The weather is warming up, with the humidity consistently in the 60-70% range, but fortunately we have a large pond right behind our site to cool us off! Oh, wait....that doesn't help...
Since we arrived at the park early in the afternoon, we decided to 'splore the area. Just down the road is the ruins of the Yulee Sugar Mill. Built by DL Yule and placed in operation in 1849, this mill processed the sugar cane that was a huge crop in this coastal area. The mill supplied the Confederacy with sugar, syrup and molasses all through the Civil War, and survived intact, but ceased operation during reconstruction when sugar cane ceased to be a profitable crop.
The mill was powered by steam, and through a system of belts and heavy rollers, crushed the cane stalks to extract the juice.
The juice was sent to a system of kettles where it was boiled to remove moisture. Eventually arriving at the last, smallest, and hottest kettle, the thick syrup reached "strike", or sugar, stage, where it was hand ladled into wooden trays to cool. Crystals formed during cooling, and the raw sugar was packed into barrels. A very labor intensive process.
The Manatees have left their wintering grounds for this season, but we were able to visit the Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park just a mile or so from our temporary home.
The springs are part of a system of thousands of springs that pour fresh water into rivers across the state. This particular spring flows two million gallons a day of constant 72 degree water and is the headwaters of the Homosassa River. Manatees require a warm water environment, so when the ocean waters along the east coast of the US get colder in the winter, the "gentle giants" drift into protected and warm areas....sorta like snowbirds!
The State Park is home to hundreds of animals native to Florida. Most have been rescued from unfavorable environments or have been injured beyond the point of returning to the wild. There are 'gators, cranes, turtles and, of course....Flamingos!
Beauty, a Golden Eagle, was shot by a poacher in 1990 and lost her right wing. She has been an ambassador of the animal kingdom for years, interacting with visitors on a daily basis. In 2011, cataracts clouded her vision so she has retired from active duty, and lives out her life in relative safety .
Beauty lives next to a pair of Bald Eagles that were similarly rescued from injury.
A well maintained and accessible path leads through the exhibits, and it's a cool and comfortable place on a warm day. As we strolled through a little used area we saw and heard a mother and baby bird at mealtime. Hidden high in a tree, we couldn't quite see what type of birds they were, but suspect that they are pelicans.
A Roseate Spoonbill spread its wings to cool off!
and Copperheads.
Since the Manatees are gone, the Homosassa River is opened to pleasure use just below the springs. As you can see, a Saturday afternoon outing on the river with hundreds of your closest friends is just the thing to do! It's great if you can bring your furry friends too.
We finally got to see our first Manatee! These gentle giants can reach upwards of 2,000 pounds in weight, and drift slowly through the water like, well, aquatic elephants. A close cousin of the land-bound elephant, they share many characteristics. Skin type and texture, the use of their large upper lip as an eating aid, the location where babies nurse, and the location of their ears are all common to both species. Lorelei and Ariel stay in the park year round due to injuries suffered in boating incidents, and enjoy putting on a show for the tourists!
The volunteer staff bring in Romaine lettuce to give the Manatees a snack in the afternoon. The creatures are strictly vegetarian, eating grasses that grow along the shore.
The Springs are also home for a huge number of native fish.
But before we left the park, we couldn't resist another look at the Flamingos!
Sunday, we drove north to Crystal Springs, another Manatee wintering area, where we had heard that a few Manatees had not left. No luck, but we got a great look at the Crystal River and marveled at the springs that provided the water!
A narrow trail led us to a kayak launch, and on the way we couldn't believe the size and amount of vegetation.
The Crystal River is another great boating area when not being used by Manatees!
The highlight of the day was having lunch at Sellers Seafood in the foodcourt at the local K Mart Mall. Yep! And a great lunch it was! A combination of Nawlines Cajun and Seafood.
But, hey, with Jazz playing in the background, and Nascar on the telly, what could be better on a Sunday afternoon?
Monday, our second full day in the town of Homosassa Springs, was spent cruising interior of the state. Our first stop was the largest flea market in the state, some 50 miles away in Webster, FL. Now this market covers acres and acres, and since we had Sasha with us on a hot day we didn't walk it all. Suffice it to say that one can buy almost anything wanted or needed, including cast iron tarps....
There's always a batch of puppies to catch Gramma's eye!
Our next stop was in Mt Dora, Florida. This little town about an hour north of Orlando was home to our daughter for a short time back in the day, so we decided to see how it might have changed over the years. Mt Dora has a collection of fine boutique shops and a thriving boating interest on Lake Dora. We're told that there really is a Mount Dora, the highest point in the state at 600+ feet in elevation. Don't know if that's true, but it makes a good story.
We had to find a place for lunch of course, so we stopped at the Street Corner. This is a re-purposed gas station, and serves a variety of hot and cold sandwiches. Delicious! It was really nice that the patio is good for dogs. There are even water bowls provided for Fido!
Several of the homes in the neighborhoods have been remodeled and are well kept.
Leaving Mt Dora, we did a quick sidebar to The Villages. This is a collection of communities created to provide a warm, comfortable, and active lifestyle for a senior population. Golf courses, restaurants, and hearing aid stores along with a huge hospital are local landmarks!
A great day with a lot of windshield time and another 180 miles on the car. Can't seem to get enough of this driving. Today we're heading south to the big cities, so wish us luck! We'll check in later.
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