Dave is a rogue a traveling man with his camper and his trusty dog Scooter.  The two wandering lost souls traverse the earth with a lust for change and excitement all on a pinched-pennybudget.  The 26 foot motor home with two tip outs has everything they need to roam and be free. 

A box of books sits right behind the drivers seat.  Scooter sits in the co-pilot seat with his face to the wind and his perky little ears flapping in the breeze.  The road - any road calls to them and off they go.  A rambling man and his little dog to ready for adventure and silence. 

On just a whim and a passing thought they pack up and head off into the wilds of Florida.  And Dave can find those wild places tucked deep into the forest and bush.  A bumpy dirt path leads to the edge of a lake that cannot even be found on a map. 

Seeking solitude and quiet they search the backroads, byways and highways for a place to hang their hats.  Sometimes those places are in the parking lot of a Walmart or strip mall.  Those evening resting areas are easy on the pocketbook. 

There is a purpose and routine with every aspect of their travels.  Rise at 5, elimination walk (for Scooter) at the half-hour mark, bike at 6, breakfast at 7, walk again.  Sometimes we visit the traveling duo and throw a wrench into their predictable schedule.  Dave is somewhat flexible and somewhat reluctant to change his pattern and way of life.  Always the considerate camping host.

Orlando, Florida is like thick and juicy beef stew.  The beef bumps into the carrots and the carrots bump into the other vegetables and they are all surrounded by a thick mass of moving substance.  The concoction is very tasty, aromatic and visually stimulating.  There are so many ingredients in one bowl it can become overwhelming and intimidating.

Crowds in Orlando tend to add a little frustration to art of enjoying a vacation.  If one is claustrophobic the masses of people can be intrusive and smothering.  Your personal space is very limited. 

Camping at Fort Wilderness is a wonderful fresh and relaxing outdoor experience.  The campground is wooded, spacious and natural.  There are bike paths, walking paths and a forest at every turn.  Spanish moss drips from the pine trees like honey from a honeycomb.

Bird songs make the top ten easy listening music all day long.  Squirrels scamper from site to site performing acrobatic feats and a little begging.  You can find unexpected beautiful flowers blooming along the footpaths.  The clomp, clomp, clomp of horse hoofs against the pavement sounds reminds one of the Pied Piper and his lovely mesmerizing tune.  If you follow the sound you will find an entire stable of horses.    

Nature jumps out at you at every bend and turn in the road. Butterflies flitter and swoop down for a free lunch buffet from the numerous wild plants and weeds.  Truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder when one sees a weed that has all the makings for a lovely plenair painting.

Front row seats are always available at a secluded riverbank with no reservations necessary and unobstructed beach front viewing of spectacular fireworks that light up the evening sky. The only dress code is comfort and casual. The calm placid lake takes on the appearance of Chihuly glass and Fiestaware. 

A soft secluded sanctuary exists right in the middle of a gigantic noisy and crowded empire.  Put away your claustrophobic fears, images of crowded places and go camping at Disney’s Fort Wilderness.  Bring a tent an R.V. or rent a rustic and modern camping cabin.  Surf the internet, gorge on a luscious breakfast buffet, ride bikes through the woods and pleasure yourself with the sweet sounds and sights of nature.  Feel free and unencumbered by crowds and contained spaces.  Kick back and enjoy Florida’s fantasy world.

The myth of mermaids takes us back to Greek mythology and European folklore.  Mermaids are likened to sirens, fairies, water spirits and beautiful but deadly aquatic creatures that are half fish and half human. 

Weeki Wachee Springs located in the very small hamlet of Weeki Wachee, Florida is referred to as the City of Mermaids. It borders the Gulf of Mexico.   Recently the state of Florida purchased the failing property. The state of Florida is trying to preserve the park and continue the mermaid shows.   Weeki Wachee and the mermaid show opened back in the 1940’s.  Many efforts dubbed as ‘Save our tales’ have kept the last mermaid attraction alive. Now with the state stepping in and taking over the park it is hopeful it will become a permanent attraction.

The mermaid show is thrilling with all the ballet movements and beautiful mermaids with long flowing tresses.  All of this is done seemingly effortlessly and flawlessly with smiles on their faces and hidden air hoses.   Sometimes merman joins the show. 

The beautiful crystal clear water is a balmy 72 degrees all of the time.  The mermaids perform to packed audiences behind glass in a submerged theatre.  The mermaid show takes place in a cavern around 16 feet from the surface.  The current at the springs is quite strong.  A few years ago during a performance an alligator just happened by.  He was not part of the show just visiting.  Large turtles can be seen from time to time. 

