Time to go again. Ron and Nancy came with us NE from Melbourne to Apopka in Orange County for a few days at Kelly Park, a rustic looking county park that we visited when we were staying at Trimble Park back in January. Check that previous blog for the picture! Tuesday we finally got out the wetsuits and snorkeled down that crystal clear little stream. Plenty of fish of all sizes – little bitty green minnows that stayed just up under the top of the water and some good-sized bass besides all the sunfish with the bright orange painted on their sides. That evening while riding our bikes thru the park we saw 2 big tom turkeys with their tails fanned out being chased by a lonesome looking female. ‘Tis the season!
Wednesday evening we all piled into Ron’s big 4 door GMC truck and went east thru Sanford and then down and over to the coast to find a good place to park to watch the shuttle lift off! We had the cameras and H even thought of the binoculars! We found a wonderful spot with and excellent view of the launch pad, right on the causeway in Titusville. There were quiet a few folks parked there but were still some empty spots - - even at 6pm when the sun was settling in the western sky!! It was then that the folks who were shrimping up on the side of the bridge told us that the shuttle was canceled till MAYBE this Sunday evening. Oh, well . . . . . It had been a nice ride over and we did have a scrumptious meal at Victorio’s on Rt 1 just north of Titusville. On the way there we could see the dark billowing clouds of smoke from all the wildfires east of Orlando and on the way back we could even see the flames in the dark sky!
Thursday, H and I pulled out and headed back up to the Ocala National Forest and parked in a small campground carved out of the woods and right on Lake Dorr. Alexander Springs was right up the road and with wetsuits ready – off we went to get some snorkeling in. These springs are deep and blue and have plenty of swimming and sun bathing space available. There was even a resident alligator somewhere back in the swamp but no one seemed concerned when it started making it’s strange barking noises. To me it sounded like a wild pig that was snorting. The campground sign said it was “full” but we counted at least a dozen “reserved” spots that were still empty! Folks had reserved spots and either didn’t bother to cancel or reserved for Thursday and then planned to not come in till Friday so they could be sure of a spot for the weekend.
Today is Saturday and we are parked at Ross Prairie Campground where we parked at Christmas time. Dick and Sharon came to visit us and we all ended up at my favorite Stumpknocker’s restaurant for another yummy catfish dinner. H had blackened tilapia, Dick had stuffed flounder and Sharon stayed with chicken.
Yesterday on our way here we stopped at the Malls of Marion, a hugh flea market on Rt441. H succumbed to the pressure and purchased a dulcimer, 2 instruction books and a tuner. Today we had to go find a music store because he has already popped 2 strings! But after hours of more tuning, I was almost able to discern the tune of “Home on the Range” coming thru the windows from the picnic table outside!
Time to go fix supper!
