Rainbow People in the Ocala Forest

[BumpJumper]

Has anyone else run into the "'Rainbow People" in the Ocala forest within the last week or so?

[moytoy]

I wasn't hiking but I saw what was probably some of them in Lynne buying some supplies. Lynne is on 40 just west of ONC.

[BumpJumper]

Mo, I know just where you are talking about. Here is the problem. Like any walk of life, we have the good ones and the bad ones.
I have been in a bunch of stores in the forest that have signs on the front doors that say, "only two Rainbow People in at one time" Then a sign on the bathroom that says..."out of order"
I have inquired as to the reason for this...
"Because they come in and rob me blind and take "showers" in the bathroom sinks.
Now..to me, this is a sign that those folks are not welcomed in the forest community.
Furthermore, I am an ex-LEO..I know for a fact that the crime rates go up when their so called "gathering" is in the forest.. just like when the carnival comes to town.
The state is trying to get them out of the Ocala forest. Here is just one article about them.
http://www.ocala.com/article/2008021...orest-campsite

Several years ago, my daughter and her friend were forced from a local swimming hole in the forest because these folks were carrying large knives and making threatening, suggestive actions with the knives.
Heck, just the other day, I gave directions to some of these folks while I was at the trail head when the guy turned and pissed right on the pavement of the parking lot with God and everyone looking...Including me. Yes, I walked away and didnt stare...

[JimSproul]

.....There is a regional RG held every year in Feb in the National Forest of Ocala, FL. The busiest time tends to be right around V-day.. http://welcomehere.org/forum.php

[Tipi Walter]

I spent 10 days at the 1987 Nat Rainbow Gathering near Robbinsville NC and the State was trying to shut it down then, too. The Head Honchos hate the idea of large groups of people gathering freely in the woods. Some grocery stores in R'ville had problems with theft and such, and the locals were offended but didn't quite know why. State Troopers set up road blocks and were in rigid form spouting off their usual warnings: "BE WELL ADVISED . . . ENTER AT YOUR OWN RISK . . etc.

I went in with THREE backpacks on, my normal external North Face pack, a filled Sundog pack on top of it and a full ALICE pack strapped atop that. I figured to be at the gathering for weeks and needed all the stuff, plus I was supporting a whole contingent of people coming in from Boone, NC. We set up our Boone Camp and it was past the California Camp and Kiddie Village with the tipis and near CALM/MASH where people got free condoms and first aid. One guy came in with numerous black ant bites on his testicles.

Everyone should attend a rainbow gathering at least once, either a regional or a national. The regionals are much more easier to deal with as the nationals are huge and can assault tender egos. It's always good to go with a group of friends, otherwise you'll be stuck in a sea of Rants and Listen-To-Me Ego Freaks and get worn out quick with a fried nervous system. But it's the original Human Be-In and no gestapo types should try and shut it down. Remember the old time Mountain Man rondevous? Keep 'em going with the hippies and the Hare Krishnas(they showed up at the gathering with a baby elephant who played the harmonic, and they made the best meals--vegetarian of course).

[DrRichardCranium]

I went to that one too! I remember how it rained nearly every day, and then the sun would come out and steam would rise from the ground. And at night you could see foxfire (luminescent fungus) growing on the rotten logs.

[Gray Blazer]

Unfortunately, a lot of older criminal types have attached themselves to the Rainbow movement. In all due respect to Tipi, as always there's a lot of good people with enough bad elements to give the whole group a bad name.

[Spokes]

Deadhead wannabe's

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vsLP9syh0EU

[max patch]

Everyone should attend a rainbow gathering at least once, either a regional or a national.

Yikes! No thanks.

[txag]

They met 90 miles west of ABQ this summer. This article pretty well sums up the issues with their visit.

http://bulletin.aarp.org/states/nm/2...nbows_end.html

[GMcClain20]

I drove through the ONF down 314 to the Cross Florida Greenway and did 32 miles last weekend. I didn't see any rainbow people coming from that direction.

