In Homosassa

We were able to sleep until nearly 6 am this morning, not surprising given how tired we were the night before. We did our morning German lessons then went downstairs once we heard Mark moving. We had our morning beverages and a mini bagel before taking the dogs on a long walk through the neighborhood. It was good to see that little damage had been done to homes in the neighborhood from last year’s hurricane.

When we returned, Mark made biscuits and Cindy fixed sausage gravy. It was a good and filling breakfast. We finished unloading the car and spent most of the time catching up and discussing plans for the upcoming week. We had considered taking a short kayak trip, but there was a strong wind most of the day.

Much of the day was just resting after our long drive south on I-75. As we sat on the back porch of Whittington’s house, we watched a great egret and little blue heron feeding on the canal bank. We looked at the landscaping that they replaced after the storm surge last year that brought saltwater into their yard.

Mary and Mark on the Hog Pond Trail

At 4:30 we took the took the dogs to the Hog Pond Trail of the Withlacoochee Forest for a walk. We were surprised that the four of us and the two dogs fit into Cindy’s Highlander comfortably. There weren’t many people at the trailhead, probably because the Super Bowl would be starting soon. We didn’t see any wildlife on the trail but walked out as far as the ponds, turning around at 6 pm to return to the car.

After returning to the house, we ate pulled pork sliders, pork and beans, chips and Patti La Belle’s sweet potato pie. Everything was very good, and we were quite full. Mary and Cindy played cribbage during the Super Bowl, and I read and did my evening German lessons.

We think that tomorrow will be a day for kayaking, perhaps on the Rainbow River. We hope to be able to paddle all the way to the source spring and back during the day.