Holiday Inn Express Midtown Ocala

... chat too. Dad is a big fan of Vera, who wouldn't be?

Sushi with Kellie and Steve at the new Thai place (in the burg?). I feel like I've made a wonderful new friend. Kellie wants me back for more yoga. She offers me a scholarship to continue my yoga education. How can I refuse? Looks like I will be back before I know it Sleezburg, you've sucked me back once again.

We winded our way to Ocala and pulled into the Golden Palms. It looked fine from the outside but it was a BIG disappointment especially as it cost as much as the Hawthorn in Orlando. The rooms were very tired, the doors all needed a paint and just not well maintained. The first room wasn't made up, the second had a running toilet cylinder and the third had a CRICKET in the bed ...

... Another side trip is to Annecy France, which is just the cutest place in pictures. Going to tour Cern also. Annecy, France Cern facility and collider After two weeks, it will be back home through Amsterdam.

Left Clearwater and travelled to Homosassa. Here we visited the state park. Homosassa is renowned for it's manatees. Six are resident but thousands gather in Jan/Feb. The manatees are wonderful, iconic and gentle mammals that do not eat meat. They have no predators (other than the actions of man) Travelled on an aluminium electric boat down a creek to the main entrance. The park also has alligators ...

... a range of birds including whooping cranes and American bald eagles. Also saw a black bear, bobcat and cougars. We could not travel back on the boat as there was thunder in the air! Shortly after leaving the park we were hit with a violent thunderstorm. The TV channel gives constant updates about the storms. Could be a little unsettled for the rest of the week. However, it remains very warm and humid.

... and got to get many good pictures and videos, while some played with a resident turtle, and others shot gunned beer in the air bell. I ended up taking the camera down to about 57 feet without noticing major problems. The reviews said that the screen gets a little pressure on it and some buttons become depressed at this depth, and I noticed the same thing. I could take a picture, but could not change ...

The morning w*s * repe*t of yesterd*ys, $3 bre*kf*st speci*l *t *n hour th*t should be illeg*l for college students on spring bre*k. At le*st we're going diving. Tod*y we went to Devil's Den, this time in Williston *bout 5 minutes from our motel, so we did get to sleep in * little bit. This site w*s quite unique in th*t the dive site w*s inside * c*ve [not to be confused with c*ve ...

... at a nearby RV park (Passport America discount) for the night. We used teh next couple of hours starting to clean the coach. The waterless products that we picked up at the show work really well and are permissible in parks (many do not allow washing of rigs due to the water used). This process will continue, even with both of us going at it!

Our first trip ever in an Rv was to a Nat'l Recreation Area within 20 miles of Palatka, FL, our home town. Great place, don't get lost on the Bear Swamp Trail like we did. There are over 100 rv sites plus over 40 tent sites. The springs were very interesting, if crowded. NOTE: As of now, July 2009, they are being reworked. I hope they don't scare off the otter family that swam with us.
The camping area is spacious, particularly behind the sites.

... lunch at The Veranda Gallery & Tea Room and afterwards spend the afternoon at the Appleton Museum of Art. (to read more about this and see pictures, please visit me @ www.travelcloseup.com)