Out There

OCALA NATIONAL FOREST (Fruitland, FL) - - We rode a huge, modern ferry boat while traveling on the Inside Passage in Alaska. We down-sized just a bit on this weekend's trip by taking the Fort Gates Ferry across the St. John River.
You roll up to the fish camp / ferry crossing and wait for the captain. If the boat is on the other side, you flash your headlights. It costs $10 per car to cross. The ferry can hold 2 vehicles...if they are the right size. The trip took less than 10 minutes.
This river crossing by ferry has been used for over 100 years. The only bridges in the area are a good distance to the north or south.
You roll off on the other side (above) and head out through the forest on a relatively hard-packed sandy/clay road (below) which is really only one lane. The soft sand on either side of the center of the road is a very visible warning that you don't want to move too much to the left or right...and you definitely don't want to meet another car coming the other way.
We met a forest ranger and a couple of other individuals as we got off the ferry. I asked, "How's the road?" He said, "You do realize you're out in the middle of nowhere, don't you?" We did. Eight miles later - - and no other cars - - we hit the main road and continued on to Salt Springs.