Easy Day, Town Trip, Where to Kayak Next?

Sunday November 11 2012 and Monday November 12, 2012
Site 81 Salt Springs Campground, Florida

 

SUNDAY

We think we will perhaps kayak further down the Salt Spring run today.  But when we take a walk down to see how things look, this is what we see at the put in and out on the lake.

 

 

 

 

 

I guess I need for someone to tell me why folks need air boats or even want them.  What’s good about them?  Their noise makes me immediately want to be miles away.  THEY ARE REALLY LOUD!  And that’s about how loud you have to talk to be heard if they are anywhere around.  Forget seeing any wildlife. 

 

There are a lot of motor type boats on the run which is bigger than most rivers and even though this boat had such a cute mascot, we decide to skip Salt Springs Run as a kayaking trip.  It’s just too noisy.  We’ll try elsewhere.

 

 

 

 

We walk back along the really lovely fishing creek where this fisher woman is hard at work.

 

 

 

 

As we near the campground, we stop to play horseshoes right behind the barn.  David does very well.  I’m lucky if I can get the thing up in the air and when I do it PLOPS down 3 feet in front of the pole.  Guess who wins?  He needs much better competition.

 

 

Speaking of the barn, in the distance in the horseshoe picture.  Here is a close up of the end with the pay phone.  How long since you’ve seen one of those?  Well unless you have a pretty good cell amplifier you may find yourself using it if you camp here.  Salt Springs is inside the Ocala National Forest and signals are weak.   

At Salt Springs the “season” is the summer when all the Florida folks want to come swim in the spring to escape the heat.  In winter a lot of snow birds come for 5 or 6 months and the group plans activities including using all the wood working equipment kept in the barn, holding quilting bees in the barn, playing bingo and music.  The barn even has its own work camper to be in charge of it and the scheduling.  Earlier in the week, there was a workman repairing firebox, flue and damper for the stone chimney and fireplace.  Work campers were gathering and splitting piles of firewood to be used in the winter at this hub of campground activity.  Things get underway just after Thanksgiving they tell me and continue on through April.

 

 

When we get back to Winnona, I change into my swimming suit and walk over for a dip in the 72 degree spring.  David isn’t there to get a picture of the event.   It is COLD when I first throw myself into the water but after a short spurt of swimming and it feels great.

 

 

I’m not the only one in the water.  But I am one of few. 72 is about my limit.

 

 

On the way back through the trees I look up and see this hawk doing tricks.  Look Ma one hand.

 

 

 

MONDAY

Today we get a slow start.  We are avoiding the inevitable trip to town.
We don’t like to go to town but we really do have a bunch of errands we’ve been putting off for nearly 2 weeks now.  So we gird our loins and set off for the 29 mile drive to Ocala.

We need to pick up a quart of synthetic oil for Ruby, some silicone spray for all sorts of things, some kitchen bags, some vitamins, one of David’s prescriptions, go by the bank to get cash, and hit the grocery store.  In addition David wants to go by All Cell and see what’s the latest booster equipment for cell and data signals.  We’ve been hearing about the Wilson Sleek 4G-V.

We are in town for about 5 hours getting this all done including the only stop I really want to make.  We stop here in honor of Nancy and Bill who introduced us to Bruster’s at this very spot on David’s last birthday in January.  Wish you guys had been here with us!   When Jamaica Me Crazy wasn’t on the menu, the counter girl felt so sorry for me that she got some nutty coconut and put fudge on it.  Tastes just about like JMC!  Two scoops in a waffle cone and I need no dinner.

J

 

On the way home, we realize we forgot to stop at the bank.  And forgot to pick up a new toaster.  The back wire on our sweet little 20 year+ machine has stopped lighting up.  David took it apart to see if anything was obviously wrong but couldn’t find any loose or broken connections.

Guess those two things go back on “the list”.   Oh well………

On the way home we discuss whether to kayak Alexander or Juniper Spring runs.  Perhaps both.  Although Karen’s tales of Juniper are making me hesitate.  It looked mighty shallow and narrow for having alligators at your elbow.  Stay tuned…..we’ll kayak one of them for sure tomorrow.