Thu, 11/15/07
Manatee Springs SP: Sunny for a while this morning. Walked down to see the manatees. Was hard to see them because the breeze was rippling the water. There were a few where the spring run flows into the Suwannee River. Went into Chiefland and did the laundry, bought groceries, had lunch and I got my hair cut Came back and put everything away. Rained a little bit and cleared off by late afternoon. Wish I was braver because we can swim in the spring—even if there are manatees in there. We have our wet suits, but it would be pretty cold. The spring is 72 degrees year around, but to me that’s cold. There are a couple of older women who swim in the spring every morning—and no wet suits. Brrrrrrr. Tomorrow will be our last chance since we leave on Saturday for Inverness, FL. Supposed to be cold (30s) tonight and tomorrow night, but warming up pretty quickly. I’m sure the manatees will be in the spring tonight to seek warmer water. Will we do it or not?
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wed, 11/14/07
Manatee Springs SP: Had a camp fire again this morning. Talked with our neighbors for a while and then we walked down to the river to see the manatees. There were only 4 manatees this morning. Watched them for over an hour and got talking to a couple who are also camped here who are from Massachusetts. They have been to Mexico a few times and we asked them a bunch of questions. Makes me want to go even more. They left and we got talking to a guy there who has this neat canoe with a contraption that sits on the gunwales and has a couple of outriggers, a place for a small electric motor, and a couple of rowing oars so you can row the thing instead of paddle. Turns out he was from the US geological survey counting manatees and checking out the ones that may be injured or sick. We also ran into a naturalist on our way down to the river who was in snorkeling and checking out the manatees. There was an injured manatee in the group yesterday which they had reported so I guess that’s why all the activity. Walked back to our campsite and got comfortable with our books and a car pulled up and it was the couple we were talking to from Massachusetts who had been to Mexico several times. They brought a map of Mexico showing where they’d been and they had a bunch of business cards from the campgrounds they had stayed in. So I wrote down a bunch of information and took their e-mail address. Their names are Connie and Don Cooper. Nice people. Steaks and Texas style mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.
Manatee Springs SP: Had a camp fire again this morning. Talked with our neighbors for a while and then we walked down to the river to see the manatees. There were only 4 manatees this morning. Watched them for over an hour and got talking to a couple who are also camped here who are from Massachusetts. They have been to Mexico a few times and we asked them a bunch of questions. Makes me want to go even more. They left and we got talking to a guy there who has this neat canoe with a contraption that sits on the gunwales and has a couple of outriggers, a place for a small electric motor, and a couple of rowing oars so you can row the thing instead of paddle. Turns out he was from the US geological survey counting manatees and checking out the ones that may be injured or sick. We also ran into a naturalist on our way down to the river who was in snorkeling and checking out the manatees. There was an injured manatee in the group yesterday which they had reported so I guess that’s why all the activity. Walked back to our campsite and got comfortable with our books and a car pulled up and it was the couple we were talking to from Massachusetts who had been to Mexico several times. They brought a map of Mexico showing where they’d been and they had a bunch of business cards from the campgrounds they had stayed in. So I wrote down a bunch of information and took their e-mail address. Their names are Connie and Don Cooper. Nice people. Steaks and Texas style mashed potatoes for dinner tonight.
Tue, 11/13/07
Manatee Springs SP: Sat around the fire this morning drinking our smoothies. Then walked down to the Suwannee River to see if there were any manatees. There were at least a dozen! We watched them for a while and met a couple there from Pine Island in No. Ft. Myers. They had been on a road trip for about a week—trying to get away from the heat in Ft. Myers. Back to the campsite and read for a while. Then walked back to the river and watched the manatees some more. One has an injured tail (guess that what you call it). She seems to be ok but they’re going to report it and she’ll be checked out. The water here is crystal clear and you could see lots of fish. And the mullets were jumping. Walked back, cooked dinner and relaxed for the night.
Manatee Springs SP: Sat around the fire this morning drinking our smoothies. Then walked down to the Suwannee River to see if there were any manatees. There were at least a dozen! We watched them for a while and met a couple there from Pine Island in No. Ft. Myers. They had been on a road trip for about a week—trying to get away from the heat in Ft. Myers. Back to the campsite and read for a while. Then walked back to the river and watched the manatees some more. One has an injured tail (guess that what you call it). She seems to be ok but they’re going to report it and she’ll be checked out. The water here is crystal clear and you could see lots of fish. And the mullets were jumping. Walked back, cooked dinner and relaxed for the night.
Mon, 11/12/07
Marianna, FL: Up pretty early and couldn’t wait to leave this place. Didn’t even take a shower. Just put on the same clothes I had on yesterday. We arrived at Manatee Springs State Park at about 3:00. Lost an hour because we’re now in the Eastern time zone (sigh). Pulled into the campground and got set up at our site. No one near us at all. It’s so quiet and peaceful. Supposed to be packed starting this weekend—Thanksgiving and all. Wondered if the deer were still around. Didn’t take long to find out since a deer sauntered into our site right after we set up. Went to Chiefland for dinner and saw a bunch of deer on the way. When we came back we stopped at the spring to see if there any manatees around. The ranger told us there were a bunch in the spring this morning. Guess they come into the spring at night. No manatees, but we saw lots of deer—everywhere. Walked down to the boardwalk to the Suwannee River and there was all this commotion because the vultures were juxtapositioning for roosting places in the trees by the river—hundreds of them. When we got back to our campsite there was a herd of deer behind our camper. They’re everywhere! It’s great!
