Disney/Blue Spring Weekend

Our granddaughter wanted a Disney trip for her birthday so we went along

to enjoy the week-end with her.  She had an appointment at the Bibbity Bobbity Boutique

for a make-over. This is after she chose her "Elsa" gown,,,

Then she got the royal treatment...

Then the Fairy God Mother sprinkled her with fairy dust.

The Royal Photo Shoot

We took our niece Sarah with us. It was her very first trip to Disney. 

 First stop was a gift shop on Main Street. All she wanted was Stitch.

Yummy giant cinnamon rolls.

The weather got bad late in the day so she didn't get her "selfie" with the

real Stitch, so...

A little Photoshop magic...

We made a quick trip by Blue Spring State Park on our way home from Disney.

We saw several manatees  at the end of the spring where it flows into the

St. Johns River.  We'd like to go back when the temperature drops and see them when they

 move into the head spring.  Last year over three hundred were counted here. 

Camping at Blue Springs State Park

We arrived at Blue Springs on Sunday afternoon, July 20. The "real feel" temperature was 111 degrees. After getting the 5th wheel set up on our very small, sandy, hot site we were exhausted from the heat.

Even Maggie was all done in from the heat...

After recovering  sufficiently from the heat (all the while I'm thinking, "boy did I make a mistake choosing this state park!") we made our usual trip to Walmart to get what we forgot.  We did not go to the

 spring at all Sunday.  We were  in for the biggest surprise the following morning.  We put on our suits and sunscreen and headed to the spring.  This is what we found...

                                                                                 

It was like a paradise.  We spent the week floating lazily in the head spring.  We would get out to eat lunch, then go back for the afternoon and float some more.   We even saw a baby gator watching us one morning! 

Sorry, no picture of the gator. 

 Then on Friday morning we were in for the surprise of a lifetime.  We were tied up to our favorite tree when something gray swam under us...

                                         

It was a manatee!!  It is very rare to see a manatee in the springs in the summer.  

http://www.defenders.org/florida-manatee/basic-facts

They stay in the rivers where food is more abundant.  The manatee hung out in the head spring all day. A park volunteer in a canoe stayed close by making sure she wasn't bothered.   The next morning we walked to the spring for one last swim before heading home and found that the head spring was closed.  We were so disappointed until we found out the reason...

                                          

Our manatee friend was a new Mamma!!  She had given birth to a bouncing baby calf during the night.  The park rangers closed the spring for the protection of mother and baby. 

We can't wait to be able to visit this park again!

Our Week at Blue Springs

Day trip to Blue Spring

We will be camping in Blue Spring Florida State Park in late July. 

 Being new and still a little nervous we like to check out campgrounds 

ahead to see what we are getting into.  

We started where the spring runs into the St. Johns River. 

This guy owns this end of the river.  

As we walked up the boardwalk toward the head spring We saw

turtles sunning themselves on logs, sun fish and gar fish...

As we walked farther, the water gradually went from the tannin stained color to

the beautiful clear spring water...

Blue Spring is a haven for Manatees in the winter because the constant 72 degree spring water is warmer than the water in the St. Johns River.  I hope to go back this winter and take photos of the manatees. 

We drove through the campground loop to check out our site.  It's very sunny, not treed and shady like we really prefer but sometimes you sacrifice one thing for another.  In this case, the beautiful cool spring.  We're planning on tubing down the spring run this trip.  Hope to take our kayaks along later. Those are hard to carry with a 5th wheel. 

Hummingbirds

We love Hummingbirds. In fact, we live on Hummingbird Place. 

One day, I will get the perfect  photo of one. These were on

our front porch feeders this morning.

 

First Camping Adventure in a State Park

Mike Roess Gold Head State Park

http://www.floridastateparks.org/mikeroess/default.cfm

Our new truck and RV looking at home in the woods.  This was our first time camping on "dirt"

We were accustomed to concrete slabs and had some learning to do about leveling the

5th wheel.  We lived this week-end with it a lil lop-sided.  lol

We spent this week-end with good friends...Emily and Butch Patterson.  We're looking forward to more trips with them. 

                                                  Paul and Butch in  a dry lake bed in the park...

                                                 A stream from the head spring at the ravines.

                                                             





                                                                   Little Lake Johnson

                     Sadie wanted to swim so bad!  The sign said "No dogs"  She said "Dog?  Who's a dog?"

                                                      The ravines are really beautiful.