Blog#19, Another Night In Big Lagoon
Second night at Big Lagoon
I moved to a flatter campsite today. Saw some new birds this morning and several nesting pairs of Osprey. I had a late visit from a raccoon last night, but other than he and some deer, I haven’t seen many critters. Today I drove to the local library -Southwest Branch- and sat in their parking lot to pirate WiFi. Worked very well.
Osprey
I also went into Pensacola to a Home Depot and bought a few items to construct a better camp. I bought 2 rectangular containers that will fit in the bottom of my cooler. I poured today’s 10 lbs of ice into them. Now I can just empty them, instead of the whole cooler.
In addition, I bought a bag of bird seed. I’m imitating Linda and Jim from Austin, and not ashamed to admit it. I asked the park host, Paul, how the park people feel about that and he said the only person who would maybe notice and say anything would be him. And then he said “What bird seed?” with a wink. Paul has lived in Florida his entire life. Retired now and traveling around acting as park host. He says he likes talking to the people in the camps. He is not a fan of cool weather. “I don’t go north”, he told me.
Stopped at a roach coach selling Greek food and had the best gyro of my life. No wonder YELP ranked this place 4 stars. Georgio’s Authentic Greek Food. The man who cooked it looked like Tevye from Fiddler On The Roof.
Eastern Towhee
Here in the park is a little camp store that is run by a local woman. She is only here from 4pm to sundown. She drives a golf cart pulling a little trailer and will deliver ice or firewood -or whatever- to your campsite. You just call her. 
At her little camp store, (A shack about 6X8), she sells bug spray, sunscreen, toys, candy, ice cream bars, etc. During her closed hours, you can still get a bag of ice or a bucket of firewood— on the honor system. She leaves a couple bags of ice in an unlocked freezer and she has a little wooden treasure chest set up as a cash box with a slitted lid. I bought yet another bag of ice—and then filled my containers with water and placed them in her freezer for the night. I explained my need for block ice and asked permission—I offered to pay her, but she would not take money.
He was minding the shop
She warned me that I will be risking them being taken tonight. I left notes on them, but I’ll find out in the am. I asked if she often gets taken advantage of, and she said no. She had, in fact, come in today to find the treasure chest empty and ice gone. But very soon the people who took the ice caught up with her and paid—they hadn’t any cash last night. More renewal of my faith in people.
Brown Thrasher. Not to be confused with the Double-Breasted Bed Thrasher
I rigged up some mosquito netting over my car tonight. Over that I have a tarp, because the rain is coming. I wish it was light enough to get a photo of this set up. Looks like something the Clampetts would approve. If I have to get up in the night to pop a squat (I leave no trace), I can climb in and out of the car without letting in the bugs and the rain. The bugs are unpleasant, to say the least. I have filled a tray with birdseed and will wait to see what it brings. The armadillo is still #1, but he could get bumped by the jaguarundi. I still hope, but I think the raccoons will find it tonight.
It is muggy and warm in the car, but I have electricity and I just turn on my little fan. My shoulder is bothering me, but otherwise I sleep fairly well. I don’t want to sleep too deeply, because I like to wake up when the critters come so I can spotlight them and see what’s what.
Since I am getting caught up on the blog, I am taking the rest of the night off and I am going to do something I have been saving as a treat: I am going to read for pleasure. I have Patrick McManus’ Never Sniff a Gift Fish. Light reading, and perfect when you’re laying in the back of a CRV waiting for vermin.
Tomorrow I head to Tallahassee, where I have a cheap motel room. Not a bad motel, just inexpensive. Time to do some laundry and catch up on the blog before going back into the bush where there is no WiFi. With the stop in Destin to get my ice chest, tomorrow will mostly be spent in the car.