Marianna, FL: Up pretty early and couldn’t wait to leave this place. Didn’t even take a shower. Just put on the same clothes I had on yesterday. We arrived at Manatee Springs State Park at about 3:00. Lost an hour because we’re now in the Eastern time zone (sigh). Pulled into the campground and got set up at our site. No one near us at all. It’s so quiet and peaceful. Supposed to be packed starting this weekend—Thanksgiving and all. Wondered if the deer were still around. Didn’t take long to find out since a deer sauntered into our site right after we set up. Went to Chiefland for dinner and saw a bunch of deer on the way. When we came back we stopped at the spring to see if there any manatees around. The ranger told us there were a bunch in the spring this morning. Guess they come into the spring at night. No manatees, but we saw lots of deer—everywhere. Walked down to the boardwalk to the Suwannee River and there was all this commotion because the vultures were juxtapositioning for roosting places in the trees by the river—hundreds of them. When we got back to our campsite there was a herd of deer behind our camper. They’re everywhere! It’s great!
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Sunday, 11/11/07
Marianna, FL: Left Dauphin Island at about 10:00 this morning and arrived at the Arrowhead Campground at about 4:30. This is by far the worst commercial campground we have stayed at. Thankfully it’s only for one night. They advertise that it’s a Good Sam park. We will be notifying Good Sam that they need to reevaluate this dump. Too bad since it’s on a pretty little lake. Leave tomorrow for Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, FL. Can’t wait to get out of here.
Marianna, FL: Left Dauphin Island at about 10:00 this morning and arrived at the Arrowhead Campground at about 4:30. This is by far the worst commercial campground we have stayed at. Thankfully it’s only for one night. They advertise that it’s a Good Sam park. We will be notifying Good Sam that they need to reevaluate this dump. Too bad since it’s on a pretty little lake. Leave tomorrow for Manatee Springs State Park in Chiefland, FL. Can’t wait to get out of here.
Saturday, 11/10/07
Dauphin Island, AL: Biked down to the other end of the island this morning. Started clouding up but was warmer than yesterday. On the way back we stopped at a vegetable stand and bought a bunch of stuff. Packed it in the basket on my bicycle and thought it would be hard to control the bike because the stuff weighed about 10 pounds—but no problem at all. We met a couple at the stand who were from Mobile and had a place on Dauphin Island also. They told us where it was and we biked over there. A really cute bungalow built in the early 1800s supposedly. They bought the place about 15 years ago and were smart enough to buy the lots on either side of them and also the lot across the street which has Mobile Bay frontage. They have about 3 acres total. Really cute place. By now the clouds had cleared and turned into a spectacular day. Biked back to our camp site and put all the stuff away and then headed back to the deck at the top of the dunes with a nice view of the gulf. Hung around there for an hour or so and then walked the trail back to the camp site. We cleaned the front of the camper and I took the dirty towels over to the laundry and washed them. Had cheese burgers and mashed sweet potatoes for dinner. Leave tomorrow and are staying somewhere halfway to Manatee Springs.
Dauphin Island, AL: Biked down to the other end of the island this morning. Started clouding up but was warmer than yesterday. On the way back we stopped at a vegetable stand and bought a bunch of stuff. Packed it in the basket on my bicycle and thought it would be hard to control the bike because the stuff weighed about 10 pounds—but no problem at all. We met a couple at the stand who were from Mobile and had a place on Dauphin Island also. They told us where it was and we biked over there. A really cute bungalow built in the early 1800s supposedly. They bought the place about 15 years ago and were smart enough to buy the lots on either side of them and also the lot across the street which has Mobile Bay frontage. They have about 3 acres total. Really cute place. By now the clouds had cleared and turned into a spectacular day. Biked back to our camp site and put all the stuff away and then headed back to the deck at the top of the dunes with a nice view of the gulf. Hung around there for an hour or so and then walked the trail back to the camp site. We cleaned the front of the camper and I took the dirty towels over to the laundry and washed them. Had cheese burgers and mashed sweet potatoes for dinner. Leave tomorrow and are staying somewhere halfway to Manatee Springs.
Friday, November 9, 2007
Dauphin Island, AL: Up early and made a big breakfast this morning. Sat out in the sun reading for a while. Talked with our neighbors who are from Indianapolis and out with their 29 foot Class B motorhome for the first time. They are traveling with their dog, Elvis, who is part husky, German shepherd, and wolf. Beautiful dog! Walked the trails in the afternoon. Stopped at a deck overlooking the sand doons with a nice view of the gulf and watched the dolphins and pelicans for a while. Wished I’d brought my book. Would have like to stay there longer but we continued on the trail. A really pretty hike and another gorgeous day.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
