Last minute pivots

I like last-minute pivots. The freshness of improvisation when long-laid plans must be reworked. A storm front from the north was forecast to wreck my dream December camping trip to St. George, a gorgeous barrier island located along the Florida panhandle. Restless to be outside, I hitched up Tiny Tim and left Tampa days before I’d planned for Ochlockonee State Park.

Postcard perfect

The weather on our first camping day was 75 degrees, low humidity, sunny, in short, postcard-perfect. And our campsite, the only one available, was beautiful. Spacious and private, with dramatic live oak limbs weaving a canopy overhead, I felt immediately comfortable. With plenty of daylight left after setting camp, we had time to explore the trails. The park’s stand-out feature is a lovely river with sweeping views of old-growth pine along the riverside walking trails. I was especially looking for the unique white deer and squirrels I’d read about on the park website.

Hoping to dodge the festive frenzy of activities building up to Santa’s arrival, I planned my camping escapade to the Panhandle for Christmas week. For extra insurance, I’d purchased a new bright green Grinch shirt that I’d hoped would act as a shield, protecting me from any and all Santa-related shenanigans. My efforts were doomed.

OMG, Christmas carols

I’m happily sipping coffee inside my screened room, my propane fire pit keeping Cleo and me nice and warm, when I hear noise from the bushes. I assume it must be a small creature until I stand up to investigate and come face to face with park staff, stringing electric cords through the bushes. When asked, they cheerfully shared that the Park Ranger likes to hold a fireside caroling event for campers every Christmas season. Wouldn’t I like to join in tonight when they gather to sing Christmas carols? Of course, I’m rolling my eyes. There simply was no escape from Christmas. Sure, I could sit alone at my campsite that evening in my Grinchy shirt, listening to the singing taking place only a few feet away. Or, I could be a good sport, throw in the towel figuratively, and join in.

I found myself tragically, awkwardly trying to harmonize Christmas carols with fellow campers and park personnel that evening. Most of the chosen “carols” were the religious hymns of my youth. Several of us campers, uncomfortable with the overt religious lyrics, asked for seasonal selections like Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. We even tried singing the theme song from The Grinch that Stole Christmas movie. It was ACKWARD. Most left soon after the event began when it became apparent the experience wouldn’t improve. Oh, the peculiar twists of fate!

Ochlockonee River State Park

While I found the trails a bit limited for biking, Ochlockonee River State Park is a beautiful place to experience wildlife. I didn’t rent a canoe, but if I visit again, I will try out the 7.5-mile paddling loops, Dead River Sopchoppy Loop Paddling Trail, and Bear Creek Paddling Trail. Some wildlife paddlers report seeing include osprey, swallow-tailed kites, herons, turtles, alligators, and mullets. The park has full-service tent and RV campsites, picnic facilities, and a swimming area. The bathrooms could use some updating but were clean enough. The park is perfect for fishing, with a fish cleaning station at the boat ramp parking area. Licenses are required for freshwater and saltwater fishing.

The white squirrel

At my campsite the morning of the Winter Solstice, I was visited by one of the white squirrels the park is noted for. She caught my attention as I sipped coffee and chatted with a friend. Peeking at me from her perch on an oak branch stretching above my screened room, I felt her presence as if an angel had visited me. A skeptic might scoff that these squirrels are all around the park. But this squirrel, she visited me!

In the book “White Spirit Animals: Prophets of Change,” the author Zohara Hieronimus writes extensively about the symbolism of white animals. White animals are considered sacred or symbolic of good fortune, calling us into a relationship of balance and harmony with the earth. Seeing a white animal may also be seen as a sign of divine presence or protection.

The visit by the white squirrel added a mystical touch to my Winter Solstice experience; a celestial event, unlike commercialized Santa traditions, is associated with the actual movement of planets. The tranquil campsite and the magical sight of the white squirrel made me feel deeply connected to nature and the universe.

Conclusion

The winter storm from the north did not impact the Panhandle as expected. However, I woke to a thunderstorm on the morning I was scheduled to leave. Lying in my bed, watching the wind and rain through the bubble window above my bed, I momentarily lost courage and called a nearby hotel to reserve a room. However, the storm subsided a few hours later, and I forged ahead to St. George, only an hour’s drive away, to set up camp between rain showers. Tiny Tim folds up quickly, and soon, we are enjoying the breathtaking views from the (very tall) 4-mile bridge to the barrier island.

The first day of our visit to St. George was truly memorable. Cleo and I enjoyed a beautiful sunset as we walked the trail that intersected with the inlet waterway. On our return to the campsite, I built a fire while listening to the waves crashing against the beach shoreline only a mile from our campsite. Deeply satisfied, we sat by our fire under the big, bright, full moon. This blog post describes that fantastic, magical night in more detail. Thank you for reading my blog; I hope you enjoyed it!