Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good hike

Sitting here in not-so-sunny Florida after a great three-days-two-nights of camping in Myakka State Park. This was a return trip for us. See, we've been coming down every winter break for about 12 years, visiting my "snowbird" grandparents. And, last year my dad, sister and I did a three-day backpacking trip at Myakka. This time, my mom joined us as well. We finally convinced my dad to plan appropriately--it seems that every time he over-plans the mileage. Here we had about 7 miles a day and stayed at two different but equally lovely primitive campsites.

Despite the mist, clouds, and intermittent drizzle, we managed to stay pretty dry throughout our time in the field. Some highlights: finding a lemon tree and a few orange trees in the middle of the wilderness, chasing down an armadillo, listening to mom and dad tell "wild" stories from their respective youths (mom didn't really have anything too wild, dad had too many to share them all), falling asleep to the sound of rain on the tent.

Now we're all back, all showered up, and getting back to the usual havoc that is our vacation.