Thursday

We have accepted the kind offer of Jim and Cathy to visit them at their beautiful home in Northern Florida. It is very close to the Ichitucknee River. Their house is built in amongst a Live Oak forest and is very open so that you keep getting lovely views of all the trees which surround them. It is incredibly peaceful. The Ichetucknee River is a spring fed river, which means that it flows quite fast, is crystal clear and is about 72 degrees all year round. A very popular activity round here is to tube ride the river. Not a thrill ride, but on a hot day there is nothing better than to float for a couple of miles down the river looking at all the wildlife in the forests, perhaps with a beer or two floating beside you (not allowed now for fear of trash being left). In the State Park you can even get a bus back to your car.
Yesterday was a nice quiet day, Jim, Ron and I went to an RV scrapyard to find a light fitting, fascinating place of course, but I didn't buy anything. In the evening we went to Phish Heads, a seafood restaurant, for a Chicken Wings supper. It was a very pleasant meal. We found out that there are two types of chicken wings, called Drummers and Flappers, obvious when you think about it. For some reason (which may be my English accent, which we forget can be difficult to follow. Down here in the south it seems to be a very rapid speech compared to the southern more relaxed way of talking) they forgot my starter (a Caesar salad), then they forgot my wings order (only by a couple of minutes), but then they also forgot to charge me for the wings (they realised they had messed up the order), so everything turned out fine in the end.
We all then came back,via Walmart, to Jim and Cathy's for Strawberry Shortcake, which was delicious as a neighbour had given them a couple of 'Flats, or 'large punnets' of fresh picked strawberries.
Did I say 'All', yes, having given our 'final farewell' to our Florida Friends and started our Northern Trek, (only stopping at Jim and Cathy's because its on the way, oh and because they asked us, oh and because they are lovely people) we find that another couple of friends Ray and Barbara (recognisable because she often wears a 'hug a tree' Tee-shirt), who we met most recently at Palatka and then Waldo, live just round the corner and they usually go with Jim and Cathy to the Wings Night. Oh and did I mention that Ron and Judy (yes, I did mention Ron, when we went to the RV Salvage, come on stay with the programme) turned up at Jim and Cathy's yesterday. So having said a fond farewell on Monday we have met them again, which is really nice. Some neighbours of Ray and Barbara, Jim and Darlene, also joined us for the evening, so great fun was had by all. I must admit I do like bigger crowds of friends because I am shy and bashful, so I can hide behind the conversation of others without appearing too ignorant.