Thursday, September 6, 2012
Tuesday, September 4, 2012
SKYDIVING FOR THE FIRST TIME
WELL PAMELA AND I HAD TALKED ABOUT GOING SKYDIVING A FEW TIMES. AND SOMETIME AROUND THE FIRST OF AUGUST SHE ASKED ME IF I STILL WANTED TO GO. WELL I HAVE ALWAYS WANTED TO GO SKYDIVING SO OF COURSE I SAID YES I WANTED TO GO. AND FOR MY 40TH BIRTHDAY!!!!!
SO I CALLED SKYDIVE CITY AND GOT US BOOKED FOR AUGUST 30TH. FOUND OUT ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO KNOW. IT WAS ON !!!
ODDLY ENOUGH I AM NOT FEELING THE SLIGHTEST BIT NERVOUS OR SCARED OR ANYTHING. WHATS WRONG WITH ME I WONDERED ? LOL YOU JUST SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE ???? LOL STILL NO NERVES.
WELL I HAD TO CALL SKYDIVE CITY ON THE 29TH TO GET EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY WITH PAYMENT AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF. I TALK TO THE GUY AND WAS FINE THREW THE WHOLE CONVERSATION UNTIL HE SAYS " OKAY WE WILL SEE YA'LL TOMORROW " ... INSTANTLY I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH ... THEN CAME THE VOMITING AND THEN AGAIN ... GREAT NOW THE NERVES START .... OH GOSH WHAT AM I DOING ??? MY NERVES OBVIOUSLY CAN NOT HANDLE THIS .....
I MANAGED TO FEEL ILL THAT WHOLE AFTER NOON AND EVENING AND INTO THE NIGHT. BUT DETERMINATION WAS WINNING THIS BATTLE. I KNEW IF I GAVE IN I WOULD HATE MYSELF FOR NOT GOING. SO ON THE BIG GIRL PANTIES WENT AND OFF TO BED I WENT.
I WOKE UP BRIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. AND TO MY OWN SURPRISE THERE WAS NO NERVOUSNESS AT ALL. ONLY EXCITEMENT THAT IS ALMOST OVERWHELMING TO THE POINT THAT I COULD HARDLY STAND IT. I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT WAIT TO GO NOW !!!!
PAMELA GETS HERE AND SHE WAS JUST AS EXCITED AS I WAS. AND ALL I COULD THINK IS OMG WE ARE REALLY FIXIN TO GO THIS !!!!
WE GET ALL OF OUR STUFF TOGETHER , GET BABY COLIN IN THE CAR ( YES HE WENT WITH US CAUSE HIS MOMMA AND DADDY HAD TO WORK. SO HE GOT TO SPEND THE MORNING WITH GRANDPA AND GRAND-DAD AND GRANDMA SUSAN )AND OFF WE GO ON WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE LONGEST RIDE EVER ( AN HOUR AND A HALF-ISH ) TO ZEPHERHILLS. I SWEAR I DIDNT THINK WE WOULD EVER GET THERE.
WE PULL UP AT SKYDIVE CITY AND I FEEL AS IF IM GONNA EXPLODE WITH EXCITEMENT. WE GET INSIDE AND LET THEM KNOW WE WERE THERE AND THE LADY HANDS PAMELA AND I SOME PAPER WORK AND TELLS US TO READ IT ALL OVER AND INITIAL HERE AND THERE AND HERE AND THERE AND HERE AND THERE AND SIGN THE BOTTOM.
OKAY SO OFF WE GO TO THE PICNIC TABLE TO DO AS WE ARE TOLD.... ONLY WE DECIDED NOT TO READ IT. LOL I TOLD PAMELA " I AM NOT READING ALL OF THIS. IT WILL SCARE ME TO DEATH. SO SHHHHHHHHH DONT TELL ANYONE HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
WE TURN IT IN AND GO BACK OUTSIDE AND WITHIN MINUTES, JEFF FINDS PAMELA AND TELLS HER THAT SHE DREW THE SHORT STRAW AND GOT HIM FOR AN INSTRUCTOR. I SAID HMMMMMMMMMMMM ... SHORT STRAW HUH ??? WELL WHAT THAT MEANT WAS HE IS THE " ROOKIE " OF THE GROUP WITH ONLY 1600 JUMPS. LOL BUT REGARDLESS THE 2 OF THEM SEEM TO HIT IT OFF PRETTY WELL. HE WAS GOOD FOR PAMELA WITH THIS JOKING CAREFREE MANOR.
AS SHE IS GETTING SUITED UP IN HER " BARNEY " LOOKING SUIT AND WHILE HE WAS GOING OVER HER INSTRUCTIONS I HEAR " DEBI ? " I SAID " YES ??? " HE SAYS " MY NAME IS ARRON AND IM GOING TO BE YOUR INSTRUCTOR. " AFTER THE VERY SHORT " NICE TO MEET YOU ". I AM SUITED UP IN A BLUE JUMP SUIT AND WHISKED AWAY TO A BUILDING AWAY FROM EVERYONE ELSE. I ASKED ARRON IF SHAWN COULD COME IN AND HE SAYS AND I QUOTE " YEA IF HE DOESN'T DISTRACT ME FROM TRAINING ". NO SMILE NO NOTHING .... YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD BE SAYING TO MYSELF " WOW THIS IS GONNA BE FUN ( SARCASM INCERTED HERE )". BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT AT ALL. FOR SOME REASON I FOUND HIS STERN-NESS TO BE COMFORTING TO ME. I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE AND SAFE WITH HIM. AND THAT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOO IMPORTANT TO ME. YEP HE WAS THE RIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR ME !!!!!
WE GET MY HARNESS ON AND GO OVER THE KNEES BENT ARMS BENT LIKE A FOOTBALL GOAL HEAD BACK THUMBS UP MEANS GOOD JOB 2 FINGERS OUT MEANS LEGS STRAIGHT AND TOES POINTED. OKAY GOOD NOW LETS GO HAVE SOME FUN HE SAYS WITH A SWEET SMILE PATS MY SHOULDER AND OUT THE DOOR WE GO.
I HAVE A FEW MINUTES WITH SHAWN , COLIN , DAD , SUSAN AND PAMELA BEFORE WE HEADED TO THE COVERED AREA THAT WE HAD TO GO TO BEFORE BOARDING THE PLANE. AND THOSE FEW MINUTES SEEMED LIKE SECONDS.
ARRON SAYS " LETS GO HAVE SOME FUN GIRL " AND I LOOKED AT SHAWN , SMILED SAID I LOVE YOU AND WALKED ON TO THE COVERED AREA. NO I DIDNT KISS HIM OR SAY BYE. I KNEW IF I DID I WOULD START TO FREAK OUT AND START TO CRY.
WE GET OUT TO THE COVERED AREA AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES. THEN ARRON SAYS " ITS TIMEEEEEEEEE". OKAY SELF ... HERE WE GO. YOU GOT THIS !!! I CANT BELIEVE I AM FIXIN TO DO SOMETHING I HAVE WAITED FOR WHAT SEEMS LIKE MY WHOLE LIFE TO DO.... IM GOING SKYDIVING !!!!!
WE START WALKING TO THE PLANE AND I CAN HARDLY STAND IT. I AM SO EXCITED !!!
WE GET IN THE PLANE AND IRONICALLY HE HANDS ME A SEAT BELT. I COULDNT HELP BUT LAUGH AT THE SEAT BELT. LOL ALL I COULD THINK IS WE ARE JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE AND YOUR HANDING ME A SEAT BELT. THIS STUCK ME AS VERY FUNNY.
WE GET ALL " SEAT BELTED " IN AND THE PLANE STARTS MOVING. WELL LET ME JUST SAY I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAD SEAT BELTS. LOL THE PLANE SEEMED TO TAKE OFF WITH MUCH SPEED AND STRAIGHT UP. TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO BRACE MYSELF WITH MY FEET TO KEEP FROM SLIDING OFF OF THE LITTLE BENCH THAT WE WERE SITTING ON. I HAVE NO IDEA IF WE WERE MOVING AS FAST AS IT FELT OR IF WE WERE GOING AS STRAIGHT UP AS IT FELT. BUT THATS MY STORY AND IM STICKING TO IT ( LAUGHING HERE ).
AS WE ARE GOING UP TO OUR DESTINATION OF 13,500 FEET THE MOOD IN THE PLANE WAS VERY LIGHT AND AND EVERYONE WAS JOKING AND HAVING A GOOD TIME. IT WAS A VERY RELAXING RIDE UP.
THEN I FEEL ARRON START MESSING WITH MY HARNESS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WAS AWKWARDLY CLOSE TO ME. LOL HE STARTS TIGHTENING THIS STRAP AND THAT STRAP TO THE POINT OF IT WAS GETTING HARD TO BREATH. NORMALLY I DONT THINK I WOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS. LOL BUT I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HIM BEING THAT CLOSE AND MY STRAPS BEING THAT TIGHT.
OKAY HE SAYS " YOU READY ? " i LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER AND SAY " YES IM READY ". THEN WE DUCK WALK TO THE DOOR. OMG THIS VIEW IS INC READABLE !!!!! AND STILL NO FEAR AT ALL ... AS A MATTER OF FACT I DONT EVEN FEEL NERVOUS NOW. I FEEL SO AMAZINGLY CALM ....
( THE TOP PICTURE IS WHAT I SAW AS WE GOT TO THE DOOR )
OKAY ARMS CROSSED HEAD BACK .... OMG WE ARE OUT OF THE PLANE !!!! THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVEN EXPERIENCED OR EVEN SEEN IN MY LIFE. WE ARE FREE FALLING FOR 60 SECONDS ... WE DO A TRIPLE SPIN AND I AM JUST IN AWE. SPEECHLESS ... WHAT CAN ONE SAY OTHER THAN WOW OR OMG !!!
THEN THE 60 SECONDS IS OVER AND ARRON PULLS THE PARACHUTE WITH NO WARNING. AND THAT WAS THE BIGGEST MOST UNEXPECTED JERK I HAVE EVER FELT. LOL
WHEN THE PARACHUTE OPENED IT FELT LIKE WE STOPPED. THE LOUD SOUND OF THE WIND SO DEAFENING AT 120 PLUS MPH GONE. EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY SILENT. SO PEACEFUL. THE SIGHT OF EVERYTHING BELOW US WAS BREATH TAKING. I WAS IN COMPLETE AND UTTER AWE OF IT ALL.
IT WAS THE NEATEST THING TO BE ABOVE THE CLOUDS BUT TO GO THREW THEM WAS AWESOME !!!!
THEN I HEAR ARRON SAY " HERE HOLD ON TO THIS ". I LOOK AT WHAT HE IS HANDING ME AND REALIZED HE WAS HANDING ME THE PARACHUTE. HOLY COW !!! I TAKE THE HANDLES AND HE SAYS " PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. " I DID AND WE TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THEN HE SAYS " PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE LEFT. " I DID AND YEP WE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THEN HE SAYS " WHILE HOLDING ONTO THE HANDLES LET YOUR ARMS GO ALL THE WAY UP. " I DID AND WE STOPPED ( IN MID AIR !!! ). AT LEAST THATS HOW IT FELT. HE TOLD ME THAT THATS HOW THEY SLOW DOWN THE PARACHUTE ( HOLDING YOUR ARMS STRAIGHT UP ).
THEN HE PROCEEDS TO TELL ME THAT HE IS GOING TO LOOSEN THE STRAPS TO PREPARE FOR LANDING .... OH GOSH IS ALL I COULD THINK. BUT IT WAS A SLIGHT GIVE AND THAT WAS OVER. NO BIG DEAL.
THEN WE WENT OVER THE LANDING. WHAT I NEEDED TO DO AND WHAT COULD / WOULD HAPPEN IF I DIDNT. SO AS WE ARE FLOATING THREW THE AIR WE ARE PRACTICING HOLDING LEGS UP ... HIGHER HIGHER HIGHER. THERE YOU GO THATS WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO. THEN HE SAYS " THERE IS A LOT OF WATER ON THE GROUND STILL SO WE ARE GONNA TRY TO DO A RUN IN BUT I HAVE A FEELING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SLIDE IN ON OUR BUTTS. " WELL WHAT IS ONE SUPPOSED TO SAY TO THIS ? LOL I SMILED AND SAID OKAY.
THEN I HEAR OKAY FEET AND KNEES UP UP UP THERE YOU GO YOU GOT IT.... HOLD IT HOLD IT HOLD IT .... LEAN BACK NOPE.... BUTTS IT IS.
WE LAND AND I SEE SHAWN AND COLIN AND DAD AND SUSAN WALKING TOWARDS US. AND IM THINKING OKAY THAT WAS TRULY AMAZING , AWESOME , BREATH TAKING , UNBELIEVABLE .... I HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN
I TURN AROUND JUST IN TIME TO SEE PAMELA LANDING. AND SHE IS HOLLERING !!! SHE OBVIOUSLY LOVED IT TOO !!! LOL
WE DISCUSS DOING THIS EVERY YEAR TO TWICE A YEAR. LOL YEP SHE TOO IS HOOKED.
