Ocala Gathering

i'm sort of kicking around the idea of heading out there this year.

if i can get some funds together, and pay ahead a few months on my mortgage i'm looking at hitting up chicago, and nyc to visit some friends, and then heading down there. while nothing is set in stone, i'm thinking this is probably going to happen for me.

 

I got this from the Florida Rainbow site. Ocala is no way as big as this picture,which is from an Ireland Gathering,but I thought Id tease you all to come down to Florida and get out of the cold winter and be with FAMILY.

 

Dude?, get out of the cold?, the ocala gathering is cold as fuck, everyone needs to understand that this is northern, central Florida, it is very cold during the winter, bring warm winter clothing & lots of blankets, it is winter camping, come prepaired.

 

Uh no it's not... it's not that cold... even "Northern, central Florida" is WAY warmer than just about any other place in the country in February. We also have days in Feb where it is disgustingly, miserably hot- 80s, 90s... hell, TODAY is the first truly nice cool day we have had here in Tampa Bay in a couple weeks, and prob the coldest day of the year so far- and it's still 60 or so. Last time I camped out in Ocala in February, I didn't even have a tent, and I survived So it would definitely be a break for those up in the ice and snow.

 

I guess your idea of winter camping and mine are different. I live in Upstate N.Y. and a trip to Florida in February is not my idea of winter camping. Yes,the nights get cold,but not nearly as cold,as it's up here. All I know is that when I'm down there I can wear shorts,t-shirt and get some wonderful rays of the Sun.
To me the cool or your words cold nights do need to be prepared for. I do agree with that,but as I said it's a lot warmer & sunnier in Florida then most parts of the country this time of year,and it's not really the weather,but to be with Family, which really warms you and shines on you.
Oh,by the way it's 20 at Noon,with snow on the ground,how does that compare?

 

Last year I flew out to Ocala. When I was parking my car at the airport I was wearing a winter coat, wool hat and gloves. I thought to myself, 'hell, I'm going to Florida. It's warm in Florida and I don't need any of this snow country gear' and I took off my coat, hat, and gloves and left for Florida with only a jacket. Let me tell you, it got friggin' cold there for a couple of days and I found myself huddled next to the fire at night and feeling all kinds of unprepared. It was only like maybe 40 degrees at night, but each evening this fog rolled in and the damp cold went right through my meager layers of clothing. I think 40 degrees at 90% humidity feels colder than 20 degrees at 20% humidity.
In the two weeks I was there the weather changed from wet and rainy to cold and damp to warm and sunny. There was four or five days of warm sunny days and mild evenings when I slept with my bag unzipped.

 

Yes, I agree it can get damp & cold at night down there and be prepared for it,but all I'm saying is it's much nicer than most of the country at that time of year and again the Family makes it so much nicer.
So everyone come to Florida and hopefully it makes your winter a little nicer in many ways.

 

last night was in the 30's where im at and im like 30 min from the woods, jan and feb are our coldest months.


http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findweather/getForecast?query=Ocala%2CFl Weather link

 

I agree it's a lot better than winter here in the north, but yeah it still gets cold there. Night rain is really the thing you have to prepare against. I didn't have a tent last year and was generally warm by the fire until that night it poured, then I froze my butt off. ;]

 

Ocala Weather Report:
Mostly Sunny for 4 of 5 days. Here in Upstate N.Y. we are lucky if we see the Sun.

Sunday
70° F | 52° F
Monday
74° F | 52° F
Tuesday
76° F | 54° F
Wednesday
75° F | 51° F
Thursday
72° F | 45° F

I sure could take this weather right now. Yes, I agree wholeheartedly that you must Be Prepared for all types of weather and yes,it can & does get cold there at nights and can be miserable if you are not prepared and thank goodness for the campfires and also for all of the caring people that will help you if you are not prepared. So when you come,bring those warm clothes,rain gear,tents and a little extra for your brothers & sisters who might not be prepared. Oh,and don't forget to bring your hugs,as they are quite warming.
As for I,my visit to Ocala will be a warming experience,not only in the physical sense but in the Spiritual sense to be with a Loving & Caring Family.
Enough about the weather for me. I'll see you in Ocala.

 

thank you for the information sunshine al. i have not been to a gathering in many years. 1988 or 1989 was the last ocala gathering i attended.

i will definately attend and schedule time off work once the logistics for the gathering are finalized.

anyone from southeast louisiana planning to attend? i do not own a car and would be more than will to share expenses and driving time. if not, i may rent a car, greyhound, or fly and get camping equipment at the campground.

 

Yay I hope you go. I'd love to meet you

 

It looks like the coldest temp for that gathering was 20 degrees in Feb of 1996.
http://weather.msn.com/local.aspx?&wealocations=wc:USFL0355&setunit=F

 

Well then c'mon down SunLion,between you and I,Sunshine Al, we should be able to keep everything nice & Sunny.

 

see you all there !!

 

I dont think its gona be at hidden pond, went for a walk and its all chared coal black,Dry,and Dusty from a controled burn in earlier this year, more likely at farles or just north of salt springs..Hopefully Farles


Weather button for salt springs area on my homepage @


http://www.freewebtown.com/nutznfl/index.html

 

thank goodness for the campfires and also for all of the caring people that will help you if you are not prepared.

Yeah, I'm sure there's lots of generosity. But there are a lot of longtime family who believe that preparation and self-reliance is best taught by discomfort. This was a subject I heard a LOT about at the one national I attended, and more than a few people were trying to sleep out in the rain with no blanket. If you show up unprepared and expecting others to look out for you, you may find that these people have so much love for you that they will help you to make sure you never do something like that again!

On the other hand, I'll admit, I did once go camping with NO preparation, I just showed up. Not so much as a sleeping bag. I got very lucky, hehehe and stayed warm and dry. Well, warm at least ;-)

 

taken to its extream , one would let babys and domestic animals starve get sick n die cause they are unprepared to 'take care of themselves '....most tough love senearios are just indifferance , selfishness and cruelty . we are not an ocean of independant and individualy able beings .......we lived in small societys forever. we are interdependant , and rely on mutual aid and assistance constantly .....if one can help someone , cause of an excess of tallent or aquired material , then its a joyfull priveledge to be helping those who do not .

 

Wuz FuzzyWuzzying on yoh zilly site, an saw how uncomfortable yoh wuz bout your betterz, teh Vegan plant eaterz, get realler an stop killing and groove up.


http://www.freewebtown.com/nutznfl/index.html[/QUOTE]

 

what ????