The Beginning of Our Trip West – Falling Waters State Park, Chipley, FL

March 4, 2013; 10:11 AM; Mileage 33,410

We had been working relentlessly for the last several weeks, getting the house ready for our house sitter – cleaning, waxing, moving some of our things out to the workshop so she has room for her things. Thank heaven that’s done!

Rich needed one last Flying Biscuit fix. After we ate, we went back to the house, hooked up, and hit the road. Can’t believe it is finally happening – we’ve been planning for this more than ten years!

Our first is Falling Waters State Park in Chipley, FL where we will see Rick. On the way, Rich reminded me it was March 4 – 27 years ago today we met on a blind date! Champagne time J Strangely enough, we were to have met on March 3, but were both sick so postponed it a day. We were supposed to leave on this trip on March 1 but had to change our plans unexpectedly to leave on Monday which was March 4. Between the date thing coupled with the call from our accountant telling us we were getting money back (we had worried that we’d have to pay) we took as an open that the trip was meant to be.

Rich on the boardwalk to the waterfall

Falling Waters was much better this time than in July – nice and cool (cold several nights), not so crowded, and we had a better site. There is a little lake a fifteen minute hike away from camp which has swimming and fishing (and a parking lot) then another twenty minute hike to the 73 foot waterfall.  We were lucky the weather had cooperated this season and there was a good flow of water. Rick and Sam had ben here during the summer and it was dry.

One of the campers was a single woman in a class C who has been full-timing for two years with her two dogs. Another site had two women, four dogs (2 Newfoundland’s, a harlequin Dane, and another one that looks like a partially shaved Labradoodle. Can’t imagine what kind of vehicle they have! Two sites across from us and the one to our left were home to a group of college students and their geology teacher up from Orlando. 

Rick drove up from Panama City Beach and spent a great day with us. We fished, hiked to the waterfall, and had lunch of our homemade smoked kielbasa. I was sad to see the day end. -

 

Rick across the lake releasing the bass he caught

The native azaleas were just beginning to bloom

Rich and Judy at the falls

Rick and Judy at the falls

The last day we were there, we came back from doing some errands to a controlled burn around the campground. Luckily, they put out any smoldering areas near our site so I wasn’t too bothered with smoke.

Controlled burn at the campground

The next morning (Friday) we’re off to Mobile and Chickasabogue County Campground for three nights. We’ll go to see the USS Alabama while we’re there.