From Dothan Alabama, a quick 10 mile jog got us to Florida, whoop! Slept in an abandoned baseball field in freezing weather, so much for a tropical vacation in the South. Next day, partook of alligator jerky, jogged to an abandoned lot in Alford FL, made camp. Wandered over to a gas station nearby, played music for the clerk there, R, who along with his wife V, became another favorite. Next morning, complimentary breakfast burritos brought to our campsite by R plus an invite to stay with him and V. We spent the day writing songs on our hosts front lawn, 'til V came home and fed us an excellent soup, and R showed up later and shared his music/recording talents with us.
Meadow gave us a scare, running a belly-ache and a small fever until we realized she might have sand colic. Having never lived in a sandy place, this ailment was not on Hannah's "radar". A lack of the recommended wheat bran was remedied with a little instant oatmeal, which helped. But watching the world's most voracious eater just pick at the grass indicated to us that we should set up a vet appointment.
It was a wheat bran quest led us to O&S's front door. They fed and sheltered us, they gave us a tour of their many creatively-themed Christmas trees (one in every room in the house), and we snuggled with their pack of six Great Danes. Harvey played their piano, and we shared another living room concert with them and their wheat bran-bearing neighbors. Mission accomplished.
Onward to the vet, Meadow got her teeth filed (horse folks say "floated") and instantly felt better. She came out of sedation and enthusiastically trotted the nine miles to B&MJ's house. We had met B at O&S's house when he came to trim their horses' feet. We visited a sinkhole on the way, a 100 foot deep, 25 foot wide hole in the ground with a little waterfall cascading into it. Take the chance to see that if you ever get it.
B&MJ were so easygoing, their farm so nice, their guest house so cozy that we made plans to visit them again after the holidays. S&H showed up the next morning to trailer us the last 37 miles (Harvey opted to get some serious exercise and biked it) to their house in Panama City. They just couldn't wait to have us there; we were equally happy to set down and stop moving for a week.
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| Hannah's vest scared this donkey half white |
Time sped by as all good ones do. Hannah flew to NH to visit family. See the post about that vacation... and we call it a vacation because, at this point, we feel our life is being on the road. Harvey kept busy in FL, jamming a few times with a singer/guitar player (another 'Harvey'), biking around Panama City (flat tire at 11pm 15 miles away, woops and thanks, H for coming to get him), taking Meadow out for walks, romping around with Olive and sharing excellent meals with S&H, their family and friends as well. Our entire time at S&H's is just not top-able. Thank you all.
A few days before New Years S&H trailered the whole gang (minus Hannah, of course) back to B&MJ's so that Harvey could help out around the farm, Meadow could have a better place to hang out and Olive could have space to run around with true freedom for the first time since before the trip began.
One day Harvey went with B to harvest bamboo (Black Tie Tiki bars are all the rage, folks); another day, weed wacking; another, cleaning gutters, planting shrubs, cleaning stalls, etc. He found that Meadow would jog behind the bike on a 5 foot lead line, which made exercising her much easier. The guest house was super nice, with computer/internet access to boot! And we would be hard pressed to find better folks than B&MJ. B had spent a year on the open road (horseback) before marrying MJ, who was a top-talent dressage trainer from an early age. It couldn't have been a better place for Harvey & crew to spend the remaining week during Hannah's stint away. Thanks a zillion, B&MJ.
- FCF
Olive very nearly howls on command nowadays
Meadow nickers on command... the command: bring her food/treats. Also, her feet are showing remarkable concavity as they kick laminitis' butt, shedding hoof lines, shedding false sole, frog layers, etc. and in general becoming an awesome foot
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