Buccaneer Bay opened in the 80’s and includes water slides and a wonderful beach.  There are special times when you can scuba dive in the spring.  www.weekiwacheediving.com

 Step on to a riverboat and cruise along the banks of the Weeki Wachee River.  Let your future mermaids or mermen attend the mermaid camp. 

Weeki Wachee is also host to the Wedding Triathlon, visit www.stateofmindsports.com

Directly behind the parking lot at Weeki Wachee you can rent a canoe or kayak.  Travel lazily down the beautiful clear river viewing manatees, alligators and an abundance of birds.  There is no need to paddle as the current moves you right along.  Stop along the route and swim, snorkel or jump from a low hanging tree branch. At the end of your journey the crew will load your kayak or canoe and bring you right back to the park.

Weeki Wachee Springs is an original Florida attraction.  Check out the springs at www.floridastateparks.org.

And always be on the lookout for mermaids and wonder if it’s really a myth.

There are very few experiences in life that let you swim side by side with creatures that are larger than a car and not feel threatened.  They are creatures so gentle and inquisitive with the graceful moves of a ballerina and the speed and power of an Olympic runner.  The mighty West Indian manatee likes to winter in the beautiful waters in Crystal River, Florida.  They can be found in many coastal areas in Florida.  These great creatures are protected and still need to be protected from human abuse. Boat propellers on watercraft can be lethal to these regal mammals.  Snorkeling through the waters with these magnificent creatures passing you by is the most exhilarating experience and watching these dancers perform their aquatic acrobats takes your breath away.

Crystal River Archaeological State Park is located in Citrus County and borders the Crystal River.  Mysteries abound at this park filled with several mounds including burial mounds.  Some say you can feel the presence of spirits throughout the area.  Two limestone rocks called Stelae are in the park.  Stelea I has a carving that resembles a face.  With intensity and a creative imagination the human like face comes alive and the hair on the back of your neck stands at attention. Theory is that these were for some type of ceremony.  There is a certain calmness and peace that permeates the park.

Crystal River and its location too many rivers, bayous and the Gulf of Mexico is a magnet for boaters and fishing fanatics.  Manatee tours are a must when visiting Crystal River.  The winter and early spring are the best times to take a manatee tour.  The tours are varied and some include snorkeling right alongside these giant passive sea creatures.  Mike’s manatee tour offers a houseboat excursion that is fantastic.  http://www.manateeswimtours.com

A secluded public beach offers prime front row seating to spectacular sunsets and dolphin encounters. 

Accommodations include resorts with spas golf courses and wonderful seafood restaurants.  Fly into the Citrus County airport or take a helicopter ride and search for manatees.  Search the back roads of Crystal River for one of a kind café’s and hidden fishing holes.  Swim in the crystal clear, cold, 72 degrees water temperature Three Sisters Spring surrounded by lush vegetation.  You will need a guide because this gem is hidden and difficult to access.

Crystal River is a mix of the Old Florida and the unique Florida with all the modern conveniences and natural undisturbed beauty. 

Hubby is on another one of his ‘missions’.  He is searching for the perfect camping chair.  One that meets his specifications according to size and fold-ability.  Price is no barrier for him when it comes to comfort.

We have camping chairs and I for one am okay with them.  Yes, they are a little old and faded but they still work and they do meet his size specification.  They are fold-able and come with a lovely green striped carry bag and fit quite nicely beneath the dinette in the camper.  My favorite part of these camping chairs would be the cup holders.  You can’t have a camping chair without that cup holder.

Hubby complains that the old camping chairs are not comfy enough for him.  He’s been lusting after my brother’s sturdy comfortable camping chair for months.  When ever we meet up for camping my brother’s chair ends up at our campsite and hubby claims it as his own.  My brother is forced to sit in our old faded uncomfortable camping chair. 

So, the search begins to find the perfect camping chair.  We traveled for about an hour to Camping World (campingworld.com) in search of the ‘chair’.  He couldn’t find one.  We then traveled to more than I care to remember big box stores, malls, outlets and sporting goods stores.  He found one that he liked at Wally World but he kept on looking. 