WHEN I WATCHED PAMELA'S VIDEO BACK TO BACK WITH MINE I SAW 2 VERY DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE. SHE WAS MORE " BOUNCY BUBBLY VOCAL " WITH THE WHOLE THING. WHILE I WAS MORE QUIET ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. AND I REALIZED MY "QUIETNESS" COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR NERVOUS OR NOT ENJOYING THE WHOLE THING. BUT IT WASNT THAT WAY AT ALL ... IT WAS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE. I WAS SO AWE STRUCK BY THE WHOLE THING !!! AS WE WERE GOING UP AND COMING DOWN I JUST WANTED TO SEE AND HEAR ( AND SOMETIMES NOT HEAR ANYTHING ) EVERYTHING. I DIDNT WANT TO MISS ANY OF IT. I JUST NEEDED TO SOAK IT ALL IN. I DIDNT / DONT EVER WANT TO FORGET ANYTHING ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE FROM MY FIRST SKYDIVE.(YES I DID SAY MY FIRST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE " FIRST " OF MANY TO COME. I CAN NOT WAIT TO GO AGAIN !!!) I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE EVERY BIT OF THIS WITH SHAWN AND WHILE FLOATING DOWN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT I COULDNT. FOR SOMEONE TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THIS THEY TOO WOULD HAVE TO GO SKYDIVING. SO I NEED TO TAKE IT ALL IN AND REMEMBER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO SHARE AS MUCH OF THESE FEELING AS I COULD.
NOW ... TO MY AMAZING HUSBAND... THANK YOU FOR BEING SO WONDERFUL TO ME AND LOVING ME UNCONDITIONALLY LIKE YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY LONGEST , BIGGEST DREAMS ( BALLET & SKYDIVING )COME TRUE. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH !!! MORE THAN ANYTHING !!!! <3 <3 <3
TO MY SISTER IN LAW PAMELA... THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU !! THANK YOU FOR BEING THE DARE DEVIL YOU ARE BECOMING AND GOING SKYDIVING WITH ME THIS TIME AND MANY MORE TIMES TO COME. ;-) <3 THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS EXPERIENCE WITH ME.
TO DAD AND SUSAN ... THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE !!! SUSAN IM SORRY IF OUR " STUPID " THINGS WE DO MAKE YOU NERVOUS. LOL THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE GIFT OF MY SECOND JUMP. I CANT WAIT TO GO AGAIN !!!! <3 <3
AND TO MY SWEET BABY COLIN ... I KNOW YOU WONT REMEMBER BEING THERE BUT I WILL REMEMBER YOU BEING THERE. I LOVE YOU TO PIECES MY LITTLE MAN !!!! <3 <3 <3
SO I CALLED SKYDIVE CITY AND GOT US BOOKED FOR AUGUST 30TH. FOUND OUT ALL THE INFORMATION WE NEEDED TO KNOW. IT WAS ON !!!
ODDLY ENOUGH I AM NOT FEELING THE SLIGHTEST BIT NERVOUS OR SCARED OR ANYTHING. WHATS WRONG WITH ME I WONDERED ? LOL YOU JUST SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO JUMP OUT OF AN AIRPLANE ???? LOL STILL NO NERVES.
WELL I HAD TO CALL SKYDIVE CITY ON THE 29TH TO GET EVERYTHING SQUARED AWAY WITH PAYMENT AND ALL THAT FUN STUFF. I TALK TO THE GUY AND WAS FINE THREW THE WHOLE CONVERSATION UNTIL HE SAYS " OKAY WE WILL SEE YA'LL TOMORROW " ... INSTANTLY I FELT SICK TO MY STOMACH ... THEN CAME THE VOMITING AND THEN AGAIN ... GREAT NOW THE NERVES START .... OH GOSH WHAT AM I DOING ??? MY NERVES OBVIOUSLY CAN NOT HANDLE THIS .....
I MANAGED TO FEEL ILL THAT WHOLE AFTER NOON AND EVENING AND INTO THE NIGHT. BUT DETERMINATION WAS WINNING THIS BATTLE. I KNEW IF I GAVE IN I WOULD HATE MYSELF FOR NOT GOING. SO ON THE BIG GIRL PANTIES WENT AND OFF TO BED I WENT.
I WOKE UP BRIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. AND TO MY OWN SURPRISE THERE WAS NO NERVOUSNESS AT ALL. ONLY EXCITEMENT THAT IS ALMOST OVERWHELMING TO THE POINT THAT I COULD HARDLY STAND IT. I ABSOLUTELY COULD NOT WAIT TO GO NOW !!!!
PAMELA GETS HERE AND SHE WAS JUST AS EXCITED AS I WAS. AND ALL I COULD THINK IS OMG WE ARE REALLY FIXIN TO GO THIS !!!!
WE GET ALL OF OUR STUFF TOGETHER , GET BABY COLIN IN THE CAR ( YES HE WENT WITH US CAUSE HIS MOMMA AND DADDY HAD TO WORK. SO HE GOT TO SPEND THE MORNING WITH GRANDPA AND GRAND-DAD AND GRANDMA SUSAN )AND OFF WE GO ON WHAT SEEMED TO BE THE LONGEST RIDE EVER ( AN HOUR AND A HALF-ISH ) TO ZEPHERHILLS. I SWEAR I DIDNT THINK WE WOULD EVER GET THERE.
WE PULL UP AT SKYDIVE CITY AND I FEEL AS IF IM GONNA EXPLODE WITH EXCITEMENT. WE GET INSIDE AND LET THEM KNOW WE WERE THERE AND THE LADY HANDS PAMELA AND I SOME PAPER WORK AND TELLS US TO READ IT ALL OVER AND INITIAL HERE AND THERE AND HERE AND THERE AND HERE AND THERE AND SIGN THE BOTTOM.
OKAY SO OFF WE GO TO THE PICNIC TABLE TO DO AS WE ARE TOLD.... ONLY WE DECIDED NOT TO READ IT. LOL I TOLD PAMELA " I AM NOT READING ALL OF THIS. IT WILL SCARE ME TO DEATH. SO SHHHHHHHHH DONT TELL ANYONE HAHAHAHAHHAHAHA
WE TURN IT IN AND GO BACK OUTSIDE AND WITHIN MINUTES, JEFF FINDS PAMELA AND TELLS HER THAT SHE DREW THE SHORT STRAW AND GOT HIM FOR AN INSTRUCTOR. I SAID HMMMMMMMMMMMM ... SHORT STRAW HUH ??? WELL WHAT THAT MEANT WAS HE IS THE " ROOKIE " OF THE GROUP WITH ONLY 1600 JUMPS. LOL BUT REGARDLESS THE 2 OF THEM SEEM TO HIT IT OFF PRETTY WELL. HE WAS GOOD FOR PAMELA WITH THIS JOKING CAREFREE MANOR.
AS SHE IS GETTING SUITED UP IN HER " BARNEY " LOOKING SUIT AND WHILE HE WAS GOING OVER HER INSTRUCTIONS I HEAR " DEBI ? " I SAID " YES ??? " HE SAYS " MY NAME IS ARRON AND IM GOING TO BE YOUR INSTRUCTOR. " AFTER THE VERY SHORT " NICE TO MEET YOU ". I AM SUITED UP IN A BLUE JUMP SUIT AND WHISKED AWAY TO A BUILDING AWAY FROM EVERYONE ELSE. I ASKED ARRON IF SHAWN COULD COME IN AND HE SAYS AND I QUOTE " YEA IF HE DOESN'T DISTRACT ME FROM TRAINING ". NO SMILE NO NOTHING .... YOU WOULD THINK I WOULD BE SAYING TO MYSELF " WOW THIS IS GONNA BE FUN ( SARCASM INCERTED HERE )". BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT I THOUGHT AT ALL. FOR SOME REASON I FOUND HIS STERN-NESS TO BE COMFORTING TO ME. I FELT VERY COMFORTABLE AND SAFE WITH HIM. AND THAT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOO IMPORTANT TO ME. YEP HE WAS THE RIGHT INSTRUCTOR FOR ME !!!!!
I HAVE A FEW MINUTES WITH SHAWN , COLIN , DAD , SUSAN AND PAMELA BEFORE WE HEADED TO THE COVERED AREA THAT WE HAD TO GO TO BEFORE BOARDING THE PLANE. AND THOSE FEW MINUTES SEEMED LIKE SECONDS.
ARRON SAYS " LETS GO HAVE SOME FUN GIRL " AND I LOOKED AT SHAWN , SMILED SAID I LOVE YOU AND WALKED ON TO THE COVERED AREA. NO I DIDNT KISS HIM OR SAY BYE. I KNEW IF I DID I WOULD START TO FREAK OUT AND START TO CRY.
WE START WALKING TO THE PLANE AND I CAN HARDLY STAND IT. I AM SO EXCITED !!!
WE GET IN THE PLANE AND IRONICALLY HE HANDS ME A SEAT BELT. I COULDNT HELP BUT LAUGH AT THE SEAT BELT. LOL ALL I COULD THINK IS WE ARE JUMPING OUT OF A PLANE AND YOUR HANDING ME A SEAT BELT. THIS STUCK ME AS VERY FUNNY.
WE GET ALL " SEAT BELTED " IN AND THE PLANE STARTS MOVING. WELL LET ME JUST SAY I NOW UNDERSTAND WHY WE HAD SEAT BELTS. LOL THE PLANE SEEMED TO TAKE OFF WITH MUCH SPEED AND STRAIGHT UP. TO THE POINT THAT I HAD TO BRACE MYSELF WITH MY FEET TO KEEP FROM SLIDING OFF OF THE LITTLE BENCH THAT WE WERE SITTING ON. I HAVE NO IDEA IF WE WERE MOVING AS FAST AS IT FELT OR IF WE WERE GOING AS STRAIGHT UP AS IT FELT. BUT THATS MY STORY AND IM STICKING TO IT ( LAUGHING HERE ).
THEN I FEEL ARRON START MESSING WITH MY HARNESS AND ALL OF A SUDDEN HE WAS AWKWARDLY CLOSE TO ME. LOL HE STARTS TIGHTENING THIS STRAP AND THAT STRAP TO THE POINT OF IT WAS GETTING HARD TO BREATH. NORMALLY I DONT THINK I WOULD BE HAPPY ABOUT THIS. LOL BUT I WAS VERY COMFORTABLE WITH HIM BEING THAT CLOSE AND MY STRAPS BEING THAT TIGHT.
OKAY HE SAYS " YOU READY ? " i LOOK OVER MY SHOULDER AND SAY " YES IM READY ". THEN WE DUCK WALK TO THE DOOR. OMG THIS VIEW IS INC READABLE !!!!! AND STILL NO FEAR AT ALL ... AS A MATTER OF FACT I DONT EVEN FEEL NERVOUS NOW. I FEEL SO AMAZINGLY CALM ....
OKAY ARMS CROSSED HEAD BACK .... OMG WE ARE OUT OF THE PLANE !!!! THIS IS THE MOST AMAZING THING I HAVE EVEN EXPERIENCED OR EVEN SEEN IN MY LIFE. WE ARE FREE FALLING FOR 60 SECONDS ... WE DO A TRIPLE SPIN AND I AM JUST IN AWE. SPEECHLESS ... WHAT CAN ONE SAY OTHER THAN WOW OR OMG !!!
THEN THE 60 SECONDS IS OVER AND ARRON PULLS THE PARACHUTE WITH NO WARNING. AND THAT WAS THE BIGGEST MOST UNEXPECTED JERK I HAVE EVER FELT. LOL
WHEN THE PARACHUTE OPENED IT FELT LIKE WE STOPPED. THE LOUD SOUND OF THE WIND SO DEAFENING AT 120 PLUS MPH GONE. EVERYTHING IS COMPLETELY SILENT. SO PEACEFUL. THE SIGHT OF EVERYTHING BELOW US WAS BREATH TAKING. I WAS IN COMPLETE AND UTTER AWE OF IT ALL.
THEN I HEAR ARRON SAY " HERE HOLD ON TO THIS ". I LOOK AT WHAT HE IS HANDING ME AND REALIZED HE WAS HANDING ME THE PARACHUTE. HOLY COW !!! I TAKE THE HANDLES AND HE SAYS " PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE RIGHT SIDE. " I DID AND WE TURNED TO THE RIGHT. THEN HE SAYS " PULL ALL THE WAY DOWN ON THE LEFT. " I DID AND YEP WE TURNED TO THE LEFT. THEN HE SAYS " WHILE HOLDING ONTO THE HANDLES LET YOUR ARMS GO ALL THE WAY UP. " I DID AND WE STOPPED ( IN MID AIR !!! ). AT LEAST THATS HOW IT FELT. HE TOLD ME THAT THATS HOW THEY SLOW DOWN THE PARACHUTE ( HOLDING YOUR ARMS STRAIGHT UP ).
THEN HE PROCEEDS TO TELL ME THAT HE IS GOING TO LOOSEN THE STRAPS TO PREPARE FOR LANDING .... OH GOSH IS ALL I COULD THINK. BUT IT WAS A SLIGHT GIVE AND THAT WAS OVER. NO BIG DEAL.
