A happy ending!

I love cats. Big cats, little cats, all cats.

So, it was  pleasant when I arrived at Black Creek Park and Trails and saw quite a few beautiful cats, especially the one I christened “Cleo” (after Cleopatra as she was so exotic and welcoming).

As you probably know, even highly domesticated cats can be anti-social and hostile to strangers. But, as we arrived at the Park, Cleo came to rub against us and the rest hung around. 

Black Creek Park is beside Camp Chowenwah in Clay County, Florida where we had gone to enjoy nature. The campsite is on the creek which is fed by the St. John’s River. There is a long bridge over the river, which takes you into Jacksonville.

Cleo

When we heard there was a bike lane on the bridge which joined our property to the park next door, we decided to walk over. However, the bike lane faded just over the bridge and we were left exposed as an unendeing number of cars were whisking rapidly on the road beside us. That left some of us very edgy and uncomfortable. 

We were an exuberant, multinational group of hikers/campers from; Jamaica, Dom Rep, Guatemala and the USA. 

Thankfully, we made it safely across the busy bridge.

Then as we entered the park, a welcoming party of cats met us.

Cats seem to have a special status in that Park, for there is even a trail named ‘9 Lives.’ 

That is however to honor one special cat. 

That celebrity  cat had reportedly sighted some raw chicken down by the creek and although a large gator was eating it, she decided she wanted some.

Stephanie the camper

That happened 11 years ago, and would you believe that neither did the gator not eat her but also, he actually crawled away, leaving her to finish the chicken!

That’s the reason for the title of this blog, for that was one crazy but lucky cat! So there was indeed a happy ending.😊

When I saw the You tube video of that encounter, I still held my breath although I had been told beforehand that the cat was not eaten! (phew). 

Watch the heart-stopping video on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/DiyWXQyAJ44.

Creek where the gator drama took place

This is the creek where this jaw dropping encounter took place. Fellow hiker and local resident Stephanie brought us up to speed on that heart-warming story.

On the hike, I was a bit curious to see a sign saying mountain biking trail but was assured that it was erected in jest, as there were no mountains there. 

Wishful thinking?😂

The hike through the forest was pleasant and a good introduction to the area. We heard lots of birds but saw no animals as some crazies had approved a housing scene near the camp. 

I guess that made the animals scatter.

A dismantled deer feeder

We did see a deer trap however although it was dismantled by rangers no doubt, as it is illegal. This  is used by evil hunters who put corn inside of it and when the deer come to eat it, they shoot them. 

Kinda like catching fish in a bowl.😡

There were a few trees that had been downed by Hurricane Ian, and one could see how far up into the park the creek had come when the river rose, but there was no serious damage. Just a few fallen trees and the water marks.

Black Creek Park is a well maintained and family-oriented trail park with water fountains, rest areas and restrooms. 

Not much of a challenge for hikers but a pleasant place to hang out.

The cats are the icing on the cake.💓

Selah.

Links; Joan, my views: A hill at last! (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)

              Joan, my views: No more cruising! (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)

             Joan, my views: Glamping (joan-myviews.blogspot.com

             Joan, my views: Anti immigrant crap (joan-myviews.blogspot.com)

                                     MORE MEMORIES

 

       

                 

   

          

           

Anti immigrant crap

It appears it is almost impossible to go anywhere in the USA without running into some idiot who thinks it uplifts them to spout anti-immigrant crap.

You would imagine too that in 2022, in a country where 99.9% of the population is either an immigrant, or possibly a descendent of one of many who have blood on their hands, having murdered the native people and stolen their land, you would find that type of nonsense receding, but the very opposite seems to be the case!

I was reminded of this during what should have been a carefree and pleasant camping outing arranged by our fearless, super organizer of Meet-up fame, Jennifer, at Camp Chowenwah near Jacksonville.

Jennifer prepares the campfire

So highly anticipated was this event that Beth from Guatemala even organized to spend her vacation in Florida with her friend and countrywoman Rosie, in time to coincide with the event.

I have been on many Meet-up events and really enjoyed them so will be writing a few blogs to record the wonderful times we had this time, but had to get this off my chest.

On this camping trip, there were nine of us, two from Jamaica, two from Guatemala, four from the USA and we were joined by Dania from the Dom Rep. She had really come up to enjoy the peace and serenity of the area with her husband who works with NASA at the nearby Cape Canaveral.

On the first night, we gathered around the campfire to bond and exchange stories, but one participant tried to make it into an unpleasant affair. For when Beth and Rosie introduced themselves, her snide remark was to the effect that they should not speak lest they be sent to Massachusetts by Governor DeSantis!

Unbelievable.

Rosie on her trusty bike

For those who are not up to date on Florida news, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis recently  had some Latin speakers from Venezuela who had applied for amnesty in the USA, sent packing to Martha’s Vineyards, where they were told there were jobs and milk and honey waiting for them.

Of course, it was a lie!

What was especially repulsive is that the speaker who tried to spoil our camping trip, had a very thick foreign accent herself, although she claimed to have come from Colorado!

Thank heavens, our new friends, though hurt by the mocking remark, were in such high spirits that they simply ignored her for the rest of the time and enjoyed themselves with the other more civilized participants.