We spent evenings, weekends and days off searching for that perfect camping chair.  I’m really wondering if this searching was really worth all the fuss?  When hubby begins a mission it usually does not subside till he is happy.  That phrase - “If momma’s ain’t happy nobody is happy.”  Change that to  -”If daddy ain’t happy with what he’s got - he ain’t never going to be happy till he finds what he wants.”

Finally after what seemed like eons of searching he went back to Wally World and purchased the ‘camping chair’.  It did not meet his size specifications but he said he will learn to live with the small problem.  They do not have cup holders.  Now, perhaps we can get back to enjoying the camping trips in these new almost perfect camping chairs.  I will miss my cup holders.

We traveled for miles on the Florida Cracker Trail (S.R. 64) to reach Highlands Hammock State Park.  We drove past beautiful stucco homes with in ground pool and three car garages situated on several acres of land.  Sitting within screaming distance were shotgun houses with the front door hanging precariously off the hinges, dilapidated trailers with cars on blocks adorning the front yard.  Huge fenced fields with beef cattle and sleek looking horses bordered the road for many miles.  Between the cattle, horses and trailers were many citrus groves overflowing with fruit. 

After what seemed like an eternity we entered Zolfo Springs and headed south.  We left the Florida Cracker Trail in the dust and drove through endless farms with stately palm trees and live oaks dripping with Spanish moss. 

Highlands Hammock State Park erupted from the fields and silently stole into the lush forest.  A pleasant campground with friendly staff and a diverse population of campers greeted us.  Tents, fifth wheelers, motor homes, teardrops and toy haulers dotted the spacious campsites.  Hot and cold showers and a laundry were a wonderful surprise.  Hiking, biking and horse trails curved throughout the park.  At $18.00 dollars a night with water and electric this was a great bargain. 

Setting up was a small issue as the pop-up sunk ever so slowly into the sandy site.  I’m wondering if quick sand is beneath our portable lodging?  The weather in Florida was mild for April.  I’m thinking mild is too generic a term.  I had to wear a sweatshirt.  I’m glad we brought the little teeny-tiny heater for the camper. 

I opened all the windows in the camper for that fresh nature smell. There were no horse campers nearby - thank goodness.  I pulled the curtains for a little privacy.  The bike trail was calling me so off I went on the folding bike.  My theory is one needs to ride a bike for several days to build up callouses on the behind.  Who invented bike seats anyways?  Was it some evil person that really despised bike riders? 

After the two mile uncomfortable bike ride I headed for the hot showers.  OH! what a delight.  Dinner was compliments of the local Winn Dixie as cooking and camping are not my best accomplishment.  The temperature continued to drop.  I put on my sweat pants.  Roasting marshmallows was a distant thought so I sat by the empty fire pit and remembered past roastings.  What is it about burnt to a crisp white blobs of sugar on a sappy skinny tree limb?

Temperatures began to drop at a rapid pace as the sun disappeared behind the hammock.  We retired to the pop-up to read and relax.  A flip of the switch turned on the baby looking heater.  I put socks on and slipped into bed.  Darn - forgot the warm sleeping bags again.  I began to shiver beneath my very thin - very not warm blanket.  I thought about slipping the small heater in bed with me.  I slipped on my sweatshirt and covered my head with my very thin not too warm blanket. 

I looked at the clock on the coffee maker and it blinked red - 3:10 AM.  I was down right almost frozen stiff as a board.  The urge to take a bathroom break was too hard to ignore.  I’m hoping the bathrooms have heat.  The flashlight was no where to be found so off I trot to the facilities in the wee cold hours of the morning. 

I walked back in the dark listening for that bobcat that was sure to jump down from the tree and attack me.  Good thing that never happened.  I opened the camper door and it squeaked louder than a booming jet.  I looked at hubby on his side of the camper with the big thick blanket and wondered why he was such a selfish person?  I wrapped myself in my thin not so warm blanket and snuggled next to him.  I fell asleep a little warmer.

The sounds of morning whispered over the campsites.  You know the slamming of camper doors, kids crying and dogs barking.  The smell of coffee and bacon aroused me from my sleep.  I rolled out of bed, nudged hubby and said, “Lets go find a place to eat breakfast.” 

We started moving stuff (there’s always way too much stuff inside our camper) into piles and I pulled back the curtains.  The windows were unzipped.  I wonder who left the windows unzipped last night?  Perhaps that was the reason for my freezing.  He who shall not be named would never admit to not zipping up the windows.