THEN WE WENT OVER THE LANDING. WHAT I NEEDED TO DO AND WHAT COULD / WOULD HAPPEN IF I DIDNT. SO AS WE ARE FLOATING THREW THE AIR WE ARE PRACTICING HOLDING LEGS UP ... HIGHER HIGHER HIGHER. THERE YOU GO THATS WHAT I NEED YOU TO DO. THEN HE SAYS " THERE IS A LOT OF WATER ON THE GROUND STILL SO WE ARE GONNA TRY TO DO A RUN IN BUT I HAVE A FEELING WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SLIDE IN ON OUR BUTTS. " WELL WHAT IS ONE SUPPOSED TO SAY TO THIS ? LOL I SMILED AND SAID OKAY.
WE LAND AND I SEE SHAWN AND COLIN AND DAD AND SUSAN WALKING TOWARDS US. AND IM THINKING OKAY THAT WAS TRULY AMAZING , AWESOME , BREATH TAKING , UNBELIEVABLE .... I HAVE TO DO THIS AGAIN
I TURN AROUND JUST IN TIME TO SEE PAMELA LANDING. AND SHE IS HOLLERING !!! SHE OBVIOUSLY LOVED IT TOO !!! LOL
WE DISCUSS DOING THIS EVERY YEAR TO TWICE A YEAR. LOL YEP SHE TOO IS HOOKED.
WHEN I WATCHED PAMELA'S VIDEO BACK TO BACK WITH MINE I SAW 2 VERY DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE. SHE WAS MORE " BOUNCY BUBBLY VOCAL " WITH THE WHOLE THING. WHILE I WAS MORE QUIET ABOUT THE WHOLE THING. AND I REALIZED MY "QUIETNESS" COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR NERVOUS OR NOT ENJOYING THE WHOLE THING. BUT IT WASNT THAT WAY AT ALL ... IT WAS DIRECTLY OPPOSITE. I WAS SO AWE STRUCK BY THE WHOLE THING !!! AS WE WERE GOING UP AND COMING DOWN I JUST WANTED TO SEE AND HEAR ( AND SOMETIMES NOT HEAR ANYTHING ) EVERYTHING. I DIDNT WANT TO MISS ANY OF IT. I JUST NEEDED TO SOAK IT ALL IN. I DIDNT / DONT EVER WANT TO FORGET ANYTHING ABOUT MY EXPERIENCE FROM MY FIRST SKYDIVE.(YES I DID SAY MY FIRST BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS IS THE " FIRST " OF MANY TO COME. I CAN NOT WAIT TO GO AGAIN !!!) I WANTED TO BE ABLE TO SHARE EVERY BIT OF THIS WITH SHAWN AND WHILE FLOATING DOWN IT DAWNED ON ME THAT I COULDNT. FOR SOMEONE TO TRULY UNDERSTAND THIS THEY TOO WOULD HAVE TO GO SKYDIVING. SO I NEED TO TAKE IT ALL IN AND REMEMBER AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE TO SHARE AS MUCH OF THESE FEELING AS I COULD.
NOW ... TO MY AMAZING HUSBAND... THANK YOU FOR BEING SO WONDERFUL TO ME AND LOVING ME UNCONDITIONALLY LIKE YOU DO. THANK YOU FOR MAKING MY LONGEST , BIGGEST DREAMS ( BALLET & SKYDIVING )COME TRUE. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH !!! MORE THAN ANYTHING !!!! <3 <3 <3
TO MY SISTER IN LAW PAMELA... THANK YOU FOR BEING YOU !! THANK YOU FOR BEING THE DARE DEVIL YOU ARE BECOMING AND GOING SKYDIVING WITH ME THIS TIME AND MANY MORE TIMES TO COME. ;-) <3 THANK YOU FOR SHARING THIS EXPERIENCE WITH ME.
TO DAD AND SUSAN ... THANK YOU FOR BEING THERE !!! SUSAN IM SORRY IF OUR " STUPID " THINGS WE DO MAKE YOU NERVOUS. LOL THANK YOU BOTH FOR THE GIFT OF MY SECOND JUMP. I CANT WAIT TO GO AGAIN !!!! <3 <3
AND TO MY SWEET BABY COLIN ... I KNOW YOU WONT REMEMBER BEING THERE BUT I WILL REMEMBER YOU BEING THERE. I LOVE YOU TO PIECES MY LITTLE MAN !!!! <3 <3 <3
Thursday, July 19, 2012
CATCHING UP ON BLOGGING ABOUT THE HIKES
OKAY SO SHAWN THINKS IT WOULD BE BEST FOR US TO TELL OUR OWN PERSPECTIVE ON THESE HIKES. AND I AGREE WITH HIM. SIMPLY BECAUSE WHAT ONE DESCRIBES ARE A BLAST ANOTHER MAY NOT SEE IT THE SAME WAY. WHAT MAKES AN IMPRESSION ON ONE PERSON MAY NOT MAKE THE SAME IMPRESSION ON ANOTHER. ITS ALL IN WHAT YOU YOURSELF SEE AND TAKE AWAY FROM THAT. WHAT MAY BE A CHALLENGE FOR ONE MAY NOT BE A CHALLENGE FOR ANOTHER. THESE HIKES ARE ALL DIFFERENT IN EACH OF OUR EYES. LOL MANY TIMES THESE HIKES HAVE BEEN EASIER FOR SHAWN AND KEN AND JAMES THAN THEY HAVE BEEN FOR ME. AND THINGS THAT BOTHER ME MAY OR MAY NOT BOTHER THEM.... SO HERE IT GOES. I THINK I AM GOING TO TRY TO START FROM THE FIRST ONE AND WORK MY WAY UP TO THE MOST RESENT ONE. HOPE I CAN REMEMBER THEM ALL. BUT DUE TO MOST BEING SO LONG AGO I HAVE A FEELING THAT I AM ONLY GOING REMEMBER THE NEGATIVE THINGS IN THESE HIKES. AND IF THATS ALL I REMEMBER I APOLOGIZE. ALL THE NEW BLOGS WILL BE BETTER. LOL BECAUSE I WILL BE BLOGGING THESE AS WE DO THEM AND WILL BE ABLE TO REMEMBER THE GOOD ALONG WITH THE BAD. SO PLEASE TRY TO BE PATIENT WITH ME ON THESE BELOW. ALSO I WILL NOT BE POSTING ANY PICTURES ON ANY OF THESE PAST HIKES. IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE PICTURES YOU CAN SEE THEM ALL ON SHAWN'S BLOGS FOR EACH HIKE. THERE WILL BE A LINK TO HIS BLOG AND TO KENS BLOG AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS POST.
OKAY HERE WE GO ....
( 1 ) JOSHUA CREEK TO CHULUOTA WILDERNESS AREA
OKAY SO FOR WHATEVER REASON I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO AGREE TO WALK THE FLORIDA TRAIL WITH MY AMAZING HUSBAND AND WONDERFUL BROTHER IN LAW ( AND ALL THE OTHER AMAZING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT JOIN US )... OH MY GOODNESS WHAT WAS I THINKING ???? LOL
SO HERE IS MY FIRST ONE ... OKAY 4 MILES NOT TOO BAD... THIS IS DO-ABLE. YEA SURE I CAN DO THIS.... AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO TRULY KNOW ME YOU KNOW I AM NOT AN OUTDOORS KINDA PERSON SO THIS IS ALL VERY NEW FOR ME.
WELL NO THE HIKING WASNT TOO BAD. HOWEVER I DO NOT LIKE THESE BRIDGE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CROSS OVER. FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW I HATE BRIDGES OF ALL KINDS !!!! NO MOST OF THESE BRIDGES ARENT VERY HIGH BUT THEY ARE SOMEWHAT NOT THE MOST STABLE THINGS IN THE WORLD AND GOD KNOWS WHAT MIGHT BE UNDER THEM IN ALL THAT MUD AND MUCK.
GET TO THE FIRST ONE... HOLD MY BREATH AND WITH TEARS IN MY EYES I WILL MYSELF TO DO THIS. LOL ( I KNOW LAME BUT THEY FREAK ME OUT )I GET TO THE OTHER SIDE AND BREATH !!! YAAAAAAAAAAY ME I DID IT IS ALL I COULD THINK.
OKAY SO OTHER THAN SEEING A FEW COWS ( AND BTW I AM SCARED OF THOSE BIG SUCKERS TOO !!! )WE DIDNT RUN INTO ANY OTHER WILD LIFE.
IT WAS A SHORT HIKE AND A GOOD STARTER HIKE FOR ME ( US ). BUUUUUUT I THINK THAT WAS A TINY BIT DECEIVING FOR ME. LOL
I HONESTLY DONT REMEMBER VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS HIKE. ITS BEEN SO LONG AGO. BUT OBVIOUSLY I DIDNT HATE IT BECAUSE AS YOU WILL SEE I KEEP DOING THEM. ;-)
( 2 ) JUNIPER SPRINGS CANOE TRIP
JAMES' SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY. DAWN DID AN AMAZING JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER!!! WE ALL HAD A BLAST. SOME HAD A BETTER TIME THAN OTHERS ( POOR FAITH & MARIA) . I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS ONE AT ALL. SHAWN AND I HAD GONE OUT ON THE CANOE A FEW TIMES AND I LEARNED TO RELAX AND ENJOY IT. BUT THIS CANOE TRIP WAS DIFFERENT. LOL
WE GET IN THE CANOE AND START OUT AND IT WAS GOOD... UNTIL I ALMOST FLIPPED UP FOR FEAR OF HAVING MY THROAT IMPALED BY A PALM TREE. LOL BUT NO WORRIES, SHAWN SAVED ME ( AN EVERYTHING IN OUR CANOE ):)
THERE WAS A TON OF DUCKING AND LAYING BACKWARDS UNDER SOME TREES AND WHAT NOT. I LEARNED A LITTLE MORE ABOUT PADDLING ( ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE TO PUT IN ONE EXTRA STROKE FOR GOOD MEASURE I GUESS LOL AND THAT MADE IT HARDER ON POOR SHAWN .). IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT I THINK WE SAW 2 DEER A COON AND TRIED TO SAVE A TURTLE WHO SEEMED TO BE STUCK ON A STUMP. WHO BY THE WAY MADE FOOLS OF US. HE WASNT STUCK HAHAHA
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD ALL FLOAT TOGETHER BUT THATS NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED. WE ALL ENDED UP GETTING SEPARATED FOR MOST OF THE TRIP. ALTHOUGH WE DID ALL MEET UP FOR LUNCH AND GOT A CHANCE TO TALK AND RELAX FOR A WHILE.
I WAS EXCITED TO GET BACK IN THE CANOE AND START AGAIN ONLY TO REALIZE WE WERE AT THE END OF OUR TRIP... HOW SAD... I WAS HAVING A BALL AND WANTED TO KEEP GOING. BUT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END I GUESS.
AFTER THE CANOEING KO & SUSAN MET EVERYONE AT THE CAMP SITE FOR DINNER AND VISITING AND DINNER.
IT WAS A GOOD TIME. WE DIDNT STAY AND CAMP THO.
ON OUR WAY OUT WE SAW THE MOST AMAZING SUN SET. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL !!! WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO END THE PERFECT DAY.
( 3 ). LITTLE BIG ECON
OMG THIS WAS MY ( OUR ) FIRST 8 MILE HIKE. AND LETS BE HONEST HERE... LOL I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE !!!! LOL
THIS HIKE HAD A FEW FIRST FOR ME. MY FIRST 8 HR HIKE. MY FIRST NIGHT OF CAMPING.
WHEN WE STARTED OUT I WAS HAVING SOME REAL ISSUES WITH MY BAG. BUT AFTER A PRETTY BIG FIGHT WITH IT AND MYSELF AND IM SURE A FEW SHARP WORDS FOR SHAWN ( SORRY AGAIN HONEY ) WE GOT ALL THAT STRAIGHT. AND OFF WE WENT.
IT WAS TOUGH BUT WHEN WE STOPPED TO EAT LUNCH I FELT A BIT BETTER. AND OF COURSE THERE WAS MORE DREADED BRIDGE THINGIES FOR ME TO CONTEND WITH. BUT AGAIN I DID IT ( EVEN WITH THE POOP IN MY PATH ON THE BRIDGE THINGY THAT SOME RENDOM ANIMAL LEFT THERE ... SORRY CANT REMEMBER WHAT KINDA ANIMAL IT WAS NOW. BUT SHAWN AND JAME FOUND IT HYSTERICAL THAT I HAVE TO MANAGE TO FIND A WAY OVER AND OR AROUND THIS POOP. BECAUSE I AM SO UNEASY ON THESE THINGS. LOL GOTTA LOVE HOW THEY PICK ON THREW OUT THE DAY. AND WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR TEASING I THINK THESE HIKES WOULD NOT BE NEAR AS MUCH FUN )... WITH SOME HESITATION OF COURSE.LOL
I DO RECALL LAUGHING A LOT ON THIS HIKE AND I DO RECALL SAYING OMG ARE WE ALMOST THERE YEEEEEEEEEEEEEET ???? LOL
FINALLY WE MAKE IT TO OUR CAMP SITE.... HMMMMMMMMM HOW'S THIS GONNA WORK I WONDERED ???
