Are We in Florida????

It looks like Florida, smells like Florida, but doesn't feel like Florida.  We woke up this morning and the temperature was 43 degrees.  Not what we were expecting for Florida.  However, it didn't stop us from exploring the area.  The park has a spring that produces an average of 100 million gallons of clear, 72 degree water daily. In winter, West Indian manatees swim upriver to the warmer waters of the springs.  The spring forms a sparkling stream that meanders through hardwood wetlands to the Suwannee River.   The park also has many sinkhole ponds, including one with a cave 90 feet below the ground that connects to a popular divers' destination known as the catfish hotel.  Certified and qualified cave divers are able to explore several miles of underground caverns which feed into the spring.

The stream from the spring to the Suwannee River

A bird hanging out at the spring

The manatees are not supposed to arrive till winter, but I was lucky enough to see one hanging around. 

A trail leading from the spring to the Suwannee River.  I love the Spanish Moss hanging from the trees.

The head waters of the spring

Three scuba divers getting ready to explore the caves at the bottom of this 90 foot sinkhole.  There is a layer of duck weed covering the water.

The divers have submerged.  All you can see now is their bubbles.

Many deer hang out in the park.

The deer were eating carrots right out of RoxAnne's hand