Wakulla Springs - Saturday & Sunday

We had a short and fast ride to Wakulla Springs State Park where we are staying at a beautiful lodge, built in 1935. Guide, Carol, told us “no dawdling” along the way as we were racing bad storms with tornado like conditions. What made me think she might be speaking directly to the sweep team?! I think we made it in record time (for us, that is!)

A beautiful place with marble floors, old-fashioned soda fountain (mmmm ice cream), beautiful dining room, front sun porch across the entire front of building. I could just imagine women in long dresses and umbrellas lounging in the huge lobby.

The weather cleared up in the afternoon and we went for a boat ride to see Wakulla springs. and to view birds, ducks, herons, turtles, osprey, and many, many gators. It was a wonderful time of year as many of the birds were “preening” to attract their mates.

The above is a picture of Anhinga which is a swimming bird that can only dive in water one time and then must completely dry off before re-entering the water. Here he was spreading his wings to dry. Note his fuzzy head, he has purple eyes, which you can't see.

Aren't these Snow Egrets just beautiful? Mom is feeding the babies and dad is behind mom. We are told that the fluffy feathers that look so beautiful on dad are just part of the mating attraction; later in the season they are not that beautiful. So like a guy to just show off until he gets his girl!!

This sign did not stop three of the girls (including Kirby) to jump off an old fashion high dive! There were a bunch of kids on the high dive and they cheered to see three old ladies jump off a high dive. One of the boats from the boat tour was passing by and everyone clapped. We seem to entertain people wherever we go!

One of many, many gators we saw on the boat trip which was taken immediately AFTER they dove into the water! After seeing all the gators the girls were even more proud of themselves, but didn’t seem interested in doing it again

Just a lovely view from the boat.

On our day of rest, after cleaning and lubing our bikes (in hot, hot, muggy weather) and Katie and Kirby putting on new back tires and me putting on a new back tube, we are ready to relax and review some pictures from the trip. Katie who moans just a little when I stop to take pictures seemed to want me to send her an awful lot of my pictures…..including the Louisiana cemetery picture which she absolutely could not understand why I took. Of course being the gracious person I am, I didn’t make them beg or grovel too much about needing some of my pictures. Of course I get their pictures too! Fair is fair.

It seems impossible, but we are starting to take care of business to re-enter the real world. Boxes to ship our bikes need to be ordered, contact Fed Ex, etc. This process seems to bring some cheers and some tears….mostly tears. Of course everyone is excited to be back with family and friends, but also very sad to have this adventure end and to leave our new-found family. This has been an experience of a lifetime and one we will never forget. Many are talking of “a reunion” and doing other trips together. Only time will tell.

Speaking of time….it’s time to go to bed. Tomorrow is another day and another adventure. We all want to savor our last four days of biking. Before signing off I'm attaching a video...every video I want to attach says "error - contact support"...so this one will have to do.