Relaxation is the Operative Word

Today we got off to a leisurely start sleeping in until 9am.  It seemed dark outside but that was only because the canopy of live oak trees and Spanish moss draping over top MerSea 2 was so dense that it blocked out the daylight.  Later in the morning we hiked through the forest.  The landscape and flora are so different than we are used to.  At times the landscape was magical with palmettos and switch grass covering the ground below the live oak trees.  It was so warm that poor Fin (who had just adapted to sub-freezing temperatures) struggled and had to stop several times burrowing himself in the sand to cool off.

 

Since the Park is on the outskirts of a suburban area, it was easy to ride my bike to the nearest Publix  only 2.5 miles away.  Sidewalks all the way.  It was a pleasant ride winding along the local country club and neighborhoods.  My pannier was just the right size to accommodate a 4 pack of Stella Artois, a flank steak and some tomatoes.

Then I headed down to the Hot Springs for an afternoon swim.  Lance was deterred by the prospect of alligators but I couldn’t give up the chance for a good swim!  When I got the to Springs, there were two ladies sunning themselves along the bank.  They offered to keep an eye out for any large reptiles which supposedly swim in early in the evening.  I wouldn’t call the Springs hot, unless someone forgot to turn on the hot tap.  But it was refreshing, clean and crystal clear.  I had my mask and snorkel so it was possible to scour the underwater landscape (and to keep an eye out for unwanted visitors).  How fascinating to see the water bubbling up from the ground.  Then at one point the floor drops down at least 20 feet into a chasm where water is rushing up to the surface.  It was all a new and fun experience!  Now I’m hooked on hot springs and want to explore more of them on our adventures across Florida.