"if i fail, if i succeed at least i live as i believe" -whitney houston

i had every intention of blogging for the entirity of this trip. it was this exact moment that i was trying to avoid: now having to cover so much at once. however, getting wrapped up in the wonderment of great people and new places is a problem i don't mind having. ok, lets start…

i left charelston, sc headed off to ocala national forrest. i had done some research on where i wanted to stay…but was free styling against my usual mode of over preparation. after listening to danger's gifted cds, i reluctently popped in 'life with my sister madonna' by christopher ciccone. this would be a pivotal move later on…i have to say, while i was surprised by my enjoyment of this novel, he made a crucial mistake of reading his own book. his voice plain and flat, however, dishing about one of the biggest pop star of my lifetime is totally engaging. as i drove towards ocala in the warmth of the sunshine, i contemplated the elements of what made madonna successful: determination, confidence and an extreme work ethic. he mentioned her lack of professional training in so many of the arenas that she would work in, citing her unabashed confidence in any pursuit. the only difference between any of us and those that we idolize is simply that they are going for it and we are only dreaming of it. it made me fired up…feeling empowered and motivated, i continued on into the desolate forrest. my gps was dodgy and the signage limited. feeling like i might have missed the turn off to delancy lake (where i intended to camp) i continued to the visitors center. trying to be on top of it, i stopped to get maps and confirm the location. i had also received directions to the site from the internet. i turn back around and head to find delancy lake east. i knew and was told it was a turn off of road 66. when i see a small painted wood sign labeled 66, i figured the one labeled 'east' out of the choices east and west was where i wanted to go. i was told that the road was primitive, made of clay, so i wasn't expecting highway quality traveling. as i continue down this desolate clay road through the tropical forrest, i randomly see dilapidated houses and time worn trailers. being on my own and not seeing any resemblance of a campground,  i begin to feel uneasy. 

christopher ciccone robotically relays partying with celebrities as i desperately search for some direction. then…they clay road turns into deep sand. i am completely off roading at this point in my practical city car. my heart begins to race and i immediately turn off madonna's brother to gain some focus on the situation. where the fuck am i going? and what they hell am i doing in the back woods of florida, by myself, trying to be on a safari in a jungle of rednecks with hardly the proper equipment. just then, my car gets stuck in the sand. much like the snow that i am familiar with, my car will not budge. panicked, i scan the premisis. i see a few run down houses and think to myself how this resembles the beginning of a horror film: young woman, in the middle of nowhere, car troubles, needs help from deranged, toothless psychopath. what the fuck….what the FUCK am i going to do? inspired by madonna's ambition, i am determined to solve this predicament, also fully knowing that knocking on some rando's door in the middle of the woods is NOT an option. i shift into neutral and actually believe i am going to push my car back into traction. i go at it with full strength and the car comically doesn't move an inch. as someone who is frequently challenge by reversing out of peoples drive ways, i manage to reverse my car back into movement and then amped up to get the hell outta of there, i reversed a half a mile back to the clay road. it is truly amazing what one can accomplish when you must. i can not find this campsite! this is my first real test on the road on my own and i refuse to fail right out the gates! to summarize: after i make a few more investigative drives around the area, i cross the road to delancy west, which turns out to have both campgrounds.

frazzled, but relived to finally be at my destination, i am the lone woman among men in pick up trucks. undeterred, i pick out my site (one as remote as possible) and put my $10 in the envelope at the campground kiosk. i then set up camp, make a lovely dinner for myself on my pocket rocket stove and my new camping frying pan.

feeling very capable and accomplished, i collect sticks and then make my own fire. i enjoy a few beers, but in the remote darkness, realize sleep is probably the only option. i wake in the morning, dismantle camp, pack up and i am on the road again. once i finally get cell service again, i make the calls to the worried love ones to say that i have in fact survived one night. on to naples!!

i get to naples around what i can only assume is rush hour. traffic is awful and someone strongly rear ends the car next to me. ugh! get me outta here! getting the address wrong, i eventually make it to my dear friend rick's house. what a lovely home: 10 acres of land complete with two horses and tropical landscape.

petting horseys!

so many wonderful people here. to describe my next four days  would be impossible. i can only say enjoyable camaraderie, delicious meals, indulgent evenings spent discussing life and the ever talented 'compton and bennett' (along with other friends) entertaining us with their musical stylings.

you really can live anywhere: drying my clothes at my campsite on rick's property.
newly purchase travel close line= A+

it was divine. i got to pick up my sweet baby from the fort myers airport and we had a beautiful reunion. i had really missed him. i enjoyed my time traveling alone but it is so wonderful to share the delight with someone. it was hard to the leave the sanctuary, but eric had made a connection in ybor city, fl and we were off to explore it!

a quick drive to ybor city and we find ourselves in this lively artistic town. we make our way to 'the roosevelt 2.0' urban center for social change. 

a very hospitable man named sky, welcomes us inside his project in the making. we sit on cozy couches in a loft where sky tells us his mission and plans for an art space that welcomes all who want to create. 

he is completely inspiring, enjoyable, vibrant. he then proceeds to buy us, complete strangers, dinner at a local restaurant. amazing. i leave feeling warm and affected. on to tarpon springs!

