Into Florida (April 8)

Wednesday, April 8 – I headed south and crossed the Florida State line. Instead of taking the highways and toll roads, I stuck to the back roads and headed into Ocala National Forest. Although it was approaching 80 degrees, I found a nice shady parking area alongside a dam and took a much needed two hour nap.

I woke up a little sweaty but feeling a lot better. I took another pack of sinus and cold meds and drove on. Passing orange groves just north of Orlando, I pulled off a dirt road and took Dazey for a walk into the groves. I grabs a couple oranges and started heading back to the car when suddenly a truckload of Mexicans comes barreling out of the grove just a few yards down. They look at me with fear in their eyes and speed off down the road. I don't know why they were so afraid. Maybe they were filling the truck with stolen oranges to sell at stop lights and thought I was going to bust them.

Orlando is a huge place. The downtown area is pretty small, but the strips and suburbs and stoplights go on forever. I aimlessly drove into the city, planning to spend the night at a hotel because I couldn't get a hold of Coco or Lonnie. I found a nice Ramada, parked behind it in a shady spot, let the dog out, cleaned up the car, ate an orange and then walk into the hotel and took a swim in their pool.

Back at the van at 830, dark was coming in and I was ready to relax and call it a night. I had my internet connected and was catching up with the internet when Coco called back, "Come out to Titusville, we are chilling in Lonnie's Hot Tub."

So I was off again. Directions said Titusville was 25 minutes east of Orlando, but it took me almost an hour to get from the side of Orlando I was on to the east side of the sprawl. Speeding into the humid night, I passed mile after mile of alligator infested swamp.

Finally I arrived at the Great Outdoors RV Resort, which Lonnie's father is the operator of the golf course and restaurant. After battling with the guard at the front gate, I gained access and navigated to the pool area.

Coco and Lonnie were 15 beers deep into an 18 pack and could barely take the hot tub anymore. The pool area was deserted and fenced in, so Dazey came and joined us while I helped them finish their last couple beers. The pool was 90 degrees and the hot tub 105. Not too much later, we headed back to Lonnie's house and watched some South Park on their back porch. Their German Sheppard was not having Dazey in the house, so we slept in the van in their driveway.

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