Mostly About Manatees

I was able to make a drive down to Crystal River to visit my cousin and his wife last Friday during one of Florida chilly spells.  Had a delicious salad for lunch and a great visit. After watching the tranquil waters and wild birds from their living room (and knowing that the temperatures were expected to rise over the weekend) I asked permission to return with Liz on Sunday with our kayaks. Don and Sue are interested in purchasing some kayaks to have there at the house for themselves and the kids and grands that come down to visit. So I promised to return so they could check out Liz's beautiful, versatile and lightweight Hornbeck and my inflatable Sea Eagle/Fast Track.

Can you feel your blood pressure going down just watching the water?

Cousin Don....

Sue looking over one of two floating docks they have access to.  This is the one Liz and I ended up using but we are sworn to destroy any video of our getting back out of the kayaks....but we aren't there yet.

First there are the Saturday chores.
 

And Saturday adventures that lead us back to Silver Springs State Park for their Annual Knapp-in.  Okay, I may have been disappointed to find out it had nothing to do with catching up on my sleep.....but we were close and Silver Spring State Park is never a bad choice.

This piece of art was in the parking lot on the walk over to the event.  Nice detail work.

Have no idea if this price tag is for real or just to make your hands jump back when you touch it.

Lot of rocks.....and nice people interested in rocks.

When Liz still had her house in Ocala she was a frequent volunteer with the state park and still knows some of the other dedicated volunteers. Doesn't get you in events free but does give you added smiles and welcomes.

Knapper at work.

Ohio Flint doesn't come in these colors....nor do the pieces of flint my brother and I would find in TN.

Woman demonstrating an ironwood weapon which is interesting and good and stuff but....

My eyes were drawn to the floor mat she was using.

Many of the buildings in the museum village were open to the public.

A demonstration of scrapping and stretching hides complete with discussion of what sort of animal brains are recommended. Don't ask. I didn't take detailed notes, other than no one used cow brains for awhile because of Mad Cow disease.

Then Sunday rolled around and Liz and I were off to Crystal River and we hit the water.

I read that paddle boards are good for working your core.  These guys appear well worked.

As we paddled closer to the Three Sister's Spring the traffic on the water grew more crowed.  This is prime Manatee watching season. Some folks rent kayak, some use paddle boards, some used small motor boats or took rides with the big tour boats. Some just watch from their boats and some include getting in the water with snorkels. 

I asked some folks sitting out on their dock how many levels of entertainment this scene provides.  You can watch the animals....the manatees and the crazy hoomans.  The Springs themselves are now owned by either the city or county and are closed. Given the amount of swimmers and kayakers it is probably a good thing for the Manatees.  For a fee you can ride overland to visit the main springs and observe the Manatees from land. Having made the swim up the narrow water way two years ago, that water is not large enough to accommodate all these people.  For those that have never visited there are still roped off spring areas, that you might be able to see in the pictures, to keep the kayaks and swimmer at a distance and give Manatees some private hanging out spaces.  Lucky for many of us in kayaks there was a lot of movement up and down the river with Manatees leaving the spring and heading off most likely in search of munchies.   For that matter Don and Sue told us that there are usually Manatees in their cove every morning.....

Stuart is not allowed to see this one and Remi wouldn't believe it if he did see it.

Just in case anyone was wondering, especially the young folks not worrying about their next dermatologist appointment  and how many spots are going to be frozen off, many folks were working on their tans. It was that nice out on the water.

Boats, boats and more boats and the snorkelers  One of the other kayakers assured me that we earned 2 points for every swimmer we beaned with our paddles.

Yeah, I still can't see Stuart just standing there. He would be all about jumping in the water.

Nice Dad, but those girls aren't pulling their weight.....just an observation.  But the strangest deals  were the girls that got to ride on their kayak while being towed by the guy in the front kayak.  Like "What? They can't paddle for themselves?"

And when one swims close you just keep breathing and hold your paddle very, very still.

That is Liz's bow on the right.

And then the Manatee floated over to me.  I didn't touch, but I could have.....this was my close encounter.

And then he floats on under to the other side of the kayak and to the beyond.

Family fun.

More family fun.

The watcher on the wall.

Some dogs do get to swim.....

Back to the dock with tired arms and shoulders but memories of close encounters.