Well, scratch another planned camping trip for our family.  This week is spring break and the plans were to travel somewhere in the Ocala National Forest and enjoy nature.  Mother Nature threw us lots of wind (to me hurricane force winds) and she tilted the heat scale all the way down to the 40’s.  We do not like camping in the cold and I have never really been thrilled about sleeping in the camper with a space heater.  We always use care when using a space heater and never leave it on in the camper when sleeping.  That equationequals cold inside the camper. 

The wind is extremely strong today and I have visions of winds setting the camper off on a stroll through the forest without being hooked up to the truck.  I can also see the chairs tumbling across the campsite hitting the little pup tent next to ours.  Ouch.  And right behind the chairs would be our screened enclosure that we often forget to tie down.  The last trip it went high flying over the fence right down the path behind our campsite.  It landed in a live oak tree covered with moss. 

We’ll watch the weather and hope for a break in this turbulent weather pattern.  Maybe if we stop planning trips and just take off on a whim Mother Nature will be a little more forgiving.

The Allman Brothers have a great song titled, ‘Ramblin Man’, and it personifies my older brother.  Dave is a widower, retired from the Navy with grown children and a penchant for rambling around the country in an R.V.  He travels with his best buddy, Scooter.  Scooter was rescued from a farm where he ate the eggs of exotic ducks.  If not for Dave Scooter would have been duck food.   Recently he lost his Shih-Tzu  and his ashes now reside under the bed in the R.V.  Porkie was given to my brother and his wife by me on their first maiden R.V. excursion across the eastern United States.  Porkie was the nastiest little dog I have ever met. He plans on spreading Porkies ashes off the seven mile bridge in the Florida Keys.  This is where he spread his wife’s ashes and she truly loved the little mutt.  So for now it’s just Dave and Scooter traveling the back roads of Florida and beyond.

We spent the weekend in the Withalacoochee State Forest with the two travelers.  Dave likes the simple life and quiet of the forest.  He walks his dog, rides his bike and drinks diet soda.  It’s a solitary life but he seems to love everything including family visits. 

For the last several months we have been camping ‘wannabees’.  Something always comes up that interferes with our planned excursions.  In November we went camping at Disney’s Wilderness Campground and nearly froze to death.  I had decided to spend most of the night hiding out in the laundry area because it had heat.  I felt somewhat strange when people came in and I was sitting on the folding table in the laundry area.  I just smiled and held my ground (or table).  And then the rain came on our last day along with the cold weather.

Our next trip took us to Fort Desoto by the Gulf of Mexico.  A beautiful area with lots of sand, salty water and horrific lightning storms that also come with rain. I will say the rain did wait till we were far away from the camper and yes, I did leave all the windows open.  I love sleeping on a soggy mattress.

We planned camping trips on several other occasion but checked the weather for rain.  After listening to the forecast we stayed home.  Did it rain?  No.

This past weekend we headed off to the Withlacoochee State Forest.  Florida has been in a serious drought for months.  Saturday was bright and sunny without a rain cloud in sight.  Sunday in the wee hours of the morning the sky began to fall with buckets of water.  We packed up, in the rain and went home still dripping with the moisture. 

Looking back on many of our camping experiences it always seems to involve rain.  We could go for weeks and months without so much as a drop of that liquid gold.  Then, we go camping and the monsoons begin.  So I’m thinking we could take this on the road and get paid for bringing rain to drought stricken areas.

I have been searching for a campground that accepts pets.  Pets that are over 40 pounds and are on the ‘Aggressive Dog List’.  German Shepherds are on THAT list.  Why?  I owned a Shih-Tzu that is not on the ‘Aggressive Dog List’ but they should be. 

He’s not a bad dog.  Yes, he’s big and might look a little scary to some individuals.  I have wondered who came up with this list?  Recently I watched a television program ‘Dogs 101′,  and the dog with the most dog bites in the United States is the Golden Retriever.  The Golden Retriever is portrayed as the most family oriented-lovable dog.  He’s not on the aggressive dog list. It seems like the German Shepherds have been black listed for unfair reasons.

I would truly like to take him camping if only I could find a campground that would accept him.  I have searched in vain to book a site with a Florida State Park but that seems seems an impossibility.  It seems all the sites are reserved for this weekend.  That seems strange to me.  They only have walk up - first come- first serve sites available.  I have no intentions of driving for 5 hours and then being turned away. 

I am truly frustrated at this point.  The private parks charge about double of what the state parks charge.  I am waiting on a call back from a private campground to see if they will accept my big-bad guy for a weekend.