Lithia Springs near Tampa, FL

Peggy hiking on the Florida Trail

Bill Miller & Cathy Needham spent 3 days with us at Silver Lake. We hiked the trails and biked on the Withlacoochee State Trail, a 46 mi long, 12’ wide, paved bike trail.
It was cool every morning but pleasantly warm by the afternoon.

I was able to paddle my kayak a few times but the river was very low due to the drought conditions. So I just paddled a few miles upstream and downstream of our camp.

In all we spent 10 days here. Bill & Cathy needed to head back North so that they could be back in Cleveland in about a week.
Peggy & I drove a little further South to Lithia Springs County Park on the Alafia River.
We got the same campsite right on the river that we had camped at the last few times that we camped here.

John at Lithia Springs Campground

Lithia Springs

Alafia River at campsite

This river was also very low so I just paddled downstream from our camp on the Alafia River past the springs until it became too shallow to easily paddle then paddled back upstream.

John back in his hammock

I had a nice rest in my hammock when I returned.
We went for a bike ride on Monday through FishHawk Ranch which is a housing development with over 25 miles of concrete bike trails, that weave through the community connecting parks, houses and shopping centers. We did some grocery shopping, and then headed back to camp. In all we pedaled 14 mi. on the sunny and breezy 70^o day.

We are now in Florida

We left Bobbie’s house early Thursday morning and got such a good start that we decided to drive to Silver Lake which is just off I-75 North of Tampa. The weather is close to 80oF, so unless it gets colder we may stay here a while since we can hike on the good trails, bike on the Withlacoochee State Bike Trail, a 46 mi paved bike trail or paddle my kayak on Silver Lake and the Withlacoochee River. There is a library with internet within easy biking distance and a grocery.

I talked to Bill Miller & Cathy and they will be heading north in a few days and may camp with us. Not sure of any plans after that we may head further south if it gets colder here.

Still in Atlanta, GA

It's been two weeks now since we took our long journey back from Mexico to Atlanta and the home of my Sister-in-Law, Bobbie. Both her daughters flew in to be with her while she was operated on. The Doctor removed a cancerous tumor from her Pancreas but the doctor said she looked cancer free and has a good chance of recovering.
She has been in the hospital for twelve days and we are still not sure when she will be released. Peggy wants to stay here until Bobbie gets back into her home. Bobbie's daughter Kim, who is a nurse, will stay with her until March. At that point a decision will have to be made; if, when and where any Chemotherapy and Radiation will take place.
When we leave we will head south to Florida. It's too cold for us in Atlanta, and I sure would rather be on the beach in Mexico. I certainly don't want to go home to Cleveland which is buried under 20" of snow.