Monday, January 6, 2014

Noah visit part V

Wednesday: RIVER ADVENTURES PART II--ChristmasWe tried to get an early start with moderate success--after packing a lunch, we jumped on our bikes and headed to the far north corner of town, and a little beyond.  after hiding our bikes by the railroad tracks, we stuck our thumbs out in an attempt to catch a ride up to O'leno State Park, where we'd been on Sunday.  This time we intended to rent canoes.  It took a while (and an outfit change, patch pants ---> skirt) but eventually someone stopped for us--heavily tattooed and blaring metal music..."yeah, VA is a hard state for doing illegal things"  and so sweet and kind, took us all the way up to the state park.  we filled out the canoe paper work and got paddles, then hiked the remaining mile into the park and to the river.  another gorgeous day, patch clouds and 70 degrees....delightful river with lots of turtles.  

we paddled for a couple hours, then stopped for our lunch picnic and headed back.  hiked back out through the woods and stopped to pay--the park ranger just crumpled up the paper and said "aw, don't worry about it!  take care!"  back out and first car stopped--a guy and his kid who had passed us in their motor boat on the river.  they got us a little ways, then another guy stopped and brought us to alachua.  nice, and still about 10 miles out of gville.   we hiked through town, no one stopping, starting to get tired and cranky, sun is setting...finally a dude turned around who'd passed us before---very sweet guy just getting of the night shift after christmas with his kids.  he rode us back to our bikes, and we biked back home w/ a brief stop at the catholic worker raised beds to harvest some greens for the CHRISTMAS FEAST at our house!  people came over and we feasted heavily, then played poop smoothie. Thanks for an awesome visit Noah!

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