a snake, coiled with head raised to strike. I was just about ready to crawl on the ground next to him to check the trailer. Not tonight. Actually, I thought he may have been dead. So I got out a long stick and poked him. Nope not dead.

Why didn’t I take a picture?

May 26, 2021

In the morning, the snake was gone. My internet search identified him as a Red Corn snake. Non venomous. But I decided to talk to the camp hosts. Their thought, it was a copperhead. Very venomous. Their advice, stay away. Well, duhhh!

The campground sits on a ridge. So I took a couple pictures of the view. I’m not sure you get the feeling of the drop off. Maybe because I wasn’t going any closer.

Wash day. $1.00 a load for both washer and dryer. Best deal in town. Wait, there is no town and any resemblance to civilization is over a half hour away.

We are on a data shortage and are rationing our usage. This particular post is being written on my phone in notes. You will not see anything from me until I can get on a wifi network probably at Sherry’s.

Temperatures in the 80’s inside the air conditioned trailer. Our site has no shade. So the trailer is directly under the sun all day. But we weren’t outside in the 90’s.

Cribbage to break up reading. We each won a leg. Con had made it to the last hole during her deal. I was 6 pts. away. I had a chance, I just had to keep her from scoring any points during the play, and I needed 7 pts. But alas, I didn’t get the needed points and she had last card.

May 27, 2021

Early rise this morning, but I really can’t tell you what the time was. Sun was up, just. So I guess I could look up sunrise. Our problem is the time on our phones. I know they get their time from the tower. I thought we were in EDT zone, but it is showing CDT zone. Must be at the border and the tower is in CDT. This was confirmed by a park volunteer.

Took a walk this morning before the heat. Walked to the trash bin, but only because it is at the end of the loop. Got 2,000 steps in. So hot we are not walking.

I spend a lot of time looking down now. Yes, because of the snake. But, not sure I am searching the area in front to avoid stepping on the varmint, or because I want a picture. Why didn’t I get a picture before?

At the one end of the loop, is a barracks made by the CCC in 1934. This is exactly the construction that Dad spent some of his career in.

At the far end of the loop is a picnic lookout over the forest toward the Apalachicola river. Picture is not really clear as a fog is lifting over the river.

The barracks were open and had some historical information inside. Some references to the Gregory House. This historical site is open for tours at 10:00 am so we are planning a visit.

The Gregory House

Decided to do lunch first. Got to the house at 12:30 EDT. Made small talk with the volunteer. Then was informed that the only tour started at 10:00 am. Whoops. Only thing we could do was walk around outside and enjoy the view.

Pretty house but the view of the river was fantastic.

Blow up to read.

FDR’s CCC project putting people to work.

May 28, 2021

Today is visitation day. We climb into the Chevy and visit Walmart. We do need a few things. Mostly stuff we forgot. Bug dope, for one thing. I have huge bites all over my legs. Not sure when a bite occurs, but I react. Walmart is located about a 1/2 mile from Sherry’s.

One thing I noticed about our trip to the market, most people were wearing masks. Why is that strange? Walmart clearly broadcasted that vaccinated patrons were not required to mask up. Since most people wore masks, I would conclude that most were not vaccinated. I found that odd. If I were making the same observation at the Bellfontaine Walmart, the vast majority would not be wearing. Backwards Bellefontaine is more progressive than college town Tallahassee. Wow.

After hitting the post office and filling up at a gas station, we picked up Sherry for a meal at Wahoo. I had a blackened salmon steak sandwich with Boom Boom sauce. It was outstanding and so simple. Recipe follows.

Blackened Salmon with Boom Boom Sauce

Grill Salmon filet medium rare.

Tomato slice, slice onion, dill pickle, lettuce, and boom boom sauce on grilled bun.

May 29, 2021

Today we plan to leave for Triple C campground. But before we leave, we are going back to the Gregory House. In a previous post I mentioned that we were planning to take the tour. What I failed to notice is that the one and only tour occurred at 10 am. We got there at 12:30. So we are going back.

The tour was interesting. Some facts: The house was originally part of a plantation located across the river. The sister to Mr Gregory maintained it until she died with no living relatives. It fell into disrepair and house given or sold to a timber company for $300. In 1935 or thereabouts, the government decided to preserve the house and move it across the river. The CCC dismantled the building and rebuilt with some modern conveniences like bathrooms.

During Hurricane Michael the house was exposed to sustained 140 mph winds but weathered the storm with little damage. Cedar Shake shingles.