[A/S] Zolfo Springs, FL - Feb 19, 2001

[hhamp5246@xxxxxxx]

Hi Gang,

It's been 1 week since Brady had his back surgery.  I brought him home 
Wednesday and he has never shown any sign of discomfort, but then I wouldn't 
either on the amount of prednisone he's still getting. The worst thing is he 
has to pee about every 2 hours..... all day and night!

I stayed at the Christmas Airstream Park until this morning.  I like it 
there, have some friends who made sure I was included in all their get 
togethers..... the rest of the time I was staying close to the trailer with 
Brady so he could relax.  I was fortunate to have a friend who has a phone 
hook up in his trailer so I had computer access when I wanted, for as long as 
I wanted.

One thing I loved about the Christmas Park last year was all the armadillos. 
They were all over the place at night, going about their little armadillo 
business rooting in the sanding ground looking for whatever.

This year, in the 10 days I was there I only saw two..... I asked about it, 
and was told that one of the work campers was clubbing them to death. 
Naturally I found this very disturbing.... and let the information be known 
to hopefully people who will do something about it.

I did meet a really nice couple from Canada, they bought their 26 year old 
Airstream last year at Can-Am in London. (Ontario, not England).  The trailer 
is gorgeous and the people lovely.  After a while I mentioned something about 
the internet and he said something about the Airstream List....telling me 
there is one.  "It's run by a woman who calls herself Hunter."  I fought the 
urge to say, "Oh yeah, I know her...whatta bitch." Instead I said something 
like, "I call myself that because it's my name."

His eyeballs almost popped out...seems he thought I was a little old lady /-: 
We laughed about that for the rest of the week.

Friday I was hanging out and watched a new Bambi come in, pulled by a Ford 
Expedition with a woman driving.  I sidled over to get a closer look... 
feeling some immediate kinship.  Kind of like a horse who hasn't seen another 
horse in months...."My own kind....."  She immediately was taken by the dogs, 
which I liked.  We got to talking and after about 20 minutes I said "What's 
your name?" She replied "Linda". I said, "Mine's Hunter."  She exclaimed.. "I 
know you! I emailed you before." Then she explained that she's the "Dog Lady" 
that was staying at Pearl's in California and who met Cindy and Carl Johnson. 
She's a dog groomer and also travels with a dog and a cat.  People kept 
telling her she had to meet me, and me her.....

Anyway, we hit it off and she is here in Zolfo Springs after leading us here 
this morning.  The drive over was horrible.... had to take a back road 
because I-4 was closed due to fires.  I can smell the acrid smoke as I type. 
The traffic was horrendous as everyone took the same road.  Took over 4 hours 
to go 120 miles.

We are here in the Escapees Park supposidly to meet George Tripp and go into 
the rally together.  No sign of George yet. I got the last spot with electric 
hookups, whining about my fridge which doesn't always stay on without 
electric.  Actually, Monday night is Ally night, so I really wanted the 
electric hookup (c:

While we were on the way we passed an ATV with a guy holding a sign which 
said, "Wagon Train Ahead"  I had visions of Flint McCullough and Ward Bond 
bringing a line of mule drawn conestoga wagons across the prairie.  We came 
up around the corner and I saw a line of mule drawn conestoga wagons stopped 
for a rest alongside of an orange grove. Huh?  The "cowboys" had scruffy 
looking horses and the "homesteaders" were relaxing next to the mules and 
covered wagons.  All of them were male, and all were African-Americans.  
Seemd to be young men and older counselors or something.  The wagons had the 
words Vision Quest on the canvas tops.

I'll have to do a web search and see what that was about.

So, we're on to Sarasota tomorrow for the rally.... I didn't prepay, but am 
hoping they will let us in early anyway. The weather has been glorious, just 
blue skies, sunshine and soft breezes. At the rally there will be limited 
electric, but I don't think I'll miss the air conditioner.

Hunter