I made the trip to the northern part of Okeechobee County to pick up Sandra, who’d been backpacking with friends for the past four days across the vast southern prairies of south Florida. I picked her up at the Fort Basinger trailhead where the sketch above was drawn.

We drove into the city of Okeechobee and got a New Years dinner at the excellent Lightsey’s restaurant. Above is a sketch of the fish that floated around and watched us from the tank beside our table. Below is the head of the wild hog posted on the wall above dinner crowd.

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Above are sketches drawn while walking in the Ocala Christmas Parade. I thought I would challenge myself by sketching as I walked the three miles in the dark of what I saw from the parade route. I had to draw QUICK!

Sandra and I found ourselves walking with the Republican Federated Women float. Odd for Sandra to do in that she’s a Democrat. She went along because neice Amber was one of the children riding in the small float. Amber is in red in the photo below. Below are photos of the float.

The various floats line up for action in the nighttime parade.

Sandra Claus, the Christmas Hiker!

This morning, Sandra and I attended a special event just for US Forest Service employees, volunteers, and partners. It was to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Ocala National Forest, which happened on November 24, 1908. 160,000 acres in north Central Florida were designated by President Teddy Roosevelt as public park space which is still being enjoyed bt Americans today. For more click here for Sandra’s entry at Florida Hikes!

To the left is an early water fountain in the Mill Dam section. Below is a windy spot of the park off a lake. It was rather chilly and the wind chill in the low 30s didn’t help the cold I’d developed overnight. Despite the runny nose, I didn’t want to miss this special event I got to attend.

We hiked 3 and a half miles from the Ross Prairie Trailhead. Here are sketches and a bit of film of me drawing Sandra took. The drawing above is the same I started and finished in the film.

For photos of the hike click here to see them at Genuine Florida.

Sandra and I hiked the Oxbow Trail on the Withlacoochee River. Above is a sketch I drew while on the trail.

Yesterday was door to door work for the McCain campaign all around concrete and asphalt. Early this morning was a 3 mile hike at Silver Glen Springs under trees and fresh air lead by Sandra. I was the “Sweep”, the person at the end making sure everyone is accounted for. This hike was part of the Springs Festival. A very good crowd showed for the early morning hike. Above is one of the sketches I drew during the hike.

Above our sketches from a wading trip Sandra and I took with a group from FOWA off the Charolotte County coast. Later we went on a swamp bus tour of the Babcock Ranch. Below are sketches from that trip ,while we were on the bus.

Still out in the Big Cypress Swamp! Here is another sketch made while in the swamp. It’s a lone cypress knee.

Below are more caricatures I drew today.

I helped Sandra take crowds out through the swamps of Big Cypress for the annual Muck-A-Bout. I did some sketching while out in the swamps, as to the right .

Our first stop during our Volusia County tour was Ponce Preserve. It’s a park that has a combo of opportunities to experience the original natural Florida tidal area of this part of the east coast. See the site for details. It’s a GREAT park and well worth the trip whether you take the boardwalk, the natural trail or head out to the beach.

Our next stop was Sugar Mill Gardens. It is the site of a sugar mill, a theme park, a Civil War site and a Seminole Indian War site. It covers it all. There is no doubt ‘Bongoland’ is the most interesting. I’ll let this site explain it as I run out of time to type all of this. By the way, I counted 7 dinosaurs. Above is one of them.

We continued our Volusia County tour with a stop at the Daytona Beach Museum of Arts and Sciences.WHATTAPLACE!!!!Everyting from greek statues (See right) to antique cars to Florida history to pirates to actual train cars to….It’s an amazing place!We made a stop at Zeno’s, a favorite of ours,

We next stopped at a favorite of our in Volusia County, Zeno’s. They have two locations. We stopped at the one on A1A. Got ice cream and salt water taffy. Above is cover of the box of the saltwater taffy we picked up. I love the historical photos.

After Zeno’s we wandered up A1A to Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area. The park, that includes beach access, is named for the Florida troubador, Gamble Rogers, who sang and told stories of Florida’s history, environment and a series of characters that dwelled in our state in the fictional area of Ocklawaha County.I got to meet and work with Gamble back in the ’80s when I was working with Florida music and storytellers festivals and groups. He was a sight to behold. A very calm and steady performer. I’m reading a number of books about Dean Martin. Gamble was the easygoing come-what-may Dean Martin on stage.It was a tragedy he died in the surf at the very spot where this park is. He was trying to save another person caught in the rough waters. We happened to be there when there was a red flag warning of the rough surf and dangerous waters at the beach as it was when Gamble died. The difference now is an actual red flag atop a pole flapping in the wind, see the sketch to the right. At the time of Gamble’s death there were no flags there. Too bad the story of Gamble’s death isn’t at the park. I felt like chasing after the people in the surf and warning them of the dangers and of the reason why the park area is named after Gamble.

We finished our trip in Marion County and had dinner at Lena’s Restaurant, where you can have a “whale of a meal”.To the left is the papertowel holder on every table.

I attended the monthly meeting of Orlando Remembered. Here are drawings of Robert Serros, Dan Pottinger and, the ever graceful Grace Chewning.

A clipping from the Sentinel Star was brought in of a large group of children who were celebrating birthdays. Most known by the group at the meeting. Member Duke Crittendon estimated the photo to be from 1940 or 41. Amongst those in the photo was a little girl who stood a bit away from the group. I did a little drawing of her holding her package.

Afterward I got a haircut at Jim’s Barber Shop. Click here to go to Genuine Florida for a photo and details.