More State Parks

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. “Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.” - Seneca

January 24, 2010, Sunday, Wildwood to Chiefland, FL, Manatee Springs State Park
Walking along the boardwalk, we were looked for manatees. The manatees have also had some difficulty with the FL cold weather this winter. They come to this area because of the warm water from the spring. This is a first magnitude spring, which means it produces on average 100 million gallons of clear, cool water daily. In winter, West Indian manatees swim upriver to the warmer water of the spring.

January 25, 210, Monday Manatee Springs State Park, FL
The park is just a few miles from the Nature Coast State Bike Trail, in Chiefland. So we biked for a few hours, stopping in Fanning for a quick lunch. I don’t know how we do it but we had headwinds going and headwinds coming back? The trail is flat, paved and scenic. The day sunny and pleasant in the mid 60’s, just Right!

January 26, 2010, Tuesday, Manatee Springs SP, Chiefland, FL
Cedar Key on the Gulf Coast is our destination to bike and hike and see the sights. Cedar Key is a small quaint fishing/boating village. After a stop at the Chamber of Commerce we biked around the town and out to the museum, however it is closed on Tuesdays. As we biked along the beach road, we noticed how craggy the coastline is with little islands scattered everywhere. We passed many signs for clams... this must be the place for clams.
Our next stop was Cedar Key Scrub State Reserve which protects some of the last remaining plants and animals of the scrub. Our hike was about an hour, this is a wonderful place for birders.
Just up the road, was an Indian Shell Mound, an Archaeological Site. It includes the remains of the shells from fish consumed by Indians and other household debris. The span of time is 3,500 years! From 2,500 BC to 1000 AD!!
With our appetite piqued we headed for Tony’s Restaurant to sample his World Famous Clam Chowder!! Yum!
Back to Manatee Springs for the evening.

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Comments

[Ken Blinn]

Hi
Bob and Maureen, Thanks so much for your travelog, we enjoy each addition. The Florida one brings back a lot of memories. When is you travel book to be published? Take care and God Bless Ken and Marilynn

[Gerry Hall]

Tony's
Hi you two.........we are just back from being in Butler for the month of February.......BRRRRRRRRRRR. glad to be back in florida. Catching up on your blogs......see you stopped at Tony's......isn't their chowder to die for! I have tried and tried to recreate that recipe....close, but no cigar. Have fun, and if you are near Homosassa, give us a call. Gerry