Day *90* - 28 Mar - Marianna, FL to Lake City, FL

Photo: Tree dripping in Spanish Moss or 'Greybeard'.

We actually got up early, packed up and did 'miles' today! We even took the LuvMasheen in for an oil change in Tallahassee and God Bless the big Dodge dealer there--they were having a bbq for 'something' so we had a free lunch to boot! I figure with all the hot dogs/hamburgs/donuts we ate, and the free WiFi service we used, the oil change was free!

The weather was warm (75 degrees) and sunny and we'd made up our minds that there were no stops for shopping, browsing, sightseeing, or anything else. In the end, we reached our intended destination (Lake City) by 3 pm so stopped and had time to relax and enjoy a nice supper instead of shoving food in a 7 pm because we're so hungry and too tired to enjoy it. Wayne even had a sleep beside the pool while I read. We'll try to duplicate the day tomorrow as we want to stop at Costco in Jacksonville and check out the price of TVs and DVD players. There's only been a few times that we have really missed the TV and it's generally when we are settled in bed and would like to be entertained for a few minutes before going to sleep. It's even better if there is a sleep timer on the TV! For the most part, the two geekie Corkum's fire up their laptops and google a dozen things they've thought of through the day or check the next day's route.

For example, as in the photo, all the trees are laden with Spanish Moss--huge trees, small trees, nearly all trees. I love the look but wondered if it killed the trees and is it still collected for the floral industry? Here's the answer:

They are sometimes referred to as air plants because most have aerial roots; however, Spanish-moss does not have any roots. It uses its long, thin, scaly stems to wrap around the host tree and hang down from the branches. The leaves are covered with cup-like, permeable scales that 'catch' moisture and nutrients from the air and from pockets on the surface of the host. This water-trapping ability allows Spanish-moss to withstand long dry periods. In extreme dry spells, the plant becomes dormant until moisture returns. While the plant is not parasitic, it can sometimes damage the host tree by over-shading the leaves, thus reducing photosynthesis, or by weighing down and breaking the branches.The plants have very tiny seeds that are dispersed by wind and birds. Birds may also carry off small fragments that easily reproduce new plants.Spanish-moss was harvested for years as a stuffing material in automobile seats, furniture, and mattresses. The moss-stuffed mattresses were said to be cooler and more comfortable due to the natural insulating properties of the plant. This was especially important in pre-air-conditioning days. Moss pickers were hired and used long poles to pull the stringy masses off the trees. The plants were then dried and cured before being used.Today, the stems are used occasionally in upholstery and as a packing material. Spanish-moss is a popular mulch and is widely used in the floral industry. Many floral arrangements use Spanish moss around the plant base to hold in moisture. It is also seen in certain types of Cajun architecture as insulation and it is sometimes draped along fences or wires to provide privacy screening in backyards.Several species of songbirds use the plant material for nest building or weave their nests in the moss clumps.

I'm not touching it however, as the above went on to say snakes hide in the moss as well as 'chiggers' or bugs that cause a rash if you touch them.

I had another 'first'....I saw a real, true Bluebird! Remember the ones in the Cinderella movie that held up the material while the mice ladies sewed the ballgown? Yep, those Bluebirds! We stopped at a tourist centre yesterday and I saw this flash of bright blue go by and then land on a tree stump. I did get a picture but without the mother telephoto lens, you can't really tell and of course it was gone by the time I went to the car to get the lens. I saw a few of them but they fly so quickly that a photo is almost impossible.

We have worked the schedule so that we can spend a day in Washington for the Cherry Blossom Festival and perhaps a 1/2 day trip to the Smithsonian. I'm betting that it will be very busy and we'll have to wait till we get closer to determine whether or not it will be warm enough to stay in the van or, if there are even any RV parks open. Generally, the parks don't open in the northern states until mid-May, for obvious reasons.

Well, I think I've done it for today. Until next time, our love to you all and we are looking forward to seeing everyone and getting caught up on YOUR news. Take care. xx