SHAWN WAS DYING FOR COFFEE AND WAS IN SUCH A RUSH HE SPILLED THE WATER ON THE FIRE TWICE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN HE CAME UP WITH SOME CONTRAPTION WITH SOME STICKS THAT MADE IT A LITTLE MORE STURDY AND THE WATER WAS ON. COFFEE CAME SHORTLY AFTER. AND OMG IT TASTED AMAZING LOL
THEN CAME DINNER AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE SHAWN COOK DINNER OVER A FIRE. ALTHOUGH DINNER WAS REALLY GOOD. IM NOT SURE IF IT WAS THAT GOOD OR IF WE WERE STARVING. LOL EITHER WAY IT WAS GOOD. NICE JOB HONEY !!!
THEN CAME SLEEP .... YEA.... OR SHOULD I SAY LITTLE SLEEP.THE PEOPLE JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREES FROM US WERE HAVING A GRAND TIME DRINKING AND BEING LOUD ( EXPECTED )AND FIGHTING MADE SLEEP DIFFICULT. AND WE SLEPT IN SLEEPING BAGS ON THE GROUND AND OH MY GOODNESS I DIDNT SLEEP WELL AT ALL. THERE WAS A LOT OF TOSSING AND TURNING AND DOZING OFF AND ON AND THE GROUND WAS SO COLD. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDNT CARE MUCH FOR THAT CAMPING STUFF AT THIS POINT.
OH I FORGOT AT ONE POINT IN THE NIGHT SHAWN GOT UP TO STOKE THE FIRE AND WOKE JAMES UP AND FREAKED JAMES OUT A LITTLE BIT. BECAUSE JAMES HAD HIS FOOD CLOSE TO HIS HEAD AND BEING HALF ASLEEP WHEN HE HEARD THE STIRRING AROUND HE THOUGHT IT COULD POSS BE A COON OR SOMETHING . AND SHAWN THOUGHT JAMES WAS GONNA JUMP ON HIM. LOL REALLY FUNNY TO HEAR SHAWN TELL THAT STORY. LOL
THEN THE VERY SHORT HIKE TO THE TRUCK AND THEN HOME.
MY THOUGHTS THAT MORNING ... OMG THAT WAS A LONG DAY , OMG I DONT THINK I CARE FOR THIS CAMPING STUFF AT ALL , MY BACK HURTS FROM SLEEPING OR TRYING TO SLEEP ON THE GROUND... DANG MY EVERYTHING HURTS EVERYWHERE. YEAAAA IM NOT A FAN OF THIS CAMPING THING... OH AND PEEING IN THE WOODS... IM NOT A FAN OF THAT EITHER JUST SO YOU KNOW. LOL AND AGAIN THE THOUGHT OF " WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO BY AGREEING TO THIS HIKING THE FLORIDA TRAIL THING ??? "
BUT ONCE AGAIN I SURVIVED AND DIDNT HATE IT BUT DIDNT LIKE TOO MUCH OF IT EITHER.... LOL
( 4 ). CLEARWATER LAKE TO ALEXANDER SPRINGS
OHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOODNESSSSSSSSSS THIS ONE I REMEMBER WELL. LOL THIS WAS ONE I DONT THINK I WILL EVER FORGET !!!
SHAWN,JAMES & I ALL WATCHED THE WEATHER ALL WEEK. ITS MID FEB. AND THE TEMPS ARE SO UP AND DOWN YOU JUST DONT KNOW WHAT ITS GOING TO BE LIKE FROM DAY TO DAY.
SO WE ARE ALL EXPECTING THE LOWS TO BE IN THE 40'S. NOT TOO TOO BAD. COLD BUT OKAY ....
SHAWN WAKES ME SATURDAY MORNING AND TELLS ME WELL THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER. ITS GONNA BE A LITTLE COLDER THAN WE THOUGHT. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT HIM AND SAYING HOW MUCH COLDER ??? ( I DONT LIKE THE COLD AT ALLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!! )HE SAID 28ISH. I SAID OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS ??? HE SAID YEA, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ? AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT I AGREED TO GO. WE ALL HAD BEEN REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HIKE. I DONT WANT TO BE A BIG BABY AND RUIN THIS FOR EVERYONE. SO I SAY " SELF SUCK IT UP AND GO YOU WILL REGRET IT IF YOU DONT !! AND SELF AND I AGREED WE'D SUCK IT UP AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT. HONESTLY, HOW BAD COULD IT BE ?? " AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHA STUPID SELF !!!!
WE GOT OUT THERE AND IT WAS A LITTLE COOL BUT NOT TOO BAD. I FIGURED ONCE WE STARTED WALKING WE WOULD WARM UP SOME. NO BIG DEAL. WELL ITS TIME TO GET STARTED. I BACK UP TO THE TRUCK AND PUT MY PACK ON AND ALMOST FELL OVER. HOLY COW IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HEAVY. AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WAS WAY TOO HEAVY FOR ME. BUT I DEALT WITH IT.
WE START WALKING AND I SEE A TRACK THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND DECIDED I WOULDNT ASK WHAT IT WAS FROM BECAUSE HONESTLY I FELT I WAS PROBABLY BETTER OFF NOT KNOWING. LOL ( FOUND OUT LATER ON THAT WHAT I THOUGHT MADE THAT TRACK ... WAS CORRECT ... A BEAR )
WE STOPPED ABOUT HALF WAY TO EAT LUNCH AND EMPTY MY SHOES OUT DUE TO ALL THE SAND IN THEM.
WHILE EATING LUNCH SHAWN REALIZED THAT HE HAD CHIGGERS ALL OVER HIS LEGS. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ANNOYING LIL CRITTERS !!! SO WE ALL GET UP AND GET OUR PACKS ON AGAIN AND MOVE ON.
WELL WE HIT THE MARK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FINDING A PLACE TO CAMP AND HMMMMMMMMMM WE ARE NOT IN THE BEST PLACE TO CAMP... NOW WHAT ? YEP WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING TILL WE FIND SOMETHING SUITABLE FOR CAMPING. SO INSTEAD OF 6 MILES WE HAVE TO END UP PUSHING WITH MUCH PAIN TO THAT 8 MILE MARK BEFORE A SUITABLE CAMPSITE IS FOUND.
WELL IT WAS KINDA LIKE MOVING INTO AN ABOUNDED CLUTTERED HOUSE. ONLY YOU HAVE NOTHING TO CLEAN WITH. LOL NO BROOM NO NOTHING LOL.
AFTER MUCH CLEARING OUT AND SHAWN AND JAMES CHOPPING WOOD FOR A FIRE IT WAS TIME TO HANG HAMMOCKS ( YES WE HAVE HAMMOCKS NOW BECAUSE THAT SLEEPING ON THE GROUND THINGS IS FOR THE BIRDS )AND GETTING THINGS READY FOR COFFEE AND DINNER.
THEY GET THE FIRE GOING AND I GET THE COFFEE GOING. GET THE LEMON CHICKEN SOUP OUT AND READY FOR DINNER.
AFTER SOME COFFEE AND HOT SOUP IM FEELING MUCH BETTER. BUT IM COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AND AT THIS POINT IM REALLY STARTING TO GET COLD. THE SUN IS GOING DOWN AND THE NIGHT AIR IS COMING IN...
AFTER A SHORT WHILE I AM REALLY STARTING TO FEEL THE DAY AND AM REALLY GETTING TOO COLD. SO I TELL SHAWN AND JAMES GOOD NIGHT AND HEAD OFF TO CLIMB IN THE SLEEPING BAG IN MY HAMMOCK TO GET WARM AND DRIFT OFF TO BLISSFUL SLEEP. YEA RIGHT !!!!!!!
OMG WHEN MY HUSBAND TOLD ME IT WAS GONNA BE 28ISH HE FAILED TO TELL ME THAT THE WIND WAS GOING TO BE GUSTY AND A FEELS LIKE TEMP OF 18 OF SOMETHING CRAZY LIKE THAT !!!! EVEN IN JAMES' SLEEPING BAG I LIKE TO HAVE FROZE TO DEATH !!!!!!!!! I SWEAR TO GOD MY BONES WERE FROZEN !!!!! MY TEETH WERE CHATTERING AND I WAS SHIVERING UNCONTROLLABLY. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WAS THAT STINKIN COLD. HOLY COW !!!!!! NEEDLESS TO SAY I SLEPT NEXT TO NONE AGAIN. LOL
SHAWN AND I CLIMBED OUT OF THE HAMMOCKS I THINK SOMETIME AROUND 5ISH. SHAWN GOT THE FIRE STOKED BACK UP THEN JAMES GOT UP AND WE DRANK SOME COFFEE AND HOT CHOCOLATE AND ATE BREAKFAST AND STARTED OUT AGAIN.
AT THIS POINT I AM COMPLETELY MISERABLE AND WAS COMPLETELY HATING LIFE RIGHT THAT SECOND. LOL I WAS COLD AND EXHAUSTED AND NOT LONG AFTER WE STARTED ON THE HIKE ON SATURDAY I TWISTED MY LEG AND SLIGHTLY PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY THIGH. AND THAT WAS HURTING ME. NOT TO MENTION I HAD A FEW LITTLE BLISTERS ON MY TOES THAT WERE JUST ENOUGH TO ANNOY ME.
I QUICKLY BECAME VERY ANNOYED AND WHINY. I DIDNT WANT TO WALK ANOTHER STEP MUCH-LESS 3,4 OR 5 MILES ( WHATEVER IT WAS ). I JUST WANTED TO BE DONE AND I WASNT SURE I WOULD EVER DO THIS AGAIN. OMG I WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT ENJOYING THIS AT ALL. I WAS DONE... COMPLETELY SPENT !!!! I DIDNT CARE IF WE EVER WENT HIKING AGAIN. LOL
POOR JAMES ... HE IS SO SWEET. HEHEHE
ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS HELP MAKE THINGS EASIER AND BETTER FOR ME AND ASKED ME IF HE COULD CARRY MY PACK FOR ME AND I YELLED AT HIM AND TOLD HIM NO I GOT IT AND HEHE HE YELLED BACK AT ME. GOSH I LOVE HIM. ( SORRY AGAIN JAMES I LOVE YOU !!!! ;) )
FINALLY WE GET TO THE TRUCK AND OMG I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO GLAD TO SEE THAT TRUCK. LOL
THAT WAS A CHALLENGING HIKE FOR ALL OF US. BUT THAT ONE WAS ESPECIALLY HARD FOR ME. BUT YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY ME AGAIN I DID IT. LOL
I FORGOT TO MENTION THE BLISTERS ON THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET ALL ALONG THE BOTTOM OF MY TOES. PAINFUL !!!! I COULDNT EVEN HARDLY PUT MY FLIP FLOPS ON.
( 5 ) HOPKINS PRAIRIE TO JUNIPER SPRINGS
OKAY ITS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN HIKING. AND EVEN WITH THE BITTER TASTE FROM THE LAST HIKE IN FEB. I WAS READY TO GO. I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HIKE. I NEEDED THIS (AS DID SHAWN ). SO THE PLANS WERE IN THE MAKING....
WELL AFTER ALL THE PLANNING TOOK PLACE TROPICAL STORM DEBBY DECIDED TO SHOW HER UGLY FACE ON THE RADAR. OKAY NO BIG DEAL. WE HAVE NEVER HIKED IN THE RAIN. SO COOL ANOTHER FIRST FOR ALL OF US ( OR AT LEAST SHAWN AND I ). AND THIS TIME KEN WAS GOING WITH THE 3 OF US. SO THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD TIME. THE 4 OF US AND RAIN. GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST. LOL
WELL TO START WITH SHAWN AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE SOME WATER BEHIND TO SAVE WEIGHT SINCE IT HAD BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN OUT AND ARE A BIT OUT OF SHAPE. BIG BIG NO NO !!!!!
ANYWAYS WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO OUR STARTING POINT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG FAT BEAR COMES OUT OF THE WOODS AND IS RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE WERE DRIVING ON. OMG OMG OMG A BEAR. WE WERE ALL SO EXCITED TO SEE A BEAR. AND I WAS SO EXCITED I COULDNT STAND IT UNTIL I REALIZED THAT THAT BIG 300 LBS BEAR RAN INTO THE WOODS... THE SAME WOODS WE WERE FIXING TO BE HIKING IN. OH NOOOOOOOOOOO NOW IM A TINY BIT FREAKED OUT. BUT DECIDE TO JUST SHUSH MY FEARS AND MOVE ON...
WELL NOT FAR INTO THE HIKE JAMES ALMOST STEPPED ON A RATTLE SNAKE ( THAT SCARED ME )AND THEN THE DEER FLIES WERE KILLING US. OMG I BET WE WERE THE BEST FEAST THOSE THINGS HAVE HAD IN YEARS LOL.
WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE RAINS TO COME IN .... WE WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT .... THE SUN IS BRIGHT OVER HEAD AND ITS GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER AND HOTTER AND THERE IS NO CANOPY BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE PRAIRIES AND THERE IS NO CANOPY IN THE PRAIRIES ... IT MIGHT AS WELL BE THE DESERT. THE HEAT ENDED UP BEING WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME. I WASNT DRESSED FOR THIS HEAT AT ALL. I STARTED GETTING WAY TOO HOT AND WAS FINDING IT HARD TO COOL OFF EVEN JUST A LITTLE BUT JUST TO MAKE IT BEARABLE. I STARTED FEELING SICK AND THAT SCARED ME AND THEN I STARTED SHAKING. AND THAT SCARED ME EVEN MORE BECAUSE I KNEW IT WASNT AN OPTION TO JUST WALK BACK TO THE TRUCK. WE WERE TOO FAR IN TO DO THAT.
WE FIND A TINY BIT OF SHADE AND I STOOD THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES TO GET MYSELF CALMED DOWN AND KINDA GET MY WITS ABOUT ME ( THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND AND BOTHERS IN LAW ARE CALM COOL AND COLLECTED IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE REALLY STARTED TO PANIC ... ) AND WE PRESS ON TILL WE CAME ACROSS HIDDEN LAKE ( OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ) WHERE THERE WAS TREES AND SHADE. THATS WHERE WE STOPPED AND ATE LUNCH AND COOLED OFF AND RELAXED FOR SOME TIME.
FEELING SOME BETTER WE PUSH ON TILL WE FOUND A DECENT CAMP SITE ( OR SO WE THOUGHT ).
WE DIDNT HAVE TO WORK TOO HARD TO MAKE CAMP ( THANKS TO ROB LOL SOMEONE BY THAT NAME CARVED HIS NAME IN A STICK THAT HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE US )WE GOT OUT HAMMOCKS SET UP AND THEN ALL RELAXED AROUND THE AREA THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A FIRE IF IT WASNT SO HOT.
THEN AFTER A WHILE WE HEAD OFF TO BED.
WE PUT THE RAIN FLIES UP BECAUSE WE ARE STILL EXPECTING RAN. BUT THE RAIN FLIES ALMOST KILLED SHAWN AND I. LOL THEY BLOCKED ANY BREEZE THAT CAME THREW SO IT WAS STIFFENING IN OUR HAMMOCKS. AND IF THAT WASNT ENOUGH THE MOSQUITOES ALMOST ATE US ALIVE THREW OUR HAMMOCKS. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE I FINALLY DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP. MUCH NEEDED SLEEP.
THEN ALL OF OF SUDDEN I SIT UP OUT OF A DEAD SLEEP TO SOMETHING TROMPING THREW THE WOODS CLOSE TO ME. THEN WHATEVER IT WAS SNORTED AND LIKE TO HAVE GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK !!! AND IN MY PANIC VOICE I WAS HOLLARING ( QUIETLY HOLLARING LOL ) TO SHAWN ( TOOK 2 TIMES FOR HIM TO HEAR ME BTW BLESS HIS HEART HE WAS SLEEPING GOOD )AND OF COURSE HE HEARS NOTHING. LOL GUESS I SCARED IT OFF WHEN IT SCARED ME. GO FIGURE. NOW HE THINKS IM PARANOID AND AM JUST HEARING THINGS LOL
WELL THE NEXT MORNING KEN AND JAMES WOKE UP FIRST AND THEN ME AND THEN I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO WAKE SHAWN. THANKFULLY THEY TOLD HIM OF MY "BOOGER" IN THE WOODS THAT THEY HEARD AS WELL. SO NOW HE KNOWS IM NOT JUST BEING A BIG PARANOID BABY LOL
WE PACK UP AND HEAD OUT. AND YEP FINALLY ITS RAINING.... NOT A HARD RAIN BUT A SLOW DRIZZLE AND CLOUD COVER. IT WAS A NICE WALK OUT. SHAWN AND I HAD A GOOD TIME WALKING OUT ON THIS ONE.jAMES AND KEN WERE ABOUT 3 MINUTES AHEAD OF US. SO SHAWN AND I JUST WALKED ALONG TALKING AND TAKING OUR TIME... MINUS MY BLISTERS THAT ARE REALLY STARTING TO BOTHER ME FROM MY NEW SHOES.
WE MADE IT OUT WITH GOOD TIME. SET ASIDE THE HEAT AND THE HURTING I HAD A BLAST.
I AM REALLY ENJOYING THESE HIKES EVEN THREW ALL THE SUFFERING I SEEM TO ENDURE EVERY TIME IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. WHAT CAN I SAY MAYBE IN SOME SADISTIC WAY I AM GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT LOL
MANY MANY MANY THANKS TO SHAWN , JAMES , AND KEN FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY WHINING AND MAKING SURE I HAVE MY " SNICKERS " WHEN THEY SEE THAT I NEED IT. LOL AND FOR PULLING ME THREW THE TIMES THAT I DONT THINK THAT I CAN PUSH FORWARD. YOU ARE ALL AMAZING THANKS GUYS !!!!!
OH I FORGOT TO MENTION THE OVER ABUNDANCE OF TICS HERE. AND THE OVER ABUNDANCE OF CHIGGERS THAT REALLY LIKED SHAWN !!!! BLESS HIS HEART HE WAS COVERED FROM HIS WAIST TO MID THIGH ALL THE WAY AROUND IN CHIGGER BITES AND HIS FEET WERE COVERED AS WELL. ON TOP OF THE MOSQUITO BITES ALL OVER HIS BACK. BLESS HIS HEART HE DIDNT SLEEP FOR 3 DAYS DUE TO THE ITCHING
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD WE LEARNED OUR LESSON NEVER SACRIFICE WATER JUST TO SAVE SOME WEIGHT. DEAL WITH THAT LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT. WE FOUND OUT THATS IT BETTER TO HAVE TOO MUCH WATER RATHER THAN NOT ENOUGH. BECAUSE YOU JUST DONT KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN OUT THERE AND YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW GOOD OR HOW CLOSE A WATER SOURCE IS GOING TO BE.
( 6 ) CHRISTMAS HIKE IN JULY
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOKAY SO THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ONE. AND MIGHT I ADD THIS ONE WAS HARD HARD HARD. LOL
WE GOT OUT THERE AND THERE IS A MINOR ISSUE WITH MY BAG. NO BIG DEAL. I GOT THIS. OKAY NOW LETS GO...
WE START WALKING AND HMMMMMMMMMMMM ITS 97* OUT AND APPEARS THAT WE WILL BE WALKING IN THE FULL SUN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. DOESNT LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE TOO LONG THO. I CAN SEE THE TREES AHEAD.... PERHAPS THAT WAS A MIRAGE LOL
WE GET TO WHERE THE TREES APPEAR TO BE AND YEA AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE THERE AND THERE JUST WASNT ANY SHADE FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER.
ALL I COULD THINK WAS OMG HERE WE GO AGAIN. I AM GOING TO HAVE A HEAT STROKE OUT HERE FOR SURE THIS TIME. THE HEAT WAS JUST ABOUT TOO MUCH.
THEN THE "TRAIL" WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. TRAIL ??? WHAT TRAIL ???? THERE WAS NO TRAIL WE JUST HAD TO BE CAREFUL AND FOLLOW THE ORANGE BLAZES. SURE BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRE BURNS THOSE OFF THE TREES ... THEN WHAT ???? LOL
AT ONE POINT THE 4 OF US HAD TO SPLIT UP IN ORDER TO FIND A BLAZE SO WE KNEW WHAT WAY TO GO. OKAY I FOUND ONE.... LETS MOVE ON.
WELL OUTSIDE OF THE HEAT AND TALL GRASS AND FEAR OF SNAKES AND BUZZING MOSQUITOES WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
MY FEET START HURTING ... OMG NOT AGAIN ... BLISTERS AGAIN !!!! AND BAD THIS TIME. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. NOW WHAT ????
SO I FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO ... EXTRA SOCKS IN THE BACKS OF MY SHOES SHOULD HOLD ME OFF TILL WE MAKE CAMP....
WALKING ALONG I SAID HMMMMMMMMM SOMETHINGS GOING ON HERE IN THIS AREA.... MY FEET ARE GETTING WET... GREAT ITS SWAMPY IN THIS AREA.
OKAY WELL IT WAS SWAMPY THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME ON SATURDAY. SO NOW I HAVE BAD BLISTERS AND MY FEET ARE PICKELED. THIS SUCKS !!! BLISTERS HURT AND MY FEET ARE WET. BAD BUT I GUESS NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD BE ... LOL
WE KEEP MOVING ON ... WE STOP FOR A SHORT WHILE TO RELAX AND TAKE OUR BAGS OFF AND EAT SOME LUNCH. ALTHOUGH I AM WAY TOO HOT TO EAT MUCH OF ANYTHING.BUT I DID MANAGE TO EAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE GET UP AND MOVE FORWARD FINALLY COMING TO OUR STOPPING POINT. A BRIDGE ON THE WATER. WE HANG OUT THERE ALL AFTERNOON AND EAT SOME DINNER AND RELAX. BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO CAMP JUST ANYWHERE OUT THERE WE HAD TO WAIT TILL JUST ABOUT DARK TO SET UP OUR HAMMOCKS. SHAWN AND I WENT INTO MOSQUITO HELL BUT WITH THE NEW THERMOCELS WE DIDNT GET EATEN ALIVE THIS TIME. AND JAMES AND KEN DECIDED TO HANG THEIR HAMMOCKS ON THE BRIDGE THAT WAY THEY COULD FEEL THE BREEZE AND AVOID THE LITTLE BLOOD SUCKERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. . WE DIDNT HAVE THE GREATEST AREA FOR CAMPING OUT HERE. AND I THINK MY HAMMOCK WAS HUNG IN THE PATH OF AN ARMADILLO. HE ATTEMPTED TO CROSS IN MY HAMMOCKS DIRECTION BUT THE GUYS ( SHAWN ) SCARED HIM OFF. ( THANKS GUYS ( HONEY ) )
WELL THERE WAS A LOT MORE TRAFFIC THREW THIS AREA THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. BUT WE PULLED IT OFF. IM SURE WE JUST LOOKED LIKE A BUNCH OF BUMS HANGING OUT ON A BRIDGE. ALL FILTHY AND NASTY LOOKING. LOL
TIME FOR BED... LAYING THERE TRYING TO STAY AS COOL AS WE COULD WITH LITTLE TO NO BREEZE IN THE TREE'S AND TRYING TO RELAX TO THE CROAKING OF THE BULL FROGS AND TRYING TO DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP.... THE DANG BULL FROGS GOT ON A CROAKING KICK... OMG THEY WERE SO OBNOXIOUS. I COULD NOT FALL ASLEEP TO SAVE MY LIFE !!! I SWEAR IF I A GIG I WOULD HAVE GIGGED THEM LITTLE SUCKERS MYSELF JUST TO SHUT THEM UP. THEY WERE NO LONGER RELAXING. LOL
FINALLY I FALL ASLEEP AND I WAKE UP TO KEN SAYING SOMETHING BUT IN A FOG I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE WAS SAYING. THEN I HEAR SHAWN SAY SOMETHING. AND WITH THIS I KNOW SOMETHING IS UP. THEN I HEAR SHAWN SAY THERE IS SOMEONE HERE.... CRAP GAME WARDEN IS ALL I CAN THINK.... AND HE IS GONNA MAKE UP PACK UP AND MOVE ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND IM TIRED AND HURTING AND MY FEET ARE KILLING ME. THIS IS JUST WONDERFUL.... IM NERVOUS AND ANNOYED NOW.... I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO HIKE THIS TRAIL THAT IS HARDLY VISABLE IN THE DAY LIGHT ... I CAN IMAGINE HOW BAD IT WOULD BE AT NIGHT. AND THREW THE SWAMP AND YEA... I DONT THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA LOL
WELL IT TURNED OUT TO JUST BE SOME GUYS WHO WERE WANTING TO FROG GIG ( WISH THEY HAD ) BUT BECAUSE WE WERE THERE THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE. ITS NOT LIKE THEY COULD GET OVER THE BRIDE WITH JAMES AND KEN SLEEPING ON IT ANYWAYS AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA
OKAY BACK TO SLEEP .... YEAAAAAAAAA RIGHT. I LAID THERE AWAKE THE REST OF THE NIGHT TOSSING AND TURNING. SLEEP NEVER CAME BACK TO ME. OH I FORGOT TO MENTION MY STOMACH HAD BEEN KILLING ME ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. DANG THE BAD LUCK. BUT I HAD BEEN PRETTY LUCKY WITH MY STOMACH THREW ALL THE OTHER HIKES SO IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. AND AS MUCH AS THAT SUCKED I DID FIND OUT THAT I CAN HANDLE STOMACH ISSUES EVEN OUT IN THE WOODS. SO IT'S ALL GOOD. JUST SOMETHING NEW I KNOW I CAN HANDLE WHEN IM FACED WITH IT OUT THERE.