More Water, Irish Setters and Cemetaries

Posting pictures this winter isn't as organized as in the past. The dogs and I aren't really playing tourist all that often and mostly trying to hang out here in McIntosh area and staying warmer than up north in Ohio and staying active.  But we still do get to play with other friends that have gravitated to Florida for similar reasons.  And did I mention that walking around the streets of McIntosh waving to the neighbors that carefully pass us each day is like being a part of the small community at least for the winter months.  I can almost hear them muttering through their friendly smiles, "Crazy lade with three dogs...."   

And someone from one of the big cities needs to explain how those dog walkers manage to pick up after their small herd of ten dogs......   Three I can handle most of the time but it peaks my curiosity of how the professionals do larger packs. Just wondering here.

Liz and I introduced another friend to kayaking on the Silver River. Irmi took to it like a pro.

Joselyn, a life long friend of Liz's from Ocala, drove up and joined us out on the water, also.  We were helping to remind her of the possibilities that her upcoming retirement from teaching can hold for her.  (38 years....but she did say that she was ready! :-)  )

Left to right: Irmi, Liz and Joselyn.

The Sunday we went back out on the river was the warmest it had been in several days and the traffic on the river showed it.  Many individuals floating and paddling out for their share of Vitamin D.

Irmi may have to introduce her husband Steve to the kayaking experience next.

Another day back at the campground on Orange Lake, Liz and I got Carol back out in a kayak.  Bringing the second kayak is working out well.  It is fun to introduce kayaking to others.  Meditating out on the water.....

Back on the bus, my little artists continue to add to their "nose art" on the front window.....Sunshine brings out the extent of their talent.

Audrey made us drive her down to Lakeland for another dog show.  She got a reserve the first day and was an also ran helping other dogs have fun the second day.  We meet some English Cocker Spaniels, owners and handlers that don't travel up to the mid-west often.  Again, I offered to take at least two of the dogs home to Ohio with me but was politely turned down.  

One of my friendds from Canada had mentioned on Facebook that she was interested in pictures of Irish Setters.  The nice folks set up on the concrete slab with me have raised Irish Setter since 1969.... This boy was their elder statesman.

This is the view out my front door of the rigs that parked lined up on the pavement of the roadway. The pens were for their Whippets.

Location with shade provided.

There was a picturesque water feature.

The day folks in their vans.....

Margie drove up from her home to take in the dog show and stayed to watch Miss Audrey's class. "Thanks, Margie," said Audrey.

The dog show was located on the Aerospace Museum grounds and a small airport.

The big (Provost) and the small (Casita) park side by side....the dogs don't care what they travel in.

The judge really really liked this girl. Besides giving her Best of Breed, here in the Sporting Group ring she gave her a Group 2.  I had Audrey watch closely so she could capture her flair and style.

My neighbor with his Irish Setter in Sporting Group. (The Golden won Group 1)

Stuart took me for walks around the grounds. Not a lot of planes but several experimental prototypes.

And we can all guess why these reminders now have to be installed in the airplanes.....

The neighbor's youngest....

"Stuart, you still awake?" asks Remi. "This hanging out at dog shows and visiting vendors can sure tire us out, huh"

Stuart spent part of one afternoon, watching the Rally O ring.  "Remember when we used to do that stuff?" questioned Stuart. "It was fun! Face it, if my mom, Blondie, could earn her Rally Excellent, I know that I could add another level. My attention span is several seconds longer than hers and food is not always required, unlike mom" chuckled Stuart.

More friends travel through the area escaping temperatures in other parts of the country (and celebrating a very recent retirement!)  Retirement good......   We revisited Historic Micanopy starting with the sandwich shop.

Diana and Carolyn with her famous camera......doing what she does well.

Spring, spring, spring.....

And we wandered through an old cemetery.....  Notice the dates on this head stone and think about which distant downstream relative is still alive to make the trip to remember Mother?, Grandmother? Great Grandmother?

Many of the head stones are so worn way that they are unreadable.  How many of these folks thought they were "un-replaceable" at work...... No one remembers. No one is left to comes wrap ribbons on their stones.....

We also drove past the Pet Cemetery.......

More pictures collecting on the camera......visits with cousins, exciting laundry days, un-recorded card games and more kayaking.....Florida has begun to warm back up and the activities continue.....

Still not missing the deep snow and wind chills of Ohio.