Bushnell, FL - Week of 10/22 - 10/29/11

Yummy dinner of pulled pork and veggie soup

Steve and Linda got here Monday and after setting up we all headed to Webster Flea Market. They came back with all kinds of "treasures". We had a great time! They have decided to spend a couple of weeks here volunteering with us. They seem to really enjoy the park and volunteering. We've taken turns cooking, I'm going to gain all my weight back plus some if we continue this! It has been fun sharing meals with Jim, Brenda, Steve and Linda - the stories have been quite informative and entertaining!

The 6 foot alligator in Spring River

Wednesday we took Steve and Linda up to Rainbow Springs State Park to meet Harvey and Valerie and to canoe down the Rainbow River. I wanted to kayak again but my back was hurting so just rode in the canoe with Harvey and Bruce. Valerie was still recovering from her neck surgery so she didn't get to go. Steve and Linda canoed like pros! The river is so pretty, well, until I spotted an alligator that was about 6 feet long!  Sure made me have second thoughts about getting in the river! We all went out to dinner at a place called Stumpknockers - wonderful seafood restaurant! 

Fun time for all!

Thursday the 4 of us drove down to Lutz, near Tampa to see our friends, Tim and Judy, Rudy and Paula and some other camping friends. Judy fixed us all a wonderful pulled pork dinner then we all went out for an evening of fun and dancing which we haven't done since we were here last year!

Friday and Saturday we all volunteered at the parks "Haunted Trails and Hayride". We helped people get on and off the haywagon. People had a ball and there was a great turnout from the community! We will need a couple of days to recover from this week :-)

Visit to Rainbow Springs, Florida

Drove up to Rainbow Springs today to see Harvey and Valerie who are camp hosting there. We took a canoe trip from the campground to the head springs. What a beautiful trip and a great time!! Makes me want to give a try at kayaking even more. Added to my bucket list! When we got to the Visitor's Center received a big welcome from an ranger/friend that was at St. Andrews when we volunteered there in 2009 - Ranger Kim! She is still a hoot :-)
Harvey fixed us some of his wonderful Low Country Boil - ate way too much! A fun evening of trading war stories and watching the finale of America's Got Talent.

Harvey and Valerie Roof

Rainbow Springs

Bruce taking me down the river

Bushnell, Florida - 1st week

Friday we drove over to Rainbow Springs to see my cousin and Bruce's good friend, Harvey and his lovely wife, Valerie who are volunteering there at that state park. We all drove to Summerfield to a RV dealer that was having a garage sale then to Ocala for Harvey to get his satellite system. (If you want to know how to know more about getting satellite without paying the $1300 installation for RVs just email me).  We helped them get their system up and running, Valerie fixed us some dinner and back "home" we came. A wonderful time with them and another one when they came over Saturday to our place for some OU football.




Dade Battlefield Historic State Park - Bushnell, FL

 

Our first official day on the job was Saturday, 9/2. Bruce worked the 9-12 gate then I did the 12-3. Ran a big total of $27 for the day but at only $3 a car before the snowbirds get here and no events, they said that it will be slow.













Fire as it was approaching Skip and Jeannette's home

Good news from home - the wildfire that was in the Wichita Wildlife Refuge is 95% contained and Bruce's sister and brother-in-law's house did not burn. Skip stayed and fought the fire, they would not let Jeannette  back into the area. Such a scary week-end for them! Ten homes in the Mountain Village addition were burned to the ground, 2 were Lawton policemen's homes, the Bishop's and the Crawford's. These families and all involved in the fire, including the firemen that worked so hard in very rough terrain, are in our prayers!