Still very cold in Florida

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Well last I posted we were at Stephen Foster SP near Lake City, FL. It was quite cold there. Sleeping in a popup camper is not the warmest kind of camping when the temps drop well below freezing. With the gas furnace, electric space heater and down comforters, the sleeping is tolerable. However the getting out of bed is not. Walking down the road to the bathroom in the middle of the freezing night does not make it easy to get back to sleep. But we are tough old birds, and we still keep on camping.

We drove down to Homosassa yesterday and are staying here until tomorrow morning. It is supposed to start warming up maybe today. This morning we got up, put on our bathing suits, then bundled up and headed to the dive shop before dawn, in 25 degree temps. We got all our gear, along with directions to our destination, then took a pontoon boat ride out into Crystal River to where the springs come up at 72 degrees year round and the manatees gather, especially in cold weather. We struggled into our wetsuits and got into the water, which did, surprisingly, feel pretty warm. Then we snorkelled with the manatees. They were so beautiful with their calm dispositions and whiskery faces. They swam right up to us and let us scratch their backs or rub their sides and bellies. Amazing stuff. Then Sara and I, along with a man from Russia and our dive leader, put on scuba gear to dive down to the cavern where the spring comes up. Chicken that I am, I got about 6 feet into the cavern and had to leave; too dark and close for me. I guess I am not cut out for cavern diving, at least not yet. But I am looking forward to scuba diving at John Pennecamp SP in the Keys later this week. Sara went down into the cavern, but said I did the right thing in backing out when I did, because it didn't open up much the deeper they dove. We took pictures of the manatees underwater and also the tarpon, which were plentiful and pretty big, but we used those disposable 35mm cameras. You'll just have to wait until we get the film developed before I can post pictures of this adventure, even though Kerry said I could just download any manatee pics off the internet and no one would know the difference.

Tomorrow we head to Miami to spend tomorrow night at my mother's house before heading down to the Keys.

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Photos

Spanish Moss
at Stephen Foster SP, it looks so north Florida

Carillon Tower
At Stephen Foster SP, so nice to hear the music

Manatee Patch
The only manatee picture I have at this point to share.

Comments

[Barbara]

Always loved seeing the Spanish moss hanging form the live oak trees....