A Sweet Treat at the End (and some pictures for Carl)

Saturday March 1, 2014
Blue Spring State Park
Orange City, Florida

 

 

 

On our way over to meet Laurie and George for lunch a few days ago I saw a sign for the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge. It was the desire to kayak all the National Wildlife Refuges that originally started me looking for a way to spend years on the road. This of course led to Winnona. At that time I didn’t realize that most National Wildlife Refuges don’t have campgrounds and many don’t have campgrounds near them. Some, like Lake Woodruff allow kayaking but don’t have a launch. If you can get your boat in the water you are welcome to paddle.

 

 

So today we decide to go over and check out Lake Woodruff refuge. I actually do know that the best time to go to a refuge is early morning or late afternoon near sunset but somehow we don’t get out early enough and I forget that I really should just wait until later.

Thus we don’t see as  much at the refuge but there are always things to see, it’s a beautiful hike and now we know where it is.  They do allow you to kayak if you can find anywhere to put in. We’ll return and look it over carefully so I can kayak my National Wildlife Refuges.  :-)

 

 

 

 

We take two of the 4 short hikes through the hammock area of the refuge, one before and one after a hike around one of the 3 dikes to the observation tower. We had hoped to see the otter family who lives there in that area but the afternoon must have been as hot for them as it was for us.

 

 

 

 

What we see mostly is coots coots and more coots. There is a sandhill crane nesting out in the middle which was a bit of a stretch for my camera. Her protector is nearby keeping his eye out.   The red maples are in bloom, a sure sign that spring is here at least in Florida.  In fact, today it is downright hot at mid afternoon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There were several groups of people but none of the crowds I am sure are at Blue Springs on a Saturday.  That is a wonderful thing about National Wildlife Refuges.  They are beautiful places with seldom too many people.  They are designed for the wildlife.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We enjoy the year round residents we encounter.  And of course no Florida walk or paddle would be complete without turtles and alligators.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are few things more terrific after a hike on a hot afternoon than ice cream or in this case, frozen yogurt.  Luckily, we had arranged to meet our friends Paula, Robert and Olivia at Berryville in DeLand..  

We park the car a block or so down from there and as we are walking along I see cousins of my bulldog friend Carl hanging out at a sidewalk restaurant.  

Today was the Mardi Gras Dog Parade apparently.   So take a look Carl, they are almost as cute as you are.  Wish we’d come to see the costumes and the owner dog look alike contest.

 

 

 

 

 

We arrive before our friends so we go in to check out which 16 flavors of yogurt are on tap today.   At Berryville, you pick up a cup and put in whatever combination of yogurts in whatever amounts you want. 

But be warned!! Don’t do as I did and put too much yogurt in your cup and not have enough room for the dazzling array of toppings available including hot fudge, caramel, raspberry and at least 5 other toppings and whipped cream. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We take a table outside and soon our friends join us.  I wonder how they keep from coming here no less than once a week.  It really is a good thing I’m on the road.

 

 

This is what mine looks like half eaten.  Yes, I am an absolute piggy!  I can’t wait to come back again at least once before we leave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We have a great time catching up with them and hearing about 4th grade Olivia’s award winning environmental project for school.  Olivia also tells us about a place called the Lyonia Preserve and she says we simply MUST go there.   So we’re going to put it on our list for early next week.    Thanks you guys!