Trippin' with Susan Straley

Hey there! It is my last day on the Ochlockonee River.  I discovered after my last post that I missed one of those "o"s. The Brown Bird Yesterday while doing yoga in the grass I saw the Brown Thrasher bird that is  by my campsite feeding a chick next to the saw meadow palms.  The little chick would run back into the cover of the palms on occasion.  No wonder the adult zoomed at me the other day when I played the Brown Thrasher call I found on the internet.   It is interesting how when I learn a new bird species name it often becomes my new favorite bird.  This one has a lovely repertoire of  melodies like the mocking bird, which was/is a favorite too.   The White S quirrel There are white squirrels in this campground too.  Unlike the white squirrels in Wisconsin, these have a dusty streak of black down the back of their head and shoulders.  Like they crawled under a dirty car. The other day I was looking up at one and of course looking up you see things... I noticed that thi

 Greetings from Ochlockonee River State Park!   I am SW of Tallahassee, FL by the St Marks Wildlife Refuge (which is huge!).  Today I am going to go ride the St Marks Rail Trail, so I hope to make this short. News Maria, the woman that was going to be traveling with me had to cancel for health reasons.  She is bummed, I am bummed. The first part of my trip she was going to be traveling in her RV right along with me.  I definitely miss her presence already.  I planned my route keeping her in mind.   The good news is I have had my second vaccine shot for COVID19!  Some of the fear has faded.  I am hugging friends that also have had the vaccine.  I have dined inside restaurants with them.    I didn't have to go to all the way to St. Augustine for the second vaccine.  I was able to get it at  Winn Dixie closer to home.  My symptoms were mild to non-existent. Traveling Solo Ok, I traveled alone last year, but I had arranged to meet up with folks all along the way.  This time I didn'

Greetings from Inverness, Florida.   I am back home and very much enjoying springtime in Florida.  My garden is happy, the monarchs are fluttering around the milkweed and laying their eggs.  The collard greens and parsley are prolific.   And the most amazing thing is happening...bit by bit, friends are gathering, still at a distance, but with less fear.  The COVID vaccines seem to be working to reduce hospitalization, death, and even infection rates in the United States.  Though we still have a long way to go to be back to normal, hope is blooming along with the spring flowers. Before I get into the stories around me, I would like to share with you a podcast interview that I was part of.  It was launched on March 15, 2021.  Author Marianne Sciucco interviewed me this summer while I was camping in Rhinelander, WI, for the AlzAuthors' Podcast for caregivers .   *** The last time I wrote to you I was at Hart Springs Campground which is near Chiefland, Florida and the Nature Coast Rai