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Leaving Orlando proved to be more difficult than we had anticipated. We got everything packed for travel really quick as we now have developed a routine. I then backed the truck perfectly to the trailer hitch on the first try. We couldn't believe how good we were getting at this! Then, after hooking up and doing one more check on everything, I put the truck in drive, press on the gas, and we are not moving. What? I try again. Nothing. It's as if I'm stuck in a hole. Weird. So I put it in four wheel drive. We move but with the engine roaring like a lion and we barely go forward. So I ask Glen if the trailer wheels are actually turning. They are not! The brakes are seized on the trailer!
When we arrived and unhooked, a small wire kind of fell off. We had no idea where it came from and what it was for but didn't think it was very important. After calling AAA and told that they don't deal with trailer hitch issues, I called a mobile service who were booked solid for the day but would try to fit us in as an emergency. Meanwhile Glen walked to the office to let them know that we might not be able to leave before the deadline as we were stuck. I had seen a neighbour a few sites down that was working on his car so I decided to go ask him if he would know anything about our problem. He came over and knew right away! That small cable is a safety feature that would put the brakes on the trailer if the trailer became unhitched. As soon as he plugged the one end of it near the battery we heard the brakes let go. Phew! Problem solved and it didn't cost anything. Thank you very nice man! So I drove off and met Glen walking back from the office and off we went to our next destination: Hickory Hammock Equestrian Campground.
The Hickory Hammock Campground is a free equestrian campground with lots of trails for horses but also connects to the Florida Trail system. This place apparently used to be a privately owned ranch and its entrance is flanked by huge fenced pastures for cattle. You must get a permit through the South Florida Water Management Group to have access. It has a barn with boxstalls bedded in sand so no need for shavings. There is water for the horses. Just as we were leaving some people were coming in with a horse trailer.
When we got there we were greeted by a locked gate. I had received an email confirming our permit but never read it. So here we are, parked on the side of the road, desperately trying to find that email so I can find the combination to the lock. Meanwhile a woman drove her truck to the gate and she tried to open the padlock with no luck. She kept going back to her truck and back to the gate and trying again. When I found the email and the combination, I went to the gate and asked her what the problem was. She said that she had been camping there since the day before and had been in and out quite a few times without any problems but the combination wasn't working anymore. I then realized that we had the same combination. We tried to call the person in charge of the South Florida Water Management Group but she was out of the office until the next day. What to do? It was a 3.5 miles to the campground from the gate. At least the woman (Becky) knew that there was a campground host there and that he would know what the problem was. So we decided that I should go with my bicycle since it has an electric motor and would be faster than a regular bike. So Glen had to hoist my bike over the fairly tall gate (and it weighs a ton) and I climbed over the gate and off I went on full throttle. It was a beautiful ride but rather bumpy since the road had that washboard effect which made every part of me jiggle. A heron flew a distance in front of me and then an white egret flew right across my path. There were cows in large pastures that watched me go by. Anyhoooo! I got there and was greeted by a barking pitbull and a chihuahua. Thank God I'm not afraid of dogs! I felt like an important messenger that has to get through no matter what. It turns out that the padlock combination had been changed but no one was notified. So I rode back as quickly as I could but as I was getting closer my bike's battery started to die. So I started to pedal as quickly as I could and then put it back on full throttle when I could see the gate at a distance thinking that if the battery dies perhaps Glen would come to my rescue. I made it there on the last breath of my battery. What a welcome home!
We loved Hickory Hammock! Very quiet, lots of nature and trails to explore. We could let Cheeka run free but had to be careful as rattlesnakes had been seen in the area. When we first arrived some campers were looking at something in the grass and it turned out to be a colourful rat snake, sort of orange in colour with white bands. It was a big one! We never saw it again. There were sights of armandillos but we didn't get to see any except the empty shell of a dead one. There were plenty of holes in the ground attesting to their hunt for bugs and also large holes that they use for shelter or hiding. We could hear a barred owl at night.
We also met a lovely Hungarian couple who were camping in a tent. Bela, a kind of hippy guy, was very excited to show where we could pick wild grapefruits. Those grapefruits were so good and juicy but with the most seeds I have ever seen! He also showed us where the trail connected to the Florida Trail which seems to go from west to east. Walking in the trails was like walking in a jungle. Lots of dense vegetation of all kinds with palm trees, pines and large live oaks covered in spanish moss. So magical I kept wanting to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming.
As we were driving down the road to the campground we saw some wood storks flying and also some cattle egrets that follow the cows as the cows disturb the ground the bugs are easy picking. We later learned that the cattle egrets will also follow tractors in a field or even humans as they walk.
On one of our walks we got to a sign that announced "Bees ahead". We walked further and realized that there were lots of beehives. I don't know who they belonged to but we decided to leave them alone and turn around.
We met a nice couple, John and Phyllis, who have been travelling first by boat and now with a motorhome for over 15 years. They always stay at free campgrounds but John was saying that there are fewer now then when they first started. John is a fountain of information as he has had to find a lot of solutions to the little problems that pop up while RVing. We also met Dave who has been on the road for 15 years since his wife passed away. A colourful character, he travels alone in a class B motorhome.
We find that we are more social than ever. Most other campers, especially in the free camping sites, are very friendly and readily accept us in their group.
We are loving the lifestyle!
MeMe is totally enjoying the outdoors and the freedom she gets at campgrounds.
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