G.A.S.P.

I finally got a photo of an alligator today.  It was a pretty big one (about eight feet long) and tried to get back into the lake before I could get its picture.  I had to step on it and hold it down, while I got my camera out, but I managed to do it without losing a foot (or my sense of humor).

I started looking for a place to spend the night just south of Sarasota, but couldn’t find any campgrounds and only motels (there weren’t many) that had no rooms available.  I knew of a State Park in Osprey (Oscar Scherer), but also knew that it would be dark before I got there.  Having no other choice, however, I rode on and arrived about 7:15pm.  The gate was closed and there was a “Campground Full” sign, but I went around the gate and entered anyway.  Once inside, I encountered a couple who knew there was an area they called the “overflow,” and suggested that I could probably camp there and no one would even know.  I found the area and noted that there were already a few motor homes parked along the road.  I set up camp, walked to the real campground and took a shower, then returned to my tent to check my route for tomorrow.  About ten minutes later, I saw headlights pointing my way, then heard the Park Ranger calling out to me.  He said that tents were not allowed in the overflow area (big motor homes are okay, though).  I made my appeal about not having anywhere else to go and got some compassion in return.  He said he was supposed to make me leave (what a nice policy!), but that if I would move my tent to the other side of the (small) lake, then I would be out of sight and he would not get into trouble because “he never saw me.”  It was a real nuisance to move everything, but still far, far better than being back on the road at 9:00pm.  They brag here that Florida’s State Parks are rated #1 in the country, but they are way down on my list in terms of meeting the needs of a touring bicyclist.