SNAIL'S PACE SUITS US

I am blogging this from John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park, Key Largo, Florida. Yep, that Bogie & Bacall place. Back when sexy was a gentle pouf of the lips.
I am straying from the point. Snail's pace. It is very well known that we are a bit sluggish when traveling. Roadside attractions, scenic views, historic markers, Starbucks, Target...any and all of the aforementioned & we detour, possibly detouring from the detour. I love "no particular place to go".. On this trip, however, we had particular places to go & specific times to arrive. We had to make a vast number of miles per day. Our first night took us slightly north of Atlanta, GA. This lovely, lovely campground beckons us again & again.We camped deep in the woods overlooking Altoona Lake. We arrived after dark. Setting up camp in a dark, chilly woods is an adventure all unto itself. We ate grilled cheese sandwiches & collasped into our bed. The next morning a very perky Momo wanted to chase squirrels and race through the woods. Thrilling woodland trails led to a misty lake vista. The views were breathtaking in the early morning light. Alas,we had to scurry back, the Tincan was ready to roll south.
We drove the entire day( okay, we did stop for coffee! And that great Georgia Farmer's Market with fresh pears & freshly made peanut butter) And then, the picnic to eat our delectable goodies. Anyway, we did drive the entire day, arriving in the Ocala National Forest around 5:00p. Friends, this Federal Campground is a very secluded spot. Finding Salt Springs, Florida was a formidable task, indeed. GPS does not recognize this section of the world~~The journey was worth every mile. Arriving at the campground was a huge relief. The wonder of Salt Springs was just beginning to unfold. A huge mineral spring feeds a small lake. Diving into those cool springs and swimming in clear, pristine waters with huge fish jumping about was an ephemeral moment to be stored in my memory forever.
We hiked, sat in the warm sun, and took another late afternoon swim in the spring, just as the last light was fading. We returned to camp, ate dinner by a roaring fire & slept like babies.
Today we drove down I95 & Federal Highway to Key Largo. We ate fried fish & key lime pie to celebrate arriving on time to our final destination., John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park. We are immediately going into THE SNAIL'S PACE. Perhaps we will pick up our pace in about seven days. Or, maybe not.