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Test Run


Decided to take the ZiOs mobile out for a test run before the big trip. My neighbors took off for the week and headed up to the springs area north of Tampa. I am headed to Chassahowitzka River to meet them. Instead of driving the four hours and setting up camp and getting out on the river to explore, I decided to make another night camping at a fellow RVers' home near Brooksville, Florida, about 35 minutes from the "Chas", getting the drive behind me. I know I have mentioned the RV network Boondockers Welcome in other posts. John and Pat are part of that network and responded to my request to overnight at their home. I set Google Maps to my destination and said avoid all highways and wow!....just wow!! The app took me on tiny county roads through beautiful, lush citrus country! Old Florida with its grand old oaks dripping with Spanish moss, homesteads with long horned cattle sharing a long drink from ponds with egrets, herons and sandhill cranes.

Landing at Pat and John's place is not exactly roughing it. This spot is positively picturesque and they actually have a "campsite" with complete hook-ups–water, electric and sewer and they offered me wifi!!. I am having my coffee and starting this post from said wifi. Sitka and I arrive after driving through two hours of monsoon, I take a few moments to get hooked up, the awning open and get the new to me kayak out so I can set up the bed, because I am certain I have brought the rain with me. (I'm telling you they were some crazy ass thunderstorms on the way up. I watched lightening strike the ground several times) And yep, no sooner than the moment we are settled the real rain starts. However, John and Pat invite me down to their dock/pavillion on this lovely pond with catfish and a softshell turtle named Gus for a glass of wine... ok two glasses of wine and maybe a splash of a third. After talking about the state of the world, so blessed they are such compassionate and caring progressive folks, Sitka and I head back up to our "camp". The rain brought low 70ºtemps and we get to sleep with everything open.

Thursday arrives with abundant sunshine and we head just 35 minutes to the Chassahowitzka River Campground. Need to work on a checklist. I almost drove off with my big storage case on the van not secured.... geez! Also note to self– can't close awning when engine is running. It's the little things. After getting set up at the new campground, the mercury rises enough that Sitka can't sit outside. I give him a nap in the air conditioned van and take off to head to the river. I bought a little kayak for $80. I can't believe what a score this was. This is an Old Towne, that they don't make anymore. I read about it online and people raved about this 35lb kayak. I hemmed and hawed, because I didn't NEED it, but bringing the 100lb Hobie kayak would have been overkill and renting is $35, so 2 days of rental with tax equaled buying the little kayak. It was the right decision!! it is so quick and maneuverable. This will be the Florida springs kayak... easy to load and carry.

Out on the river, I met a couple ladies at one of the underwater caves. We chatted up a storm. I wish I could have stayed longer, but I was feeling guilty about leaving Sitka for so long, especially after we just arrived. Cindy and Tyler have gone off to tube down the Rainbow River. Even though I am regretting not going, I just couldn't see leaving Sitka all day. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll give Sitka a bone to work on and spend more time on the river.

It is 4:30 in the afternoon and there is no breeze. Can't even sit in the screen tent... too hot and humid. Something has chewed up my ankles and even Sitka got up on his own and headed to the van door. Through all that fur he must be feeling the bites.

When Cindy returns, hours and hours later, I am really glad I did not go floating, I couldn't have left Sitka alone that long. I am seeing a significant change in him. He is slowing down and having a difficult time getting up into his seat, on the van couch and we are walking only a mile or less. I am starting to wonder about the big trip.... can he do it? Off to the vet we will go before we leave.

Friday morning and the sun is out with a pretty steady rain. We are holding off on a kayak to the spring until the thunder and lightening gives up.

The Chassahowitzka River is a tidal river influenced by the Gulf of Mexico , but it's main source of freshwater comes from multiple springs.

There is a group of springs just Northeast of the boat ramp, the largest one is referred to as the Main Spring, classified as a 1st magnitude spring (discharge over 100 cubic feet per second), and is 13.5' deep. It is located approximately 300 feet up stream from the boat ramp, then another 200 feet and to the left, is a group referred to as "Seven Sisters Springs. I'd like to say I was brave enough to swim through the underwater caves, but I couldn't do it. If I could breathe as I moved through the tight space maybe, but I felt extremely claustrophobic. I gave my mask to a guy so I could get a pic of him coming up out of the spring cave.

After playing around in the springs, Tyler, Brian, Cindy and I kayaked through the channels where there are homes situated on the banks... peaceful quiet, but an overabundance of confederate flags flying that left me with an uneasy feeling. Goes along with the very racist history of the near by town of Brooksville... a whole other post.

My other acquisition was an Ozark Trail pop-up screen tent.... wow... goes up in 60 seconds and down and packed as quickly. Definitely necessary, with the summer bugs... even Sitka couldn't take it and asked to go inside the van. I keep Off candles going most of the day, stay slathered in Skin So Soft, don’t shower and stay stinky until I have to retire for the evening. Note to self: get some Benadryl spray for the fly bites. They are like bee stings on me and I am grateful Cindy had that spray.

Florida grows most bugs gigantic size. I have never seen a grasshopper 3-4 inches long before.

Being so large, they surpass the creepy crawly category and seem more like a small animal. Crawling through the campsite, Cindy spied, what we learned was a Red Milk Snake and not the deadly Florida Coral Snake....whew. This state is a never ending source of entertainment.

A quick campground review: Chassahowitzka River Campground Citrus County, Florida

http://chassahowitzkaflorida.com/

Fairly spacious sites, heavily wooded–it feels like a real campground vs. an rv resort. It has full hook-ups: electric, water and sewer and the best wifi I have ever had at a campground...rare to find in campgrounds. I am here during the week that might account for the good connection. The rate is only $38 ($34 with Good Sam discount). For full hook-up, I think that rate is very good. The campground is half empty. This also means there aren't as many people on the river. Because I have full hook ups, I have used my van facilities extensively and used the shower house once after I was packed up and ready to leave. Shower house was clean enough, but if I were management, I would pay attention to the mold and mildew to keep their nicely tiled showers from feeling scuzzy. They could wash the shower curtains regularly and it would feel much cleaner.

I think I would come back here again. But there are so many more springs in the state to explore!

I took the Gulf coast home on Florida 699. Kind of putzy drive on Saturday afternoon-lots of trafiic, but I had never been through Clearwater, Indian Shores and Treasure Island. Time to clean up the van. Launch date for the big trip is approximately July 16... see ya on the road.

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