Signs of spring in February  at Gar Pond, Big Shoals State Park, White Springs,  Florida
Signs of spring in February at Gar Pond, Big Shoals State Park, White Springs, Florida

After a short (146mi) haul on Tuesday we are in north central Florida near White Springs, just north of Lake City. This is a rural area and at the moment we’re thinking we may stay at our current location for a month.  To avoid a sizable tax when we register our vehicles requires waiting two months — their purchase date must be older then six months.

Turkey Tail Fungus along the trail, Big Shoals State Park, White Springs, Florida
Turkey Tail Fungus along the trail, Big Shoals State Park, White Springs, Florida

It’s not a totally terrible place to wait. A short stroll from out site provides access to over 27 miles of beautiful hiking trails in Big Shoal’s State Park, FL.  It’s a wonderful area for us and of course Maggie to enjoy our love of hiking.

It was through this area in 2007 the Bugaboo Scrub Fire raged from April to June  and ultimately became the largest fire in the history of both Georgia and Florida. The Bugaboo, which was not actually named until it had blazed for nearly a month, started in the Okefenokee Swamp, most of which is located in Georgia.

Green undergrowth amid a pine forest showing evidence of fire, Big Shoals State Park, White Springs, FL
Green undergrowth amid a pine forest showing evidence of fire, Big Shoals State Park, White Springs, FL

You can see signs of the fire in the above photo made today as we walked before the rains came.

14 Comments

  1. I think you may be far enough south to miss the winter delight we’re expecting tonight. Enjoy!

    • Yes, only rain tonight and no temperatures lower then the mid-40’s here this week. We’re certainly not sorry to be missing the winter weather you’re having there. I hope it takes it easy on you tonight!

      Hey, did you guys work in your trip to Key West? I seem to remember you mentioning something about the 16th.

  2. I remember that fire; I was offered an assignment on the overhead fire management team but turned it down due to other obligations.

    • Very cool, Steve — small world! It must have been a fast moving fire as many if not most of the tall pines appear to have survived even though they show varying degrees of burn on their trunks up about 8-12 feet.

  3. If you get tired of where you are, just head a little bit west to Pensacola. We love that place. It’s a great spot on the Gulf with lots of good restaurants and (usually) warm southern breezes. You can walk on the beach for miles and go crazy just watching the dolphins and pelicans. And it’s reasonably close to I-10.

    • We’ve got two months to kill before moving westward so after a period here we may move on to the Pensacola area. It’s pretty “calm” here…a little too much like a retirement community and the electronic connections are hit and miss. I’m not sure we’ll make it a month at this location but the price is very good ($10/day + elec) and it’s clean and quiet. The nice thing is we can move when we want to and until then we’ll enjoy what it offers. :-)

  4. Yep. You missed another round of winter weather, my friend. I’m sure that you’re feeling sorry about that. :)

  5. So, you’re not thinking you’re going to miss cold winter weather? I wouldn’t either. Love the name of the turkey tail fungus.

    • LOL…Monte it’s a well publicized fact that with this mobile lifestyle we were going to follow the good weather wherever it took us. With a trailer winter weather is not our friend. :-)

  6. All these comments about how you are missing the ‘wonderful’ winter weather makes me think: “Hmmm – I wonder if I can throw a snowball down to Florida?!”

    • In your place, Mark, I’d probably be wanting to roll a big snow ball downhill and over me! This morning I was reading about flooding to the south of us and more ice and snow to the north of us…seems we’re lucky to be somewhere in between, but we haven’t seen the sun for days now if that’s any help.

  7. No, that doesn’t help.