L-R; Dania, Rosie, Sonia, Beth (behind) Joan (in front)

It was really wonderful having them around and even when we were ready to depart, Rosie rode over to our cabin to invite us to breakfast.

We five, put all our surplus food together, cooked breakfast, ate, bonded, laughed, listened to music, exchanged stories and had a wonderful morning together.

And we will be friends for years to come, thanks to Jennifer who organized another enjoyable trek into the great outdoors.                                                 

 Link;  https://joan-myviews.blogspot.com/2022/10/glamping.html?m=1

 

Hontoon island and more

 I must admit up front that I would know very little about the state of Florida, had it not been for the "Meet Up" clubs. Especially the hikes led by Jennifer Weise, the ultimate outdoors person.

I had not camped for many decades, the last time being in Ohio. I recall it vividly. It was a warm September and we set up shop is a nice campground. 

With "guide" Jennifer

Our cottage 

Then to our horror, at around midnight, it suddenly started to snow, forcing us to have to quickly pack our tent, sleeping bags and other gear and hightail it to a warm shelter. 

I put my camping days behind me after that and had been ignoring "Meet Up" camping notices, though to interesting-looking places.

Then in February 2022, I saw a notice that they would be heading to Hontoon island and cottages would be available. 

Despite the cold spell in Florida, the thought of a warm cottage was certainly the encouragement I needed to discover what appeared to be an interesting island. So, I jumped at the opportunity. 

Hontoon Island State Park is located in Northern Florida, just offshore from the town of Deland. It boasts an interesting history, wide open spaces and a large variety wildlife.

 

The entire island is made up of shady groves of cypress, ash, oak, hickory and tupelo, which shroud ancient memories of a long line of native inhabitants.

It is surrounded by the St. John's River, so to get there you have to take the ferry operated by the park employees.

 

The ferry travels regularly

The ferry is equipped with a number of wheelbarrows which campers use to take gear on and off the boat.

I was quite surprised at the amount of gear my fellow travelers, Jennifer and Sylvia were carrying, as I had always been under the illusion that campers travelled light.

But thank God these seasoned campers didn't!

For when we got to the island, I discovered to my dismay that the board on the sides of the cottages did not go all the way to the roof so all the cold air could come in get me!

Hadn't Jennifer packed EVERYTHING, I would surely have died from hypothermia! 

For, it was the electric blanket and sleeping bag that she loaned me that saved the day.

During the nights we gathered around fire pits for supper and to keep warm and feed death-defying mosquitoes which had no respect for insect repellant!

It was a wonderful two days of camaraderie exercise and fun.

 On Monday after we settled in, we hiked about 5km and the second day it was 10 km along well marked trails and scenic routes. 

We saw lots of wild turkeys and a few shy armadillos but alas, although we saw the tracks and poop, there was no sign of the momma bear and her two cubs that lived on the island.

Next day, while some went kayaking our group traveled over to Deland. 

Here they have an excellent assortment of restaurants, and we did some sightseeing in what is a quiet, laid-back town.

Deland courthouse

On the Wednesday, we drove a few miles to Orange City where you find Blue Water Springs, another state park on the St. Johns River.

These cold-water springs are brimming with all types of fish, gators and manatees. (Sea cows).

When we arrived there around 10am, a park attendant told us they had counted 516 manatees that morning. Although we were fairly late, we still saw quite a large number of those huge, beautiful, graceful mammals swimming lazily towards St. Johns River while alligators sunned themselves on the banks.

Where the Springs and the St. Johns River meet

At one point, I thought a stupid gator had the nerve to attack a manatee (considering he has so many smaller fish to eat if he was hungry), but our guide Jennifer, insisted that he had accidentally bumped into it.        

A further inspection of the video below seems to confirm this.

It would be delinquent of me to do record this trip without mentioning a few of my fellow travelers. 

One lady, a French/American named Ilse is such an avid outdoors person that she had just finished backpacking and camping near Tampa, but she still drove over to Hontoon to join us. 

Ilse

What is amazing about her is that she appears to be very frail, weighing probably less than 100 lbs, but rides a 900-cc motorcycle on which she has circled the USA several times.

My roommate, Sylvia, an Ecuadorian/American, was a successful electrical engineer but according to her, she obeyed God's call to become a missionary. 

I have to admit that I thought she had an extraordinary imagination when she described some of her experiences in exotic and dangerous places like the Amazon Jungle, Ethiopia, Pakistan and Tibet, until she showed me a some of her photos! 

Missionary Silvia

Her experiences also included even being detained and deported From India!

Both Jennifer and I felt uninteresting in the presence of those two.

Stolen, but very relevant😅

It was really a great camping experience and to make sure I never forget this outing, the bumps and itches from the mosquito bites are ever-present four days later.

 But if you love the great outdoors, a few mosquito bites are to be expected.

     

                                                                 Memories

We three traveled together from Delray Beach

The three musketeers

The swamp at the back of the island

Theatre at Deland

At Chess Lane, Deland

A section of Blue Water Springs

A mural at Deland

Thursby House museum