eric had a gig at the undergrounds coffee house in tarpon springs, fl. a small coffee house in the heart of this little town. it was populated by the artistic underaged. a small crowd, but notably in attendance was my sister-in-laws parents, ed and donna. they were genuine and kind. it was nice to catch up and visit. after all things are wrapped up we make the late night drive to barrow, fl to see our friends annie and ariel. annie, expecting a baby girl soon was in bed when we arrived, but ariel and their cat, fig welcomed us in to their home.

i was ever so grateful to sleep in an actual bed after a brief hiatus. i wake slowly, enjoying the nice bed while eric catches up with annie in the morning. she may be the cutest preggo ever. we then head into town to have lunch with ariel. lovely. then it is off to st. augustine!!!

i was excited to share the exploration of this town with eric as he had such positive experiences and i only a brief tourist. we arrive at the home of becky and dave (annie's parents!) who live ON THE BEACH. and they have kitties! <note: all cats are referred to as kitties no matter what the age.>

we have some nice conversation over cheap beers and becky's delicious homemade stout. she then makes a delectable vegan meal for me which we share with their son samuel. we then head out for a night on the town. we walk around the enchanting st. augustine and then head to 'the milltop tavern' to see the so very talented molly and todd jones (along with drummer jeremy).

their harmonies are impeccable. such kindness and a kindred musician spirit, todd invites eric to play a few songs. this prompts a few cd sales from a receptive audience. gas money, yo! we walk around a bit more, make a few more dance videos and then head back to the beach house. after a restful night sleep, we head out on the recommendation of ariel to check out 'discount groceries'. seriously, a heaven here for me on earth. it is like the big lots of organic foods. we proceed to purchase items to take to africa and a plethora of tortillas, a bag full for one dollar. then off to have lunch with my old college roommate in jacksonville beach, fl!

audrey and her adorable son geoff (playfully renamed geoffro) accompanied us at taco lu. i was able to enjoy some wonderful vegan options, tempeh tacos for the win! it was so nice to reconnect with audrey after so many years. 

she was as delightful as i remembered and so easy to be around. we then set out for the long awaited return to the hostel in the forrest in brunswick, ga.

i had frequented the hostel while in college, finding it to be a much needed retreat from the stresses of school and the drama of being a 20-something human being. i have spoken so highly of my experiences to eric, i couldn't wait to share it with him. the cost of a nights stay had changed from $12 to $25, but even a million dollars would have been worth it. the improvements made on the community were astounding.

it is seriously all the comforts of home in the middle of the forrest and all eco-consciously executed. we met some splendid folks, hula hooped, ate off the land and exchanged information.

a one nights stay in this ideal environment was cruel, but the promise of my former home of savannah made it bearable. to the 912, y'all!

we park off a square in downtown and i drag eric around every memorable landmark. he can immediately see the wonder of this small city. i cannot express my love for savannah enough.

we head out to the islands to see jordan and do a much needed load of laundry. i think clothing options are just one of the many things i have learned while on on the road that will be a work in progress. up until this point, i had been proud of my thriftiness. in my cherished savannah, all ideas of conservation went out of the window. i just wanted to enjoy, indulge and relive former glories. it turns out, times are indeed different, much like i am different. we went out for a night on the town, only to find such changes, not only to locations, but the familiarity of patrons of each establishments. i am also finding that the quickness of this leg of the trip to be rather challenging. staying only one night in each spot makes for a strange emotional experience. not able to get attached, but often doing so anyway only to have to leave. not my favorite. i find that my care for myself has also diminished. over indulging: a blessing and a curse. i realize that mastering balance while on the road will be a talent that i will need to develop. i am interested in returning home to get a better grasp on this new life i have carved out for myself. then off to charelston, sc!

where i was missing the memories of good friends in savannah (with the exception of jordan and her lovely family) i seemed to find it all in charelston. we met up with eric's friend john and his partner elaine at caw caw interpretive center.

we went for a nice hike, taught them the dance and enjoyed nature. we then went out to folly beach, which was celebrating mardi gras, despite the rain. it reminded me of a more happening tybee island. then off to meet up with the ladies at the delicious sesame. i had a fantastic black bean burger and a great reunion with the sarah's and thea. of course we must go to the mill? we make it brief, knowing the longest drive of the trip must commence the following day. man, i could get used to these ladies…so much love for them! we then trek to john and elaine's place out in the country in ridgeville, sc. so gracious, they offer us their own bed! being so tired upon my arrival, i was not aware or i would have protested. the kindness of people never ceases to amaze me. 

we have a lovely visit with them, albeit far too short. we now embark on the last leg, remnants of our lives in columbus infiltrating our bubble more than ever. hoping to hike a part of the AT at the half way part to charleston, wv…but the weather and our late start impedes. ever since i have been in the south, my proposed plans have been running about an hour behind. it suits the southern style. i have learned so much on this trip, i am not sure how to even communicate the experience. it is only a more clear example of how one must experience this life for themselves. it is truly life changing. an opportunity for personal growth that cannot be found elsewhere. i could go on about that alone forever...but for now, we rest.

to be continued...