NEXT MORNING WE GET UP DO COFFEE AND BREAKFAST BREAK THE HAMMOCKS DOWN AND PACK EVERYTHING BACK UP. THEN ITS TIME TO BANDAGE MY FEET UP GET MY SHOES BACK ON AND HEAD OUT.
ABOUT 10 MINUTES IN MY FEET START HURTING BAD. DUE TO THE SWAMPINESS MY BANDAGES COME OFF AND MY SHOES ARE RUBBING AGAIN. ITS A RELENTLESS PAIN.... AFTER MUCH FIGHT SHAWN TALKS ME INTO WEARING MY FLIP FLOPS FOR THE LAST 4 MILES. HOLY CRAP YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND HATING THEM ALL THE SAME I HAD NO CHOICE.
TROMPING THREW ANKLE DEEP MUCKY WATER ( NOW I AM SCARED OF LEACHES LOL AND WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD BE IN THIS WATER AND MY POOR FEET ARE NOT PROTECTED AT ALL FROM ANYTHING THAT MAY BE HIDING IN THIS NASTY WATER ) IN FLIP FLOPS AND TALL GRASS AND THREW THORNY PLANTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO ANYONE. BUT IF YOU DO HAVE TO WEAR THEM JUST BE GLAD THAT YOU ARENT BARE- FOOTED LOL. LIKE I SAID AS MUCH AS IT SUCKED TO HAVE TO WEAR THEM I WAS SO THANKFUL THAT I HAD THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS LIKE THE LAST HIKE WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME. BUT AGAIN I STILL LOVE THIS AND AM READY TO GO AGAIN. WHY ???? I HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA .... PERHAPS A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IM NOT REALLY SURE. BUT I DO LOVE BEING OUT THERE.
THANKS AGAIN GUYS FOR A MEMORABLE HIKE. AND SHAWN AGAIN IM GLAD YOU DIDNT " POOP " IN YOUR HAT HONEY ;)
SEE SHAWN'S BLOG FOR ALL PICTURES ON THESE HIKES AND CANOE TRIP.
SHAWN'S BLOG
KEN'S BLOG
OKAY HERE WE GO ....
( 1 ) JOSHUA CREEK TO CHULUOTA WILDERNESS AREA
OKAY SO FOR WHATEVER REASON I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO AGREE TO WALK THE FLORIDA TRAIL WITH MY AMAZING HUSBAND AND WONDERFUL BROTHER IN LAW ( AND ALL THE OTHER AMAZING PEOPLE WHO MIGHT JOIN US )... OH MY GOODNESS WHAT WAS I THINKING ???? LOL
SO HERE IS MY FIRST ONE ... OKAY 4 MILES NOT TOO BAD... THIS IS DO-ABLE. YEA SURE I CAN DO THIS.... AND FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO TRULY KNOW ME YOU KNOW I AM NOT AN OUTDOORS KINDA PERSON SO THIS IS ALL VERY NEW FOR ME.
WELL NO THE HIKING WASNT TOO BAD. HOWEVER I DO NOT LIKE THESE BRIDGE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO CROSS OVER. FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW I HATE BRIDGES OF ALL KINDS !!!! NO MOST OF THESE BRIDGES ARENT VERY HIGH BUT THEY ARE SOMEWHAT NOT THE MOST STABLE THINGS IN THE WORLD AND GOD KNOWS WHAT MIGHT BE UNDER THEM IN ALL THAT MUD AND MUCK.
GET TO THE FIRST ONE... HOLD MY BREATH AND WITH TEARS IN MY EYES I WILL MYSELF TO DO THIS. LOL ( I KNOW LAME BUT THEY FREAK ME OUT )I GET TO THE OTHER SIDE AND BREATH !!! YAAAAAAAAAAY ME I DID IT IS ALL I COULD THINK.
OKAY SO OTHER THAN SEEING A FEW COWS ( AND BTW I AM SCARED OF THOSE BIG SUCKERS TOO !!! )WE DIDNT RUN INTO ANY OTHER WILD LIFE.
IT WAS A SHORT HIKE AND A GOOD STARTER HIKE FOR ME ( US ). BUUUUUUT I THINK THAT WAS A TINY BIT DECEIVING FOR ME. LOL
I HONESTLY DONT REMEMBER VERY MUCH ABOUT THIS HIKE. ITS BEEN SO LONG AGO. BUT OBVIOUSLY I DIDNT HATE IT BECAUSE AS YOU WILL SEE I KEEP DOING THEM. ;-)
( 2 ) JUNIPER SPRINGS CANOE TRIP
JAMES' SURPRISE BIRTHDAY PARTY. DAWN DID AN AMAZING JOB PUTTING THIS TOGETHER!!! WE ALL HAD A BLAST. SOME HAD A BETTER TIME THAN OTHERS ( POOR FAITH & MARIA) . I DIDNT KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THIS ONE AT ALL. SHAWN AND I HAD GONE OUT ON THE CANOE A FEW TIMES AND I LEARNED TO RELAX AND ENJOY IT. BUT THIS CANOE TRIP WAS DIFFERENT. LOL
WE GET IN THE CANOE AND START OUT AND IT WAS GOOD... UNTIL I ALMOST FLIPPED UP FOR FEAR OF HAVING MY THROAT IMPALED BY A PALM TREE. LOL BUT NO WORRIES, SHAWN SAVED ME ( AN EVERYTHING IN OUR CANOE ):)
THERE WAS A TON OF DUCKING AND LAYING BACKWARDS UNDER SOME TREES AND WHAT NOT. I LEARNED A LITTLE MORE ABOUT PADDLING ( ALTHOUGH I ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE TO PUT IN ONE EXTRA STROKE FOR GOOD MEASURE I GUESS LOL AND THAT MADE IT HARDER ON POOR SHAWN .). IF MY MEMORY IS CORRECT I THINK WE SAW 2 DEER A COON AND TRIED TO SAVE A TURTLE WHO SEEMED TO BE STUCK ON A STUMP. WHO BY THE WAY MADE FOOLS OF US. HE WASNT STUCK HAHAHA
WE THOUGHT WE WOULD ALL FLOAT TOGETHER BUT THATS NOT THE WAY IT HAPPENED. WE ALL ENDED UP GETTING SEPARATED FOR MOST OF THE TRIP. ALTHOUGH WE DID ALL MEET UP FOR LUNCH AND GOT A CHANCE TO TALK AND RELAX FOR A WHILE.
I WAS EXCITED TO GET BACK IN THE CANOE AND START AGAIN ONLY TO REALIZE WE WERE AT THE END OF OUR TRIP... HOW SAD... I WAS HAVING A BALL AND WANTED TO KEEP GOING. BUT ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END I GUESS.
AFTER THE CANOEING KO & SUSAN MET EVERYONE AT THE CAMP SITE FOR DINNER AND VISITING AND DINNER.
IT WAS A GOOD TIME. WE DIDNT STAY AND CAMP THO.
ON OUR WAY OUT WE SAW THE MOST AMAZING SUN SET. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL !!! WHAT A WONDERFUL WAY TO END THE PERFECT DAY.
( 3 ). LITTLE BIG ECON
OMG THIS WAS MY ( OUR ) FIRST 8 MILE HIKE. AND LETS BE HONEST HERE... LOL I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEE !!!! LOL
THIS HIKE HAD A FEW FIRST FOR ME. MY FIRST 8 HR HIKE. MY FIRST NIGHT OF CAMPING.
WHEN WE STARTED OUT I WAS HAVING SOME REAL ISSUES WITH MY BAG. BUT AFTER A PRETTY BIG FIGHT WITH IT AND MYSELF AND IM SURE A FEW SHARP WORDS FOR SHAWN ( SORRY AGAIN HONEY ) WE GOT ALL THAT STRAIGHT. AND OFF WE WENT.
IT WAS TOUGH BUT WHEN WE STOPPED TO EAT LUNCH I FELT A BIT BETTER. AND OF COURSE THERE WAS MORE DREADED BRIDGE THINGIES FOR ME TO CONTEND WITH. BUT AGAIN I DID IT ( EVEN WITH THE POOP IN MY PATH ON THE BRIDGE THINGY THAT SOME RENDOM ANIMAL LEFT THERE ... SORRY CANT REMEMBER WHAT KINDA ANIMAL IT WAS NOW. BUT SHAWN AND JAME FOUND IT HYSTERICAL THAT I HAVE TO MANAGE TO FIND A WAY OVER AND OR AROUND THIS POOP. BECAUSE I AM SO UNEASY ON THESE THINGS. LOL GOTTA LOVE HOW THEY PICK ON THREW OUT THE DAY. AND WITHOUT THEM AND THEIR TEASING I THINK THESE HIKES WOULD NOT BE NEAR AS MUCH FUN )... WITH SOME HESITATION OF COURSE.LOL
I DO RECALL LAUGHING A LOT ON THIS HIKE AND I DO RECALL SAYING OMG ARE WE ALMOST THERE YEEEEEEEEEEEEEET ???? LOL
FINALLY WE MAKE IT TO OUR CAMP SITE.... HMMMMMMMMM HOW'S THIS GONNA WORK I WONDERED ???
SHAWN WAS DYING FOR COFFEE AND WAS IN SUCH A RUSH HE SPILLED THE WATER ON THE FIRE TWICE AND PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEN HE CAME UP WITH SOME CONTRAPTION WITH SOME STICKS THAT MADE IT A LITTLE MORE STURDY AND THE WATER WAS ON. COFFEE CAME SHORTLY AFTER. AND OMG IT TASTED AMAZING LOL
THEN CAME DINNER AND IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO ME TO SEE SHAWN COOK DINNER OVER A FIRE. ALTHOUGH DINNER WAS REALLY GOOD. IM NOT SURE IF IT WAS THAT GOOD OR IF WE WERE STARVING. LOL EITHER WAY IT WAS GOOD. NICE JOB HONEY !!!
THEN CAME SLEEP .... YEA.... OR SHOULD I SAY LITTLE SLEEP.THE PEOPLE JUST ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE TREES FROM US WERE HAVING A GRAND TIME DRINKING AND BEING LOUD ( EXPECTED )AND FIGHTING MADE SLEEP DIFFICULT. AND WE SLEPT IN SLEEPING BAGS ON THE GROUND AND OH MY GOODNESS I DIDNT SLEEP WELL AT ALL. THERE WAS A LOT OF TOSSING AND TURNING AND DOZING OFF AND ON AND THE GROUND WAS SO COLD. NEEDLESS TO SAY I DIDNT CARE MUCH FOR THAT CAMPING STUFF AT THIS POINT.
OH I FORGOT AT ONE POINT IN THE NIGHT SHAWN GOT UP TO STOKE THE FIRE AND WOKE JAMES UP AND FREAKED JAMES OUT A LITTLE BIT. BECAUSE JAMES HAD HIS FOOD CLOSE TO HIS HEAD AND BEING HALF ASLEEP WHEN HE HEARD THE STIRRING AROUND HE THOUGHT IT COULD POSS BE A COON OR SOMETHING . AND SHAWN THOUGHT JAMES WAS GONNA JUMP ON HIM. LOL REALLY FUNNY TO HEAR SHAWN TELL THAT STORY. LOL
THEN THE VERY SHORT HIKE TO THE TRUCK AND THEN HOME.
MY THOUGHTS THAT MORNING ... OMG THAT WAS A LONG DAY , OMG I DONT THINK I CARE FOR THIS CAMPING STUFF AT ALL , MY BACK HURTS FROM SLEEPING OR TRYING TO SLEEP ON THE GROUND... DANG MY EVERYTHING HURTS EVERYWHERE. YEAAAA IM NOT A FAN OF THIS CAMPING THING... OH AND PEEING IN THE WOODS... IM NOT A FAN OF THAT EITHER JUST SO YOU KNOW. LOL AND AGAIN THE THOUGHT OF " WHAT IN THE WORLD HAVE I GOTTEN MYSELF INTO BY AGREEING TO THIS HIKING THE FLORIDA TRAIL THING ??? "
BUT ONCE AGAIN I SURVIVED AND DIDNT HATE IT BUT DIDNT LIKE TOO MUCH OF IT EITHER.... LOL
( 4 ). CLEARWATER LAKE TO ALEXANDER SPRINGS
OHHHHHH MYYYYYYY GOOOOOOOOODNESSSSSSSSSS THIS ONE I REMEMBER WELL. LOL THIS WAS ONE I DONT THINK I WILL EVER FORGET !!!
SHAWN,JAMES & I ALL WATCHED THE WEATHER ALL WEEK. ITS MID FEB. AND THE TEMPS ARE SO UP AND DOWN YOU JUST DONT KNOW WHAT ITS GOING TO BE LIKE FROM DAY TO DAY.
SO WE ARE ALL EXPECTING THE LOWS TO BE IN THE 40'S. NOT TOO TOO BAD. COLD BUT OKAY ....