I remember as a teenager working at Publix in Palatka. I was gathering carts in the parking lot and the rainbow people had been in and out all day. As I was getting some carts I noticed two guys and a girl sitting under a tree on one of the islands in the parking lot. They had a dog which they were feeding alpo or some similar brand of dog food. No big deal right? Well, it seems they had a taste for Alpo themselves as they were passing the can around and eating spoonfulls themselves. I dunno, maybe this was an isolated case, but that experience has colored my opinion of the rainbow people. A good friend of mine was hassled by them down around Alexander Springs on the FT a few years ago. Apparently they had taken possession of the trail and were charging a toll to pass their camp. Madness.

[DrRichardCranium]

GMcClain, that sort of behavior doesn't sound like Rainbow People at all. They don't even use money at the Gatherings. That sounds like some scum that were lingering around the Rainbow People for the free food & then hanging around the area to bum/steal money.

[Tipi Walter]

GMcClain, that sort of behavior doesn't sound like Rainbow People at all. They don't even use money at the Gatherings. That sounds like some scum that were lingering around the Rainbow People for the free food & then hanging around the area to bum/steal money.

Yeah, I agree. A lot of people have a knee-jerk reaction against the Rainbows, and the article Txag highlighted is a case in point. There was nothing in it about the actual gathering or what people did other than these negatories:
** Forest Service said 3% of the group of 10,500 received violation notices and 19 were placed under arrest.

** There were 20 medical transports for burns, overdoses, stab wounds, back pain, etc.

** Forest Service also reported several confirmed cases of Canine Parvovirus.

** 76 attendees ordered to appear in US Magistrate Court on tickets issued by FS.

** Harrassment seen as having a "chilling effect on First and Fourth Amendment rights" of those gathered.

** Authorities exhibiting hostile behavior toward attendees(examples listed in article).

[Slosteppin]

Last year I hiked from Clearwater Lake to Rodman campground the first week of February. I don't remember the area but I saw a lot of Rainbow people in about a 5 mile area. Most were at a distance and waved.
One guy I met, dressed in camo fatigues, was walking along the FT swinging a machette. I said hi, how ya doin? He said hi and we both kept walking. I assumed he was after firewood. I was glad I wasn't planning to camp in that area.

I saw the warning signs suggesting hikers might want to take a different trail. My car was at Rodman. I'm just a little grey beard hiker. Probably by the time I was in their area I smalled nearly as much as they did.

I will be doing the same hike this year at about the same time.

Slosteppin.

[Jester2000]

** Harrassment seen as having a "chilling effect on First and Fourth Amendment rights" of those gathered.

** Authorities exhibiting hostile behavior toward attendees(examples listed in article).

Um, those parts of the article are quoting a "Rainbow Press Crew" press release.

Remember the old time Mountain Man rondevous?

Well, I seriously doubt anyone here remembers a Rendezvous. But if they did, they'd probably remember that the Rendezvous were set up, organized, and run by businesses -- specifically fur trading companies -- and trappers had a practical reason for going to Rendezvous.

I'm thinking neither is true of the Rainbow Gatherings.

[GMcClain20]

GMcClain, that sort of behavior doesn't sound like Rainbow People at all. They don't even use money at the Gatherings. That sounds like some scum that were lingering around the Rainbow People for the free food & then hanging around the area to bum/steal money.

You are probably right. That's what, as others have said, gives the rainbow ppl a bad image. They already live on what most would call the fringe of society and to throw in less than respectful behavior on the part of some who simply mix into the larger element doesn't help their plight. They may be good ppl but I can't help but feel uneasy to cross their path in the forest and would rather not. I would feel the same about anyone who looked less than friendly; hippies, hunters, and hooligans alike. Their might be an overwhelming positive element in all categories but there is always a group that gives them a bad name. I bet there are even scummy hikers! ya think? :P

[Lone Wolf]

them nutjobs have been in the forest since christ was a cpl

[jrwiesz]

Do they believe in an almighty creator and savior?

Those people are the nutjobs I fear most, plenty of them everywhere.

[JJJ]

Family and I were at the '87 RG. We got a bad water born illness, but survived.
They are interesting folks, not law abiding in every regard.
It's difficult to paint them with single stroke, as the group is defined fairly loosely.

[take-a-knee]

GMcClain, that sort of behavior doesn't sound like Rainbow People at all. They don't even use money at the Gatherings. That sounds like some scum that were lingering around the Rainbow People for the free food & then hanging around the area to bum/steal money.

They must have been thru hikers then.