SHAWN WAKES ME SATURDAY MORNING AND TELLS ME WELL THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN THE WEATHER. ITS GONNA BE A LITTLE COLDER THAN WE THOUGHT. I REMEMBER LOOKING AT HIM AND SAYING HOW MUCH COLDER ??? ( I DONT LIKE THE COLD AT ALLLLLLLLLL !!!!!!!!! )HE SAID 28ISH. I SAID OMG ARE YOU SERIOUS ??? HE SAID YEA, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ? AGAINST MY BETTER JUDGEMENT I AGREED TO GO. WE ALL HAD BEEN REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HIKE. I DONT WANT TO BE A BIG BABY AND RUIN THIS FOR EVERYONE. SO I SAY " SELF SUCK IT UP AND GO YOU WILL REGRET IT IF YOU DONT !! AND SELF AND I AGREED WE'D SUCK IT UP AND MAKE THE BEST OF IT. HONESTLY, HOW BAD COULD IT BE ?? " AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHAHHAHA STUPID SELF !!!!
WE GOT OUT THERE AND IT WAS A LITTLE COOL BUT NOT TOO BAD. I FIGURED ONCE WE STARTED WALKING WE WOULD WARM UP SOME. NO BIG DEAL. WELL ITS TIME TO GET STARTED. I BACK UP TO THE TRUCK AND PUT MY PACK ON AND ALMOST FELL OVER. HOLY COW IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOO HEAVY. AS A MATTER OF FACT IT WAS WAY TOO HEAVY FOR ME. BUT I DEALT WITH IT.
WE START WALKING AND I SEE A TRACK THAT I HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE. AND DECIDED I WOULDNT ASK WHAT IT WAS FROM BECAUSE HONESTLY I FELT I WAS PROBABLY BETTER OFF NOT KNOWING. LOL ( FOUND OUT LATER ON THAT WHAT I THOUGHT MADE THAT TRACK ... WAS CORRECT ... A BEAR )
WE STOPPED ABOUT HALF WAY TO EAT LUNCH AND EMPTY MY SHOES OUT DUE TO ALL THE SAND IN THEM.
WHILE EATING LUNCH SHAWN REALIZED THAT HE HAD CHIGGERS ALL OVER HIS LEGS. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR ANNOYING LIL CRITTERS !!! SO WE ALL GET UP AND GET OUR PACKS ON AGAIN AND MOVE ON.
WELL WE HIT THE MARK THAT WE SHOULD HAVE BEEN FINDING A PLACE TO CAMP AND HMMMMMMMMMM WE ARE NOT IN THE BEST PLACE TO CAMP... NOW WHAT ? YEP WE HAVE TO KEEP GOING TILL WE FIND SOMETHING SUITABLE FOR CAMPING. SO INSTEAD OF 6 MILES WE HAVE TO END UP PUSHING WITH MUCH PAIN TO THAT 8 MILE MARK BEFORE A SUITABLE CAMPSITE IS FOUND.
WELL IT WAS KINDA LIKE MOVING INTO AN ABOUNDED CLUTTERED HOUSE. ONLY YOU HAVE NOTHING TO CLEAN WITH. LOL NO BROOM NO NOTHING LOL.
AFTER MUCH CLEARING OUT AND SHAWN AND JAMES CHOPPING WOOD FOR A FIRE IT WAS TIME TO HANG HAMMOCKS ( YES WE HAVE HAMMOCKS NOW BECAUSE THAT SLEEPING ON THE GROUND THINGS IS FOR THE BIRDS )AND GETTING THINGS READY FOR COFFEE AND DINNER.
THEY GET THE FIRE GOING AND I GET THE COFFEE GOING. GET THE LEMON CHICKEN SOUP OUT AND READY FOR DINNER.
AFTER SOME COFFEE AND HOT SOUP IM FEELING MUCH BETTER. BUT IM COMPLETELY EXHAUSTED AND AT THIS POINT IM REALLY STARTING TO GET COLD. THE SUN IS GOING DOWN AND THE NIGHT AIR IS COMING IN...
AFTER A SHORT WHILE I AM REALLY STARTING TO FEEL THE DAY AND AM REALLY GETTING TOO COLD. SO I TELL SHAWN AND JAMES GOOD NIGHT AND HEAD OFF TO CLIMB IN THE SLEEPING BAG IN MY HAMMOCK TO GET WARM AND DRIFT OFF TO BLISSFUL SLEEP. YEA RIGHT !!!!!!!
OMG WHEN MY HUSBAND TOLD ME IT WAS GONNA BE 28ISH HE FAILED TO TELL ME THAT THE WIND WAS GOING TO BE GUSTY AND A FEELS LIKE TEMP OF 18 OF SOMETHING CRAZY LIKE THAT !!!! EVEN IN JAMES' SLEEPING BAG I LIKE TO HAVE FROZE TO DEATH !!!!!!!!! I SWEAR TO GOD MY BONES WERE FROZEN !!!!! MY TEETH WERE CHATTERING AND I WAS SHIVERING UNCONTROLLABLY. I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT WAS THAT STINKIN COLD. HOLY COW !!!!!! NEEDLESS TO SAY I SLEPT NEXT TO NONE AGAIN. LOL
SHAWN AND I CLIMBED OUT OF THE HAMMOCKS I THINK SOMETIME AROUND 5ISH. SHAWN GOT THE FIRE STOKED BACK UP THEN JAMES GOT UP AND WE DRANK SOME COFFEE AND HOT CHOCOLATE AND ATE BREAKFAST AND STARTED OUT AGAIN.
AT THIS POINT I AM COMPLETELY MISERABLE AND WAS COMPLETELY HATING LIFE RIGHT THAT SECOND. LOL I WAS COLD AND EXHAUSTED AND NOT LONG AFTER WE STARTED ON THE HIKE ON SATURDAY I TWISTED MY LEG AND SLIGHTLY PULLED A MUSCLE IN MY THIGH. AND THAT WAS HURTING ME. NOT TO MENTION I HAD A FEW LITTLE BLISTERS ON MY TOES THAT WERE JUST ENOUGH TO ANNOY ME.
I QUICKLY BECAME VERY ANNOYED AND WHINY. I DIDNT WANT TO WALK ANOTHER STEP MUCH-LESS 3,4 OR 5 MILES ( WHATEVER IT WAS ). I JUST WANTED TO BE DONE AND I WASNT SURE I WOULD EVER DO THIS AGAIN. OMG I WAS SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NOT ENJOYING THIS AT ALL. I WAS DONE... COMPLETELY SPENT !!!! I DIDNT CARE IF WE EVER WENT HIKING AGAIN. LOL
POOR JAMES ... HE IS SO SWEET. HEHEHE
ALL HE WANTED TO DO WAS HELP MAKE THINGS EASIER AND BETTER FOR ME AND ASKED ME IF HE COULD CARRY MY PACK FOR ME AND I YELLED AT HIM AND TOLD HIM NO I GOT IT AND HEHE HE YELLED BACK AT ME. GOSH I LOVE HIM. ( SORRY AGAIN JAMES I LOVE YOU !!!! ;) )
FINALLY WE GET TO THE TRUCK AND OMG I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO GLAD TO SEE THAT TRUCK. LOL
THAT WAS A CHALLENGING HIKE FOR ALL OF US. BUT THAT ONE WAS ESPECIALLY HARD FOR ME. BUT YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY ME AGAIN I DID IT. LOL
I FORGOT TO MENTION THE BLISTERS ON THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET ALL ALONG THE BOTTOM OF MY TOES. PAINFUL !!!! I COULDNT EVEN HARDLY PUT MY FLIP FLOPS ON.
( 5 ) HOPKINS PRAIRIE TO JUNIPER SPRINGS
OKAY ITS BEEN SEVERAL MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN HIKING. AND EVEN WITH THE BITTER TASTE FROM THE LAST HIKE IN FEB. I WAS READY TO GO. I WAS REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS HIKE. I NEEDED THIS (AS DID SHAWN ). SO THE PLANS WERE IN THE MAKING....
WELL AFTER ALL THE PLANNING TOOK PLACE TROPICAL STORM DEBBY DECIDED TO SHOW HER UGLY FACE ON THE RADAR. OKAY NO BIG DEAL. WE HAVE NEVER HIKED IN THE RAIN. SO COOL ANOTHER FIRST FOR ALL OF US ( OR AT LEAST SHAWN AND I ). AND THIS TIME KEN WAS GOING WITH THE 3 OF US. SO THIS SHOULD BE A GOOD TIME. THE 4 OF US AND RAIN. GONNA BE INTERESTING TO SAY THE LEAST. LOL
WELL TO START WITH SHAWN AND I DECIDED TO LEAVE SOME WATER BEHIND TO SAVE WEIGHT SINCE IT HAD BEEN A FEW MONTHS SINCE WE HAVE BEEN OUT AND ARE A BIT OUT OF SHAPE. BIG BIG NO NO !!!!!
ANYWAYS WE ARE ON OUR WAY TO OUR STARTING POINT AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A BIG FAT BEAR COMES OUT OF THE WOODS AND IS RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD THAT WE WERE DRIVING ON. OMG OMG OMG A BEAR. WE WERE ALL SO EXCITED TO SEE A BEAR. AND I WAS SO EXCITED I COULDNT STAND IT UNTIL I REALIZED THAT THAT BIG 300 LBS BEAR RAN INTO THE WOODS... THE SAME WOODS WE WERE FIXING TO BE HIKING IN. OH NOOOOOOOOOOO NOW IM A TINY BIT FREAKED OUT. BUT DECIDE TO JUST SHUSH MY FEARS AND MOVE ON...
WELL NOT FAR INTO THE HIKE JAMES ALMOST STEPPED ON A RATTLE SNAKE ( THAT SCARED ME )AND THEN THE DEER FLIES WERE KILLING US. OMG I BET WE WERE THE BEST FEAST THOSE THINGS HAVE HAD IN YEARS LOL.
WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG AND WE ARE WAITING FOR THE RAINS TO COME IN .... WE WAIT AND WAIT AND WAIT .... THE SUN IS BRIGHT OVER HEAD AND ITS GETTING HOTTER AND HOTTER AND HOTTER AND THERE IS NO CANOPY BECAUSE WE ARE IN THE PRAIRIES AND THERE IS NO CANOPY IN THE PRAIRIES ... IT MIGHT AS WELL BE THE DESERT. THE HEAT ENDED UP BEING WAY TOO MUCH FOR ME. I WASNT DRESSED FOR THIS HEAT AT ALL. I STARTED GETTING WAY TOO HOT AND WAS FINDING IT HARD TO COOL OFF EVEN JUST A LITTLE BUT JUST TO MAKE IT BEARABLE. I STARTED FEELING SICK AND THAT SCARED ME AND THEN I STARTED SHAKING. AND THAT SCARED ME EVEN MORE BECAUSE I KNEW IT WASNT AN OPTION TO JUST WALK BACK TO THE TRUCK. WE WERE TOO FAR IN TO DO THAT.
WE FIND A TINY BIT OF SHADE AND I STOOD THERE FOR A FEW MINUTES TO GET MYSELF CALMED DOWN AND KINDA GET MY WITS ABOUT ME ( THANKFULLY MY HUSBAND AND BOTHERS IN LAW ARE CALM COOL AND COLLECTED IN SITUATIONS LIKE THIS OR ELSE I WOULD HAVE REALLY STARTED TO PANIC ... ) AND WE PRESS ON TILL WE CAME ACROSS HIDDEN LAKE ( OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT ) WHERE THERE WAS TREES AND SHADE. THATS WHERE WE STOPPED AND ATE LUNCH AND COOLED OFF AND RELAXED FOR SOME TIME.
FEELING SOME BETTER WE PUSH ON TILL WE FOUND A DECENT CAMP SITE ( OR SO WE THOUGHT ).
WE DIDNT HAVE TO WORK TOO HARD TO MAKE CAMP ( THANKS TO ROB LOL SOMEONE BY THAT NAME CARVED HIS NAME IN A STICK THAT HAD BEEN THERE BEFORE US )WE GOT OUT HAMMOCKS SET UP AND THEN ALL RELAXED AROUND THE AREA THAT WE WOULD HAVE HAD A FIRE IF IT WASNT SO HOT.
THEN AFTER A WHILE WE HEAD OFF TO BED.
WE PUT THE RAIN FLIES UP BECAUSE WE ARE STILL EXPECTING RAN. BUT THE RAIN FLIES ALMOST KILLED SHAWN AND I. LOL THEY BLOCKED ANY BREEZE THAT CAME THREW SO IT WAS STIFFENING IN OUR HAMMOCKS. AND IF THAT WASNT ENOUGH THE MOSQUITOES ALMOST ATE US ALIVE THREW OUR HAMMOCKS. AFTER A LITTLE WHILE I FINALLY DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP. MUCH NEEDED SLEEP.
THEN ALL OF OF SUDDEN I SIT UP OUT OF A DEAD SLEEP TO SOMETHING TROMPING THREW THE WOODS CLOSE TO ME. THEN WHATEVER IT WAS SNORTED AND LIKE TO HAVE GAVE ME A HEART ATTACK !!! AND IN MY PANIC VOICE I WAS HOLLARING ( QUIETLY HOLLARING LOL ) TO SHAWN ( TOOK 2 TIMES FOR HIM TO HEAR ME BTW BLESS HIS HEART HE WAS SLEEPING GOOD )AND OF COURSE HE HEARS NOTHING. LOL GUESS I SCARED IT OFF WHEN IT SCARED ME. GO FIGURE. NOW HE THINKS IM PARANOID AND AM JUST HEARING THINGS LOL
WELL THE NEXT MORNING KEN AND JAMES WOKE UP FIRST AND THEN ME AND THEN I DECIDED IT WAS TIME TO WAKE SHAWN. THANKFULLY THEY TOLD HIM OF MY "BOOGER" IN THE WOODS THAT THEY HEARD AS WELL. SO NOW HE KNOWS IM NOT JUST BEING A BIG PARANOID BABY LOL
WE PACK UP AND HEAD OUT. AND YEP FINALLY ITS RAINING.... NOT A HARD RAIN BUT A SLOW DRIZZLE AND CLOUD COVER. IT WAS A NICE WALK OUT. SHAWN AND I HAD A GOOD TIME WALKING OUT ON THIS ONE.jAMES AND KEN WERE ABOUT 3 MINUTES AHEAD OF US. SO SHAWN AND I JUST WALKED ALONG TALKING AND TAKING OUR TIME... MINUS MY BLISTERS THAT ARE REALLY STARTING TO BOTHER ME FROM MY NEW SHOES.
WE MADE IT OUT WITH GOOD TIME. SET ASIDE THE HEAT AND THE HURTING I HAD A BLAST.
I AM REALLY ENJOYING THESE HIKES EVEN THREW ALL THE SUFFERING I SEEM TO ENDURE EVERY TIME IN SOME FORM OR FASHION. WHAT CAN I SAY MAYBE IN SOME SADISTIC WAY I AM GLUTEN FOR PUNISHMENT LOL
MANY MANY MANY THANKS TO SHAWN , JAMES , AND KEN FOR PUTTING UP WITH MY WHINING AND MAKING SURE I HAVE MY " SNICKERS " WHEN THEY SEE THAT I NEED IT. LOL AND FOR PULLING ME THREW THE TIMES THAT I DONT THINK THAT I CAN PUSH FORWARD. YOU ARE ALL AMAZING THANKS GUYS !!!!!
OH I FORGOT TO MENTION THE OVER ABUNDANCE OF TICS HERE. AND THE OVER ABUNDANCE OF CHIGGERS THAT REALLY LIKED SHAWN !!!! BLESS HIS HEART HE WAS COVERED FROM HIS WAIST TO MID THIGH ALL THE WAY AROUND IN CHIGGER BITES AND HIS FEET WERE COVERED AS WELL. ON TOP OF THE MOSQUITO BITES ALL OVER HIS BACK. BLESS HIS HEART HE DIDNT SLEEP FOR 3 DAYS DUE TO THE ITCHING
AND JUST FOR THE RECORD WE LEARNED OUR LESSON NEVER SACRIFICE WATER JUST TO SAVE SOME WEIGHT. DEAL WITH THAT LITTLE BIT MORE WEIGHT. WE FOUND OUT THATS IT BETTER TO HAVE TOO MUCH WATER RATHER THAN NOT ENOUGH. BECAUSE YOU JUST DONT KNOW WHATS GOING TO HAPPEN OUT THERE AND YOU NEVER REALLY KNOW HOW GOOD OR HOW CLOSE A WATER SOURCE IS GOING TO BE.
( 6 ) CHRISTMAS HIKE IN JULY
OOOOOOOOOOOOOOKAY SO THIS IS THE MOST RECENT ONE. AND MIGHT I ADD THIS ONE WAS HARD HARD HARD. LOL
WE GOT OUT THERE AND THERE IS A MINOR ISSUE WITH MY BAG. NO BIG DEAL. I GOT THIS. OKAY NOW LETS GO...
WE START WALKING AND HMMMMMMMMMMMM ITS 97* OUT AND APPEARS THAT WE WILL BE WALKING IN THE FULL SUN FOR A LITTLE WHILE. DOESNT LOOK LIKE IT WILL BE TOO LONG THO. I CAN SEE THE TREES AHEAD.... PERHAPS THAT WAS A MIRAGE LOL
WE GET TO WHERE THE TREES APPEAR TO BE AND YEA AT SOME POINT THIS YEAR THERE HAD BEEN A FIRE THERE AND THERE JUST WASNT ANY SHADE FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER.
ALL I COULD THINK WAS OMG HERE WE GO AGAIN. I AM GOING TO HAVE A HEAT STROKE OUT HERE FOR SURE THIS TIME. THE HEAT WAS JUST ABOUT TOO MUCH.
THEN THE "TRAIL" WAS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND. TRAIL ??? WHAT TRAIL ???? THERE WAS NO TRAIL WE JUST HAD TO BE CAREFUL AND FOLLOW THE ORANGE BLAZES. SURE BUT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE FIRE BURNS THOSE OFF THE TREES ... THEN WHAT ???? LOL
AT ONE POINT THE 4 OF US HAD TO SPLIT UP IN ORDER TO FIND A BLAZE SO WE KNEW WHAT WAY TO GO. OKAY I FOUND ONE.... LETS MOVE ON.
WELL OUTSIDE OF THE HEAT AND TALL GRASS AND FEAR OF SNAKES AND BUZZING MOSQUITOES WE ARE MOVING RIGHT ALONG.
MY FEET START HURTING ... OMG NOT AGAIN ... BLISTERS AGAIN !!!! AND BAD THIS TIME. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. NOW WHAT ????
SO I FIGURED OUT WHAT TO DO ... EXTRA SOCKS IN THE BACKS OF MY SHOES SHOULD HOLD ME OFF TILL WE MAKE CAMP....
WALKING ALONG I SAID HMMMMMMMMM SOMETHINGS GOING ON HERE IN THIS AREA.... MY FEET ARE GETTING WET... GREAT ITS SWAMPY IN THIS AREA.
OKAY WELL IT WAS SWAMPY THE WHOLE ENTIRE TIME ON SATURDAY. SO NOW I HAVE BAD BLISTERS AND MY FEET ARE PICKELED. THIS SUCKS !!! BLISTERS HURT AND MY FEET ARE WET. BAD BUT I GUESS NOT AS BAD AS IT COULD BE ... LOL
WE KEEP MOVING ON ... WE STOP FOR A SHORT WHILE TO RELAX AND TAKE OUR BAGS OFF AND EAT SOME LUNCH. ALTHOUGH I AM WAY TOO HOT TO EAT MUCH OF ANYTHING.BUT I DID MANAGE TO EAT A LITTLE BIT.
WE GET UP AND MOVE FORWARD FINALLY COMING TO OUR STOPPING POINT. A BRIDGE ON THE WATER. WE HANG OUT THERE ALL AFTERNOON AND EAT SOME DINNER AND RELAX. BECAUSE WE WERE NOT ALLOWED TO CAMP JUST ANYWHERE OUT THERE WE HAD TO WAIT TILL JUST ABOUT DARK TO SET UP OUR HAMMOCKS. SHAWN AND I WENT INTO MOSQUITO HELL BUT WITH THE NEW THERMOCELS WE DIDNT GET EATEN ALIVE THIS TIME. AND JAMES AND KEN DECIDED TO HANG THEIR HAMMOCKS ON THE BRIDGE THAT WAY THEY COULD FEEL THE BREEZE AND AVOID THE LITTLE BLOOD SUCKERS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE. . WE DIDNT HAVE THE GREATEST AREA FOR CAMPING OUT HERE. AND I THINK MY HAMMOCK WAS HUNG IN THE PATH OF AN ARMADILLO. HE ATTEMPTED TO CROSS IN MY HAMMOCKS DIRECTION BUT THE GUYS ( SHAWN ) SCARED HIM OFF. ( THANKS GUYS ( HONEY ) )
WELL THERE WAS A LOT MORE TRAFFIC THREW THIS AREA THAN ANYONE ANTICIPATED. BUT WE PULLED IT OFF. IM SURE WE JUST LOOKED LIKE A BUNCH OF BUMS HANGING OUT ON A BRIDGE. ALL FILTHY AND NASTY LOOKING. LOL
TIME FOR BED... LAYING THERE TRYING TO STAY AS COOL AS WE COULD WITH LITTLE TO NO BREEZE IN THE TREE'S AND TRYING TO RELAX TO THE CROAKING OF THE BULL FROGS AND TRYING TO DRIFT OFF TO SLEEP.... THE DANG BULL FROGS GOT ON A CROAKING KICK... OMG THEY WERE SO OBNOXIOUS. I COULD NOT FALL ASLEEP TO SAVE MY LIFE !!! I SWEAR IF I A GIG I WOULD HAVE GIGGED THEM LITTLE SUCKERS MYSELF JUST TO SHUT THEM UP. THEY WERE NO LONGER RELAXING. LOL
FINALLY I FALL ASLEEP AND I WAKE UP TO KEN SAYING SOMETHING BUT IN A FOG I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE WAS SAYING. THEN I HEAR SHAWN SAY SOMETHING. AND WITH THIS I KNOW SOMETHING IS UP. THEN I HEAR SHAWN SAY THERE IS SOMEONE HERE.... CRAP GAME WARDEN IS ALL I CAN THINK.... AND HE IS GONNA MAKE UP PACK UP AND MOVE ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT AND IM TIRED AND HURTING AND MY FEET ARE KILLING ME. THIS IS JUST WONDERFUL.... IM NERVOUS AND ANNOYED NOW.... I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO HIKE THIS TRAIL THAT IS HARDLY VISABLE IN THE DAY LIGHT ... I CAN IMAGINE HOW BAD IT WOULD BE AT NIGHT. AND THREW THE SWAMP AND YEA... I DONT THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA LOL
WELL IT TURNED OUT TO JUST BE SOME GUYS WHO WERE WANTING TO FROG GIG ( WISH THEY HAD ) BUT BECAUSE WE WERE THERE THEY DECIDED TO LEAVE. ITS NOT LIKE THEY COULD GET OVER THE BRIDE WITH JAMES AND KEN SLEEPING ON IT ANYWAYS AAAAAAAAAAAAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHA
OKAY BACK TO SLEEP .... YEAAAAAAAAA RIGHT. I LAID THERE AWAKE THE REST OF THE NIGHT TOSSING AND TURNING. SLEEP NEVER CAME BACK TO ME. OH I FORGOT TO MENTION MY STOMACH HAD BEEN KILLING ME ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT. DANG THE BAD LUCK. BUT I HAD BEEN PRETTY LUCKY WITH MY STOMACH THREW ALL THE OTHER HIKES SO IT WAS BOUND TO HAPPEN SOONER OR LATER. AND AS MUCH AS THAT SUCKED I DID FIND OUT THAT I CAN HANDLE STOMACH ISSUES EVEN OUT IN THE WOODS. SO IT'S ALL GOOD. JUST SOMETHING NEW I KNOW I CAN HANDLE WHEN IM FACED WITH IT OUT THERE.
NEXT MORNING WE GET UP DO COFFEE AND BREAKFAST BREAK THE HAMMOCKS DOWN AND PACK EVERYTHING BACK UP. THEN ITS TIME TO BANDAGE MY FEET UP GET MY SHOES BACK ON AND HEAD OUT.
ABOUT 10 MINUTES IN MY FEET START HURTING BAD. DUE TO THE SWAMPINESS MY BANDAGES COME OFF AND MY SHOES ARE RUBBING AGAIN. ITS A RELENTLESS PAIN.... AFTER MUCH FIGHT SHAWN TALKS ME INTO WEARING MY FLIP FLOPS FOR THE LAST 4 MILES. HOLY CRAP YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. GRATEFUL FOR THEM AND HATING THEM ALL THE SAME I HAD NO CHOICE.
TROMPING THREW ANKLE DEEP MUCKY WATER ( NOW I AM SCARED OF LEACHES LOL AND WHO KNOWS WHAT COULD BE IN THIS WATER AND MY POOR FEET ARE NOT PROTECTED AT ALL FROM ANYTHING THAT MAY BE HIDING IN THIS NASTY WATER ) IN FLIP FLOPS AND TALL GRASS AND THREW THORNY PLANTS IS NOT RECOMMENDED TO ANYONE. BUT IF YOU DO HAVE TO WEAR THEM JUST BE GLAD THAT YOU ARENT BARE- FOOTED LOL. LIKE I SAID AS MUCH AS IT SUCKED TO HAVE TO WEAR THEM I WAS SO THANKFUL THAT I HAD THEM AT THE SAME TIME.
THIS LIKE THE LAST HIKE WAS A CHALLENGE FOR ME. BUT AGAIN I STILL LOVE THIS AND AM READY TO GO AGAIN. WHY ???? I HAVE NO EARTHLY IDEA .... PERHAPS A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT IM NOT REALLY SURE. BUT I DO LOVE BEING OUT THERE.
THANKS AGAIN GUYS FOR A MEMORABLE HIKE. AND SHAWN AGAIN IM GLAD YOU DIDNT " POOP " IN YOUR HAT HONEY ;)
SEE SHAWN'S BLOG FOR ALL PICTURES ON THESE HIKES AND CANOE TRIP.
SHAWN'S BLOG
KEN'S BLOG
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